Improvements in Machines for Embossing and Mounting Photographs.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 1st June, 1895
.COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Embossing and Mounting
Photographs.
I, CLATONIA JOUQUIN DORTICUs, of No. 22 Spring Street, in the City of
Newton, County of Sussex, and State of New Jersey, United States of America,
Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
.
My invention relates to improvements in machines for mounting and embossing
photographic prints, and has reference to a machine which may be used either for
mounting photographic prints, or, by the use of proper dies, may be used for
embossing photographs, or the machine may be used for both purposes, as may be
desired.
The object of the invention is to provide a machine for these purposes, in which
the parts are of such construction that an equal pressure will be distributed over
the entire surface of the photographic film, while being mounted or embossed;
further, to provide a machine for these purposes, which may be operated with
rapidity and ease; and further, to provide a machine which will be the embodiment
of simplicity, strength and durability, and which can be produced at a very small
cost.
To attain these objects, the invention consists in the several novel arrangements
and combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully set forth and finally embodied in
the clauses of the claim.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine, embodying the principles of my
invention, illustrating in position on a card board on the bed-plate of the machine,
a photographic print ready to be mounted on said card.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine; Figure 3 is a vertical
cross section of the same, with the hinged pressure-bar or plate and operating
handle removed; and
Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine, with the embossing
dies in place, clearly illustrating the manner of embossing the photograph between
the dies.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the bed-plate and lower die of the machine, with the
pressure-bar or plate detached.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken on line in said Figure 5; of
the bed-plate of the machine, with the pressure-bar or plate removed, said view
illustrating in connection with the bed-plate, an oscillating die; and Figure 7 is a
perspective view of said die.
Figure is a view similar to that illustrated in Figure 4, clearly illustrating the
operation of the lower oscillating die or mounting plate, when the pressure-bar or
plate is brought down to bear upon said die.
Figure 9 is a similar view of the machine, provided with still another modified
form of oscillating embossing die, and Figure 10 is a vertical cross section of the
same.

page_text: Figure 11 is a perspective view of the oscillating die employed in connection
with said Figures 9 and 10.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
In said views, A. designates the base of the machine, forming the bed-plate for
the mounting plate or the lower die e, which rest in a recessed portion a¹ of said
bed-plate and are held in place by the surrounding edges a² of the said recess a¹
and a suitable screw d, as will be seen from the several figures of the drawing.
Said bed-plate may be slotted, as at a³ and at, in which are arranged suitable
guide plates e and e, see Figure 5, provided with the projecting edges and
adjusting screw e³, whereby said plates e and e¹ can be adjusted in said slots a
and a to enable the operator to quickly center any size card board on the mounting
plate bor die c, as will be understood.
The bed-plate a may be provided with legs or supports a³, which may be
provided with screw holes for firmly securing the machine to a table.
At one end of the said bed-plate a are formed the lugs or ears at which are
perforated and are provided with a pin a' on which is pivoted or hinged, by means
of the ears or lugs f, a pressure-bar or plate f. Said plate is provided at the
back with a projection f, which, when the said plate is raised, comes in contact
with a stop as on the base or bed-plate of the machine and hence limits the swing
of said plate f, at the same time causing the retention of said plate in its raised
position, as will be clearly seen from Figures 1 and 2..
When the machine is to be used for mounting photographic prints, a plate g is
secured by means of a screw g¹ to said pressure-plate fand a piece of soft and
flexible material h, adapted to absorb water, is arranged on said plate g and held.
in place thereon by means of two pivoted wire yokes i and 2, which are sprung over
the edges 92 of said plate and thereby firmly clamp the material fast, as will be
clearly evident.
A card board is then placed upon the mounting plate b on the bed-plate of
the machine, and upon the card I place the gummed surface of the photographic
print. When the pressure-barf is lowered, the soft and flexible, material will
bring an evenly distributed pressure over the entire surface of the photographic
print, thereby preventing any creases in the paper, caused by the non-removal of
air from between the surface of the card board and the print, and said flexible
material h, at the same time absorbing the water from the print.
When said plate or bar fis lowered to its full extent, a hand lever k pivotally
:secured to said plate by a pinj between the ears or lugs f' and provided with a
suitable grasping jaw k', causes said jaw to come in contact with a pin al held by
projections a on the bed-plate a, as indicated in Figure 8, and by applying slight
pressure upon the end of said lever k, its jaw is forced under said pin j, as
illustrated in Figure 4, whereby the pressure plate or. bar fis securely clamped
down upon the bed-plate of the machine, and thereby distributes an even pressure
over the entire surface of the photographic print.
.
When it is desired to use the machine for embossing purposes, all that is
necessary, is to unscrew the screws d and g¹, and in place of the plate b, I secure
to the bed-plate of the machine in the same manner, the lower die c, while to the
pressure-bar or plate, I secure in like manner by means of the screw g¹ an upper
: die l, as clearly shown in Figure 4.
с
The lower die c is provided. with the raised edge c' and raised center forming
the recess c, which may be of any suitable configuration, while the upper die lis
correspondingly lowered at land and raised at 1, and when the two dies are
brought together in the machine, in the manner described, in connection with the
process of mounting photographic prints, the photograph will be suitably embossed,
as is clearly evident.
By means of the hook-shaped end of the lever k. coming in holding contact.
with the pin j, the pressure can, be retained for a sufficient length of time on the
photograph to produce a neatly embossed picture.
In order to prevent the turning of either of said plate 9 or the die on the

page_text: pressure-bar or plate f, said plate is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting
pins which fit into suitable holes or perforations in said plate or in the die l, as
clearly shown in Figures 4 and 8.
Instead of securing the lower die directly to the bed-plate of the machine br
means of a screw, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, etc., said plate may be provided on
its under side with rockers c' and c, whereby the die can be made to rest in the
recessed portion a¹ of the plate a, as illustrated in Figure 6, and whereby the die
is capable of an oscillatory motion.
Thus it will be seen, that when the pressure-bar or plate f is brought down upon
the die c, the edge of the upper die / will first strike the end of the lower die c.
In this manner the said die e will oscillate on its rockers c and c³, thereby
bringing the two faces of the dies in perfect contact against the picture to be
embossed, before the final pressure is exerted by said dies, when the lever k is
In this
finally locked with the locking pin on the bed-plate of the machine.
manuer, the pressure will be applied uniformly over the entire surface of the card
board, as will be evident. This construction of oscillatory plate is also equally
well adapted to the mounting plate b, in which case said plate is provided with
similar rockers.
In Figures 9, 10 and 11, I have illustrated still another modified form of
construction of oscillating die for embossing photographs.
In this form of construction, the bed-plate a of the machine is left open, as at a",
see Figures 9 and 10, being provided with suitable lugs or ears a" on opposite sides
of the said opening, as shown.
The die c is provided with correspondingly arranged ears or lugs c and e8 having
perforations c. A pin or bolt m is passed through an opening as in the side of
the bed-plate of the machine, through the perforated ears a¹ on the plate a, and
through the ears c' and c on the die c, as will be seen from Figure 10.
Said die c is thus pivotally mounted on the open bed-plate a and is capable of an
oscillatory motion.
It will thus be seen, that by making the guide plates e and e¹ adjustable, the
machine can be used for mounting and embossing different sizes of photographic
prints and photographs.
It will also be seen, that I provide a machine of a very simple strong and
durable construction, which is thoroughly efficient in operation, and can be quickly
and readily manipulated by any person.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A machine for mounting and embossing photographic prints, consisting
essentially, of a bed-plate, a female die on said bed-plate, a pressure-bar hinged
to said bed-plate, a male die on said pressure-bar, and means for causing the locked
engagement of said pressure-bar with the bed-plate, consisting of a lever pivotally
connected with the pressure-bar, provided with a holding jaw kat or near the
fulcrumal point of the pressure-bar, and a holding pin on the bed-plate with which
said jaw is adapted to be engaged, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
2. A machine for mounting and embossing photographic prints, consisting
essentially, of a bed-plate, a die on said bed-plate, a pressure-bar provided with a
die and hinged to said bed-plate, stops or projections on said bed-plate and said
pressure-bar, to retain the same in its raised position, and means for causing the
locked engagement of said pressure-bar with the bed-plate, consisting of a lever
pivotally connected with the pressure-bar, provided with a holding jaw k¹, and a
holding pin on the bed-plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. A machine for mounting or embossing photographic prints, comprising therein,
a bed-plate, having a recessed portion a', a pressure-bar pivotally connected with
said bed-plate, a die on said pressure-bar, and a die in said recessed portion a³,

page_text: said die having centrally arranged bearings, whereby said die is adapted to oscillate
in said recessed portion, to bring the faces of the dies in perfect contact when the
pressure-bar is lowered, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 6th day of March 1895.
CLATONIA JOUQUIN DORTICUS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.