IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF MOULDING AND SHAPING PLATES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hippolite Alexandre Celestin Boulenger, of 82,
Boulevart Sebastopol, Paris, in the Empire of France, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF MOULDING AND SHAPING PLATES AND
OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Sealed the 15th November 1864, and dated the 18th May 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hippolite Alexandre
Celestin Boulenger at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 18th May 1864.
I, HIPPOLITE ALEXANDRE CELESTIN BOULENGER, of 82, Boulevart Sebastopol,
Paris, in the Empire of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF MOULDING AND SHAPING PLATES
AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
In the improvements I introduce in the manufacture of plates, the paste or
mass, is prepared in the ordinary way, and divided into balls each of sufficient
size to form a plate, the ball is then placed between two pieces of silk or
similar tissue, the object of which is to maintain the paste and to serve in
removing it from the moulds used for shaping it. The moulds can be of
any metal unacted on by water, and of any desired shape, the paste is placed in
the mould between the pieces of silk and subjected to sufficient pressure to
give it the required form, after which the silk on the top is removed, and the
plate placed on its face on a mandrel, the silk on the bottom of the plate is
then withdrawn, and the mandrel put in motion, during its revolution all the
superfluous paste is removed by a cutter, the plate is then allowed to
dry. By this system the rapidity of manufacture is greatly increased and
simplified.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Hippolite Alexandre Celestin Boulenger in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 15th November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HIPPOLITE
ALEXANDRE CELESTIN BOULENGER, of 82, Boulevard Sebastopol, Paris, in the
Empire of France send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
, thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Hippolite Alexandre Celestin Boulenger, Her special licence that I, the
said Hippolite Alexandre Celestin Boulenger, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Hippolite Alexandre Celestin
Boulenger, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF MOULDING AND SHAPING PLATES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Hippolite Alexandre
Celestine Boulenger, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Hippolite Alexandre Celestin Boulenger,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
In the improvements I introduce in the manufacture of plates, the paste
or mass is prepared in the ordinary way, and divided into balls each of
sufficient size to form a plate, the ball is then placed between two pieces of
silk, or similar tissue, the object of which is to maintain the paste, and to serve
in removing it from the moulds used for shaping it. The moulds can be of
any metal unacted on by water, and of any desired shape, the paste is placed
in the mould between the pieces of silk and subjected to sufficient pressure to
give it the required form, after which the silk on the top-is removed, and the

page_text: plate placed on its face on a mandrel, the silk on the bottom of the plate is
then withdrawn, and the mandrel is put in motion during its revolution,
all the superfluous paste is removed by a cutter, the plate is then allowed
to dry.
In carrying out my Invention steam or other motive power may be employed
either for giving the required pressure or turning the mandrels. The pre-
paration of the paste or mass differs in no way from the usual mode of proceeding
provided the paste produced be of sufficient strength, elasticity, and lightness.
Before introducing the ball of paste into the moulds, as above mentioned, the
paste is placed between two circular pieces of silk for the purpose of facilitating
the removel of the paste, when shaped, from the moulds, and also maintaining
it whilst undergoing pressure in the moulds; for this double purpose silk is to
be preferred, the fineness of its tissue leaving no trace on the plate afterwards.
The moulds in which the plates or other articles are to be formed must be of
metal not readily oxidised by humidity to which they are constantly subjected,
their shape and dimensions would of course vary to suit the prevailing taste,
pressure can be applied by steam or otherwise. After pressure the silk on the
upper surface is removed, the plate is then placed on a mandrel of suitable
shape, the silk on the bottom of the plate is then removed, rotatory motion is
communicated to the mandrel and the superfluous paste is cut off. The plate
thus shaped is now placed on a rest where it is allowed to dry..
The advantages of my Invention are economy and rapidity of manufacture,
the assistance of the modeller being unnecessary, and the shaping of the plate
requiring only a few seconds of time.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is, the simple arrangement herein-before described for shaping
and moulding plates.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hippolite Alexandre Celestin Boulenger,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
H. A. C. BOULENGER. (L.s.)
Witness,
E. HÉBRÉ,
82, Boulevard Sebastopol, Paris.