Improvements in and relating to Apparatus or Means for Moistening the Leaves of Press Copy Books.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus or Means for Moistening
the Leaves of Press Copy Books.
I, OWEN KINCAID TRUITT, a citizen of the United States of America, of
No. 902 F Street, N.W., in the City of Washington, District of Columbia, United
States of America, Real Estate Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention is an improved device for moistening the leaves of press copying
books.
When the leaves of a press copy book are dampened with wet blotters or with a
hair brush it is exceedingly difficult to distribute the water evenly over the
sheets.
The object of my invention is to remedy this defect and provide a device which
is at all times ready for use and one that will moisten the leaves in a uniform
manner thereby producing perfect press copies without variation.
With these objects in view my invention consists essentially of a water reservoir
having a flat contracted mouth, and a series of wicks arranged in the mouth and
extending to the top of the said reservoir.
My invention further consists in certain details of construction and combination
of parts, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the
claims.
In the drawing forming a part of this Specification
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved moistener.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section, and
Figure 4 is a detail view of the moistening wick.
In the practical embodiment of my invention I employ a water reservoir or
fountain, A, which is constructed of glass, pottery, or metal, as may be desired, and
is made broad and flat at its upper end, to provide an abundant space for water, and
also to provide a suitable space to rest upon when not in use. When constructed of
metal I prefer to employ corrugated sheet metal so as to make the reservoir more or
less flexible whereby the water therein can be forcibly expelled or forced into the
wicks by compressing the reservoir. The lower end of the reservoir is formed with
a broad flat mouth, a, and in one of the broad flat faces of the reservoir is produced
a filling vent, a', through which water is introduced, which vent is normally closed
by means of a plug, a², as clearly shown.
A series of broad, flat moistening wicks, B, are inserted in the mouth of the
reservoir and extend the entire length of the said reservoir, as shown in
Figure 2.
Two wicks are usually employed, each wick being doubled, and between each
wick is arranged a piece of cloth, C, which, as compared with the wicks does not
readily absorb water, and thus prevents the water from flowing from one wick to
another, and thereby unduly increasing the distribution of water. This, together
with capillary attraction insures a uniform distribution of moisture upon the copy
press sheet.
In operation, the wicks are inserted in the mouth of the reservoir and pushed in
the desired distance, and are secured in place by fasteners, substantially like the
ordinary paper fasteners, said fasteners being passed through suitable holes in the
neck of the reservoir. The plug is then removed, the reservoir filled with water,
and the plug replaced. The plug or screw cap being upon the side, facilitates the
filling of the reservoir. When the apparatus is not in use its neck is covered by a

page_text: rupper or similar cap, F, to protect the wicks and prevent evaporation of the
water.
The wicks quickly absorb the water by capillary attraction, and become
thoroughly saturated and when it is desired to use the device it is only necessary
to draw the projecting ends of the wicks across the sheet, and the operation is
completed.
.
When not in use the moistener is seated upon its broad flat base and all danger of
spilling the water is thus avoided.
Should the edges of the wicks become ragged or uneven they can be drawn out
and trimmed, thus quickly remedying any defects that may occur.
From the above it will be seen that I provide a very simple, cheap and efficient
device that will quickly dampen the leaves of a press copy book and moisten the
same uniformly and evenly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
-
1. An improved moistening device consisting of a reservoir having a broad flat
end and flat contracted mouth and a series of moistening wicks inserted in the mouth
and projected into the reservoir, substantially as shown and described.
2. An improved moistening device consisting of a reservoir having a broad flat
end, a broad contracted mouth, and a filling vent between the end and mouth and a
series of wicks inserted in the mouth and projected inward beyond the filling vent
substantially as shown and described.
3. An improved moistening device consisting of a reservoir having a broad flat
end, contracted mouth and filling vent, a series of moistening wicks inserted in the
mouth and projected inward beyond the vent and a non-conducting cloth between
the wicks, substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. An improved moistening device consisting of a reservoir and moistening wicks
and the non-conducting cloth between the wicks, substantially as shown and
described.
Dated this 10th don
FN1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.