An Improved Process for the Protection of Engraved Copper-plates by the Use of Nickel.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for the Protection of Engraved Copper-plates
by the Use of Nickel.
We KARL PETER BECK and WILLIAM Moss of Faraday Works Cannon
Street, Hanley, Electrical Engineers, and ARTHUR HIORNS of Holly Dale,
Churchill Road Handsworth, Electro-metallurgist, all in the County of Stafford
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the depositing of a protecting coating of nickel
on engraved plates and other copper plates especially such engraved plates as are
used by manufacturers of earthen-ware from which to print the transferring sheets
used in marking designs on earthenware, as it will be readily understood that a
copper-plate when used for printing purposes will soon wear out in respect to the
sharpness of the engraved design if used in the old style without a protecting
coating of harder metal.
In carrying out our invention we clean the copper-plates by passing them through
a potash solution.
We next take the plates out of the potash-solution and scour them with soda-
lime and powdered pumice.
We next wash the plates in clear water.
We next place the plates in a striking bath consisting of a solution of diluted
ammonia-sulphate of iron, where a thin film of iron is deposited that will be
analogous to the subsequent deposit.
We next remove the plates from the striking-bath and scour them with soda-
lime to detect any imperfectious of deposit, and if a perfect uniform deposit is not
secured the plates must again pass through the striking bath until a perfect
preliminary deposit has been secured.
We next pass the plates through the iron-depositing solution proper which
consists of diluted ammonia-sulphate of iron, this bath is worked at the
ordinary temperature and the plates are retained in the bath for about thirty
minutes.
The plates are removed from the iron-depositing solution proper and washed in
clear water, after which they are immersed in an ordinary nickel-plating striking
solution.
We next pass the plates into the nickel-plating solution bath proper, where a
sufficient permanent coating is deposited over the preliminary thin film of nickel-
plating deposited in the striking-bath.
immerse the plates in a bath of
To strip the nickel-facing from the plates we
diluted sulphuric-acid heated to a temperature of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dated this 28th day of October 1895.
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER,
Cobden Buildings, Corporation Street, Birminghamı,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: An Improved Process for the Protection of Engraved Copper-plates
by the Use of Nickel.
We KARL PETER BECK and WILLIAM Moss of Faraday Works Cannon
Street Hanley Electrical Engineers, and ARTHUR HIORNS of Holly Dale,
Churchill Road, Handsworth Electro-metallurgist, all in the County of Stafford
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention has for its object the depositing of a protecting coating of nickel,
cobalt, or manganese on engraved plates and other copper plates and rollers,
especially such plates and rollers as are used by manufacturers of earthenware
from which to print the transferring sheets used in making designs on earthenware,
as it will be readily understood that a copper plate (or plate bent into a roller)
when used for printing purposes will soon wear out in respect to the sharpness of
the engraved design, if used in the old way without a protecting coating of harder
metal.
In carrying out our invention we clean the copper-plates or rollers by passing
them through a potash solution.
We next take the plates or rollers out of the potash solution and scour them
with soda-lime and powdered pumice; we next wash the plates or rollers in clear
water; we next place the plates or rollers in a striking bath consisting of a solution
of diluted ammonia-sulphate of iron where a thin film of iron would be deposited
that would be analogous to the subsequent deposit.
We remove the plates or rollers from the striking-bath and scour them with
soda-lime to detect any imperfections of deposit, and if a perfect uniform deposit
is not secured the plates must again pass through the striking bath until a perfect
preliminary deposit is secured.
We next pass the plates or rollers through the iron-depositing solution-proper,
which consists of diluted ammonia-sulphate of iron, this bath is worked at
ordinary temperature and the plates are retained in the bath for about thirty
minutes.
The plates or rollers are removed from the iron-depositing solution-proper and
washed in clear water, after which they are immersed in an ordinary nickel-plating
striking solution or an equivalent solution of cobalt or manganese.
We next pass the plates into the nickel-plating solution-proper, or into the cobalt
solution-proper or into the manganese solution-proper where a sufficient permanent
coating is deposited over the preliminary thin film of nickel-plating or equivalent
cobalt or manganese.
To strip the nickel-facing, cobalt-facing or manganese-facing from the plates or
rollers we immerse such plates or rollers in a bath of diluted sulphuric-acid heated
to a temperature of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit or in a bath of concentrated
hydrochloric acid at ordinary temperature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
a
1st. The protection of engraved copper-plates and copper-rollers by depositing
thereon a plating of nickel, cobalt, or manganese in the manner herein

page_text: 2nd. The stripping of engraved copper-plates and copper-rollers to remove the
coating deposited when such deposited coating has worn bare, by passing the
copper-plates or copper-rollers through a stripping-bath as herein described.
Dated this 14th day of July 1896.
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER,
Cobden Buildings, Corporation Street, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicants.