A Machine for Coating Surfaces of Glass, Paper, Metal, or other Suitable Materials with Solutions of Gelatine or Emulsions of Chemical Salts or Finely Divided Pigments.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1887
Complete Left, 30th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 16th Mar., 1888
A Machine for Coating Surfaces of Glass, Paper, Metal, or other
Suitable Materials with Solutions of Gelatine or Emulsions of
Chemical Salts or Finely Divided Pigments.
HENRY JAMES BURTON Tyne Villa, Hanwell, W. Photographer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The Machine consists of a horizontal table or bed, proportionate to the sizes of the
plates to be treated, say twelve feet long by eighteen inches in width; this is provided
with two endless gut bands working in grooves which just allow the bands to shew
above the surface of the bed, these are carried on grooved pullies, and are placed equi-
distant from the center of the bed lengthwise, and at a distance apart not exceeding
the length or width of the plates to be treated; these bands are actuated by a spindle
with a crank and handle at one end and a fly wheel at the other, and they traverse
the whole length of the bed in such a manner that the plates to be treated and resting
upon them are carried with an even and regular motion underneath the coating
trough, which is placed over and at right angles with the bed, and at a distance of
about one third from its right hand end; this trough has a ▼ shape but the right.
hand side is prolonged by an inclined plate to act as a distributor, the trough has
therefore a sectional appearance resembling a capital Y the lower portion of this
distributor is enveloped in a muslin bag; the trough itself is pierced with fine holes
near the bottom through which the emulsion or solution flows to the distributor, thence
into the muslin bag, and is thus filtered and distributed evenly upon the plates brough
beneath it by the action of the endless gut bands; the trough supplies itself with
solution or emulsion from an inverted glass vessel with a small neck having a flexible
tube dipping into the solution in the Trough.

page_text: At the right hand end of the Bed an inclined plane is formed having an angle of
about 30°, this, as well as the bed itself is furnished with guide bars placed lengthwise
outside the gut bands to keep the plates in position, these are made adjustable to suit
different sizes.
In starting the machine the guide bars are set to the size of the plates to be coated,
the plates themselves placed on the bands and up the inclined plane, the crank
handle is turned with a regular and even motion, and the plates travel successively
under the trough each receiving from the spreader a perfectly even coating and of a
thickness variable at the will of the operator; when the machine is in action a con-
tinuous supply of plates is secured by feeding them on the top of the inclined plane
whence they descend by their own gravity to the gut bands and are thus carried
forward beneath the Coating Trough.

page_text: A Machine for Coating Surfaces of Glass, Paper, Metal, or other
Suitable Materials with Solutions of Gelatine or Emulsions of
Chemical Salts or Finely Divided Pigments.
HENRY JAMES BURTON Southfield End Hanwell W. Middlesex Photographer 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:-
This invention consists of a horizontal table or bed proportionate to the sizes of
plates to be treated, the length of the bed to be sufficient to allow of space for, at
least three plates of the largest size; having a pair of rollers (one at each end)
parallel to each other and provided with two endless bands working in grooves in the
rollers just allowing the bands to shew above the surface of the bed, placed lengthwise
equidistant from its centre and at a distance apart not exceeding the length or width
of the plates to be treated.
These bands are actuated by a shaft with a crank and handle at one end and fly
wheel and pulleys at the other; causing the plates to traverse the length of the bed
with an even regular motion at the same time passing successively under the Coating
Trough placed at right angles with and at about the centre of the bed.
The bed is also furnished with a pair of guide bars placed lengthwise and outside
the bands, to keep the plates in position; these are made adjustable to suit different
sizes of plates.
The trough is V shaped but the right hand side is prolonged by an inclined plate, to
act as a distributor and has a sectional appearance thus-Y. The lower portion of the
distributor is enveloped in a Muslin bag. The Trough itself is pierced with a row of
holes near the bottom and through which the emulsion or solution flows to the
distributor and thence into the muslin bag; it is thus filtered and distributed evenly
upon the plates brought beneath it by the endless bands.
The under side of the inclined plate, forming portion of the Trough, as above
described, is provided with two or more guides for the purpose of lifting the Trough
to suit plates of varying thicknesses and which act by the edge of the plate to be
coated coming into contact with the guides, thus raising the Trough to a suitable and
perfectly uniform height from the plate.
The Trough is kept supplied with solution or emulsion from an inverted glass
vessel with a small neck having a flexible tube dipping into the solution in the
Trough.
In connection with the coating portion of the machine is a rigid table similar to
it and so placed as to be a continuation of the bed of the coating portion; this may
be of any length and is furnished with a pair of rollers carrying an endless band
which receives the coated plates from the coating machine and carrys them forward
in a perfectly level plane to the drying room. The motion of the endless band being

page_text: obtained from the same shaft as that actuating the coating bed by suitable pulleys and
bands. The level plane necessary to ensure the eveness of the gelatinous coating is
secured by forming the bed, both of the coating machine and rigid table, of plate
glass; upon which the bands travel from one end of machine to the other.
In starting the machine the guide bars are set to the size of the plates to be coated and
the plates themselves placed on the traveling bands of the coating machine. The Trough
is charged with solution, the crank handle is turned with an even and regular motion
and as the plates pass under the Trough they receive from the distributor a perfectly
even coating of emulsion, and of a thickness dependant upon the speed at which the
machine is driven. Whilst the machine is in motion a continuous supply of plates is
kept up these being brought successively under the edge of the Coating Trough pass
from thence on to the endless band of the rigid bed, whence they are carried forward
to the drying room. The rigid bed is made of sufficient length to allow the gelatinous
emulsion to set at ordinary temperatures before reaching the Drying Room.
The accompanying Drawings shew the various parts of the machinery as described
in the above specification.
T. Trough containing the Emulsion.
P. Inclined plate, partially enveloped in
M. A Muslin Bag, through which the emulsion passes to the plates.
H. H. Small holes for passage of Emulsion to the inclined plate.
G. Guides for raising trough to suit varying thicknesses of plates.
A. Bed of Coating Machine.
B. B. Rollers carrying Endless Bands.
V. Vessel containing Emulsion.
C. Bed of Level Plane for setting the plates..
D. D. Rollers carrying Endless Bands.
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. A V shaped Trough prolonged on one side by an inclined plate and terminating
in a Muslin bag.
2. The arrangement of guides by which the Trough is kept at a suitable and
uniform distance during the coating, whatever may be the thickness of the plate.
Dated this 26th day of January 1888.
HENRY JAMES BURTON.