Coated Sheets for Autographic Copying.
Year: 1887

page_text: Coated Sheets for Autographic Copying.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM ZIMMER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, temporarily
residing at 166, William Street New York in the County and State of New York,
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 apparatus for holding and stretching gelatine coated sheets
as a means for autographie.copying or surface printing for obtaining reproductions
of writings, drawings, and the like. My improvement is more particularly directed
to the production of apparatus adapted for soaking and stretching parchment gelatine
coated sheets; and the objects of my improvements are, to provide for soaking the
flexible gelatine coated sheet in the same frame in which it is stretched for use in a
manner to render the operation perfect and to displace the water from the soaked
sheet without spilling it about or wetting the apparatus; to provide for operating
the stretching panel or support for the gelatine coated sheet, from the outside of the
frame to render such operation more convenient.
In my improved apparatus the stretching panel or support for the gelatine coated
sheet, can be lowered below the top level of the confining frame to form a convenient
tray in which one or more flexible gelatine coated sheets can be soaked; while such
stretching panel can also be raised above the top level of the confining frame, in its
stretching function for the confined gelatine coated parchment sheet. The confining
frame is finished with a top surface molding and a hinged top clamping frame has
a corresponding under surface molding to form the clamp for the flexible gelatine
coated sheet. At one end of said confining frame its raised molding part has a
removable section, whereby to allow the water to be poured out from the frame in the
soaking operation, while the sheet is retained upon the panel. For this purpose
provision is made for inclining the sheet supporting panel so as to form a gutter of
the gelatine coated sheet in line with the removable molding section of the frame.
The sheet having been properly soaked and the water discharged from it, the supporting
го

page_text: panel can be easily and quickly adjusted in its raised stretching function by hand
levers adapted to be operated by pressure upon a fulcrum and by pulling
or by either
so that the panel may be inclined, raised horizontally and depressed horizontally
without handling the parchment sheet, as will be seen in the drawings in which :-
Fig. 1, represents a view in perspective of my improved autographic copying
apparatus showing the clamping frame open and the panel support for the gelatine
coated sheet depressed in position to receive the latter and allow of its being formed
into a tray upon said panel for holding the water by which it is soaked.
Figure, 2, a vertical cross section of the same.
Fig. 3, a vertical cross section, showing the panel support for the gelatine coated
sheet adjusted in an inclined position to form a gutter at one side of the frame to
facilitate discharging the water after soaking the sheet.
Fig. 4, represents a vertical cross section, showing the panel support partially
raised and the gelatine coated sheet clamped.
Fig. 5, a vertical cross section of the apparatus, showing the gelatine coated sheet
properly stretched and the apparatus ready for work.
Fig. 6, represents in perspective the frame for receiving the panel support and the
hand lever devices by which it is operated from the outside.
Fig. 7, shows a detail of the holding catch for the hand lever of the panel.
The frame, A, of the apparatus is preferably of wood of rectangular form, has a
molding, a, on one side and is open like a picture frame. It has an open clamping
frame, B, hinged to one side having a molding surface, b, corresponding with the
molding of the bed frame with which it forms a clamp for the edges of the parchment
sheet as shown in figs. 4, and, 5.
To the inner walls of the bed frame at its two opposite sides are hinged two lifting
bars, C, C, so as to be turned upward and supported in inclined and in vertical positions,
and for this purpose they are preferably flat bars of a length a little less than the space
between the bars of the frame. They are so hinged that when they are turned down
in horizontal positions they will rest upon the work table, or against the inner walls
of the bed frame as shown in fig. 2, and form supports for the panel, D, which is
placed loosely within the bed frame so that it is supported' within the latter a sufficient
distance below the upper edge of the molding, a, to allow the gelatine coated parch-
ment sheet to form a basin within the frame upon the panel to hold the water necessary
for soaking the parchment sheet, the edges of which lie over and upon the molding
of the bed frame.
These hinged lifters are provided with hand levers, E, which have a jointed
connection with said lifters at, c, and extend through openings, d, in the sides of the
bed-frame, with their handle ends outside of the latter so that they can be conveniently
grasped by the operator, the openings, d, being so formed as to give a fulcrum point, e,
at the bottom of each upon which the levers rest when depressed, to incline the panel
and to raise it from such incline.
'
The jointed connection of the hand levers with the lifters is such as to allow the
latter to be turned up in vertical positions by an outward pulling action of the levers
in the operation of stretching the sheet, and such joint connection is made with the
hinged lifters at the middle of their length; at that side which folds up against the
inner wall of the bed frame and at or near their non-hinged edges so that in turning
them up they act as cams against the under side of the panel; and, in assuming
vertical positions are held firmly in position by the panel under the force exerted upon
it in the stretching operation.
In the inclined position of the panel, I provide for supporting it in soaking the
sheet by pressing down one of the levers under a catch, f, secured to the frame at the
opening through which the lever handle passes, as seen in fig. 3, and in dotted lines
in fig. 7. At one end of the frame the molding, a, is cut away and the section, F, is
hinged within the cut so as to be turned outward as shown by dotted lines in fig. 1, to
allow the parchment soaked sheet to be depressed within the recess formed by the
cut in line with the gutter formed by said sheet to facilitate the discharge of the water

page_text: from the basin formed by the sheet after the latter has been soaked. This hinged
frame section may be placed in any convenient part of the molding, a, but the panel
must be inclined to form the gutter in the parchment sheet in line with the recess or
cut in said molding. It is more convenient to have the hinged molding section placed
as shown in fig. 1, but it may be placed next the hinged side of the frame, as seen in
fig. 3, but however placed it permits the water to run out of the basin formed by the
sheet so that the latter is not removed or handled after it is soaked but retains its
position upon the panel while being soaked and ready to be clamped and stretched.
It will be understood that my improved apparatus is designed for obtaining repro-
ductions from a flexible printing surface or medium composed of parchment, paper,
linen, or other flexible material provided with a surface coating of gelatine as a base
or medium for obtaining such copies in indelible black with ink prepared for the
purpose of producing the original to be reproduced upon the gelatinized parchment
and from which, by the use of an ordinary inking roller such as used by printers
passed over such gelatinized surface, the copies can be taken in perfectly clear fine
lines.
The co-incident molding surfaces, a, and, b, of the open hinged frames give the
advantage of an extended clamping surface, a secure and a uniform clamp and a
smooth surface to the flexible printing medium when the same is being stretched.
To use the apparatus the sheet supporting panel is set at its lowest level by pushing
in the hand levers, the hinged top clamping frame is then opened and the gelatinized
sheet is placed with its prepared surface upwards, upon the supporting panel and water
is poured upon it causing it to form a tray within the raised molding of the frame
which thereby forms a secure hold for the sheet. The sheet having been thus
sufficiently soaked to properly prepare its gelatinized surface the panel is raised at one
side by pressing down the hand lever at that side of the frame and fastening it under
the catch, so as to form a gutter in the gelatine sheet at the other side of the frame.
The end gate, F, is then opened and the water is discharged, the frame being slightly
tilted toward the gate for that purpose and while the sheet is retained upon the panel.
The gutter forming side of the panel is then raised and fastened by the hand lever
under the catch which brings the panel and its sheet on a level with the top of the
bed frame and the sheet is then clamped by the hinged top frame which is fastened
by hooks, i, as seen in fig. 4.
The hand levers are then released from their holding catches, and pulled out which
will turn up the hinged lifters in vertical positions, to raise the panel to its highest
level and thus stretch the sheet which has been clamped all round its edges to the
molded surface of the frame, as seen in fig. 5. The sheet is then ready to receive
the negative by placing the original writing or drawing upon it so as to make the
transfer..
This original writing or drawing is prepared with such inks as will make the proper
transfer upon the gelatine surface and form the negative from which the reproductions
are taken in a manner similar to that of the lithographic process. The required
number of reproductions having been taken, the gelatine sheet is removed and replaced
by another, which, by my improvement may have been soaked in quantities at the
same time and kept in stack ready to be used.
When a number of gelatinized sheets are required to be soaked, say from six to
twelve at the same time for use, after the soaking of the first, a second sheet is then
placed upon the water retained in the basin formed by the first sheet, then pour
water on the second sheet; and so on until the required number of sheets is in
soak.
The soaking in this way of all the sheets will be complete in about eight minutes,
when the water is poured off from all at once and the sheets removed and placed in
stack in readiness for use as printing mediums.
I prefer to use the hand levers arranged as described, for operating the hinged panel
lifters, but I do not confine myself to the levers so arranged as other means may be
used for operating these interior lifters to adjust and support the panel as described.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In apparatus for soaking and stretching flexible gelatinized printing mediums
or sheets, the combination with the open bed frame, an open clamping frame and the
panel, D, of the lifters, C, C, for said panel hinged to the inner walls of said open bed
frame, and suitable hand levers jointed to said hinged lifters, substantially as described
for the purpose specified.
2. In apparatus for soaking and stretching gelatinized parchment sheets for
autographic printing, the combination of the open frame, A, with the panel, D, and
the lifters, C, C, hinged to the inner walls at the bottom of said frame, for supporting
said platform below the top level of said frame, a hand lever, E, jointed to one of said
lifters, passing outwardly through a side opening in said frame and means for holding
said lever whereby to raise one side of the panel within said frame to hold it in an
inclined position upon said lifters, for the purpose stated.
3. In apparatus for soaking and stretching gelatinized parchment sheets for
autographic printing, the combination with the open frame, A, of a panel and means
adjustably connected to said frame arranged to support said panel within said frame
below its top level, whereby to form a support for the parchment sheet within and
between the walls of said frame in the form of a basin to contain water, for the purpose
stated.
4. The combination, in apparatus for stretching gelatinized sheets, as printing
mediums, of the hinged frames, A, B, said frame, A, having the side openings, d, and
the catches, f, with the hinged lifters, C, C. and the hand levers, E, E, jointed to said
lifters, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
5. The combination with the open bed frame, A, having the side opening, d, of the
lifters, C, C, hinged to the inner walls thereof, the panel, D, supported upon said
lifters and the hand levers, E, jointed to the latter whereby to partially turn up the
lifters by pressing down the levers, and completing the vertical positions of the lifters
by a pulling action of the levers, as described.
6. In apparatus for soaking and stretching gelatinized printing sheets for autographic
printing, the tray or basin for soaking the sheet formed by the inner walls of the open
frame, a vertically adjustable stretching panel and the sheet itself in combination with
means whereby the panel is supported in a horizontal and in an inclined position
below the top level of said open frame for the purpose stated.
Dh: 09-1 1. of M. 1987
FREDERICK WILLIAM ZIMMER.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.