Improvements in or connected with Printing Plates.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Printing Plates.
We, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CURTIS, Manufacturer, residing at No. 135 Hewes
Street and FERDINAND, WESEL, Manufacturer, residing at No. 78 Hicks Street,
both in the City of Brooklyn in the County of Kings in the State of New York,
In the United States of America, 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 this invention is to provide a new and improved printing plate,
which is simple in construction, can easily be fitted, adjusted and secured or
removed and replaced, is held firmly and securely in proper position, and at the
same time can adjust itself to the roller so as to print uniformly throughout and
which plate is not apt to be injured by handling as it has no sharp edges.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which
like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures:
Figure 1 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view of the improved printing plate
with base and rules.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing a slight variation.
Figure 3 is a plan view of a printer's chase in which the improved printing
plates are held, parts being broken away.
The printing plate A is made as thin as practicable and with a longitudinal
central rib B on its underside, said rib having its bottom edge beveled upward and
outward at each side as at a or at one side only and provided on each side or one
side only, a short distance above the bevel with a longitudinal groove 6 whereby
a substantially diamond shaped or half diamond shaped head C is formed along
the entire bottom of said rib B.
The plate may also be provided on the underside with the usual shallow
grooves d.
The base is formed of two sections D of iron, aluminium or other material and
provided in the underside with the conventional longitudinal grooves D¹. Each
section D or only one section is provided along the inner upper corner edge, with
the bevel e extending downward and outward and in the inner side with the
longitudinal groove f a short distance below the bevel e so that when the two
base sections are placed with their inner sides in contact, the two grooves for the
single groove f forms a longitudinal receptacle for the head C on the rib B and
the bevel or bevels e form a V or substantially V-shaped longitudinal groove in
the upper surface of the two contiguous base sections.
The base sections D are placed into the chase F in pairs, and the rules G
longitudinally between them. The width of the two base sections D for each
plate A is slightly greater than the width of the plate as appears from Figure 1.
The plates A are placed longitudinally over the corresponding base sections D,
the beveled underside of the head C resting in the groove formed by the bevels e
in the upper surface of the two corresponding contiguous base sections.

page_text: Then the plate A is pressed down, whereby the bevels a of the head C acting
on the bevels e of the base sections D presses said base sections from each other
sufficiently to permit said head to pass down between the base sections and into the
groove as shown.
The plate A now rests flat on the upper surfaces of the base sections.
After all the plates or smaller pieces of plates have thus been placed on the base
sections to fill the chase to the desired degree, the wedges or quoins H are driven up
and all the base sections D and rules G pressed firmly together and locked in place.
The noses h formed in the inner or adjacent sides of the base sections D thus
extend into the grooves 6 above the head C and thus hold the plate A on the base
sections in such a manner that it is impossible to lift off the plate A without
however pinching or binding said plate, but leaving the same slight play
longitudinally and transversely. To remove a plate A it is only necessary to
loosen up the wedges or quoins H, more or less and to lift up the plate.
The beveled upper edges of the head C, then acting on the rounded or beveled
sides of the grooves f press the two corresponding base sections 1 from each other
sufficiently for withdrawing the head C, without disturbing the other plates A or
base sections D in the chase as they are merely displaced laterally. The rules G
do not in any way assist in holding the printing plates A on the base sections D
and in fact these parts are entirely independent of each other, the only function
of the rules, in this case being to print lines.
The wedges, quoins, or other furniture are placed directly against the sides of
the base sections, if so desired it being unnecessary to use a side rule, for holding
the plates in place.
It is impossible to lock the plate unless the same rests snugly on the base sections
as the head C would prevent pressing the sections D together as long as the plate
and its head are at an inclination to the tops of the base sections.
If the base sections is at a slight inclination, by accident, it is drawn down into
proper position by the actions of the sides of the grooves f on the upper surfaces
of the head C. At the same time the plate A has a slight play to permit of its
adjusting itself to the printing press so as to print uniformly.
A length of plate A of one line or a dash is held as securely as a larger piece;
the plate is not clamned or pinched or held so firmly that it cannot give or adapt
itself to the printing press or roller and as stated is entirely independent of the
rules G. Sharp or knife edge corners have been avoided and if by chance
the head C or noses h are bruised or dented, this does not in the least affect the
effectiveness of the plate or the facility of adjusting, securing or disengaging the
same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A printing plate, provided on its underside with a longitudinal rib having a
beveled bottom edge and a longitudinal groove in the side above said head,
substantially as herein shown and described.
2. The combination with a printing plate provided on its underside with a
longitudinal rib, having a beveled bottom edge and a longitudinal groove in cach
side above said head, of two base sections having their upper inner corner edges
beveled downward and outward and provided with a longitudinal groove below
said bevel, substantially as herein shown and described.
3. The combination with a chase of one or more printing plates, each provided
on its underside with a longitudinal rib, having its underside beveled and provided
with a longitudinal groove, above said bevel, twice as many base sections as there
are printing plates, of which base sections at least one for each printing plate has
its upper corner, adiacent to the rib, beveled downward and outward and which
section has a longitudinal groove below said bevel, and of wedges introduced

page_text: between the sides of the chase and the outer sides of the base sections, substantially
as herein shown and described.
Dated this 18th day of Mor 1807
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.