IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING DESIGNS AND COPIES, AND IN MULTIPLYING IMPRESSIONS EITHER OF PRINTED OR WRITTEN SURFACES
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
WOODS, of Bucklersbury, in the City of London, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Sixth day of June, in the seventh year of the reign of Her said
Majesty, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Woods, Her especial licence that I, the said Joseph
Woods, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Joseph Woods, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exer-
cise, and vend, within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, and also in Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, an Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING DESIGNS AND COPIES, AND IN MULTIPLYING
IMPRESSIONS EITHER OF PRINTED OR WRITTEN SURFACES," being a communication
from a
Foreigner residing abroad; in which said Letters Patent there is
contained a proviso that I, the said Joseph Woods, should cause a particular
description of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the now reciting Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being

page_text: thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear: and whereas Sir Fre-
derick Thesiger, Her Majesty's Solicitor General, by a Certificate under his
hand, dated the Thirteenth day of November, One thousand eight hundred
and forty-four, and addressed to the Clerk of the Patents, did certify that he
had granted leave to me, the said Joseph Woods, to file a Disclaimer and
Memorandum of Alteration of the Title of the said Invention, pursuant to the
Statute mentioned in such Certificate, and by which Disclaimer and Memo-
randum, I, the said Joseph Woods, altered the Title of the said Invention
from "Improvements in Producing Designs and Copies, and in Multiplying
Impressions either of Printed or Written Surfaces," to " Improvements in
Producing and Multiplying Copies of Designs, and Impressions of Printed or
Written Surfaces."
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso,. I, the said
Joseph Woods, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner of performing the same, are particularly ascertained and described
as follows:-
My Invention of Improvements in Producing and Multiplying Copies of
Designs and Impressions of Printed or Written Surfaces, consist,
Firstly, in the process whereby I obtain transfers or reversed fac-similes on
mictallic surfaces from designs or writings in lithographic ink, and from prints
and printing in general; aud as this process is applicable to the reprinting of
old works, I propose to term it "Anastatic; Printing.".
Secondly, in the presses whereby I obtain impressions from the said, metallic
surfaces.
The process and the presses will be better understood by the following
description thereof, and the accompanying Drawings hereto attached to illus-
trate the same (that is to say):-
My first improvement under this head for obtaining transfers or fac-similes
consists of several distinct operations, and will be best understood by a simple
description of each.
First, the surface to receive a reversed copy of the design or print: may, be
made of brass, steel, iron, copper, zinc, or other convenient metal; but, I pre-
fer zine to any other metal, in consequence of the greater facility of manage-
ment which it admits. It may be used as plates or cylinders, and in each
cases requires to be perfectly homogenous, and to present a clean surface... I
prefer polished surfaces, and prepare the plate: by grinding it with emery and
water applied by means of a cloth rubber, so as to produce parallel lines
from end to end, or from side to side, but not crossing each other more than
can be avoided. When the surface has acquired a uniform appearance, I rub

page_text: the dirt and water, off with clean blotting paper, and polish the plate with
another cloth and dry fine emery, or with fine emery paper, in the same parallel
direction as before, taking care not to touch the surface with the hand or any
dirty or oily substance. I next rub off all dust and dirt with clean blotting
paper until it is perfectly clean and free from oxide, and presents a surface
polished in a parallel direction for receiving the ink.
Secondly, the design or writing to be copied and printed must be executed
in ink of a saponaceous or fatty nature, such as common lithographic or
printing ink, and may be on any clean well-sized paper. These may be
transferred either when quite new, or when many years old, or after travel-
ling from one country to another. The designs or printed papers which
throughout this Specification I call "originals," are then charged with any
convenient acid, which I prefer to be nitric. Any "original," so fresh as to
yield an impression to a piece of clean paper when pressed firmly together
by means of a burnisher, I treat thus:-1 lay the written or printed side on
a clean piece of blotting paper, and wet the upper side equally by means of a
soft brush, with a mixture of one part nitric acid of 1.362 specific gravity, and
eight, parts of water by weight. So soon as the acid has completely soaked
through the "original," I lay it between sheets of blotting paper, and remove
the excess of dilute acid by gentle pressure; and if the acid has equally pene-
trated the "original," I lay its written surface on the cleaned metallic surface,
place double blotting paper over it, and pass it under considerable rolling
pressure, which causes the acid to attack the metal where unprotected by the
writing, drawing, or printing, &c. on the "original," and produce what I term a
negative etching. The original may be thus pressed between two metallic surfaces
without any blotting paper. When it is desired to obtain a reversed counter-
part from each side, the "original" may be immediately removed, and a
reversed impression should be perceived in all parts of the plate distinct from
the etched surface. Prints of more than two months old have their ink more
indurated, and require a. modification of the above treatment of transferring,
which may be effected as follows:-I first lay a sheet of, blank. white paper
in the bottom of a flat porcelain or glass vessel large enough to contain
the "original;" and then lay as many "originals" alternately with blank ones,
as I require to transfer; but if the original is thick and strong, the inter-
mediate papers may be omitted. I next pour over the whole mass a sufficient
quantity of, nitric acid, of about 1.362 specific gravity, to soak through the
mass of paper, and then cover the basin or vessel with a plate of glass, and
let it remain for from twelve hours to seven days, according to the age and
nature of the print, for which no accurate rule can be given, and must be
.

page_text: conducted by experience acquired by practice. Printed books of ten years
generally require about twenty-four hours, and those of thirty to forty years
require some days; but after that ago no material difference appears to have
taken place in the chemical condition of the printing ink. When I consider
that the "originals" have been sufficiently acted on by the acid, I remove the
cover and add water, so as to reduce the strength of the acid contained in
each to such a degree as that it shall not act strongly or disagreeably on the
tongue when brought in contact. I now lay the "originals" between sheets
of clean blotting paper, and subject them to slight pressure to remove super-
fluous moisture. I then lay it on the polished metallic surface, as before
described, and subject it to much greater rolling pressure than recent
originals. If saving of time is an object, and when the originals have
been very much indurated and dried, as in engraving, &c., I proceed, by
washing over the back of the original to be transferred with a solution of
caustic potash in pure rain or distilled water of about 1.014 specific gravity,
which I prefer to carbonate of potash, as that substance would evolve gas in the
next process; and when the original is fully soaked I prepare a saturated solution
of tartaric acid in water in a shallow flat basin, or on a sheet of glass, with a
wax border to form tank sides. I then place the original, which has been
soaked in caustic potash, in this solution, with the face to be transferred
uppermost, and a reaction takes place between the tartaric acid and potash in
the paper forming crystals of cream of tartar, which appear over the whole
surface, and are sparingly soluble in water, leaving only those parts which aro
protected with printing ink uncovered with crystals. I next roll a hard litho-
graphic inking roller charged with a small portion of ink over its wet surface
several times and in several directions, until the back lines become revived
by a new coat of ink, leaving the blank part of the paper covered with crystals
almost untouched. I next remove the superfluous ink by a second application
of a hard roller uncharged with ink, and dissolve the crystals of cream of tartar
by immersing the papers for some hours in dilute nitric acid, twenty parts
water by one part acid of 1.362 specific gravity by weight. After which it is
partially dried in blotting paper placed on the metallic surface, and subjected
to slight pressure, as before. Instead of using printing ink, as before described,
for reviving the print, so as to protect the metallic surface from the action of
the acid, I sometimes employ the vapour of convenient volatile oils to effect
the same object as that of oil of turpentine. When I wish to draw on the plate,
I do so with lithographic transfer ink while in its clean state, and wash it over
lightly with gum water containing a small quantity of phosphatic acid, then
rub in ink, and protect the blank surfaces, as next described; or I first treat

page_text: the metallic surface with phosphatic acid and gum, wash it clean, scrape away
the parts intended to carry ink, and rub them up, as hereafter described.
Having now described my process of transferring reversed fac-similes of
new and old designs and printed surfaces to the metallic plate, I proceed to
explain the next operation for completing their preparation as printing sur-
faces. I remove the "original" from the plate after pressure, and wash the
plate over in all directions with very thick gum water by means of a sponge,
and next rub up or fill in the plate with linen rag or sponge charged with a
mixture of lithographic printing ink and gum water, wherever it has been
protected from the action of the acid, which operation of charging the plate
constantly follows the continuous washing with gum, as it is usual for litho-
graphic printers to charge their stones, and if the transfer has not been quite
complete, or is from old work, this process should be repeated at intervals of
one hour or more. When this process is finished, I wash all dirt and gum
off with a linen rag wetted with water, and roll over the whole plate with a
soft leather roller charged with ink, and if spots of dirt remain on the plate
I grind them out with slate pencil and water. I could now in the usual
mode print a few hundred copies from the plate, but the fine lines would
begin to thicken and the plate to fill up with ink, the constant tendency to do
which has hitherto been a great impediment to inking and printing by machinery.
To prevent this spreading of the ink and its adhesion to the negatively etched
or blank surface of the metal, I wash the plate over with an acid preparation
of phosphorus, which I prefer to be a solution of the substance called by
Dulong phosphatic acid, or, as termed by Davy, a mixture of phosphorous
and phosphoric acids mixed with gum water; this acid etches in the surface
partially, and enables it effectually to reject the ink. By carrying this process
further with stronger phosphatic acid, I can obtain a palpably-raised surface
for printing from similar to stereotype. The phosphatic acid, or combination
of phosphorous and phosphoric acids, I prepare by placing long pieces of
phosphorous upright in a glass bottle, and filling it with water to within one
quarter of an inch of their tops. I then cork the bottle, leaving an aperture
I let it remain
of about one sixteenth of an inch area for admission of air.
three or four days, or until the water is sufficiently acidulated for use, which
may be ascertained by placing a drop of it on a clean zinc surface, where it
must produce an evident action and leave a white mark; gum is then added
to the solution and dissolved, until the whole acquires the consistence of
unboiled white of egg, and the mixture is preserved from the air in stopped
bottles.
I now proceed to describe the second branch of my improvements, which

page_text: consist in presses for obtaining impressions from metallic surfaces, which I
consider will be found useful for printing from surfaces prepared in the usual
way, as well as from my prepared surfaces. The hand press, Sheet 1,
Figures 1, 2, and 3, which I prefer, is for printing from flat plates, and consists
of a driving roller A turned by a handle II, a board covered with metal, or a
metallic plate B, a pressing roller P, made larger than the driving roller, to re-
duce the friction and tendency to move at a different velocity to that of the plate,
and an endless cloth C which I prefer to be of silk for carrying through the
paper to receive an impression. A screw S under a spring D, which supports
the under roller, is moved through a short arc by the handle E, which causes
the screw to unwind and exert pressure through the spring so as to elevate
the roller-A, and a position is marked on the frame to indicate the proper
pressure for printing and that for transferring.
An
My single-acting power printing press is shewn by Drawings 1, 2, 3, on
Sheets 2 and 3, and consists of a metallic cylinder to which the transfer is
made at once; or, as in this case, of an iron cylinder A, covered by a moveable
zine plate z, of a washing apparatus, an inking apparatus, a second washing
apparatus, and then a second inking apparatus; next in order is the appa-
ratus for supplying paper, and then the pressing roller and system of tapes
and endless cloth for conveying the paper through the press and delivering it
on the counter. The zinc plate is soldered at each end to separate pieces
of bar iron (1, 2) one inch wide, having on the side opposite the zinc three or
four staples which pass through holes in the sunk part of the cylinder (A);
and as the zine plate is cut of such a length as to suit the diameter of the
eylinder, allowing a little for extension, the ends come nearly together.
iron rod is then passed through each row of staples, and secures each end of
the zinc plate to the cylinder; the plate is then stretched firmly on by a
double wedge, or two keys 4 and 5 driven in tight behind the end 2, and the
space between them filled by a metal bar. The reversed impression is given to
this zinc plate either before or after stretching on the roller, and the roller may
be either in the press frame or a supplementary frame for that purpose. This
printing roller A revolves in the direction indicated by an arrow, and may
be actuated by the hand or other power; in so doing its surface comes in
contact with the first washing roller W, composed of linen in a wood ground;
the linen being made in the form of a rope, either by sewing together the
two edges of a strip cut diagonally from the piece across the warp and weft
lines, or by associating a number of threads in a parallel direction, twisted on
themselves so as to form a rope, and winding the whole round the cylinder
in a helical curve. The thickness when finished should be. about half an inch

page_text: and: may also be made in other modes and of other materials, as that of cut
pile similar to velvet, the object. being to prevent any thread coming off, and
'adhering to the printing surface. Both washing rollers W and W+ are caused
to revolve in. 'the same direction as the surface of the printing cylinder at
about double its circumferential velocity by means of wheels or bands, and they
are at the same time drawn.backwards and forwards about two inches, by means
of the levers 6, 7, 8; and 9. The washing rollers W and W are supplied with
water by running in. contact with troughs of wet linen or cloth T and T+
respectively. The washing rubbers W, W, are made of linen or other
material, but linen I find the most suitable, in the same manner as the rollers,
the linen cord being laid into it in parallel lines. The two rubbers are
attached, to the same frame 10, 10, 10, and are moved backwards and for-
wards in the direction of their lengtlis, alternately with the longitudinal motion
of the washing roller's, by means of the pin connecting the levers 7, 8, 9;
that is to say, while the rollers move towards the left the rubbers move
towards the right. The washing, rollers performing revolutions, and being
moved also longitudinally, in combination with 'their rubbers moved longi-
tudinally in opposite directions, produce a compound washing in serpentine
curves crossing each other, which is similar to the circular action pro-
duced by hand washing. After being washed by the first system the printing
surface encounters the first inking system, consisting of a docter roller 11,
driven by a pulley and band, a wandering roller 12, driven by contact with
the docter 11, which carries three cams to release the lever 13 carrying the
wandering roller, and allow the weight 14 to move the wandering roller into
contact with an iron distributing roller 15, driven at the same circumferential
velocity as the printing surface, by means of two contact or friction rollers 16.
The wandering roller remains in contact with the docter a variable time,
according to the length of the lever 13, and delivers more or less ink as
required to the distributor. The lever 13, carrying with it the wandering
roller 12, is moved longitudinally backwards and forwards by means of an
inclined plane or cam on the pulley of the docter roller; for the purpose of
distributing the ink equally and regularly. A portion of ink having been
received by the roller 15 is still further equalized by the glue roller 17 run-
ning in contact with it; and having passed.this the ink is yielded up to the
soft-leather inking rollers 18, 18, which distribute them to the printing surface.
The first system of iuking rollers is supplied with an inkimore fluid than is
necessary for giving the impression, and partially charges the surface, which
receives the ink in detached portions, which are smeared over by the second

page_text: washing system of exactly similar construction and parts to the first before
described, so as to present surfaces entirely charged with thin ink to enable
the main inking apparatus to perform its duty with certainty. The second
inking apparatus consists of similar parts to those of the first inking apparatus
before described, excepting that it is furnished with an additional leather
inking roller 19, and distributing or feeding roller 20, and this completes
the process of charging the printing surface more perfectly with ink. Each
inking system has the pressure of its rollers adjusted by screws between
the bearings, and each system is pressed in contact with the cylinder by
weights 20, 20, on the levers 21, 21. The second inking system is charged
with ink of greater consistence than that of the first, in order that the im-
pression may be given of superior color, and without any smudging. If
drawings or works of art are to be printed by this press, I add a third
system of washing and inking rollers. The paper to be printed on is to be
placed on the moving table T, when it stands in the dotted position shewn
in the Drawing, and it is retained there by the catch lever 23, until the said
lever 23 is lifted by a pin 24 on a moveable segment 25, carrying also a cam
or wiper 26, and having its circumference curved, so as to act on the roller
and lever 27, which carries a feeding roller 28. This segment 25 is adjusted
to different positions according to the position of printing on the cylinder,
which is screwed tightly on its end by bolts; and, by shifting the segment 25,
all the operations of levers 22, 23, and 27, are retarded or accelerated simul-
taneously. When the catch lever 23 is lifted by a pin 24 the table T is
released, and is drawn towards the feeding roller 28 by means of a weight 36,
and cord passing over a pulley; a moment after this the feeding roller 28 is
pressed in contact with the paper between the endless cloth roller 43 and
ribbons on the other side; at the same moment a register pin and lever 29,
for insuring similar positions to each piece of paper, is pressed up the
lever 27, and allows the tapes and endless cloth to draw forward the sheet.
Immediately the feeding roller 28 has grasped the paper, the cam 26 comes in
contact with the lover 22 and draws the table T2 back from the press by means
of a string from the table attached to the pulley 30, which pulley is driven
round by a string, one end of which is attached to a drum 31 on the same
shaft, and the other end of the lever 22. The object of thus drawing back the
table T is to clear it for receiving, another sheet of paper, the first having
fallen down on a platform P, on and over which pass the endless ribbons 32,
which ribbons are deflected by the pullies 33, 33, and the doffing roller 34, and
pre stretched by weights on the levers 35. The empty table is then immedi

page_text: ately drawn back towards the press by the weight 36, a cord from which
passes over and is attached to the drum 31, and it returns towards the press
until the axle of its first pair of wheels is stopped in the dotted position shown
by the lever 23, when another is put on so as to be ready for the feeding
roller 28, when next pressed up by its lever 27, and this process is re-
peated for every revolution of the main cylinder. The necessary pressure
is given to the paper above the printing surface by a roller 37, whose
axle is supported by friction wheels 38, 38, and strops 39, and the amount of
pressure it exerts on the paper is altered by moving the weight 40 on the
lever 41. The roller 37 is driven by contact only, which prevents any danger
of smearing the impression by different velocities. The rollers 42, 43, are
merely for stretching the endless cloth 44, which passes round them, and the
pressure roller 37.
I may mention that by removing the apparatus for
supplying single sheets of paper, and using a reel filled with endless paper,
the press may be furnished with endless paper, to be cut into lengths after being
printed; and by using two cylinders covered with printing surface, and placed
side by side, with separate washing and inking systems, I am enabled to print
both sides simultaneously. The endless cloth 44 is of thin fabric, which I prefer
to be strong silk, as it conveys the pressure immediately without its substance
being extended under the said pressure, which extension would cause the ink to
spread and form woolly impressions.
Having now described the nature of my "Improvements in Producing and
Multiplying Copies of Designs and Impressions of Printed or Written Sur-
faces," I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the details
shewn and described, provided the peculiar character of the arrangements
or processes be retained. I would also have it understood that I make
no claim to many of the separate parts herein described. But what I
claim is,
First, the herein-described process, whereby I transfer, by means of treating
the originals with acids, of strengths varying with the induration of the ink,
and so pressing out the acid as to cause an etching of the blank spaces, and a
reversed impression of the original (where protected from the action of the acid)
on metallic surfaces.
Second, the process of reviving the printing ink on originals, by first acting
on them with caustic potash or its carbonate and tartaric acid, so as to form
cream of tartar in the paper, which prevents the adherence of fresh ink in the
blank spaces, while the old ink is left in a state to take up an additional
quantity from a roller passed over it.

page_text: Third, the herein-described process of preventing the adhesion or sticking of
printing ink, during the operation of printing, to any part of the plates which
are required to remain blank; by acting upon such blank surfaces with acid
preparations of phosphorous.
Fourth, the use of polished metallic surfaces for receiving transfers from
originals, and for hand drawings on them, with liquid lithographic ink, or by
scraping away the phosphate or phosphite, as herein described.
"
Fifth, the application of the herein-before described hand press to printing
from surfaces prepared by my improved process.
Sixth, the revolving or power press for multiplying copies, :as-herein-before
described.
Seventh, the application of washing rollers revolving and moving longitudi-
nally, alone or in combination with washing rubbers moving longitudinally, so
as to wash the printed surface in curved lines.
Eighth, driving the inking apparatus at the same speed: ȧs, the printing
surface, by means of friction wheels running on and in contact with the said
surface and the distributing rollers, so as to prevent smearing the printing sur-
face, as applied either to flat or circular surfaces.
Ninth, the apparatus as herein described, for supplying single sheets to
cylindrical and other presses.
1
Tenth, the use and application of thin endless fabrics, for placing be-
tween the paper and the pressure rollers; so as to convey the pressure
immediately.
And such the said Invention being, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
entirely new, and never before used within that part of Her Majesty's United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of
Wales, and Town of. Berwick-upon-Tweed, or in Her Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, I do hereby declare this to be my Specification of the
same, and that I do verily believe this my said Specification 'doth .comply
in all respects, fully and without reserve or disguise, with the proviso in the
herein-before recited Letters Patent contained; wherefore I claim to maintain
exclusive right and privilege to the said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Woods, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and forty-four.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Sixth day of December,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Joseph Woods came before our
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Sixth day of December, in the year above written.

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEгH
WOODS, of Bucklersbury, in the City of London, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present Majesty, by Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal
of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster, the Sixth day of June, in the
seventh year of Her reign, did give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Woods,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her especial licence that I, the said
Joseph Woods, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Joseph Woods, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England and Wales, the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING DESIGNS AND COPIES, AND IN
MULTIPLYING IMPRESSIONS, EITHER OF PRINTED OR WRITTEN SURFACES," being
a communication from a Foreigner residing abroad; and whereas I am
desirous of confining and limiting the Title of the said Invention, and altering
the same as follows:-
NOW THEREFORE, by virtue of the power contained in an Act of Par-
liament made and passed in the sixth year of the reign of His late Majesty
King William the Fourth, intituled "An Act to amend the Law relating to
Letters Patent for Inventions," I do hereby alter the Title of the said Invention
from " Improvements in Producing Designs and Copies, and in Multiplying
Impressions either of Printed or Written Surfaces," to "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRODUCING AND MULTIPLYING COPIES OF DESIGNS AND IMPRESSIONS OF PRINTED OR
WRITTEN SURFACES."
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second
day of December, One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, in the
presence of
JSO SPALDING
JOSEPH WOODS. (L.S.)

page_text: I have this day granted my fiat, giving leave to the above-named Joseph
Woods to file with you the above-written Disclaimer and Alteration.
FRED. THESIGer.
O'FF.
Taken and acknowledged at the Pub-
lic Office, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, this Second day of De-
cember, One thousand eight hundred
and forty-four, before me,
N. W. SENIOR.