Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for the Production of Plates for Colour Printing.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd July, 1891-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for the Production
of Plates for Colour Printing.
I, JULES MICHAUD, of 96 Rue d'Assas, Paris, France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
:-
My invention relates to improvements in the means employed for producing
different plates, such as zinc, galvano, process or other plates intended for printing
in several colours, and especially for printing on rotary machines.
The means hitherto employed for fixing zinc, galvano or other engraved plates
in a curved printing plate, so as to print engravings and letter press at the same
time, would not afford sufficient exactitude to prepare the different plates which are
to serve for printing in several colours.
al
The means at present employed and which have been in use for upwards of ten
years for daily and weekly papers having engravings produced by zinc or galvano
plates inserted in the curved letter press printing plates, consist in producing
matrix from the page of type, leaving a space for the engraving, and then placing
such matrix in the casting box and the engraved plate bent to the required
curvature upon the part reserved for same. Springs or strips of lead or other
material are secured to the back of the engraved plate and are of a depth equal to
the difference existing between the thickness of the printing plate and that of the
engraved plate, so that the cover of the casting box when closed bears on the springs
or strips of metal, so as to force the engraving and the matrix well against the
bottom of the casting box.
This method which gives very good results for printing in one colour only, would
not give sufficient precision for printing in several colours.
In order to afford the greatest precision I have invented the method hereinafter
described.
I make a matrix of the page which is to contain the letter press and the engraving
in the ordinary manner, but in a special frame in which holes are pierced which are
to appear in the matrix and outside the impression part of the plate, so as to serve
as adjusting points, and also other holes which are to serve as guides for a bar
carrying punches.
A block is placed in the forme where the engraving is to be. The impression or
matrix having been taken and dried in the ordinary way, when dry and before
removing it from the forme I pierce holes therethrough by means of the bar and its
punches.
I place the matrix thus obtained in the casting box.
I preferably employ a casting box in which the metal is run in from the side, in
order to obtain two end bevels in the cast plates, so that I always get exactly the
same distance between the two bevels in all the plates.
I
I also employ this form of casting box in preference to others, because it enables
the matrices and the engraved plates to be more easily placed in position;
construct same so that in opening the casting box the plate remains attached to the
cover, which holds it without shifting and presents it to a saw mounted on the
casting box, and which cutting of the jet or runner on the cover itself without
having to remove the plate, always produces plates of exactly the same
development.
The plates thus obtained can be placed in the machine with much greater
facility, and the adjustment of the different plates is very easily effected.
In case any slight irregularities should be produced by the saw 1 may form one

page_text: or more notches or recesses in the end bevels of the plates, by placing cores on the
circles forming the ends of the casting box, so that the notches or recesses would be
formed when the plates are cast and would be exactly alike in all the plates; I
should then place upon the cylinders of the rotary press pins corresponding to these
notches or recesses, so as to at once find without any trouble tlie exact position 5
which cach plate should occupy.
The matrix produced as above described is placed in the casting box, which has
projecting pins occupying positions exactly corresponding to the holes formed in
the matrix.
These pins of the casting box may be fixed or movable; they will be fixed when I
the construction of the casting box will allow same to be opened after casting,
without enlarging the holes of the matrix; and they will be movable, that is to say
capable of disappearing when the casting box is opened, if it is inadvisable to leave
them projecting at the moment of opening.
I prepare the engraved plate so that upon the side corresponding to the edge of 1
the matrix in which the holes are formed it has a strip of metal with holes exactly
corresponding with those of the matrix. I produce these holes in the engraved
plate either by forming same by means of a template upon the engravings which
are used to obtain the galvanos, or by tracing saine on the drawing which is to be
photographed or to serve for making the transfers for obtaining the plates for the 2
different colours; these holes may also be produced by taking impressions for
galvanos or by biting same in zincos by acids, or finally by simply tracing them on
the plates and then producing them by pressure.
The engraved plates thus prepared are tinned or soldered so as to cause them to
become soldered to the plate when cast, then curved as required and placed in the 2
casting box over the matrix of the page of letter press which is to be printed in the
same colour as the engraving, great care being taken to place it so that the holes
formed therein pass over the pins in the casting box. Upon this engraved plate
tinned or soldered on its back I place either springs or strips of metal, or (what
would answer the same purpose) I place on the cover of the casting box a series of
small projecting points of such a depth that they will bear on the back of the
engraved plate so as to press it well against the matrix, and consequently also
cause the latter to bear well against the bottom of the casting box.
I then run in the metal and thus obtain a first plate having the engraving and the
letter press or text which are to be of the same colour.
To obtain the plates for the other colours I place a sheet of cardboard of the
same thickness as the matrix in the casting box, and over this sheet I place the
plate for one of the colours, still making use of the pins in the casting box.
The engraved plate is caused to bear on the cardboard and the latter on the bottom
of the casting box as before, and I then run in the metal, and thus obtain a second
plate.
The operation is repeated for each colour, and I obtain curved plates all of
exactly the same height and development, and further all bearing the engraving in
exactly the same position in the plates.
To diminish and even to avoid the necessity of lowering the parts of the plates
not carrying letter press, stick on the cardboard which replaces the matrix,
thicknesses of cardboard so as to obtain sunken parts in the plates, at the points
which are not to be inked.
Before placing the plates in the machine the strip of metal which is outside the
impression part and in which the holes to receive the pins of the casting box are
formed, must be removed from each.
For piercing the holes which are to be formed in the engraved plates, I employ
a special apparatus.
When the plate has been placed on the block by means of adjusting points, it is
The bar
held firmly by a bar by means of screws and nuts, so that it cannot shift.
and the block are pierced with holes exactly corresponding with those pierced in
the matrix, and with the pins in the casting box, and punches are caused to work

page_text: through the holes in the bar and enter those in the block, thus forming corresponding
holes in the plate held upon such block.
Before tinning or soldering and curving the engraved plates, it is very important
to well check the plates for the different colours to see that they correspond exactly
with regard to the holes formed in each, and in order to effect this I employ a
machine which enables this to be done with certainty.
This apparatus consists of a bed or block, on which I place two spring pins,
which are exactly the same distance apart as the holes formed in the engraved
plates, and successively place the engraved plates upon the block, taking care to
pass the holes in such plates over the pins of the block in taking an impression
the pins recede but without leaving the plates, thus preventing shifting.
For taking a proof I place the block in a press, and upon the frisket or the
cylinder of the press I place a sheet of paper so that it can receive several
impressions without being able to shift, and upon such sheet I take the different
impressions by changing the plates in succession.
If for example four colours are to be produced, yellow, red, blue and black, the
yellow plate being placed on the block and inked I take the yellow impression; I
then replace the yellow plate by the red, ink same and take a new impression ;
I then do the same for the blue and black plates.
If the plates correspond well and the pin holes are properly pierced, I ought to
obtain a perfect register on the sheet, and I have thus a very exact means of
checking the plates before proceeding to submit such plates to the different
operations.
For timming or soldering, I heat the plates to be treated in water baths of a
temperature less than that at which the plates will melt, but above that of the
melting point of solder, so as to be able to melt the solder without causing the
engraving plate to do so.
The use of a water bath is very advantageous when the fusing point of the plates
approaches that of the solder employed.
The plate having been soldered, to curve same, after heating I place it in a screw
press the two heads or plates of which are concentric and one concave and the
other convex, and which when they are moved towards each other having the plate
between them, impart to the latter the requisite curvature to fit the casting box.
The plates are left for a few moments in the press, which is heated to ensure
them retaining the curvature required, without which heating the plates would open.
out again on leaving the press.
By proceeding as above described, I obtain with such engraved plates placed in
the casting box, printing plates which are all of exactly the same size and all
having the engraved plates for the different colours placed exactly in the same
position with regard to the whole of such printing plates.
If therefore, the position of each printing plate is indicated exactly on the
cylinders of the printing machine, when they are placed in position a perfect register
should at once be obtained, thus avoiding great loss of time and rendering the work
it has hitherto been very difficult to obtain on a rotary machine very easy.
Dated this 30th day of October 1890.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for the Production
of Plates for Colour Printing.
I, JULES MICHAUD, of 96 rue d'Assas, Paris, France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in the means employed for producing

page_text: different plates, such as zinc, galvano, process or other plates intended for printing
in several colours, and especially for printing on rotary machines.
The means hitherto employed for fixing zinc, galvano, or other engraved plates
in a curved printing plate, so as to print engravings and letter press at the same
time, would not afford sufficient exactitude to prepare the different plates which are 5
to serve for colour printing.
The means at present employed and which have been in use for upwards of ten
years for daily and weekly papers having engravings produced by zinc or galvano
plates inserted in the curved letter press printing plates, consist in producing a
matrix from the page of type, leaving a space for the engraving, and then placing
such matrix in the casting box and the engraved plate, bent to the required
curvature, upon the part reserved for same. Springs or strips of lead or other
material are secured to the back of the engraved plate and are of a depth equal to
the difference existing between the thickness of the printing plate and that of the
engraved plate, so that the cover of the casting box when closed bears on the springs 1
or strips of metal, so as to force the engraving and the matrix well against the
bottom of the casting box. The same result may be obtained by placing projecting
parts on the cover of the casting box, which when the cover is closed bear on the
back of the engraving.
This method which gives very good results for printing in one colour only, would 2
not give sufficient precision for printing in several colours.
In order to afford the greatest precision I have invented the method hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a frame for taking the matrix of a page in which 2
engravings are to be inserted, and
Fig. 2 a plan view thereof.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a casting box for producing the printing plates.
Fig. 4 is a plan view, and
Fig. 5 a transverse section of an apparatus for piercing holes in the engraved 3
plates.
Fig. 6 is a plan view, and
Fig. 7 a vertical section of the apparatus I employ for checking the engraved
plates to be used for printing different colours, so as to see that the holes formed
therein correspond exactly.
I make a matrix of the page which is to contain the letter press and the engraving
in the ordinary manner, but in a special frame M (Figs. 1 and 2), in which holes a, a,
are pierced, which are to appear in the matrix and outside the impression part of
the plate, so as to serve as adjusting points, and also holes b, b, which are to serve
as guides for a bar C carrying punches.
A block is placed in the forme where the engraving is to be. The impression or
matrix having been taken and dried in the ordinary way, when dry and before
removing it from the forme I pierce holes a, a, therethrough by means of the bar C
and its punches.
I place the matrix thus obtained in the casting box.
I preferably employ a casting box in which the metal is run in from the side
(Fig. 3), in order to obtain two end bevels in the cast plates, so that I always get
exactly the same distance between the two bevels in all the plates; but the operation
will be the same in the case of a casting box in which the metal is run in from
the end.
I prefer to employ the form of casting box first mentioned because it enables
the matrices and the engraved plates to be more easily placed in position;
I construct same so that in opening the casting box the plate remains attached to
the cover, which holds it without shifting and presents it to a saw mounted on
the casting box, and which cutting off the jet or runner on the cover itself
without having to remove the plate, always produces plates of exactly the same
development.
3
L

page_text: The plates thus obtained can be placed in the machine with much greater facility,
and the adjustment of the different plates is very easily effected.
In case any slight irregularities should be produced by the saw I may form one
or more notches or recesses in the end bevels of the plates, by placing cores on the
circles forming the ends of the casting box, so that the notches or recesses would be
formed when the plates are cast and would be exactly alike in all the plates; I
should then place upon the cylinders of the rotary press pins corresponding to these
notches or recesses, so as to at once find without any trouble the exact position
which each plate should occupy.
The matrix produced as above described is placed in the casting box, which (as
shown in Fig. 3) has projecting pins a', a', occupying positions exactly corresponding
to the holes formed in the matrix.
These pins a', a', of the casting box may be fixed or movable; they will be fixed
when the construction of the casting box will allow same to be opened after casting,
without enlarging the holes of the matrix; and they will be movable, that is to say
capable of disappearing when the casting box is opened, if it is unadvisable to leave
them projecting at the moment of opening.
I may when possible place the pins of the casting, box at a", so that they are
situated at the part of the plate which will be cut off by the saw, and thus simplify
the work, the cutting off of the jet or runner then producing a finished plate without
having to cut off the small band or strip in which the holes for the pins are formed,
such band or strip being hereinafter referred to; I may further use both the pins a¹
and a", if there is any advantage in so doing.
I prepare the engraved plate so that upon the side corresponding to the edge of
the matrix in which the holes a, a, are formed it has a strip of metal with holes
exactly corresponding with those of the matrix. I produce these holes in the
engraved plate either by forming same by means of a template upon the engravings
which are used to obtain the galvanos, or by tracing same on the drawing which is
to be photographed or to serve for making the transfers for obtaining the plates for
the different colours; these holes may also be produced by taking impressions for
galvanos or by biting same in zincos by acids, or finally by simply tracing them on
the plates and then producing them by pressure.
The engraved plates thus prepared are tinned or soldered so as to cause them to
become soldered to the plate when cast, then curved as required and placed in the
casting box over the matrix of the page of letter press which is to be printed in the
same colour as the engraving, great care being taken to place it so that the holes
formed therein pass over the pins in the casting box. Upon this engraved plate
tinned or soldered on its back I place either springs or strips of metal, or (what
would answer the same purpose) I place on the cover of the casting box a series of
small projecting points of such a depth that they will bear on the back of the
engraved plate so as to press it well against the matrix, and consequently also cause
the latter to bear well against the bottom of the casting box.
I then run in the metal and thus obtain a first plate having the engraving and the
letter press or text which are to be of the same colour.
To obtain the plates for the other colours 1 place a sheet of cardboard of the
same thickness as the matrix in the casting box, and over this sheet I place the
plate for one of the colours, still making use of the pins in the casting box. The
engraved plate is caused to bear on the cardboard and the latter on the bottom of
the casting box as before, and I then run in the metal, and thus obtain a second
plate.
The operation is repeated for each colour, and I obtain curved plates all of
exactly the same height and development, and further all bearing the engraving in
exactly the same position in the plates.
To diminish and even to avoid the necessity of lowering the parts of the plates
not carrying letter press, I stick on the cardboard which replaces the matrix, thick-
nesses of cardboard so as to obtain sunken parts in the plates, at the points which
are not to be inked.

page_text: Before placing the plates in the machine the strip of metal which is outside the
impression part and in which the holes to receive the pins of the casting box are
formed, must be removed from each. This work will, however, be avoided if it is
possible to arrange the pins in the casting box at the point in the plate which will
be removed by the saw, that is to say in the jet or runner of such plate.
The engraved plates may be tinned or soldered in the ordinary manner before
placing them in the casting box, but I have invented a new method of effecting this
which renders the operation very easy.
I employ sheets of rolled metal of which the nature varies according to whether
it needs to be more or less easily fusible.
In order to produce efficient soldering it is only requisite to apply such sheets, by
means of stearine or other analogous material, to the plates to be soldered, and to
place the plates when thus prepared and heated in the casting box.
When the material which serves as a backing has been run on top of these plates,
a perfect soldering will have been obtained.
With these sheets the soldering may be effected just as readily before as after the
plates are curved, which is a great advantage.
These sheets may be employed for soldering zinc, copper, galvano or other kind
of plates.
They may be equally well employed for soldering the shells of galvanos, as for
the second soldering which is necessary when galvanos are employed which although
already backed are not sufficiently thick to be used on a rotary press.
In the latter case when it is desired to employ a backed galvano having a thick-
ness of from 3 to 4 millimetres for example, same is heated, curved, and then soldered
again by rubbing the back with stearine and applying a sheet of the fusible material
thereto, when by placing it in the casting box and running the metal therein, a
curved plate will be obtained having the necessary thickness for a rotary machine.
For piercing the holes which are to be formed in the engraved plates, I employ
a special apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
When the plate has been placed on the block P by means of adjusting points, it
is held firmly by a bar R by means of screws and nuts D, D, so that it cannot shift.
The bar R and the block P are pierced with holes a, a, exactly corresponding
with those pierced in the matrix, and with the pins in the casting box, and punches
are caused to work through the holes in the bar R and enter those in the block P;
thus forming corresponding holes in the plate held upon such block.
Before tinning or soldering and curving the engraved plates, it is very important
to well check the plates for the different colours to see that they correspond exactly
with regard to the holes formed in each, and in order to effect this I employ a
machine which enables this to be done with certainty.
This apparatus consists of a bed or block E (Figs. 6 and 7), on which I place two
spring pins a³, u³, which are exactly the same distance apart as the holes formed in
the engraved plates, and I successively place the engraved plates upon the block,
taking care to pass the holes in such plates over the pins of the block; in taking au
impression the pins recede but without leaving the plates, thus preventing shifting.
For taking a proof I place the block in a press and upon the frisket or the
cylinder of the press I place a sheet of paper so that it can receive several impressions
without being able to shift, and upon such sheet I take the different impressions by
changing the plates in succession.
If for example four colours are to be produced, yellow, red, blue and black, the
yellow plate being placed on the block and inked I take the yellow impression; I
then replace the yellow plate by the red, ink same and take a new impression; I
then do the same for the blue and black plates.
If the plates correspond well and the pin holes are properly pierced, I ought to
obtain a perfect register on the sheet, and I have thus a very exact means of
checking the plates before proceeding to submit such plates to the different
operations.
.
For tinning or soldering, I heat the plates to be treated in water baths of a

page_text: temperature less than that at which the plates will melt, but above that of the
melting point of solder, so as to be able to melt the solder, without causing the
engraving plate to melt.
The use of a water bath is very advantageous when the fusing point of the plates
approaches that of the solder employed.
The plate having been soldered, to curve same, after heating I place it in a screw
press the two heads or plates of which are concentric and one concave and the other
convex, and which when they are moved towards each other having the plate
between them, impart to the latter the requisite curvature to fit the casting box.
The plates are left for a few moments in the press, which is heated to ensure them
retaining the curvature required, without which heating the plates would open out
again in leaving the press.
By proceeding as above described, I obtain with such engraved plates placed in
the casting box, printing plates which are all of exactly the same size and all having
the engraved plates for the different colours placed exactly in the same position with
regard to the whole of such printing plates.
If, therefore, the position of each printing plate is indicated exactly on the
cylinders of the printing machine, when they are placed in position a perfect register
should at once be obtained, thus avoiding great loss of time and rendering the work
it has hitherto been very difficult to obtain on a rotary machine very easy.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The employment of a frame enabling holes to be formed in a matrix without
removing it from the forine, in combination with fixed or inovable pins placed in a
casting box in which a printing plate is to be cast, substantially as specified.
2. The employment of an apparatus for piercing holes in plates for printing in
different colours, in combination with fixed or movable pins arranged in a casting
box in which a printing plate is to be cast, substantially as specified.
3. The formation of notches or recesses cast in the bevels of printing plates, in
combination with pins fixed to the cylinders of a printing machine, so as to ensure
each of the plates occupying its exact position on such cylinders, substantially as
specified.
4. The employment of a testing block for printing plates, such block having
spring pins acting in combination with holes formed in the plates, such pins being
depressed during the taking of an impression, but without leaving the plates, so as
to avoid shifting, substantially as specified.
5. The heating of printing plates in water baths of a temperature lower than the
fusing point of such plates but above that of the fusing point of the solder serving
to solder such plates, substantially as specified.
6. The employment of sheets of fusible metal to be applied to the back of
engraved plates by means of stearine or other analogous material, so that such
engraved plates will become firmly soldered to a printing plate when placed in a
casting box and the metal of which the printing plate is to be made is run into
such box, such method being applicable to the backing of engraved plates of any
kind, substantially as specified.
7. The combination of the whole or of any of the arrangements described for
producing coloured impressions in rotary printing machines, and ensuring the
printing plates occupying the exact position required upon the cylinders of such
machines, without having to rectify their positions to obtain a proper register, which
positions it is very difficult to rectify on the machine, by reason of the cylindrical
form, all substantially as specified.
1 1001
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.