IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE PREPARATION AND DRYING OF THE MATRIXES USED FOR CASTING. STEREOTYPE PLATES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Edward Taylor, Peter Allen, and William Evans,
of Manchester, Newspaper Proprietors, and Davis Braithwaite, of Manchester,
Printer's Engineer, all in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED
IN THE PREPARATION AND DRYING OF THE MATRIXES USED FOR CASTING.
STEREOTYPE PLATES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Edward Taylor,
Peter Allen, William Evans and Davis Braithwaite at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 4th May 1881.
JOHN EDWARD TAYLOR, PETER ALLEN, and WILLIAM EVANS, of Manchester,
Newspaper Proprietors, and DAVIS BRAITHWAITE, of Manchester, Printers' Engineer,
all in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE AND IN THE
APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE PREPARATION AND DRYING OF THE MATRIXES
USED FOR CASTING STEREOTYPE PLATES."
The nature of our Invention relating to the preparation and drying of the
matrixes used for casting stereotype plates consists as follows:-
Instead of as heretofore after the type has been impressed upon the damp or
moistened material of which the matrix is composed, leaving it there until the
matrix is dry, we as soon as an impress of the type is obtained at once remove
the material in the moist or damp state, and immediately submit it to our drying
process.
According to the method usually practised, the matrixes, the type as set up in
form by the compositor, is laid face upwards upon the movable table of a roller
pressing machine, and the sheet of prepared laminated paper material, which is
saturated with moisture and is used to form the matrix, is then laid upon the face
of the type and covered with one or more layers of a soft woollen fabric. The
table with the type is then passed under the pressing roller of the machine, and
by this means an exact indented impression of the type is imparted to the
moistened material, which when dried forms the matrix for casting. In order to
effect the drying the type with the matrix impressed upon it is removed, and after
the matrix has been covered with several thicknesses or folds of soft woollen

page_text: fabric the form and type is placed upon the heated base-plate of a press, the platen
whereof by being caused to press with moderate force upon the plaited folds of the
woollen fabric keeps all together in position whilst the drying of the matrix is
effected by the heat of the base-plate, which heat is soon imparted to the type
and the hot type dries the matrix whilst the latter is pressed upon it, all the
moisture being transferred to the folds of the woollen fabric, which remains
undisturbed until the matrix is dry. This operation of drying the matrix occupies
at the least from five to six minutes of time.
The object of our Invention is to effect the drying of the matrix in a very short
space of time, which usually by our process does not exceed one and a half or two
minutes at the utmost, and this we effect in two ways, the first by means of a
strong air current or blast applied in combination with a heated plate, and the
second by means of air blasts alone.
1st. After the indented impression of the type (as set up in form by the
compositor) is made upon the moistened sheet intended to form the matrix, wo
quickly remove the impressed sheet and lay it (preferably face upwards) upon the
surface of a heated plate, and then immediately direct a warm air blast upon the
face of the matrix, which during the process is held in position by a sheet of open
wire gauze or net that is stretched upon a suitable frame and laid thereon. The
air is taken from the room in which the operation is carried on, the temperature
whereof usually ranges from about 80° to about 120° Fahr., more or less, according
to the season. The heat of the plate quickly converts all the moisture contained in
the damped or saturated material of the matrix into vapour, and the blast disperses
it the moment it is generated. We do not confine ourselves in the warmth of the
blast to any special degree of heat, but we are careful that it is not so high in
temperature as to parch or injure the face of the matrix, nor so low as to condense
the vapour and deposit it on the face of the matrix in the form of spray.
2nd. According to this modification instead of drying the back of the matrix
by placing it upon or in contact with the surface of a heated plate, we immediately
after the moistened material of the matrix has received the indented impression
of the type, place it vertically edgwise between two sheets of open wire gauze or
net, respectively stretched on suitable frames jointed together so as to open like
the leaves of a book, and we apply simultaneously a hot blast to the backside of
the matrix and a warm blast to its face side, or vice versa, and by this means the
drying process is very quickly effected. Although in this double blast process we
prefer to place the matrix between two vertically disposed sheets of wire gauze,
the latter may be disposed in a horizontal position, and the blasts respectively are
then applied above and below. The ends of the tubes which conduct the blasts
from their respective blowing apparatus are so enlarged as to include between-
them on each side respectively the whole area of the matrix.
The advantages to be derived from the use of our Invention consist, first, in
avoiding the gradual deterioration of the type caused by repeatedly heating the
type when the heat which dries the matrix is passed through it, but we cannot
claim under this head, as it is simply going back to the old plaster process in which
no heat was employed, whilst the matrix was in contact with the type, the drying
being effected as in our improved method after their separation. But the second
or main advantage derivable from the use of our Invention, and especially in
newspaper work, consists in our being able to commence our issue to the public
much earlier than heretofore in consequence of the saving of time effected by the
use of the blast or blasts, which saving amounts to about two thirds of the time
occupied by the old process of drying. Also in cases where a great number of
castings are required to be taken from one matrix, we are now by the aid of our
Invention enabled to produce in a few minutes two or more matrixes, and to
employ double or treble sets or staffs of workmen, whereby the work of casting the
plates is proportionately expedited.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent_filed
by the said John Edward Taylor, Peter Allen, William Evans and Davis
Braithwaite in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd November 1881.
JOHN EDWARD TAYLOR, PETER ALLEN, and WILLIAM EVANS, of Manchester,
Newspaper Proprietors, and DAVIS BRAITHWAITE, of Manchester, Printers' Engineer,
all in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE AND IN THE
APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE PREPARATION AND DRYING OF THE MATRIXES
USED FOR CASTING STEREOTYPE PLATES."
The nature of our Invention relating to the preparation and drying of the
matrixes used for casting stereotype plates consists as follows:-
Instead of as heretofore after the type has been impressed upon the damp or
moistened material of which the matrix is composed, and leaving it there until
the matrix is dry, we, as soon as an impress of the type is obtained, at once
remove the material in the moist or damp state and immediately submit it to our
drying process.
According to the method usually practised in preparing and drying the matrixes,
the chase with the type as set up in form by the compositor is laid face upwards
upon the sliding table of a roller pressing machine, and the sheet of prepared
laminated paper material that is used to form the matrix is in a damp or moist
state then laid upon the face of the type and covered with one or more layers or
folds of a soft woollen or other fabric. The table with the chase and type is then
passed under the pressing roller of the machine, and by this means an exact
indented impression of the type is imparted to the moistened material, which when
dried forms the matrix for casting. Now in order to effect the drying of the
matrix according to the old method, the chase and type with the impressed matrix
remaining upon it is removed, and after the matrix has been covered with several
thicknesses or folds of a soft woollen fabric, the chase with the type and the covered
matrix is placed upon the heated base-plate of a press, the platen whereof being
caused to press with moderate force upon the plaited folds of the woollen fabric
keeps all together in position whilst the drying of the matrix is effected by the
heat of the base-plate, which heat is soon imparted to the type, and the type thus
heated dries the matrix whilst the latter is pressed upon it, all the moisture as it
vapourises being absorbed by the several thicknesses of the woollen fabric, and
this is continued until the matrix is dry; but the operation of drying the matrix
upon the type in this way occupies at the least from five to six minutes of time.
Now the main object of our Invention is to effect the drying of matrixes in a
much shorter space of time, which usually by our process does not exceed one
minute or one minute and a half at the utmost, and this we effect in two ways,
the first by means of a strong air current or blast applied in combination with a
heated plate, and the second by means of air blasts alone.
1st. After the indented impression of the type (as set up in form and locked in
the chase by the compositor), has been made in the usual way upon the damp or
moistened sheet of material intended to form the matrix, we quickly remove the
impressed sheet from the face of the type and lay it (preferably face upwards) upon
the heated surface of a table or plate, and then we immediately direct a warm
dessicating air blast upon the face of the matrix, which, during the process if the
blast plays upon or strikes it obliquely, is held in position by a sheet of open wire
gauze or net that is stretched upon a suitable frame and laid thercon; but when
the blast is caused to descend vertically direct upon the face of the matrix, the air
pressure of the blast is quite sufficient to hold the matrix in its place, and then the
wire gauze is not required. The air may be taken from the room in which the
operation of casting is carried on, the temperature whereof usually ranges from 80°

page_text: to about 120° Fahr., more or less according to the season, or if temperate it may
be taken from the outside. The heat of the table or plate quickly converts all
the moisture contained in the damped or saturated material of the matrix into
vapour, which the blast disperses the instant it is generated, whilst the indented
impression dries unimpaired, being fully as sharp as when it was separated from
the type.
We do not confine ourselves in the temperature of the blast to any special
degree of heat, but we are at all times careful that it is not so high in temperature
as to parch or injure the face of the matrix, nor so low as to condense the vapour
and deposit it on the face of the matrix in the form of finely divided spray.
We will now further describe the first part of our Invention, and at the same
time make reference to certain of the Figures on the Drawing enrolled herewith.
Fig. 1 represents a side view, and Fig. 2 a front view of an arrangement of
apparatus which we find to give very satisfactory results. A marks the table or
heated plate, whereon the impressed matrix is quickly laid immediately on its
removal from the face of the type. The surface of this table or plate may be
heated in any convenient manner, but we prefer to effect it by the combustion of a
commixture of ordinary coal gas and atmospheric air by means of B, which marks
a number of Bunsen burners so placed beneath that the gas flames rise against the
underside of the plate, and by this means an equable temperature at any point
between 300° and 400° Fahr. of the upper surface of the plate may be maintained.
We sometimes heat these table plates by steam, but generally prefer gas.
C shews
by a dark line the edge of the matrix as it lays upon the heated plate. D5 is
intended to indicate by the several arrows the direction of the air blast as it is
driven down the tube D¹ and out of its enlarged end D2 by the blowing fan D, the
case whereof is seen fixed directly above. The fan is driven by the motive power,
and caused to revolve at a speed sufficiently high to effect the desired purpose by
means of leather or other endless straps or belts, which, when the fan is required to
operate, are made to embrace two small strap pulleys (marked E) that are fixed on
the fan shaft Ds, one near each end outside D*, which represents the shaft bearings.
E marks two loose strap pulleys, there being one on each end of the fan shaft
respectively beside the fixed pulleys. The loose pulleys are free to revolve on the
shaft, so that when by means of the movement of the hand lever G (which finds a
fulcrum on the fixed stud G¹) the driving belts are shifted by the fork guides G² on
to the loose pulleys E'; the fan then ceases to revolve. H and H¹ are two sliding
bars to which the fork guides are fixed. One of these bars (H) at its curved end
is jointed to the top of the hand-lever G above its fulcrum, and the curved end of
the other bar (H¹) is jointed to the hand lever below its fulcrum, so that by moving
the lever in one direction the two driving belts are shifted simultaneously either on
to the two loose pulleys E' when the fan blast is required to cease, or by moving
the lever in the opposite direction on to the two fixed pulleys E when the fan is
required to operate. H2 marks the fixed carriers through which the bars respec-
tively (H and H¹) are fitted to slide and are kept in position.
Fig. 3 represents the underside of the table top or plate A, which is seen to be
divided into compartments that are severally heated by the gas flames from the
burners B. Figs. 4 and 5 show an internal distributing partition D in the enlarged
end of the blast pipe.
2nd. According to this modification of our Invention, instead of drying the back
of the matrix by placing it upon or in contact with the surface of a heated plate,
we, immediately after the moistened material of the matrix has received the indented
impression of the type, remove it and lay it between two sheets of open wire gauze
or net, respectively stretched on suitable frames that are jointed together at one side
or edge, so as to be capable of opening like the covers of a portfolio, and we then
quickly apply simultaneously two hot blasts, one on each side or surface; or we
some times apply a hot blast to the backside of the matrix, and a moderately heated
or temperature or a cool blast to its face-side, or vice versa, and by this means the
drying of the matrix is very quickly effected.

page_text: front view of our double blast drying apparatus
view. The edge of the matrix is indicated by a thick line between K and K¹,
which mark the two gauze frames respectively. These frames are jointed together
at K, and are kept closed upon the matrix between them by K³, which marks two
catches fixed at the outer corners of the frames. One of the frames is furnished at
the opposite sides with fixed studs or trunnions K that rest and are free to turn
in the bearings K³ of the side frames K. Resting on the two upper stretcher bars
(marked M) are seen the two enlarged ends of the blast pipes L and L', which are
arranged in position to deliver the blasts from whatever suitable blowing apparatus
may be employed.. M³ marks the two lower stretcher bars, which with the two
upper bars are required to keep the two sido frames K in rigid position; N and N¹
indicate by the arrows the direction of the two blasts respectively, one against the
face of the matrix and the other against the back, and during the drying process
the two gauze frames are kept in a vertical position by the stud catch O. Although
by this double blast process we prefer to dry the matrix between gauze frames
vertically disposed, the frames may be fixed horizontally, and in that case the
blasts respectively are applied direct, one above and the other below; but in all
cases when required to open the gauze frames for the purpose of either placing a
matrix between them or taking one out after being dried, we always prefer to turn
them to a horizontal position.
Both blasts, hot, temperate, or cool, may be raised by means of any efficient
blowing apparatus, or the blasts may be obtained from suitable receivers containing
highly compressed air heated or otherwise.
Fig. 8 shows the gauze frames turned to a horizontal position, and opened to
receive a matrix.
The advantages to be derived from the use of our Invention consist, first, in
avoiding the gradual deterioration of the type, which according to the ordinary
process is caused by repeatedly heating it, as the heat which dries the matrix all
passes by conduction through the type, which consequently loses its sharpness, but
as in the old plaster process it was always usual to separate the type from the
matrix before the latter was dried, we can lay no claim to novelty in respect
thereof. But the second or main advantage derivable from the use of our Invention,
and more especially in newspaper work when every minute is of value, consists in
our being able to commence our issue to the public much earlier than heretofore, in
consequence of the saving of time effected by the use of the blast or blasts, which
saving amounts to fully two thirds of the time occupied by the old process of
drying the matrixes on the type; also in cases where a great number of castings
are required, instead of as heretofore taking them from one matrix, we are now by
the use of our Invention enabled to produce in a few minutes two or more
matrixes, and employ two or three or more sets of workmen at the same time to
cast the stereotype plates, and by this means much valuable time is saved.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and two ways by which it
may be practised, we wish it to be understood that we do not exactly confine
ourselves to the arrangements of apparatus herein described with reference to the
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on the Drawings in respect of the first part, and to the
Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, in respect of the second part, as such arrangements may be
modified without any departure from the nature or character of our Invention;
neither do we claim any of the parts except in combination to effect the purposes
of our Invention, and therefore what we do claim as our Invention consists as
follows, that is to say :-
First. We claim according to the first part of our Invention the method described
of dessicating or drying matrixes to be employed in the casting of stereotype plates,
by causing either a cold, cool, temperate, or a hot air blast to blow upon either the
faceside or upon the back of the matrix, whilst the said matrix is laying upon or is
placed in contact with the surface of a heated plate, after the manner and for the
purposes herein set forth.
Second. We claim according to the second part of our Invention the method of

page_text: drying the matrixes employed in the casting of stereotype plates by the simul-
taneous application of two air blasts; one of such blasts being hot is directed against
the face of the matrix, and the other blast more temperate or cool is directed
against back of the matrix, which is supported during the operation after the
manner herein described.
'
Third. We also claim according to the second part of our Invention the simul-
taneous application of two hot blasts, one of such blasts being directed against the
faceside, and the other blast to the backside of matrixes for the purpose of drying
them.
In witness whereof, we, the said Peter Allen, William Evans, and Davis
Braithwaite, on behalf of ourselves and the said John Edward Taylor, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this First day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.