Improved Stereotyping Process.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improved Stereotyping Process.
I, DR. ALFRED KRAUS, of 10, Rue Marbeuf, Paris, in the French Republic,
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Whilst printing presses have attained a high degree of efficiency, type-setting
processes are still relatively imperfect, and are based either on the composing
of movable metal types by hand, or of movable type-matrices of letters, with the aid
of machines, which furnish only short groups of letters, or short lines, and are
complicated and expensive, and cost so much to maintain that they have not
been brought into general use.
The present invention relates to a process, which I term "mechanostereotypy";
intended more particularly to obviate the setting of letter types, and it consists
in producing, with the assistance of a type-writing machine, impressions of
letters, in a plastic material, so that the latter, after hardening in the drying
furnace or chamber, can be used as matrices for casting metal, and in this
manner, blocks produced, ready for printing purposes.
The process embodies a whole series of technical and commercial advantages.
(1). A small number of typists replaces a numerous and highly-remunerated
staff of compositors, substitutes for whom, in cases of emergency, are not easily
found.
(2). A large number of workmen, whose duty it is, under existing methods,
to break up, clean and distribute the type, is dispensed with.
(3). A practised typist easily attains a speed of from 8000 to 12000 letters
per hour, which the most expert compositor is not capable of doing.
(4). The supply, wear and tear, and renewal of the type-fount and the screw-
press previously necessary, will be to a great extent obviated, whereby a saving
of initial outlay and in maintenance will be effected, especially in large printing
works.
(5). From the foregoing advantages there is naturally a considerable saving
of space and consequently of rental.
(6). In consequence of the composition of letter types being dispensed with,
there can no longer be any chronic lead poisoning, since the typists do not come
into contact with the type-metal. The casting in the matrices is effected in a
small room apart, in which only one or two workmen need be engaged.
(7). The process is applicable alike to plane or to rotary printing.
(8). Line, space and page blocks are all supplied according as they may be
required.
(9). The raw materials employed in making the blocks and matrices can be
constantly used again, the process being thus rendered exceedingly economical.
(10). Stereotypic presses are unnecessary.

page_text: (1). The plastic material can be reduced to sheet form or a texture of some
kind may be impregnated with it.
(12). Machines with various kinds of types can be easily constructed.
(13). The movable types or lines being dispensed with, the falling apart of, the
sentence is prevented.
(14). Errors in printing are much less frequent, since the principal cause of
this is inaccuracy in distributing the type.
(15). The process can also be employed for reproducing documents for busi-
ness or private purposes.
(16). In consequence of the employment of constantly fresh blocks, sharp
impressions are obtained.
The details of my improved process of mechanostereotypy, are as follow:-
-
By means of an apparatus suitable for any system of type-writer and which
will vary according to the typewriter employed, the sheet of paper, serving for
ordinary writing is replaced in the type-writing machine by a plane or bent
forme according as the blocks are intended for plane or rotary printing. For
this purpose the forme is inserted in a frame, which is connected with the
carriage of the typewriter and partakes in the movements thereof. The mechan-
ism for forming the lines corresponds with that for ordinary type-writing
machines. The plastic material may be produced in various ways. A mixture
of 20 to 25 grammes of white lead, 50 to 60 grammes of modelling clav, 30
grammes of gypsum, 2 grammes of lime, 2 grammes of fire-brick powder, 2
grammes of powdered coke, 10 grammes of marsh-mallow powder, and 20 to 30
grammes of water, has been found specially suitable.
Certain of these ingredients (either one or another) may, however, be omitted
and other elements be added. The material described remains plastic so long
as desired, and becomes hard by simply undergoing the necessary drying process
for a short time in a drying oven. acquiring thereby at the same time the strength
(or qualities of resistance) requisite for the operation of casting the blocks.
Before the plastic material is introduced into the machine, its surface is
smoothed or flattened by means of a slightly greased or oiled roller or cylinder.
The material must be so placed in the machine that the type-writing machine
types strike it at a right angle. The typist now proceeds to write by means of
the set of keys, as on ordinary paper, obviously without employing an inking
ribbon. The desired impressions are accordingly produced on
material, which yields a fully legible, sharp and clear series of positive types.
the plastic
The plastic material is now put into the drying chamber and there dried until it
is of the requisite degree of hardness, an operation requiring but little time.
The matrices can then be used for casting the blocks by any of the known
methods. The blocks thus obtained serve as printing plates and after being
used can be melted up again.
The plastic material can be kept for further use as stereotype matrices, or
he ground up in a grinding mill and after the addition thereto of the water
eliminated therefrom through the drying process, again resumes its plastic
properties.
In case of necessity, the plastic material, before being dried, can be easily
employed in the production of proof printing blocks made of gum or the like,
from which proof impressions can be taken. Blocks of the kind can also be
prepared from the plastic material for commercial or business purposes. the
plastic material in this case being suitably composed of a substance which is
pliable, does not harden, and requires no drying, such for instance, as wax,
resin or tallow.
The correcting of the blocks is effected in the plastic material before the
drying operation, either by sponging, smoothing or flattening and pressing over
or by taking out the parts where errors occur, by means of a punch or stamp
and filling up the gaps thus produced, by means of another stamn filled with

page_text: plastic material and then smoothing or flattening and dabbing or "beating over"
the same.
The type-writing machine renders possible the replacing of the flat
parts by the right types with mathematical accuracy.
Dated this Twelfth day of April 1899.
Improved Stereotyping Process,
I, DR. ALFRED KRAUS, of 10, Rue Marbeuf, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Chemist, 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:-
Whilst printing presses have attained a high degree of efficiency, type-setting
processes are still relatively imperfect, and are based either on the composing of
movable metal types by hand, or of movable type-matrices or letters, with the
aid of machines, which furnish only short groups of letters, or short lines, and
are complicated and expensive, and cost so much to maintain that they have not
been brought into general use.
The present invention relates to a process, which I term "mechanostereotypy":
intended more particularly to obviate the setting of letter types, and it consists
in producing with the assistance of a type-writing machine, impressions of
letters, in a plastic material, so that the latter after hardening in the drying
oven or chamber, can be used as matrices for casting metal, and in this manner
blocks produced, ready for printing purposes.
The process embodies a whole series of technical and commercial advantages.
(1) A small number of typists replaces a numerous and highly remunerated
staff of compositors, substitutes for whom, in cases of emergency, are not easily
found.
(2) A large number of workmen, whose duty it is under existing methods,
to break up, clean and distribute the type, will be dispensed with.
(3) A practised typist easily attains a speed of from 8000 to 12000 letters per
hour, which the most expert compositor is not capable of doing.
(4) The supply, wear and tear, and renewal of the type-fount and the screw-
press previously necessary, will be to a great extent obviated, whereby a saving
of initial outlay and in maintenance will be effected, especially in large printing
works.
(5) From the foregoing advantages there is naturally a considerable saving
of space and, consequently, of rental.
(6) In consequence of the composition of letter types being dispensed with,
there can no longer be any chronic lead poisoning, since the typists do not
come into contact with the type-metal. The casting in the matrices is effected
in a small room apart, in which only one or two workmen need be engaged.
(7) The process is applicable alike to plane or to rotary printing.
(S) Line, space and page blocks are all supplied according as they may be
required.
(9) The raw materials employed in making the blocks and matrices can be
constantly used again, the process being thus rendered exceedingly economical.
(10) Stereotypic presses are unnecessary,

page_text: (II) The plastic material can be reduced to sheet form or a texture of some
kind may be impregnated with it.
(12) Machines with various kinds of types can be easily constructed.
(13) The movable types or lines being dispensed with, the falling apart of
the sentence is prevented.
(14) Errors in printing are much less frequent, since the principal cause of
this is inaccuracy in distributing the type.
(15) The process can also be employed for reproducing documents for business
or private purposes.
(16) In consequence of the employment of constantly fresh blocks, sharp
impressions are obtained.
The details of my improved process of mechanostereotypy, are as follows:-
By means of a special apparatus suitable for any system of type-writer, the
sheet of paper, serving for ordinary writing is replaced in the type-writing
machine by a plane or bent frame according as the blocks are intended for plane
or rotary printing. The forme is inserted in a frame, which is connected with
the carriage and partakes in the movements thereof. The mechanism for form-
ing the lines corresponds with that for ordinary type-writing machines. The
plastic material may be produced in various ways. A mixture of 20 to 25
grammes of white lead, 50 to 60 grammes of modelling clay, 30 grammes of
gypsum, 2 grammes of lime, 2 grammes of fire-brick powder, 2 grammes of
powdered coke, 10 grammes of marsh-mallow powder, and 20 to 30 grammes of
water, has been found specially suitable.
Certain of these ingredients (either one or another) may, however, be omitted
and other elements be added. The material described remains plastic as long
as desired, and becomes hard by simply undergoing the necessary drying process
for a short time in a drying oven, acquiring thereby at the same time the
strength (or qualities of resistance) requisite for the operation of casting the
blocks.
Before the plastic material is introduced into the machine, its surface is
smoothed or flattened by means of a slightly greased or oiled roller or cylinder.
The material must be so placed in the machine that the type-writing types it
at a right angle. The typist now proceeds to write by means of the set of keys
as on ordinary paper, obviously without employing an inking ribbon. The
desired impressions are accordingly produced on the plastic material, which
yields a fully legible, sharp and clear series of positive types. The plastic
material is now put into the drying chamber and there dried until it is of the
requisite degree of hardness, an operation requiring but little time. The
matrices can then be used for casting the blocks by any of the known methods.
The blocks thus obtained serve as printing plates and after being used can be
melted up again.
The plastic material can be kept for further use as stereotype matrices, or
be ground up in a grinding mill and after the addition thereto of the water
eliminated therefrom through the drying process, again resumes its plastic
properties.
.
In case of necessity, the plastic material, before being dried, can be easily
employed in the production of proof printing blocks made of gum, or the like,
from which proof impressions can be taken. Blocks of the kind can also be
prepared from the plastic material for commercial or business purposes, the
plastic material in this case being suitably composed of a substance which is
pliable, does not harden, and requires no drying, such for instance, as wax,
resin or tallow.
The correcting of the blocks is effected in the plastic material before the drying
operation, either by sponging smoothing or flattening and pressing over, or by
taking out the parts where errors occur, by means of a punch or stamp and
filling up the gaps thus produced, by means of another stamp filled with plastic
material and then smoothing or flattening and dabbing or "beating over" the

page_text: same.
The typewriting machine renders possible the replacing of the flat parts
by the right types with mathematical accuracy.
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. A stereotyping process, the characterising feature of which is that impres-
sions of letters are produced in a plastic material, with the assistance of a type-
writing machine, such material after hardening in a drying oven or chamber
being used as matrices for casting metal in the manner already known, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In the process of stereotypy described, the preparing of printing blocks
from gum or the like for the production of proof impressions or for use in
offices and for private purposes, substantially as set forth.
3. For carrying out the sterotype process herein set forth, the employment of
a plastic material composed of 20 to 25 grammes of white lead, 50 to 60 grammes
of modelling clay, 30 grammes of gypsum, 2 grammes of lime, 2 grammes of
fire-brick powder, 2 grammes of powdered coke, 10 grammes of marsh-mallow
powder, and 20 to 30 grammes of water, substantially as described.
D1 11
1111
1
T
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.