Improvements in Apparatus for Damping Copying Sheets and Copying Letters thereon.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Damping Copying Sheets and
Copying Letters thereon.
I, GEORGE LOWRY, Engineer, of Clifton, City of Bristol County of Gloucester-
shire England, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
.
I make the damper of sheet metal in V or wedge shape & provide it with a water-
tight plug or valve for filling, at one end, at the small or nose part I let in the
sponge cloth, felt or damp distributing material. The sides of the damper are made
elastic & when pressed with more or less force give out the requisite amount of water.
On each side is fixed a knob or support to keep the damper pad above the level of the
water & prevent dripping when not in use. I make the body of the press in cabinet
form, with provision for holding the damper, oil sheets, blotters & other papers.
I use an eccentric roller for adjusting the movable bed plate to suit any ordinary
thickness of book; or a stationary bar when only one thickness of book is used. To
the axle of the eccentric roller is attached the connection of the lever or gripper for
giving the necessary pressure by drawing the lid or cover & the eccentric roller or
bar closer together & thereby pressing the book sufficiently to make a good copy.
Dated this 18th day of December 1886.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Damping Copying Sheets and
Copying Letters thereon.
1 GEORGE LOWRY of Clifton, Bristol in the County of Glo'ster, 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 a press for copying letters with apparatus for damping the
copying sheets. The Press I make in cabinet iform preferably, but other forms may
be used, with compound levers for giving the needed pressure and with adjustablo
bed-plate to suit various thicknesses of book, or stationary bar for one thickness.
The damping I do by a reservoir with self feeding pad, sponge cloth or other suitable
material. I also supply a water well which can be used with an ordinary brush.
Fig. 1 shews end view of copying press closed, with letter book in position,
constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2, is front view of press closed.
Fig. 3, is front view of the press open, shewing book in position.
Figs. 4 and 5, are details of same.
Figs. 6 and 7, shew the damper.
Fig. 1. A. A. is the frame made in cabinet form preferably of walnut wood.
B. is the lid or cover hinged to one side.
Cis the small friction roller, on the cross-bar end C¹.
D. is the side lever, segment of a circle, formed with a gathering curve, to pross
the lid down firmly on to the copying book, it swivels loose on the axlo of the
eccentric roller and draws the parts closer together. The dotted lines shew it raised
free of the friction runner to allow the lid to open.
E is the eccentric roller for setting the bed-plate E¹, to suit the thickness of
copying book.
E3, is letter copying book shewn under pressure.
F. is the guard plate to guide the side lever and has a hole provided for a padlock
to secure the lever when pressed down and so keep the book private.
G. is the water well covered by the hinged lid H, this is required when the ordinary
damping brush is used. I is the hinged lid which covers the paper partitions J, J.
Fig. 2. shews front view of copying press closed.
B is the lid or cover hinged at B₁ to the side and forms the first lever for putting
prossure on the letter book.
Cis the cross-bar secured to the back of the lid, at one end it is provided with a
pivot which takes into a plate on the side attached to the eccentric axle, and so
relieves the greater part of the strain from the hinges when the lid is pressed down
on the book, at the other end is the friction roller C.

page_text: of letter book, on one end is the knob or handle for setting the roller and on the other
end is the division wheel M and small catch M¹ to retain it in position.
Fig. 3. shews front view of copying press open.
E is copying book in position.
B is the lid or cover wide open.
Fig. 4, is a straight bar with dividing wheel M on the end which may be used
instead of the eccentric roller, or a stationary bar may be used when only one thick-
ness of book is required.
Fig. 5, is section of adjustable bed-plate with section of eccentric roller at the
back for setting up to suit various thicknesses of copying books.
Fig. 6, is front view of the reservoir damper with hole N for filling and water-
tight plug.
S, is the elastic side.
O. is the sponge cloth or pad, for giving out the water as required, which is cut in
Vor wedge shape and pressed tightly inside, leaving sufficient outside to give some
elasticity when drawn across the sheet.
Fig. 7, is a side view of damper shewing the sides hammered S and S¹ a little
round, so that when pressure by finger and thumb is applied, they spring inwards and
expel the necessary amount of water.
T is a spiral spring to ensure the rebound after pressure is removed. A movablo
piston or plug may be used to force out the required moisture.
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 :
First The combination of a press frame, eccentric roller for adjustment to suit
thickness of book in use, the division wheel and catch to retain it when set.
Substantially as set forth and for the purpose specified.
:
Second The combination of the press frame and lid to form the first lever for
applying pressure on the copying book and the side or second lever to press home the
lid pulling the parts closer together. Substantially as set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Third The combination of a copying press with adjustable book rest, paper and
envelope cells and water tank. Substantially as set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Fourth The reservoir damper with elastic sides to cause the water to flow through
the sponge cloth or pad by the pressure of finger and thumb. Substantially as set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Fifth The combination of the water reservoir with elastic sides, the damper pad
or distributing medium, the filling hole with stopper and spring to ensure rebound.
Substantially as set forth and for the purpose specified..
Sixth The improved apparatus substantially as shewn and described for damping
sheets and copying letters.
Dated this Sawantrouth dove of Santamber 1997
GEO. LOWRY.