New or Improved Index Cutting and Printing Machine.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Index Cutting and Printing Machine.
I, WILLIAM CORFE, trading as Thos. Ollis & Co., of 87 Duke Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Printers' Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements on my former Patent No. 691/95, and
has for its main object an improvement in the manner of imparting to the table
the intermittent movement therein described and in the spacing devices. Further-
more, in my Provisional Specification No. 18150, I have described the attachment
of a bar, preferably square in cross section, to the edge of the table and directly
underneath the cutting knife, which bar is mounted in suitable brackets and is
capable of being rotated. One face of this bar is used for the cutting of the
index spaces and has a lining or pad of leather, felt or the like to protect the knife
edge and another face has the type fixed thereon in such a manner as to be
adjustable for the purposes of spacing; this bar having one of its faces for the
cutting of the index spaces and another for the printing of the index letters.
A removable ink pad is placed, preferably between the edge of the table and the
square bar, so that when the cutting face of the bar is uppermost the type on the
printing face is in contact with the pad. When the table has reached the end of
its travel and the cutting is completed, the square bar is turned by means of a
handle bringing its printing side uppermost with the type already inked. The
table is drawn back as before stated, and the book or pile of papers pressing on
the type receive the impressions. A spring roller attached to the framework so as to
be swung out of the way when not required presses the book or papers down on the
type. Suitable springs are provided to keep the type when not in use against the
ink pad. In my experimentul machine I use an elastic band which is so arranged
that it keeps the pad against the type and also keeps the square bar down on its
seating during both operations.
In carrying out the present invention, I dispense with the gripper device,
described in the aforementioned Patent No. 691/95, and substitute for it a pawl
and rack device. The rack is arranged to carry the type and is removably attached.
to the square bar, described in my Provisional Specification No. 1815/96, aforesaid.
The pawi for engaging the rack is pivoted to the head of the machine or bracket
which carries the knife and is operated from the treadle if such be used. A
convenient way of doing this and the way which I prefer is to attach two pins or
projections to the rod connecting the treadle with the knife plunger, one of such
pins being adjustable in height. A bell crank lever is pivoted to the head of the
machine or knife bracket and one of its arms passes between the two aforementioned
pins, the other arm being pivoted to the end of the pawl which engages the rack.
Now when the treadle bar is depressed for the purpose of cutting the index spaces,
the adjustable pin which is uppermost comes in contact with the free arm of the
bell-crank lever and turns the same on its pivot, thereby drawing back the pawl
which is pivoted to its other arm until it drops behind a tooth of the rack.
the upward stroke of the treadle bar, the fixed pin which is underneath the free
arm of the bell-crank lever raises the same, turns the lever on its pivot and causes
the pawl to push the rack and also the table forward a predetermined distance.
Un

page_text: This distance is regulated by means of the adjustable pin which is moved nearer
to or further from the free arm of the bell-crank lever. Thus for instance if the
pin engages the nam, at the commencement of the downward stroke of the trendle
connecting rod, it will cause the pawl to move backwards over the teeth of the
rack a given distance, say two teeth, but if the pin be raised it will not engage the
arm so soon, consequently the pawl will be moved backwards a shorter distance,
any one tooth, and the forward movement being equal to the backward movement,
the inble will be noved forward a given distance, sny equal to one or more teeth as
desired, corresponding to the spacing of the type which are fixed on the face of
the rack preferably one opposite each tooth. I propose having a number of these
rack type bars spaced so as to suit all requirements and attaching them to the
square bar described in my Provisional Specification No. 1815/96 in such a manner
that one can be removed and replaced by another in a very short time. If
necessary may have a rack bar with adjustable type but this will be seldom
required. Although I have referred to a trendle as being employed for operating
the machine it will be obvious that it could be power driven if required and
furthermore the pawl and rack device may be modified without departing from the
main iden of the invention. To keep the pawl clear of the rack when the table is
being drawn back after the index spaces have been cut it is supported on a hook
arranged in close proximity thereto.
Dated this 2nd day of M 1906
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
A New or Improved Index Cutting and Printing Machine.
I, WILLIAM CORFE, trading as Thos. Ollis & Co., formerly of 87, Duke Street,
Liverpool, and at present of 12 and 13, Cleveland Square, Liverpool, Printers' and
Bookbinders' Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to a machine for cutting out index spaces in account books
and other books, and for printing or lettering the same, and will be best understood
upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front
elevation of a machine constructed according to this invention, Figure 2 being a
plan thereof, Figure 3 an end elevation, and Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 detail views.
In the drawings A is a is a vertically reciprocating knife for cutting out the
index spaces, the knife being so formed as to cut such spaces with a rounded inuer
corner. The plunger a at the end of which the knife is secured is mounted in
suitable bearings, and is worked preferably by a foot trendle B counterweighted
at B which latter causes the knife to ly upwards automatically when the force
which depressed the treadle is removed. C is a table on which the book or pile of
papers C (Fig. 2) to be indexed is firmly clamped while being operated upon by
the koife and while being printed. The arrangemout for clamping the book on the
table comprises a pivotted lever D which is adjustable to the level or height of
the book or pile by the slot E in which its pivot d is secured by a nut. This lever
is held down tightly upon the book by the cam F, adjustable vertically in the
slot.
The table C is mounted on the saddle C, which is capable of sliding longitudinally
on the bed G of the bench G.

page_text: His a bar preferably square in cross section which is capable of rotation in the
brackets & on the saddle C, said bar being disposed directly under the knife A.
The face h' of this bar is used as the cutting block on which the index spaces are
cut, and has a lining or pad of leather, felt, type-metal, or the like. Another face
of the bar H carries a tooth rack 1 by which the bar, table, and saddle are moved
longitudinally and intermittently as hereinafter described, and printing type i
(preferably of india rubber) for printing the index letters.
When the cutting face 4 of the bar H is uppermost, and index spaces are being
cut, one or more of the type i is or are inked at each intermittent movement of the
table, by one or more ink rollers J carried by a lever K pivotted at K (Fig. 3) to
the rod L operated by the treadle B. When the index letters are printed in two
colours, for instance red and black alternately, two ink rollers are required.
L' is an ordinary inking slab, set at an angle, up which the rollers J are caused to
run, but I may dispense with the slab L' and use cloth covered or other ink
retaining rollers instead.
When two colours are being used the inking rollers J must come in contact with
the type i at every alternate movement of the table, so that red and black rollers
register with red and black type, and for this purpose I employ a toothed wheel M
mounted on the framework in such a position that on each downward movement of
the lever K a projection & thereon engages a tooth of such wheel and turns it; but,
as the teeth of the wheel M are alternately cut deep and shallow, the projection k
when engaging a shallow tooth does not allow the lever K to be drawn towards the
wheel M by the spring N sufficiently far to allow of the rollers J touching the
type i, this latter action being possible only when a deep tooth is engaged with.
The pin 2 prevents the lever K from pressing the rollers J too hard upon the
type, and when the inclined surface comes in contact with the pin the rollers.
are withdrawn from the type and pressed upon the ink stab.
Intermittent longitudinal movement is given to the table C, saddle C, and
bar H, by the pawl O which is pivotted to the framework of the machine and is
operated as follows, so as to engage with the rack I of the bar H. The vertically
reciprocating rod L is provided with two pins or projections P, P, one of which, P,
is adjustable. A bell crank lever Q is pivotted at Q to the framework so that
one of its arms lies between the pins P P, the other end of the lever Q being
coupled to the pawl O. When the treadle is depressed for the purpose of cutting
the index spaces the adjustable pin P comes in contact with the free end of the
lever Q, as shewn in Figure 7, and turns the same on its pivot, thereby drawing
back the pawl O which is coupled to its other end until it drops behind a tooth of
the rack I. On the upward stroke of the treadle the fixed pin Praises the lever Q
upon its pivot and causes the pawl O to push the rack and also the table C
forward a predetermined distance. This distance is regulated by means of the
adjustable pin P, which is moved nearer to or further from the free end of the
lever Q. Thus for instance if the pin P engages the lever at the commencement
of the down-stroke of the rod L, it will cause the pawl O to move backward over
the teeth of the rack a given distance, say two teeth, but if the pin be raised on the
rod L it will not engage the lever Q so soon, consequently the pawl will be moved
backwards a shorter distance, say one tooth. The forward movement of the pawl
heing equal to its backward movement, the table C will be moved forward a given
distance, say equal to one or more teeth, as desired, such distance corresponding to
the spacing of the index spaces and printing type, which latter are carried on the
face of the rack, preferably one type opposite each tooth. I propose having a
variety of these tunthed type hars, spaced to suit different requirements, which
will be attached to the bar in such a manner that one can be removed and
replaced by another in a very short time. If necessary I may have a rack bar [
with adjustable type i, but this will be seldom required.
Although I have referred to a treadle as being employed for operating the
machine, it will be obvious that it can be power-driven if required.
To keep the pawl O clear of the rack I when the table is being drawn back

page_text: after the index spaces have been cut, it is supported on a hook R (Figure 5)
arranged in close proximity thereto.
In Figures 8 and 9, S is a bracket (omitted from Figure 3 for clearness)
carrying two rollers Si and pivotted at S to the framework, which bracket any
he swung romal to the position shown in Figure 9 for the purpose of pressing the
book or pile of sheets C down onto the type i as the table is drawn back, such
pressure heing applied by the rollers S, which are pressed downwanls by the
tension spring T attached to the handle T.
In operation the book or pile of sheets C to be indexed and printed, say for the
letters A to Z inclusive, is laid on the table C in position with their edges resting
on the surface of the bar H, and face downwards, that is with the sheet to be
indexed "Ant the bottom of the pile, and the sheet to be indexed "Z" at the
top of the pile. The lever D is then adjusted down to the level of the pile and
then brought over so that the pivotted plate D shall rest flat on the surface of the
nile. The end of the lever D'is then placed under the cam F, and by giving the
latter a partial turn the lever D will elamp the book or pile in position. The top
sheet of the pile, namely that to be indexed Z, is then turned or folded back by
hand, clear of the knife, as that sheet does not require to have an index space cut
in it. The knife A is then enused to descent, by operating the treadle, and no
index space is cut through the remaining sheets of the pile. After each cut the
table C is moved forward by the pawl in manner above described. The sheet
to be indexed "Y" is now turned or folded back by hand, clear of the knife. The
next descent of the knife cuts a space through the remaining sheets. Then the
sheet to be lettered "X" is turned back, and s the operation proceeds until "A"
is reached, the table C moving forward after each descent of the knife. When two
or more sheets are apportioned to each letter, two or more must be turned back by
hand as above.
When the table C has reached the end of its travel, and all the imlex spaces
have been cut, the square bar H is turned by means of the handle N', so that its
printing side is brought uppermost, the type 7 having been inked by the descent of
the rollers as before described. The table C is then drawn back by hand, and in
this return movement the edge of the book or pile of sheets Cis pressed upon
the inked type by the spring actuated rollers S', whereby the sheets receive the
impression of such type.
An elastic band H, or other spring, keeps the square bar H in its bearings h,
and also allows of such bar being rotated as above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In combination, a table capable of longitudinal movement, a rack bar
pivotally mounted thereon, one face of said har forming a cutting block on which
the edges of the sheets to be indexed are laid, and another face of said bar
being provided with printing type, and a reciprocating knife adapted to cut inlex
spaces in said sheets on said bar and to advance the table after each cut by
means of a pawl gearing with said rack bar, whereby alter the necessary spaces
have been cut the pivotted rack bar may be revolved so ns to bring its printing
surface in position for printing the sheets to he indexed, said sheets being pressed
auto said printing surface, as the table is drawn back, by spring actuated rollers,
substantially as described.
2. In index cutting and printing machines, the employment of the bar H, one
face of which forms a cutting bluck on which the sheets to be indexed are cut,
another face of said bar being provided with printing type and a toothed rack,
whereby such bar may be moved step by step before a reciprocating knife by a
pawl operated by said knife which gears with said rack until the required spaces
are cut, when the bar may be revolved so as to bring its printing surface into
position for printing the said sheets, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The employment with a machine such as described, of change bars H having
teeth I and type i, set at different pitches, whereby-by substituting different bars
and altering the travel of the pawl 0-the same machine may be used for various
classes of indexing, substantially as described.
4. In index cutting and printing machines, the combination of a bar H, two of
whose faces form, respectively, a cutting block on which sheets of paper are cut.
with index spaces, and a printing surface, with spring actuated rollers S which,
after the index spaces have been cut and the bar revolved, press the edges of said
sheets on to said printing surface as the bar, table and pile of sheets are drawn.
back, substantially as described.
5. In index cutting and printing machines, the combination of a bar H, two of
whose faces form, respectively, a cutting block on which sheets of paper are cut
with index spaces, and a printing surface, which bar is caused to pass step by step.
before a reciprocating knife by pawl and ratchet mechanism, and a pivotted lever K
carrying one or more inking rollers and connected with said knife so that at each
or every alternate complete movement of the latter the said roller or rollers ink
individual type of said printing surface, whereby said type are inked simultaneously
with the cutting operation and are ready inked when the bar H is revolved into
position for printing the sheets, substantially as described.
6. In combination with the lever K operating as herein described, the tooth
wheel M having teeth of different depths, whereby, when the projection k engages.
such teeth successively, more or less travel is allowed to the lever K, and the ink
rollers J are caused to come into contact with the type i or escape them, by the
spring N, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
7. In combination, an inclined ink slab L' and a reciprocating lever K carrying
one or more ink rollers J, said rollers being brought in contact with said inclined.
slab as the lever K reciprocates, substantially as described.
8. The general arrangement and construction of, and method of operating, index.
cutting and printing machines herein described with reference to the drawings.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent (Qual. by Exam.),
10 St. George's Crescent, Liverpool, Agent for the Applicant.