AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR PRODUCING MANIFOLD COPIES IN BLACK
Year: 1885

page_text: I THOMAS BATTY of Balmoral Villas, Colchester, in the county of Essex,
Independent Minister, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR PRODUCING MANIFOLD COPIES IN BLACK," to be as
follows:-
"
The object of my invention is to provide a more simple apparatus for giving
copies of any writing or drawing in jet black printer's ink, with the same ease and
rapidity as copies are at present produced in violet and other aniline dyes.
Hitherto in the various methods of copying circulars and designs in black
printer's ink from gelatine plates or parchment sheets the tedious process of
soaking or dipping the prepared plate or sheet in a bath of Bichromate of Potash,
or water has been necessary before using it. This has caused vexatious delay and
required the use of a special apparatus as well as skill and expense in working the
process.
•
The improved dry method hereinafter described removes this necessity by using
a. printing surface which is constantly moist and always ready for use, and
altogether dispenses with the costly apparatus for dipping, soaking and stretching
at present employed. It requires no press but is worked in a manner similar to
that adopted in printing from the Chromo-graph. The only difference being that
in my process a printing roller is used for inking the gelatine surface each time a
copy is taken.
To attain this end I make a flexible printing block or plate by mixing one part
of gelatine moistened in water with eight parts of glycerine and one part of
glucose. The component parts are first dissolved by the application of a gentle
heat and after being carefully and thoroughly mixed the mass is poured or moulded
on a suitable plate or tray.
To produce copies I write or draw the matter for re-production on a sheet of
paper with a chemical ink composed of one part proto-sulphate of iron, or salt of
other metal, with eight parts of water coloured with any suitable dye, and after
drying it, I place the sheet of paper face downwards upon the flexible printing
block or plate, and leave it there for a few seconds. When the paper is removed
Prine G11

page_text: the block is ready to print from, the writing or drawing having been transferred
to the surface of the block. The flexible block is then rolled in the usual manner
with a common printing roller charged with printing ink, and a plain sheet of
paper is placed upon it and simply pressed down by the hand, or by a clean roller,
which thereby transfers the matter from the surface of the block to the paper. In
a similar manner any number of copies may be re-produced until the printing
surface is worn off the block.
The printing block may be cleaned after use by washing the surface with water
which removes the writing or design from its surface, which is then ready for use
again without further preparation.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, THOMAS BATTY of Barmoral Villas, Colchester in the county of Essex,
Independent Minister 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 my invention is to provide a simple apparatus for giving manifold
copies of any writing in jet black or other coloured printers ink, with the same
ease and rapidity as copies are at present produced in violet or other Aniline dyes.
Hitherto in the various methods of copying circulars in black printers ink from
gelatine plates or parchment sheets, the tedious process of soaking or dipping the
prepared plate or sheet in a bath of water or Bichromate of Potash has been
necessary before using it. This has caused vexatious delay and required the use
of a special apparatus, as well as skill and expense in working the process. By
my improved dry process as hereinafter described, the necessity of using a costly
apparatus for dipping, soaking, and stretching, as at present employed are entirely
dispensed with. It requires no press but is worked in a manner similar to that
adopted in printing from the Chromo-graph, and other similar apparatuses, the
principal difference being that in my process a printing roller is used for inking the
gelatine surface each time a copy is taken.
I use a flexible printing block or plate made as follows:-I take one part of
gelatine moistened in water and mix with it eight parts of glycerine, and one part
of glucose. The component parts are first dissolved by the application of a gentle
heat, and after being carefully and thoroughly mixed the mass is poured or moulded
on any suitable plate or tray. These quantities make a good working plate, but
are capable of much variation, and therefore I do not confine myself to these
exact proportions. For fine line drawings a much larger proportion of gelatine is
to be preferred, and a good durable plate is made of three parts of glycerine to one
part of gelatine without glucose.
To produce copies I write or draw the matter for reproduction on a sheet of
paper with a chemical ink composed of one part of Sulphate of copper, iron, or salt
of other metal, with four parts of water coloured with any suitable dye so that the
writing or drawing may be visible when produced on paper. When the writing
or drawing is dry, I place the sheet of paper face downwards upon the flexible
printing plate, and leave it there for a few seconds, when the action of the ink
causes the parts of the block in contact with it to swell and become hardened and
so form a type reading to print from when the paper is removed. The flexible
block is inked in the usual manner with an ordinary inking roller charged with
printers ink, and a plain sheet of paper is then placed upon it and simply pressed
down by the hand or by a clean roller which thereby transfers the ink from the
surface of the block to the paper. In a similar manner any number of copies may
be reproduced until the action of the writing ink ceases, or is neutralized.
The printing block may be easily cleansed after use by washing the surface
with a weak solution of ammonia and water which removes the writing or design
from its surface. It is then ready for use again without further preperation.

page_text: I am aware that gelatinous surfaces have already been used for producing
manifold copies of writing etc. with ordinary printers ink, and I therefore do not
broadly claim such a method or apparatus, but having now particularly described
and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the said
is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :—
First. The process of producing manifold copies in black or other coloured
printers ink, consisting essentially of transferring writing or other matter written
on paper, to a moist printing block, inking the said block on removal of the paper
with a roller charged with printers ink, and laying a clean sheet of paper thereon
and subjecting it to slight pressure substantially as herein before set forth.
Second. A composition or mass either in a block or in thin layers or sheets,
for producing manifold copies of writing, or other designs in printers ink, in the
manner hereinbefore described, requiring no dipping or soaking in water, made as
herein before set forth.
Third. An apparatus for producing manifold copies in black printers ink, an
essential part of which is a moist printing block or sheet which is easily cleaned
and ready for use again as hereinbefore described.