Patent GB-190111920-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or connected with Numbering Machines.
Inventor: THOMPSON WILLIAM PHILLIPS
Filed: 1901-06-11
Granted: 1901-07-27
Abstract: 11,920. Thompson, W. P., [Bates Machine Co.]. June 11. Paging and numbering apparatus; dating railway tickets &c.-Fig. 2 shows a numbering-machine having a frame 1 of inverted U -shape, made by bending a bar having a continuous groove 2. The ends of a shaft 3, fixed in the nnmbering-head 25, move in the vertical parts of the groove 2. A plate 4, having an opening through which the machine prints, has vertical lugs 7 fitting into the grooves 2 and secured therein by pins. On the plate 4 are standards 10 on which are pivoted arms 12 carrying a bar 13, which supports the ink-pad holder 14. The holder is formed of sheet metal, and has bent spring fingers which embrace the bar 13 ; and has also a projecting finger 16 forming a handle. The arms 12 are connected to rods 17 pivoted on the shaft 3, so that the pad is moved as the shaft moves up and down. On the arm 17 is an inwardly-bent finger 18 for actuating the stepped pawl-plate which moves the numbering- discs. Attached to the head 25 is a tubular handle 19, having a slot 20 with a side recess 21. A ring 22 has a feather passing into the slot 20, and on this feather is formed a disc for supporting a spring in the tube 19 for raising the handle and head 25. The recess 21 may be engaged with the feather to hold the handle &c. depressed. The numbering-discs may be in sections, each section 27, Fig. 14, having a printing-character and also a ratched tooth 28 with which the stepped pawlplate engages for moving the disc. A roller 30 engages with the curved parts 29 of each disc. These rollers are carried in notches in arms formed from H-shaped blanks and pivoted on a shaft 32, Fig. 6, and pressed towards the discs by springs 33 engaging a frame or holder 34 between the legs of which the arms are pivoted. The disc sections 27 have grooves for a fastening-ring, or they may be secured together as described hereafter. The discs have the usual deep notches to admit the pawlplate 40, Fig. 10, to advance the next wheel. The units disc has a circular bearing on the shaft 3, but the other discs have recessed bearings, and the shaft 3 is recessed so that they may be placed out of printing position, so as not to print the ciphers. When advanced by the pawl-plate 40 they are moved into printing position. The pawl-plate 40 has, at right-angles to it, a wing 46 having an opening 47 for the shaft 3. The wing 46 is situated in frictional engagement between the wing 66. of a frame 65, and the first numbering- disc. The opening 47 is engaged by the finger 18 of the arm 17, and is so shaped that the pawl can move transversely to, as well as circumferentially on, the shaft 3. The finger so moves the pawlplate that it is lifted and does not rub over the discs to be next advanced. The wing 46 is pressed down by a spring 48. On the pawl-plate 40 is a tooth 69, with which co-operates a toothed wheel 49, the position of which determines whether consecutive, duplicate, or repeat numbering is effected. Between two of the teeth of this wheel engages a pawl 68, pivoted on the frame 65, which has two end wings 66 having a bearing on the shaft 3. On the frame 65, 66 are inclines and notches adapted to be engaged by inclines and notches such as 60, 73 on any one of three push-buttons, two of which 51, 52 are shown in Fig. 6, and two 51, 50 in Fig. 2. When any of the buttons 50, 51, 52 is pushed in, it moves the frame 65 a full stroke against the pressure of the spring 35, but the notches 73, which are of different depths, stop the frame in its return in different positions, according to which of the buttons is pressed in. The buttons have bifurcated bodies 55 straddling the head 25, which is formed with notches for the shanks of the buttons. In one position of the wheel 49, the tooth 69 drops into the space between two teeth 70, and, as the pawl 40 moves, it advances the discs at each stroke, only slightly moving the wheel 49, which is returned by the pawl 68. In another position, the outer end of one of the teeth 70 engages the tooth 69, holding up the pawl 40 and allowing the finger 18 to enter the notch 72 in the opening 47 and prevent the pawl from reaching the wheels to turn them, so that the machine goes on printing the same number. In the third position, for duplicate printing, the tooth 69 turns the wheel 49 one tooth at each operation, engaging alternately against the side of a tooth 70, and on a notch 75, Fig. 6, in the next tooth. When it engages the notches 75, the pawl 40 is prevented from engaging and feeding the discs. Fig. 17 shows a machine for use in a printing-forme, which comprises a frame 71 similar to the head 25, carrying the fixed axis 3 on which the numbering-discs 72 are journalled. Secured to the discs 72 are ratchets with which stepped pawls 73 engage in the usual way. These pawls are carried by a plate pivoted by its arms 74 on the axis 3, and having segmental gear teeth engaged by teeth of a straight rack 75 projecting down from a plate 76 movable up aud down. Guide-pins 80 on the plate 76 enter holes in the end 77 of the frame. A spring 78 raises the plate 76, after each depression by the platen of the printing- machine. Pins 84, connected to each other by a cross-piece 85, engage recesses in the pins 80 to limit the movement of the plate 76. A notch 86 facilitates the removal of the pins 84. A projection 130, which may be removably fixed on the plate 76, is provided for printing the word "No." &c. Side plates 87 are fixed by pins 88, 89. The discs following the units disc have drop ciphers, Fig. 23. Each disc has a segment removed at 90, and a section 91 pivoted in the space by a projection 92 in the socket 93. One character 94 on the section 91 is the cipher. In the axis 3 is a groove 44 with which the hooked ends 96 engage to hold the ciphers normally depressed, as shown in dotted lines. When the disc is advanced, the ends 96 pass out of the groove 44, and are supported by the periphery of the shaft. To make the discs easily removable, the projection 92 is cut away so that, by removing a screw 124 from the section 91, the latter may be turned up on its pivot far enough for the pivot to pass out of the socket 93, when the section can be lifted out. A disc is shown in Fig. 25 made up of sections having connecting projections and sockets 97, 98. In Fig. 26, the sections are formed with sockets for connecting- pieces 100. Fig. 30 shows a convertible machine. The machine shown in Fig. 17 is removably secured in inverted position to a frame 103 having a handle 19, and guided in the grooves of a frame 1 attached by lugs 7. to a printing-plate 111, having a curved end 113 and a spring extension 114 attached to a plate 115. A gauge 116 is adjustably mounted on the extension 114. The ink-pad holder is pivoted at 110 to arms 117, and is operated by a rod 118. A slot 120 in the rod 118 engages a pin on the plunger plate 76, Fig. 17, and operates the plunger. Fig. 38 shows a machine with a base having an arm 140 with standards 141 in which the frame 186 is pivoted at 142. A pin 143 engages one of two holes in the frame 186, to hold it in horizontal position, as shown, or in vertical printing position. The printing-head 144 has a handle with a slot, enlarged at one point to receive an enlarged part of a pin 146 to hold the head 144 depressed. The pad holder 191 is supported and operated by links 187, 188. The head 144 carries a set of numbering- discs, a month-printing disc, two numbering-discs for printing the day of the month, and a disc for printing the year. The numbering-wheels are actuated by stepped pawls on a pivot projecting through curved slots in the head, and engaged by pivoted plates rocked by engagement with pins on the frame 186. When it is desired to print one number repeatedly, a button 158 is depressed, and moves a cam-ring by which the stepped pawls are lifted out of engagement with the ratchetwheels. When the button 167 is depressed, the cam ring is turned for consecutive numbering, and the button 158 is raised. The buttons move an indicator plate showing, through an opening, one of the words "consecutive" " or "repeat." The two numbering-discs for the date are advanced daily by depressing a button 169, which operates pair of rings carrying a pawl plate. The units date wheel has characters from 0 to 9, and the other has two groups of 1, 2, 3, 3 with a space between the groups. The ratchet wheels and pawls are so formed that the discs are advanced in the usual way until 30 is printed, after which both discs are advanced to print 31, and then the tens disc only is advanced, leaving the 1 of the units disc in printing position. The year disc is advanced by operating a pawl lever, and the latter also operates to depress the head 144 before the disc is moved.