IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COPIES OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND DELINEATIONS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eugenio de Zuccato, of 15, Charterhouse Street, London,
E.C., for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING
COPIES OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND DELINEATIONS."
Sealed the 2nd May 1879, and dated the 2nd November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eugenio de Zuccato at the
"IMPROVE-
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd November 1878.
EUGENIO DE ZUCCATO, of 15, Charterhouse Street, London, E. C.
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COPIES OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND
DELINEATIONS."
My Invention of improvements in apparatus for producing copies of writings,
drawings, and delineations is principally applicable to the production of such copies
by means of stencils, and is as follows:-
A band or piece of velvet, cloth, or other suitable material is impregnated with
suitable color or ink and pressed against the surface of a stencil by means of a roller,
scraper, or other suitable apparatus, the pressure of which will cause the ink with
which the band is impregnated to be forced through the permeable parts or per-
forations of the stencil and be deposited upon the surface to be printed upon.
My object in interposing the band impregnated with ink between the roller,
scraper, or the pressing apparatus and the stencil is to reduce to a minimutu the
friction of the roller or scraper upon the stencil, and by so doing prevent the stencil
from boing torn or damaged in the course of printing and cause it to yield a larger
number of copies. There are several modes of constructing a suitable apparatus
based upon the principle hereinbefore explained; the following is a very simple and
effective one :-
For ordinary purposes a cylinder or roller, say eight inches in length and about
three inches in diameter, is mounted or pivotted in a proper frame, together with
one or more cylinders of the same length, in such a manner that all the cylinders

page_text: may revolve freely. An endless band of velvet, cloth, or any suitable material is
slipped over the cylinders and suitable handles attached to the apparatus.
It is obvious that when an apparatus so constructed is pushed or pulled over a
flat surface the endless-band-will revolve.and cause the cylinders which are contained
in it to revolve too. -
Of course such
To print with such an apparatus-the-endless band is impregnated with suitable
ink or color, and then it is made to revolve with sufficient pressure over the surface
of a stencil under which is placed the material to be printed upon.
Lan.apparatus may be combined with other suitable apparatus, such, as for instance,
which will afford suitable means to give the right pressure to hold the stencil.and
to place in its proper place the paper or other materials which are to be printed
upon-
The band of velvet or any other suitable material may also be stuck-to-a-single
cylinder, or instead to be made to revolve; it may be properly suspended with
springs over the stencil in such a manner that it may touch the surface of the
stencil when it is submitted to pressure, or a roller or scraper is passed over it with
pressure.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Eugenio de Zuccato in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd May
1879.
EUGENIO DE ZUCCATO, of 15, Charterhouse Street, London, E.C. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COPIES OF WRITINGS, DRAWINGS, AND
DELINEATIONS."
My Invention for improvements in apparatus for producing copies of writings,
drawings, and delineations is principally applicable to the production of such copies
by means of stencils, especially paper stencils, and is as follows:-A band or piece
of velvet, cloth, india-rubber, or other suitable material is impregnated or painted
over with suitable color or ink and pressed against the surface of a stencil by means
of a roller, scraper, or other suitable apparatus, the pressure of which will cause the
ink with which the band is impregnated to be forced through the permeable parts
or perforations of the stencil and be deposited upon the surface to be printed.
My object in interposing a band of cloth or fabric impregnated with ink between
the pressing tool and the stencil instead of making it adhere directly to the tool, as
is the case with ordinary cloth or velvet covered rollers, is to prevent the ink from
clogging up the interstices of the fabric and also to reduce to a minimum the friction
of the pressing tool, roller, or scraper upon the stencil, thereby preventing the stencil
from being torn or damaged in the course of the printing, and thus causing it to
yield a larger number of copies.
There are several modes of constructing a suitable apparatus based upon the above
mentioned system.
The following is a very simple and effective one-Two or more cylinders of a
suitable material and dimensions are mounted or pivotted, with their sides parallel,
in a frame in such a manner that each cylinder may revolve freely and inde-
pendently on its axis. An endless band of cloth, india rubber, or other suitable
material is fitted over the rollers in such a manner that a revolving movement
of either one of them is communicated to the other or others surrounded by
the band.
Figures 1 and 2 shew an arrangement of two cylinders b and c encased by
the endless band of cloth a; both cylinders are mounted parallel on pivots in
an iron frame d to which a suitable handle is attached.
It is obvious that when an apparatus so constructed is passed with pressure
over a flat surface the endless band will revolve, causing the cylinders enclosed in it
also to revolve.
To print with the apparatus hereinbefore described, the endless band is impreg-
nated or painted over with suitable ink or color and then made to revolve with
sufficient pressure upon the surface of a stencil under which is placed the material
to be printed upon.
This arrangement of band and rollers is also applicable for attachment to a
suitable apparatus in which the requisite pressure for printing can be adjusted by
mechanical means so as to give a uniform result. In such apparatus the rollers may
be made to traverse the surface of the stencil, or the stencil can be arranged to
traverse against the roller or rollers.
To successfully produce copies from paper stencils it is imperative to have a suit-
able apparatus to securely hold the stencil in the course of the printing in order to
prevent it from wrinkling, and finally from being torn.
The apparatus represented in different positions by Figures 3, 4, and 5 is a most
suitable one. A is a rectangular frame, which may be constructed of metal or wood;
it is attached by means of suitable hinges a, a, upon a metallic or wooden table B,
so that it may be raised or lowered upon it. The two shorter sides of the frame are
grooved, and in their grooves are fitted the two wires or rods of metal b, b, which
being locked by means of pins in the sides of the frame at c, c, can be opened or

page_text: closed at will; & and e shew two different arrangements for maintaining the wires
or rods in their position when they are closed; d and e can be easily understood
by merely glancing at the Drawings.
It is
-The use of the above described-apparatus is as follows:-Having unlocked the
rods place one of the edges of the stencil, which must be longer than the frame,
between one of the rods and its corresponding groove; lock the rod to the frame
evenly, stretch the stencil, and secure its opposite edge in the same manner.
obvious that if the two opposite edges of a stencil be firmly held between the rods
and-their-grooves in the opposite sides of the frame the whole stencil will be firmly
maintained in the position in which it was placed before-fixing.
In certain well known processes for producing stencils it is necessary to use
specially prepared paper-which is comparatively expensive; then, for economy sake,
I have recourse to the device represented by Figures 6 and 7.
This consists of a bar of metal or wood similar in construction to the grooved end
pieces of the frame, but it is provided with a spring f for the purpose of locking the
metal rod. This bar has a gap at each end, as shewn at g,g, corresponding in dis-
tance to the side bars of the frame, and therefore adjustable at any required distance
from either end. It is retained in its position by means of a binding screw h at
each end of the bar.
The stencil when shorter than the frame is stretched between one of the sides of
the frame and the adjustable bar C which performs the office of the other end of the
frame. Figures 8 and 9 shew the same appendage or apparatus C, hereinbefore
described, attached to the frame by means of the two springs m, m, the object of
the springs being to maintain the stencil at a uniform degree of tension when inks
or colors are used which tend to dilate the paper formning the stencil in the course of
printing.
It is obvious that when the appendage D is used with the springs m, m, the two
end screws ought not to be tightened.
Having thus described the nature of my. Invention, I claim as being new and
desire to secure by the herein-before recited Letters Patent,―
1°. The method or system of printing from stencils by pressing a band of cloth;
india-rubber, or any other suitable materials impregnated or painted over with
suitable color or ink upon the surface of a stencil by means of a roller, scraper, or
other suitable apparatus, such band of cloth not being stuck upon the pressing
apparatus, roller, or scraper, but being independent from them, substantially as
shewn and described.
20. The combination of two or more cylinders and an endless band, represented
by Figures 1 and 2, substantially as shewn, and described.
3° The apparatus, represented by Figures 3, 4, and 5, with the different arrange-
ments for holding the stencils, substantially as shewn and described.
4° The appendage represented by Figures 6 and 7 enabling a smaller stencil
than the frame to be fixed and held by it, substantially as shown and described.
5º The same appendage, represented by Figures 6 and 7 attached to the sides of
the frame with two steel springs, as represented by Figures 8 and 9, substantially
as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eugenio de Zuccato, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
sight hundred and seventy-nine
EUG. DE ZUCCATO. (L.S.)