A New or Improved Clamp Block for Holding Stereotype Plates.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1890-Accepted, 7th June, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Clamp Block for Holding Stereotype Plates.
I, JAMES HILL of 158 Causewayside, Edinburgh, in the County of Midlothian,
North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 which relatos to a now or improved clamp block for holding stereotype
plates, has for its object to simplify the work of imposing, and after the said blocks
have been set up in form, the said blocks, owing to their construction allow of any
of the plates, or any part of them, or of any part of one of them being removed without
taking down the form.
In carrying out my said invention I construct a block or frame, preferably of
cast iron, though I may use any other suitable metal or material; this block or frame
is so constructed as to carry a pair of side catches, ond catch, rods, sliding plate,
screw, covor and pins all or any of which may be made of iron, steel, brass or any
other suitablo metal or material, the whole being so mounted or arranged that it forms
a powerful clamp block, for holding the stereotype plates, while at the same time
owing to its construction it can grip or clamp, half plates, or parts of plates, as well
as whole plates, and is also capable of taking in various sizes of plates (within
a certain limit) though the blocks may be made to take in any desired size or
sizes of plates.
In order that my said invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying drawings, in which the same reference figures are used in the various
figures.
Figure 1, is a plan of my clamp block.
Figure 2, is an end elevation of same.
Figure 3, is a sectional plan on line 1, 2, of Figure 2.
Figure 4, is a sectional end elevation on line 3, 4, of Figure 3.
And Figure 5, is a sectional side elevation on line 5, 6 of Figure 3.
Referring to the said Figures, A, represents a block or frame which may be made of
cast iron, or any other suitable metal or material and which is finished or planed to gauge,
so as to be easily fitted into the ordinary printers chase and secured by the ordinary
furniture. The said forms or chases being provided with the necessary number of
these blocks according to requirements. This block or frame A is so constructed as
to carry a pair of side catches or clamps B B', which are preferably made of steel
plate, though I may use any other metal or material, and of a section as is shown more
particularly at b, in Figures 2 and 4, so as to enable them to grip plates, either having
bevelled or straight edges. These clamps or catches B B, are mounted in such a
manner in the frame, that they are capable of being easily and quickly drawn towards
each other or pushed from each other, or in other words simultaneously to and from
the centre of the block or frame A. The said simultaneous movement of the said
catches B, B¹, being obtained by means of operating the screw (by means of an
ordinary screw key or its equivalent) which is preferably mounted (as shewn more
particularly in Figures 3 and 5) in the recessed part a, of the end of the frame.
The said screw is held firmly in its position by means of a suitable cover a¹, or its
equivalent; and works in a corresponding screwed nut d, which is formed on or
attached to the one end of a sliding plate D, which has two or more sets of V shaped
grooves or slots d', d, formed in it, for the purpose of engaging the bent ends e e¹, of
the two or more sets of sliding rods E, E, which are capable of moving outwards
and inwards in suitable grooves or recesses e³, formed in the main frame, and thus
moving the side catches B, B', by reason of their being secured in a suitable manner

page_text: such as by screwing or otherwise, to the ends of sliding rods E E', and if desired I
may provide or form on the said side catches B, B', suitable thickening pieces,-corre-
sponding recesses being formed in the sides of the frame for their being fitted into,-
where the ends of the sliding ruils are attached. Thus it will be soon that the said
side catches net in a very quick and efficient manner through the medium of the
combined scrow and wedge arrangement, that is the screw C, sliding plate D, slots d', d²,
and slide bars EE', the speed of which inay be varied by means of the screw C, being
made either single, double or triple threaded, and also the varying of the angles of the
V shaped slots d', d.
In order to allow of the said blocks taking in plates of slightly varying lengths [
mount by screws, or otherwise, an end catch F, which may be made of cast iron,
steel, brass or any other suitable metal or material, this catch F, when desired may be
screwed outwards from the block, and the vacancy between the two may be filled up
with ekes or other suitable furniture.
In order to keep the whole of the said working parts clean, I may provide and
mount in any suitable manner an under cover G.
It is to be understood that I may make my clamp blocks any desired size, so as to
enable them to be adapted to the various sizes of stereotype plates, and in lieu of
the screw C, sliding plate D, V shaped grooves d', d³, and sliding rods E, E, I may
use any other equivalent combination of wedge and scrow.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
cluim is.
First. The general arrangement, combination, and construction of the various parts,
constituting my now or improved clump block for holding stereotype plates,
all substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. In setting up stereotype plates, the employment of clamp blocks us herein-
before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings, whereby any desired plate
or part of plate may be taken out or put in the form without disturbing the rest of the
form.
Third. In clamp blocks for holding stereotype plates, the employment of a combined
wedge and serew arrangement, such as the screw (, sliding plate D, V shaped
grooves d', d, and sliding rods E E', or the mechanical equivalents of said parts, all
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in the accoun-
panying drawings.
Dated this fith dow A
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1890-Accepted, 7th June, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Clamp Block for Holding Stereotype Plates.
I, JAMES HILL of 158 Causewayside, Edinburgh, in the County of Midlothian,
North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 which relatos to a new or improved clamp block for holding stereotype
plates, has for its object to simplify the work of imposing, and after the said blocks
have been set up in form, the said blocks, owing to their construction allow of any
of the plates, or any part of them, or of any part of one of them being removed without
taking down the form.
In carrying out my said invention I construct a block or frame, preferably of
cast iron, though I may use any other suitable metal or material; this block or frame
is so constructed as to carry a pair of side catches, end catch, rods, sliding plate,
screw, cover and pins all or any of which may be made of iron, steel, brass or any
other suitable metal or material, the whole being so mounted or arranged that it forms
a powerful clamp block, for holding the stereotype plates, while at the same time
owing to its construction it can grip or clamp, balf plates, or parts of plates, as well
as whole plates, and is also capable of taking in various sizes of plates (within
a certain limit) though the blocks may be made to take in any dosired size or
sizes of plates.
In order that my said invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying drawings, in which the same reference figures are used in the various
figures.
Figure 1, is a plan of my clamp block.
Figure 2, is an end elevation of same.
Figure 3, is a sectional plan on line 1, 2, of Figure 2.
Figure 4, is a sectional end elevation on line 3, 4, of Figure 3.
And Figure 5, is a sectional side elevation on line 5, 6 of Figure 3.
Referring to the said Figures, A, represents a block or frame which may be made of
cast iron, or any other suitable metal or material and which is finished or planed to gauge,
so as to be easily fitted into the ordinary printers chase and secured by the ordinary
furniture. The said forms or chases being provided with the necessary number of
these blocks according to requirements. This block or frame A is so constructed as
to carry a pair of side catches or clamps B B, which are preferably made of steel
plate, though I may use any other metal or material, and of a section as is shown more
particularly at 6, in Figures 2 and 4, so as to enable them to grip plates, either having
bevelled or straight edges. These clamps or catches B B', are mounted in such a
manner in the frame, that they are capable of being easily and quickly drawn towards
each other or pushed from each other, or in other words simultaneously to and from
the centre of the block or frame A. The said simultaneous movement of the said
catches B, B', being obtained by means of operating the screw C (by means of an
ordinary screw key or its equivalent) which is preferably mounted (as shewn more
particularly in Figures 3 and 5) in the recessed part a, of the end of the frame.
The said screw is held firmly in its position by means of a suitable cover a', or its
equivalent; and works in a corresponding screwed nut d, which is formed on or
attached to the one end of a sliding plate D, which has two or more sets of V shaped
grooves or slots d', d², formed in it, for the purpose of engaging the bent ends e e¹, of
the two or more sets of sliding rods E, E, which are capable of moving outwards
and inwards in suitable grooves or recesses e, formed in the main frame, and thus
moving the side catches B, B', by reason of their being secured in a suitable manner

page_text: such as by screwing or otherwise, to the ends of sliding rods E E', and if desired I
may provide or forn on the said side catches B3, B4, suitable thickening pieces, corre
sponding recesses being formed in the sides of the frame for their being fitted into,-
where the ends of the sliding rods are attached. Thus it will he seen that the said
side catches act in a very quick and efficient manner through the medium of the
combined screw and wedge arrangement, that is the screw C, sliding plate D). slots d', d,
and slide bars E E, the speed of which may be varied by means of the scrow (1, being
made either single, double or triple threaded, and also the varying of the angles of the
V shaped slots d³, d³.
In order to allow of the said blocks taking in plates of slightly varying lengths I
mount by screws, or otherwise, an ond catch F, which may be made of cast iron,
steel, brass or any other suitable metal or material, this catch F, when desired may be
serowed outwards from the block, and the vacancy between the two may be filled up
with ekes or other suitable furniture.
In order to keep the whole of the said working parts clean, I may provide and
mount in any suitable manner an under cover G.
It is to be understood that I may make my clamp blocks any desired size, so as to
enable them to he adapted to the various sizes of stereotype plutos, and in lieu of
the screw C, sliding plate D, V shaped grooves d', d, and sliding rods E, E, I may
use any other equivalent combination of wedge and screw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of any said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is.
First. The general arrangement, combination, and construction of the various parts,
constituting my new or improved clump block for holding stereotypo plates,
all substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. In setting up stereotype plates, the employment of clamp blocks ns herein-
before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings, whereby any desired plate
or part of plate may be taken out or put in the form without disturbing the rest of the
form.
Third. In clamp blocks for holding stereotype plates, the employment of a combined
wedge and screw arrangement, such as the screw (, sliding plate D. V shaped
grooves d', d, and sliding rods E El, or the mechanical equivalents of said parts, all
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this fish 1000