IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING ON LEAVES OF BOOKS THEIR DESIGNATIONS, NUMBERS, OR DEVICES, OR THOSE OF THEIR PAGES; WHICH MACHINERY OR APPARATUS MAY ALSO BE USED TO ADVANTAGE FOR PRINTING DESIGNATING NUMBERS OR DEVICES ON VARIOUS OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1853

page_text: setts,. of the United States of America, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING ON LEAVES
OF BOOKS THEIR DESIGNATIONS, NUMBERS, OR DEVICES, OR THOSE OF
THEIR PAGES; WHICH MACHINERY OR APPARATUS MAY ALSO BE USED TO
ADVANTAGE FOR PRINTING DESIGNATING NUMBERS OR DEVICES ON
VARIOUS OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 16th August 1853, and dated the 1st March 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John M°Adams at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st March 1853.
I, JOHN MCADAMS, of the State of Massachusetts, of the United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
consists as follows:-
First, in so combining with the hinged links of a chain a set of types
that one or more of the said types composing the designating number
or device of a single page of a book shall be placed on each link of
such chain, and also so that the designating numbers or devices shall

page_text: be arranged on the several links in succession in the order in which
they are to be printed on the pages of a book.
Second, in combining with two chains of type a separator plate or
rest, placed between them and a certain contrivance or contrivances for
compressing it between and by them, so that when a sheet of paper is
laid on the upper surface of the separator plate and another sheet
placed against its lower surface, and the compression takes place, a
printed impression may not only be produced on the upper side of one
sheet but on the lower side of the other.
Third, in combining with each of the flat links of a chain the types
designating the numbers or devices of the two opposite sides of a page,
or sheet of paper, or other material.
Fourth, in combining with a chain so made as last mentioned and
two platens or stamps, a flat bed or plate having an intermittent
revolving motion, and constructed so as present during such semi-
revolution of it some link of the chain, first with the face of its type
upwards, and next with the said face downwards, and so that an imprint
from one of the designating devices on said link may be produced when
said device is upwards, and another produced when the next or other
designating device is downwards.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said John M'Adams, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 1st September 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J,
JOHN MCADAMS, of the State of Massachusetts, of the United States of
America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her. most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of March, in the year of our
Lord 1853, in the 16th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs
and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John McAdams, Her
special licence that I, the said John McAdams, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John McAdams, my

page_text: executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING ON LEAVES OF BOOKS THEIR
DESIGNATIONS, NUMBERS, OR DEVICES, OR THOSE OF THEIR PAGES, WHICH MA-.
CHINERY OR APPARATUS MAY ALSO BE USED TO ADVANTAGE FOR PRINTING
DESIGNATING NUMBERS OR DEVICES ON VARIOUS OTHER ARTICLES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John McAdams, by an in-
strument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John McAdams, do hereby de-
clare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
The subject matter of my invention relates principally to a new
method of printing the numbers upon the pages of blank books after
they are bound, and consists in applying the types so as to print
simultaneously upon opposite sides of the alternate leaves, and thus
complete the work as it progresses; and in a new manner of constructing
and combining the several parts of the machine so as to effect the
printing of the odd and even numbers of the alternate leaves of the
bound book by one movement of the treadle worked by the foot of the
operator.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a front cleva-
tion of the machine; Fig. 2, is a side elevation; Fig. 3, is a front
elevation of that part of the machine which performs the printing,
drawn to a larger scale; and Fig. 4, is a vertical transverse section of
the same, taken through the middle of the type chains. A, is the frame

page_text: of the machine upon which the several parts are mounted, as shown;
B, is the table upon which the book is laid when paged, as shown in
Fig. 1; C, C, are the upper and lower jaws of the printing apparatus.
The upper jaw C¹, is made moveable, being hinged to the lower one at c.
The lower jaw C, is fixed and is secured to the bracket B', which
projects back from one of the frames of the machine as shown. These
jaws are made of the form shown so as to receive the shafts D, D¹,
around each of which one of the type chains E, E', respectively pass.
That part of the shaft which is embraced by the type chain is made
square, and of a diameter equal to the width of the several links of the
chain, so that it embraces the shaft firmly, and is held steady when the
impression is given, and is carried forward when the shaft is turned.
The shafts D, D¹, hang near the outer extremity of the jaws, so that
when the upper jaw is vibrated the shaft D', moves through a con-
siderable distance. Near one end of each shaft is a square part a, upon
which the spring a', bears, by which the shaft is held in the proper
position to present the types truly to give the impression. b, b, are
ratchets upon the shafts D, D', of four teeth each, corresponding to the
four sides of the shafts. They are worked by pawls b', and levers d,
which turn upon the shafts as fulcra, as is shown more distinctly in
Fig. 4. The outer ends of the levers d, are each attached to one end
of the links e, the other end of which is attached to the opposite jaw of
the machine, so that when the jaws are opened and closed it produces a
quarter revolution of each of the shafts in a perfectly obvious manner.
The type chains E, E', are made of metallic plates hinged together in
the form of an endless band, upon which the stereotyped figures are
soldered. The upper chain E', is furnished with the even numbers,
2, 4, 6, &c., in regular succession, and the lower one E, with the odd
They are made of sufficient
numbers, 1, 3, 5, &c., in the same manner.
length to receive a series of numbers sufficient to page any ordinary
book. The chains are supported when the printing takes place, and are
carried forward between the impressions by the shafts D, D', as already
described. They are supported at the other extremity upon the pulleys
9, around which they pass. F, is a plate of metal, which is hinged at
one end at c, called the tongue or separator, which is placed between

page_text: the two leaves of the book which are being printed, and serves as a
platen to each chain of types. f, is a bridle, which is attached to one
side of the tongue, and is made to serve the double purpose of preventing
the jaws from opening too wide, and also of bringing the tongue to an
intermediate position when the jaws are opened, as shown in Fig. 4, to
permit the leaves to be readily inserted above and below it. 'G, is an
endless belt, made of moleskin or ribbon, called the "smut belt," which
passes around the outer end of the tongue, and along each side of it, as
shown, and serves as a tympan-sheet to each series of types: it is made to
move along a short distance at each impression, being carried by the
pulleys g, which also sustain and carry the type chains, as before
described; for this reason the pulleys g, are made with two scores, so as
to receive both. The "smut belt" is further guided for convenience by
the pulleys g'. H, is a forked rod, which is attached at its upper end
to the upper jaw C, and leads down to the treadle I, by which the
machine is worked. J, is a counterpoise upon the treadle, to raise it
when relieved by the foot. K, is a standard, which is fastened to the
floor at a distance from the machine proportionate to the length of the
type chains with the several pulley stands, for supporting the type chains
and smut belt arranged upon it. L, in Fig. 1, represents a section of
a book in the position in which it is placed while being paged. The
two leaves extended horizontally show their position when they are
printed; those that are bent up show their position before they are.
printed; and those which hang down, their position afterwards..
.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-Before commencing to
page a book both the type chains are inked with a hand inking roller
such as is used by printers; the chains are then carried along until the
figure 2, of the upper chain, and the number 1, of the lower chain,
are brought opposite each other ready for the impression. The book is
then laid upon the table B, with the covers turned back as shown
in Fig. 1; it is then placed in such. a position that when the leaves
are extended naturally they will be in the proper relation to the types
which are to give the impression to print the number on the right place
on the page. The operator, sitting in front of the machine, then rests
the right arm upon the book to hold it, and seizes the whole mass of

page_text: leaves with the right hand by the corner next the printing apparatus,
and bends them up out of the way, as shown in Figure 1; the impression
is then given by the foot, and the number 2, printed upon the upper
side of the leaf. The foot is then raised, which opens the jaws, and by
the operation of the ratchets and their appendages; before described;
each of the shafts D, is turned one fourth of a revolution, which brings
the next number in each chain to the proper position to give an im-
pression. The leaf that. was before printed is then passed below the
tongue to receive an impression from the lower chain, and the next leaf
is detached from the mass in the right hand and inserted in its place;
the impression is again given, which prints the number 1,. upon the
under side of the first leaf, and the number 4, upon the side of
upper
the second. The operation of discharging the lower leaf, passing the
upper one below the tongue, and inserting a. fresh leaf above it, is
repeated at each impression, until the book is finished. Thus an
accurate registering of the printing with any required margin is pro-
duced by simply holding the book fixed, and bringing the leaves to be
printed to their natural position, the others being bent out of the way
above and below them, as shown.
A modification of my machine, the essential features of which have
been herein-above described, is represented in Sheets. 2, and 3, of
the accompanying, drawings. In Sheet 2, Fig. 5, is a side elevation
of the machine. In Sheet 3, Fig. 6, is a plan or top view; Fig. 7,
a detail front view, showing the platens, &c.; and Fig. 8, a side view
of the inking supply wheel.
"
In this arrangement of the machine the type chains, instead of being
attached to a moveable jaw, which vibrated so as to bring the types, to
bear upon a tongue or platen, as in the mode above described, are
so arranged as to be, fed along horizontally, without any vibratory
inovement, over a rotating shaft, which feeds the types along for each
impression, as in the first instance. In lieu of having the type chains
upon a moveable jaw, I use two moveable platens, as they may be
termed, placed one above and, the other below the type chain, and
the sheet
operated by toggles, which cause the said platens to press..
upon the upper and under sides of the type chain., Instead of two type

page_text: chains, with odd and even numbers arranged upon them respectively,
but one type chain is employed, the numbers of which are arranged in
numerical order, the leaf being first placed on the upper side of the
chain, and the impression given by a treadle, and then on the underside
of the chain. The type plates of this chain are fed along upon a flat
shaft, which makes half a revolution at a time, and is so held as to keep
the said type plates in a horizontal position, both on the upper and
under sides of the said shaft, while the impression is given. a², a³, a³,
in Sheets 2, and 3, represent the supporting framework of the machine.
62, 6, is the table upon which the book to be paged is laid. c, c, c²,.
is the type chain, which is arranged in a compact form around
the pulleys d², d, &c., and passes in a horizontal position on the top
framework of the machine, over the flat rotating shaft e. This shaft
makes half a revolution at a time by means of a rack f*, (operated by
the vertical shaft g, connected to the treadle rod h2, h3,) and the pinion
, or by any other arrangement of mechanical devices for giving it (the
shaft e) the requisite motion. 2, 3, are two vibrating platens, placed
one above and the other below the type chain. These platens are made
to press respectively upon the upper and under sides of the type chain,
by means of the toggles 2, 12, which are actuated by the treadle rod h², h².
The book to be printed or paged is placed upon the table 62, 63, in
precisely the same position as in the first-described mode, and as reprc-
sented in Fig. 1, Sheet 1. The leaf is first placed upon the top of
the type chain, and its under side printed by the upper vibrating platen
le, which is pressedy down upon the type chain by the treadle. The leaf
is then passed to the under side of the chain, and its upper side printed
by the lower platen k³, which is pressed up against the under side of
the chain, which has been previously turned with the shaft e², so as to
bring the next number on the under side of the said shaft. At the same
time that the first leaf is passed to the under side of the type chain a
second leaf is received, which has its under side printed by the upper
platen k², while the upper side of the preceding leaf is printed by the
lower platen . After the impression is given by the types, the platens
are opened by relieving the foot from the treadle, which is retracted
(and thus opens the toggles) by the action of a spiral spring m³, attached

page_text: to a fast collar of the cross shaft n, to which shaft the treadle is
fastened, so that by depressing the treadle the spring is coiled up.
The uncoiling of this spring will retract the treadle and its rod, h², he,
which actuates the toggles, as will be readily understood without further
explanation, by inspection of the Drawings.
By this last-described mode of operating the machine, the succes
sive numbers are printed on each side of the page by the two, vibrating
platens, which respectively press the paper on the upper and under
sides of the type chain, each plate of which chain has two numbers or
types on it, and is fed along by the rotating shaft e, so as to bring the
proper number in succession after the first impression is given in posi
tion on the said shaft, which by its half revolution feeds one plate or
link of the chain at a time from the upper to the under platen. Thus
it will be seen that the flat shaft e, serves as a bed piece for both the
üpper and lower platens, the types at the time of the impression lying
in a horizontal position on both sides of the shaft.
In order that the platens may press upon the paper, so that it-may
have a fair bearing upon all portions of the types, which is essential
in order to get a good impression, a moveable plate 02, Fig. 7,
Sheet 3, is attached by pivots to the end of each platen, with a
cushion of rubber or other elastic material between the said plate and
the end of the platen: By this arrangement, if one part of 'the type is
higher or lower than another, the moveable plate o2, will still press the
paper equally upon all portions of the type, as the elastic cushion will
yield so as to allow the said plate to adapt itself to the inequalities of
the types.
The inking roll p³, is made to traverse forward and back across the
types, instead of inking them by hand, as in the first-described arrangé-
ment, by means of the rod q2, which is attached at one end to the cross
shaft n, to which. the treadle is fastened. The up-and-down move-
ment of the treadle will give a traversing motion to this rod q, which
is fastened at its other end to the carriage r³, (turning on a pivot at s*,)
which carries the inking roll p². The roll p³, takes its ink from the
supply wheel-t, Fig. 8, Sheet 3, which has an intermittent rotary
motion imparted to it by the cross bar i², of the; traversing carriage r²,

page_text: which, as it comes back, strikes against an arm &, attached to a ratchet
pinion w². In this pinion w, is a stud a, which, as soon as the pinion.
w2, makes one revolution, engages with a toothed wheel y², attached to
the shaft of the supply wheel, and thus turns the said supply wheel
a short distance on its axis. The inking roll p², before carrying the ink
to the types, passes over a distributer z².
The smut band in this machine is represented at a³, a³, and passes
from a pulley 6s, upon which it is wound, around the end of the lower
vibrating platen k³; thus serving as a smut band, and as a soft cushion
to bear upon the paper. The pulley 63, has an intermittent rotary
motion imparted to it, so as to feed the smut band around the end of
the platen, by means of a pall c³, attached to the traversing, rod q²,
before referred to. The pall c³, is thus made to engage with a ratchet
ds, attached to the shaft of the pulley 63, and give the necessary motion
to the said pulley and to the smut band. A short band or cushion e³,
is passed around the upper platen , and its moveable plate, so as to
present a soft bearing surface 'upon the paper.
As another or third modification of the arrangement of devices, it
may be mentioned that the machine can be operated with but one
vibrating platen, this platen having a vertical or up-and-down motion
imparted to it, so as to bring the page placed upon it in contact with
and against the underside of the type chain, the platen serving as a
bed to receive the impression. In this case, the page is first printed
on its upper side, and then passed under the vibrating platen or bed,
and its corner turned up over the platen, so as to bring its under or
opposite side in contact with the types, which will thus print the next
number on the opposite side of the page. The objects of the machine
can also be imperfectly accomplished by using large rollers or plates
with types on them instead of type chains.
The principles of my Invention are also susceptible of considerable
variety in their application. Thus; instead of figures, letters or words
may be used, if required; and a chain of types may be used in a
machine of this description, having the address of persons thereon, for
the purpose of printing, the address of subscribers upon the envelopes
of newspapers, and for other similar purposes...

page_text: Having thus described my improvements in machines for paging
account books, I shall state my claims as follows: What I claim as my
Invention, and desire to have secured to me by Letters Patent, is,
First, the use of type chains in a machine for paging account books.
Second, I claim paging account books by means of types arranged.
in continuous succession, from 1 to the highest number used.
Third, I claim the employment of two series of types, one of the odd
and one of the even numbers, in their natural order, as represented in
Sheet 1, for the purpose of printing the opposite sides of the leaves as
described, and thus completing the work as it progresses.
--
Fourth, I claim the tongue or separator F, Sheet 1, in combination
with two series of types, in the manner and for the purpose herein
described.
'
Fifth, I claim the combination of the smut belt with the tongue
or separator F, so that it shall act in combination with both series
of types, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.
Sixth, I claim printing the numbers on the adjacent sides or pages
of two contiguous leaves at the same time, by means of two vibrating
platens, placed one above and the other below the type chain, and so
operated by one movement of the treadle as to press the two sheets or
leaves upon the upper and under sides respectively of the type chain,
bent around a flat shaft or bed, as herein-above set forth, and as
represented in Sheets 2, and 3, of the drawings.
Seventh, I claim the flat rotating shaft e², which serves as a bed for
the type chain, and feeds it along the said shaft, making half a revo-
lution at a time, so as to present a number or type on both its upper
and lower faces to the vibrating platens.
-
Eighth, I claim a yielding plate, placed on an elastic cushion on the
ends of the vibrating platens, so that the said plate may adapt itself to
the inequalities of the types, and produce a fair impression.
Ninth, I claim inking the types by means of a traversing ink roll,
which is made to pass forward and back across the types by the move-
ment of the treadle, as above set forth.
Tenth, I claim. the method of applying the leaves of the book in
succession to the types, and registering the printing thereof by the

page_text: book itself, by the mode of operation substantially as herein-before
described.
Eleventh, I claim the machine herein described for paging books
after they are bound, composed of the several elements herein described,
or their equivalents, in combination, and adapted to be worked by the
foot of the operator, so as to leave the hands at liberty to manipulate
the leaves of the book, the whole operating in the manner hercin-before
explained.
Twelfth, I claim, in a machine in which a single platen is used,
passing the page, after its upper side is printed, first under the platen,
and then bending its corner up over the platen, so as to bring its lower
or opposite side in contact with the types, and thus print the pages in
regular succession, as set forth in the third modification of the machine
herein-above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John McAdams, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 9th day of August, in the year of
our Lord 1853.
JOHN MCADAMS. (L.S.)
Witness, EZRA LINCOLN.