Improvements in the Formation of Matrices for the Production of Relief Surfaces.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Formation of Matrices for the Production of
Relief Surfaces.
I, SAMUEL HENRY CROCKER of 172, Fleet Street, London, E.C. Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—
This invention relates to an improved means for the formation of matrices for
the production of relief surfaces, for ornamental or industrial purposes. The
invention consists essentially in the use of a thin sheet of distensible material
beld in partial contact with the surface of a plate or base of porous material by an
adhesive medium, and the application of fluid pressure to force out and distend the
parts of the distensible sheet not secured to the surface of the porous plate by the
adhesive medium.
The invention is carried out in the following manner :-A plate of porous material
of about the size of the design is employed. This plate may be of the same
material as that used in the manufacture of porous ware or it may be made of
any natural or artificial substance, which is sufficiently porous or which can be
conveniently applied to the purpose.
In conjunction with this plate I employ a thin sheet or film of rubber, gelatine
or other material which is distensible enough for the purpose, or which may be made
A suitable sheet or
so by the application of moisture or other suitable means.
film of rubber may be produced by spreading a solution of rubber such as rubber
dissolved in di-sulphide of carbon, on a smooth sheet of plain, gummed or otherwise
prepared paper, or other substance which will serve to support the film. The
support may be damped and removed at any time, before or after the film is brought
into adhesive contact with the surface of the porous plate. The design may be
produced on the porous plate or on the distensible sheet by drawing thereon or by
any of the well known methods of obtaining and transferring designs in greasy or
adhesive ink.
The film is now laid on to the porous plate, and it will adhere strongly to the
Intter at all parts touched by the before prepared adhesive surfaces, being loose at
the blank parts. The border or edges of the elastic film are also secured in an air-
tight fashion to the base plate. If the film has been prepared upon paper as before
referred to, this paper or carrying medium should now be damped off or otherwise
removed. The plate with the rubber film is then placed in a frame or box, arranged
to fit closely round the edges so that the joint can be hermetically sealed. The
distension of the unattached parts of the film may be effected by either fluid
compression on the one side, or fluid exhaustion on the other side. By these means
the unattached surface of the thin film is raised above the surface of the porous plate.
A mould or matrix is thus formed from the design so that on pouring in any
suitable casting material, or depositing metal on the surface by electricity, the
design is obtained in relief.
It may be found desirable to harden the surface of the sheet of rubber, if that
substance be employed, by subjecting it to the action of chloride of sulphur and
di-sulphide of carbon or other suitable method of vulcanizing.
The material used as the adhesive medium may consist of any adhesive substance,
which can be reduced to the necessary state and consistence by solvents or similar
means, to enable it to be applied to the purpose.

page_text: By means of my invention a relief surface can be quickly and economically
obtained, without engraving as is often now employed, and the relief surface thus
obtained will be available for a number of industries which at present obtain these
relief surfaces at considerable expense, through being compelled to use highly
skilled labour.
Dated this 16th day of January 1894.
Improvements in the Formation of Matrices for the Production or
Relief Surfaces.
I, SAMUEL HENRY CROCKER of 172, Fleet Street, London, Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved means for the formation of matrices for the
production of relief surfaces, for ornamental or industrial purposes. The invention
consists essentially in the use of a thin sheet of distensible material held in partial
contact with the surface of a plate or base by an adhesive medium, and the
application of fluid pressure to force out and distend the parts of the distensible
sheet not secured to the surface of the plate.
The invention is carried out in the following manner :-A plate of porous material
of about the size of the design is employed. This plate may be of the same material
as that used in the manufacture of porous ware or it may be made of any natural or
artificial substance, which is sufficiently porous or which can be conveniently applied
to, the purpose.
In conjunction with this plate 1 employ a thin sheet or film of rubber, gelatine or
other material which is distensible enough for the purpose, or which may be made
A suitable sheet or film
so by the application of moisture or other suitable means.
of rubber may be produced by spreading a solution of rubber such as rubber
dissolved in di-sulphide of carbon, on a smooth sheet of plain, gummed or otherwise
prepared paper, or other substance which will serve to support the film. The
support may be damped and removed at any time, before or after the film is brought
into adhesive contact with the surface of the plate. The design may be produced
on the plate or on the distensible sheet by drawing thereon or by any of the well-
known methods of obtaining and transferring designs in greasy or adhesive ink.
The film is now laid on to the plate, and it will adhere strongly to the latter
at all adhesive parts of the surface being loose at the other parts. The border
or edges of the elastic film are also secured in an air-tight fashion to the base
plate. If the film has been prepared upon paper as before referred to this
paper or carrying medium should now be damped off or otherwise removed. The
plate if of porous material or perforated with the rubber film attached is then
placed in a frame or box, arranged to fit closely round the edges so that the
joint can be hermetically sealed. The distension of the unattached parts of the
film may be effected by either fluid compression on the one side, or fluid
exhaustion on the other side. By these means the unattached surface of the
thin film is raised above the surface of the porous plate. A mould-or matrix is thus
formed from the design so that on pouring in any suitable casting material or
depositing metal on the surface by electricity the design is obtained in relief.
When a separate adhesive medium is used it is preferably composed of rubber
dissolved in sufficient waltar naphtha to reduce it to the consistence required for

page_text: the purpose and coloured by the admixture of aniline or other suitable colouring
matter dissolved in alcohol or by colouring matter otherwise added and mixed
therewith. The design which has been drawn with the adhesive mixture is
allowed to dry till it reaches a suitable degree of stickiness to adhere tenaciously
to the distensible film which is then placed upon it and brought into complete contact
with the surface of the design by the application of a slight but even pressure.
The base and film must be allowed to remain a short time undisturbed, during
which the adhesive design will further harden or dry and become still more securely
attached to the surfaces of the base and distensible film, which will enable it to
resist the separating action of the pressure subsequently brought to bear upon it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) An improved means for obtaining matrices for the production of relief surfaces
consisting of a thin film of distensible material affixed at the required portions to a
base and distended at the free portions by fluid pressure, substantially as and for
the purposes specified.
(2) In an improved means for obtaining matrices for the production of relief
surfaces having a base plate and a thin sheet of distensible material, drawing the
design on the material or plate with an adhesive substance, laying the distensible
material on the plate affixing it at the adhesive surfaces, and distending the free
surfaces by fluid pressure, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
(3) In an improved means for obtaining matrices for the production of relief
surfaces the combination with a porous base plate and a film of distensible material
attached at the required parts to the said plate, of a box in which the plate with
attached film is placed and hermetically sealed around the edges and means by
which fluid pressure may be transmitted to the back of the film raising its
free surfaces from the face of the plate, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
Dated this 16th dex of November 1804
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.