IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR NUMBERING, PRINTING, CUTTING AND COLLECTING TICKETS, CHEQUES, LABELS OR THE LIKE
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN MELTON BLACK of Windmill Street Finsbury in the City of London-
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANISM FOR NUMBERING, PRINTING, CUTTING AND COLLECTING TICKETS,
CHEQUES, LABELS OR THE LIKE, to be as follows :—
The object of this Invention is to combine under one head, and as one Machine
the improvements set forth in the Specification of Patents granted to me and
applied for by ine, First:-September 11th 1883 No 4350-for "Improvements
in Mechanisin for Numbering, Printing, and Cutting, tickets, cheques, and other
Bimilar and like articles progressively and consecutively."-Second. October 26th
1883 N° 5092 for "Certain Improvements in Mechanism for cross-cutting, separating,
and packing tickets, cheques labels or other similar and like articles in progressive
and consecutive order. Third: Foby 18th 1884 N° 3484.-Fourth-May 15th 1884
No 7776 and Fifth May 21st 1884 N° 8010. The last three above named inventions
for which Patents have been applied for are additions which further develope the
two first named Inventions for which Patents have been granted.
The inventions set forth in the Specifications above recited describe first-an
arrangement of Printing machine, which will print on a continuous web of paper,
cardboard or the liko a series of consecutive numbers, and subject matter at
intervals, apart, and in lines representing individual tickets on each line so printed
side by side. The web of paper so printed upon being subsequently cut by circular
knives into individual strips forming lines of continuous, consecutively numbered
tickets which are finally wound on reels or bosses for use either as rolled tickets or
cut up so as to form separate tickets. The Specification of October 26th 1883
N° 5092 describes an arrangement of cutting apparatus designed for cutting up
the continuous web of numbered and subject matter into pieces representing
tickets, and the Provisional Specifications of May 15th and 21st 1884, numbered
respectively 7776 and 8010, describe an arrangement of apparatus designed for
collecting in consecutive order the pieces or tickets as they are delivered from the
rotating cutters and delivering them continuously on to a table or platform.
It has been found in practice that the dryness or humidity of the atmosphere
has an influence ou paper, cardboard or similar material which material it expandą

page_text: or contracts and therefore in the case where a continuous length or web of paper
has received upon its surface at equal distances apart subject matter and consecutivo
numbers which are subsequently required for use as separate Tickets such as
Railway or Tramway tickets, the cutting up of such continuous web of printed
matter should be effected on the same machine, and under exactly similar atmo-
spheric influences, therefore it is incumbent that the printing of such continuous
web of paper as described in single strips on cardboard or the like, cutting the
same into pieces representing tickets and collecting such tickets in consecutive
order with exactitude and expedition, should be simultaneous processes carried out
in one machine.
The object of this invention is simply to combine as one machine the Printing
machine or any modification of the same forming the subjects of the Patents
granted to me and applied for September 11th 1883 Nº 4350, and February 18th
1884 N° 3484, the cutting machine October 26th 1883 N° 5092 and the
manner of collecting the tickets as cut from the continuous web in consecutive
order May 15th 1884 N° 7776 and May 21st 1884 N° 8010. By combining the
Printing cutting and collecting machine as one Machine, when the various processes
are carried on simultaneously, I am enabled with rapidity on a continuous running
web of paper, cardboard or the like, and cut up and collect the same in continuous,
progressive, and consecutive order tickets, cheques labels or the like with exactitude
and precision.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I JOHN MELTON BLACK of Windmill Street Finsbury in the City of London,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANISM FOR NUMBERING PRINTING, CUTTING AND COLLECTING IN CON-
SECUTIVE ORDER TICKETS, CHEQUES LABELS OR THE LIKE" and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
"
The object of this Invention is to combine under ono head and as one Machine
the improvements set forth in the Specification of Patents applied for and granted
to me September 11th 1883. N° 4350 for "Improvements in Mechanism for
Numbering, Printing and Cutting Tickets, Cheques, and other similar and like
articles progressively and consecutively" October 26th 1883 N° 5092, for "Certain
improvements in Mechanism for Cross-cutting Separating and packing tickets,
cheques, labels or other similar and like articles in progressive and consecutive
order February 18th 1884 N° 3484 for "Improvements in mechanism or
apparatus for numbering and printing tickets cheques and other similar and liko
articles progressively and consecutively" May 21st 1884 N° 8010. The last named
relates to "An improved arrangement of apparatus for collecting Tickets, Labels,
or cheques in consecutivo order as delivered from a cutting machine" The
inventions set forth in the Specifications above recited, describe first in that of
the 11th of September 1883, an arrangement of Printing machine which will print
on a continuous web of paper, cardboard or the like a series of cousecutive numbers
and subject matter at intervals apart and in lines representing individual tickets
on each line so printed side by side, the web of paper material so printed upon
being subsequently cut by circular knives into individual strips forming lines of
continuous consecutively numbered tickets which are finally wound on reels or
bosses for use as rolled tickets in the manner described in the Specification of a
Patent applied for by me October 31st 1884 N° 14,421 for "An improved method
of maintaining a rolled strip or ribbon of consecutively numbered tickets in a
compact form whilst being reduced, and in the means employed therefor."
The Specification of the 2nd Patont of October 26th 1883 describes an arrange-
ment of cutting apparatus, designed for cutting up the continuous ribbons after
having received their numbers and subject matter into pieces representing tickets.
The Specification of Patent 3484-1884 describes an arrangement of Machine
for numbering and printing tickets and the like on a single strip or ribbon of paper
representing one line of tickets.
The Specification of the Patent applied for on the 21st of May 1884 numbered
8010 describe an arrangement of apparatus which in combination with the rotary
cutters is designed for collecting in consecutive order the pieces representing
tickets (as they are cut from the continuous web of printed subject matter) and
delivering them continuously on to a table or platform ready for removal for being
pinned together in bundles or placed in receptacles for distribution.

page_text: When it is required to cut the continuous web or ribbon of printed matter into
pieces each one of which shall have its own distinctive number and subject matter
printed thercon and subsequently to collect such cut pieces or tickets in consecutivo
order the two processes should be carried on simultaneously with the printing
because the dryness or humidity of the atmosphere has an influence on paper which
causes it to expand or contract, therefore in the case where a continuous length or
web of paper has received upon its surface at equal distances apart subject matter
and consecutive numbers which are subsequently required for use as separate
tickets such as Tram Car or Railway Tickets, the cutting up and collecting of such
continuous web or ribbon of paper into tickets should be effected simultaneously
with the printing, and under exactly similar atmospheric influences, therefore it is
incumbent that the processes of printing such continuous webs or ribbons of paper,
cutting the same up into pieces representing individual tickets, and finally collecting
such tickets in consecutive order with exactitude and expedition should be per-
formed continuously and in one machine, As the object of this invention is the
construction of a machine of that nature which will combine (with certain
improvements in their adaptation and modification) the several inventions described
in the Specification of my Patents herein recited I have in order that my
invention may be well understood and explained in detail annexed hereunto
4 Sheets of Drawings upon which letters of rnforonco are marked on corresponding

page_text: Fig 12 represents in detached elevation that portion of the machine where the
continuous web of paper when printed upon is cut up into tickets and collected in
.consecutive order.
Figs 14 and 15, represents diagrams of the flyer collecting the tickets in
consecutive order as delivered from the rotary cutters.
Fig 14 represents the flyer in that portion of its revolution when it is descending
onto the ticket just delivered and Fig 15 represents the same ticket forced by the
continued revolution of the flyer on to the surface of the previous tickets similarly
acted upon.
.
Sheet Figs 17 and 18 represent as diagrams elevation and plan views of a
machine constructed according to my improvements and designed more particularly
for printing Railway return tickets which have to receive on their surface in
.addition to subject matter duplicate consecutive numbers.
In the above Figures A is the framing of the machine, at one end of this frame
the roll or web of paper, cardboard or other like material a is supported out of
which the consecutively numbered tickets are subsequently formed, I profer to
place the roll of paper to be printed at some little distance from the point where
it first enters the machine in order that the web whilst passing may be under
inspection and further should the web break or run out whilst the printing is in
progress the machine would be automatically stopped, before the end of the web
would have time to come into contact with the printing rollers thereby preventing
loss of time in restarting.
This stopping arrangement I accomplish by supporting on the travelling web of
blank paper a roller & placed at an intermediate distance between guide rollers b'b²
the roller b is connected with a trigger lever b³ or its equivalent which said roller
and lever are by the tension of the web of paper whilst the machine is running
kept in an elevated position during which time the trigger or abutment of the
lever b³ rests upon the end of one arm of a horizontal lever b the end of the other
arm of this lever supports a weight and its oscillating fulcrum is connected by tho
levers and rods & with the strap fork 6° Thus it will be seen that so long as the
web of paper passing to the machine is complete the lever b will maintain its
horizontal position, but in the event of the web running out or breaking the
roller b being no longer supported by such web will drop or fall back and so
release the lever & the weight on the end of which will force through the medium
of the lever and rod 6, the strap fork bo on to the loose pully and so stop the
machine.
The web of paper a entering the machine under the tension roller o passes
between the printing roller d and its impression roller d'.
The roller is provided around its periphery with subject matter type designed
for printing advertisement notices or the like on the back of the web of paper the
"set off" being removed from the printed surface by an endless travelling tape d³
or its equivalent.
1
From these rollers the web passes between the printing rollers e e' which print
on the opposite surface of the web with each revolution, ten separate impressions
of the subject matter, designed for the front of the tickets.
After the running web in its onward course has been thus printed on back and
front it next comes under the action of the type numbers of the consecutive
number printing discs f. f shewn more clearly in detail at Figs 3 and 4 Sheet 2.
On the axle of the disc f the ten faced polygonal disc f is secured, each face of
this disc carries one of the series of type numbering discs f³.
The combined surfaces of these discs f³ form the periphery of the disc f between
which and the impression roller f the running web of paper a receiving the
impression of their type numbers pass in the direction shewn by the arrow; f' is
a fixed cam which through the medium of the levers f³ secured to the axles of the
numbering discs f³ give such discs whilst revolving round the main axlo of thọ
roller or disc f their consecutive order of change as required preparatory for being
inked and transferring their impression to the running web of paper a
}

page_text: It will be seen on referring to Fig 4 that I havo shewn as an example four type
numbering discs on each of the series f³ mounted on the cylinder f three only of
these are capable of being rotated on their axles intermittantly by the cam f' viz 2.
3 and 4 the discs 1 whilst the machine is at work are fixtures and are provided
around with type numbers that is to say-
Number one disc of the first series of discs will have its periphery the number
ono.
The second of the series in like manner the number two.
The third series three, and so on until the ninth of the series is completed.
The tenth of the series instead of a number is provided in like manner with a
cypher.
These fixed type numbers when the machine is at work form the units and
deliver their impressions from cypher to nine each time the disc or roller f revolves.
After the first revolution of the roller delivering the units the levers and
friction bowls f" whilst being carried round the fixed groove of the cam f' have as
each lever passed the top centre received in succession an inward or positive motion
which effects the necessary consecutive change to the type numbers before they
arrive at the bottom centre where they receive their supply of ink after which the
inked type numbers are steadily retained in position until they have passed their
top centre and delivered their impressions on the strip or web of paper a running
at the same surface speed as the disc or roller f; during the time the type
numbering discs are descending after having delivered their impressions the
levers governed in their movements by the fixed cam f receive their negative
or return motion preparatory for being again acted upon as they descend for giving
the necessary change to the type numbers as before described.
So soon as the full complement of the numbers on the discs, 1, 2, 3 and 4 have
delivered their impressions representing nine thousand nine hundred and ninety
nine which numbers during the process of printing have been automatically
registered on the dial g an inspection of such dial will enable the man in charge
to know exactly the progress and advance of the consecutive order of the numbers
printed, by the machine and will also warn him by a bell or other call that the
machine is just arriving at the completion of its highest number.
When this alarm is given the machine is stopped as it completes its highest
number the final impression indicated being represented by 00 00 which has
a number one prefixed thereto by hand making up the maximum number of tickets
printed 10,000 which is termed the first series.
Before again starting the machine the operative places in printing contact the
discs h¹ the disc is provided at distances apart around its periphery and in
register with the numbering discs previously described with ten axles each one of
which carries two discs h³ provided with letters of the alphabet in capitals and
italics. The discs of the series provided with the capitals are exactly similar as are
also the discs provided with italics. These discs whilst the machine is at work are
fixed, so that when the machine again restarts it commences printing with the
number one having prefixed thereto the alphabetical letter A which is indicated on
the dial g; the exposing of this letter through the orifice in the dial plate having
been effected by the operative at the time of restarting the machine for the second
series; when this second series has been completed the alphabetical series is then
arranged to start with the capital letter B prefixed to the numbers and so the
changes of the series goes on until the Capitals on the first of the series of discs h
have completed their maximum of letters at which time the operative places in
printing contact the two discs, capitals and italics h' and h³ so as to enable the
machine to continue its order of printing in series with the letters A. a. prefixed
and then A. b. and so on with each series printed ad-infinitum.
It will be seen on reference to Fig 4 that the disc h carrying the alphabetical
series is made adjustable on its axle, this arrangement enablos such disc to be
moved transversely across the line of printed matter on the running web. The
alphabetical sories of letters on tho discs h³ and h³ carried by the disc ỗ cán by this

page_text: means be placed in any position for delivering their impressions relative to the
numbers on the face of the tickets.
The running web of paper having now received upon its surface the subject
matier consecutive numbers, and series letter it passes under the action of the
rollers which are type and impression rollers and can be used or not for
printing on the divisions or tickets forming the continuous web of paper dovices
signs or marks.
The inking of the type on the type rollers d. e. f. h. and i whether black or in
colors is transferred thereto from the ink troughs k by the vibrating "ductor
rollers and the distributing and conveying rollers an endless ribbon or its
equivalent in contact with the printed matter on the web is provided for removing
the "set off."
The web of paper now being fully printed as it leaves the rollers i i¹ can
be directed so as to pass under guide rollers l. l. to rotary knives for being cut up
into tickets in manner as hereinafter described or such rollers l. l. can be removed
from their axles and perforating rollers m. m² similar to those shewn on the
drawings at Fig 5 substituted therefor. The construction and action of these
rollers are as follows:-
The upper roller m is provided with fixed punches which project from the
periphery of such roller at intervals apart representing lengths which correspond to
the lengths of the tickets into which the continuous web of printed paper is to bo
divided The punches are so fixed in the said roller m by the annular ring m³ that
any one or more of them if damaged can be readily removed and perfect punches
substituted therefor The matrices for the reception of the said punches are forined
in the periphery of the lower roller m¹ this roller is hollow beneath the perforated
matrice plates it is so constructed for the purpose of allowing the small discs of
paper cut by the punches from the running web of paper to pass through the said
matrice perforations into the interior of the said roller from whenco they are
removed from time to time.
The punches are accurately fitted to their matrices and are caused to enter the
samo with precision as they are carried round with their revolving rollers by
means of the conical teeth or projection m³ formed on the periphery of the roller m
entering the conical recesses of the lower matrice roller m².
When the punch rollers m. m² are employed the knife rollers o. o¹ are removed
out of contact with each other so as to allow the continuous web of printed tickets
to pass direct to the spool n shewn in dots Fig 1. from which spool the printed and
perforated web is rewound into rolls of consecutively numbered tickets of a definito
length and quantity for subsequent use.
If the web of paper or cardboard when fully printed on as described is required
to be cut up and collected into consecutively numbered tickets then the guide
rollers. are substituted for the perforators m. m³.
The web of paper according to this arrangement as it issues from the rollers i i
passes direct between the guide rollers l. 2 to the action of the shears or knives on
the rollers o. o' the action of which cut the continuous web of paper or cardboard
into distinct and separate pieces of an exactly similar length.
The construction and action of the cutters will be more clearly understood on
reference to Figs 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the drawings.
The cutters o' are supported and slide in radiating slots or spaces formed in the
block of the disc or roller o, these cutters nearest to the axis of the said roller
block o are provided with bowls of which according to the arrangement shewn at
Fig 6 are placed in a mean or balanced position between the ends of the cutter
The said bowls fit the groove of the fixed cam f* through the centre of this cam the
shaft of the roller carrying the cutters is supported in a block which is fixed by set
screws in vertical slides formed in the frame A. these screws enable the position
of the rollers o and o¹ to be determined relative to each other according to the
thickness of paper or cardboard passing between them.

page_text: The type and impression rollers before described have also this provision of
adjustment.
The fixed cain is so shaped that when the roller block o is revolving with the
cutters it causes the bowls which form a portion of each cutter to keep the cutting
edge of the knives sheathed within the block o until they are required for action
but immediately each knife is brought in succession into a position where their
cutting edges would touch the travelling paper the groove of the said cam forces
them to descend until the vertical centre is reached at which time the length of
paper in advance of the knife will by the action of such knife and the under fixed
cutter or ledger blade of become severed as seen at Fig 11 from the continuous web
and the next cutter in succession will then have taken hold of, or come into contact
with the next length of paper represented as between the distance of the knives
which is also severed in like manner and so on in succession as the cutters and their
ledger blades revolve The upper knives are adjusted and fixed to their sliding
supports by screws and their cutting edges are set at an incline so that when rising
and falling in a rectilinear direction they will cut through the paper transversely
from edge to edge.
The ledger blades of are set to the cutting edges of the movable upper knives by
means of set screws as slown at Figs 8 and 9 or by the inclined surfaces on the
bolt o as shewn at Fig 10 the said ledger blades when set or adjusted are fixed by
the screws 07.
The top movable cutters and their ledger blades are by preference made longer
than the material to be cut and are so arranged that when the top cutters are
closing on to their ledger blades the accuracy of the cut is assured by reason of
that portion of the cutter first coming into contact with their ledger blades being
provided with an overlapping projection slightly bevelled, this formation causes the
knives to yield or slightly spring one on to the other whilst cutting.
At Fig 7 a further modification is shewn of the manner in which the upper
cutters are actuated.-According to this arrangement ench knife or cutter o¹ is
supported at one end on a pivot or fulcrum o in manner similar to the upper blade
of a pair of shears the opening and closing of the same on to their fixed cutters or
ledger blades being effected by the action of the bowles as the knives are carried
round the fixed cam fin manner similar to that previously described in connection
with Fig. 6.
The pieces of cardboard or printed tickets as they are cut in register one with
the other from the continuous web by the rotary knives as described are passed
between two pair of guide rollers 2 and 21 to the action of a flyer q which places
them in consecutive order in the box or trunk r.
The manner in which the tickets are so collected may be described as follows:-
I mount in front of the rotary cutters o. o delivering the tickets as seen at
Figs 11. and 12 two pair of rollers p and pl the circumferential speed of these
rollers is greater than the speed of the rotary knives and the circumferential speed
of the rollers' is greater than the speed of the rollers p by this means I am
enabled rapidly to withdraw each ticket as severed clear from the ticket next
following as seen at the enlarged view Fig: 11. Each ticket as it escapes from tho
last pair of roller p' passes underneath the elliptically shaped flyer q whilst in a
borizontal position. This flyer has two balanced arms which by preference assume
a convex formation on their front sides opposed to their line of rotation. The flyer
is driven by the gearing g' from the gearing transmitting motion to the delivering
rollers and the speed of the said flyer is half that of the speed of the rollers p
and their arrangement is such that when the ticket is delivered from the rollers p'
the revolving flyer q will in its course of revolution be in a horizontal position
immediately over the ticket as shewn at Fig 14 its continued angular velocity at
this time wipes or forces with one of its convex arms such ticket down as seen at
Fig 15 on to the surface of the tickets previously delivered into the box and as it i

page_text: continues its revolution the next ticket delivered is in like manner again forced
down by the other arm of the flyer thus enabling such flyer with one completo
revolution to place two tickets in the box.
In order that the upper level of the tickets as they are delivered in consecutive
order and placed in the said box shall always assume one level just clear of the flyer
I support such tickets when the machine is first started on the platform & which may
form the termination of a telescopic radial arm as shewn at Fig 1. or of flexibally
divided blocks of wood s capable of being inserted in the trunk of the box r as seen
at Figs 12 and 13.
According to the former arrangement the telescopic radial arm is provided with
a sliding platform 8 which is inserted in the box r through a slot and maintained in
that position so long as its shoulder 8' rests against the face of the segment &³ this
radial arm is driven by the worm wheel gearing &³ at a speed which will cause the
platforms to descend at a speed uniform with the accumulation of tickets placed in
the box by the flyer q until its shoulder s¹ actuated by a spring in its telescopic
slide escapes from the segment s' at which time the uniform traverse and removal
of the accumulating tickets is taken up by the endless travelling wob t.
The trunk or box r is so held that it will allow a tremulous or vibrating motion
to be transmitted thereto for the purpose of shaking the tickets as they are
collected and so cause them to settle down and uniformly descend in such box and
out therefrom on to the horizontal endless travelling web t. Or if the latter
arrangement is employed I insert into the trunk r the flexibally divided wooden
blocks & up to a point where their upper surface will form a platform or support for
the reception of the tickets.
The lower end of these divided wooden blocks I couple on to the endless
travelling web t which is driven by the worm wheel gearing 8ª at a speed uniform
with the accumulation of tickets in the box r by the employment of these blocks
the tickets are supported until they have filled the trunk r at which time the
blocks are removed and the tickets which are supported by themselves travel with
the endless web t in a horizontal direction from the surface of which they are
removed, and stowed away in bundles for subsequent uso.
On Sheet 4 Fig 17 represents in elevation an arrangement of machine constructed
according to my invention designed for printing Railway return tickets, In this
arrangement the type rollers are placed in a concentric position round a central
impression roller which is mounted in bearings and capable of being moved
transversely across the running web of paper passing under its surface by this
means the surface of the impression roller relative to the type rollers can be altered
so as to renew from time to time, the impression surfaco, According to this
arrangement of printing the web of cardboard passes as before described, first
between the type and impression rollers d. which print subject matter notices or
the like on the back of the web, after which the web passes round the central
impression roller or cylinler v passing in its course first under the type roller c
printing the subject matter on the front of the web. Secondly under the first
series of type consecutive numbering rollers f. Thirdly under the second series of
similar rollers ff which print the duplicate consecutive numbers on the opposite
end of each length of tickets represented on the web of cardboard. Fourthly under
the rollers h printing designs or devices on the tickets. Fifthly under the tinting
roller g' and finally over the guide roller g* at which point the printed web of
cardboard leaves the impression cylinder v and in its onward course passes
between the nicking rollers g³ which nick or pierce the continuous web at points
equi-distant between their duplicate consecutive numbers; after being thus nicked
or pierced the web of cardboard passes to the action of the cutters o. o' where it is
cut up into tickets which are delivered from the cutters and passed into the
receiving box or trunk r in manner similar to the tickets previously described
herein.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
Firstly. Combining in one machine an arrangement of type rollers and perforators
which will produce from a continuous web of paper a continuous perforated web of
tickets, cheques, labels or the like consecutively numbered and delivered from the
machine in a roll-in the manner as herein substantially described.
Secondly. Combining in one machine an arrangement of type rollers, rotary
cutters and a collector which will produce from a continuous web of paper singlo
tickets cheques labels or the like consecutively numbered and collected in con-
secutive order in the manner as herein substantially described set forth and fully
illustrated in the drawings annexed.
Finally. Combining in one machine an arrangement of typo rollers, rotary cutters
and a collector which will produce tickets cheques or labels consecutively numbered
in duplicate and collected in consecutive order as herein substantially described and
shown at Sheet 4 of the drawings.