IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEREOTYPE PLATES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Lanham, of No. 11, Abchurch Lane, in the City of
London, Printer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PRODUCING STEREOTYPE PLATES."
Sealed the 24th January 1879, and dated the 6th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Lanham at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th August 1878.
ROBERT LANHAM, of No. 11, Abchurch Lane, in the City of London, Printer.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEREOTYPE PLATES."
The object of my Invention is to combine the whole of a stereotyping apparatus
for printers into a small compass, and to economize heat in melting the metal and
heating the drying and casting press; my arrangements will also facilitate the work,
and it will be carried on in a purer atmosphere.
In the ordinary arrangement, the metal is heated in a pot placed at some distance
from the drying and casting press, and this latter is heated by a number of jets of
gas placed beneath it.
I propose to place the melting pot on the same frame as the drying, and casting
press, placing it so that the waste heat from the molten metal will heat the box
containing the mould, and I thus entirely dispense with the separate gas-heating
apparatus beneath the said box.
The drying and casting press will have its bearings placed so that it may be
turned over without touching the melting pot beneath it, from which the metal may
be introduced into the casting press much more rapidly and easily than when the
pot and the press are heated independently of each other.
I may heat the melting pot by gas, or in any suitable manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Lanham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st January
1879.
ROBERT LANHAM, of No. 11, Abchurch Lane, in the City of London, Printer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEREOTYPE PLATES."
The object of my Invention is to combine the whole of a stereotyping apparatus
for printers into a small compass, and to economize heat in melting the metal and
heating the drying and casting press; my arrangements will also facilitate the
work, and it will be carried on in a purer atmosphere.
In the ordinary arrangement the metal is heated in a pot placed at some distance
from the drying and casting press, and this latter is heated by a number of jets of
gas placed beneath it.
I place the melting pot. on the same frame as the drying and casting press,
placing it so that the waste heat from the molten metal will heat the box containing
the mould, and I thus entirely dispense with the separate gas-heating apparatus
beneath the said box.
The drying and casting press has its bearings placed so that it may be turned
over without touching the melting pot beneath it, from which the metal may be
introduced into the casting press much more rapidly and easily than when the pot
and the press
are heated independently of each other.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawing shows an apparatus embodying my Inven-
tion; Figure 1 being a side view or elevation of the apparatus; Figure 2 an end or
front view of the same; and Figure 3 a plan as seen from above.
1.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in each of the Figures respectively
A, A, are the side frames or standards.
B, the bed plate for furnace or heater.
C, the furnace.
D, gas burner.
E, the pot for metal.
F, F, swing arms for carrying the press.
G, the press.
H, screw for press.
I, spring for securing press in horizontal position.
K, gas cock.
L, sleeve for regulating air supply.
M, cross bar for screw H.
The dotted lines, Figure 1, represent the position of the press G when ready for
casting.
The metal to be melted having been placed within the pot E is then heated by
the burner D, the press G and mould within being heated at the same time by
radiation. As soon as the metal within the pot E is melted, the press G is thrown
over, as shown in dotted lines, Figure 1, and the molten metal poured by ladle or
otherwise into the mould, previously secured within the same by means of the
screw H. The cross bar M is arranged to turn upon one of the bolts upon the
screw H. being released; in order to allow of the press G being opened.
By means of the perforated sleeve L, the openings for the admission of air to the
burner D are regulated to suit the amount of gas admitted.
I have shown on the Drawing an apparatus heated by gas, but I may use steam,
or any available means of heating, modifying the arrangements to suit the same.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed, I would have it understood that
I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement
-herein-before set forth and shown on the Drawing, nor to any particular form
or dimensions of parts shown on the Drawing, as such may be varied without

page_text: departing from my Invention, and that what I claim as of my Invention, and as
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, in apparatus
for producing stereotype plates, the combination of the vessel in which the metal is
melted with the drying and casting press, so that the waste heat from the molten
metal may heat the box containing the mould, substantially as herein-before set
forth and illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Lanham, have hereunto set my band
and seal, this Thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
DANEDA TATTY &