IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR BRONZING AND DUSTING PAPER, CARDBOARD AND OTHER MATERIAL IN ORNA- MENTAL AND COLOUR PRINTING to be as follows:
Year: 1885

page_text: and Colour Printing.
We DAVID DODDS and ALEXANDER DODDS both of 7 Blackfriars Street Salford
in the County of Lancaster Letterpress Printers do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
BRONZING AND DUSTING PAPER, CARDBOARD AND OTHER MATERIAL IN ORNA-
MENTAL AND COLOUR PRINTING to be as follows:―
"
Our Invention has reference to the machinery or apparatus employed in the
application of bronze or metallic or other powders to paper, cardboard or other
material in the process of ornamental or colour printing. According to our
invention the box from which the bronze or other powder is supplied to the
bronzing or transferring roller is made stationery and we perforate that portion of
the periphery only which is immediately above or contiguous to the bronzing
roller. To keep the powder stirred up in the box we provide an agitator consisting
of a series of wipers blades or scoops and brushes on a central revolving shaft to
which we in some cases impart an endwise reciprocating motion. The shaft
carrying the agitator is driven from any suitable part of the machine and is
preferably actuated by a belt and stepped cone by means of which the speed of the
agitator can be varied according to the required delivery of bronze or powder.
We also provide means for the increasing or diminishing of the area of the per-
forated portion of the box so as to increase or diminish the delivery of the powder.
We convey the material through the machine by means of endles chains or bands
which are provided with clamps or grippers which take hold of the ends of the
sheets. The movable jaw of each clamp is attached to pivots which are acted upon
by springs which tend to close down the jaw. Upon these pivots are formed arms
which are acted upon by fixed inclines or parts at the times when the clamps are
to be opened. A spreader is mounted so that it is lifted clear at the times when
the clamps are passing. The sheets of material are drawn by the clamps over
supporting tables or over a supporting table, part of which is heated by steam or
by suitable means. We arrange for the brushing rollers to revolve in the direction
which will brush the powder toward the feed end of the machine. In one arrange-
ment the sheet passes below a felt covered roller which rests upon the material,

page_text: next below a revolving brush, then over a heated table, then between a pair of
brushing rollers and it may be below another brushing roller, then below an elastic
surfaced roller and is finally delivered from the machine between a pair of delivery
rollers. This combination of parts may however be varied.. The first revolving
brush acts lightly. After the sheet has passed the said revolving brush by which
the surplus bronze is in a great measure removed from its surface, the said, sheet
passes over the heated table whereby the bronze is fixed to some extent and is
thus rendered more capable of undergoing without injury the rubbing which it
receives from the succeeding brushing or "dusting" rollers. The aforesaid delivery
rollers are weighted or provided with pressing arrangements so that the necessary
finish is imparted to the surface. These rollers may or may not be heated. To
provide for the different thicknesses of material passed through the machine we
may apply springs, weights or other means of obtaining elasticity to the bearings of
the various rollers. To prevent the powder which is brushed from the sheets from
flying about we provide means for creating a current of air beneath the rollers so
as to draw or force the powder away from the machine and into a suitable
receptacle. The said air current may be produced by a fan or by a steam jet or by
other means.
The aforesaid brushing, dusting and calendering rollers partly con-
stituting our improved apparatus are by preference boxed in by means of a cover
of a contour suitable to that of the encased rollers and this cover we line with a
suitable cleaning or "doctoring" material which is brought into contact with the
rollers so as to clean the same and to liberate the adhering powder. Instead of the
said lined cover we may use a travelling brush or cleaner led over or partly around
the rollers. The herein before referred to improvements or part of the same are
applicable not only to the combined bronzing and dusting inachine herein before
described but also to separately acting bronzing and dusting machines. In some
cases instead of the travelling chains we employ pairs of retaining or feed rollers
which keep the sheet stretched and pass it through the machine and to prevent the
sheet from buckling we arrange that as the sheet passes from one pair of rollers to
another the surface speed of the rollers shall slightly increase so that there is a
tendency to stretch the sheet.

page_text: We DAVID DODDS and ALEXANDER DODDS both of 7 Blackfriars Street Salford
in the County of Lancaster Letterpress Printers do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
BRONZING AND DUSTING PAPER, CARDBOARD AND OTHER MATERIAL IN ORNAMENTAL
AND COLOUR PRINTING and in what manner the same is to be performed to bo
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement and
accompanying drawings :-
"
Our Invention has reference to the machinery or apparatus employed in the
application of bronze or metallic or other powders to paper, cardboard or other
material in the process of ornamental or colour printing. According to our inven-
tion the box from which the bronze or other powder is supplied to the bronzing
or transferring roller is made stationery and we perforate that portion of the
periphery only which is immediately above or contiguous to the bronzing roller.
To keep the powder stirred up in the box we provide an agitator consisting of a
series of wipers, blades or scoops and brushes on a central revolving shaft to which
we in some cases impart an end wise reciprocating motion. We convey the material
through the machine by means of endless chains or bands which are provided
with clamps or grippers which take hold of the ends of the sheets. The sheets
of material are drawn by the clamps over supporting tables or over a supporting
table, part of which is heated by steam or by suitable means. The sheets are
bronzed, brushed, dusted and calendered in passing through the machine the brushes
preferably revolving in the direction which will brush the powder toward the feed
end of the machine while the delivery rollers act as calender rollers to finish the
sheets. To prevent the powder which is brushed from the sheets from flying
about we provide means for creating a current of air beneath the rollers so as to
draw or force the powder away from the machine and into a suitable receptacle.
The aforesaid brushing, dusting and calendering rollers are by preference boxed in
by means of a cover of a contour suitable to that of the encased rollers and to this
cover.we secure suitable combs or "doctors" which are brought into contact with
the rollers so as to clean the same and to liberate the adhering powder. Instead of
the said fixed "doctors
we may use a travelling brush or cleaner led over or
partly around the rollers. The hereinbefore referred to improvements or part
of the same are applicable not only to the combined bronzing and du-ting machine
herein before described but also to separately acting bronzing and dusting machines.
In some cases, instead of the travelling chains we employ pairs of retaining or feed
rollers which keep the sheet stretched and pass it through the machine and to
prevent the sheet from buckling we arrange that as the sheet passes from one pair
"

page_text: of rollers to another the surface speed of the rollers shall slightly increase so that
there is a tendency to stretch the sheet.
And in order that our said invention may be properly understood we will now
proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings
wherein Fig. 1 represents a half plan of our improved machine the dotted line A
indicating the centre of the machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section and
Fig. 3 partly a cross section at right angles to Fig. 2 and partly an end elevation
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views of parts of the apparatus which will
hereinafter be more specifically referred to. The apparatus is supported on the
framing B. which is secured to the floor or foundation and stayed together as
shown. The feed end of the machine is marked C. and the delivery end D. The
box a. from which the bronze or other powder is supplied is made stationery and
contains a roller b. which carries bristles and stirring blades or scoops as shown
which stir up the powder in the box and tend to effect an equal delivery of the
powder through the perforated portion c. of the curved bottom. The shaft carrying
the roller is driven from any suitable part of the machine and is preferably
actuated by a belt and stepped cone by means of which the speed of the roller can
be varied according to the required delivery of the powder in the box. The roller
can be readily started and stopped by operating a clutch b¹ on the roller shaft.
The roller in rotating is also caused to reciprocate in the box by means of bowls d.
on the roller shaft which bowls run on cam faces formed on the bosses e. and
cause the roller b. to have an èndwise to and fro motion in the box whereby
the equal delivery of the powder is ensured and the clogging of the perfora-
tions in the bottom c. rendered less likely. The sheet of paper or material
to be treated is drawn through the machine by the endless chains f. one such
chain being on each side of the machine and which are mounted on chain
pullies g. on the shafts h. The chains f. are provided with grippers or clamps i. of
which an enlarged view is shown at Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. The grippers
are pivotted by a stud j. on the chain and the movable jaw i. is kept down in its
working position as shown in the drawings by a coiled spring on the end of the
said stud as seen more clearly at Fig. 5. A lever k. on the outer end of the stud j.
carries a bowl l. which at the proper time comes into contact with a cam m and
rotates the stud j. so as to lift the jaw i. and allow the sheet of material to be
passed between the jaw and the clamping plate beneath, which also traverses with
the chain. When the bowl . has passed the cam m. the coiled spring on the end
of the stud j. causes the jaw i. to return to its clamping position shown in the
drawings and the sheet is thus held and drawn forward in the direction of the
arrows over the table n. The cam m. is by preference made adjustable. Instead
of the endless chains shown in the drawings we might use endless belts or bands
or flexible aprons in combination with the clamps or grippers herein described.
To set the sheet in a position in readiness to be caught by the said grippers we
employ stops or guages o. When a sheet is being fed to the machine from the
table t. these guages o, are in a vertical position and the end of the sheet enters
the recess at the foot of the guages, the said recess preventing the paper or material
from curling or bending upwards. When the gripper is brought round by the
chains to the position shown at Fig. 2 a bowl carried by a bog backed link or
projection p. on the chain f. comes against the cam 9. on the end of the shaft r.
which carries the guages and rotates the said shaft r. so as to move the gauges out
of the way to permit of the passage of the clamps and sheet of material. The
sheet of material having received a portion of the powder from the box a. is first
subjected to the operation of the distributing roller 8. which is covered with felt,
rubber or other ela-tic or yielding material. As the grippers pass beneath this
distributing roller it is lifted by a cam or by other means so as to clear the grippers
and is thereafter immediately dropped upon the sheet. By its agency the bronze
or powder is evenly spread upon the sheet which is carried forward over the table u
and is next lightly brushed by the revolving brush v. which removes the non-
-adhering and surplus powder from the sheet. The sheet is then drawn over the

page_text: chamber w. which is heated by. steam, gas, hot, air, hot water or other suitable
heating agency whereby the bronze or powder is fixed to some extent and is thus
rendered more capable of undergoing without injury the rubbing or brushing
which it receives from the succeeding rollers. Instead of using a hot chamber w.
as described we might employ a pair of hot rollers between which the sheet
might be passed. After passing over the hot chamber w the sheet is subjected
to the action of a wiping roller x. which remains stationery whilst the sheet is
being drawn beneath it. When the sheet has left the wiping roller the said roller
is caused to perform a quarter of a revolution so as to present a fresh portion of
the wiper to the next sheet. The revolving cleansing roller y. removes the powder
from the wiper as it revolves. In its further progress the sheet is brushed both
on its face and on its back by the pair of brushes z. the lower brush ¹ being
employed to remove any powder which may accidentally have adhered to the back
of the sheet. The sheet then receives its final brushing from the roller z² and
then passes beneath the drawing roller 23 which is lifted to allow the grippers to
pass. The grippers at this point aro caused to release their hold on the sheet and
the further progress of the sheet is effected by the drawing roller z³ which delivers
the sheet to the delivering rollers which also calender or impart a finish to the
bronzed surfaces. It will be observed from the indicating arrows in Fig. 2 that
the brushing and dusting rollers revolve in a direction contrary to the direction of
traverse of the sheet an arrangement which can only be carried out when the
sheets are drawn by a positive pull through the machine as in the case of our
present invention. The said brushing and dusting rollers may also be caused to
have an endless reciprocating motion so as to prevent the appearance of brush
marks on the bronzed surfaces and to give a more equal finish to the said surfaces.
The said reciprocating motion may be obtained in the manner set forth with
reference to the box roller b. The delivery or calendering rollers zª are preferably
weighted or provided with pressing arrangements so that the necessary finish is
imparted to the bronzed surfaces. The said delivering rollers may or may not be
heated. The herein before described sets of brushes and rollers are preferably
boxed in by a cover 1. of a contour corresponding to the circumferences and
positions of the brushes and rollers and this cover is fitted opposite to the rolleis
with cleansing combs or "doctors 2." which are in contact with the brushies and
rollers and cleanse them from the adhering powder. To obtain the same cleansing
effect we may employ a travelling or revolving brush or cleaner or chain of flats
or combs. The aforesaid shaped cover 1. is in its turn boxed in by an outer
cover 3. which has hinged portions to permit of access to the machine. A tray 13
is introduced in the position shown so as to prevent flying powder from falling on
the sheet. To remove the powder brushed from the sheets and liberated from the
rollers we cause a current of air to flow through the machine which carries off
the powder. In the example we illustrate the application of a fan 4 for this
purpose the fan being connected by a pipe 5. with the space beneath the rollers
and table. Air is admitted through the aperture 13. and the powder drawn by
the air current from the machine may either be forced by the same agency through
a pipe 6. into an exhaust box or receptacle from which it can be transferred to the
box a by hand or by an elevator of a suitable construction, such for example as
a chain of buckets or a worm; or otherwise the powder might be forced by the
blast into a receptacle above the level of the box a. into which it could be led
through a shute. When so elevated by the blast we break the force of the blast
in the exhaust box or receptacle by means of baffle boards and allow it to escape
through miller's silk which prevents any of the powder from accompanying the
escaping air. Other means than a fan may be used to create an air current for
the described purposes. To prevent the box a from delivering powder over a wider
area than the breadth of the sheet under treatment we provide a series of parti-
tions 7. which are placed between the several sets of bristles and agitators and
form compartments so that when a sheet is less in breadth than the full length of
the box a the bronze or other powder is put into those compartments only which

page_text: lie within the range of the breadth of the sheet. We may also provide a sliding
door for increasing or diminishing the width of the perforated portion c. of the
bottom of the box a. To provide for the wear of the brushes and rollers or for
ready removal of the same we mount the bearings in the manner shown at Fig. 6
of the drawings. The height of the bearings 8. are adjustable by means of the
screws 9. and if it be desired to remove a brush or roller it can readily be
done by slackening the upper screw and removing the cover 10. We do not
confine ourselves to the exact dispositions of parts shown in the drawings nor to
the number of brushes and rollers as these might be varied in number and arrange-
ment. Fig. 7. illustrates an arrangement we employ in a simpler form of machine
wherein we dispense with the herein before described travelling chains and grippers
and traverse the sheet between pairs of feeding or retaining rollers 11. which keep
the sheet stretched while being subjected to the action of the brushes 12. To
prevent the sheet from buckling or bagging between the pairs of retaining rollers
we arrange that the surface speed of the said rollers shall increase towards the
delivery end of the machine so that there is a tendency to stretch the sheet.
In this instance the brush 12. revolves in the same direction as the direction of
traverse of the sheet.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
.1. The general arrangement and combination of parts forming our improved
apparatus for applying bronze or other powder to paper or other material substan-
tially as hereinbefore described and shown.
2. In machines of the indicated nature the stationary bronze or powder box a.
having a fixed or adjustable perforated bottom and provided with partitions and
containing a revolving roller capable of being driven at various speeds and fitted
with bristles and agitators as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
indicated.
3. The employment of an endless chain, belt or flexible apron provided with
grippers or clamps which take hold of the sheets of material, pull them through
the apparatus and release them at the delivery end substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown.
4. Causing the brushing and dusting rollers to revolve in a direction contrary to
the direction of traverse of the material being treated and imparting an endwise
reciprocating motion to the said brushing and dusting rollers together with the
method of mounting the bearings of the said rollers adjustably for the purposes
and substantially as described and shown.
5. The heated chamber w. or its equivalent substantially as described and
shown.
6. The delivering calender rollers 2 used either cold or hot substantially as set
forth and indicated.
7. The guages o. and the means for removing them out of the way of the
advancing sheet and grippers as herein described and illustrated.
S. Covering the brushes and rollers by a cover 1. of a contour corresponding
generally to the circumferences and positions of the brushes and rollers as indicated
in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
$4
9. The method of "doctoring" or cleansing the brushes and rollers of bronzing
machines by means of combs or doctors" fixed to the cover 1. referred to in
claim 8. or in the absence of such a cover fixed to another suitable adjacent part
or carried by a travelling endless band or endless bands or comprising a chain
of cleansing combs or "doctors or consisting of revolving cleansing brushes
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
"
10. The employment of a tray 13 to catch the powder, liberated from the brushes
and rollers and prevent it from falling upon the sheet passing through the machine
substantially as described and shown.

page_text: 11. Causing a current of air to pass through the machine so as to remove the
flying powder brushed from the sheets and liberated from the rollers and delivering
the powder so removed to a receptacle or returning it to the delivery box a by the
means and substantially in the manner herein before described and shown or any
mere modification thereof.
12. The retaining rollers shown at Fig. 7 of the drawings for stretching and
traversing the sheets of material past between or beneath brushes and rollers
substantially as described and shown.
DUTTON & FULTON,
Agents.