Improvements in Transfer Surfaces employed in Lithography or like Printing Process.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1891-Accepted, 22nd Aug.,
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Transfer Surfaces employed in Lithography or like
Printing Process.
I JOHN FARQUHARSON ROBERTS of 48 Marmora Road, in the Parish of
Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, Printer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
"
"
In lithography "transfers" of impressions of printings have to be made for
various purposes, but the "transfers "themselves, that is to say the "impressions
on the flexible material, or prepared paper, are very perishable, either from oxida-
tion of the ink, or some other cause, and it is not possible to store, or keep, these
sheets for any length of time in a state fit for use in "laying down
again. This
necessitates the keeping of the "work" on the stones for such extended periods as
will tide over the time during which further impressions will be required or are
likely to be needed and such keeping of the "work" on the stone involves keeping
the stone idle and useless, as regards other employment and results in locking up
large amounts of capital and valuable stones and the occupation of space, and
also generally requiring provision for support in buildings of accumulated
weights.
The object of my invention is to provide transfer surfaces, of such a nature that
whilst they are capable of taking impressions from one surface, of fine character,
and admit of an excellent transfer being made from them, they are flexible, not
liable to injury by ordinary careful handling and yet will retain for long periods
their capability of usefulness in the art.
In carrying out my invention I employ a thin, flexible, transparent, tough and
smooth sheet of suitable material. For this flexible sheet 1 find it preferable to
use a thin flexible plate of gelatine backed as required by a paper support or other-
wise which has previously been rendered insoluble and waterproof by treatment
with bi-chromate of potash sometimes also with chrome alum.
For this purpose I also find it convenient to use a sheet made from nitro-cellulose
and camphor and prepared substantially as such material is prepared for photo-
graphic purposes, in films or as supports for the sensitized film and a convenient
mode of manufacturing such material for my purpose in sheets is that described
in the Specification of Letters Patent applied for, dated December 10th 1889
No. 19897 by Alfred Julius Boult on a communication to him from George
Eastman of Rochester New York, U.S.A. and apparatus for the preparation of
which said material is described in another Specification of even date with the
foregoing one granted to the same applicant and No 19896, or by equivalent
means and of like material, but any other suitable material may be used that will
give a sheet tough, flexible, resistent and smooth enough for the purpose of the
invention. This sheet I use to receive the impression to be transferred preferably
first wiping the contact surface with turpentine and when the impression has been
so placed on the sheet or "transfer" medium, the sheet may be stored away for an
indefinite time; either dry, wet, or even in a bath of water, or suitable liquid, the
latter being designed to serve to exclude access of air from the impression on the
film or medium. In avoidance of friction, or "rubbing on the surface of
the impression on the transfer sheet will of course be attended to and provided
against.
"
If it is desired to re-use the sheet of transfer material after the transfer impres-
sion already on it is no longer required, that impression may be "washed off" and
another applied after proper cleansing by water soap and water turpentine or other
suitable cleansing medium.
The surface of the transfer sheet may be made dull, or polished, in finish. The

page_text: transfer medium may be opaque semi transparent or otherwise.
Where it is
desirable to be able to see the work whilst transferring the sheets may be made
less transparent than ordinary glass, but usually the greatest transparency is
desirable to facilitate application to the stones or other printing surfaces and
preservation of register especially useful in color printing.
Amongst other advantages attendant on the employment of my improved transfer
sheets is the non-absorbent character of the material and consequent avoidance of
expansion and contraction in use.
Dated the 22nd day of October 1890.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Transfer Surfaces employed in Lithography or like
Printing Process.
I JOHN FARQUHARSON ROBERTS of 48 Marmora Road in the Parish of
Camberwell in the County of Surrey, Printer 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 :-
"
"
In lithography "transfers" of impressions of printings have to be made for
various purposes, but the "transfers "themselves, that is to say the "impressions
on the flexible material, or prepared paper, are very perishable, either from oxidation
of the ink, or some other cause, and it is not possible to store, or keep, these sheets
for any length of time in a state fit for use in "laying down again. This neces-
sitates the keeping of the "work" on the stones for such extended periods as will
tide over the time during which further impressions will be required or are likely
to be needed and such keeping of the "work" on the stone involves keeping the
stone idle and useless, as regards other employment and results in locking up large
amounts of capital and valuable stones and the occupation of space, and also
generally requiring provision for support in buildings of accumulated weights.
The object of my invention is to provide transfer surfaces, of such a nature that
whilst they are capable of taking impressions from one surface, of fine character,
and admit of an excellent transfer being made from them, they are flexible, not
liable to injury by ordinary careful handling and yet will retain for long periods
their capability of usefulness in the art.
In carrying out my invention I employ a thin, flexible, tough and smooth sheet
of suitable material. (In some cases made or being transparent if desired.) For
this flexible sheet I find it preferable to use a thin plate of gelatine backed as
required by a paper support or otherwise which has previously been rendered
insoluble and waterproof by treatment with bi-chromate of potash sometimes also
with chrome alum.
For this purpose I also find it convenient to use a sheet made from nitro-cellulose
and camphor and prepared substantially as such material is prepared for photo-
graphic purposes, in films or as supports for the sensitized film and a convenient
mode of manufacturing such material for my purpose in sheets is that described in
the Specification of Letters Patent applied for, dated December 10th 1889,
No. 19897 by Alfred Julius Boult on a communication to him from George
Eastman of Rochester, New York, U.S.A. and apparatus for the preparation of
which said material is described in another Specification of even date with the
foregoing one granted to the same applicant and numbered 19896, or by equivalent
means and of like material, but any other suitable material may be used that will
give a sheet tough, flexible, resistent and smooth enough for the purpose of the
invention. This sheet I use to receive the impression to be transferred the
receiving surface thus prepared being non absorbent and yet capable of receiving
a clean and clear impression and when the impression has been so placed on the

page_text: sheet, or "transfer " medium, the sheet may be stored away for an indefinite time;
either with or without the protection of a covering of liquid or the transfer sheets
when impressed may be treated with a suitable solution or liquid such as a solution
of gelatine in hot water which may be applied over and allowed to dry onto the
surface of the flexible sheet or medium, the latter being designed to serve to
exclude access of air to the impression on the film or medium, and before use the
sheets carrying the impression may be freed of the gelatine protective coat by
washing with warm water.
The avoidance of friction, or "rubbing," on the surface of the impression on
the transfer sheet until protected will of course be attended to and provided
against.
If it is desired to re-use the sheet of transfer material after the transfer impres-
sion already on it is no longer required, that impression may be "washed off" and
another applied after proper cleansing by water, soap and water, turpentine or
other suitable cleansing medium.
The surface of the transfer sheet may be made dull, or polished, in finish.
The transfer medium may be opaque, semi transparent or otherwise. Where it
is desirable to be able to see the work whilst transferring the sheets may be made
less transparent than ordinary glass, but in some cases the greatest transparency is
desirable to facilitate application to the stones or other printing surfaces and
preservation of register especially useful in color printing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1: The manufacture of transfer surfaces for employment in lithography or like
printing processes of thin flexible sheets having non-absorbent impression surfaces
prepared with bichromatized gelatine or chrome alum or of compounds of nitro-
cellulose and camphor or of like material having the impression protected by
a removable air excluding covering substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
2:In lithography or like printing process the employment of a thin flexible sheet
of non-absorbent impression surface to receive the impression or transfer and a
removable coating or covering over the impression to preserve the same as and
for the purposes set forth.
T
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.