IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RAILWAY AND OTHER TICKETS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MARKING RAILWAY AND OTHER TICKETS
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
EDMONDSON, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, on or about the Nineteenth
day of March now last past, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Edmondson, my exors, adiñors, and
assigns, Her especial licence, that I, the said Thomas Edmondson, my
exors, admors, or assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Edmond-
son, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RAILWAY AND OTHER TICKETS,
AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MARKING RAILWAY AND OTHER TICKETS;"
in which Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
Thomas Edmondson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar

page_text: months next and immediately after the date of the said recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the said Letters Patent, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Edmondson, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being
had to the three Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures
and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention consists,
First, in manufacturing railway and other tickets, either wholly or in part,
of woven fabrics.
Secondly, in machinery or apparatus for giving the required motion to the
sliding block of the receiving tube.
Thirdly, in improvements in machinery or apparatus for marking railway
and other tickets, and for supplying the type and the numbering wheels with
ink. And,
Lastly, in stamping the requisite inscription and date on railway and
other tickets, thereby dispensing with ink, and producing a more indelible
impression.
In manufacturing tickets it has heretofore been customary to make use of
sheets of thin pasteboard covered on each side with paper; and I now propose
to make use of a piece of woven fabric, duly stiffened with bone size or other
suitable material, as a substitute for the pasteboard. This woven fabric may
cither be covered with paper, in order to obtain a suitable surface for the
subsequent processes of printing and dating thereon, or the fabric, after being
properly stiffened, can be made to pass through calendar rollers and rendered
sufficiently smooth to take any impression that is given to it either by printing
or stamping. I also wish to observe, that the fabric for making tickets can
be woven in narrow bands corresponding to the length or breadth of the
tickets required, so that only one operation of cutting is required to produce a
piece of the size of the ticket.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
On Sheet 1, Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section, of my
improved machine for printing railway and other tickets. Figure 2 is an
elevation of the same taken from the feeding end of the machine. In this

page_text: shewn in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4, a plan view; and Figure 5, a section
of the same.
Figure 6 is a section, and Figure 7 a plan view of a tool or apparatus
for cutting type to the requisite angle for fitting into the type box shewn in
Figure 3.
. On Sheet 2, Figure 8 is a side elevation of another of my improved machines
for printing railway and other tickets; Figure 9 is an end elevation; and
Figure 10 a plan view of part of the same.
On Sheet 3, Figure 11 is a sectional elevation of my improved dating press
for stamping the letters, figures, or devises indicating the date. Figure 12
is a front elevation, and Figure 13 a plan view partly in section of the
same.
The machine represented in Figures 1 and 2 consists of certain additions to
and improvements in the machine for which I obtained former Letters Patent,
the object of the present improvements being to obtain a more distinct impres-
sion on the ticket and to render the machine more self-acting. The feeding
tube a, the feeding slide b, and the lever 6', for giving motion to the slide b
are similar to those referred to in the Specification of a former Patent granted
to me, and by the action of the eccentric c projecting from the driving shaft c
and the connecting link c², the requisite motion is given to the slide b for
bringing the lowest ticket in the tube a on to the table d, and into the proper
position for being printed by the type in the type box e. Upon the driving
shaft c is fixed a roller and a spur wheel c', which gears into the wheel c',
fixed on the shaft &, on which is also fixed the roller e.. The shaft eⓇ revolves
in adjustable bearings, so that the distance between it and the shaft c may
be regulated with the greatest accuracy. The type box e fits into a dove-
tailed recess in the circumference of the roller e³, and is retained there by the
two excentric studs e. I wish to remark here, that when the tickets are
printed with the words placed in the direction indicated in Figure 4, it will
be necessary to level the shanks of the type; but if the words are placed across
the ticket, as is now sometimes customary, in printing return tickets, the
ordinary shaped types may be employed. The apparatus for bevelling the
shanks of the type is shewn in Figures 6 and 7, and will be explained here-
after. The method of supplying ink to the type in the box e is as follows,
and is similar to that described in my former Specification. f is a trough
containing the ink; the lower edge of the trough answers the purpose of a
"doctor" against the roller f, which delivers the ink to the roller f, and
this roller gives it the worker f³, which has a lateral motion imparted to it
by the groove in the cam f, acting against an antifriction roller connected

page_text: to the frame side. The roller takes the ink from the worker f³, and
delivers it to the elastic composition roller f, which is brought into contact
with the type at every revolution of the shaft e². The inking rollers are put
in motion by a crossed band passing under the pulley on the driving shaft
and over a pulley fixed to the end of the shaft of the roller f", as shewn in
Figure 2, and the motion is communicated from this roller to the others by
spur pinions.
The elastic roller fe revolves on a pin passing through the
forked lever f, the fulcrum of which is a stud fixed to the side frame. Near
the other end of the lever f is an antifriction roller f³, which is always held
in contact with the flange of the roller by the spring f. The flange
of the roller has a projection from it, which is so placed that it
elevates the antifriction roller f³, and, consequently, depresses the elastic
roller into the position shewn in red, in Figure 1, at the proper time
for giving the ink to the type at every revolution of the type box e.
The breadth of the elastic roller fo must be somewhat less than the
breadth of the ticket, so that when the type is receiving its ink from
the said roller the small flanges by which the tickets are drawn
forward, and which are seen best in Figure 5, may not come in contact
with the ink; the type must be set to the same level as the flanges e', so
that when the said flanges and the rollers c³, between which the ticket is
compressed, are drawing the ticket forward the type is also giving the proper
impression to the same. The tickets after being advanced by the action
of the flanges e and roller c³ are supported by the table g, at the extremity
of which is placed the presser h, by which the ticket is forced against the
numbering wheels i. The tickets are held down at their edges and prevented
from moving too freely by the guide rails g', which extend from the feeding
tube a to the receiving tube k, and they are connected together below the
tables by stays g²; the springs 9s act on the stays 9 and give the requisite
pressure to the tickets as has heretofore been practised. The numbering
wheels are furnished with ratchet wheels, and they are set in motion and
provided with ink by means of an inked ribbon represented by the blue
line 1, in Figure 1, in the manner described in the Specification of one of
my previous Patents. is a catch for giving motion to the ratchet wheel
of the units and tens numbering wheel; this catch is hinged to the rod ²,
to which an up and down motion is given by the link, jointed to the link c²;
the lower end of the link is jointed to the double lever i, to the other
end of which is united the rod ; by this means every revolution of the
driving shaft c gives a short up and down motion to the rod 2. The clicks 2
and are jointed near the upper end of the said rod, and take into ratchet

page_text: wheels on the barrels of the inking ribbon as clearly shown in the Drawing.
The requisite amount of motion is given to the presser by the cam c',
which acts upon an antifriction roller at the end of the lever h', the other
end of which is jointed to the presser which is guided by a groove in the
table g. The spring he bearing against the lever h is to keep the antifriction
roller in contact with the cam c. The position of the sliding block k¹ in
the receiving tube k must be lowered according to the quantity of tickets
in the tube, so that the upper ticket in the tube may be kept at or near
the same level; the lowering of the block / has heretofore been done by the
attendant, but I now impart a regular and uniform descending motion to it
from the double lever , to which is jointed the long click ², taking into the
teeth of the ratchet wheel fixed on the same shaft as the pinion k³, which
gears into the rack ', fixed to the back plate k of the block . The spiral
spring shewn in section in Figure 1 is to press the front and back of the
sliding block against the tube so as to prevent it from descending by
its own gravity. The number of teeth in the ratchet wheel ³ must be
such that every vibration of the lever shall move the ratchet wheel one
tooth, and lower the block k for the thickness of a ticket; but as the tickets vary
in thickness it may sometimes be requisite to change the ratchet wheel *
for one having more or less teeth. The tube is supported by hooks,
as seen in the Drawing, and the whole machine is fixed to the stand m, the
lower part of which is not shewn in the Drawing, but the height of it is
made to suit the person who attends to the machine. On referring to.
Figure 1, it will be seen that the distance between the tube a and the point
of contact of the rollers and is equal to about twice the length of a ticket,.
and that the distance from the said point of contact and the tube k is equal
to about the length of four tickets. The first advance of the slide 6 brings
the lowest ticket from the tube a on to the table d; the slide then goes back,.
and on its next advance the second ticket pushes the first one forward until its
front edge comes over the centre of the roller c'; during the next back stroke of
the slide the type box e arrives in the position shown in Figure 1, and the-
flanges e', by compressing the edges of the ticket against the roller c, forces.
the same forward until it rests on the table g. The roller ³ then performs.
another revolution, and by so doing the second ticket is brought forward and
made to push the first one further forward along the table g.
These opera-
tions are repeated until the end of the first ticket comes over the presser h,
the upward motion of which forces that ticket, and that portion of the inking
ribbon immediately over it, against the numbering wheels, the figures on which
are marked on the ticket. At the next revolution of the driving shaft the

page_text: first ticket is deposited into the tube k, the sliding block being then elevated
to receive it. Every succeeding revolution of the driving shaft brings another
ticket forward, advances the inking ribbon so as to present a fresh surface to
the ticket, moves the numbering wheel so as to stamp the next consecutive
number, and lowers the block k¹ in the tube k; all of these operations being
performed by means of the machinery herein above described and referred to.
The apparatus for bevelling the shanks of the type, represented in
Figures 6 and 7, consists of a bottom plate n, from which project two
ears n', provided with centre pointed set screws n², on which the swing
frame n³ hinges. To the under side of the swing frame is fixed a cross bar n³,
having a set screw through each end, by which the level of the upper part of
the swing frame can be adjusted to suit the thickness of the type that is to be
bevelled. is the type, placed side by side in a slot through the bottom
plate n, and bearing upon the swing frame. n is a filling-up piece of wood
or other suitable material to keep the type firm, and n' is a dovetailed groove
in the plate n, containing a plate to hold the type sideways. n are two guide
rails between which the plane or cutting instrument is moved to and fro when
giving the required bevil to the shanks of the type. As the types vary in
thickness according to the length of letter upon them, it is necessary to cut off
part of one side of the shank by means of an apparatus very similar to the one
just described, but furnished with an adjustable plate attached to the swing
frame n³, by which the type is supported.
The machine which I am now going to describe, with reference to
Figures 8, 9, and 10 of Sheet 2, is also for printing and numbering railway
and other tickets. In this machine o is the receiving tube from which the
tickets are taken to the type box p in the ordinary manner; 9 are the
numbering wheels, which are mounted on a stud q' fixed to the slide r, the
type box p being also fixed to the same slide. t is the receiving tube,
furnished with a moveable sliding block similar to the one described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2. In this machine the inking ribbon is entirely
dispensed with, and the requisite quantity of ink is given to the type in the
-box p, and to the numbering wheels, in the following manner-Upon the
driving shaft s is fixed a cam s', which gives motion to the lever s², vibrating
on the stud s³. To the lever s is jointed the link s, the upper end of which
is attached to the slide r. To the driving shaft s is also fixed the grooved
cam s, seen best in Figure 9, which gives a to-and-fro motion to the slide sº,
by means of the lever s, as clearly shown in the Drawing. Upon the
slides are fixed brackets for supporting the inking rollers p¹ and q',
both of which are furnished with rubbing plates s8, having slots in them

page_text: for allowing the ink contained in the reservoirs s to pass through. When
the cam s¹ is in the position shown in Figure 8 the tickets are receiving
the impressions from the type and numbering wheels; but the next quarter
revolution of the driving shafts elevates the type box and numbering
wheels into the positions shown in red, and the slide s is then moved in
the direction of the arrow in Figure 9 until the inking roller p¹ has passed
under and given ink to the type in the box p, and the roller q¹ has in
like manner given ink to the numbering wheels. The cam s' is made of such
a shape that the slide 7 remains elevated until the inking rollers have returned
from under the type box and numbering wheels, and the. additional length of
traverse is given to the inking rollers in order that the ink may become
uniformly distributed over their surfaces by the action of the said rollers
against the rubbing plates s; the under part of the slot in these plates is
covered with a piece of the ordinary inking ribbon, or other suitable material,
to limit the supply of ink from the reservoir s". The tickets are held at
their edges by guide rails as before described, and the requisite revolving
motion is given to the numbering wheels in the following manner :-At every
rise of the slider the ratchet wheel q, fixed to the units and tens numbering
wheel comes in contact with the pendant click q³, and is moved through it by
the one hundredth part of a revolution. q is the retaining catch, which is
jointed to the slide 2, and is furnished with a stud ', having an excentric
upon it, by which the retaining catch is lifted out of gear when required.
The motion is communicated from the numbering wheel for the units and tens
to the wheel indicating the hundreds and thousands by the catch 98, and the
catches shewn in Figure 8, which do not require to be particularly described,
as they are similar in their action to those represented in the Specification of
one of my former Patents.
I wish to remark, with respect to the machine represented on Sheet 2,
that the type box alone may be elevated to allow of the inking roller passing
under it, and the numbering wheels may be supplied with ink by means of
an inking ribbon as before described, if such arrangement..be found more
convenient in practice.
I will now proceed to describe those of my improvements in marking railway
and other tickets which relate to stamping or cutting the inscription, instead
of printing it with ink as heretofore. The stamping of the consecutive
number, and of the names of the places and other particulars required, may
with great facility be effected in the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2. It
would be requisite for this purpose to make the type in the box e, and the
figures on the numbering wheels, of hard steel or other suitable metal, and

page_text: take away the inking rollers and inking ribbon the other parts of the machine
would remain as they are represented. By this means a clear and distinct
impression is produced, and the machine rendered less complicated than
before. In stamping the date on the ticket to denote the day on which it is
issued, I make use of the machine represented in Figures 11, 12, and 13,
In these Figures v is the main standard, which is usually fixed to the counter
or desk of the ticket clerk. is the upper swing frame, and 2 the lower
swing frame, jointed to the upper one and guided below on a projection v³,
cast or otherwise fixed to the bottom plate of the main standard. v³ are the
steel type, the upper ends of which bear against a plate, which is held to the
upper swing frame by the thumb screw v³, and v is a bridle screwed at each
end to the upper swing frame, and holding the type in their places. The
lower swing frame is furnished with a top plate v, having a catch at the end
which arrests the advance of the ticket when introduced for being dated.
The red lines in Figure 11 show the position of the various parts when the
ticket clerk has introduced a ticket, and by pushing against the lower swing
frame has brought the steel type down and pressed it into the body of the
ticket, thereby imparting to it a sharp, clean, and indelible impression.
When dating presses of this description are used, I should recommend the
use of figures for indicating the months, in the same way as is sometimes
practised for other purposes. Thus the 3.30, marked on the ticket in blue
in Figure 13, would represent the thirtieth day of the third month.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best means I
am acquainted with for performing the same, I would have it understood that
I do not confine myself to the details herein described so long as the peculiar
character of any part of my present improvements be retained. But what I
claim is,
First, the application of woven fabrics in the manufacture of railway and
other tickets.
Secondly, the self-acting apparatus for lowering the sliding block of the
receiving tube in proportion to the accumulation of the tickets.
Thirdly, the other novel arrangements of machinery or apparatus for
marking railway and other tickets, as shewn in Sheets 1 and 2 of the annexed
Drawings, or any combination of either or both of them. And,
Lastly, the stamping the inscription and date, or either of them, on
railway and other tickets, so as to dispense either wholly or in part with the
inking apparatus.
And such my Invention being, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
entirely new and never before used within that part of Her said Majesty's

page_text: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare
this to be my Specification of the same, and that I do verily believe this
my said Specification doth comply in all respects, fully and without reserve
or disguise, with the proviso in the said herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent contained; wherefore I do hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and
privilege to the said Invention.