Method of and Means for Relief Stamping and Printing.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Mar., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Method of and Means for Relief Stamping and Printing.
FREDERICK GRIFFIN 3 Wisteria Terrace Chapel Road Stamford Hill London, N.
Stationer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
-
My invention (which I call the "Ideal" stamping) consists (1) in stamping or
printing any wording or design with a press or machine or other apparatus by means
of dies plates blocks or type with counterparts on paper cards cloth leather metal or
other material whereby the effect of a cameo is produced in either of the following
forms the wording or design being cut or formed in a die plate block or typo with
corresponding counterpart struck from same-namely:-the wording or design raised
in relief & colored on its surface only or colored on its surface and ground only or
surface ground and erect parts or surface & erect parts only or colored on its ground
& erect parts leaving the surface plain or on the erect parts only leaving surface &
ground plain, and (2) an apparatus obtaining this result.
The apparatus hereinbefore (2) referred to consists of a flat ink or color surface
attached to an embossing press or machine and one or more rollers of metal, wood,
leather or suitable composition made to pass over it by means of arms & joints
conveniently fitted so that when the portions of the material being stamped are raised
in relief as in "plain" stamping an arm or plate (which may form part of the
counterpart) keeps the material firmly on the type die or plate after the counterpart
has been raised by a suitable lever or spring adjusted for the purpose, the inked roller
is then made to pass over the material and so causes the color to adhere to the raised
portions only or if the ground of the design is required to be colored then a roller is
made to pass the ink on to the surface of the counterpart which is then forced down
on to the type die or plate with the material between them the ink being transferred
on to it or the arrangement of the coloring is made so that the ink is carried by
rollers or pads on to one or more smooth surfaces which are fitted so that when inked
they are pressed on to the surface of the raised portions & causes the color or colors
to adhere thereon either manner working separately or the two together according to
the design and number of colors being used.
The type referred to (preferably of hard metal) is made with the opposite sides
parallel and shoulders of equal height from the base in all the characters which are
thus interchangeable and formed to read the right way up the upper surface being
sufficiently raised on the shoulders with perpendicular or bevelted sides according to
the shape of the design required to be stamped on the material so that it will be
raised in relief by being pressed into a counterpart by the type. The counterpart
may be made of metal or other suitable material by forcing the type, up to the
shoulders which form a level surface, into the counterpart; or it may be made in
two parts consisting of a plate cut in the form of a stencil plate which comes next
the material the other part being of metal or suitable composition so that parts of it
fit into the type and through the cut plate. After the relief impression is made the
upper part is made to move away and at same time the inked roller or surface is
passed over or pressed on to the surface of the design projecting through the cut
plate which is then released & withdrawn ready for next impression-the effect being
produced at one evolution the apparatus working automatically on the press or
machine being set in motion. The same effect is also produced by the color or ink
being rolled or pressed onto the surface by hand after the wording or design has
been raised in relief.
Dated thin and do 1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Method of and Means for Relief Stamping and Printing.
I, FREDERICK GRIFFIN, of 3 Wisteria Terrace, Chapel Road, Stamford Hill, N.,
in the County of Middlesex, Stationer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion 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 reference to improvements in the method of and means used
for relief stamping or embossing (hereinafter called embossing) of sheet material, for
example paper, card, leather, metal, or other substance with names, addresses,
monograms and other indications or designs.
For the production of colored relief stamping it is usual to apply ink of the desired
color to the intaglio die and to rub the ink well into the recessed parts thereof repre-
senting the letters or other characters or designs (hereinafter referred to generally as
letters) which it is desired to reproduce on the sheet material hereinafter referred to
as paper. The flat surface of the die is then cleaned and the paper afterwards
compressed between this die and a corresponding cameo die so that the whole
of the parts of the paper that are in relief will be colored by the ink in the
intaglio die
Now the object of my invention is to produce such colored embossed surfaces in
a simple, rapid and economical manner. To this end the paper is first embossed with
the desired letters which are thus produced in uncolored relief by pressure, between
suitable dies in a press or machine that may be of the construction usually employed
for this purpose but I prefer to use a machine of the construction hereinafter described
and illustrated in the drawings annexed Then by any suitable means such as a roller
or plate operated by hand direct or by suitable mechanism such as hereinafter
described ink or color is applied to the tops of the letters by which expression I refer
to the parts nearest the observer and furthest from the surface of the sheet of paper
and excluding what may be described as the sides (corresponding to the depth or
extent of relief) of the letters.
The ink may with advantage be applied whilst the letters in relief, are supported by
the corresponding parts of the cameo die or its equivalent. When a roller of soft
material such as india rubber is employed to ink the surfaces of the letters, it is
advantageous to surround the letters by a thin perforated sheet or plate of suitable
material for example brass, of a thickness slightly less than that of the height of the
letters in relief in order that the surface of the paper constituting the back ground shall
not be colored by the roller should the letters in relief become imbedded in the roller
during the inking operation. This sheet or plate can be perforated-by_compression
between a die, corresponding to the cameo die used for producing the desired letters
in relief, and a block of soft material for example a soft metal such as lead. By
these means there is obtained a plate such as shown in Fig 4, and which somewhat
resembles a stencil plate, but the perforations correspond only with the outline of the
letters.
If it be desired to color the ground at the base of the embossed letters, as well as
the tops of the letters, this can be done by applying ink of the desired color to the
flat surface only of the intaglio die, and not to the recessed parts thereof, for each
embossing operation. The paper when embossed will then have a colored ground
surrounding plain or uncolored raised letters, the tops of which can then be colored
as before.
Although for the sake of brevity I have hereinabove and shall hereinafter refer to
letters, it will be noted that other characters or designs can be similarly produced.
Also that as already indicated my invention can be employed in relief stamping on
various kinds of materials including sheet metal care being taken to use color of
suitable kind according to the material employed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are front, back and side views respectively of an apparatus for

page_text: producing colored embossed surfaces according to this invention and for coloring the
ground at the base of letters in relief; some of the parts of the apparatus are removed
in Figs. 1 and 2 for the sake of clearness.
1 is a frame or staple provided with a bearing 2 for a driving shaft 3 upon which
are fixed a collar 4, a bevel wheel 5 and cams 6 and 10. 7 is a driving pulley that
can freely rotate on the driving shaft and carries a ratchet wheel 8, and a grooved
pulley 9. 11 is a pawl pivoted to the collar 4 and having a curved extension 12.
13 is a spring carried by the collar and the action of which is to force the pawl into
engagement with the ratchet wheel. 14 is a rod capable of endwise movement in a
bearing 15; when this rod extends over the ratchet-wheel 8 as shewn in Fig 3 and
the collar and pawl are rotated by the ratchet wheel, it will act against the curved
extension 12 in such a manner as to first disengage the pawl from the ratchet wheel,
and will then act as a stop to a tooth 11* on the pawl which will then be arrested as
well as the collar 4, driving shaft and connected parts. The rod 14 is reciprocated by
the cranked upper end of a rod 16 that enters a slot 17 in the rod 14 and the other
cranked end 16 of which is suitably arranged to be operated by foot or otherwise.
18 is a guide for the rod 16. 19 is a spring that normally keeps the rod 14 to the
night and in the position shewn in Fig 3. 20 is a rod capable of movement in a
bearing in the frame; it is provided with a handle 21. This rod when moved into
the position shown in Fig 3 acts as a stop for holding the pawl and attached parts in
the opposite positions to those in which they are held by rod 14.
22 is a plunger carrying at its lower end a platen 23 to which is secured the intagho
die 24 that may be of metal or of other suitable material such as gutta percha. This
plunger works in a guide 25 and is forced downward by the cam 6, and upward by a
spring, not shewn, arranged within the guide. 26 is a set screw by which the extent
of upward motion of the plunger and die can be varied to suit requirement. 27 is
the cameo die enclosed within a frame or chase 28 provided with adjusting devices
and supported upon a bed 29 that is fitted within a recess 30 in the frame 1 and 13
capable of vertical adjustment by a horizontally adjustable wedge 31.
extension of the frame that serves as an imposing surface for the chase containing the
cameo or lower die. 31 is a removable table on 31.
31 is an
32 is a bevel wheel in gear with the bevel wheel 5; it is mounted to turn on a
stud 33 screwed in the frame 1, and carries a disc 34 from which projects a pin 35
that enters a slot 36 in an arm 37 secured to a rock shaft 38 which extends through
the frame 1 as clearly shewn in Fig 1. To the shaft 38 is fixed a lever 39 the lower
end of which is forked and jointed by connecting rods 40, to two carriages 41 that
serve as bearings for a color roller 42 The beatings are in the form of slots open at
the top so that the color roller can be readily inserted and removed. Each carriage 41
is formed with an eye 43 capable of sliding on a guide rod 44 that is fixed at its rear
end in the frame 1. The color roller 42 the ends of which are arranged to travel
against the lower sides of vertically adjustable guide plates 42" fixed to the frame, is
so arranged as to roll against the surface of the intaglio die 24 and ink the same
when the machine is in operation for the purpose of coloring the ground at the
base of the raised portions of embossed material The color roller 42 receives
its color by contact with a rotating distributing roller 45 when fully moved to the
right The roller 45 is fed with color from a duct 46 through the medium
of distributing rollers 47 and 48. The duct 46 is formed with a dovetailed
part 49 capable of sliding within a groove of corresponding form in the frame 1
so as to be readily removable The roller 47 is supported in bearings carried by the
duct. It is arranged below the lower open end of the duct and is provided with a
ratchet wheel 50 that is intermittently rotated by a sliding pawl or pusher 51 that is
pushed upward by the platen 23 each time the same rises. The pawl or pusher is
mounted on a pin 52, and is weighted so that it will fall a short distance to engage a
fresh tooth of the ratchet wheel 50 each time the platen descends. When not required
for use the pawl or pusher can be turned on the pin 52 so that its upper end points to
the left. The roller 48 18 alternately moved into contact with the rollers 47 and 45
to transfer color from one to the other. For this purpose it is carried by pivotted

page_text: arms 48 that are raised by wedges 53 on the forked lower ends of the arm 39 as this
arm nears its lowest position and are allowed to fall when the arm 39 is turned
upward When not required for use, the rollers 42 and 48 and the duct 46 carrying
the roller 47, can be readily removed from the machine.
54 is a color roller for coloring the top surfaces of letters in relief on embossed
material. It is supported in bearings 55 that are reciprocated by forked portions of
the carriages 41, but are free to move vertically to the necessary extent.
These
bearings 55 are carried by guide rods 56 that are capable of vertical adjustment for
the purpose of lowering the roller 54 so that it will roll upon the tops of letters in
relief when it is moving from front to back and for raising it and keeping it raised
whilst moving from back to front. To this end the guide rods 56 are each carried by
an eccentric sleeve 56" mounted in a suitable bearing in the frame 1 and provided
with a crank arm 57. The two arms 57 are connected by a rod 58 that is connected
by an arm 59 to a rod 59. This rod 5* is moved downward against the action of a
spring 60, by the cam 10 which acts against an antifriction roller 61 on the rod 59*,
the upper end of which is guided by a reduced part 3* of the driving shaft which
extends through a slot in the rod as shewn and is provided with a collar 3b. The
arrangement is such that the arms 57, rods 56 and color roller 54 will be depressed
by the cam 10 and maintained in their depressed positions whilst the roller 54 is
moving from front to back, and these parts will assume their raised positions and be
maintained in these positions by the spring 60, during the forward movement of the
roller 54 and whilst the machine is at rest This roller 54 receives its ink from
distributing rollers 62, 63 and 64 the latter roller receiving ink from an ink roller 65
that is intermittently brought into contact with it by movement of the ink duct. 66 by
which it is carried In Fig. 3 the roller 65 is indicated in both its forward and
backward positions This ink duct is arranged to slide in guides in the frame and is
reciprocated by one aim of a lever 67 that enters a recess in the under side of the
duct and the other arm of which is jointed to the rod 59. A recess 10ª in the
cam 10 enables the roller 65 to be moved quickly up to and from the roller 64. 68 15
a weighted pawl that acts against a ratchet wheel attached to the ink roller 65 and
partly rotates the same each time the ink duct is moved forward. 69 is a frame
connected to the guide rods 56 and acting as a clamp to hold material to be embossed
upon the cameo die when the guide rods and roller 54 are moved downward as
hereinbefore described and whilst the roller 54 is moved from front to back and inks
the raised surfaces of the embossed material. The distributing rollers 45 and 52 are
each provided with a grooved pulley that is driven from the grooved pulley 9 by an
endless band.
The frame is formed with a recess 1 to hold the inner end of a sheet of paper part
of which is being embossed.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the raised of embossed
parts can be colored at their tops only, or these parts may be colored at their tops
and have a colored ground.
For producing stamped or embossed paper it is usual to employ an intaglio die of
steel in which the letters or other characters or designs required are punched or
engraved. The other die with the parts in relief or cameo is usually made of a
material formed of paper and gutta percha, from the intaglio die by pressure. Such
an intaglio die is costly to produce and can only be used for the production of the one
design or combination of letters or characters for which it was prepared. To obviate
these disadvantages, in lieu of using a punched or engraved intaglio die, I use type of
suitable material, preferably hard metal, so formed that when placed together to form
the desired combination, there is formed a cameo block or die having a flat surface
from which project the letters or other characters. From this die an intaglio die is
produced by casting or pressure in suitable material for example metal or papier-
maché.
Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a plan and a perspective view of a type constructed
for use according to this part of my invention.
Fig. 7 is a plan shewing a number of such type combined together to form a cameo

page_text: block or die. As will be seen each type 70 is formed near one end with a flat surface
or shoulder 71 that surrounds the projecting part 72, constituting the letter to be
reproduced on the paper by embossing. The sides of the projecting parts 72 may be
vertical or bevelled. The distance of the surface or shoulder 71 from the lower end
of the type is made equal for all the type of a fount and corresponds with the length
of the spaces 73 (Fig. 7) so that when a number of types are placed together as shewn
in Fig. 7 and clamped in a suitable frame they form a cameo block or die having a
flat surface from which the letters or characters project As will be seen each type is
formed to read the right way up whereas some of the type as for example F, G, or R
in the example shewn, would in ordinary type be reversed in form thus, D, H
From the type set up as in Fig. 7 an intaglio die in metal or other material is
prepared by casting or pressure as before By providing a flat surface or shoulder 71
all around the projecting part 72, sufficient space is ensured between the letters to
prevent the raised or embossed parts of the paper treated from being cut or punched
out.
3
The dies thus prepared may be placed in a press similar to that shewn in Figs. 1, 2
and 3 and used for producing relief stamping in the ordinary way, the tops of the
raised parts being when desired, colored as herein before described.
By using dies prepared in the manner just described and a press of suitable
dimensions legal and other documents can be wholly produced in the form of raised
or embossed characters that cannot be altered with a fraudulent or other object
without ready detection.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The herein described method of relief stamping which consists in first producing
the desired letters, characters or designs in relief without color by pressure between
suitable dies and afterwards applying color to the tops of the parts in relief as set
forth.
2. For relief stamping according to the method referred to in the preceding claim
an apparatus comprising dies for producing in uncolored relief the desired letters
characters or designs, a color or ink roller and means for actuating the same the
arrangement being such that a sheet of paper or other material such as referred to
after being fed into the apparatus will have the desired letters characters or designs
produced upon it in uncolored relief by the dies and the tops of the parts in relief
colored or inked by the roller.
3. The relief stamping apparatus shewn in and described with reference to
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings for producing work of the kind referred to with or
without the roller 42.
4. For the production of cameo dies for plain stamping in relief the formation of
type each with a flat shoulder or surface around the raised part forming the letter
character or design part of the type which is so formed as to be seen the right way
up as set forth, the arrangement being such that when a number of such type are
secured together in a suitable frame or holder their united shoulders will constitute a
flat smooth surface against which the paper or other material embossed can be pressed
without injury.
5 In relief stamping the use of cameo dies built up of type of the kind referred to
in claim 4.