An Improvement in or relating to Copying Presses, and in Means for Pressure therein.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1395
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
An Improvement in or relating to Copying Presses, and in Means
for Pressure therein.
I, PRESTON WEIR, of 4 Melville Road, Redland, Bristol, Schoolmaster, do
bereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improvement in copying presses and in means for
pressure therein.
For the purposes of my invention, I employ a flat shape of inflatable bag with
the necessary pulsation bellows which by a tube can be on the outside of a box in
which the copying book or sheet can be placed. The box or it may be a
frame is in two parts and capable of being secured together to resist internal
pressure.
To prevent undue bulging at any part of the bag, and to ensure an equal
distribution of pressure, I employ metal plates which can be placed between the
leaves of the book, or within the covers only, or outside the covers as desired.
The tube is provided with the necessary valves to hold the pressure within the
bag, and also with a relief valve for deflating the bag by an action of the thumb or
finger of the operator.
When the writing to be copied is strong and bold the pulsation bellows can be
dispensed with and blowing air into the bag by the mouth of a person will be
sufficient.
The box or frame is of such a character that it may form the flap of a desk
or writing cabinet, or he placed in or form part of a drawer, there being no
screw, projecting handles, or other obstructive elements as with ordinary copying
presses.
Dated this 28th dest of N.
1000
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Preston Weir.
CUMI LEIE DI BULLICATION.
An Improvement in or relating to Copying Presses, and in Means
for Pressure therein.
I. PRESTON WEIR, of 4 Melville Road, Redland, Bristol, Schoolmaster, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improvement in copying presses and in means for
pressure therein.
For the purposes of my invention, I employ a flat shaped inflatable bag with the
necessary pulsation bellows which by a tube can be on the outside of a box in which.
the copying book or sheet can be placed.
The box or it may be a frame is or may be in two parts and capable of being
secured together to resist internal pressure.

page_text: To prevent undue bulging at any part of the bag and to ensure an equal
distribution of pressure, I employ one or more metal plates which can be placed.
between the leaves of the book or within the covers only or outside the covers, as
desired.
The tube is provided with the necessary valves to hold the pressure within the
bag and also with a relief valve for deflating the bag by an action of the thumb or
finger of the operator.
When the writing to be copied is strong and bold the pulsation bellows can be
dispensed with and blowing air into the bag by the mouth of a person will be
sufficient.
The box or frame is of such a character that it may form the flap of a desk
or writing cabinet, or be placed in or form part of a drawer there being no
screw, projecting handles or other obstructive elements as with ordinary copying
presses.
Two examples of my invention are shown in the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 perspective view partly in section of a hinged top box.
Figure 2 similar view of a plain box upon a table.
Each box is shown with a book A in position upon a plate B laid on a flat shaped
inflatable bag C having a tube D affixed and terminating in a pulsation bag E by
which air can be forced into the bag C to lift the plate B and book A upwardly
for pressure against the lid or the top F of the box according to whether said
box has a hinged lid or not.
The mouth of the tube D is provided with a non-return valve, and near thereto
is fitted the deflating valve G.
According to Figure 1, the lid F is hinged at H to the back I of the box J and
this is provided at its front K with a hinged locking flap L which when lifted and
thrown over, as indicated, enables the lid to withstand the internal strain put upon
it by the air pressure in the pneumatic bag C. There may be more than one
locking flap if desired.
The plate B shown has a depending flange M around which the pneumatic
bag C is folded to prevent side bulging and allow of it rising vertically while
being inflated and thus permit of a thick or a thin copying book being inserted,
or if the flange be sufficiently deep a single sheet of paper can be inserted and be
copied with the same facility as a book.
I have shown a pulsating bag E for hand pressure but by continuing the tube D
a foot bag, or a plate, or any suitable mechanically operable air pump can be fitted
to it.
At Figure 2 the box is formed from a casting with the front side open, the
upper part E being solid and rigid to resist pressure while the inflatable bag is
arranged in the bed plate N and for convenience has feet P, P, with openings
between for the passage of the tube D.
A copying apparatus of the foregoing description can be placed upon a shelf
close at hand for copying purposes, or be placed in a drawer, or in a desk as before
mentioned or upon a table Q as shown at Figure 2.
A copying apparatus of the kind described is specially applicable in offices and
houses of business where female clerks and typists are employed and for whom
the usual screw down press is objectionable and on account of the physical strength
required.
Another advantage arises from the equal distribution of pressure over the whole
surface of the book against a central pressure of the screw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described improvements in or relating to copying presses and in
the means of obtaining pressure therein, as set forth.

page_text: 2. The combination of an inflatable and deflatable bag as set forth with a box
like structure in or by which letter copying can be effected, as described and as
shown at Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
The 28th day of August 1896.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Preston Weir.