Improvements connected with Hand Embossing and Blocking Presses.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE DICITICATION.
Improvements connected with Hand Embossing and Blocking
Presses.
I, RICHARD COCKRILL MACKAY, of 9 White Ladies Road, Bristol, Blocking
Press Manufacturer, 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 :-
According to the usual method of testing the heat of blocking and lettering
presses used by bookbinders, and others for operating on leather, cloth, and like
goods, the workman wets his finger and dabs it on the press and from the length of
time that his finger is in contact, he guesses approximately the heat.
With fine
work such as when gilding morocco leather, which is very sensitive to heat
compared with calf or other low class leather, the proper degree of heat is necessary
to prevent the leather cockling at the edges of the die or block, which otherwise
impairs the lustre of the leather, and at times destroys the brilliancy of the
gold leaf.
Now the object of my invention, is to establish a recognizable temperature of
the blocks or type for the different substances which has to be so acted upon, and
this I effect by means of a thermometer affixed to the "Force" or to the press head,
and within sight of the operator, the gas heating pipes being arranged inside the
platen.
The press head is constructed with large air passages transversely through it for
the full development of the heat from the gas jets of the atmospheric burner or
burners fitted in the platen, also in forming a recess in the upper surface of the
platen for the insertion of the lower part of a thermometer with the reading scale
exposed to enable the degree of heat to be read off by the workman, said heat being
under his control according to the quality or nature of the material to be embossed,
blocked, gold lettered, or any similar operation.
For the purpose of my invention, and as I show in the annexed drawings, I take
the usual standard frame A with a square or rectangular platen B of greater depth
than usual, and divide the interior into chambers C, C, of unusually large dimensions,
and with open sides next the standard frame for the free entry and exit of air into
and from the chambers in which the atmospheric gas burners are placed, these
being of flat formation, somewhat like a hollow barred gridiron for breaking the
gas up into a number of small jets burning with a pure blue flame, the gas being
supplied thereto by the pipes D, D, branches of which pass through holes D', D'.
The top front of the platen is recessed, and a thermometer E is fixed in it
surrounded by a protector shield F to preserve it from injury, the thermometer
stands up above the top of the platen, and is within view of the operator who
adjusts the supply of gas by the tap G as desired, and so regulate the heat to be
imparted to the embossing, blocking, or gold lettering plate, or plates fixed to the
underside of the platen by screws H, H, and the clip rib I after the adjustment by
the screws handle J.
The other parts of the press are well known, and do not require explaining.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The construction of the platen of an embossing, blocking, or gold lettering
press with large transverse chambers open ended, for the reception of gridiron like
atmospheric gas burners, and recessing the top surface for the placing of a
I Price 811

page_text: thermometer therein, through which, by its exposed scale, the degree of heat is
indicated to the workman, and can be regulated by him to suit the material under
operation, as set forth.
Dated this 15th day of December 1892
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Cockrill Mackay.