Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Applying Bronze or other Powders to the Surface of Paper, Cardboard, Cloth, and such like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Applying Bronze or
other Powders to the Surface of Paper, Cardboard, Cloth, and
such like.
I ALEXANDER HERVEY SEGGIE, Broughton Market, Edinburgh, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in machines, or apparatus, used by
printers and others, for applying bronze, or other powders to the surface of paper,
cardboard, cloth and such like materials, and has for its object the removing the
superfluous powder from both face and back of the material, burnishing the
adhering bronze and also the paper when desired, preventing the waste & escape of
the powder & also misfeeds & creasing of the paper and completing the whole
operation with better quality results more rapidly and cheaply than heretofore and
so that once passing through the machine leaves the sheet perfect as concerns this
operation; also, the machine to be of simplicity and durability.
For these ends, in suitable framing, I erect a continuously revolving cylinder,
combining in and with it four features a single plate self-acting gripper, provided
with apparatus for opening and closing and for ejecting the sheets for delivery
from the machine at the proper time; sufficient circumference in addition to that
covered by the full sized sheet the machine is constructed to deal with to allow a
distinct and long enough interval for good and sufficient time for feeding in the
next sheet with ease and security and certainty; small enough in circumference,
due provision having been made as aforesaid, to avoid unnecessarily high surface
speed when running at the necessary number of revolutions to keep pace with the
printing machine or machines, and to produce a maximum possible output; a top
feed, that is to say, the sheet fed to the upper part of the cylinder. In some cases
I use two or more grippers. The surface of the cylinder is continuous, there is no
access from it to the inside, permitting bronze to pass through. On front of feed
table, guides lead the paper into the gripper; they may be made to rise auto-
matically when the latter closes; the feed table is sloped to improve the feed and
allow additional room under it. The sheet, until it reaches the bronzing roller, is
held to the cylinder by means of a cover complete, or nearly so, and therefore not
marking the sheet as strips, or such like-the cover is provided with a suitable
lining readily removeable. The bronze is applied to the sheet by suitable rollers,
carrying it from a trough, which includes the next, a wiping roller whose motion is
opposite to that of the cylinder; the surface of the bronzing roller, in contact with
the sheet, rotates in the same direction as that of the cylinder, but more slowly;
the bronzing rollers are placed at the side of the cylinder in the highest position
that permits their trough to include the under one & the wiping roller & allows
the wiped off bronze to fall freely to the bottom of the trough again. Between the
bronzing roller in contact with the cylinder and the sheet & the wiping roller is a
bar in line with the cylinder's axis and made by means of springs to press the sheet
close to the cylinder. The bronze is made to lie at the bottom of the trough by
means of vibrations imparted to it from an outside cam and springs; it is rubbed
and polished by means of a band, covered with lamb's wool, plush, or the like,
running transverse to the motion of the cylinder, driven by means of bevil gear, so
arranged that the motion may be stopped when required, and supplied with friction
rollers, having along with the band an adjustable pressure; the band has also
adjustable tension and a cleaning roller, or knife; the whole is so arranged that no
escape of bronze is possible, in particular, between the wiping roller & trough on the

page_text: one hand and the band on the other, I interpose a fixed pad, pressed against the
sheet on the cylinder by means of springs. After passing through a series of
dusting-off rollers rotating at a uniform high speed against the sheet and in
the opposite direction to its motion, it is made to pass over a final burnishing
roller, covered with bristles, or suitable hard substance; and on being released
and expelled from the gripper, is carried forward by a delivery roller in contact
with the cylinder surface and driven by that contact; the sheet is then guided
by means of wires, bars, grating, sheet, plate, perforated table, rollers, or
travelling tapes moving in the same direction as the sheet, or it may be a travelling
blanket or endless sheet, between two final delivery rollers, one of larger diameter,
both revolving in the same direction as the sheet. When the two final delivery
rollers have grasped the sheet, a dusting-off roller descends on it, having the sheet
between it and a portion of the under delivery roller; this dusting-off roller
operates on the back of the sheet, revolves at a high speed in the opposite direction
to the motion of the sheet and cleanses it thoroughly as it passes on; this dusting-
off roller is adjustable in its pressure on the sheet and is provided with a cover to
retain the dust, a receptacle for same, and a scraper, or roller, to keep it auto-
matically clean--these are all readily removeable. The final delivery rollers run
at the same speed as the sheet when it reaches them & are covered with a shield.
Between the back dusting roller and the gripper may be placed additional back
dusting rollers acting in all respects as that described above, but with the sheet
immediately under them supported by plates, rods, bars or additional under
rollers or by an endless blanket or sheet which may be supplied with a cleaning
brush.
Instead of the ordinary circular brushes assisting the sheet to leave the gripper
I have a roller covered from end to end with bristles, or such like, this acting as
the best deliverer and cleaning the gripper edge of the cylinder. Alternatively, or in
addition to the above I retain the circular brushes, or I employ a stationary guide
to assist the sheet in leaving the gripper and guide it in the required direction and
1 place the roller for cleaning the gripper edge of cylinder nearer where the gripper
shuts and immediately below it a guard.
Dated this First day of January 1894.
ALEXANDER HERVEY SEGGIE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Applying Bronze or
other Powders to the Surface of Paper, Cardboard, Cloth, and
such like.
I, ALEXANDER HERVEY SEGGIE Broughton Market Edinburgh 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 :-
My invention relates to certain improvements in machines, or apparatus used by
printers and others, for applying bronze, or other powders to the surface of paper,
cardboard, cloth and such like materials, and has for its object the removing the
superfluous powder from both face and back of the material, burnishing the
adhering bronze, or the paper when desired, preventing the waste and escape of
the powder, and also misfeeds and creasing of the paper, and completing the whole
operation with better quality results, more rapidly and cheaply than heretofore,
and so that once passing through the machine leaves the sheet perfect as concerns
this operation; also the machine to be of simplicity and durability.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 shows the side elevation of feed side of machine. Fig. 2 a section of same
from the opposite side,

page_text: Fig. 3 an enlarged view of certain rollers and pad,
Fig. 4 an enlarged view of the delivery and back dusting apparatus.
For the above mentioned ends, in suitable framing A, I erect a revolving
cylinder B, driven by suitable gearing from driving pulley P, and combining in
and with it a single plate self-acting gripper C, of the ordinary type provided
with suitable apparatus for opening and closing and for ejecting the sheets for
delivery from the machine at the proper time; sufficient circumference, in addition
to that covered by the full sized sheet the particular size of machine is constructed to
deal with, to allow a distinct and long enough interval Q, for good and sufficient
time for feeding in the next sheet with ease and security and exactness; the
cylinder B, also small enough in circumference (due provision having been made
as aforesaid) to avoid unnecessarily high speed on the surface when running at the
necessary number of revolutions to keep pace with the printing machine or machines
and to produce a maximum possible output; a top feed, that is to say, the sheet
fed to the upper part of cylinder B, from the feed table D, which rises and falls in
the usual manner; on front of feed table D, I place guides E, being metal fingers,
attached to a rod lying across the front of feed table D, in brackets attached to D,
or to the framing A, to lead the paper, when being fed, into the gripper and also
to cause it to fall simultaneously with the table D. In some cases I use two or
more grippers. The surface of the cylinder B, being continuous, there is no access
from it to the inside permitting bronze to pass through. The guides E, may be
made to rise from the table automatically, when the gripper C, closes, in order the
better to clear the passing sheet.
The bronze is applied to the sheet by means of suitable rollers G, G³, G³,
carrying it from a trough F, which includes the next roller, a wiping roller H,
whose motion is opposite to that of the cylinder; the trough also includes a bronze
regulating roller Z; the surface of the bronzing roller G', in contact with the
sheet, rotates in the same direction as that of the cylinder B, but at a slightly
lower surface velocity; the bronzing rollers are covered with plush or other
suitable material and are placed at the side of the cylinder in the highest position
that permits their trough F, to include the under one G³, and the wiping roller H,
and also allows the wiped off bronze to fall freely to the bottom of the trough F,
again whence it came, thus saving this bronze from being partially lost, from
suffering deterioration in passing uselessly through the machine and increasing the
efficiency of the dusting-off by preventing this surplus bronze from flying about the
cleaning rollers J. The bronze is made to lie at the of the trough by means
of vibrations imparted to the latter by a cam and levers W, or other similar
simple mechanism. The whole is so arranged that no escape of bronze is possible;
in particular, between the wiping roller H, and trough F, on the one hand and the
next roller J', on the other, I interpose a fixed pad I, pressed against the sheet on
the cylinder by means of springs or otherwise; the bronze is prevented getting
access to the outside at the ends of the rollers by means of segmental pieces R', R²,
covered with suitable soft material, rigidly attached to the frames and pressed
against rings on both ends of the cylinder; the bronze is caught in two wooden or
other receptacles T', T2, under the cylinder B, and fitting closely between the
frames A, and roller blocks V, which latter, for this purpose, are made flush with
the frames in order to provide this enclosing surface; the blocks are constructed
to fill up and cover all interstices in the framing by means of which bronze might
escape. After passing through the series of dusting-off and polishing rollers J', to J³,
covered with seal or lamb's wool or other suitable soft material and rotating at a
uniform high speed against the sheet and in the opposite direction to its motion,
the sheet is made to pass over a final burnisbing roller J, covered with bristles or
suitable hard substance; then, on being released by and expelled from the gripper
it is carried forward by delivery roller K, in contact with the surface of cylinder B,
and driven by that contact; the sheet is then guided by means of wires L,
perforated table, endless travelling tapes or blanket or such like device between
two final delivery rollers M², and M², one of larger diameter, both revolving in the

page_text: same direction as the sheet, as do also the travelling tapes or blanket; when the
two final delivery rollers have grasped the sheet, they being in mutual contact, a
dusting-off roller N, mounted on pivots and actuated by a suitable cam, descends
on it; having the sheet between it and a portion of the under delivery roller this
dusting-off roller N, operates on the back of the sheet, revolves at a high speed in
the opposite direction to the movement of the sheet and cleanses it thoroughly as it
passes on this roller N, is adjustable in its pressure on the sheet and is provided
with a cover X, to retain the bronze, a receptacle for same and a scraper or roller
to keep it automatically clean, all of which are readily removeable. The final
delivery rollers M³, and M², run at the same surface speed as the sheet and are
covered with a shield Y. Between the back dusting roller N, and the gripper where
it releases the sheet, may be placed additional back dusting rollers acting in all
respects as that described above but with the sheet immediately under them
supported by plates or additional under rollers, or by an endless blanket which may
be supplied with a cleaning brush.
Instead of the ordinary circular brushes assisting the sheet to leave the
gripper C, I have a roller O, covered from end to end with bristles or such
like, this acting as the best deliverer and cleaning the gripper edges of cylinder.
Alternatively or in addition to the above, I retain the circular brushes or employ a
stationary guide to assist the sheet in leaving the gripper and guide it in the
required direction and I place the roller for cleaning the gripper edges of cylinder
nearer where the gripper shuts and immediately below it a guard. Also instead
of J, being covered with the harder substance, I sometimes make it the same as
the other polishers and dusters and provide a complete additional set of rollers
covered with bristles or other suitable material to take the place of J¹ to J when
the machine is being used for burnishing and glazing.
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 combination of the revolving cylinder B, with gripper C, top feed from
feed board D, guides E, minimum cylinder surface speed along with interval for
feeding Q, trough F, wiping roller H, bronzing rollers G¹, G³, G³, fixed pad I,
rollers J' to J, first delivery roller K, guide L, final delivery rollers M³, M³,
back dusting-off roller N, with pivots, cover, receptacle, scraper and shield X,
segmental pieces R', R³, and gripper edges cleaner O, all arranged substantially as
shown and described and for the purposes indicated.
2. The combination of the revolving cylinder B, with the glazing roller J, and
the glazing rollers J' to Jo, arranged substantially as shown and described.
3. In a bronzing machine the method shown and described of freeing the back of
the sheet from the powder,-after the sheet has been released from the gripper
and while it is being delivered-by means of the apparatus L, M, M, N, and X,
all arranged substantially as shown and described.
4. In a bronzing machine the combination of the revolving cylinder B, and the
roller brush O, for cleaning the gripper edges and arranged substantially as shown
and described.
Dated this 28th day of September 1894.
ALEXANDER HERVEY SEGGIE.