Patent GB-190202961-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Machines for Printing and Embossing Blank Cheques.
Inventor: COTTRILL FRANK
Filed: 1902-02-05
Granted: 1902-10-09
Abstract: 2961. Cottrill, F. Feb. 5. Type-writers; platen presses.-Relates to machines for printing and embossing the desired amount upon blank cheques or drafts, the amount being printed in characters and figures, simultaneously, together with the date, and also, if desired, the name of the payee. Fig. 9 shows such a cheque, as printed in the machine. The machine itself is shown in perspective view in Fig. 14, and in vertical section towards the lefthand side in Fig. 1. Loosely mounted on a shaft D, having its bearings in the left-hand side frame B and in a bracket E, are a number of type-block holders F, a portion of one of which is shown in Fig. 6. Radial slots G are formed in one half of the periphery of each holder F for the reception of the type-blocks H. In the machine shown the holders F are eleven in number. The extreme right-hand holder carries in its slots type-blocks indicating units of cents, and giving impressions from 0/00 to 9/00. The next holder is provided with type-blocks printing tens of cents, from 0 to 9, the combination of the two enabling any number from 00/00 to 99/00 to be printed. The remaining nine holders carry 'type-blocks adapted to print the amount in dollars in characters from " one up to "nine hundred " ninety-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine," including such forms as "eighteen hundred " instead of " one thousand eight hundred." In the normal or zero position of the holders F, the pair at the right-hand end which relate to cents carry in their lowermost slots the type-blocks 0 and 0/00 ; all the others have empty slots at the lowermost position. In Fig. 6 the holder F is shown turned one step from the zero position, so that a typeblock has replaced the empty slot G. A cord K passes round the unslotted semi-periphery of each holder F, and is secured to a spring drum J, each holder therefore tending to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. This rotation is prevented by a lug I projecting from the end of a vertically-guided and spring-controlled bolt I<1>. The lug engages with one of the recesses or steps, which are disposed in spiral form. The bolts I' are actuated by levers N pivoted on a shaft N' and tensioned upwards by springs O. When a key P is depressed, one of the levers N is depressed to an extent depending on the numerical value of the key, and the bolt P is depressed in a corresponding manner. The tension of the cord K causes the holder F to rotate until it is arrested by the engagement of another of the steps with the lug I, the selected type-block being then in the lowermost position. Spring-controlled locking-combs D' engage over bevelled projections r<1> on the key stems, and hold each key down as it is depressed. The effect of depressing the various keys required to write a given amount in words is, therofore, to bring the proper series of type-blocks into line with one another at the lowest position, the line being broken up by the empty slots of those typeholders which there has been no occasion to operate. A sliding pusher Q<2>, guided on a track R and guiderod R', is now moved by hand towards the right, and an upwardly-projecting finger which enters the slots in the type-holders sweeps all the selected type-blocks before it into a type-bed, or channel Q, the blocks being thus brought together in line and the blank spaces eliminated. A carriage T, adapted to reciprocate towards and from the operator, is provided in front with a handle U and at its rear end with an inking-roller Z. The cheque having been placed in position in the carriage is first pushed into position beneath the assembled type-blocks, and the handle U is then depressed so as to press the rubber-surfaced printing strips or platens V<1>, V<2>, V<3>, against the type and produce an impression slightly embossed from above. The strip V<2> effects the impression of the name of the payee and the amount in figures, and the strip V<3> effects the impression of the date. The name and date are printed by means of dies temporarily locked in position in suitable slots in the bed Q, numerous draughts or cheques in favour of the same payee being frequently required at one time. The amount in figures is printed by a series of type-wheels F<1> which are set simultaneously with the type-blocks in the holders F. The levers N, Fig. 1, are carried by co-axial or telescoping sleeves N' each of which bears at its right-hand end a second lever which controls the corresponding numberprinting wheel. F<1> in the same manner as the lever N controls the holder F. The frame which receives the cheque in the carriage is capable of a limited movement towards the right, and when some of the numbering-wheels F' are not in use, (as will be the case in this machine when the amount is less than 100,000 dollars), the cheque is automatically moved sufficiently towards the right to cause the first figure to be printed close up to the dollar mark already printed on the cheque. The type-blocks and name and date dies are also moved an equal distance beyond the normal, so that they effect impressions commencing always at the same point on the cheque. When the type-blocks do not fill up the space to the left hand of the printed word "Dollars," the blank space is filled by a line printed from a thin metal strip which forms a yielding resistant to the advancing line of typeblocks. After the cheque has been printed, the type-blocks are returned to their proper places in the holders F<1> by means of transporting and distributing devices actuated by the return movement of the slide Q<2>. The holders F are then returned to the normal position by drawing forward a lever C' mounted on the shafts D, and at the same time the gearing a<2>, a<3> effects a corresponding movement of the shaft X of the numbering-wheels, which also assume the zero position. The locking- combs D' of the key-stems are simultaneously caused to release the stems by the rearward movement of a universal bar y, Fig. 1, and the machine is again ready for use. Special mechanism is provided for ensuring that, when such an amount as " nineteen " is to be written, the type-block which bears the single word shall alone be brought to position, although two of the numbering-wheels are actuated to print the figure 19.