Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 23rd Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 24th Feb., 1888
I, JOHN BROWN ELLIS, of 9, Woodbine Square, Leeds, in the County of York,
Letter Press Printer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
--
This invention has reference to that class of letter press printer's chases that are
employed for newspaper and kindred work.
Hitherto various means have been employed for "locking up" newspaper chases,
such as, wedge shaped quoins operated by one or more screws, or the side and foot-
sticks have been "locked" by means of screws working between the chase proper and
the side and footsticks, when so used the heads of the screws have been made to work
against the side and footstick, whilst the chase has formed the nut for the screw.
Great difficulty and inconvenience is often experienced in "locking up" a forme by
this method as the screw key has to be removed at each quarter or half turn of the
screw, thereby losing time.
Now my invention is designed to overcome these difficulties, and it consists in
adapting side and footsticks and rules, constructed according to the Specification of
the Letters Patent granted to me the 30th day of January 1886, No. 1350, to news-
paper and kindred chases, and also in providing simple, ready, and effective means
for "locking up" the same whereby the use of wedge shaped quoins are dispensed
with.
According to this invention around the top of the chase proper, and at a suitable
distance from its edges is formed a projection of any desired width, but of such a
thickness as to make the chase the same height as the type. These projections not
only strengthen the chase, but are also employed for the pressing roller to work
against when taking a mould for stereotyping purposes. At or near each corner of
the inner edges of the chase may be cut or formed a groove or recess of any desired
length, depth, and shape. These grooves or recesses may all be the same length, or
they may vary as circumstances require. On the ends of the side and footsticks are
made or formed tenons, tongues, or projections, similar to those described in the

page_text: Specification of the herein before mentioned patent, which enter and work in the
grooves or recesses of the chase.
In some cases, and when preferred, instead of
allowing the grooves or recesses in the footstick to extend the whole length of the
same, any desired number of short grooves or recesses of the same or varying
lengths may be made or formed therein for receiving the tenons, tongues, or
projections on the ends of the column rules.
The head rules may be made thicker than usual and provided with tenons, tongues,
or projections, for entering respectively the grooves or recesses in the chase and side
stick. The upper and under sides of the head rule may also be bevelled; and by
being made thicker than usual, the use of leads or "clumps" at the head of each
column may be dispensed with, and I am also enabled to cut or form in these rules
any desired number of holes or recesses for receiving the tenons or tongues on the
column rules. The tenons or tongues on the column rules respectively enter the
grooves or recesses of the footstick at one end, and at the other end the holes or
recesses in the head rule.
For "locking" or tightening up the forme any required number of round or cheese
headed screws may be employed, the stems of which are made to pass into and work
in the side and footsticks (which act as nuts for the screws) whilst the heads,—which
are also made convex-press against the inner edges of the chase proper. In each
screw head is formed a rectangular or other shaped tapering recess or cavity for
receiving a suitably shaped end of a tightening tool, the stem of which passes (from
the outside) through a round hole made in the chase directly opposite each screw. The
tightening tool may be provided with a suitable handle.
By the above described means I am enabled to dispense with several of the screws
now employed, and to "lock up" a forme in considerably less time from the outside
of the chase, without removing the handlo or tool until the forme at that point is
firmly secured.
Dated this Twenty second dose of Antil 1887

page_text: B
placed the tongues or tenons c¹ and c of the footstick C, the said grooves are made the
same length and occupy corresponding positions in their respective parts.
A long groove c² extending nearly the whole length of the footstick (say to within
about an inch of the tenon c¹) is provided therein to receive the tenon or tongue d
formed on the end of the column rule D.
E is the head rule preferably made of brass or other suitable material of a thickness
varying say from a pica to a great primer, and it is bevelled on its upper and lower
edges. The head rule is made thicker than those usually employed in order to
dispense with the use of leads or "clumps" at the head of each column. Each end
of the head rule is provided with a tongue, tenon, or projection e and e' of the same
shape or configuration as the grooves a (in the chase A) and 62 (in the side-stick B)
into which they are made to enter so as to slide freely. The grooves a¹ and b³ are
nade of such a length that the he ul rule may be moved up and down so as to be
suitable either for the first, second, or other pages of the newspaper. In the head
rule are also provided any desired number of slot holes for receiving the tenons d
of the column rules D. The distance between and number of these holes will of course
vary with the nature of the work. Thus for instance in an eight column newspaper,
seven of such holes would be found sufficient, whilst for other classes of kindred work
the number of holes may be increased or decreased as may he found necessary.
Tho column rules are marked D and may be made of brass or other suitable metal
of about a nonpareil in thickness. These may vary in length to suit the first
or second pages of the newspaper and they are provided with tenons, tongues, or
projections d and d' at each end for entering respectively into the groove c² (in the
footstick) and holes in the head rule.
The means for "locking up" the forme in the chase is as follows:-
In the side and footsticks B and C may be provided any desired number (preferably
four in each piece) of tapped holes f into which are inserted the round or cheese
headed screws F. The holes are by preference arranged in pairs at a suitablo
distance from each end of the respective sticks, as well as apart. Two screws in each
stick are only used at a time, but this duplicate arrangement is provided in case a
screw should break or become stripped during the "locking up" operation, and
thereby prevents the forme from working loose. On the head of each screw Fis
formed a square f whereby the forme may be locked up or adjusted in the ordinary
way as well as by the means now to be described.
The heads of two of the screws F in each stick are made to work against the inner
edges of two of the sides of the chase A as shown, whilst the side and footsticks act
as nuts for the screws. Immediately opposite each screw F is a round hole G which
is made to pass through the chase A. Though these holes the tightening tool H
(provided with the handle h) is passed to a tapering recess or cavity f* formed in the
head of each screw. The end of the tightening too! H which fits the recess f* may
be formed somewhat similar to the end of an ordinary screwdriver.
By the above described means I am enabled to dispense with several screws now
employed and to "lock up" the forme by two screws only in each stick in con-
siderably less time from the outside of the frame A without removing the tightening
tool until the formne at that point is firmly secured.
.
The above described means for "locking up" a forine may also be used on
the chases described in the Specification of the herein before mentioned Letters
Patent.
When the chase is employed for stereotyping purposes solely, the frame A and side
and footsticks B and C are provided with projecting strips I, I, I. These strips are
respectively formed in one with the frame A and sticks B and C and are made type
height (the frame and sticks being made lower on cach side thereof as shown) to
the receive pressing roller.
By the use of the hereinbefore mentioned tenons on the ends of the side and foot-
sticks, head and column rules, and by arranging such tenons to work in grooves and
holes as described all "springing" of the type and column rules is avoided and the
forme may be more securely locked up.

page_text: In conclusion I am aware that various means have been employed for "locking
up" newspaper chases such as wedged shaped quoins operated by one or more screws,
or the side and footsticks have been "locked" by means of screws working between
the chase proper and the side and footsticks (the chase forming the nut for the screw),
but to these methods I lay no claim as when the heads of the screws are made to
work against the side or footstick great difficulty and inconvenience has been
experienced in "locking up" a forme by the screw-key having to be removed or
changed at each quarter or half turn of the screw thereby losing time.
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 means substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings for
securely "locking up" a forme from the outside of a letter-press printer's chase for
newspaper and kindred work whereby the forme can be more quickly "locked ap
and increased security obtained.
"
Second. In the "locking up" of a forme from the outside of a letterpress printer's
chase such as herein described the use of screws such as F having recesses or cavities
such as formed in their heads in combination with a grooved frame such as A
having holes such as G passing through two of its sides and tightening tool such
as H, substantially as herein set forth and illustrated.
Third. In a letterpress printer's chase such as herein described, the combination of
a grooved and perforated frame such as A with grooved and tenoned side and foot-
sticks such as B and C, tenoned and perforated head rule such as E, and tenoned
coluinn rules such as D, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. In a letterpress printer's chase such as herein described, the use of column
rules such as D and perforated head rule such as E provided with tenons, tongues,
or projections on their respective ends for entering and working in grooves or holes
in the side and footsticks, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the various parts forming the letter-press printer's chase
as a whole, constructed, and arranged substantially as herein described and illustrated
in the drawings.