Improvements in Printing or Stamping Inks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1890
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Printing or Stamping Inks.
I, CHARLES MICHAEL HIGGINS of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and State
of New York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
PRINTING OR STAMPING INKS, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention applies more especially to inks for hand-stamps of rubber or metal,
and for type-writers and other small printing machines where a non-drying ink
is required which will last indefinitely on the inking device without drying
or hardening, and yet give a good impression whether used occasionally or
constantly.
As is well known, all inks at present used for these purposes are of either of two
classes, the one of which consists of glycerine holding aniline colours in solution,
the other being formed of a fatty, waxy or oily vehicle having permanent pigments
or aniline colours incorporated therewith in more or less pasty form, but not existing
in a state of solution with the unctuous vehicle.
The objection to the glycerine inks is that the vehicle is perfectly soluble in water,
and very hygroscopic or susceptible to atmospheric moisture, so that the ink is
continually influenced by the relative moisture or dryness of the air, which is a
constant element of irregularity in the inking and printing action, causing the ink to
print too freely in a moist day, and too feebly in a very dry day, which becomes quite
objectionable in type-writing and similar machines. Another serious objection to the
glycerine inks is that as both the vehicle and pigment of the ink are intensely
soluble in water the ink does not dry or set quickly on the paper, and will
blur or smudge very easily in contact with moisture, or with the fingers of the
manipulator.
The objection to the fatty or unctuous inks is that they are only mechanical
mixtures of the colouring matter with the vehicle, and do not hold the colour in
solution in the vehicle, and hence lack fluidity and smoothness, and fine distributing
qualities, and print in a heavy blurred manner, besides lacking good lasting qualities
on the inking device.
These objections have recently created a strong demand for an improved ink which
will entirely dispense with the glycerine vehicle, or any vehicle soluble in water, or
affected by atmospheric moisture, but which shall employ instead an oily or unctuous
vehicle which shall hold the colouring matter in actual solution, and yet be non-drying
or capable of lasting indefinitely in a soft state upon the inking device though exposed
freely to the air, and at the same time the ink should dry or set quickly when printed
on the paper, and not be liable to blur or smut by contact.
My invention consists in an improved ink possessing the above-named characteristics,
produced by dissolving aniline or other colours in the essential oils obtained from the
well-known spices, such as cloves, cinnamon or allspice, as hereinafter fully set
forth.
of
It appears that hardly any of the ordinary known fixed animal, vegetable or
mineral oils have any dissolving power on the aniline or other colours suitable
for inks. A few of them will dissolve a very small percentage of some
the aniline colours, but not sufficient for the purposes of such an ink as my
invention contemplates. I have discovered, however, that the basis of several
of these oils-oleic acid-when isolated, forms a very powerful solvent for
some of the aniline colours, particularly methyl violet, as set forth in a separate
application for patent. I have also found that the essential oils of the common
spices, more especially cloves, cinnamon and allspice, are perfect solvents for most of
the aniline colours and some other colouring matters, and while technically volatile

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oils, I find that they are the least volatile of the series, and are practically fixed, and
will form a non-drying oily or unctuous ink holding the colour in absolute solution,
and having great lasting qualities on the inking device. These spice oils have a much
greater range of solubilities than the oleic acid, that is, will dissolve a greater variety
of colours. Thus the oil of cloves will dissolve the violets, several of the blues, green
crystals, several of the reds, yellows and other colours. It will also perfectly dissolve
Chinese blue, and partly dissolve carmine and ultramarine blue. The oil of cinnamon
will act about the same as the oil of cloves except that it is a much poorer solvent for
the
green, and a better solvent for the yellow. The oil of allspice is not to be preferred
to either of the others for any of the colours except the reds. Oil of black pepper
a good solvent for orange.
In making a voilet ink, therefore, I would take oil of cloves or oil of cinnamon
and stir into the same methyl violet in powdered, Jump or granular form, and allow
the same to remain until thoroughly dissolved, stirring occasionally. These oils will
dissolve cold almost one-third of their weight of violet, forming a liquid oily ink of
intense colouring power, and they will make a strong solution whether used hot or
cold, but the solution can be made stronger, and will be effected more rapidly if made
in the hot oil. The ink thus made is admirably adapted for type-writers, as it lasts
indefinitely on the inking device without drying, and is entirely unaffected by the
condition of the air, and proof to moisture. It will be absorbed evenly by the pad,
roller, ribbon, or other inking device, will distribute very smoothly on the types or
stamps, and give a strong and sharp impression on the paper. The impression will
dry or set almost immediately on the paper by absorption, and bear contact without
blurring, because the vehicle is insoluble in water and the colour is in actual solution
in this vehicle. As, however, the colour is intensely soluble in water a perfect press
copy of the impression can be obtained in the usual manner. This same ink can also
be used for rubber stamps with great advantage. I find that while oil of cloves and
oil of cinnamon-leaf will act on rubber energetically if left long in contact therewith,
yet strange to say, the oil of cinnamon bark (cassia) has no action on rubber. Hence
for rubber stamps which rest normally against the inking pad the ink should
be made with the oil of cassia. For stamps which are detached from their pads
and only temporarily pressed thereon the ink can be made of either of the
other oils.
66
To make green ink I dissolve green crystals in the oil of cloves, preferably hot,
although a very strong solution can be made cold. Any of the different kinds of
aniline
known as
greens
green crystals" can be used, and will dissolve freely in the
oil of cloves. The oil of cinnamon should not be used as it can dissolve only a small
part of the green. The amount of green used will of course depend on the strength
of the ink desired, but the oil of cloves will dissolve nearly one-third to one-half of
its weight before reaching the point of saturation. This will form an intense green,
oily ink, having great lasting power on the inking device, non-smutting when printed,
very even in its impression, brilliant in colour, and gives a good press copy. Some-
times I prefer to add a portion of oleic acid to this green ink, about one-third to
one-quarter of its bulk, which cheapens it without detracting from its good qualities.
The same addition may be made to the violet ink made with the oils of cloves or
cinnamon.
A blue ink may be produced by mixing the ink mado with the methyl violet with the
ink made from the green crystals, the relative proportions of the voilet and green inks
determining the shade of blue desired.
A black ink can be produced by mixing the violet with the yellow or orange
inks.
A permanent blue ink may be obtained by dissolving Chinese blue in oil of cloves,
in which it dissolves and forms a useful ink for many purposes.
The solution of some of the aniline colours may sometimes be assisted by moistening
the colours with alcohol before adding the oils, but only in some cases will this be
necessary, for instance with primrose yellow and a few others.
It is not of course necessary to specify all the pigments that may be used, as any

page_text: suitable pigment may be employed, and this will vary with the colour and purpose of
the ink required.
Carbon may of course be incorporated with any of the above-named mixtures.
In using oil of cloves either the oil of the buds or the stems may be used, and
either the oil of the leaf or the bark of the cinnamon can be employed.
This improved ink may of course also be used for ordinary press printing, particularly
where a copyable printing ink is required.
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. A printing or stamping ink composed of an essential oil of the spices described,
combined with a solid colouring matter dissolved therein, substantially as herein set
forth.
2. A printing or stamping ink composed of an essential oil of the spices described,
and an aniline colour or dye dissolved therein, substantially as.herein set forth.
3. A copyable printing or stamping ink formed of oil of cloves, and aniline green
crystals dissolved therein, substantially as herein set forth.
Lis 11h den of Wantambar 1800
CHARLES MICHAEL HIGGINS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.
CHARLES MICHAEL HIGGINS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.