Improvements in Engraving Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Mar., 1897--Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
[Communicated from abroad by AUGUSTIN SARTIRANA of 31 rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville,
Lyon, in the Republic of France Gentleman.]
Improvements in Engraving Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Heseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents, 45
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an engraving machine adapted to automatically produce
by means of a graver, artistic relief or copper plate engravings, with parallel lines
only or with cross hatching, on metal or wood.
The engraving machine which forms the subject of this invention is principally
intended to produce by mechanical means, by the employment of a graver, artistic
plates of either relief or copper plate engravings, with parallel lines only, or with
cross hatching, on metal, wood or any other suitable substance.
The engraved plates, executed in this manner, are produced, according to my
invention, from a gelatine photographic print in relief of any subject which it is
desired to engrave, on a plate of engraving metal, the print and the plate each being
placed upon a turn-table arranged on the bed of the machine, which is also provided
with a carriage capable of being advanced and the motion of which may be regulated
as desired. The carriage has fixed to one of its sides an arrangement of three
members which mutually control each other in passing along a slide way in a
direction at right angles to that of the carriage.
Two gravers are employed, one with a blunt point which follows the reliefs of the
gelatine print, the other, which is controlled by the first being adapted to cut the
metal.
The graver is so arranged that the cuts made by it correspond in width and depth
with the reliefs of the model or print in gelatine, the result being that the finished
engraving plate represents with the greatest fidelity the subject which it is desired to
engrave.
The machine, the essential characteristics of which have been above described and.
by means of which I produce artistic relief and copper plate engravings either
consisting of parallel lines only or of cross-hatching, must be constructed with the
greatest accuracy. The required movements of the parts are produced by means of a
reversible electromotor, speed reducing mechanism and a commutator for reversing
the motion all of which are arranged upon the carriage of the machine.
The bed or table which may be of cast iron or other suitable material, is of
rectangular shape and has its upper surface made perfectly true. It is prepared in
the same way as the surface plates employed in mechanical workshops and is strongly
ribbed below its surface in order to insure its complete rigidity, which without this
precaution might be destroyed owing to faulty erection, it is absolutely necessary that
it should be strictly planimetric.
Upon the upper surface of this bed or table and in fixed positions, are located two
turn tables which receive the plate to be engraved and the model in gelatine
respectively. These tables are adapted to move in two directions at right angles to
each other, in the same way as a lathe saddle by means of slide-ways attached to the
surface of the bed or table and to one of the turn table and adjusting screws by which

page_text: they can be made to occupy the desired position on the table or bed of the machine.
Both the said tables are surmounted by a plate of bronze pivotally mounted on their
centres by means of a circular tenon which fits exactly into a recess or mortise
provided in the supports.
Into these bronze plates of which the arrangement has been described, two circular
plates of the same metal are carefully fitted in close contact with the surface of the
rectangular plates. These circular plates are intended to serve the same purpose as
the others but are of smaller dimensions so as to permit of turning the objects placed
upon them through any desired angle with respect to a fixed pre-determined direction.
One of these supports or tables, that intended for the reception of the plate to be
engraved, may receive when necessary a current of hot air for raising the temperature
of the said plate by means of recesses formed in the body of the, support and
corresponding to a circular opening in the bed or table.
The bed or table is provided at each of the short sides thereof with a slide way of
cast iron, at each extremity of which is arranged a bearing, the said slide ways being
firmly fixed to the said bed by means of screws and bolts in such a manner that the
axes passing through the bearings of each of the said slide ways, the surface on which
the carriage slides easily and also the face of abutment 'will all be strictly parallel one
with another and with the surface of the bed or table.
In the bearings of the slide ways two accurately cut and identical screws are
mounted at their extremities which are not screw-threaded. These screws which are
normally free to turn in their bearings, may be fixed during the execution of an
engraving by means of a set screw in the bearings at the side where the heads of the
screws are situated.
They are prevented from moving in the direction of their length at one end by
means of the said heads and at the other by a nut.
A chain gears with two chain wheels arranged on the extremities of the screws and
enables the motion imparted to one screw by means of a crank or handle applied to
the square end thereof to be transmitted to the other, in whichever direction it takes
place, after loosening the set screws which are situated in the bearings.
The frame plate or main support of the carriage arranged parallel with the longer
sides of the bed or table and occupying a position exactly at right angles to the
direction of the slide ways is formed of bronze and is strongly ribbed in order to make
it very rigid.
The said carriage frame is supported at its extremities on the bearing surfaces
which should be thoroughly true and smooth and should be parallel to the surface of
the table and to the block or support in the slideways, by means of two supports to
which it is rigidly fixed by strong screws so as to be, as it were, integral with same.
The carriage is intended to slide easily along the slide ways whilst maintaining a
strictly perpendicular direction with respect to same by means of bronze guide blocks
with which the lower extremities of the supports are provided, and carries with it the
whole of the parts constituting the carriage.
The supports above referred to which are of steel, carry, in a recess provided for the
purpose, ratchet wheels the axes of which coincide with those of the main screws
which pass through them.
The ratchet wheels are furnished with pawl levers which are acted upon gently by
a connecting rod at each extremity of the frame of the carriage by means of the rod
which is for this purpose provided with a ring which à tappett compressing the spiral
spring carries on with a rotary motion regulated by and corresponding to a certain
number of teeth of the ratchet wheel.
The rod which connects the pawl levers is afterwards brought back to its original
position by means of a stud against which the cross head strikes in its return
movement.
The ratchet wheels carry in front on one of their diameters, two projections or tenons
engaging with the recesses provided on the rear face of the cylindrical bronze nuts
which are arranged upon the screws between the ratchet wheels and the engaging
blocks or tappets with which the supports of the carriage frame are provided.

page_text: The frame has also, fixed by three screws on its front face, a steel slide from end to
end of which the cross-head travels with a reciprocating motion, which is imparted to
it through the speed reducing gear, and carries with it the balance lever, the arm
carrying the blunt point and the cam carrying the gravers.
The cross-head comprises two boxes of bronze, rigidly connected by a steel plate
which is guided on the slide by guide blocks..
The balance lever which is arranged against the boxes of the cross-head and which
is free to move in a vertical direction, slides between flanges provided on the bronze
cross-head boxes.
This balance lever carries at one of its ends a vertical guide and its motion of
translation is imparted to it by the cross-head which carries it along by the engage-
ment of a stud, which is screwed onto the corresponding box, with the mortise.
The horizontal position which it assumes is obtained by its resting on one side, by
means of its support which is located at some point of its length, upon the plate to
be engraved, and on the other side at its extremity by means of a shoulder formed on
its edge and intended to slide upon the bridge which is itself supported upon the
edges of the glass support for the gelatine print.
At the other extremity of the balance lever, and at such a height as to insure that
the arm carrying the blunt or tracing point shall have as nearly as possible a corres-
ponding position to that occupied by the balance lever, jaws are arranged to connect
the two arms by means of a thin steel blade which serves as an axis for the arms and
at the same time leaves the arm perfectly free to move vertically and that without
causing wear or allowing play between the extremities of the parts.
This arm carrying the blunt or tracing point has on its lower edge a spring the
tension of which can be easily regulated by means of the slide according as it is
necessary to increase or diminish the penetrating force of the graver to obtain an en-
graving more or less deep.
A second slide similar to that just referred to which is also fixed to the arm carry-
ing the blunt point transmits to the arm carrying the graver the movements which
are imparted to the first mentioned arm by the blunt point which is fixed to it, in
following the convolutions of the gelatine print.
The arm carrying the graver which is below the arm for the blunt point is fixed to
the balance lever by an axis around which it can oscillate in a vertical direction
pressed above and below by the above mentioned slide and spring. This arm carries,
fixed firmly to its front face by two set screws, a graver for cutting the metal plate.
The engraving machine, the details and working of which have been hereinbefore
described, produces really good results only when the tool acts on the forward stroke.
If it cut the metal during the reverse movement, that is to say when the apparatus
is resuming its initial position, in other words that which it had at first, the metal
would not offer a suitable surface for the firm and free cut which is required in my
system of engraving.
In order to remedy what is in my opinion a grave defect, in spite of all the
attempts which I have made to apply to this part of my machine the advantages
which it was thought to obtain by the employment of electricity, I arrange on the
carriage two small brackets which support, parallel to the arm carrying the blunt
point, a horizontal rod provided with two tappets sliding upon it which may be
separated by a greater or less distance according to the dimensions of the print to be
reproduced.
It follows from this arrangement that when the arms are travelling forward, the
arm carrying the blunt poins or tracer which has upon one of its extremities the pin
fixed to a hooked spring, strikes by means of the said pin against the forward tappet..
By this contact with an inclined plane the arm is raised and held in that position by
the spring book which engages the inclined portion of a piece fixed to the vertical
guide. On the return of the tracer arm the same pin strikes against the upper
portion of the other sliding tappet and forces the arm out of engagement with the
guide; the pin then falls upon the flat portion of the tappet and on again travelling
forward resumes its former position.

page_text: The principal parts constituting my automatic engraving machine when constructed
with precision and assembled in the manner above described, insure an exact and
regular action of the rectilinear perpendicular movements to which the assemblage of
the balance lever and the tracer and graver arms is fitted. These parts effect the
work required of them, that is to say that, by their arrangement I transform the
reliefs of gelatine prints obtained by photographic means into either simple parallel
cuts or cross-hatchings of a width exactly proportional in every point to the print
which serves as a model. As a result of this the surface of the metal plate receives
the inking medium employed in such a manner that, by the juxtaposition of the
lines, I obtain when printing from the plate, prints to any number which reproduce
with the greatest fidelity the model from which it was desired to form an engraving,
even when the printing has been done on the quick rotary machines now in use,
whilst doing away with punching and considerably reducing the preliminary
operations.
Another condition fulfilled by this method of reproduction is that it is not essential,
as in the different engraving processes now in use, that the metal employed should
be of an absolutely plane surface, a simple cleaning of the same being all that is re-
quired to make it as ready for use as the most carefully prepared plates.
Owing to the special arrangements applied to my automatic engraving machine as
above described and to the absolute exactness of its construction, I am able to execute
a relief engraving which has parallel lines only on metal or on wood in the following
manner.
I uncover sufficiently the turn tables in sending back the carriage by means of the
screws which I actuate by a handle applied to the square end of one of them after
having previously freed the ratchet wheels from the pawls.
I then fix upon the bronze plates above referred to either with wax or otherwise,
the substance to be engraved whether metal, wood or any other suitable substance
upon its glass support and the gelatine print in the same way-the engraving plate
at one table and the gelatine at the other; the gelatine having been obtained by
exposure to the sun's rays behind a negative photographic plate representing any
subject whatever which it is desired to reproduce by my engraving process.
The plates so fixed should have their centres upon one and the same line parallel
to the slide and should correspond as nearly as possible with the centres of the tables
upon which they are fixed. Their dimensions should be such that whilst the blunt
point is traversing the surface of the gelatine the graver does not leave the engraving
plate.
I then move the carriage back until the blunt point coincides with the angle of the
frame which contains the gelatine print. At the same time I cause the nose or
shoulder of the balance lever to rest upon the upper surface of the bridge holding it
there by means of the screw and the spring; the bridge itself resting upon the edges
of the gelatine print over which it can slide in suitable recesses provided beneath it, its
forward movement being imparted to it by the frame G. The head of the binding
screw of the support now rests upon the steel ribbon, which is suitably stretched on
the surface of the engraving plate, in such a manner that it is exactly opposite the
point of the graver fixed to the graver arm, and the shoulder corresponds in the same
way to the blunt point.
The graver in the position which is given to it should be at such a height that
when the required cuts have been made it has skimmed or just rested upon the sur-
face of the metal in the parts corresponding to the highest reliefs of the gelatine
print and if it has been set in such a manner as to have the necessary angle it should
impart to the plate the exact effect of the model.
At the same time also I fix the screws in their bearings by means of the set screws;
I arrange the shoulders of the rods at the required distance for reversing the move-
ment of the arms when the blunt point coincides with each side of the frame of the
gelatine proof. I also regulate the distance separating the tappets which raise and
depress the traces arm in order that the blunt point as well as the graver execute
their work exactly in the limits of the frame which has been decided upon. The ring

page_text: of the rod is in its turn arranged in such a manner that, the blunt point being upon
the edge of the frame containing the gelatine print, the tappet by means of the
spiral spring (which actuates the pawl levers through the said rod) shall have moved
the pawls of the levers to the extent of their travel. The stud on the connecting rod
K having also been arranged so that during the backward movement which will after-
wards be imparted to it by the cross-head, the pawls will pass the same number of
teeth previously decided upon, the machine is now in working order.
If I wish to execute an engraving I complete the electric circuit by actuating the
lever of the contact breaker which is arranged upon the frame. The main current
immediately excites the poles of the reversible motor; a secondary current now
traverses the commutator Y passing by two of its contacts to the armature which it
sets in motion in such a direction that after having been reduced by a device which
includes a pulley upon which a traction cable is wound, the cross-head and the arms
with which it is provided move in a regular manner while the graver makes a cut.
During this movement the tracer arm is raised and depressed in a vertical direction
by the action of the balance lever sliding upon an undefined surface of the engraving
plate, then by the blunt point which follows the convolutions of the gelatine print.
As a consequence of the movements of the said arm, the arm carrying the graver
with which it is in constant contact through the spring which presses it against the
slide, executes the same movements and in the same direction as those of the tracer
arm, movements which will be of a magnitude which can be confined within the de-
sired limits by adjustment of the slide.
The graver which is firmly fixed to the arm by set screws and to which motion is
imparted by the travel of the apparatus along the slide of the frame and of the arms,
cuts the metal in transforming the reliefs of the gelatine print into cuts of corres-
ponding size.
At the moment when the blunt point is at the end of the travel which has been
assigned to it, that is to say at the other extremity of the frame for the gelatine
print, the cross-head- having, with one of its ends, struck against the stud of the rod
connecting the pawl levers, the pawls are engaged in the tooth of the ratchet wheels
corresponding to an equal fixed advance of the carriage.
The pin which in this motion of translation of the cross-head with which it is con-
nected has remained free at a small distance from and above the rod of the lifting
tappets strikes against one of the said tappets and by the form which is given to this
tappet, the arm carrying the point to which it is firmly fixed rises and is held in this
new position by the hooked spring which bears against the piece fixed to the vertical
guide, the graver and the point immediately leave the surfaces upon which they are
resting.
In this motion of the crosshead from the gelatine print towards the engraving plate
the shoulder of one of the rods situated behind the said crosshead, actuates the lever
of the commutator and the direction of the current is instantaneously reversed. The
return of the crosshead to its initial position takes place immediately.
During this movement the rod connecting the pawl levers is urged in the opposite
direction to the end of its stroke by the pieces which force the nuts to turn with a
progressive movement equivalent to the distance between the cuts and so advance
the carriage and all the parts attached to same by the same amount.
This advance of the carriage may be obtained either by causing the nuts to turn
and keeping the screws fixed or equally well by fixing the nuts and causing the
screws to rotate.
At the same moment the pin strikes against the upper portion of the other tappet,
the hooked spring leaves the piece fixed to the vertical guide and the tracer arm
rests the blunt point on the gelatine print.
The graver which has made the same movement again places itself in contact with
the engraving plate, the commutator has resumed its original position through con-
tact with the forward shoulder of the rod the current passes through the armature in
the reverse direction and a second cut is executed, after which the cross-head takes

page_text: back the apparatus in the same manner ready for the next cut and so on as before
until the whole surface of the gelatine has been gone over by the blunt point after
which the machine ceases working altogether, the current being interrupted by the
action of a projection upon the contact breaker.
As above stated the engraving the production of which we have been considering
is a plate representing any desired subject in relief by parallel lines only, but sup-
posing it is desired to reproduce in relief the same subject by cross hatching and
with equal exactitude, such as cannot be attained by any process hitherto in use be-
cause of the length of time during which the action of the acids employed has to
continue (more especially when a relief engraving is required) which action diminishes
the strength of the drawing and endangers its sharpness, the arrangement of the
machine as above described is in no wise altered, it sufficient to simply arrange the
gelatine print and the engraving plate upon the turn-tables according to their dimen-
sions, in the manner already indicated for an engraving with parallel lines only,
taking the precaution however to make their centres coincide as exactly as possible
with those of the turn-tables and to see that the distance which separates these
centres is exactly equal to the distance separating the point of the graver and the
point of the tracer.
In order the more simply to satisfy this latter condition I give to the supports of
the turn-tables the form of a lathe saddle and they are actuated by the adjusting
screws,
The first operation (that of producing the parallel cuts) may be executed in the
manner above described; the cross cuts being produced in the same way after the
turn-table has been caused to turn through the desired angle.
From the above description of the succession of operations in engraving by my pro-
cess, by means of a gelatine print and a machine arranged as above set forth it is
clear that, if the angle of the graver has been correctly determined and suitably
located on the apparatus at the required height (which it is quite easy to effect) the
distances between the cuts being known as well as the maximum height of the reliefs
on the gelatine, 1 at once obtain, by simply completing the electric circuit and with-
out its being necessary to superintend the successive operations of engraving, a plate
engraved in relief, either in parallel lines only or cross hatching which is an exact re-
production of the subject selected, capable of being used for printing from imme-
diately, without requiring any re-touching and for a large number of impressions,
even with the quick rotary machines which are now employed.
Or
Should it be impracticable to make use of an electro motor for actuating the
machine, any suitable and independent motor may be used which will actuate the
transformer or speed reducing gear at the desired speed by means of a belt.
again it is possible with a machine constructed as above described, to employ a
handle or crank which shall work on the square end of the driving shaft of the trans-
former. Or finally the machine could be actuated by means of a handle fixed to the
cross-head and thus produce the same result by the agency of one totally ignorant of
the art of artistic engraving.
It is also possible, as has been stated above, without altering the arrangement of
the machine, to produce from a gelatine print a copper plate engraving of equal
quality; in this case the gelatine is obtained by the same photographic operations
but in making use of a positive instead of a negative photographic plate as in the
first case when executing a relief engraving.
There is a further arrangement which, although not so advantageous as the pre-
ceding, may be resorted to in case of need. It consists in producing the copper plate
line engraving by means of a negative plate in which case it is necessary to bring
the graver beyond the centre of oscillation of its arm and at a distance from such
centre equal to that it would have had in the ordinary case.
In order to multiply the different styles of engraving which my automatic machine
is capable of executing whether in conjunction with an electro-motor or not and with-
out its being necessary to vary the same, I may also produce engravings imitating in

page_text: appearance etchings and aquatint by substituting for the graver a cutter, muller or
other special tool.
Dand his 2nd do.. of T1000
HASELTINE LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Engraving Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents, 45
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to an engraving machine adapted to automatically produce
by means of a graver, artistic relief or copper plate engravings, with parallel lines
only or with cross hatching, on metal or wood.
The engraving machine which forms the subject of this invention is principally
intended to produce by mechanical means, by the employment of a graver, artistic
plates of either relief or copper plate engravings, with parallel lines only or with cross
hatching, on metal, wood or any other suitable substance.
The engraved plates, executed in this manner, are produced, according to my
invention, from a gelatine photographic print in relief of any subject which it is
desired to engrave, on a plate of engraving metal, the print and the plate each being
placed upon a turn-table arranged on the bed of the machine, which is also provided
with a carriage capable of being advanced and the motion of which may be regulated
as desired.
The carriage has fixed to one of its sides an arrangement of three members which
mutually control each other in passing along a slide way in a direction at right
angles to that of the carriage.
Two gravers are employed, one with a blunt point which follows the reliefs of the
gelatine print, the other, which is controlled by the first, being adapted to cut the
metal.
The graver is so arranged that the cuts made by it correspond in width and depth
with the reliefs of the model or print in gelatine, the result being that the finished
engraving plate represents with the greatest fidelity the subject which it is desired to
engrave.
The machine, the essential characteristics of which have been above described, and
by means of which I produce artistic relief and copper plate engravings either
consisting of parallel lines only or of cross-hatching, must be constructed with the
greatest accuracy. The required movements of the parts are produced by means of
a reversible electro-motor, speed reducing mechanism and a commutator for reversing
the motion all of which are arranged upon the carriage of the machine.
The improved machine is represented by way of example only in the accompanying"
drawings in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the said machine.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line 1-2 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is another transverse section taken on line 3-4 of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is an elevation and plan of the counter-beam.
Figure 6 is an elevation and plan of the beam carrying the blunt point.
Figure 7 is an elevation and plan of the beam carrying the cutting tool.
Figure 8 is an elevation and plan of the slide of the carriage.
Figure 9 is a front elevation side elevation and plan of the support or bracket of
the counter beam.
Figure 10 a front and side elevation of the slide of the longeron.

page_text: Figure 11 a detailed view of the hooked-spring of the lifting pin or gudgeon on a
larger scale.
Figure 12 is an elevation to an enlarged scale of the whole of the carriage.
Figure 13 a plan of the same.
The machine is composed of two principal parts a fixed frame and a carriage.
The bed or table A which may be of cast iron or other suitable material is of
rectangular shape and has its upper surface made perfectly true. It is prepared in
the same way as the surface plates employed in mechanical workshops and is strongly
ribbed below its surface, in order to insure complete rigidity, which without this
precaution might be destroyed owing to faulty erection, it is absolutely necessary
that it should be strictly planimetric.
Upon the upper surface of this bed or table and in fixed positions as shewn in the
drawings, are located two turn tables B, B Figure 1 which receive the plate to be
engraved and the model in gelatine respectively. These tables are adapted to move
in two directions at right angles to each other, in the same way as a lathe saddle by
means of slide-ways a Figure 1 attached to the surface of the bed or table and to one
of the turn-tables and adjusting screws b by which they can be made to occupy the
desired position on the table or bed of the machine. Both the said tables are
surmounted by a plate of bronze c pivotally mounted on their centres by means of a
circular tenon which fits exactly into a recess or mortise provided in the supports.
Into these bronze plates two circular plates d of the same metal are carefully fitted
in close contact with the surface of the rectangular plates.
These circular plates are intended to serve the same purpose as the others but are
of smaller dimensions so as to permit of turning the objects placed upon them
through any desired angle with respect to a fixed pre-determined direction.
One of these supports or tables that intended for the reception of the plate
to be engraved, may receive when necessary a current of hot air for raising the
temperature of the said plate by means of recesses formed in the body of the support
and corresponding to a circular opening e in the bed or table A.
The bed or table is provided at each of the short sides thereof with a slide way C
of cast iron, at each extremity of which is arranged a bearing the said slide ways
being firmly forced to the said bed by means of screws j" Fig. 2 and bolts k" in
such a manner that the axes passing through the bearings of each of the said slide
ways, the surface g on which the carringe slides easily and also the face of the
abutment h will all be strictly parallel one with another and with the surface of the
bed or table A.
In the bearings f of the slide ways C two accurately cut and identical screws D D,
are mounted at their extremities which are not screw-threaded. These screws which
are normally free to turn in their bearings, may be fixed during the execution of an
engraving by means of a set screw i in the bearings f at the side where the heads of
the screws are situated.
They are prevented from moving in the direction of their length at one end by
means of the said heads and at the other by a nut.
A chain E gears with the two chain wheels F, F arranged on the extremities of the
screws D, D and enables the motion imparted to one screw by means of a crank or
handle applied to the square end thereof to be transmitted to the other, in whichever
direction it takes place, after loosening the set screws which are situated in the
bearings.
The frame plate or main support G of the carriage arranged parallel with the
longer sides of the bed or table and occupying a position exactly at right angles to
the direction of the slide ways C, C is formed of bronze and is strongly ribbed in
order to make it very rigid.
The said carriage frame or main support is supported at its extremities on the
bearing surfaces g, g Figures 3 and 4 which should be thoroughly true and smooth
and should be parallel to the surface of the table and to the blocks or supports h, h
in the slide ways C, by means of two supports H, H to which it is rigidly fixed by
strong screws so as to be, as it were, integral with same.

page_text: The said main support G is intended to slide easily along the sideways, C, C whilst
always maintaining a strictly perpendicular direction with respect to same by means
of bronze guide blocks ; with which the lower extremities of the supports H, H are
provided. In sliding along the slide ways C C the main support G carried with it the
whole of the carriage.
The supports H, H Fig. 1, above referred to which are of steel, carry, in a recess
provided for the purpose, ratchet wheels I, I Figures 1 2 & 3, the axes of which coin-
cide with those of the main screws D, D which pass through them.
The ratchet wheels I I are furnished with pawl levers J J acted upon gently at
each extremity of the main support G by a connecting rod K set in motion. This is
effected in the following manner: To the rod K, is fixed, by means of screws, a square
piece (see Figure 2) at the extremity of which is screwed a rod on which at a
certain point a ring has been fixed. A spring n surrounds this rod k. The spring
rests at one end against the ring land at the other end when the carriage is moved
to the right, against a tappet m placed against the vertical guide w of the balance
lever P.
When the carriage after running out returns to its starting point, in order to
recommence the same movement and effect a fresh stroke of the graving tool, the
tappet m presses against the spring n, which gently pushes the ring l, the rod k and
the square piece fixed thereto. Thus as this square piece is screwed to the connecting
rod K, it imparts to it the same forward movement. The connecting rod K, thus, by
means of a pin or stud fixed to each of its extremities carries along the 2 pawl levers
JJ which therefore cause the ratchet wheels II to rotate to an extent corresponding
to the same number of teeth for each of them. This extent or range is regulated
by the displacement of the ring along the rod k.
The rod K which connects the pawl levers is afterwards brought back to its original
position by means of a stud p against which the cross head O strikes in its return
movement.
The ratchet wheels carry in front on one of their diameters, two projections or
tenons ""(Fig. 1, 2 & 3) engaging with the recesses m "m" provided on the rear
face of the cylindrical bronze nuts L L which are arranged upon the screws D, D
between the ratchet wheels and the engaging blocks or tappets M, M with which the
supports of the carriage frame are provided.
The main support or framed plate G has also, fixed by three screws on its front
face, a steel slide N (Fig. 10) from end to end of which the cross-head O (Fig. 8)
travels with a reciprocating motion, which is imparted to it through the speed
reducing gear T, and carries with it the arins P, Q, R.
The cross-head O comprises two boxes r of bronze, rigidly connected by a steel
plate & which is guided on the slide N by guide blocks t, arranged as shewn in the
drawings, by means of set screws u.
The balance lever P which is arranged against the boxes r of the cross head O and
which is free to move in a vertical direction, slides between flanges v Figs. 5, 12 & 13,
provided on the bronze cross-head boxes.
This balance lever carries at one of its ends a vertical guide w and its motion of
translation is imparted to it by the cross-head O which carries it along by the
engagement of a stud y, which is screwed on to the corresponding box, with the
mortise x.
The horizontal position which it assumes is obtained by its resting on one side, by
means of its support U which is located at some point of its length, upon the plate s
to be engraved, and on the other side at its extremity by means of a shoulder
(Figs. 1, 5 & 12) formed on its edge and intended to slide upon the bridge V which
is itself supported upon the edges of the glass support b' for the gelatine print.
At the other extremity of the balance lever P, and at such a height as to insure
that the arm Q carrying the blunt or tracing point shall have as nearly as possible a
corresponding position to that occupied by the balance lever, jaws o' (Figs. 1, 2; 12'
& 13) are arranged to connect the two arms by means of a thin steel blade d¹ which
serves as an axis for the arms and at the same time leaves the arm Q perfectly free

page_text: to move vertically and that without causing wear or allowing play between the
extremities of the parts.
This arm Q carrying the blunt or tracing point has on its lower edge a spring e
(Fig. 6) the tension of which can be easily regulated by means of the slide f
according as it is necessary to increase or diminish the penetrating force of the graver
'g' to obtain an engraving more or less deep.
A second slide similar to that just referred to which is also fixed to the arm Q,
transmits to the arm R carrying the graver the movements which are imparted to
the arm Q by the blunt point (see Figs. 1 & 12) which is fixed to it, in following
the convolutions of the gelatine print
The arm R carrying the graver which is below the arm Q is fixed to the balance
lever P by an axis around which it can oscillate in a vertical direction pressed
above and below by the slide A' and the spring e'. This arm R carries, fixed firmly
to its front face by two set screws ', a graver g' for cutting the metal plate.
The engraving machine, the details and working of which have been hereinbefore
described, produces really good results only when the tool acts on the forward stroke.
If it cut the metal during the reverse movement, that is to say when the apparatus
is resuming its initial position, in other words that which it had at first, the metal
would not offer a suitable surface for the firm and free cut which is required in my
system of engraving.
In order to remedy what is in my opinion a grave defect, in spite of all the
attempts which I have made to apply to this part of my machine the advantages
which it was thought to obtain by the employment of electricity, I arrange on the
carriage two small brackets (Figs. 1 and 2) which support, parallel to the arm Q
carrying the blunt point, a horizontal rod me provided with two tappets n' sliding
upon it which may be separated by a greater or less distance according to the
dimensions of the print to be reproduced.
It follows from this arrangement that when the arms are travelling forward, the
arm Q, which has upon one of its extremities the pin o' fixed to a hooked spring pl
Figs. 11, 12 & 13 strikes by means of the said pin against the forward tappet a'. By
this contact with an inclined plane the arm is raised and held in that position by the
spring hook p', which engages the inclined portion g' of a piece fixed to the vertical
guide w. On the return of the arm Q the same pin o' strikes against the upper
portion of the other sliding tappet a' (Figs. 1 & 2) and forces the arm out of engage-
inent with the guide; the pin then falls upon the flat portion of the tappet s' and on
again travelling forward resumes its former position.
The principal parts constituting my automatic engraving machine when constructed
with precision and assembled in the manner above described, insure an exact and
regular action of the rectilienear perpendicular movements to which the assemblage
of the three coupled arms P, Q, and R is fitted. These parts effect the work required
of them, that is to say that, by their arrangement I transform the reliefs of gelatine
prints obtained by photographic means into either simple parallel cuts or cross-
hatchings of a width exactly proportional in every point to the print which serves as
a model. As a result of this the surface of the metal plate receives the inking
medium employed in such a manner that, by the juxtaposition of the lines, I obtain
when printing from the plate, prints to any number which reproduce with the
greatest fidelity the model from which it was desired to form an engraving, even
when the printing has been done on the quick rotary machines now in use, whilst
doing away with punching and considerably reducing the preliminary operations.
Another condition fulfilled by this method of reproduction is that it is not
essential, as in the different engraving processes now in use, that the metal employed
should be of an absolutely plane surface, a simple cleaning of the same being all
that is required to make it as ready for use as the most carefully prepared plates.
Owing to the special arrangements applied to my automatic engraving machine as
above described and to the absolute exactness of its construction, I am able to
execute a relief line engraving which bas parallel lines only on metal or on wood in
the following manner.

page_text: I uncover sufficiently the turn tables d, d in sending back the carriage by means
of the screws D, D which I actuate by a handle applied to the square end of one of
them after previously freeing the ratchet wheels from the pawls."
I then fix upon the bronze plates d, d above referred to either with wax or other-
wise, the substance to be engraved whether metal, wood or any other suitable
substance upon its glass support band the gelatine print in the same way-the
engraving plate at z and the gelatine at ; the gelatine having been obtained by
exposure to the sun's rays behind a negative photographie plate representing any
subject whatever which it is desired to reproduce by my engraving process.
The plates so tixed should have their centres upon one and the saine line parallel to
the slide N and should correspond as nearly as possible with the centres of the tables
upon which they are fixed. Their dimensions should be such that whilst the blunt
point is traversing the surface of the gelatine, the graver g' does not leave the
engraving plates.
I then move the carriage back until the blunt point coincides with the angle "
of the frame " which contains the gelatine print. At the same time I cause the
nose or shoulder a of the balance lever P to rest upon the upper surface of the
bridge V holding it there by means of the screw t' and the spring w; the bridge
itself resting upon the edges of the gelatine print over which it can slide in
suitable recesses provided beneath it, its forward movement being imparted to it by
the frame plate G (Figs. 1, 2, 4, 9, 12, 13).
The head of the binding screw y' of the support U now rests upon the steel ribbon
v', which is suitably stretched on the surface of the engraving plate ax'x 2, in such a
manner that it is exactly opposite the point of the graver g' fixed to the graver arm
R, and the shoulder a' corresponds in the same way to the blunt point
The graver g' in the position which is given to it should be at such a height that
when the required cuts have been made it has skimmed or just rested upon the
surface of the inetal in the parts corresponding to the highest reliefs of the gelatine
print and if it has been set in such a manner as to have the necessary angle it should
impart to the plate the exact effect of the model.
At the same time also I fix the screws D, D in their bearing f, by means of the
set screws ii (Fig. 3). I arrange the shoulders of the rods 6" 6" at the required
distance for reversing the movement of the arms when the blunt point coincides with
each side of the frame "" of the gelatine proof. I also regulate the distance
separating the tappets n' and ' which raise and depress the tracer arm Q in order
that the blunt point as well as the graver execute their work exactly in the limits of
the frame which has been decided upon. The ring of the rod K is in its turn
arranged in such a manner that, the blunt point being upon the edge of the frame
containing the gelatine print the tappet m by means of the spiral spring 1 (which
actuates the pawl levers through the said rod K) shall have moved the pawls of the
levers J J to the extent of their travel. The stud p on the connecting rod K having
also been arranged so that during the backward movement which will afterwards be
imparted to it by the cross-head, the pawls o will pass the same number of teeth
previously decided upon, the machine is now in working order.
If I wish to execute an engraving I complete the electric circuit by actuating, the
lever of the contact breaker g" (Fig. 2) which is arranged upon the frame. The
main current immediately excites the poles of the reversible motor; a secondary
current now traverses the commutator Y passing by two of its contacts to the
armature which it sets in motion in such a direction that after having been reduced
by a device T which includes a pulley upon which a traction cable d" is wound, the
cross-head and the arms with which it is provided move in a regular manner while
the graver makes a cut.
During this movement the tracer arm Q is raised and depressed in a vertical
direction by the action of the balance lever I sliding upon an undefined surface of
the engraving plate z, then by the blunt point which follows the convolutions of
the gelatine print.
As a consequence of the movements of the said arm Q, the arm R carrying the

page_text: graver with which it is in constant contact through the spring e' which presses it
against the slide ', executes the same movements and in the same direction as those
of the tracer arm Q, movements which will be of a magnitude which can be confined
within the desired limits by adjustment of the slide h
The graver g' (Fig. 7) which is firmly fixed to the arm R by set screws 'k' and to
which motion is imparted by the travel of the apparatus along the slide N of the
frame plate G and of the arms, cuts the metal in transforming the reliefs of the
gelatine print into cuts of corresponding size.
At the moment when the blunt point is at the end of the travel which has been
assigned to it, that is to say at the other extremity of the frame for the gelatine
print, the cross-head O having, with one of its ends, struck against the stud p of the
rod K connecting the pawl, levers, the pawls are engaged in the tooth of the ratchet
wheels corresponding to an equal fixed advance of the carriage.
The pin o' which in this motion of translation of the cross-head O with which it is
connected has remained free at a small distance from and above the rod m' of the
lifting tappets a' and n', strikes against the tappet n' and by the form which is given
to this tappet, the arm Q carrying the point to which it is firmly fixed rises and is
held in this new position by the hooked spring p' (Figs. 11 and 12), which bears
against the piece q' fixed to the vertical guide w', the graver and the point
immediately leaves the surfaces upon which they are resting.
In the movement of the cross-head O from the gelatine towards the plate z, the
shoulder of the first rod 6" (see Figs. 1 and 2) strikes against the lever e" of the
commutator Y and causes it to oscillate.
In consequence of the position given to this commutator, the electric current is
reversed and the motor S acquires a rotary motion, for example like the hands of a
watch. This motion is transmitted by the aid of a pulley fixed on the shaft of the
motor and of the twisted rope or cable c" to a speed transformer T and thence to a
pulley on which is wound the rope or cable d" that operates the carriage. When the
carriage has reached the end of the distance fixed for it, the same shoulder-rod 6"
will in turn strike against the lever e" of the commutator Y and by a movement
similar to that described above, change the direction of the current and consequently
cause the motor to rotate in the direction opposite to that in which it had moved
before, thus causing the carriage to move forward in a contrary direction, that is to
say from left to right in order to recommence the movement again, until the
engraving is completely finished.
In short, the task of the commutator is to make (by the engagement of the two
shoulders 6") the poles alternately positive and negative for the purpose of imparting
to the motor an alternating rotary motion in one direction or the other.
During the return movement of the cross-head O to its original position the rod X
connecting the pawl levers is urged in the opposite direction to the end of its stroke
by the pieces m n which force the nuts L, L to turn with a progressive movement
equivalent to the distance between the cuts and so advance the carriage and all the
parts attached to same by the same amount.
This advance of the carriage G may be obtained either by causing the nuts L, L
to turn as shewn in the accompanying drawings and keeping the screws D, D fixed or
equally well by fixing the nuts L, L and causing the screws D, D, to rotate.
At the same moment the pin o' strikes against the upper portion of the other
tappet 8, the hooked spring p' leaves the piece q¹ and the tracer arm Q rests the
blunt point on the gelatine print.
The graver which has made the same movement again places itself in contact with
the engraving plate, the commútator has resumed its original position through
contact with the forward shoulder of the rod " the current passes through the
armature in the reverse direction and a second cut is executed, after which the cross-
head takes back the apparatus in the same manner ready for the next cut and so on
as before until the whole surface of the gelatine has been gone over by the blunt
point after which the machine ceases working altogether, the current being
interrupted by the action of a projection A" upon the contact breaker g".

page_text: As above stated the engraving the production of which we have been considering
is a plate representing any desired subject in relief by parallel lines only, but suppos-
ing it is desired to reproduce in relief the same subject by cross-hatching and with
equal exactitude, such as cannot be attained by any process hitherto in use because
of the length of time during which the action of the acids employed has to continue
(more especially when a relief engraving is required) which action diminishes the
strength of the drawing and endangers its sharpness, the arrangement of the
machine as above described is in no wise altered, it is sufficient to simply arrange
the gelatine print and the engraving plate upon the turn-tables c, c or d, d accord-
ing to their dimensions, in the manner already indicated for an engraving with
parallel lines only, taking the precaution however to make their centres coincide as
as exactly as possible with those of the turn-tables to see that the distance which
separates these centres is exactly equal to the distance separating the point of the
graver g' and the point of the tracer i.
In order the more simply to satisfy this latter condition I give to the supports of
the turn-tables the form of a lathe saddle and they are actuated by the adjusting
screws b (Figs. 1 & 2).
The first operation (that of producing the parallel cuts) may be executed in the
manner above described; the cross cuts being produced in the same way after the
turn-tables has been caused to turn through the desired angle.
From the above description of the succession of operations in engraving by my
process, by means of a gelatine print and a machine arranged as above set forth it is
clear that, if the angle of the graver has been correctly determined and suitably
located on the apparatus at the required height (which it is quite easy to effect) the
distances between the cuts being known as well as the maximum height of the reliefs
on the gelatine, I at once obtained, by simply completing the electric circuit and
without its being necessary to superintend the successive operations of engraving,
a plate engraved in relief, either in parallel lines only or cross-hatching which
is an exact reproduction of the subject selected, capable of being used for
printing from immediately, without requiring any re-touching and for a large
number of impressions, even with the quick rotary machines which are now
employed.
Should it be impraticable to make use of an electro motor for actuating the
machine, any suitable and independent motor may be used which will actuate the
transformer or speed reducing gear at the desired speed by means of a belt. Or
again it is possible with a machine constructed as above described, to employ a
handle or crank which shall work on the square end of the driving shaft of the speed
reducing gear. Or finally the machine could be actuated by means of a handle fixed
to the cross-head, and thus produced the same result by the agency of one totally
ignorant of the art of artistic engraving.
It is also possible, as has been stated above, without altering the arrangement of
the machine, to produce from a gelatine print a copper plate engraving of equal
quality; in this case the gelatine is obtained by the same photographic operations
but in making use of a positive instead of a negative photographic plate as in the
first case when executing a relief engraving.
There is a further arrangement which, although not so advantageous as the
preceding, may be resorted to in case of need. It consists in producing the copper-
plate line engraving by means of a negative plate in which case it is necessary to
bring the graver beyond the centre of oscillation of its arm and at a distance from
such centre equal to that it would have had in the ordinary case.
In order to multiply the different styles of engraving which my automatic
machine is capable of executing whether in conjunction with an electro motor or not
and without its being necessary to vary the same, I may also produce engravings
initiating in appearance etchings and aquatints by substituting for the graver
a cutter, muller or other special tool.
In the machine just described we have supposed the plates B B to be fixed, or
rather that they can only be displaced in direction of their respective axes, but in

page_text: addition to this rotary movement upon themselves we may of course impart to them
a displacing movement toward the right or toward the left, toward the front or
toward the rear, and may in this case render the whole of the carriage stationary.
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. The automatic engraving machine as described and set forth, characterised by
the application of an electric or other motor, for the production, upon all suitable
materials, by means of a graver of relief copper-plate engraving consisting of
parallel lines only or of cross-hatching, by using a print or model of gelatine in relief
obtained by photography in the known manner.
2. The automatic engraving machine characterised by the application and novel
arrangement of a balance lever P, of a tracer Q and of an arm R carrying a graver
assembled together for producing the required result, as described and set forth.
3. The automatic engraving machine characterised by the novel arrangement and
application of a balance lever P, of a tracer Q, of an arm R carrying a graver in com-
bination with the turn-tables B, B for producing cross-hatching, a reversible electro
or other motor S, a transformer or speed reducing gear T, a reversing commutator Y
and a method of lifting the tool by means of a rod with tappets mi n¹ 81, as above
described and set forth.
4. The arrangements described and set forth as a whole, applied to the automatic
machine described and set forth or when applied to a simple machine which is
not automatic, that is to say worked either by hand or by an independent motor.
5. The application of the engraving machine for graver, muller or cutter as above
described and set forth, for engraving either upon plane surfaces, such as plates for
printing on stuffs or stained paper, or on curved surfaces such as cylinders or rollers
serving the same purpose, the said engraved plane or curved surfaces being either
of wood or metal. It being of course understood that for this special application the
construction of the machine would undergo certain modifications of detail in order
to adapt it to turn out the work required.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & CO.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.