IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOKBINDING
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Daniel Pfeiffer, residing at Paris, No. 1, Rue
Princesse, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOKBINDING."
Sealed the 26th September 1854, and dated the 19th April 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Daniel. Pfeiffer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th April 1854.
"
I, JEAN DANIEL PFEIFFER,. residing at Paris; No. 1, Rue Princesse, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOKBINDING
to be as follows:
This Invention has for its object a combination of apparatus for holding and
pressing books when undergoing various processes of bookbinding, by which
the same will be more readily and usefully carried on. For this purpose a
machine is constructed with two end frames suitably combined together;
these frames carry an axis on which is fixed a quadrangular frame composed
of two end pieces and two longitudinal bars. On the inner surfaces of the
latter are guides or grooves to receive and support the ends of the sliding
plates, between which plates the books are placed. The longitudinal bars of
the frame are parallel to each other, and at such a distance apart as to admit
of receiving the largest books between them which it is intended the machine
shall receive. The upper surface of the framing of the machine is so formed
as to support the moveable frame when it is in a horizontal position, either on
the one side of the machine or on the other. The moveable frame has at each

page_text: end a semicircular toothed rack fixed to its axis, and motion is given to these
racks, and consequently to the moveable frame, by means of a crank handle on
a shaft, on which are fixed two pinions which take into and give motion to the
semicircular toothed racks. There are ratchets and catches to retain the
moveable frame in any desired position; at each end of the moveable frame is
a screw and moveable end, which is capable of being set up by the screw and
to press the books contained in the moveable frame between the sliding plates
which divide them from each other. Under the moveable frame is a table
running from end to end of the machine, which is capable of adjustment in its
lfreight by a screw and guides at each end, and the screws are put in motion by
means of a shaft and bevilled toothed wheels. On this table, when about to
introduce a number of books into the moveable frame, there are placed a
number of blocks or shapes with convex top surfaces, corresponding with the
concave forms desired to be given to the fronts of the several books. The
books are placed between the sliding plates, and with the front surfaces on the
blocks or shapes, by which they assume a concave form in front and a convex
form at back; the screws at the ends of the moveable frame are then caused
to set up the moveable ends, and consequently to press the books between the
sliding plates, which divide the one from another. The workman can then
readily operate on the backs of the books with the proper tools; and when it
is desired to operate on the ends and fronts of-the books, the moveable frame
can be moved and retained in any desired position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Daniel Pfeiffer in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th October 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
DANIEL PFEIFFER, residing at Paris, No. 1, Rue Princesse, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Jean Daniel Pfeiffer, Her special licence that I, the said Jean
Daniel Pfeiffer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Jean Daniel Pfeiffer, 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

page_text: make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man; an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BOOKBINDING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Jean Daniel Pfeiffer, by an instrument in writing under 'my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 Jean Daniel Pfeiffer, 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 thereof (that is to say) :-
This Invention has for its object a combination of apparatus for holding and
pressing books when undergoing various processes of bookbinding, by which
the same will be more readily and usefully carried on. For this purpose a
machine is constructed with two end frames suitably combined together; these
frames carry an axis on which is fixed a quadrangular frame composed of two
end pieces and two longitudinal bars. On the inner surfaces of the latter are
guides or grooves to receive and support the ends of the sliding plates, between
which plates the books are placed. The longitudinal bars of the frame are
parallel to each other, and at such a distance apart as to admit of receiving
the largest books between them which it is intended the machine shall receive.
The upper surface of the framing of the machine is so formed as to support
the moveable frame when it is in a horizontal position, either on the one side
of the machine or on the other. The moveable frame has at each end a semi-
circular toothed rack fixed to its axis, and motion is given to these racks, and
consequently to the moveable frame by means of a crank handle on a shaft, on
which are fixed two pinions which take into and give motion to the semi-
circular toothed racks. There are ratches and catches to retain the moveable
frame in any desired position. At each end of the moveable frame is a screw
and moveable end, which is capable of being set up by the screw, and to press
the books contained in the moveable frame between the sliding plates which
divide them from each other. Under the moveable frame is a table running
from end to end of the machine, which is capable of adjustment in its height
by a screw and guides at each end, and the screws are put in motion by means
of a shaft and bevelled toothed wheels. On this table, when about to introduce
a number of books into the moveable frame, there are placed a number of
blocks or shapes with convex top surfaces, corresponding with the concave
forms desired to be given to the fronts of the several books. The books arc

page_text: placed between the sliding plates and with the front surfaces on the blocks.or
shapes, by which they assume a concave form-in front and a convex form at
back; the screws at the ends of the moveable frame are then caused to set-up
the moveable ends, and consequently to press the books between the sliding
plates, which divide them one from-another. The workman can then readily
operate on the backs of the books with the proper tools; and-when-it-is-desired
to operate on the ends and fronts of the books, the moveable frame can be
moved and retained in any desired position.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows a vertical longitudinal section of a machine; Figure 2, a
plan; Figure 3, an end elevation, shewing the principal part of the apparatus.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 show several parts separately of the apparatus. A is a
frame moving on the axis E. B are two end frames of the machine combined,
as to carry the axis E. The upper surfaces of these end frames receive and
support the moveable frame A, as it is caused to move on one side or the other
of the axis. Under the moveable frame, when it is placed on C and in the end
frames is a table D, running from end to end of the machine, which is capable
of adjustment in its height by a screw and cylinders at each end, and the
screws are put in motion by means of a shaft F and bevelled toothed wheels.
On the inner surface of the moveable frame A are two guides G, G, to receive
the sliding plates H, I, of a slightly conical form, between which the books
are placed on blocks, the moveable frame A being supported by the upper
surface of the framing C. The books having been placed into the moveable
frame, the sliding plates or blocks H having been placed between each book,
the table D is adjusted to the required height, in order that by means of
moveable pieces K, K, the front parts of the books may be supported, and so
that the back may be brought to the required form and in the proper position.
When the back parts of the books are so arranged, the books are somewhat
pressed_by_means of the screws and a toothed concave roller (shown by
Figure 4) is rolled on the backs of the books.
After this operation has been performed, the books are to be more strongly
pressed by means of the screws I; then the moveable frame A is to be caused
to move on its axis E, and come on the upper surface C¹ of the framing, when
the books will have their backs placed downwards, when a source of heat can
be applied for drying. For gilding, the books are placed with the backs
downwards, and the conical forms being so placed as to have their part on

page_text: the side of the front edge to be gilt. Figures 1 and 2 show books held in the
frame in both conditions for backing and for gilding. Figures 5 and 6 are the
instruments which I prefer to use for scraping and polishing the backs of the
books after the operation before described has been performed.
It will be seen by Figure 7 that the principle of slides can be adapted
equally with a hand press vertically placed or otherwise.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to any of
the parts separately; but what I claim is, the combination herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Daniel Pfeiffer, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord' One thousand éight hundred and fifty-four.
5
Witness,
T. BASSET,
2, Rue Drouot,
Paris.
J. D. PFEIFFER. (L.S.)