Improvements in the Production of Engraved or Etched Rollers or Surfaces for Use in Calico Printing or Embossing or for Analogous Uses.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 15th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 18th Jan., 1887.
Improvements in the Production of Engraved or Etched Rollers
or Surfaces for Use in Calico Printing or Embossing or for
Analogous Uses.
We, JAMES KERR of the Firm of F. Steiner and Co. of Church in the County of
Lancaster Turkey-Red-Dyers and Printers, and WILLIAM WILLIAN of Church
aforesaid Foreman Engraver to the said F. Steiner and Co. do hereby declare the
nature of our Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved method of engraving copper or other metal
rollers or surfaces to be used in the printing or embossing of calico or other fabrics or
materials.
33
In carrying out this Invention we take for example a copper roller and coat it with
metallic Zine by the wet process by electro-deposition or by any other suitable process.
Next we obtain a facsimile of the required design (which according to circum-
stances may be either a positive or negative) by any of the ordinary methods such as
lithography or Zincography and having damped the prepared roller, we apply the
facsimile or "
transfer to it until it thoroughly adhers.
Thereafter the paper or
other material is removed from the roller but leaving the facsimile of the design upon
the same The facsimile of the design now remaining on the roller is treated by
preference with nut gall or other suitable solution and is "inked up" and "dusted"
in the manner commonly known to Zincographic printers until it is of sufficient
દ body" to resist the action of the etching solutions.
In the next operation that of etching any of the known solvents of zinc and of the
body metal may be used, but by preference we take first a weak solution of sulphuric
acid, or of sulphuric and Hydrochloric acids mixed, and when this has eaten through
the zinc coating of the roller we replace it by an etching solution suitable to act the
body metal and carry on the etching to the required depth.
on
The resist is finally washed off with turpentine or other suitable solvent and the
roller is ready for use. If desired the thin film of zinc can be removed by a slight
etch in an acid solution or by being what is technically called "stoned."

page_text: Or we may take a zinc roller or body or any other kind of roller or body coated
to a suitable depth with zinc and after having applied the facsimile of the
design or transfer thereto and proceeded generally in the manner hereinbefore
described, we etch to the required depth by a weak solution of sulphuric acid or of
sulphuric acid and Hydrochloric acid mixed. Then the resist is removed from the
roller or other surface and we can obtain a more suitable material than zinc is for
printing from by deposition of Copper or nickel or other suitable metal by electricity
or other convenient method.
Although in the above described we have mentioned à roller it is to be understood
that other surfaces may be so treated and although we have mentioned copper as the
body metal, other suitable metal may be used.
Where the metal of the roller or surface to which the zinc coating has been applied
is liable to injure the colours or to be injured by the colours used in printing we may
after removing the zinc coating cover the roller or surface with nickel or such metal
as will not so injure the colours or be injured by them.
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for James Kerr & William Willian.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Engraved or Etched Rollers
or Surfaces for Use in Calico Printing or Embossing or for
Analogous Uses.
We, JAMES KERR, of the firm of F. Steiner and Company of Church in the County
of Lancaster, Turkey-Red Dyers and printers, and WILLIAM WILLIAN of Church
aforesaid, Foreman Engraver to the said F. Steiner and Company 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 improved method of engraving Copper or other metal
rollers or surfaces to be used in the printing or embossing of calico or other fabrics or
materials.
In carrying out this Invention we take, for example, a copper roller and coat it with
metallic zinc by the wet process by electro-deposition or by any other suitable process.
Next we obtain a facsimile of the required design (which according to circum-
stances may be either a positive or negative) by any of the ordinary methods such
as lithography or zincography and having damped the prepared roller we apply the
facsimile or transfer to it until it thoroughly adheres. Thereafter the paper or
other material is removed from the roller but leaving the facsimile of the design upon
the same. The facsimile of the design now remaining on the roller is treated by
preference with nut gall or other suitable solution and is "inked up" and
the manners commonly known to zincographic printers until it is of sufficient "body"
"
dusted in
to resist the action of the etching solutions.
"
"
In the next operation that of etching any of the known solvents of zinc (and if
necessary or desired also of the body metal) may be used but by preference we take
first a weak solution of Sulphuric acid or of Sulphuric and Hydrochloric acids
mixed and when this has eaten through the zinc coating of the roller we replace it by
an etching solution suitable to act on the body metal and carry on the etching to the
required depth.
The resist is finally washed off with Turpentine or other suitable solvent and
the roller is ready for use. If desired the thin film of zinc can be removed by a slight
etch in an acid solution or by being what is technically called "stoned."
Although in the above description we have mentioned a roller it is to be understood
hat other surfaces may be so treated and although we have mentioned copper as the
body metal other suitable metal may be used.
Where the metal of the roller or surface to which the zinc coating has been applied
s liable to injure the colours or to be injured by the colours used in printing we may
fter removing the zinc coating cover the roller or surface with nickel or such metal as
vill not so injure the colours or be injured by them. Or we may take a zinc roller
r body and after having applied the fac simile of the design or transfer thereto
nd proceeded generally in the manner hereinbefore described we etch to the required
epth by a weak solution of sulphuric acid or of sulphuric acid and Hydrochloric

page_text: acid mixed, then the resist is removed from the roller and we can obtain a more suitable
material than zinc is, for printing from by deposition of copper or nickel or other
suitable metal by electricity or other convenient method.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is―
First The production of engraved or etched rollers or surfaces by coating a
copper or other metal roller or surface with zinc, then transferring the design, inking
up, and etching substantially as hereinbefore described whether the etching be carried
into the zinc only or also into the body metal and whether the zinc be removed
subsequently to etching or not, and whether or not it be plated with copper nickel
or other metal.
Second The production of rollers or surfaces for the purpose described by trans-
ferring a design to a roller or surface of zinc, then inking up and etching, and plating
the etched roller or other surface with copper nickel or other metal suitable to give a
printing surface substantially as described.