Improvements in the Preparation of Matrices for Casting Stereo- types for Printing Newspapers and other similar Work.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation of Matrices for Casting Stereo-
types for Printing Newspapers and other similar Work.
We, JASPER PATTERSON, of 30 Cowper Place, Bradford, Printer, and THOMAS
RUTHERFORD ASHENHURST, of 71 Ashgrove, Bradford, Technical Instructor do hereby
declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF
MATRICES FOR CASTING STEREOTYPES FOR PRINTING NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER SIMILAR
WORK to be as follows:-
In the ordinary manner of preparing Matrices from type for Casting plates for
Newspaper and other printing by the process commonly known as "Stereotyping," a
sheet of thin paper is laid upon the original type, at the back of this are placed other
sheets of paper of a soft porous character, and more or less saturated with paste or
other glutinous matter. For the purpose of forming the Matrix this paper, in the
soft state, is beaten and rolled down upon the type from which the impression is
being taken until all the interstices are filled to a sufficient depth. The Matrix so
formed is then taken to be dried, either with or upon the type, or separately, usually
in an oven or under or over a hot chamber, or upon a hot sand bath, under pressure,
or other suitable means. These operations occupy a considerable time, and this time
is of considerable importance in the issue of Newspapers and Journals.
We propose to employ, instead of the sheet of paper, the fibres of cotton or other
suitable substances, or fine pulverised substances of any kind which may be reduced
to a powder or pulp, or a mixture of fibre and powder such as cotton and plaster of
Paris, or other such substances, and instead of the pressure of the beater or roller to
employ a current of air of sufficient strength to cause the matrix to be formed, and
the interstices in the type to be filled. We propose to lay upon the type a sheet, or
sheets of paper or other substance of a suitable character, moist or dry, and to pass
this under a strong current of air, coming from one delivery tube, or from a series of
fine nozzles the latter by preference and so directed that it will depress the paper
where there are spaces in or between the type. As the type is being passed forward
under this current of air, or the air current passed over it, we propose to act upon
it by a second series of Air Nozzles or tubes, placed behind the first. And through
this second series we blow cotton fibres or other suitable substances, separately or in
combination, with sufficient pressure to fill up the spaces or interstices hereinbefore
mentioned. We then propose to place a third or any necessary number of Nozzles or
tubes to supply the requisite amount of material to forin a backing of a sufficiently
stable character to the Matrix. We employ a current of air of sufficient strength to
not only form the matrix by forcing the sheet or sheets of paper and the fibres or
other substance into the type, but also to form a sufficiently compact body for the
subsequent process of casting. To assist the formation of a solid hody we may
employ any glutinous substance, paste or size of a quick drying character and by
preference apply this in the form of a spray, thrown upon the fibres or other.substance
employed by the air current, or by a separate air current, brushes or other suitable
means, as such fibres are being deposited upon the type. And we may mix the spray
with such substance as will make it uninflammable, or when such substance as
plaster of Paris is employed we moisten it simply with water or a steam jet.
For the purpose of facilitating the drying of the Matrix we may employ air heated
to a sufficient temperature to effect. this object either as the Matrix is passing through
or leaving the machine.
As the type and sheet formed upon it pass together from under the several air
currents we propose, when necessary, to pass them under a roller or rollers and

page_text: cover the back with a sheet of paper or other suitable substance so as to keep the
whole in one compact mass, and the roller or rollers may be heated so as to assist the
drying.
When cotton or other fibres are employed we propose to separate the fibres before
passing into the air tubes in a manner similar to that adopted in the ordinary cotton
"Openers" or "Scutchers" employed in the cotton manufacture, or we may employ
ordinary "laps" as made by the "Scutcher and lap" machine instead of sending the
fibre through air tubes.
By these means we claim that we can do the work more efficiently and expedi-
tiously, and that we shall obtain better impressions from the type than by the ordinary
methods, and that by not subjecting the type to the beating and heating process it
will not be injured, and will consequently wear longer, and that we therefore obtain
greater economy thereby.
Dated this 15th day of October 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation of Matrices for Casting Stereo-
types for Printing Newspapers and other similar Work.
We JASPER PATTERSON of Elmfield Baildon near Shipley, Yorkshire, and formerly
of 30 Cowper Place, Bradford, Printer, and THOMAS RUTHERFORD ASHENHURST of
71 Ashgrove Bradford, Technical Instructor 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 :-
22
il
In the ordinary manner of preparing Matrices from type for Casting plates for
newspaper and other printing by the process commonly known as "Stereotyping
sheet of thin paper is laid upon the original type; at the back of this are placed other
sheets of paper of a soft porous character, and more or less saturated with paste or
other glutinous matter. For the purpose of forming a matrix this paper, in a soft
state, is beaten and rolled down upon the type from which the impression is being
taken until all the interstices are filled to a sufficient depth. The matrix so formed is
then taken to be dried either with or upon the type or separately; usually in an oven,
or under or over a hot chamber or upon a hot sand-bed under pressure, or other
suitable means. These operations occupy a considerable time, and this time is, of
great importance in the issue of Newspapers and Journals.
We propose to employ, instead of the sheets of paper the fibres of cotton or other
suitable substances, or fine pulverised substances of any kind which may be reduced
to a powder or pulp, or a mixture of fibre and powder, such as cotton and plaster of
Paris or other such substances, and instead of the pressure of the 'beater or roller to
employ a current of air to cause the matrix to be formed and the interstices in the
type to be filled.
We propose to lay upon the type a sheet or sheets of paper, or other substances of a
suitable character, moist or dry, and to pass this under or through a strong current of
air coming from one delivery tube, or from a series of fine nozzles-the latter by
preference, and so directed that it will depress the paper where there are spaces in or
between the type.
As the type is being passed forward under this current of air, or the air current
passed over it, we propose to act upon it by a second series of air nozzles, or tubes
placed behind the first; and through the second series we blow cotton fibres or other
suitable substances, separately or in combination, with sufficient pressure to fill up the
spaces or interstices herein before mentioned.
We then place a third, or any necessary number of sets of nozzles or tubes to
supply the requisite amount of material to form a backing of a sufficiently stable

page_text: character to the matrix. We employ a current of air of sufficient strength to not
only form the matrix by forcing the sheets of paper, and the fibres or other substances
into the type, but also to form a sufficiently compact body for the subsequent process
of casting.
To assist the formation of a solid body we may employ any glutinous substance,
paste or size of a quick drying character, and by preference apply this in the form of
a spray, thrown upon the fibres or other substance employed, by the air currents,
brushes or other suitable means, as such fibres are being deposited upon the type. And
we may mix the spray with such substances as will make the whole uninflammable, or
when such substance as plaster of Paris is employed we moisten it simply with water
or a steam jet.
For the purpose of facilitating the drying of the matrix we may employ air heated
to a sufficient temperature to effect this object, either as the matrix is passing through
or leaving the machine. As the type and sheet formed upon it pass together from
under the several air currents we propose, when necessary, to pass thein under a
roller or rollers, and cover the back with a sheet of paper or other suitable substance,
so as to keep the whole in one compact mass, and the roller or rollers may be heated
so as to assist the drying.
66
When cotton or other fibres are employed we propose to separate the fibres before
passing into the air tubes in a manner similar to that adopted in the ordinary cotton.
23
openers or "scutchers " employed in the cotton manufacture, or we may employ
ordinary "laps "as made by the scutcher and "lap" machine, instead of sending the
fibre through air tubes.
In order that our invention may be better understood we now proceed to describe
the accompanying drawings as follows:-
The type after being made up in the "forme" is placed upon the carriage or
table H. similar to that used in the ordinary stereotyping machine, and so arranged
that it can be moved forward by means of a rack and toothed wheels of the ordinary
kind. The tube A, as representing a series, is placed over the table upon which the
type rests, and has a strong current of air sent through it from a
"Roots" or other
similar machine. The tube B. as representing a series also has a current of air sent
through it, and this is connected with a cotton opener or scutcher" of the ordinary
and well known type, and of size and speed suitable for the work to be done. As
the cotton is opened in the above named scutcher it is taken forward by the air
current supplied to the tube B. and deposited upon the type in such a manner as to
fill all the interstices as far as possible.
The tubes Cact in a similar manner in depositing plaster of Paris or other suitable
substance, and may be used at the same time in throwing a fine spray of water,
steam or some glutinous substance upon the matrix so as to give more adhesiveness
to it, or any two of the said sets of tubes may be combined so as to produce mixed
jets to accomplish the purposes hereinbefore described, and prevent the unnecessary
multiplication of tubes and blowing machinery.
After the type and matrix have passed under all the air tubes we may, when
necessary, employ a "dabbing" brush or pad as shown at E. and worked from an
eccentric as shown at E, for the purpose of completing the work of the air currents
and giving solidity to the matrix.
We now pass the matrix forward to the rollers F. F. F. for further consolidation,
and when a backing paper is required we draw it from a roller D. before passing
under the rollers F. F. F.
After passing under the pressure rollers F. F. F. we now pass the matrix under
the drying rollers G. G. which are heated for the purpose with steam, hot air, or any
other suitable means so that the matrix may come off the machine ready for the
casting to be made.
The rollers, tubes &c. herein before described may be increased or decreased in
number or dimensions as required, or any one may be made to serve a compound
purpose, as A. made to serve the purpose of A and B, or of A, B, and C, or the
carriage carrying the type may be made to move from side to side, or the tubes made

page_text: to move in a similar manner so as to bring every part of the surface of the type
" forme 22
under the strongest current and so ensure the most perfect matrix being
formed.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The use. of air currents for the purpose of forcing a sheet of paper or other
suitable substance into the interstices in or between the type, so as to form a proper
surface for the matrix, and presenting clear and well defined indentations in the
matrix suitable for the subsequent operation of casting.
.
2. The employment of cotton fibres, plaster of Paris, or other fibrous or pulverised
substances, separately or in conjunction, forced into the interstices herein before
described by air currents, or in the case of fibrous substances, as cotton used
in sheets or "laps" forced into such interstices by means of rollers or other suitable
means.
3. The use of the "dabbing" brushes or pad-pressure and drying rollers in con-
junction with each other.
4. The use or employment of water, when plaster of Paris is employed, or of pasto
or other glutinous substances at other times in the manner herein before described, and
5. The use of each and all of the several methods and substances herein before
described, separately and together, and by these means we claim :-
1. That then will be less wear and tear and injury to the type.
2. There will be great economy of time and consequent facilitation of the issue of
newspapers, journals &c. and
3. Greater economy and efficiency.
JASPER PATTERSON.
THOS. R. ASHENHURST.