Expanding Metal Block for Securing Printers' Forms in Metal Frames or Chases.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th May, 1891-Accepted, 6th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Expanding Metal Block for Securing Printers' Forms in Metal
Frames or Chases.
FREDERICK PORTMAN MUNRO, South Cottage Thurlow Park Road, Dulwich,
Surrey, S.E. Engineer & Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
A metal block measuring about 2 in. by 1 in. thick, but may be made any
size, is in two parts, one part has two round metal guide pins attached, on which
the other part slides freely to & fro and parrellel to the other part, a spiral spring
on each guide pin under its head which is sunk flush with outside-of-block-keeps-
the two parts in contact, in the centre of one part of block a steel excentric stud is
fitted having a square indent. By inserting a square key or lever in this stud &
turning it partly round the two parts of block are expanded so as to compress the
form or type in a chase or rame very firmly and remains fixed until the excentric
stud is turned in the reverse direction, to release it.
At 91+ 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Expanding Metal Block for Securing Printers' Formes in Metal
Frames or Chases.
I, FREDERICK PORTMAN MUNRO, of South Cottage, Thurlow Park Road,
Dulwich, Surrey, S.E., Engineer and Machinist 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 relates to means or apparatus for use in locking up pages of types
arranged in proper order on their support or "imposing stone" ready to be made
into a "forme" with their furniture side and foot sticks or equivalent printing
surfaces within a frame or chase so that the whole may be made firm and safely
removable as a whole; or, the blocks may be used for locking the chases in the bed
or table of the machine or press.
In carrying out my invention I arrange parts of a metal block so that it con-
stitutes a handy. self contained device capable of being expanded by the aid of
a simple key say having a square end to fit a corresponding opening in the eccentric
or expander.
These blocks appropriately located around the matter to be retained in position
and the insides of the frame or chase are by expansion of the members of each
block caused to press upon and lock up the formes the sides of the frame or chase
forming the abutment and the chases in the bed or frame of the press or machine

page_text: is a cross section of part a.
Fig. 8 is a side view of eccentric c.
Fig. 9 is one of the pins d.
Fig. 10 is one of the springs e.
Fig. 11 shews a plan of a modification without springs adapted to small sizes and
dispensing with springs.
Fig. 12 is an end view of Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 shews a similar view to Fig. 1 of a like block but modified by the addition
of covering plate or strap of metal f forming a guard to prevent entrance of
deleterious matters between the parts of the block in use when stereotyping with the
use of plaster or under like circumstances requiring protection.
Fig. 14 is a small diagram indicating a frame A and furniture B with three
blocks in situ.
Each block consists of three main members and other subsidiary parts for
maintaining proper relative positions between the main parts and facilitating use,
the main parts are the two pieces a and b the outer surfaces a' b¹ of which engage
and press against the inner side of the frame and the forme or against parts of
formes, and e is the third piece which on being forcibly rotated on its axis c¹ which
journals in an opening a formed for it in the lower part a² of part a. This
axis c¹ being formed eccentrically to the body c, rotation of the body e pushes the
part apart from part a.
The pins d d fixed in part a and traversing in openings 62 in 6 serve as guides for
part 6 to slide to and from a upon and also the heads d' d' serve as means for
determining the extent of separation of parts a, b as well as forming abutments
for the one end of each spring e encircling each pin d and pressing against the sides
of the contracted opening of b².
In the arrangement Figs. 11 & 12 compactness is mainly studied and the
omission of springs facilitates this, as well as economy of production.
The blocks being placed in position the eccentrics are forced around on their
centres by key or leverage and each part a is caused to separate from each counter-
part pressing and locking up the forme. Whilst the reverse motion of the
eccentrics releases the grips of the blocks and when springs are used the two parts
close in together by their own co-operation facilitating rapidity of removal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture and use of expanding metal blocks for securing printers'
formes in metal frames or chases or chases in beds or tables of presses or machines
composed of an abutment part, as a; a pressing part, as b; an eccentric piece
having its axis journalled in part a and guides for maintaining correct relative
co-operation of the parts as set forth.
2. The manufacture and use of parts of expanding metal blocks for printers
use arranged and combined so as to be capable of co-operation in use as set
forth.
Dated the 6th day of May 1891.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.