IN APPARATUS FOR COPYING AND ENLARGING DESIGNS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
"IMPROVEMENTS
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
IN APPARATUS FOR COPYING AND ENLARGING DESIGNS." A communication
from abroad by Thomas Hall, of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, United
States of America
Sealed the 4th October 1878, and dated the 29th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th July 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COPYING AND ENLARGING.
DESIGNS." A communication from abroad by Thomas Hall, of Boston, in the State
of Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates to the copying and enlarging of designs for printing on
calicos and other fabrics, and consists in an improved construction and mode of
using a camera, whereby an image of any opaque fabric or pattern that is to be
reproduced upon an engraved roller that is to be used in a printing machine is
thrown directly upon the metallic plate that is to be used in the pentagraphic
engraving machine; this image being in form and color the exact reproduction of'
the original and of any required size, the adjustments for position and focal distance
being such as to ensure any required proportion between the original pattern and
the colored image that faces upon the horizontal plate.
By the usual mode now adopted for copying designs one or two weeks are
required for the preparation of a sketch in outline of an elaborate pattern. This
sketch, which is made in black ink upon transparent paper which is of a definite
size as compared with the required size of the figure that is to be produced, is
placed between two sheets of plate glass forming the top of a camera box which is
placed under a skylight. The box is attached to the upper end of an open tube
.

page_text: from twenty to forty feet in length, its lower end being just above a horizontal
table, upon which is placed a sheet of paper to receive an image in black
lines formed by the passage of sunlight through the pen-and-ink sketch above
referred to.
To set this apparatus to a definite scale of enlargement two persons are required,
one at the upper end of the long tube, and one at the table where the image falls.
This image, formed by transmitted light, is not in colors, and great care is required
to distinguish those lines that are to be (in the finished fabric) of one color and
printed by one engraved roller.
The improved apparatus constructed according to this Invention can be used in a
small room, but one attendant is required, artificial light is used, the image is
produced in colors, falls upon the metallic plate that is to be used in the penta-
graphic engraving machine.
$
"
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An original design or figure, made upon opaque paper or a piece of the calico or
other cloth that is to be copied, are placed in the instrument, thus dispensing with
the labor and time usually required for the preparation of a sketch upon transparent
paper.
In carrying out this Invention a suitable frame to support the apparatus is
provided resting upon the floor of the room. This frame carries pulleys over which
pass cords connected at one end to a platform upon which the camera is placed, and
at the opposite ends to counterweights to support the weight of the camera and
attached parts. This platform is capable of being moved vertically and retained in
place by the clamping screws. The drawing table is placed centrally within this
frame, and can be raised or lowered a short distance and held at the required height
by a clamp screw. Upon this table is secured a plate, usually of zinc or lead, the
upper surface of which is made smooth, and, if desired, slightly coated with flake
white, so that pencil marks drawn upon it may bé legible. When this plate is
taken from the table the lines marked in pencil are cut in with a graver, and the
tracer of the engraving machine follows these lines.
An oblong box having its top open is placed upon the platform, and another box
open at the bottom and of a little larger size is placed over it. The upper box is
provided with two chimneys to admit of the escape of smoke from the gaslights
which are situated at each end of the oblong box near to the bottom. Gas is
supplied to these burners through tubes leading to a main supply tube provided
with a stop-cock for letting on and shutting off the gas.
Reflectors are placed behind the gaslights, and at a short distance from the gas-
lights towards the centre of the box there are arranged convex lenses which act as
condensers of the light. A camera tube is secured to the bottom of the traversing
platform herein-before referred to, the object glass being nearest to the drawing
table, whilst the other glass or lens is situate above it, the position of the two lenses
with reference to each other being capable of being adjusted by a thumbscrew.
The light of the gas flames is thrown by the reflectors through the convex lenses or
condensers and falls upon the lower side of the pattern, which is stretched smoothly
and held in place by springs upon the upper box herein-before referred to, and may
be a design upon paper, a printed figure, or a sample of the cloth or fabric that is
to be reproduced. The light is reflected from the lower side or face of the pattern,
and passing downward through the lenses of the camera falls upon the metallic
plate, and produces an exact image of the pattern both in form and color.
The size of the image to be produced upon the metallic plate may be regulated
as required by moving the box carrying the pattern up or down, and by raising or
lowering the platform carrying the camera.
Instead of the weights and cords above referred to for supporting the weight of
the platform and box, a crank and ratchet wheel, and suitable binding screws for
regulating the position of the moveable parts may be employed.
Instead of gaslights, as herein-before described, kerosene or other artificial light
may be employed; and when a more brilliant light is required than is produced by
the two lights a third light with a corresponding lens and reflector may be used.

page_text: The apparatus is intended mainly for the production of figures upon a metallic
plate that is to be subsequently used in an engraving machine; but it is also
suitable for the reproduction upon paper or cardboard of designs of all kinds for
carpets, shawls, tapestry, and other woven fabrics.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
January 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COPYING AND ENLARGING
DESIGNS." A communication from abroad by Thomas Hall, of Boston, in the State
of Massachusetts, United States of America.
The said Invention relates to the copying and enlarging of designs for printing
on calicoes and other fabrics, and consists of an improved construction and mode of
using, a camera, whereby an image of any opaque fabric or pattern which is to be
reproduced upon an engraved roller to be used in a printing machine is thrown
directly upon the metallic plate which is to be used in the pentagraphic engraving
machine, this image being in form and color the exact reproduction of the original,
and of any required size, the adjustments for position and focal distance being suchí
as to insure any required proportion between the original pattern and the colored
image which falls upon the horizontal plate.
By the mode now usually adopted for copying designs one or two weeks aro
required for the preparation of a sketch in outline of an elaborate pattern. This
sketch, which is made in black ink upon transparent paper, which is of a definite
size as compared with the required size of the figure that is to be produced, is placed
between two sheets of plate glass forming the top of a camera box which is placed
under a skylight. The box is attached to the upper end of an open tube of, say,
from twenty to forty feet in length, its lower end being just above a horizontal
table, upon which is placed a sheet of paper for the reception of an image in black
lines formed by the passage of sunlight through the pen-and-ink sketch above
referred to.
To set this apparatus to a definite scale of enlargement two persons are required,
one at the upper end of the long tube, and one at the table where the image falls.
This image, formed by transmitted light, is not in colors, and great care is required
to distinguish those lines which are to be (in the finished fabric) of one color and.
printed by one engraved roller.
The improved apparatus constructed according to the present Invention can be
used in a small room, but one attendant is required, artificial light is used, the
image is produced in colors, falls upon the metallic plate which is to be used in the
pentagraphic engraving machine.
An original design or figure made upon opaque paper or a piece of the calico or
other cloth which is to be copied are placed in the instrument, thus dispensing with
the labor and time usually required for the preparation of a sketch upon transparent
paper.

page_text: And in order that the said. Invention may be fully understood I shall now pro-
ceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in both the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a side elevation of the
apparatus, a portion of the exterior being represented as broken away or removed;
and Figure 2 is a plan showing the position of the pattern which is to be copied.
A suitable frame to support the apparatus is formed by the side posts A, A¹,
Figure 1, which rest upon the floor V. To this frame are attached pulleys W, W,
over which pass the cords D, D¹, connected at one end to the platform B, and
carrying at their opposite ends counterweights C, C', to support the weight of the
camera F, E, M, and attached parts which rest upon the platform. This platform
is capable of being moved vertically and retained in place by the clamping
screws Y, Y. The drawing table O is placed centrally within the frame, and can
be raised or lowered a short distance and held by means of a clamp screw Q at the
required height. Upon this table is secured a metallic plate X, usually of zinc or
lead, the upper surface of which is made smooth, and, if desired, slightly coated
with flake white, so that pencil marks drawn upon it may be legible. When this
plate is taken from the table the lines marked in pencil are cut in with a' graver,
and the tracer of the engraving machine follows these lines.
An oblong box E having its top open is placed upon the platform, and another
box F open at the bottom and of a little larger size is placed over it. The upper
box is provided with two chimneys G, G¹, to admit of the escape of smoke from the.
gaslights H, H¹, which are situate at each end of the oblong box near to the bottom.
Gas is supplied to the burners I, I, through the tubes J, J¹, leading from a main
supply. tube U, Figure 2, which. is provided with a stop-cock for letting on and
shutting off the gas.
At each end of the box E there are placed reflectors L, L', behind the gas-
lights H, H', and at a short distance from the gaslights towards the centre of the
box there are arranged convex lenses K, K', which act as condensers of the light.
A camera tube M is secured to the bottom of the traversing platform B, the object
glass R¹ being nearest to the table O, whilst the other glass or lens is situate above
it, the position of the two lenses with reference to each other being capable of
adjustment by means of a thumbscrew N. The light of the gas flames is thrown
by the reflectors L, L', through the convex lenses or condensers K, K¹, and falls
upon the lower side of the pattern P (shown in dotted lines in Figure 2), which is
stretched smoothly and held in place by the two springs S and S¹, and may be a
design upon paper, a printed figure, or a sample of the cloth or fabric which is to
be reproduced. The light is reflected from the lower side or face of the pattern P,
and passing downwards through the lenses of the camera M falls upon the plate X,
and produces an exact image of the pattern P both in form and color.
The size of the image to be produced upon the metallic plate which lies upon the
table may be regulated as required by the cords T, T, which move the box F
carrying the pattern P up or down, and by the cords D, D', which raise or lower
the platform B, the table clamp Qand the thumbscrew N being mainly used for
adjustment to distinct vision.
In lieu of the weights and cords above referred to a crank and ratchet wheel and
suitable binding screws for regulating the position of the moveable parts may be
employed.
The gaslights and pipe may be dispensed with, and kerosene or other artificial
light substituted, therefore the burners being in the same position as the gas-
lights H, H, which are represented in the Drawing.
When a more brilliant light is required than is produced by the two lights before
named a third light with a corresponding lens and reflector may be used, as
indicated by the dotted lines 1, 2, 3, in Figure 2.
The room in which the instrument is placed is darkened, and copies of patterns
may be made in the evening as well as by daylight.

page_text: The apparatus is intended mainly for the production of figures upon a metallic
plate which is to be subsequently used in an engraving machine; but it is also
suitable for the reproduction upon paper or cardboard of designs of all kinds for
carpets, shawls, tapestry, and other woven fabrics.
The lenses in the improved apparatus are of small size relatively to those required
in the instruments used with a transparent pattern, larger lenses being required in
the latter case in order to give sufficient illumination and a definite image upon the
drawing table.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The copying and enlarging of designs, figures, or patterns by artificial
light thrown directly upon an opaque pattern by means of the reflectors, the
condensers, and the adjustable boxes, the rays passing thence through a camera
tube and producing a colored image of the pattern upon a metallic plate or a sheet
of paper, substantially as herein-before described.
Second. The combination of the pattern or design P and its supporting box F
with the lower box E, the adjustable platform B, and the drawing table O, substan-
tially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)