Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1887.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM ZIMER, of New York, in the United States of America,
and of London, County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said 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 relates to improved apparatus available both for soaking and
stretching gelatinized parchment or other sheets for autographic copying, and for
use in the fast automatic stencil copying process described in the Specification
of my former Application for Letters Patent No. 7995, filed on the 2nd day of
June, 1887.
The improved apparatus consists, essentially, of a supporting base or table to which
a centre stencil supporting block or parchment stretching panel is secured, and of a
removable surrounding frame (hereinafter termed "combination frame") by which the
parchment or stencil is held, and which is of a height somewhat less than that of
the block or panel, and is constructed of upper and lower parts which can be clamped
together, and are correspondingly formed as hereinafter described on their meeting
faces, the upper part being removable from the lower part in such a manner as that
either of its opposite faces (which are somewhat differently formed as hereinafter
described) may be set in juxtaposition to the upper face of the lower part of the
frame, whereby the frame is rendered available for use in both of such copying
processes, the said supporting base or table being provided with adjustable means
which permit of the combination frame being set at different elevations relatively to
the centre panel, and with means for drawing and keeping it down towards or in
contact with the supporting base when required.

page_text: .
On the accompanying drawings, the apparatus is shown in Figs. 1, to, 4, and, 7, as
used in soaking and stretching a gelatinized parchment or other sheet for autographic
copying; and in Figs. 5, and, 6, as used in the said fast automatic stencil copying
process, Fig. 1. represents a perspective view of the improved apparatus in an opened
position, and Fig. 2. is a longitudinal vertical section thereof. Fig. 3, represents a
like view to Fig. 1, showing the parts in a different position, and Fig. 4. is a transverse
vertical section thereof. Figs. 5, to, 7, are detached views which will be hereinafter
more particularly referred to.
1, represents the supporting base or table to which the centre stencil supporting
block or stretching panel, 2, is screwed or otherwise suitably secured, the base, 1,
and block, 2, are or may be made of any required dimensions, and the top edges
of the block are preferably rounded or bevelled off to avoid any liability of damaging
the stencil, parchment, or other sheet held in the combination frame.
3, 4, represent the removable combination frame which is made of an open formation
of such inner dimensions as will freely fit round the block, 2, and is composed of a
lower part, 3, and an upper part, 4, the former of which is or may be made with a flat
bottom, its upper face being raised at, 5, and formed with a surrounding recess or
groove at, 6. One face of the part, 4, is formed with a projecting rib, 7, corresponding
in formation with and snugly fitting into the recess, 6, in the part, 3, and its other
face on its opposite side is formed with a rounded projection, 8, so disposed as to enter
into the recess when the part, 4, is reversely placed on the part, 3. These frames, 3, 4,
are respectively provided with hooks and eyes, 9, 10, or with other suitable means of
clamping or holding them together when desired. The part, 3, is provided with a
pivoted opening or gate part, 11, which may be constructed in any suitable manner,
and the use of which is hereinafter indicated.
The means for causing the combination frame to assume different positions relatively
to the centre block or panel, as required, may obviously be of a varied character, and
may consist of removable blocks of different thicknesses for use in the different
processes, but I prefer to use two pairs of folding blocks, 12, 13, the blocks of each
pair being hinged to each other at one end, as at, 14, and one block of each pair being
hinged to the base as at, 15, applying one of such pairs to the base at each side or end
of the panel or block, 2.
The arrangement of the blocks, 12, 13, is such that they can be folded the one upon
the other under the frame, 3, vide Figs. 1, and, 2, so as to support the frame at
its maximum elevation above the top level of the block, 2, such as when required to
soak the gelatinized or other sheet in the one process, or can be opened out on the
hinge, 14, end to end, Vide Figs. 5, and, 6, so as to support the frames, 3, 4, at a
medium elevation, level with the block, 2, when required for use in the stencil
copying process, or can be turned outwards on the hinge, 15, Vide Fig. 3, from
under the frames, 3, 4, so that the latter can be lowered when required for stretching
the soaked gelatinized or other sheet in the manner hereinafter described.
The means provided for drawing or holding the combination frame down to or
towards the supporting base, 1, may also be of a varied character, for example, the
frame may be hooked down to the base in the manner in which the parts, 3, 4, are
hooked together, or it may be bolted down thereto in the manner represented at, 16,
in Fig. 7, but I prefer to use thumbscrews or screw bolts, 17, working in eyes, 18,
attached to and projecting from the top part, 4, of the combination frame, and engaging
in correspondingly screwed nuts, 19, secured to the base. The bolts, 17, should be of
such a length as that when their lower ends enter the nuts their milled heads will rest
on the top of the projecting eyes, 18. so that by simply turning the bolts the frame, 3. 4.
will be drawn downwardly towards or to the supporting base, and will be thus firmly
held until the parchment or other sheet has been sufficiently stretched over and upon
the block or panel, 2.
The operation of the apparatus when used for effecting the stretching of the parch-
ment or other sheet is as follows; the hinged blocks, 12, 13, at each side or end of the
supporting base are folded down the one upon the other in such a manner as to permit

page_text: the frame, 3, 4, to rest thereon elevated above the top of the stretching panel as
represented in Figs. 1, and 2; the parchment sheet. 20. is then depressed into the form
of a basin or tray within the raised edges. 5. of the frame, 3, and water is poured in
the tray thus formed and is left therein until the sheet has become sufficiently soaked.
The gate, 11, is then turned outwardly and a gutter is formed by pressing the parch-
ment down into the gateway which permits of the water being drained off, after which
the gate is turned inwardly in place. The top block, 13, is then turned on its hinge, 14,
level with the other block, 12, vide Fig. 6, so that the frame, 3, when resting thereon
will be about level with the top of the block, 2. The side of the frame, 4, having the
rounded rib, 8, is then placed upon the frame, 3, and the soaked parchment or other
sheet is clamped between such frames by the hooks or other means used to secure the
parts of the frame together. The hinged blocks, 12, 13, are then turned upwardly
and outwardly, vide, Fig. 3, thus removing their support from under the combination
frame which would then fall down to the base were it not supported by the parchment
clamped in it stretching across the centre block and keeping the frame slightly above
the level thereof. The stretching of the parchment is then effected by means of the
said bolts, 17, or such other equivalent means as may be used, which are inserted
through the eyes in the frame, 4, and into the nuts, 19, on the base, and are screwed
down as far as desired, and they may be thus left for so long as is necessary to effect
a thorough stretching of the sheet, after which the copying or transfers of writings
and the like may be effected.
In using the apparatus in the said stencil copying process, the hinged blocks, 12. 13.
are turned inwards and laid on a level, vide, Figs. 5, and 6, and the combination frame
is rested upon them with the paper stencil fastened in position by inserting the rib, 7,
of the part, 4, into the groove, 6, in the part, 3, of the frame, the stencil
will
paper
then be level with the centre block, 2. vide Fig. 5, and in a position to print on the
stencil principle.
The present improvements or part thereof may be used in combination with
those forming the subject of my said former application, for which purpose
the detachable spring hinge therein described may be used for removably securing
together the block and lower part of the combination frame hereinbefore described.
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 :-
1. In combination; the supporting base, 1, adapted with a centre block, 2, and
removable surrounding combination frame constructed of lower and upper parts, 3, 4,
provided with means of clamping the same together, the upper part being formed on
its opposite faces with differently shaped projecting ribs and being reversible in
position relatively to the part, 3, which is formed on its upper face with a corre-
spondingly disposed groove, the base being adapted with adjustable means for setting
the combination frame at different elevations, relatively to the centre block, and the
base and frame being provided with means for drawing or keeping the frame towards
or in contact with the supporting base when required, substantially as herein before
described.
2. The base, 1, provided at its opposite ends or sides with blocks, 12, 13, each pair
of which is hinged together and one block of each pair being hinged to the base, and
adapted to be folded in and out, in combination with the centre panel, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
3. The combination with the base, 1, having the hinged supporting blocks, 12, 13;
of the frame, 3. 4. and panel, 2, constructed as described, and means for binding or
securing the said frame to the base, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The combination with the base, 1, provided with surface fixed nuts, 19, of
the frame, 3, 4, the latter having eyes projecting therefrom and bolts passing
through such eyes and entering the nuts of the base, substantially as herein before
described.

page_text: 5. The combination of the base, 1, having the hinged blocks, 12, 13, at each
end or side and provided with nuts, 19, the stretching panel, 2, the frame, 3, 4,
the latter having eyes, 17, and the screw bolts, 18, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
6. The means hereinbefore described of drawing or keeping the reversible combination
frame down to or towards the base, when required.
7. The means hereinbefore described of setting the combination frame at different
elevations relatively to the centre block.
8. The reversible combination frame constructed of lower and upper parts, 3. 4.
provided with means of clamping the same together, the upper part being formed on
its opposite faces with differently shaped projecting ribs, and being reversible in
position relatively to the part, 3, which is formed on its upper face with a corre-
spondingly disposed groove, and the application and use of such frame in the stencil
copying process herinbefore referred to.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.