Improvements in the Means or Apparatus used in the Process of Stereotyping.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1893-Accepted, 1st July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means or Apparatus used in the Process of
Stereotyping.
I, ROBERT CUMMING ANNAND of Cornwallis Street, South Shields in the
County of Durham, Printer and Publisher, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
In stereotyping the pages of newspapers and the like it is a common practice to
dry the mould or matrix after the impression has been taken from the type by
placing it in an oven or laying it on a bed of sand, or other suitable substance
which has been heated by Bunsen burners or other like means. The use of such
special and separate means of drying the mould occupies space and necessitates an
expense for gas or other fuel.
Now the object of the first part of my invention is to utilize the heat of the
molten metal in the melting pot to dry the mould or matrix. For this purpose I
employ in the melting pot a rectangular metal tray flanged all round.
This tray floats on the top of the metal and the flange prevents the metal getting
inside the tray.
I cover the inside of the tray with a thin layer of sand, French
chalk or other suitable powder that will not solidify or change its form with the
heat. The heat of the molten metal in the pot is communicated to the tray and its
contents so that a mould laid on the bed prepared for it will be dried in a short
space of time. The tray can be conveniently raised or lowered by means of a
windlass and chains.
The tray being rectangular and the melting pot circular there is sufficient space
left round the sides of the tray for putting in metal to take the place of that used
for casting the plates. The size of the melting pot and of the furnace is determined
by the size of the largest mould that will have to be dried.
According to another part of my invention I construct the melting pot with a
valve seat and mushroom or other inside valve and with a tube leading therefrom
to the outside of the furnace so that instead of having to bail out the metal as has
been usual it is only necessary to open the valve and the metal will then run out
into the ladle set underneath to receive it. The valve seat is not placed at the
bottom of the pot but at such. a distance from it that in the event of the valve
becoming leaky the melting pot, furnace and drying arrangement can be carried on
with the metal below the valve without interruption. As the valve is inside the
melting pot the metal does not solidify and stop its free running, and the tube
passing to the outside of the furnace should be set at such an angle that no metal
will lodge in it.
1000
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, Loudon, Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means or Apparatus used in the Process of
Stereotyping.
I, ROBERT CUMMING ANNAND of Cornwallis Street, South Shields in the
County of Durham, Printer and Publisher, 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 :-
.In stereotyping the pages of newspapers and the like it is a common practice to

page_text: dry the mould or matrix after the impression has been taken from the type by
placing it in an oven or laying it on a bed of sand or other suitable substance
which has been heated by Bunsen burners or other like means. The use of such
special and separate means of drying the mould occupies space and necessitates an
expense for gas or other fuel.
Now the object of the first part of my invention is to utilize the heat of the
molten metal in the melting pot to dry the mould or matrix. For this purpose I
employ in the melting pot a rectangular metal tray flanged all round.
This tray floats on the top of the metal and the flange prevents the metal getting
inside the tray.
I cover the inside of the tray with a thin layer of sand, French
chalk or other suitable powder that will not solidify or change its form with the
heat. The heat of the molten metal in the pot is communicated to the tray and
its contents so that a mould laid on the bed prepared for it will be dried in a short
space of time. The tray can be provided with a windlass and chains for raising
and lowering it, or it can be fitted with loops to enable it to be lifted or lowered by
hand devices.
The tray being rectangular and the melting pot circular there is sufficient space
left round the sides of the tray for putting in metal to take the place of that used
for casting the plates. The size of the melting pot and of the furnace is determined
by the size of the largest mould that will have to be dried.
According to another part of my invention I construct the melting pot with a
valve seat and conical or other inside valve and with a tube leading therefrom to
the outside of the furnace so that instead of having to bail out the metal as has
been usual it is only necessary to open the valve and the metal will then run out
into the ladle set underneath to receive it. The valve seat is not placed at the
bottom of the pot but at such a distance from it that in the event of the valve
becoming leaky the melting pot, furnace and drying arrangement can be used with
the metal below the valve without interruption. As the valve is inside the melting
pot the metal does not solidify and stop its free running and the tube passing to the
outside of the furnace should be set at such an angle that no metal will lodge in it.
The accompanying drawings represent an apparatus constructed according to my
invention.
Figure 1 is a plau; Figure 2 a section on the line A B and Figure 3 a section
on the line C D of Figure 1. a represents a melting pot set in brickwork in the
usual manner and heated by a furnace or fire place with flue b¹. c is the floating
tray which in accordance with the first part of my invention I place in the pot a in
order to utilize the heat of the molten metal for drying the mould or matrix that
has been taken from the type or forme. The tray c is flanged at d and is covered
inside with a thin layer of sand, French chalk or other suitable powder. The
mould e to be dried is placed upon the layer of powder and covered with a blanket
and perforated sheet of iron.
9 represents the valve seat and h the inside valve with which I provide the
inclting pot in accordance with the second part of my invention. is the tube
leading from the seat and valve to the outside of the furnace. It will be noticed
that the valve seat is not at the bottom of the pot but is at such a height that in
the event of the valve becoming leaky there will be sufficient metal in the pot
below the valve to allow of the apparatus being worked without interruption.
The valve being inside the melting pot the metal is not liable to solidify and
prevent the free running. kk represents a ladle or trough into which the metal is
run when the valve opened. The valve is worked by a handle on the end of
the valve rod m which is threaded and works in a nut n carried by a bracket p.
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 in respect of means or apparatus used in the process of stereotyping is :-
1. The use in the pot containing the molten metal for casting stereotypes, of a
floating tray such as liereinbefore described for holding the mould or matrix to be.

page_text: dried, so that the heat of the molten metal is utilized for drying the mould or
matrix.as set forth.
2. Constructing pots used for melting metal for stereotyping with an inside
valve seat and valve and a tube leading therefrom to the outside of the pot, the
valve seat being situated at some distance above the bottom of the pot, substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Dated this 26th day of May 1893.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.