Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Literature for use by the Blind.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 27th May, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Literature for use by the
Blind.
We, JOHN GREEVZ FISHER, trading as The Kingfisher Patent Lubrication Com-
pany, Leeds, in the County of York, Oil Merchant, and WALTER LITTLEWOOD,
of The Blind Institute, Hardman Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Teacher of the Blind, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
"
or
"print-
The object of this invention is to provide apparatus for producing or
ing" literary matter in the Braille character or notation of reading and writing,
or any other system in which raised or embossed dots are used, and which dots
are read by the sense of touch. Such apparatus is so designed as to enable the
"setting up" and embossing to be done by the blind. Heretofore, the embos-
sing or printing" " of sheets in the point system has been from embossed metal
plates punched by a hand tool. Or each paper sheet has been "written
embossed by a style by hand, dot by dot and letter by letter. By this inven-
print-
tion the matter is first set up in complete form, and the embossing or
ing" of an entire sheet of brass or paper is effected at one impression.
In accordance with the invention we employ two plates of metal suitably
tempered and of a superficial area suited to the size of sheet to be embossed
or printed with a margin of one inch or so all round, and about 1/8th or th of an
inch in thickness.
"
"
In each plate and as designed for embossing both sides of a sheet simultaneously
are formed holes and "pits" (small cupped recesses) in alternate sets of rows,
i.e., one set of rows of holes, and one set of rows of pits. The sets of rows in
one plate are arranged opposite to the pits on the other plate. The holes and
pits in the plates are arranged to correspond with the six dots of the Braille
characters. We provide a number of "pressers or points consisting of small pins
of metal with rounded points of equal length which are fitted into the holes in
one or other or both of the plates aforesaid from the rear side being prevented
from passing through to the other side by a small head or enlargement. These
pins are passed through the plates to form the characters to be embossed, and the
operation is carried on from right to left of the plates, so that when reversed the
characters read from left to right. The pins are slightly longer than the thick-
ness of the plates. When the pins are so placed or "set up," a second flat plate
is secured on the rear side to lock or retain the pins in position in the holes,
'the points of which all project to one uniform height above the surface of the
plate into which they are fitted.
The two plates carrying the projecting pins and "pits" are then super-imposed,
or placed one over the other, and by means of guide pins or studs and holes
caused to lie in exact register with each other as aforesaid, but held away from
actual contact by suitable springs at each side or end, for the ready insertion of

page_text: the paper on which the characters are to be, and the removal after they have
been formed.
The springs are of a kind that do not raise the upper plate sufficiently high
to allow it to get out of place.
The guide pins or studs also act as guides for the paper and others are fixed to
one of the back plates to prevent the paper being passed too far into the apparatus
and to leave sufficient paper projecting to take hold of for removal. These studs
also serve as feet for the plates when inserting the pins..
The paper having been inserted the embossing of the characters thereon is
effected by means of a screw, spring or other pressing device which presses the
two plates evenly and firmly together and causes the pins of one plate to take
into the pits of the other plate, and so produce impressions in the paper repre-
senting the desired characters.
**
In the apparatus before described the alternating of holes and pits" in each
plate enables both sides of the paper to be embossed at the same time in alter-
nate lines but by arranging "pits' only in one plate, and holes in the other,
or by setting the pins in one plate only, the apparatus may emboss one side only.
To prevent the plates tilting when only part of the plate is used, small bosses
are inserted behind the plate to take the pressure. Or short pins may be inserted
which do not project through the plates.
To allow for the margin of the paper a correspondingly sized recess may be
formed in the face of one of the plates.
To facilitate the "setting" of the pins in the holes a movable gauge may be
employed extending across each plate and comprising a single row of interstices.
One interstice corresponds to or agrees with six holes. This gauge is held tem-
porarily by stud and holes and each interstice is provided with six notches corre-
sponding with the holes in the plates and serving to guide the pins into such holes.
Dated this 25th day of June 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Literature for use by the
Blind.
We, JOHN GREEVZ FISHER, trading as The Kingfisher Patent Lubrication Com-
pany, Leeds, in the County of York, Oil Merchant, and WALTER LITTLEWOOD,
of The Blind Institute, Hardman Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Teacher of the Blind, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 provide apparatus for producing or "print-
ing" literary matter in the Braille character or notation of reading and writing,
or any other system in which raised or embossed dots are used, and which dots
are read by the sense of touch. Such apparatus is so designed as to enable the
"setting up" and embossing to be done by the blind. Heretofore, the embos-
sing or "printing" of sheets in the Braille or point system has been from embossed
metal plates punched by a hand tool. Or each paper sheet has been written or
embossed by a style by hand, dot by dot and letter by letter. By this inven-
tion the matter is first set up in complete form, and the embossing or "print-
ing" of an entire sheet of brass or paper is effected at one impression.

page_text: The invention consists essentially of two plates of metal with alternate rows
of holes and indents arranged in accordance with the Braille or point system the
holes in one plate corresponding to or being complementary to the indents or
"pits" in the other a number of headed pins for insertion in the holes of the
plates and two outer plates or presses against which the heads of the pins rest
and by which the perforated plates and pins are pressed together for the purpose
of printing.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings;-
Fig. 1 is a face view of the upper pair of plates the space within the dotted
lines representing the portion drilled with holes and pits or indents.
Fig. 2 is a similar face view of the lower pair of plates.
Fig. 3 is a view of back of one of the outer plates.
Fig. 4 is a view of back of one of the inner or perforated plates.
Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the apparatus in position for printing" or use.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation of same.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail face view of part of one of bottom inner or per-
forated plate.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged end elevation of a part of the apparatus in section on
line xx Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a plan or guide frame.
Fig. 10 is a side elevation of guide frame.
Fig. 11 is an elevation of pin (greatly enlarged).
Fig. 12 is a face plan showing a modified arrangement of the perforations pits
and indents the indents being placed between the perforations to produce a
closer "writing" termed interpointed.
Two plates of metal A and B of brass or other metal suitably tempered are
employed each of a superficial area suited to the size of sheet to be embossed
or printed with a margin of about one inch or so all round, and about 1/8th
orth of an inch in thickness.
In each plate A and B as designed for embossing both sides of a sheet simul-
taneously are formed holes a and "pits" 6 (small cupped recesses) in alternate
sets of rows, namely one set of rows of holes a and one set of rows of pits b.
The rows of holes a in one plate are arranged opposite to the rows of pits b on
the face of the other plate.
For plates designed for embossing one side of a sheet one plate will be formed
with holes a only and the other with pits 6 only but it is customary in the Braille
system to print or emboss both sides of the sheet in alternate rows.
The holes a and pits 6 in the plates A and B are formed or arranged in groups
of six to correspond with the six dots of the Braille characters.
A number of pressers" or points consisting of small pins C of metal with
rounded points of equal length are provided to be fitted into the holes a in one
or other or both of the plates A and B from the back. The pressers or pins (
are formed with a small head or enlargement c on one end to prevent them pass-
ing through the holes a further than the desired amount of projection as shown
in Fig. 11.
The pins or pressers C are slightly longer than the thickness of the plates
and are inserted into the holes a in the plates A and B from the back and pro-
ject through for a short distance on the face to form the characters to be embossed
and the operation is carried on from right to left of the plates, so that when
reversed the characters read from left to right. The projecting points of the
pins represent the Braille characters.
Behind or at the back of each of the two plates A and B is fitted or secured a
backplate D and E which rests against the heads of the pins C and lock or retain
them in position the points then all project a uniform height beyond the sur-
face of the plate into the holes a of which they have been inserter.
To the back of the plates A and B are attached a number of studs d place in
convenient position to cause the back plates D and E to bear uniformly and with

page_text: an even pressure over the heads c of the pins C and a number of guide pins e
project from one of the inner perforated plates A and B and engage with holes
in the other to secure correct register when the two plates are brought face to
face, and two or more similar guide pins el project from one of the back plates D
or E and engage with holes in the other to keep them in position. The guide
pins el are preferably placed at one edge of the plates and also serve as a stop
or gauge for the sheets G of paper or other material as they are inserted.
On one of the back plates preferably on the lower inner one E are placed two
springs F to raise and maintain the plates out of contact for the insertion of the
sheets G and to separate them after each sheet has been embossed.
The springs F are of a kind that do not raise the upper plate sufficiently high
to allow it to get out of place.
In operation a weight or pressure is applied to the plates to bring them
into contact and the sheet is embossed by the pins C projecting from the holes a
in one plate A or B entering the pits or indents b in the opposite plate B or A. The
pressure may be applied by screw, spring or other pressing device which presses
the two plates evenly and firmly together.
To facilitate the setting of the pins C in the holds by the blind a movable
gauge H similar to that employed for writing Braille characters by hand may
be employed to extend across either plate A or B and comprising a single row
of interstices h. One interstice corresponds to or agrees with a set of six holes a.
The gauge H is held temporarily by stud K and holes and each interstice h
is provided with six notches corresponding with the holes a in the plates A
and B and serving to guide the pins into such holes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the saine is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is ;-
1. Apparatus for printing or embossing sheets of literature for the use of the
blind comprising in its construction two plates provided with holes and pits
complementary one to the other arranged to correspond with the Braille characters
and a number of embossing pins for insertion therein by which sheets of material
are embossed in the Braille characters substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for printing or embossing sheets of literature for the use
of the blind the combination with perforated and pitted plates arranged to corre-
spond with the Braille characters of a number of embossing pins for insertion in
the holes therein, back plates clamped to the inner plates to lock or maintain
the embossing pins in position and guide pins passing from one plate to the
other substantially as described.
3. Apparatus for printing or embossing sheets of literature for the use of the
blind constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 27th day of March 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, & London, Patent Agents.