US3417472A

US3417472A - Etching method

Info

Publication number: US3417472A
Application number: US679590A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert F Nelson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-10-18
Filing date: 1967-10-18
Publication date: 1968-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-24

Description

Dec. 24, 1968 R. F. NELSON 3,417,472

ETCHING METHOD Filed Oct. 18, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l R f INVEN;8R.

OBA'ET RANK EL SON F I60 3 firrole/ve' Y Dec. 24, 1968 R. F. NELSON 3, ,47

ETCH I NG METHOD Filed Oct. 18, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/ H INVENTOR.

\ 3 sea-r RANK Ngzsoxv United States Patent 3,417,472 ETCHING METHOD Robert F. Nelson, Hawthorne, Calif. (10955 Huston St., North Hollywood, Calif.

Filed Oct. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 679,590 8 Claims. (Cl. 3324) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In preparing a lithographic or intaglio plate it is necessary to prepare a coated plate by scribing the surface of the coated plate and thus partially remove the coating and produce a copy of the figure, letters or design of the original. The coated plate is atfixed under a mounting frame in such a position that the scribing instrument will produce the figures, letters or design in opposite and reverse position to the original, as the operator actuates the primary pen or writing instrument to produce the original copy of the plate to be produced. The original pen or writing instrument is mounted in exact vertical alignment with a scribe or etching pen, and is fixedly held in this position irrespective of any looseness in the various pivots or joints of the actuating linkage.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel etching method whereby the etching instrument straddles a mounting frame, and the writing or scribing instrument is actuated manually by the operator, and actuation of this writing instrument or scribe will simultaneously move the etching pen against the surface of the plate which is to be etched.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel etching method which includes a bifingered etching instrument which includes two vertically aligned sleeves to mount two writing or scribing instruments, and these two instruments are coupled by pivoted links so that these two instruments are caused to move simultaneously against different surfaces, the one surface being opposite and reverse to the original or primary surface.

Still another object is to provide an etching method of the character stated in which the primary writing instrument is actuated by a holder to be held in the fingers of the operator, and this holder in turn is attached to the writing instrument.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the etching instrument.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the same.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the parts in a different position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view as viewed from line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view of the area indicated by the circle 7 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified mounting means of the etching tool.

3,417,472 Patented Dec. 24, 1968 FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates an etching tool which includes an upper arm 2 and a lower arm 3. These arms are separated by a horizontal groove 4, which groove extends entirely through the tool. An etching table 5 is mounted on legs 6 to space it above a suitable table or working surface. The table 5 is a perfectly fiat surface and the arms 2 and 3 of the etching tool 1 are positioned one above and one below the table 5, as best shown in FIGURE 1. A drafting plate or sheet 7 is affixed to the top surface of the plate 5 and the operator either traces or draws a suitable figure or design 8 on this plate. As the operator is producing the design or configuration on the plate 7 he will simultaneously scribe or scratch comparable lines and contours on a coated plate 9 which is attached to the bottom of the plate '5. The plate 9 is subsequently treated in a manner well known in the lithographic art, and a lithographic or intaglio plate is thus produced which is reversed and posed in position to the original figure or design 8, as is required when printing the design or figure on a sheet or plate.

Laterally extending skids or runners 10 extending horizontally from the body of the tool 1 prevent that tool from tipping or tilting as the operator manipulates that tool during the drafting process.

A sleeve 11 is fixedly mounted in a vertical position on the outer end of the arm 2. This sleeve is fixedly attached or may be an integral part of a mounting bar 12 which fits in the arm 2 and serves to rigidly support the sleeve. A second guide sleeve 13 is fixedly mounted in the outer end of the arm 3 and is in accurate vertical alignment with the sleeve 11. A drafting or lettering pen 14 is mounted for vertical movement in the sleeve 11, and this pen will follow the outlines of the design 8 by the operator, as will be subsequently described. An etching pin 15 is mounted for vertical sliding movement in the guide sleeve 13 and this etching pin will scratch or groove the plastic coating on the plate 9, as shown at 16 in FIGURES 6 and 7.

The pen 14 and the etching pin 15 are moved vertically with relation to the surfaces of the table 5 by the operator, and these parts are moved simultaneously and synchronously by means of connecting linkage as follows: A horizontal link 17 is pivotally mounted at 18 in the arm 2, and the outer end of this link is provided with a hole through which the pen 14 extends. Also a guide bar 19 depends from the outer end of the arm 2 and extends through the link 17, thus guiding the link so that it moves accurately in a vertical plane. Also strain is taken off of the pivot 18 to limit wear on this pivot. A second link 20 is pivotally mounted at 21 in the arm 3, and this last named link is pivotally coupled to the link 17 by the coupling 22. The outer end of the link 20 has a projecting finger 23 thereon which engages the bottom of the etching pin 15 to press that pin against the surface of the etching plate 9.

A shaft 24, to be grasped by the operator, is pivotally attached to the outer end of the link 17 by means of the ring 25. Thus the operator can easily manipulate the etching tool 1 to follow the contours of the design 8. He can move the pen 14 and, consequently, the pin 15 in a horizontal plane, and can move the tool either side to side or back and forth as required. Due to the pivotal mounting 25 the shaft 24 can be tilted at a normal angle by the operator.

Instead of the skid or runners 10 I may provide a tongue and groove coupling between the etching tool 1 and the table or plate 5. With this arrangement a groove 26 is formed in the table 27 and the drafting tool 1 is formed with a mounting pin 28 which includes a head 29 slidably mounted in the groove 26. Thus the tool body 1 can be moved lengthwise along the groove 26 and can also be rotated within that groove, since the head 29 is loosely mounted in that groove.

In operation A drafting sheet 7 or a copy of a figure or drawing is mounted on top of the table 5. On the bottom of the table 5 an etching sheet 9 is mounted which is coated with a suitable plastic or other removable coating. The operator now inserts the etching tool 1 astride the table 5 which fits in the groove 4. By manipulating the writing shaft 24 the drafting pen 14 will follow the contours of the design 8, and simultaneously the pin 15 will be pushed against the plastic coating of the etching plate 9, thus scratching or scribing on that etching plate the reverse contour of the design 8, permitting the etching plate to be subsequently etched in the usual processes of lithography or intaglio. Due to the rigid mounting of the sleeves 11 and 13 the pen 14 and the pin 15 will always be accurately aligned in a vertical plane, irrespective of any wear or looseness in the pivots of the

links

17 and 20. The pen 14 and the pin 15 will move vertically relative to each other to both engage and disengage the drafting sheet and the etching sheet. This permits very accurate detail to be provided on the etching plate 9.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An etching device comprising a table, a drafting sheet on one side of the table, an etching sheet on the table and on a side opposite the drafting sheet, an etching tool comprising a pair of vertically spaced arms, said arms extending over the table, one above said table and one below the same, a pen mounted on the uppermost arm for vertical sliding movement relative to the drafting sheet, an etching pin mounted on the lowermost arm for vertical sliding movement relative to the etching sheet, said pen and pin being positioned in vertical alignment, link means connecting the pen and the pin to synchronous 1y move the pen and pin, and a shaft grasped by the operator and attached to the pen.

2. An etching device as set forth in claim 1, and stabilizing means projecting laterally from the etching tool.

3. An etching device as set forth in claim 1, and stabilizing means projecting laterally from the etching tool, said stabilizing means comprising a skid inhibiting tilting of the etching tool.

4. An etching device as set forth in claim 1, and a fixed sleeve on the uppermost arm, said pen being slidably mounted in the sleeve, and a fixed sleeve on the lowermost arm, said pin being slidably mounted in the last named sleeve.

5. An etching device as set forth in claim 1, and a fixed sleeve on the uppermost arm, said pen being slidably mounted in the sleeve, and a fixed sleeve on the lowermost arm, said pin being slidably mounted in the last named sleeve, and stabilizing means projecting laterally from the etching tool.

6. An etching device as set forth in claim 1, and a fixed sleeve on the uppermost arm, said pen being slidably mounted in the sleeve, and a fixed sleeve on the lowermost arm, said pin being slidably mounted in the last named sleeve, and stabilizing means projecting laterally from the etching tool, said stabilizing means comprising a skid inhibiting tilting of the etching tool.

7. An etching device comprising a table, a drafting sheet on one side of the table, an etching sheet on the table and on a side opposite the drafting sheet, an etching tool comprising a pair of vertically spaced arms, said arms extending over the table, one above said table and one below the same, a pen mounted on the uppermost arm for vertical sliding movement relative to the drafting sheet, an etching pin mounted on the lowermost arm for vertical sliding movement relative to the etching sheet, said pen and pin being positioned in vertical alignment, link means connecting the pen and the pin to synchronously move the pen and pin, and a shaft grasped by the operator and attached to the pen, a stabilizing means comprising a mounting pin projecting downwardly from the etching tool, a supporting table having a horizontal groove therein, said mounting pin projecting into the groove and being slidable and rotatable therein.

8. An etching device as set forth in claim 7, and a fixed sleeve on the uppermost arm, said pen being slidably mounted in the sleeve, and a fixed sleeve on the lowermost arm, said pin being slidably mounted in the last named sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 400,268 3/1889 Thompson 33-24 637,923 11/1899 Chase 3324 750,923 2/1904 Wheelan 33--24 784,633 3/1905 Shantz 3324 l,35l,762 9/1920 King 3324 1,811,121 6/1931 Gastell 33-24 HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primary Examiner.