Improvements in Processes for Producing Printing Surfaces.
Year: 1894

page_text: e of Application, 3rd July, 1894-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Processes for Producing Printing Surfaces.
I, AUGUST TEN WINKEL, of North West corner of 16th and Lawrence Streets,
Denver, in the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado, United States of America,
Gentleman, 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 improvements in processes for producing printing
surfaces, whereby any variety of shading, from the lightest to the heaviest, may be
obtained.
The invention has two forms; first, the producing of a surface specially designed
for use in a typographic press; and second, the producing of surfaces from which
may be obtained dots of any desired shape or design upon half tone plates,-or
plates for use in what is known as half tone work in the art of reproducing
pictures, photographs, etc. The manner of practising the first form of the process
will now be described.
I first produce a film having lines or dots of uniform height, and sufficiently hard
or rigid that they may be cut or ground down to give the desired variety of shading
upon the printed surface. The greater the degree of cutting or grinding to which
the film is subjected, the heavier or darker will be the shading upon the printed
surface. Hence it will be observed that the surface of the film may be so cut or
ground that any variety of shading may be obtained therefrom between the extremes
of white and black.
The body of the film must be sufficiently flexible that those parts thereof corre-
sponding to the portions cut or ground down, may be raised to the plane of those
parts which are of the normal or original height (not having been cut down)
whereby the entire surface of the printing film is made type-high. This is
accomplished by placing the back of the prepared film having its printing surface
uneven, upon a confined bed of some suitable plastic composition to which the
film is glued, and pressing the film into said composition, whereby the unevenness
of the printing surface is transferred to the back of the film in the reverse order;
that is to say, the parts of the back which are raised highest correspond with those
parts of the printing surface which were lowest after the face of the film had been
subjected to the grinding or cutting down process, and so on, the entire printing
surface being brought to the same plane. The plastic material forming the base of
the film is then allowed to harden, after which, the printing surface is ready for use
in the press.
The film is originally formed by placing a sheet of celluloid between two pieces
of unbleached cotton cloth, and then applying to both these covered surfaces,
pieces of blotting paper moistened with spirits of camphor. The function of the
cloth is to prevent the blotting paper from adhering to the surface of the celluloid.
The celluloid sheet is then allowed to remain until it is softened sufficiently to
receive an impression from a suitable pattern or mold. Then the blotter sheets are
removed from the surfaces covered by the cloth, and the cloth also removed from
one surface of the sheet of celluloid. This exposed surface of the sheet of celluloid
is placed downward upon a suitable pattern or mold, and a rubber blanket placed
upon the opposite surface, which is then subjected to a suitable pressure, as by
passing a roller thereover, whereby the softened celluloid is pressed into the mold
to produce the face of the film, which, when removed from the pattern or mold, is
of uniform height. Before the celluloid is applied to the pattern, the latter is
oiled to prevent any parts of the celluloid from adhering to the pattern, whereby
its removal may be effected without injury to the printed face thereof.
I flow all

page_text: The pattern may consist of a fine screen of any desired mesh, or a specially
prepared pattern of any design, as a surface composed of small conical projections
having their apices outward and separated by counterpart interstices into which
the softened celluloid is pressed to produce the required result.
After the celluloid, or other suitable sheet of plastic material has received the
imprint of the pattern, it is allowed to harden to its original condition or consistency
before it is removed therefrom. After it is removed from the pattern or mold, the
imprinted surface is subjected to the process of grinding down, or cutting away,
heretofore described. The apparatus employed in carrying out this form of my
process will now be described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in
which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.
In this drawing,
Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of the apparatus; and
Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line a-, Fig. 1.
Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts or elements in these
views, let the letter A designate a block of wood, to the upper surface of which
is glued a quantity of plastic material which should be spread evenly over the
surface of the board and cover a space thereon equal in area to that of the film.
This composition is confined and surrounded by four pieces of wood C. Outside
of these pieces C, and surrounding the same, is the rectangular steel frame D
separated from the pieces C by a suitable space E. Between the pieces C and
the frame Dare placed a number of coil springs F of sufficient strength to
normally maintain the wood-pieces in contact with the outer edges of the
composition B.
The
A coating of glue is then applied to the upper surface of the composition B,
and the back or smooth surface of the film H, which is covered with the cloth,
applied thereto, the opposite, or printing face of the film, having been cut away in
places to give the required variety of shading upon the surface to be printed.
This printing, or upper surface of the film, is then covered by a thin sheet of
zinc, after which, a roller J engaging the steel frame is passed over the zine
sheet until the film is pressed sufficiently to make its upper surface smooth. The
springs F will yield sufficiently to allow space for the composition B to spread out
and force the pieces C into the space E, or toward the adjacent part of the steel
frame, if this should be necessary to allow the roller to engage said frame.
printing surface of the film, or the zinc plate placed thereon, will, when the film
is first placed upon its composition-bed, lie in a plane somewhat above the plane
of the upper surface of the steel frame, in order to allow the roller to act upon the
film for the purpose stated, before it (the roller) engages the frame. Hence, the
excess of composition will be crowded outward, and the wood pieces must yield to
make room therefor. It will thus be seen that the function of the steel frame is to 4
act as a guide for the roller in bringing the entire printing surface of the film
to the same level or plane, the use of the roller being continued until, when passing
over the film, it engages every part of the frame.
After the film has been shaped as heretofore explained, the zinc sheet is removed
and the composition-bed allowed to harden. The wood base A, the composition B
and the film H taken together, are exactly type-high, and form a solid mass which
may be used in a press.
When a smooth portion of any design is required on the printed surface, a piece
of celluloid is cut of the same shape as the required smooth portion and pressed
into the printing surface of the film until it lies in the same plane therewith. 5
Preparatory to applying this piece of celluloid, it is first softened on one side by
dipping it in spirits of camphor, and a piece of some suitable fabric, as unbleached
cotton cloth, applied thereto, sufficient pressure being used to cause the cloth to
adhere to the surface. The opposite side of the piece of celluloid is then softened
in the same manner and applied to the film by pressure upon its cloth-covered 5
surface; the cloth upon the surface keeps the softened celluloid from spreading
under pressure.
This same object may be accomplished by filling the desired

page_text: portion of the printing surface with some suitable composition which is applied
when in plastic state, and allowed to har.len. If it is too thick and projects above
said surface, it must be ground or cut down in any suitable manner. These smooth
portions of the printing surface will, of course, print solid black, or any other
color, according to the color of the ink employed. When it is desire 1 to print any
object in several colors by the use of my improved printing surface, as many of the
surfaces are employed as there are to be colors. The object is outlined on each
surface, and each is employed to print a different part of the object the rest of the
surface being cut away in each case. Hence, by printing from the several surfaces
in succession, the entire object will be reproduced with each part in a distinct
color.
Though I have described the film in the Specification as made of celluloid, I do
not limit myself to the use of this material, as the film may be made of any other
material which may be found suitable, though in my experiments, I have found
celluloid preferable.
In further explanation of the use and advantages of my improved process, it
may be stated that by cutting a slit in the film and grinding the surface down on
one side of the slit, and closely thereto, the lightest shade may be brought close
to the darkest shade in printing, since the portion of the surface ground down, may
be raised to a level with the continuous or integral portion, which is of the normal
height, not being ground down.
The second form of the process will now be described; and consists in arranging
rigid pins, preferably metal, in a flask or case, said pins being originally all of one
height, and having their points of any shape or design; cutting or grinding down
the face of the pin-mass to give the required result in shading upon the surface to
be printed; placing the pin-mass upon its face and subjecting the back to pressure,
whereby the entire face is reduced or brought to the same plane or level, the
unevenness of the face of the pin mass being thus transferred to the back thereof;
and then grinding or cutting down the uneven back, until the surface of said back
is all in the same plane, and parallel, or approximately parallel, with the printing
face. The pin-mass is then ready for use, and may be subjected to any required
degree of pressure that may be found necessary in printing or embossing.
The points or extremities of the pins which form the printing surface, or the
surface to be photo-lithographed, may be formed in any suitable design, as round,
straight, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, etc.;
and the pins may be arranged in the flask or case in any suitable manner, that is,
regularly, in straight or curved lines, or irregularly in groups of desired design.
Where the pins are employed as a direct printing surface, they must be very
small, or of the size they are to appear on the plate; where, however, they are to
be photo-lithographed, the pins may be of any convenient size, since the size may
be reduced to any desired extent by the photo-lithographing process.
any
The pins may be arranged and temporarily held in place by means of a ribbon of
some flexible material, preferably metal, as stencil brass, sheet lead, etc., which may
be arranged in the form of checker work, forming interstices for the pins, or in the
form of a coil, the pins being placed between its convolutions; or the pins may be
loosely placed in a case, and crowded to position by means of a set screw engaging
a movable plate or bar which is in contact with the pins.
Having thus briefly outlined the nature and the purpose of the invention, I will
now proceed to explain the same more in detail, reference being had to the
accompanying drawing. In this drawing,
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a set of pins placed in interstices formed by crossing
parallel lengths of metallic ribbon arranged in planes, one above the other.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line x-r, Fig. 3.
Fig. is a side view of the pins when removed from the rigid base, and provided
with a flexible backing for use in direct printing.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of a set of pins placed between the convolutions of a coil
of flexible metallic ribbon.

page_text: Fig. 7 is a plan view of the pins placed loosely in a case, and arranged by pressure
upon one side.
Fig. 8 illustrates some of the shapes or designs which may be chosen for the pin
extremities.
Fig. 9 illustrates another arrangement of the pins.
Figs. 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a modified form of construction, showing a number
of thin plates arranged together for printing or embossing lines, as distinguished
from points or dots.
Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a flask of pins as they appear before they are
subjected to the process of grinding or cutting down.
Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the pins ground down in places, the flask
inverted, and the printing face of the pins all lying in the same plane.
Fig. 15 shows the flask in the upright position, both surfaces of the pins lying in
parallel planes.
Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts or elements in these
views, let the numeral 5 designate a rectangular metallic base plate, say one fourth
of an inch in thickness, around whose edges, or near the margin, are formed
apertures of uniform distance apart, in which are inserted pins 6 of suitable length;
for instance, an inch and a fourth in length, so that after passing through the plate 5,
they will project an inch above the surface of the same.
A flexible ribbon 7, preferably formed of metal, and for example, three eighths of
an inch in width, is fastened to one of these corner pins, and passed thence across
the plate 5 outside of the other marginal pins, and around the corresponding pin on
the opposite side, and thence back parallel with the first ribbon length, and at a
distance therefrom, equal to the diameter of the pins, and thence around another
pin on the side of beginning and adjacent the starting pin, and thence back
and forth across the plate in parallel lengths around the pins on opposite sides
of the plate, until the entire surface of the plate is covered from end to end
with these parallel lengths of ribbon, after which, the ribbon end is fastened to a
pin at one corner of the plate.
The extremity of another similar metal ribbon 7, and of the same width as the
ribbon 7, is fastened to another corner pin, and in a plane above the first ribbon.
This ribbon 7 is then passed across the plate above the first ribbon, and outside of
the other marginal pins, and crosswise of, or at right angles to the length of the
first or lower ribbon. The ribbon 7 is then passed around the pin 6 opposite
the pin located at the point of beginning, and thence back and around the pin
adjacent the first pin, and on the same side of the plate; and so on until the
entire surface surrounded by the pins 6 is covered with meshes formed of the cross-
lengths of ribbon, after which, the loose extremity of the ribbon 7 is fastened to a
corner pin.
Pins 8, say an inch in length, or of the length which the pins 6 project
above the surface of the base plate are then inserted in these ribbon meshes, the
pins being of such size that they will fit more or less tightly in these meshes,
where they are held by frictional contact.
Now, if the pins are to be used for direct printing, they are removed from the
base 5, the outer row of pins 6 being first pushed out of the base, and other pins of
the same height as the pins 8, inserted. Now if these pins are loose enough, and it
is desirable, the pin-mass may be changed from the rectangular to a diamond shape
by pressing upon two of its diagonal corners; then while resting upon the solid
base, the surface composed of these piu points is cut or ground down to give the
required variety of shading. The pin-mass is then inverted, its face being placed
upon the solid base with its back uppermost, and the back subjected to pressure
until the face, made uneven by cutting it down, is all made to occupy the same
plane. The printing face of the pius may then he inked, when, after placing a
rubber blanket 9 upon the back of the mass, it is ready for printing by applying
pressure to the rubber blanket, as by means of a roller.
Another arrangement of the pins is illustrated in Fig. 6, in which, the pius 8 are

page_text: held by a coil 7 of the flexible metal ribbon, the pips 8 heing placed between t'ie
convolutions of the coil.
:
Still another arrangement is shown in Fig. 7, in which, the flexible ribbon is
not employed, the pins 8 being placed in contact, and held together by a movable
piece 13 actuated by a set screw 14. An arrangement slightly different is shown
in Fig. 9 in this case the pins occupy the inter-pin spaces, since they arrange
themselves automatically under pressure, being in direct contact one with another.
The arrangement shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9 may be used in the same manner as:
heretofore explained when speaking of the arrangement shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.
The arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 9, however, is specially designed for
embossing on metal; for this purpose, as well as for ordinary printing, the pin
points may be cut down in places, as desired, by grinding or otherwise to give the
desired variety of shading. The printing face is then turned down to contact with
a flat surface and subjected to pressure until the face extremities of all the pins
lie in the same plane or level. The back of this surface, or the opposite extremities
of the pins will then be uneven, and may be ground until they all occupy the same
plane. The pius composing this printing surface, after being properly cut down,
are hardened to prepare them for embossing on metal. The pin-mass is then ready
for embossing, and may be subjected to any required degree of pressure, which
pressure will be evenly transferred to the printing or embossing face.
The frame 12 is of a height less than that of the height of the pins. For metal
embossing, this mass of pins held by the frame as described, is placed face
downward on a sheet of steel and subjected to pressure sufficient to force the pin
points of its face into the steel plate beneath.
The steel plate in engagement with the face of the pins will then contain a series
of recesses or depressions of different sizes, according to the size and of the design,
of the ground pin points which formed them. This plate is then inked with
transfer ink, applied with a dauber, and an impression taken therefrom on transfer
paper, which impression is then transferred to a plate of glass, copper, or any other
desired material. This plate with its transfer ink, is then etched by the use of acid,
which cats away the parts not inked, leaving the inked parts in relief; I then have
a plate with a relief surface exactly the reverse of the original pin point surface.
The transfer ink is then washed off from this relief surface, when the plate is ready
for printing, either from the relief or etched part of the surface.
If it is desired to print from the relief surface, the ink is applied with a roller; if
from the etched or depressed part of the surface, the ink is applied by the use
of a dauber. It will thus be seen that the manner of inking determines the result
of the print.
Another construction is shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, and composed of thin
plates having edges more or less sharp, according as the surface is more or less cut
down to get the required degree of shading. This construction is for embossing or
printing lines instead of points or dots.
In Figs. 10 and 12, the printing plates are shown straight; while in Fig. 11,.
these plates are curved.
In Figs. 13, 14 and 15, I have illustrated three stages of my improved process,
namely; the pins before grinding or cutting down; the pins after grinding, the
Hask being inverted and the printing surface of the pins all occupying the same.
plane, the backs being uneven; and finally, the pins are shown in the upright
position with both surfaces parallel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The precess herein described for producing a printing surface, which consists
in forming a film whose printing face is of uniform height, cutting or grinding
down this face in places to produce the shading required on the surface to be
printed, subjecting the film to pressure upon a suitable yielding base, whereby

page_text: its entire printing surface is brought to the same plane or level, substantially
as described.
2. The process herein described, which consists in first forming a film having a
printing surface of uniform height, the back being yielding and the face sufficiently
hard or rigid; second, in cutting down the surface of the film in places; and third,
in subjecting the film to pressure upon a yielding composition which engages its
back, whereby the entire printing face is brought to the same plane or level,
substantially as described.
3. The process herein described for producing a printing surface, which consists
in first forming a film having a printing face of uniform height, cutting down said
face in places, and then restoring the entire printing face of the film to the same
plane or level, substantially as described.
4. The process herein described for producing a printing surface, which consists
in forming a film of the character described, cutting or grinding down its face in
places, placing its back upon a yielding composition provided with a solid support,
surrounding the composition with yielding pieces, and subjecting the face of the
film to pressure, whereby its entire printing surface is brought to the same plane or
level, substantially as described.
5. A printing film of the character described having a hard face and a yielding
back, whereby it may be cut or ground down in places to give the shading required
upon the surface to be printed, substantially as described.
6. The process herein described for producing a printing or embossing surface,
which process consists in arranging rigid pieces in a mass, said pieces having points
of any design, cutting down the face of the pieces to give the shading required,
reducing this face to the same plane or level, and then cutting down the back
until the two surfaces are parallel, or approximately parallel, substantially as
described.
7. A printing or embossing surface of the character described, said surface
being composed of rigid pieces having their printing extremities (which may be of
any design) cut down unequally to give the shading required, and all lying in the
same plane, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dad thin 14th law of T….1901
Witnesses:
DAVID F. BOWEN.
CHAS. E. DAWSON.
AUGUST TEN WINKEL.