IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PHOTO-MECHANICAL PRINTING, PARTS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest Edwards, of Lincoln Terrace, Willesden
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Photographer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PHOTO-MECHANICAL PRINTING, PARTS

page_text: or more sets of inking rollers, so as to ink the "formes" by the method.
of compound inking with two or more inks of different shades and colors,
as described in the Specification of my Patent of 8th December 1869,
No. 3543. I place these sets of rollers either together or at each end of
the machine. They may be stationary, in which case the "forme," as is
usual in ordinary printing presses, is made to pass under them, or they
themselves be made to pass over the "forme." Each roller may
also be made to have different inking qualities by varying the quantity
of oil or qualifying substance used in their manufacture, as described in
the first part of my Patent dated 20th October 1871, No. 2799.
may
The pressure I prefer to use in either that of the "platen" descending
vertically upon the "forme," or that of the cylinder under which the
"forme "
passes.
When it is necessary that the "forme" should be damp, I damp it
by means of a cylinder of wet cloth, flannel, india-rubber, sponge, or
other suitable absorbent material, behind which I place a scraper having
a tongue of india-rubber (well known as a squeegee"), which passes
over the "forme" and removes from it the surplus water.
The paper on which the impression is to be made is either placed
on the machine by hand or by any of the methods in use in ordinary
printing presses. It is removed by hand or by the ordinary methods, or
by rods, which cause the tympan to rise as the "forme" is moved away
(where the "forme" is made to move) from under the platen.
"3
And in order to keep the "formes sufficiently saturated with
moisture so as to effect a considerable saving of time and labour, I
sometimes add to the liquid which is used for damping a sufficient
quantity of a solution of a substance of a deliquescent nature, such, for
instance, as chloride of calcium, or other deliquescent salt.
I sometimes also use glycerine, treacle, or other substance, non-
drying, but which will mix with water, and I sometimes use a
combination of the above-named or similar substances, and by this
means a considerable number of impressions may be taken without
re-damping the “forme.”
I apply this method to lithographic and other methods of printing
where damping is required, as well as to methods of printing from
gelatine "formes.”

page_text: In order to prepare a suitable "forme" from which pictures may be
printed, I sometimes make a solution in water of a hard gum or resin,
such as colophony or lac, by the addition of phosphate of soda, borax,
ammonia, or other suitable substance. This, when dry, forms a perfectly
hard, waterproof substance. To give it such porosity as is necessary,
and similar to that possessed by a lithographic stone, I add to the
composition while in a state of solution sufficient of such a substance
as gum, albumen, gelatine, or analogous substance, one or more of
them, and to these I sometimes add sufficient of a substance, such as
chrome alum, tending to produce insolubility of gelatine. This com-
position is made sensitive to light by the addition of a solution of a
suitable chromate or bichromate either during its preparation or sub-
sequently. It is then to be treated and used by any of the methods
ordinarily adopted for the treatment of gelatine films for the purpose of
printing pictures from their surfaces.
Where gelatinous films or films prepared in the method first described
are to be used for the purpose of printing pictures from their surface, it
is sometimes desirable to add designs, words, or letters to the pictures,
which have been prepared upon them by the action of light. In such
case I form such designs, words, or letters upon the surface of the film
by applying a solution of alum or other substance, tending to produce
insolubility of gelatine to the parts where they are required to appear.
The parts so treated will take the greasy ink when applied, but will
refuse to receive the water used for damping the film in the methods
explained in my previous Specifications already described:
Sometimes I apply the solution of alum or analogous substance to the
"forme" by first applying it to the surface of paper or other suitable
substance, from which it is transferred to the "forme" by pressure.
Where it is desired that designs so added shall be less distinct or well
defined than the remainder of the picture, as, for example, in the case of
clouds added to a landscape picture, I make the addition by printing
them upon the back of the "forme" by light, by means of a separato
transparent negative, and I continue such printing upon the back until
the light has penetrated the "forme," and has had an effect sufficient for
the purpose upon the face of the "forme."

page_text: on the 9th July 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ERNEST
EDWARDS, of Lincoln Terrace, Willesden Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Photographer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in
the thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Ernest Edwards, Her
special licence that I, the said Ernest Edwards, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Ernest Edwards,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
**IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PHOTO-MECHANICAL PRINTING, PARTS OF WHICH
APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Ernest Edwards, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Ernest Edwards, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawing:-.
In the Specifications of my previous Patents. No. 3543. dated the

page_text: the enamel composition.
Sometimes I add the above described substances, one or more of
them, together with the usual enamel composition as already described,
to the pulp of the paper during the process of manufacture.
Or sometimes I treat paper with the above described substances, one
or more of them, subsequently to its preparation. Enamelled paper
prepared in this way takes the ink more readily, and is less liable
to have the enamelled surface torn off by adhering to the "forme"
(or gelatinous or other printing surface). Paper prepared in this way
may be used for ordinary printing and for any of the purposes to which
enamelled paper is ordinarily applied, as well as in methods of printing
from gelatine "formés."
In applying steam and machine printing to this and analogous
processes of printing from gelatine "formes," I use a machine having
two or more sets of inking rollers, so as to ink the "formes" by the
method of compound inking with two or more inks of different shades
and colors, as described in the Specification of my Patent of 8th
December 1869, No. 3543. I place these sets of rollers either together
or at each end of the machine. They may be arranged in a stationary
position, in which case the "forme" (as is usual in ordinary printing
presses) is made to pass under them, or they may themselves be made
to pass over the "forme." Where advisable I give to cach roller
different inking qualities by varying the quantity of oil or qualifying
substance used in their manufacture as described in the first part of my
Patent dated 20th October 1871.
"
The pressure which I prefer to use is either that of the "platen
descending vertically upon the "forme," or that of the cylinder under
which the "forme" passes.
When it is necessary that the "forme" should be damp, I damp it by
means of a cylinder of wet cloth, flannel, india-rubber sponge, or other
suitable material, behind which I place a scraper having a tongue of
india-rubber (well-known as a squeegee"), which passes over the
"forme" and removes from it the surplus water.
66

page_text: The paper on which the impression is to be made is either placed on
the machine by hand or by any of the methods in use in ordinary
printing presses. It is removed by hand or by the ordinary methods, or
by rods, which cause the tympan to rise as the "forme" is moved away
(where the "forme" is made to move) from under the platen.
"
Sometimes I use a machine in which the gelatine "forme is
attached to a portion of a cylinder, the remainder of the cylinder
forming the inking table. The cylinder itself rotates and passes under
the required number of rollers, which are stationary, and which may be
of varying qualities, as described. The "forme" is attached to a thin
metal plate, which is then bent to the curve of the cylinder, and attached
to it by screws, binders, or other suitable fastenings. The damping is
effected by means of a roller formed of flannel or india-rubber sponge
covered with flannel, the lower part of which dips into a trough of water.
There may be more than one of these, and a reverse motion may be
given to them by the ordinary mechanical means well understood and
practised. The “forme is then passed under a squeegee" (of the
kind already described) when necessary, and afterwards under a roller of
blotting paper or other suitable absorbeut material.
"
"
Double or compound inking, as described in the Specification of my
Patent of December 8th 1869, No. 3543, is effected when necessary by
two series of rollers, which, by means of suitable cams, excentrics, and
rods, are only allowed to to touch and work upon those parts of the
cylinder (forming the inking table) which are inked with the appropriate
inks.
The masking of the pictures (or application of a flexible sheet having
an opening of the size of the finished picture, or of that part of it which
is to be printed) is effected by one end of the mask being attached
to the pressure cylinder (by which the paper is pressed against the
"forme"), the other end being attached to a rope running over a pulley,
and having a sufficient weight or spring attached to it, and placed in
such a position that on the return of the pressure cylinder the picture is
left thereon, and the mask is released from the " forme."
Sometimes also the mask is "fed" in together with the paper on
which the impression is to be printed, and returns to its position by
means of the weight and pulley, the impression being carried away by
suitable grippers or rods.
The damping apparatus as well as the
"

page_text: inking and pressure apparatus, are arranged so as to be detached either
altogether or separately.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of the general arrange-
ment which I prefer to adopt in this part of my Invention, but the
3 details and proportions of which may be varied to suit different
circumstances.
A is the main cylinder, round the circumference of which. the printing
"forme " B is bent and attached as described; C is the pressure cylinder
by which the paper E is pressed upon the "formo" B as the latter
O revolves; D is a flexible mask, one end of which is attached to the.
pressure cylinder C, and the other end is attached to a cord F, which
passes over the pulley W, and is kept stretched by the weight P. The
"forme" B is damped by the damping roller S, which is shown revolving
in the cistern T containing the damping fluid, and is driven by a band
5 and pulleys either in the same or the opposite direction to that of the
main cylinder A.
"
And in order to keep the. " formes sufficiently saturated with
moisture so as to effect a considerable saving of time and labour, I
sometimes add to the liquid which is used for damping a sufficient
O quantity of a substance of a deliquescent nature, such, for instance, as
chloride of calcium, or other deliquescent salt. For instance, I use one
part of chloride of calcium to 20 parts of water, but the proportion of
the deliquescent salt may be varied as desired.
I sometimes also use glycerine, treacle, or other substance, non-drying,
but which will mix with water. For instance, one part of glycerine to
seven parts of water, or in other suitable proportion; and I sometimes
use a combination of the above-named or similar substances, and by this
means a considerable number of impressions may be taken without re-
damping the "forme."
I apply this method to lithographic and other methods of printing
where damping is required, as well as to methods of printing from
gelatine "formes."
In order to prepare a suitable "forme" from which pictures may be
printed, I sometimes make a solution in water of a hard gum or resin,
such as colontony or lac by the addition of borax, ammonia, or other

page_text: Having now particularly described my Invention, and the manner in
which it is to be performed, I claim :—
The addition of hard gums or resins, or oily or waxy substances, or
substances producing insolubility of gelatine, or a combination of two or
more of the above, to enamelled paper, substantially as described.
Also the arrangement of machinery and apparatus for printing from
the surface of gelatinous "formes," and for damping, inking, and mask-
ing such gelatinous "formes," substantially as described.
Also the addition of deliquescent salts, or glycerine, treacle, or
analogous non-drying substance, to the water used for damping
gelatinous or other printing "formes," substantially as described.
Also the manufacture of such printing "formes" by dissolving a hard
gum or resin in water by the addition of borax or ammonia, and the
addition of other substances described, to give porosity and sensitiveness
to light to such compound, substantially as described.
Also the method of adding designs to gelatinous printing "formes,"
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest Edwards, havo hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.