IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OP AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING FROM INTAGLIO PLATES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Wilson Swan, of Gateshead, in the County
of Durham, Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MODE OP AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING FROM INTAGLIO PLATES."
Sealed the 29th June 1866, and dated the 24th January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Wilson Swan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th January 1866.
I, JOSEPH WILSON SWAN, of Gateshead, in the County of Durham,
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING FROM INTAGLIO PLATES," to
be as follows:-
My improvements relate to the production of gelatinous prints from
intaglio plates by the use of a novel construction of press. A process for
producing the kind of prints above mentioned is described in a former
Patent granted to me, and dated July 6th, 1865, No. 1791, under the
designation "photo-mezzotint."
My practice hitherto in producing the gelatinous prints from the intaglio
plate has been to pour the gelatinous ink upon the intaglio plate whilst´in
a horizontal position, then to bring down the paper over it, and by pres-
sure to expel the ink from between the paper and face of the plate, the
excess of ink escaping at the same time around the margin of the plate.

page_text: This mode of operating is wasteful of ink; it does not ensure, except on
small surfaces, equal spreading of the ink, and moreover the impressions
are apt to be imperfect from the enclosure of air bubbles between the
pressed surfaces. I avoid these imperfections in the following manner :-
In the act of printing I use the intaglio plate in a position more or less
removed from the horizontal, or rather approaching the vertical, and I so
surround the plate by a frame or border that when the paper to receive
the print is attached to the tympan of the press and is brought up to the
frame or chase carrying the plate an enclosed space is left between the
intaglio plate and the paper. Into this space, and at the lower end
thereof, I introduce the gelatinous ink in an ascertained quantity by means
of a pipette or its equivalent, and then by the action of a screw or lever
I bring the two surfaces gradually into contact. As the surfaces approach
the ink, having no way of escape at the bottom or sides of the enclosed
space, gradually rises and spreads over the plate, the air being at the
same time expelled before the flow of ink. The quantity of ink may be
adjusted so that there will be no overflow of ink, or if in excess a vent
is provided at the top for its escape.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Wilson Swan in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th July 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPII
WILSON SWAN, of Gateshead, in the County of Durham, Chemist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Joseph Wilson Swan, Her special licence that I, the said
Joseph Wilson Swan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Joseph Wilson Swan, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS

page_text: FOR PRINTING FROM INTAGLIO PLATES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Joseph Wilson Swan, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Wilson Swan; do hereby.
déclaré the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
This Invention relates to the production of gelatinous prints from
intaglio plates by the use of a novel construction of press. A process.
for producing the kind of prints above mentioned is described in a former
Patent granted to me, and dated July Sixth, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-five, No. 1791, under the designation of "photo-mezzotint."
My practice hitherto in producing the gelatinous prints from the
intaglio plate has been to pour the gelatinous.ink upon the intaglio plate
whilst in a horizontal position, then to bring down the paper over it and
by pressure to expel the ink from between the paper and face of the plate,
the excess of ink escaping at the same time around the margin of the
plate. This mode of operating is wasteful of ink; it does not ensure,
except on small surfaces, equal spreading of the ink, and moreover the
impressions are apt to be imperfect from the enclosure of air bubbles
between the pressed surfaces. To avoid these imperfections I propose to
work in the following manner:-In the act of printing I use the intaglio.
plate in a vertical position; or more or less approaching the vertical, and I
so surround the plate by a frame or border that when the paper to receive.
the print is attached to the tympan of the press and is brought up to the
frame or chase carrying the plate an enclosed space is; left between the
intaglio plate and the paper. Into this space, and at the lower end thereof,
I introduce the gelatinous ink in an ascertained quantity by means of a
pipette or its equivalent, and then by the action of a screw or lever; I
bring the two surfaces gradually into contact. As the space between the
surfaces gradually contracts the ink, having no way of escape at the bottom
or side of the enclosed space, will gradually rise and spread over the
intaglio or printing plate, the air being at the same time, expelled before
the flow of ink. The quantity of ink may be adjusted so that there will.

page_text: be no overflow of ink, or if in excess a vent may be provided at the top:
for its escape.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shews.in transverse vertical section
my improved press for taking impressions from intaglio plates in gelatine
ink; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 shows the press in front.
view; and Fig. 4 is a back view of the same. A, A, is the frame or chase-
bolted to the base plate B, B; C, C, is the tympan plate, which is
carried by a screw C₁, to which it is connected by a swivel coupling.
This screw works through a tapped hole in the cross bar D, and it is.
fitted with a hand wheel by turning which the tympan plate may be
forced closely into contact with the projecting fillet a, a, of the chase A, A.:
The cross bar D is hinged to a projection on the base plate, and it is held
fast in a vertical position by means of a drop catch D¹ hinged to the frame
or chase A. When released from this catch the cross bar together with
the tympan plate may be drawn backward into the dotted position of
Fig. 1; E, E, is the bed plate for supporting the intaglio or printing
plate; it is fitted within a box F, F, and is capable of adjustment therein
by means of set screws b, b. The box F is accurately fitted within the
chase A, A, and is capable of being advanced into close contact with the
tympan plate or of being drawn backwards by the action of a screw and
winch G (with which it is connected by a swivel coupling), into the
position indicated by the dotted line 1, 2. The box is maintained in
contact with the tympan by means of a spring K. The screw G works
in a pivotted nut or tapped bearing carried by a cross bar H, which like
the cross bar D is hinged to a projection on the base plate B. It is also,
like that cross bar, held in a vertical position by a catch H¹ hinged to the
top of the frame or chase A, and a tendency is given to it, as well as to the
bar D, by means of a pendent weight to regain when tilted a vertical.
position. By raising the catch H³ the cross bar H may be drawn back,
together with the box F and plate E, into the dotted position of Fig. 1,
but by reason of the swivel nut the screw G may be caused to draw the.
intaglio or printing plate into the position indicated by the line 1, 2,
Fig. 1, while the cross bar H is still held fast in its vertical position. The
press may be constructed of iron or other suitable metal. The pressing
surfaces of the tympan plate and bed plate are planed and ground to a
plane, the face of the fillet a, a, is also ground to fit closely to the
tympan plate, and the outer edge of the box E is carefully fitted within
the chase A, A. Preparatory to operating I attach the back of the
intaglio or printing plate by means of wax or other cement to the bed

page_text: plate E, and by means of set screws b, b, I adjust the surface so that when
the box F, F, is pressed forward by the screw G, the face of the intaglio
will bear equally against the tympan plate. In case the intaglio is smaller
than the bed plate I level the surrounding space with a mat or frame of
lead or other metal backed by wax or other cement. In using the press I
operate in the following manner :-After greasing the surface of the
intaglio I set it in the line 1, 2, I then place a sheet of damp paper on the
tympan plate C and screw it up against the fillet of the chase, whereby it
will be held firmly in position. I next inject by means of a pipette or in
any convenient manner into the space between the printing plate and the
paper a measured quantity of a solution of gelatine colored to the requisite
degree by the admixture of pigment or coloring matters, and having done
so I screw up the plate into a position parallel to the paper that is intended
to receive the impression, the effect of which is to cause the ink to rise
and occupy all the depressions of the intaglio; I then allow a sufficient
time for the gelatine ink to solidify, and when this has taken place I draw
back the tympan plate and remove the paper, to which the impression will
be found attached.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the details of
the press shewn in the Drawing, as levers may be substituted for the
operating screws, and elastic packing may be added to make the box fit
accurately within the chase.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of improvements in
the mode of and apparatus for printing from intaglio plates, and explained
the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood
that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim the production
of gelatinous prints from intaglio plates by the means above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Wilson Swan, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JOSEPH WILSON SWAN. (L.S.)