IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GOFFERING OR EMBOSSING STUFFS IN HIGH RELIEF
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Montucci, Ph. D., of 38, Rue du Sentier,
Paris, in the Empire of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
Sealed the 25th April 1862, and dated the 8th November 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Montucci at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
November 1861.
I, HENRY MONTUCCI, Ph. Dr., of 38, Rue du Sentier, Paris, in the Empire
of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GOFFERING OR EMBOSSING STUFFS IN HIGH RELIEF," to be
as follows:-
The methods now in use for goffering or embossing stuffs either produce
the design too flat, or else require a large outlay for the engraving of a metal
roller, an outlay which occurs every time a new design is required. I propose
to obtain any relief that the stuff will bear, and vary the designs at will within
a few hours, and at a very moderate cost, using a metal and a paste roller
composed as follows:-
Composition of the metal roller.-Having divided a cylinder into any
number of squares, and drawn the figure I want in one of them, I make a
copper matrix, on which I cast types of any proper metal or alloy in a mould,
so constructed as to turn out cylindrical sectors, on the larger curvature of
which the hollows of the matrix will be found reproduced in relief. These
wedge-like types are cut to the proper size, and grooved, so that the grooves

page_text: form a regular polygon, when the types are placed side by side in a circle
round the hollow axletree, which in the common system bears the engraved
cylinder. Into this polygonal groove a circular spring is inserted, which keeps
the types firmly in their places. Some of the types are cut at their bases so
as to fit on a longitudinal blade fixed to the axletree parallel to its axis.
Each layer of types being thus firmly fixed until the whole axletree is covered
with them, I screw on the collar, and the cylinder is ready for use. It is
evident that as the various designs of the types are so contrived as always to
fit one another in whatever order they may be placed, I can at pleasure
produce diamonds, beads, bugles, flowers, leaves, or other designs in any
order I please.
Composition of the paste roller.-I make a paste of chalk, gum, and rasped
pasteboard of a sufficient consistency, and therewith form a second cylinder,
which rolling on the former one takes the impression of the design to any
depth the types will yield; this done, it is left to dry and to get hard; when it
is fit for use. It is clear that the types would be of no use if their hollows
could not be faithfully reproduced by the paste, the latter is therefore in-,
separably connected with the former for all useful purposes, and my Invention
therefore consists,―
Firstly, in the casting of moveable types and construction of the metal_
roller.
Secondly, in taking the impression of the design on another roller by means
of a drying paste.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed_
by the said Henry Montucci in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
MONTUCCI, Ph. D., of 38, Rue du Sentier, Paris, in the Empire of France,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight, hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Montucci, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Montucci,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Montucci, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree

page_text: 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 APPARATUS FOR
GOFFERING OR EMBOSSING STUPPS IN HIGH RELIEP," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry Montucci, 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 Henry Montucci, 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 state-
ment, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed and
forming part of this my Specification, and to the figures and letters of reference
marked thereon:-
The methods now in use for embossing stuffs either produce the design too
flat or else require a large outlay for the engraving of a metal roller, an
outlay which occurs every time a new design is required. By my present
Invention, which I call the "polymorphous system," any relief can be obtained
that the stuff will bear, and the designs may be varied at will within a few
hours, and at a very moderate cost.
I will first describe the composition of the metal roller which I use.
Having divided a cylindrical surface into any number of squares, and drawn
the design I want in one or more of them, I get a copper matrix made, on
which I cast types of any convenient metal or alloy in an iron mould,
much resembling those used by type founders, but so constructed as to turn
out cylindrical sectors, on the larger curvature of which we find the hollows of
the matrix reproduced in relief. These wedge-like types which are provided
with one or two grooves cast in the mould are cut to the proper length by a
cutting machine, like that used for printing types. These grooves form.
regular polygon when the types are placed side by side in a circle round the
hollow shaft, which, in the common system, bears the engraved cylinder; into
this polygonal groove a circular spring is inserted which keeps the types firmly
in their places; some of the types are so shaped at their bases as to fit on a
longitudinal key fixed to the shaft parallel to its axis. Each. layer of types
being thus firmly fixed until the whole shaft is covered with them, I screw on
the top collar, and the cylinder after having its slight inequalities turned off is

page_text: ready for use. It is evident that as the various designs of the types are so
contrived as always to fit one another in whatever order they may be placed, I
can at pleasure produce diamonds, bugles, beads, flowers, leaves,, or other
design in any order I choose.
"
:
I will now describe the composition of the second roller which I use.-
I make a paste of chalk, gum, and rasped pasteboard of a sufficient consistency
and therewith form a second cylinder on an iron bar. This cylinder rolling on
the former one takes the impression of the design to any depth the types will
allow; this done it is left to dry and get hard, when after a little trimming it
is fit for use. It is clear that the types would be of no use if their hollows
could not be faithfully reproduced in relief by the paste; the latter is therefore
inseparably connected with the former for all useful purposes.
In the annexed Sheet of Drawings, Figure 1 represents the form of the
type turned out of the mould and cut to the proper length. L is the end
placed against the shaft M, the end which bears the design; N, O, is the
groove produced by the mould. Figure 2, form of some of those types which
are made to fit the key of the shaft; Figure 3, form of the type seen in profile
with one or two equal grooves, according to the size it may have; Figure 4,
two types lying one upon the other to show the grooves N, O, in profile; the
spring which holds them together lies within N, O; Figure 5, the shaft T, T',
from one to three feet in length, hollow and cylindrical; its ends T, T¹, turn
in sockets, and bear to the gearings corresponding to those of the paste roller;
R, S, is a fixed beveled collar supporting the types while, being composed;
another collar is screwed on at P when the whole roller has been composed;
R³, R", is the longitudinal key which prevents the types from turning round
the shaft; Figure 6 shews the manner in which the types lie round the shaft
supported by the collar R, S (Figure 4), N, O, are the grooves; Figures .7
and 8, the iron mould in plan and elevation, Figure 7 is the lower half, con-
sisting of a plate I, J, K, L, bearing a fixed piece A, B, L, J, D, of such a
shape that the upper part A, B, forms part of the jet or runner, and the lower
A, D, is directed towards the centre C, which I call the centre of the mould.
This piece bears a tenon E fitting into the mortice e (Figure 8), and a
-mortice F into which the tenon f (Figure 8) fits. H, G, is the bar which
produces the groove N, O; Z and z (Figures 7 and 8), are holes through
which a pin is driven, which prevents the plates from sliding while they are
being set. The reliefs are seen under the plans, the thickness of the bar is
seen at H, G. M is the matrix. Figure 8 represents the upper plate i, j, k, l,
fitting upon the other, as above described; it bears a moveable piece a, b, n, d,
fixed to a turning plate q, r; which moves round the centre C of the mould,

page_text: and is sunk into the plate i, j, k, 1. At p there is a setting screw which brings
the moveable piece to the inclination required. When the plates are fitted
upon each other, a, b, forms the other side of the jet or runner, a, d, runs to
the centre C and forms with A, D, the hollow which yields the wedge-like
types. When the moveable piece is duly set it is fixed by the screw S¹ and
the screw and nut n', u', fixed to the bottom of the moveable piece which
conceals the groove n in which the bar n', u', moves; h, 9, is the bar for the
second groove N, O, of the type. To set this mould fit one plate on the other
and drive the pin through Z, z, then put in the matrix and turn the screw p
till the moveable piece is stopped by the matrix, then tighten the screws S¹, u¹,
and fit the bars H, G, h, g, into their places with screws. The bars must be
shaped to the proper size, and for every new inclination there must be a
different bar; this done the mould is fit for use, the pin being of course drawn
out. Figure 9, the moveable piece a, b, d, seen singly in plan and profile; r, q,
the turning plate; C, the centre; u, the bar seen longitudinally in n', u'.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, which consists in
the casting of moveable wedge-like types by the mould herein-before described
in order to compose the metal roller, and in taking the impressions of the
design I on another roller by means of a drying paste, I would observe that my
Invention applies to and includes any embossing of stuffs effected either by
means of moveable types cast in a matrix bearing a design, or by any drying
paste whatever, or by both these elements combined. Also the mould herein-
before described, as regards the moveable piece (shewn at Figures 8 and 9 of
the Drawing) and its accessaries. And I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein given, as modifications may be made therein without departing
from the principle of my Invention. And I claim the exclusive use and manu-
facture of moulds containing a moveable piece calculated to produce wedge-
like types, the casting of moveable wedge-like types by the mould as related,
and the taking of the impressions of the design on another roller by means of
drying paste, the whole essentially as herein-before described and illustrated in
the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Montucci, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
HENRY MONTUCCI. (L.s.)