An Improvement in the Art and Process of Electrotyping.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1894-Accepted, 21st July, 1894 .
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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Art and Process of Electrotyping.
I, JOHN WESLEY NAUGHTON, of No. 113 Nassau Street, in the City of New
York, County of New York, and State of New York, one of the United States
of America, Electrotyper, 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 :-
My invention relates to electrotyping of type or other forms adapted to be.
printed.
More especially my invention relates to the formation and treatment of the
matrices from which electrotypes are made.
Heretofore electrotypes have been made from type metal forms, wood cuts, steel
plates and like forms used in printing by taking impressions of such forms in wax,
then coating such impressions or matrices with black lead, and submitting these
matrices to the action of a plating bathing.
"
In this application the matrix is not coated with black lead and is formed in an
alloy of several metals.
In order to more fully describe my invention, the accompanying drawings in
which like letters refer to like parts in each, will be used as reference.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a matrix formed by this process.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a box having a curvature on its face corresponding
to the curvature required by the plate.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a sweat box having a curved and perforated
diaphragm within it; the curve of the diaphragm is the same as the curve of table
upon which the shape of the plate is formed.
In carrying out my invention a metallic plate is formed of a combination of
metals, that will under the influence of a temperature of about 200° Fahrenheit become
plastic.
:
In experimenting upon metals for the purpose of making plates to form the
matrices, I have found a number of alloys that will accomplish the result desired.
I therefore do not confine myself to any specific formula.
I have found that a desirable alloy can be made of two parts bismuth, one of
lead and one of antimony.
The plates formed of this alloy or its equivalent are cast in thin sheets, say about
one-eighth of an inch in thickness, and the form is placed over or under the same,
and sufficient heat induced upon the plate to render it plastic.
A pressure is now brought to bear upon the plate or form and as this is exerted
the plastic metal of the plate conforms to the inequalities of the type or other
matter of which the form is composed.
The plate is now allowed to cool; this may be hastened by a cold bath or any
other appropriate means; when the plate has become normal in temperature it is
ready to be removed.
As this invention is especially adapted for newspaper work and such other work
as is printed from curved plates or on cylinder presses, it is important to have it
curved in order to fit the turtle or curved bed of the form which is placed on
the press.
A former is provided for the purpose of shaping the matrix which has been thus
made; this former has the proper curve of the cylinder on which the electrotype
is to be used; upon this former the matrix is placed and a degree of heat induced
upon it while on this shaper; to again render the metal plastic as the plate is
placed upon the former in such a manner as to allow only the central part to touch;

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the ends when the metal becomes plastic will by gravity fall onto the shaper and
-assume its form. In placing the matrix to be bent the moulded superfice is down-
ward. It is now allowed to cool and when cool is ready for the plating bath. The
formation of the shell for this matrix is proceeded with in the usual manner well
known to the art, and will depend upon conditions with which this Patent has
nothing to do.
When however, the shell is of sufficient thickness to handle with safety, it, with the
matrix attached thereto, is taken from the bath and placed in a box provided for
that purpose.
This box is preferably provided with a cover to retain the heat, and has within
it a foraminated curved diaphram, the curvature of which corresponds with the
curved former and the curvature of the matrix, the cover of the box being closed,
heated vapor, water or air is permitted to enter it beneath the diaphragm through
a pipe or other means provided the heat entering by this pipe is controlled by a
valve which may be opened or shut at pleasure.
The heat thus allowed to enter the box quickly liquefies the metallic matrix, and
by gravity it falls through the foraminations in the diaphragm to the bottom of the
box, which being deflected from a borizontal line, admits of the metal running to
one end from which it may be drawn by any desirable means, and be re-employed
in the formation of matrices.
The electrotype is now ready to be tinned and backed up by the usual methods
employed at present and well understood in the art.
While I have shown certain mechanical constructions for the perfecting of my
process, I do not not confine myself to their use in carrying the details of the
:same.
In the drawings A is the matrix; B is the former on table B₁; C is the sweating
box; C is the foraminated diaphragm; C* the heat inlet; C³ the metal outlet ;
D is the cover; D₁ the table. The dotted lines in Fig. 2 show the positions of
matrix on former E is the position when first placed; E' is the position assumed by
matrix under the influence of heat and gravity.
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 :-
1st. In the art of electrotyping the process herein described of forming the
matrices of type forms in metal, as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In the art of electrotyping the process of bending a matrix 'by heat and
gravity before submitting it to the electric bath, for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In the art of electrotyping the process of removing the matrix of an
electrotype from the shell, as herein described and shown.
4th. In the art of electrotyping the process herein described of constructing
plates and forming matrices of the same herein described, which consists in
combining two or more metals in such proportions that under the influence of heat
they become plastic at a low temperature and admit while in such plastic condition
of impression being made in them by type metal, wood cuts, steel plates or other
forms. Such impressed plate being adapted when cooled to be used as matrices
for electrotyping as herein shown and described.
5th. In the art of electrotyping the process herein described, which consists in
forming the matrix in a metal plate made plastic by heat, of bending the said
matrix by heat and gravity and removing said matrix from the metallic plate in the
manner herein described, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 25th day of May 1894.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.