IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ROILERS AND OTHER USED FOR TRANSFERRING, PRINTING OR TIE LIKE ON ELASTIC SURFACES THE VARIOUS MATERIALS TO WHICH SUCH ARE APPLICABLE Communied
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Campbell Hancock, of the Diglis Ceramic Art
Color Works, in the City and County of Worcester, for an Invention of.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ROILERS AND OTHER
USED FOR TRANSFERRING, PRINTING OR TIE LIKE ON
ELASTIC SURFACES
THE VARIOUS MATERIALS TO WHICH SUCH ARE APPLICABLE Communicated
to him from abroad by Doctor Wilhelm Grüne, of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Campbell Hancock
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th June 1882.
EDWARD CAMPBELL HANCOCK, of the Diglis Ceramic Art Color Works, in the
City and County of Worcester, IMPROVEMENTS IN
CERTAIN
PRINTING,
ROLLERS
Un
THE
AND OTHER ELASTIC
LIKE
ON
THE
THE MANUFACTURE OF
FOR TRANSFERRING,
SLCHI
SURFACES USED
VARIOUS
MATERIALS
TO
WINCH
ARE
APPLICABLE (A communication to me from abroad by Doctor Wilhelm Grüne of
Berlin in the Empire of Germany),
Elastic rollers films and other surfaces for printing have been made of glue and
treacle or glue and glycerine or like matters.
It has also been proposed to employ gelatinous matters and prepare them by
solutions of bichromate of potash or other salts for the purpose of producing a
grain.'
This invention consists in manufacturing rollers or films from a compound o
(advantageously) glue and glycerine (technically known us summer printer's
roller mass" and then tunning the same by the action of tannie, pyrogallic or
similar acids or faming materials whereby a tough and durable non-grained
surface is obtained.
These may be employed for the various different purposes to which such rollers
or surfaces are applicable.
Before tanning the roller or other surface it is preferable to rub the same with
Price Gid.

page_text: fine silica or similar substance well washing with spirit to remove any oleaginous
matter. This process can be repeated if necessary.
The advantage of tanning is that whereas other rollers and films are not tough
in surface and consequently subject to considerable wear and are also difficult to
clean; the surface of these is close and may be readily rendered more or less tough
according to the work required by keeping them a longer or shorter time in the
tanning solution, and can in use be repeatedly cleaned with spirit to remove the
impressions without injury to their surface. In some cases I tan a smooth surface
in others a surface on which a pattern has been produced; The former is used for
transferring the latter for direct printing, of course it will be understood not upon
paper or the like.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Campbell Hancock in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th December 1882.
EDWARD CAMPBELL HANCOCK, of the Diglis Ceramic Art Color Works, in tho
City and County of Worcester, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CERTAIN ROLLERS AND OTHER ELASTIC SURFACES. USED FOR TRANSFERRING,
PRINTING OR THE LIKE ON TUE VARIOUS MATERIALS TO WHICH SUCH ARE
APPLICABLE (A communication to me from abroad by Doctor Wilhelm Grüne of
Berlin in the Empire of Germany).
Elastic rollers films and other surfaces for printing have been made of glue and
treacle or glue and glycerine or like matters.
46
a
"
It has also been proposed to employ gelatinous matters and prepare them by
solutions of bichromate of potash or other salts for the purpose of producing
grain. This invention consists in manufacturing rollers or films from a compound
of (advantageously) glue and glycerine known as summer printer's roller mass
and then tanning the same by the action of tannic or similar acids or tanning
materials, whereby a tough and durable non-grained surface is obtained. These
may be employed for the various different purposes to which such rollers or surfaces
are applicable.
Before tanning the roller or other surface it is preferable to rub the same with
fine silica or similar substance well washing with spirit to remove any oleaginous
matter.
This process can be repented after tanning if necessary.
In order to ascertain if the roller or surface be quite free of oleaginous matter
and that it is sufficiently prepared I place thereon (after having washed it with
spirit and allowed that to evaporate) a drop of pure spirit. If after the evaporation
of this drop the edge presents an appearance of grease it may be concluded that
the surface has not been sufficiently immersed or that the solution has become
impregnated with greasy matter and should be renewed. The depth of the tanned
surface and the toughness may be ascertained by its resistance to the
the thumb.
pressure of
The advantage of tanning is that whereas other rollers and films are not tough
in surface and consequently subject to considerable wear and are also difficult to
clean, the surface of these is close and may be readily rendered more or less tough
according to the work required by keeping them a longer or shorter time in the
tanning solution and can in use be repeatedly cleaned with spirit to remove the
impressions without injury to their surface. In some cases I tan a smooth surface
in others a surface on which a pattern has been produced. The former is used for
transferring the latter for direct printing. The word "printing" must be understood
not to apply to printing on paper. In preparing the elastic rollers or films, the
gelatinous material or summer printer's roller mass "should be carefully made so
as to be as free from foreign matter and air-bubbles as possible. The latter are
removed by properly boiling during the incorporation of the ingredients-as is well
known.
To prepare the tanning solution I have found a solution of tannin or tannic acid
dissolved in spirits of wine or methylated spirit (though other spirit may be used)
to give the best result.
I have frequently used about 25% of tannin to the spirit but-this-proportion
cannot be adhered to in all cases as the strength of the tanning solution must
depend on the degree of toughness required in the elastic rollers or films.
The rollers or films are kept in the solution so long as may be necessary but the
time will vary according to the strength of the solution and the solidity required.

page_text: It is not possible to define accurately either the strength of the solution or the
time required for immersion inasmuch as the solution may be used repeatedly
in consequence of which use it necessarily becomes weaker and the time required
for immersion would be proportionately shorter or longer.
I do not bind myself to the use of tannin or tannic acid for the purpose as there
are other tanning preparations possessing the properties of tanning the gelatinous
surlace smoothly instead of producing a grained effect.
Having now described the nature of the said invention as communicated to me
by the said Doctor Wilhelm Grüne and the best manner known to me of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim-In the manu-
facture of the aforesaid rollers and other elastic surfaces for the purposes
mentioned, the treatment of the same with solutions of tannin, tannic acid or
other tanning material possessing the property of tanning the same to produce
a smooth and tough or homogenous surface substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Campbell Hancock have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of December in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
EDWARD CAMPBELL HANCOCK. (L.S.)