US1049787A - Process of preparing matrices for electrotyping. - Google Patents

Description

i a citizen of the United States, and a resi-' UNT-ED srrArrESPA TE:NI"oFFcE.` V s n. WELSH, or COLLINGSWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR or oNE-HALF ro -'ILLIIIAM easner.

HARVY EVERT KENDI& OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

rnocnss or ranrnmn MA'rmoEs ron ELECTROTYPING.

Patented Jan. 7, &913.

' Application filed March 30, 1 912. Serial No. 681 465.

i all' whom -iay concem: i a

Be it known that VVILLIAM HJWVELSH,

dent of Collingswood, Ca'mden cOunty, New Jersey, have inVent-ed an Improved Process of Preparng Matrices for Electrotyping, of which the following is a specifica'tion.

My invention relates to the art of electrotyping, and consists of certain improvements in the process of preparing the wax matrices for the' recept-ion of .the electrodeposited shell or coatin'g. The method of i procedure, well known of course, is to sur- 'face coat. the' waX matrices With blacklead or plumbago to form one of the poles of an electric couple in order that the metal may' be electro-deposited thereon. The success-of`the work' depends largely upon the successful application of the, blacklead or the matrices plumbago. By preference, should be blackleaded n such manner as to present a meta'llie luster, and in order to pr'oduce this efi'ectthe blacklead' must be vigorously applied to "the surface of the wax in such manner as to insure absolutely its application to every part of the matrx.

' The means ordinarily employecl for this which ta p pur mseni-e rapidly oscillating brushes surface of 'the wax in a very rapid nanner, but relatively delcately in i order that excessive wear of the brush on 'perniittng a relatively violent application of thelbrushes designed to apply the 'blacklead to the surface thereof. 3 I have shown in the drawing a blackleading machine, inclosed in a cooling chamber ,or coinpartment, comprising a suitable fra'n 1, having guideways 2, for vertically vreciprocating rods 3, attached to pitmen 4:,

on shafts all of which may be preferably driven in the same direction by the gearing 6,' indicated bythebroken lines; motion being preferably mpart'ed to` such gearing by a belt 7 v from a motor 8. y The upper ends of the rods are Secured at 9 tobrushes 10 and rapid movement of said rods by the means described causes the brushes to rise and fall'upon the plate and beat into or onto the *surface of the matrix the blacklead The matrix is ndicated at 11; being pref,-' 'erably mounted upon rollers, or other suit--.

ablewvays, 12; means being provided to reciprocate the matrix. 'The range of movement may bethat indicated by the dotted lines. The frame may be provided with a switch 1 3 for controlling the'motor. The cooling chamber or compartment 15 may have a door or lid giving access to the blackleading machine. i

Under ordinary circumstances, the waxed 4 plate having type and half-tone impressions,

sngly or combined, is placed invthe machine upon suitable means Whereby it may be traversed 'back and forth; being, sub jected while` moying to the action of the vertically reciprocating brushes; blacklead or plumbago being dusted upon the surface a of the same as may be required to properly cover or coat such surface 'to be subsquently plated with the deposited metal.

In most electrotyping shops, the temperature i'anges fairly high, and in general the i' consistency ofthe wax isrelatively sotter than it should be to insure the production of a perfect matrix. In such instance, the action of the brushes tends to fiatten the relatively delicate half-tone impressions; to break down the edges of the'type recesses -in the matrix; to separate from the matrix mi nute particles of the wax of which they are composed, and to cause the ends of the bris- `tles to pick up minute particles, a condition which not only spoils the matrix, but also clogsth'e ends' of the bristles and' renders them substantially ineflicent. I propose t-herefore toremedy these defects; mprove the quality of the matrix; insure the proper action of the brush, and prolong thelife of ,the same by maintaining the matrix at a relatively low temperature during the blackleading operation. This may be accomplished in a number of` ways. A separate apartment, such as a refrigeratoror the like, may receive and serve as a temporary storage receptacle for a quantity of the 'WaXed lates after they have received the type, hal -tone and the like impressions. These plates are then .taken to the blackleading machine while atsubstantially the temperature referred to and they may be kept at such temperature' by cooling means applied directly to the blac'kleadin'g machine, or to a compartment in which it is located, so thatwhile the blackleading operation is proceeding, the matrix is still cool and relatively hard.

The result ofthe operation of blackleading the cool, rlatively hard wax plate is to impart a high meta-llic luster to the same;

kthe blacklead being beaten onto or into the matrix.

`surface of the same so as to afford a proper surface, insuring the deposition of metal in a proper manner with respect to the type recesses and half-tone impressons of the coated gaps which might occur at; in or ad jacent the Walls of the type recesses or the half-tone impressions may be bridgd .with out difiiculty and 'without damage "to the electrotype. In the formation of a nickel or nickel-steel surface, however, the depsit must take place wholly within the bath and it is impossible to bridge any gaps which mayoccur in the wall surfaces of the type impression recesses. This makes it absolutely necessary that the coating of such walls shall. be complete and this result is attained in carrying out the process forming the subject of my invention.

It will be understood, of course, that the cooling of the matrix should not be carried' to such an eXtent' as to render the wax brittle. Proper cooling insures full advantage of the natural tough qualites of the WaX, employed and, other conditions governing to a greater orcless degree, I have discovered that thedesirable temperature'is to be found between 45 to 60 F.

r I claim: V

l. In the art of electrotyping, the process of preparing matrices, which' consists' in cooling the same to a temperaturenot 'eX- ceeding 60 F., maintaining said natrices at such temperature, and simultaneouslyapplyture.

` 4:. In the art of electrotyping, the process ing blacklead by a series of sharp blows .distributed over the surface of the matrix.

2. In the art ofelectrotyping, the process of preparing matrices, wvhich consists in cooling the same to a temperature not eX- ceecling F., maintaiping said matrices at such temperature, simultaneously applying blacklead by a series of sharp blows distributed over the surface of the matrix, and moving said plate while the blacklead is being applied. i

3.'111 the art of electrotyping, the process of preparing matrices, .which consists in maintaining said matrices at a temperature not cx ceeding 60 F., and applying the blacklead bya series of sharp blowsdistributed over the surface of the matrix-while the matrix is maintained at such temperaof preparing matrices, which consists in maintaining-said matrices at a temperature between 45 and 60 F., and applying the blacklead by a series of sharp blows distributed over the surface of the matrix while the matrix is maintained at such cool temperature. c

5. In"thea`rt of electrotyping, the process which consistsin cooling 'a waxed' type or half-tone inpression plate forning the matrix to a temperature not exceeding 60 FT, applying blacklead to the surface thereof,

and causing such *blacklead to adhere to the surface by the application of blows momentarily applied and distributed over the surface of the plate. 4

G. In the art of electrotyping, the process 'which consists in cooling the waxed type or half-tone\impression plnte forming the matrix to a temperature between l5 and 60 F., applying blacklead to the surface thereof,

'and causing such blacklcad to adhee to the surface by the application of blows momentarily applied and distributed over the sur-` i face of the plate. i

In' testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses WM. H. WELSH.

a l/Vitnesses:

MU'RRAY C. BOYER, WVM. A. BARR.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each; by addressng the Commissioner of Patenti Washington, I). C."

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