Improvement in Printing Electros.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 29th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Jec.,
1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Printing Electros.
"
I, ALEXANDER GRAY of The Mansion, Frognal, N.W., Consulting Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This improvement consists in removing the bends and buckles usually present in
copper shells, so that after backing the shells are much truer than those hitherto
made.
In order to remove the bends and buckles, the shell after being tinned is placed
in the backing pan and a number of conical wires or rods are caused to press on the
shell with sufficient force to bring the printing surface close down to the surface of
the backing pan and yet not injure the shell.
The backing metal is now poured on and allowed to set whilst the shell is still
held down by the wires or rods.
When the backing metal is set, the wires are removed and the electro is then
finished in the usual way.
Dated this 20th day of August. 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Printing Electros.
I, ALEXANDER GRAY of The Mansion, Frognal, London, N.W. Consulting
Engineer 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 :—
The object of this invention is to remove buckling from electro-copies of type,
wood blocks, and other printing surfaces, commonly known as "shells."
It is often found that a shell is buckled during the process of tinning or otherwise,
and that the buckled condition remains after the backing metal has been applied to
the shell. This buckled condition has then to be removed by hammering in order
to render the plate fit for use.
This invention consists in the application of pressure at numerous points on the
back of the shell during the operation of backing it, so that the shell is pressed
down on to the surface of the backing pan and is held there until the backing metal
has set.
By this means the printing surface of the shell is rendered as true as that of the
backing pan, and the necessity of hammering the plate true after backing it, is
avoided.
In order to carry this process into effect, I use the apparatus shown in the annexed
drawing, in which Figure I is an elevation and Figure II a plan.
I arrange the rods C¹ in a frame composed of two plates A, A' kept apart by
distance pieces A and held firmly together by the bolts B₁4. The plates A, A' are
perforated for the rods about apart, so that they may act as guides for the rods.
The rods C¹ may be conveniently made of iron with their lower ends tapered and
with weights cast on their upper ends C. The rods may be pressed down by springs
if more convenient than weights. The pressure required varies with the thickness
of the shell, but I find with shells about 0.005″ thick, that a weight of two ounces
on each rod is enough. I make the rods with tapered lower ends and also the
bolts B for the sake of easy removal from the backing metal.
To use the apparatus, a shell ready tinned is placed in the backing pan, an
Co
-

page_text: apparatus large enough to cover the shell is placed on it and the backing metal is
poured on; when the metal is set, the apparatus is removed and the plate finished
in the usual way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is ;-
1. The application of pressure at numerous points to an electro or "shell" during
the process of backing to keep it down on the surface of the backing pan till the
backling metal is set, and so to remove buckling.
2. The arrangement of apparatus as herein set forth and described for removing i
buckling in electros or "shells."
Dated this 20th day of October 1909
ALEXR. GRAY.