US2388174A - Squaring scale - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 3 0, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f SQUARING SCALE Edward n. Nachel, chicago, nl.`

Application June 5, 1943, Serial No. 489,751

A2 Claims.

My invention relates to a squaring scale for use in the preparation of lm from which plates for printing in newspapers and other publications are made, and has for its primary object `the provision of a scale used in what is known as fstripping, in which negatives in the form of film or the like, can be sized and grouped for use in making plates for use in the press during the printing operation. y

Another object of the invention is the provision of a transparent squaring scale adapted to be placed upon the stripping or square-up bench, with lights mounted underneath the scale, which is transparent, and upon the surface of which photographic films, negatives and the 1ike,'can be laid and cut to size and shape desired for use in making up engraving plates.

A further object of my. invention is the provision of a scale which preferably is rectangular in shape and composed of a piece of glass which has a plane,smooth surface on one side and on the other side has a series of lines etched o r otherwise permanently placed thereon, these lines comprising a series of major longitudinal lines which indicate dimensions, preferably inches, with light minor lines extending parallel with the major lines and in spaced relation thereto and with each other, these lines also defining dimensions preferably in fractional inches inasmuch as newspaper columnar space is usually measured in inches and fractions thereof, with transversely extending lines at right angles to said longitudinal lines defining the area into space corresponding to the column space in the newspaper or publication for which the illustration is to appear.

Heretofore in thepreparation of negatives for this work, a glass top table and a T-square have been used, with lights placed underneath the table top, andthe measurements made with the T-square both with respect to the columns and lines desired, and the negatives for the plates shaped up and measured through the use of a `T-square, with the operator having in mind the column and type line dimensions. Through the use of my improved device the T-square `can be dispensed with for measuring, because the nlm can `be cut in registerwith the lines appearing Von the scale, so that they can be tted into propis the provision of a scale in transparent` form,

in which the time heretofore required to cut film to various sizes and shapes` to properly t it tcgether, is materially reduced, andalso in which accuracy is insured because the scale is laid out in effect the same as a printed page of a publication so that the operator" can easily visualize the position it will occupy` and canfmoveA the lm to the most desirable and advantageousposition to produce thebest results in view of` the space which it is to occupy.

It is' the practice in preparing copy o`r"`p`hc`to graphs to make crop markings thereon, indicating that portion of the lni which itis desired to reproduce. These crop markings are placed on the copy or photograph largely las the result of guesswork, without being accurately measured with respect to the space allotted to ,thefpicture inthe publication, and they are often `therefore improperly placed. Through the use of my gauge the proper cropping of the lm caribe` accom` plished more easily, and also such portion of the lm can be included as will produce the best rel sults in a picture. Y ,i

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a gauge in which negatives can be grouped upon the plate and cut to proper sizes so that when fitted together they form a proper grouping and in this way both actual measuurements and guesswork are eliminated in the preparation of the plates. These and other Vobjects of'my invention'will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawing,\and,in which; j

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a 'scaleembody ing my invention, with thelines appearing on the under side thereof; and

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of thescale shown in Figure 1.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a transparent member I0, such as glass or the like, is prepared having a smooth upper surface I I forming a cutting surface for the films, and having on the under side thereof 'a plurality of longitudinal lines I2, l2 extending partially across the plate, these lines representing dimension lines, In the illustration shown,

f. if

these lines I2, I2 are intended to be spaced one inch apart, with ordinals appearing at the side of the drawing running from to 9 to indicate an area nine inches in Width. Intermediate each of the lines I2, I2 is a series of other lines I3, I3 minor in Width and character, which also represent dimension lines, and preferably are oneeighth of an inch apart, although this spacing may Vary, depending upon the size and character, the typelof 'the publication and the like, .and the scale can be increased in size vii desired and marked accordingly.

Intermediate the major lines I2, I2 at one end of the plate, one of the minor lines I4 extends outward adjacent an ordinal 1/2, indicating an intermediate one-half inch line, so that the v'operator by applying the negative -to the .upper face of the member IIl can readily visualize the position which the illustration will occupy, and -arrange and trim the negative accordingly. Extending transversely of the plate I0 is a plurality of lines I-5, I-5, these lines defining areas over the plate cor-responding tothe columns of a newspaper or publication, `with ordinals appearing at one 'side thereof extending from 0 to 8. The spacing of these lines may vary, depending upon the column Width of any particular publication, but they correspond with the width of the particular publication 'for which a plate is being prepared.

Intermediate the lines I5, I5 and vextending either partially or completely across the plate, are dotted lines IB, I6, indicating 'in the present instance one-half ofthe column width. The lines I5, I6 maybe used throughout the entire gauge or only at one side thereof, as shown 'in the drawing, and may be spaced in different relation to the lines I5, I5 as may be desired, depending upon the condition and character of the work with .which the gauge is intended to be used.

At one side of the scale is a plurality of 'blank spaces 'I 1 I'I, referred to in this particular art as half column spaces, which may be of varying Widths and heights, depending upon the particular `kind of printing desired, although they usually are approximately one inch in width and may Vary `in height from an inch and a half to an inch and three-quarters.

In operation, the scale, such .as illustrated in the drawing, and heretofore described, is placed in such manner that it becomes the top of the stripping table, with lights mounted underneath so `that the rays pass therethrough. The nlm, prior to being cut, is laid upon the top of the table and inasmuch asthe lm is still Wet it adheres to the table. The operator ,removes .such surplus water as may adhere to the lm and to the surface of the scale, by means of a blotter. The rays of light passing from .the lamp underneath the table through the scale and the nlm, illuminates the object appearing on the negative so that side of the T-square. If the film is to be made diagonal, a T-square can be used in connection with the gauge to get the proper lining, as for advertising material, large cuts and the like. The dotted lines form guides for use where any cut is over one column in width but under multiple column in width.

Through the use of the scale markings the operator can very quickly and very readily size and -scale the negative v'to achieve the Ebest restilts Without the necessity of measurement through the use of a T-square and then taking time to calculate the measurements with respect 'to the 4column widths, type Widths and the like, to t the negative into proper position for best results. -Likewise, of course, if the crop markings are .not accurately placed, the lm can be moved slightly so as to properly position the negative for best results with respect to the crop markings, and also can be positioned with respect to the mortises for the 'best results with respect to Aprinting V'descriptive or explanatory matter appearing vwith 'the photographs `or illustrations.

It will be understood that column widths in various publications vary, Aand that the transverse lines correspon-ding to the Vcolumn widths can be varied accordingly as well as .the type lines, although the transverse dimension lines probably would remain the same Vbecause of the uniform manner of computing 'printing 'space in inches of material.

While I have described more or less precisely the -details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, "as .I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution .of equivalents as circumstances .may suggest or render expedient Without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A squaring scale comprising in combination, a transparent member having a plane .surface on one side, a series of major dimensional lines extending longitudinally .of said member in spaced linear unit relation with each other, a series of minor spaced lines extending parallel to said major lines in fractional linear unit relation with each other and with the said major Iines, and a series of transverse lines dening column space `on said member, the said longitudinal lines being interrupted at predetermined points to form half `column `cuts on said member.

2. A squaring scale comprising in combination, a transparent member having a plane surface on one side, a series of major dimensional lines extending longitudinally of said Ymember in spaced relation with each other, a series of minor .spaced lines extending parallel to said major .lines dening fractional dimension areas, and a series rof transverse lines dening column space on said member, the said longitudinal lines being'interrupted at predetermined points at one marginal edge 'of the said member to form blank areas on said member.

.EDWARD R. NACHEL.

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