Improvements in or relating to Blocks or Type Applicable for Printing in Various Colours.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Blocks or Type Applicable for
Printing in Various Colours.
A communication from abroad, by PAUL AUGUSTE DUPREZ, of 207, Rue St. Antoine,
Paris, in the Republic of France, Merchant.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, & 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, & 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is to provide means for producing in a practical and
rapid manner all kinds of impressions in various colours, and particularly the coloured
impression of advertisements, announcements, etcetera, in the daily papers.
It consists essentially in a special system of setting up blocks for proofs in black
and colours, on rotatory machines employed for this purpose, a system which allows
of obtaining at once blocks of like dimensions, and of which the parts that are not to
be used for the proofs for which they are respectively required are depressed as far
as desired by means employed at the moment of casting, and which will be explained
below. By this invention the blocks can be accurately and quickly mounted on
the cylinders of the printing machine, and thus avoid the delay and difficulties of
mounting, resulting from the employment of the partial blocks for colors, which are
generally used for proof of this kind.
In carrying out the invention the mode of manufacturing blocks for producing
impressions in black and white is as follows:
.
The blank (flan) in paper or other substance, which contains the,caste of the type
of the composition, being placed in the cylindrical printing mould upon the parts of
this blank (flan) which are to be printed in colours, metallic plates are applied
having the same curvature as the mould and the thickness of which determines the
depth of the caste which is to be obtained at these places in order to avoid the
maculations which may occur on the paper at the time of drawing off the proof.

page_text: These plates are furnished with small spikes on their convex surface intended to
pierce the paper of the blank (flan), and on their exterior concave surface with one
or more conical projections, upon which the covering of the mould presses at the
time of its closure (fermature) so as to prevent the metal in fusion from getting
between the blank (flan) and the plates, which serve as reserve.
It can be understood that under these conditions the block obtained is depressed at
all parts, which are not to receive the black ink, and is ready to be placed immediately
on the cylinder of the printing machine.
For producing colour blocks: To obtain the colour block, the same process is
adopted, by applying to the blank (flan) placed in the mould, sheet metal plates
presenting the same curve and dimensions as the interior of the mould, and pierced
with openings which exactly correspond with the parts of the blank which are to be
used for obtaining the principal and salient parts of the colour block.
It is easy to understand that the use of this system can easily be carried out, if
it is observed that the dimensions and position of the parts to be produced in colour
are generally known beforehand, and that it is then sufficient to prepare in advance a
certain number of these plates, the template-models of which will be in the possession
of the type setter, and he will make use of them for arranging the composition in
the form. It is understood that these plates are of a thickness corresponding
to the relief which the parts of the block are to present, that are to be used for the
coloured proof, and that they are supplied on their exterior concave surface, with
projections or conical butoirs upon which the lid of the mould presses in order to keep
them firmly fixed against the blank, with the same object as before.
The following process of manufacturing may be adopted which does not necessitate
the use of any pieces prepared before-hand, and allows the bringing out in relief on
the smooth base of the block, of any part of the composition reproduced on the
blank.
As soon as the block has been cast for the proof of the parts in black of the
newspaper, the blank, from which the metallic plates that acted as reserve have been
withdrawn, or a blank exactly similar to the same, is placed in a special mould of
form and dimensions exactly indentical with the first mould, but which is furnished
with an arrangement of sliding, inetal sheets which will allow all the parts of the
blank, which are not to be used, to be rapidly covered.
This movable arrangement is composed of laths or strips presenting trans-
versely the curvature of the mould, and able to slide in the direction of the right
generatrices of this mould. These laths or strips are laid in different parts of the
mould, so as to unite in its middle point, while their opposite extremities pass out
beyond the circular edge of the mould, so as to be easily pushed and pulled. Finally
the extremities of these laths, which come in contact at the middle of the mould,
are slightly bevelled and furnished on their exterior concave surface with conical
projections upon which the lid presses, in order to hold them firmly on the paper
blank as before.
The blank being placed in the mould, the bevelled extremities of these laths are
more or less drawn together or apart, so as exactly to surround the parts of the
blank which are to he used, then, by means of a vice all the laths are held in
position; the mould is then closed and the casting is carried on in the ordinary way.
It is easily understood that when the system is to he applied to producing in
colour certain announcements or advertisements on one of the pages of a newspaper,
it is preferable to make use of a number of sliding laths equal to that of the columns
of the paper; this facilitates and hastens the operation.
It is understood that my correspondent does not limit himself to the arrangement
and working of the strips or laths above mentioned, being able to slide longitu
dinally or transversely to the circumference of the cylindrical printing mould, and
which can furthermore vary in many ways, the object to be attained being essentially
to enclose exactly and speedily the four sides of the part of the blank which is to be
produced in colour, whatever may be the position which it occupies on the blank, and
it is easy to understand that all these means, or others analogous to them, conducing

page_text: to the direct obtainment without edging of a colour block of form and dimensions
identical with those of the ordinary block, come within the scope of this
invention.
It is thus seen that in all cases, the system enables a block for black, and a block
for colour for example, to be obtained, in an extemely short time, the circumference
and the dimensions of which are identical, which will allow them to be applied in
the same manner to the two cylinders, also identical, of a printing machine; the fixed
regulating bars placed at right angles on each of these cylinders serving to determine
the position and the place of junction of these two blocks without any hesitation, and
without loss of time.
Dated this 13th dex of Sentember 1888

page_text: A communication from abroad by IAUL AUGUSTE DUTREZ, 01 201, De. Antomo,
Paris, in the Republic of France, Merchant.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool. 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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:—
The object of the invention is to provide means for producing in a practical and
rapid manner all kinds of impressions in various colours, and particularly the coloured
impression of advertisements, announcements, etcetera, in the daily papers.
It consists essentially in a special system of setting up blocks for proofs in black
and colours, on rotatory machines employed for this purpose, a system which allows
of obtaining at once blocks of like dimensions, and of which the parts that are not
to be used for the proofs for which they are respectively required, are depressed
as far as desired by means employed at the moment of casting, and which will be
explained below. By this invention the blocks can be accurately and quickly
mounted on the cylinder of the printing machine, and thus avoid the delay and
difficulties of mounting, resulting from the employment of the partial blocks for
colours, which are generally used for proof of this kind.
In carrying out the invention, the mode of manufacturing blocks for producing
impressions in black and white is as follows:-
The matrix in paper or other substance which contains the cast of the type of the
composition, being placed in the cylindrical stereotyping mould upon the parts of
this matrix which are to be printed in colours, metallic plates are applied having the
same curvature as the mould, and the thickness of which determines the depth of the
cast which is to be obtained at these places in order to avoid the maculations which
may occur on the paper at the time of drawing off the proof. These plates are
furnished with small spikes on their convex surface intended to pierce the paper of
the matrix, and on their exterior concave surface with one or more conical projections,
upon which the covering of the mould presses at the time of its closure (ferinature)
so as to prevent the metal in fusion from getting between the matrix and the plates,
which serve as reserve.
It can be understood that under these conditions the cast obtained is depressed at
all parts which are not to receive the black ink, and is ready to be placed imme-
diately on the cylinder of the printing machine.

page_text: For producing colour blocks:
To obtain the colour block the same process is adopted by applying to the matrix
placed in the mould, sheet metal plates presenting the same curve and dimensions
as the interior of the mould, and pierced with openings which exactly correspond
with the parts of the matrix which are to be used for obtaining the principal and
salient parts of the colour block.
It is easy to understand that this system can easily be carried out if it be
observed that the dimensions and position of the parts to be produced in colour
are generally known beforehand, and that it is then sufficient to prepare in advance
a certain number of these plates, the template-models of which will be in the
possession of the typo setter, and he will make use of them for arranging the
composition in the forme. It is understood that these plates are of a thickness
corresponding to the relief which the parts of the block are to present that are to
be used for the coloured proof, and that they are supplied on their exterior concave
surface with projections or conical butoirs upon which the lid of the mould presses
in order to keep them firmly fixed against the inatrix with the same object as before.
The following process of manufacturing may be adopted which does not necessitato
the use of any pieces prepared beforehand, and allows the bringing out in relief on
the smooth base of the block of any part of the composition reproduced on the matrix.
As soon as the block has been cast for the proof of the parts in black of the
newspaper, the matrix from which the metallic plates that acted as reserve have been
withdrawn, or a matrix exactly similar to the same, is placed in a special mould of
form and dimensions exactly identical with the first mould, but which is furnished
with an arrangement of sliding metal sheets which will allow all the parts of the
matrix which are not to be used to be rapidly covered.
This movable arrangement is composed of laths or strips presenting transversely
the curvature of the mould, and able to slide in the direction of the right generatrices
of this mould. These laths or strips are laid in different parts of the mould, so as to
unite in its middle point, while their opposite extremities pass out beyond the circular
edge of the mould, so as to be easily pushed and pulled. Finally, the extremities
of these laths, which come in contact at the middle of the mould, are slightly bevelled
and furnished on their exterior concave surface with conical projections upon which
the lid presses, in order to hold them firmly on the paper matrix as before.
The blank being placed in the mould, the bevelled extremities of these laths are
more or less drawn together or apart, so as exactly to surround the parts of the blank
which are to be used, then, by means of a vice, all the laths are held in position; the
mould is then closed and the casting is carried on in the ordinary way.
It is easily understood that when the system is to be applied to producing in colour
certain announcements or advertisements on one of the pages of a newspaper, it is
preferable to make use of a number of sliding laths equal to that of the columns of the
paper; this facilitates and hastens the operation.
It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the arrangement and working of
the strips or laths above mentioned, being able to slide longitudinally or transversely
to the circumference of the cylindrical printing mould, and which can furthermore
vary in many ways, the object to be attained being essentially to enclose exactly and
speedily the four sides of the part of the blank which is to be produced in colour,
whatever may be the position which it occupies on the matrix, and it is easy to under-
stand that all these means, or others analogous to them, conducing to the direct
obtainment, without edging, of a colour block of form and dimensions identical with
those of the ordinary block, come within the scope of this invention.
It is thus seen that in all cases the system enables a block for black, and a block
for colour, for example, to be obtained, in an extremely short time, the circumference
and the dimensions of which are identical, which will allow them to be applied in
the same manner to the two cylinders, also identical, of a printing machine, the
fixed regulating bars placed at right angles on each of these cylinders serving to
determine the position and the place of junction of these two blocks without any hesita-
tion, and without loss of time.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1. For printing in various colours in rotary machines, a cylindrical colour block of
form and dimensions similar to those of the block for black ink and cast in the same.
or a similar matrix as the latter block, in which the supplementary parts which are
not utilized, are depressed by convenient means, as above explained.
2. In the preparation of cylindrical blocks for printing in various colours, the
combination with a matrix of paper or other material placed in a cylindrical
stereotyping mould, of metallic plates or coverings having the same curvature as the
mould and being equal in thickness to the amount of relief of the raised portions of
the block, these metallic plates or coverings having on the one side points which
penetrate into the matrix and on the other conical projections against which the
cover of the mould presses, as above described.
3. In the manufacture of cylindrical blocks for printing in various colours, the
combination with a cylindrical stereotyping mould of two opposite sets of sliding
Inths curved to the shape of the mould, projecting over the edges of the same and
placed at a certain distance from the inner cylindrical wall of the mould so that they
can slide over the paper matrix placed on this wall, these laths having a thickness
equal to that of the amount of relief to be produced on the block and being thinned
down at the ends where they meet in the centre of the mould, and having near these
extremities conical projections against which the cover of the mould presses while
the block is being cast, as above described.
4. The improvements in and relating to blocks or type applicable for printing in
various colours, taken as a whole, substantially as described.
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.