AN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO SERVE AS A PRINTERS' QUOIN, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter de Villiers, Doctor of Medicine, of St. Leonard's-on-
Sea, in the County of Sussex, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
TO SERVE AS A PRINTERS' QUOIN, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter de Villiers at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th March 1880.
PETER DE VILLIERS, Doctor of Medicine, of St. Leonard's-on-Sea, in the County
of Sussex. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO SERVE AS A PRINTERS' QUOIN, AND
FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus to be employed as a printers'
quoin, and for similar purposes in which pressure is required; the said apparatus is
designed to replace the wooden or metal quoins or wedges heretofore used for the
purpose of securing the forms of type used in printing.
The forms employed in printing are usually kept in position by reglets or pieces
of wood or metal, which are pressed within a frame of iron or brass made as rigid
or inflexible as possible, the pressure being effected by quoins or wedges.
According to my said Invention I provide an apparatus or device consisting of a
solid piece of metal of an elliptical shape, the dimensions of which may be as
follows, namely:-Two centimetres in length, one centimetre, seven millemetres
and a half in breadth, and one centimetre, seven millemetres and a half in
thickness.
In the centre of the said elliptical metal piece a square aperture designed to
receive a key is made, which aperture extends through the piece.
The edge of the said device or piece is partially provided with teeth, that is to
say, the periphery is partly toothed and partly plain, there being two plain
portions between two toothed portions.
The toothed portion commences on each side at that part of the periphery
coinciding with a line drawn through the centre across the narrowest part of the
elliptical piece or device, and the teeth extend right and left from these points
around the edge, so as to leave a small part of the periphery untoothed or plain on
each side.
The apparatus or device so constructed is placed in the space between the form,
properly so called, and the metal frame in such a manner that the lesser axis of the

page_text: said elliptical metal piece will be presented to the two strips where pressure on the
form is required, that is to say, the piece will lie in such a position that the edges
embracing the narrow portions of the ellipse are presented to the surfaces to be
pressed.
The said device or piece is then turned by means of a key inserted in the
aforesaid square central aperture, and a gradual and sufficient pressure is thus
effected to maintain the form firmly in position when submitted to the action of
the printing press.
The employment of the said improved apparatus considerably economises both
time and labor.
The power obtained by reason of making the piece of elliptical form is greatly
aided by the serrations or teeth on its outer edge.
In order to loosen or release the pressure of the said device, the key has simply.
to be turned in the opposite direction.
My improved apparatus may be made of any dimensions, and is applicable in all
cases where a movable piece to exert a fixed and constant pressure is required
either in printing, or in any other operations.
The aforesaid key is T shaped, and its lower or square end is solid.

page_text: The piece a may be of any desired dimensions, and is applicable in all cases
where a movable piece arranged and operating to exert a fixed and constant
pressure is required either in printing or other operations.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shewn how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it understood that
I claim,―
The improved apparatus or device constructed to operate substantially as above
set forth, and for the purposes specified.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter de Villiers, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
PETER DE VILLIERS. (L.S.)