Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 8th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 6th Apr., 1888
We, WILLIAM ALFRED SIMMONS and GEORGE WALTER SIMMONS both of 13 Cursitor
Street Chancery Lane London, printers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
Hitherto composition rollers have been used for letter press printing but have not
been used for lithographic rollers to our knowledge, the reason being that composition
rollers have been soluble in the moisture on the lithographic stone thus causing the
rollers to swell when wet and shrink when dry, and liable to be dissolved by the heat
caused by friction. For letter press printing our composition rollers will last much
longer than those at present in use. By our invention we treat composition rollers
in such a manner that they do not absorb moisture nor the ingredients contained in
the ink which absorption not only destroys the life of the ink, but also renders the said
ink drossy and unfit for use.
Furthermore by our invention the following advantages are obtained :-The ink is
kept clean and free from dross, the rollers are rendered capable of being thoroughly
cleaned and prepared with inks of different colours, with but little trouble and short
time expended.
The composition treated by our improved method does not stretch and consequently
it does not require packing with flannel or other material commonly used for the
purpose. The rollers so treated are rendered so smooth, that they will ink the stone,
inuch quicker than those rollers commonly in use, and consequently may be used on
machines which are run at greater speeds than heretofore.
Our invention may be described as follows:-
Before the composition. (which is of the same kind as that commonly used) is:
applied to the roller to be coated therewith, we mix with it certain proportions of
either one or more of the following chemicals:-bichromate of potash, bichromate of
ammonia chrome alum or tannin- the roller or rollers which are then coated with the-
composition (admixed with any one or more of the before mentioned chemicals,)
are exposed to daylight or any strong artifical light, which exposure to the light
renders the composition insoluble. The composition is then ready to receive an oil
varnish.

page_text: Should it at any time become necessary to use the roller or rollers for other litho-
graphic inks or printing inks, inks which are of different colours to those the
impressions of which have been previously used, the said rollers are conveniently
cleaned by means of wiping same with rags, cotton waste, or other suitable material
which has been previously steeped in turpentine, paraffin oil or other suitable solvent
of the ink.
The rollers thus cleaned are then prepared with ink of any desired colour.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lithographic and Letter-press Rollers.
We, WILLIAM ALFRED SIMMONS, and GEORGE WALTER SIMMONS, both of 13 Cursitor
Street, Chancery Lane, Printers, 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:-
Hitherto composition rollers have been used for letter-press printing but have not
been used for lithographic rollers to our knowledge, the reason being that composition
rollers have been soluble in the moisture on the lithographic stone, thus causing the
roller to swell when wet and shrink when dry, and they are liable to be dissolved by
the heat caused by friction. In letter press printing our composition rollers will last
much longer than those at present in use.
By our invention we treat composition rollers in such a manner that they do not
absorb moisture nor the ingredients contained in the ink, which absorption not only
destroys the life of the ink, but also renders the said ink drossy and unfit for use.
Furthermore by our invention the following advantages are obtained-the ink is
kept clean and free from dross, the rollers are rendered capable of being thoroughly
cleaned and prepared with inks of different colours with but little trouble and short
time expended the composition treated by our improved method does not stretch, and
consequently it does not require packing with flannel or other materials commonly
used for the purpose-the rollers thus treated are rendered so smooth, that they will
ink the stone much quicker than those rollers commonly in use, and consequently
may be used on machines which are run at greater speeds than heretofore.
Our invention may be described as follows:-
Before the composition (which is of the same kind as that commonly used) is
applied to the stock or wooden or metal roller to be coated therewith, we mix with it

page_text: .
certain proportions of either one or more of the following chemicals in solution,
bichromate of potash, bichromate of ammonia, chrome alum or tannin. The stock
aforesaid is coated with the composition (admixed with any one or more of the before
mentioned chemicals) and is then exposed to daylight or strong artificial light,
which exposure to the light renders the composition insoluble. The composition is
then ready to receive an oil varnish.
The stock aforesaid prepared or covered with the composition in the ordinary way,
may however be placed in a bath containing a saturated solution of one of the
aforenamed chemicals preferably bichromate of potash or bichromate of ammonia-
the composition roller thus treated is exposed to daylight or strong artificial light
sufficient to render the composition insoluble.
Should it at any time become necessary to use the roller or rollers for lithographic
inks or printing inks which are of different colours to those, the impressions of which
have been previously taken, the said rollers are conveniently cleaned by means. of
wiping same with rags, cotton waste, or other suitable material which has been
previously steeped in turpentine, paraffin oil or other suitable solvent of the ink. The
rollers thus cleaned are then prepared with ink of any desired colour.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. Chemicals aforenamed in solution mixed with composition and exposed to light,
substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
2. Chemicals aforenamed in solution used as a coating and exposed to light sub-
stantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.