17,724. Sague, G. Sept. 1. Inking-apparatus; lithographic inking-apparatus. -Re!ates to machines for removing the accumulation of ink, paper fibre, &c. from the inking and distributing rollers of typographic and lithographic presses In a receptacle 20, divided into compartments 25, 26, are rollers 41, 43, 42, 44, mounted on shafts 30, 31, and upon and between these rollers, the roller to be cleaned is placed. The rollers receive a rotary and an endways reciprocating motion by means of gears 32, 33 and a broad gear 34, the inclined gears 32, 33 being constrained to rotate between fixed trundle-rolls 37. By means of links 38, the shaft 31 may be swung upwards out of the receptacle 20. The rollers 41,42 and 43, 44 reciprocate simultaneously in opposite senses, and each is provided over half its surface with longitudinal grooves 46 and on the other half with transverse grooves 47. The transverse grooves serve to move the inking-roller onwards, while the longitudinal grooves enable the grooved roller to perform its return stroke but at the same time help to rotate the printers' roller. The rollers of each pair are positioned with regard to one another, so that, while the transverse grooves of the one are moving the printers' roller onward, the longitudinal grooves of the other are positioned for the return stroke. Within the space between the pairs of rollers, a concave scraper 48 on a frame 50 is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 33. A weighted end 51, Fig. 11, maintains yielding contact between the scraper and the roller, and an inclined shoe 52 prevents the onwardly-moving roller from striking the flat. face. of the scraper. The scraper blade is in the form of a circular arc of radius greater than that of the inking-roller. The scrapings of the roller drop into the portion 27 of the receptacle 25, which has an outlet 28. Thearm 53 of the frame 50, being below the shaft 31, cannot rise much, and the spring 54 provides additional yielding pressure on the scraper. The printers' roller passes from the scraper over the rollers 42, 44 and is delivered over smooth wheels 55. The kerosene or other ink'solvent placed in the tank 25, and the rollers 41, 43, knead up the accumulation ready for the scraping action, and the rollers 42, 44 impart a drying and finishing treatment. Rollers 59, 60, on the same shaft and having considerable end-play, rotate in separate compartments of a receptacle 57 in contact with the roller 42. The roller 60 conveys a small quantity of water to the rollers 42, 44 and thus scatters any kerosene present, while at the same time it facilitates the forward travel of the printers' roller and also renders its surface " tacky and adapted to take ink. The roller 59 aids in cleaning the rollers 42, 44, so that the printers'roller leaves the machine in a dry condition. The rollers 59, 60 are each provided with an adjustable scraper. Means other than the rollers 42, 44 may be used to receive the printers' roller as it passes the scraper. In many cases, the scraper blade may be dispensed with, the action of the rollers 41,42,43,44 with the rollers 59, 60 being sufficient. In addition, sponges may be held against the rollers 42, 44 for cleaning and drying purposes. In the treatment of lithographic rollers, the longitudinal grooves on the various rollers may be omitted and the transverse grooves may be replaced by a rough surface or may have sand-paper applied. Such a surface imparts a desirable surface or graining to the printers' rollers.