Improvements in and relating to Ruling Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 74th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1896
Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Ruling Machines.
We, ELLIS GRABER, of 9 Hollybank Terrace Tunbridge Wells, in the County
of Kent, Machine Ruler, and LEWIS HEPWORTH, of 16. Beltring Road, in the
town and county aforesaid, Master Printer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows
-
This invention relates to certain improvements in ruling machines, and it
consists-First of an improved pen for ruling broad lines, tints, groundwork,
rainbow patterns and such like work. Secondly of an improved construction of
pen for ruling fine lines. Thirdly of an improved device for enabling lines of
various colours to be ruled in close proximity to each other. Fourthly of an
automatic device for controlling the flow of the ink or inks to the pens. Fifthly
of an improved clamp for holding the pens. Sixthly of a device to control the
fall of the beam carrying the pens on to the paper after being raised therefrom,
and seventhly of a device for controlling the movement of the beam carrying the
pens with respect to the platen or its equivalent so as to ensure the instantaneous
lifting of the beam irrespective of the number of sheets of paper on the platen, the
objects being to render ruling machines more perfect and to enable them to be
worked rapidly and with unskilled labour.
Our improved pen for ruling broad lines consists essentially of a thin sheet of
metal or other suitable material over the front edge of which is lapped a piece of
flannel, felt or other suitable absorbent material the piece of absorbent material
forming the actual ruling medium and its width therefore determines the width of line
ruled. A convenient method of constructing this improved pen is as follows:-
The front edge of the plate is turned up and serrated to form fine teeth and
immediately in front of and slightly below the said teeth is formed or fixed a small
bar, round which is wrapped the piece of absorbent material. The one edge of the
piece of absorbent material is pressed over the serrated edge of the plate and
the other end-after being wrapped round the small bar-is left free to lie on
the plate fixed to the clamp.
In constructing our improved pen for ruling fine lines we use a sheet or strip of
metal of a given thickness for a portion of its width and then tapering off to a fine
point at its edge, so that while retaining the thin edge necessary for the operating
point of the pen we obtain increased stiffness and consequently greater elasticity in
the other part thereof.
To enable a number of lines of different colours to be ruled in close proximity
to each other a number of pieces of absorbent material one for each colour required
are placed on the top of the clamp one over the other, but separated from each
other by suitable metallic masks. The ink is fed on to these pieces of absorbent
material in any suitable manner, and it is led from them to the ruling pens by
means of pieces of fine wool or worsted, one piece of absorbent material carrying
any one coloured ink supplying any number of pens ruling the same colour.
The automatic device for controlling the supply of ink consists essentially of a
number of small flexible tubes each connected to a reservoir containing a coloured
ink. These flexible tubes pass over a rigid bar or beam fixed to the frame of the
machine, and in front of the said rigid bar is mounted a nipping bar normally kept

page_text: up
to the rigid bar by suitable springs so that the said flexible tubes are normally
nipped between the bars and the flow of ink through them stopped. The nipping
bar is controlled through the medium of a suitable lever operated by some moving
part of the machine so that at stated and predetermined intervals the flexible tubes
are released and the ink allowed to flow.
The improved clamp for carrying the pens consists essentially of two plates of a
suitable shape adapted to be placed one over the other, but the plates instead of
being clamped together by the usual transverse screws are drawn together by
means of a longitudinal bar carrying wedge-shaped pieces adapted to engage with
wedge-shaped recesses in both plates whereby its longitudinal movement in one
direction draws the two plates together and in the opposite direction forces them
asunder, the said longitudinal bar being operated by a thumb nut or its equivalent
at one end of the clamp. To enable the clamp to grip pens made of various
thicknesses of metal, the gripping faces of the plates are formed of or lined with
rubber or other suitable Hexible material, and to ensure the pens being placed
square with the clamp, stops are provided on the back of one or other of the plates
against which the back edges of the pens abut. To enable the top plate of the
guide which receives the inking pads to be readily cleaned it is faced with a
suitable metallic plate. We sometimes utilize this gripping device for attaching
the pen clamp to the beam instead of using the usual transverse screws.
To enable the beam carrying the pens to fall lightly on to the paper to be ruled
when it has been lifted therefrom either for the purpose of reversing the platen
carrying the paper or for the purpose of leaving blank spaces in the ruling, the
fall of the rocking beam is controlled by a rotating vane, or a dash pot or other
equivalent device.
In order to ensure the instantaneous lifting of the beam carrying the pens
irrespective of the number of sheets of paper on the platen, the arm adapted to
lift the beam carrying the pens by means of the stops or cams on the reciprocating
platen or its equivalent, instead of being rigidly attached to the said beam is
pivotted independently thereof and is extended rearwards beyond the pivot. To
this rearward extension is fulcrated a lever carrying a gripping block adapted to
engage with a quadrant formed on an arm or lever attached to the beam carrying
the pens, the said gripping block being kept up in contact with the quadrant by
ineans of a suitable spring. The gripping face of the block and of the quadrant
are preferably roughened or serrated or otherwise fashioned or prepared to increase
the grip between them. This device allows the beam carrying the pens to rise and
fall independently of the arm controlling it, but at the same time responds
immediately to any upward movement of the said arm. To prevent the arm from
dropping down and thus coming into contact with the stops during the return of
the platen or its equivalent, a finger is mounted on the lever carrying the gripping
block which engages with the rear end of the arm and so prevents its front end
from dropping.
We wish it to be understood that many of these devices are applicable to rotary
ruling machines as well as to reciprocating machines and also that they are adapted
to be used in conjunction with printing machines for printing and ruling at the
same time.
D
...
' 1008
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Ruling Machines.
We, ELLIS GRABER, of 9 Hollybank Terrace Tunbridge Wells, in the County
of Kent, Machine Ruler, and LEWIS HEPWORTH, of 16, Beltring Road, in the
town and county aforesaid, Master Printer, 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 certain improvements in ruling machines, and it
consists:--First of an improved pen for ruling broad lines, tints, groundwork,
rainbow patterns and such like work. Secondly of an improved construction of
pen for ruling fine lines. Thirdly of an improved device for enabling lines of
various colours to be ruled in close proximity to each other. Fourthly of an
automatic device for controlling the flow of the ink or inks to the pens. Fifthly of
an improved clamp for holding the pens. Sixthly of a device for regulating the
fall of the beam carrying the pens on to the paper after being raised therefrom,
and seventhly of a device for controlling the movement of the beam carrying the
pens with respect to the platen or its equivalent so as to ensure the instantaneous
lifting of the beam irrespective of the number of sheets of paper on the platen, the
objects being to render ruling machines more perfect and to enable them to be
worked rapidly and with unskilled labour.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate-by way of example-this inven-
tion applied to a ruling machine having a reciprocating table for carrying the
sheets of paper to be ruled :-
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1 is a view in side elevation of the machine.
Figure 2 Sheet No. 2, Figure 3 Sheet No. 3, and Figure 4 Sheet No. 4 are
broken views on an enlarged scale-in side elevation, front elevation and plan
respectively showing the arrangement of the several parts of our invention.
Figure 5 Sheet No. 2 is a view in plan of a spring finger for guiding and fixing
the feeding tubes of the device for controlling the flow of ink to the pens..
Figures 6 and 64 Sheet No. 5 are views showing the construction of the improved
pen for ruling fine lines.
Figure 7 Sheet No. 5 is a view in transverse section of the improved pen for
ruling broad lines, tints and the like.
Figures 8 and 9 Sheet No. 5 are views in transverse section and plan respectively
of a modified form of pen for ruling broad lines, tints and the like.
Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 Sheet No. 6 are views in broken longitudinal section,
transverse section, broken plan and side elevation respectively of our improved pen
holder, and
Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17 Sheet No. 7 are views in front elevation, side elevation,
plan and transverse section respectively showing the construction and arrangement
of the mask for masking the inks.
Figure 18 Sheet No. 8 is a view in side elevation showing a modification of the
device for controlling the movement of the pen beam, and
Figures 19 and 20 are views in longitudinal and transverse section respectively
showing a modification in the construction of the clamp for holding the pens.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Our improved pen for ruling broad lines consists essentially of a piece of felt,
flannel or other suitable absorbent material R¹ wrapped or laid round the edge r²
of a suitably shaped plate R, the width of the piece of felt or like material deter-
mining the width of the line to be ruled. The plate R may be simply a flat or
curved sheet of metal with a straight front edge as shown by Figure 7
Sheet No. 5, but for the more convenient attachment of the absorbent material we

page_text: prefer to construct it as shown by Figures 8 and 9 Sheet No. 5 in which R
designates the piece of felt or other absorbent material which is shown by thick
dotted lines and R designates the plate carrying it. The front edge of the plate is
bent or turned up and has a series of fine teeth r¹ cut or formed in it, and its
underside is rounded by means of a bead or bar such as r². The plate R is also
preferably stiffened by a longitudinal strip such as 3. The piece of felt R¹ or its
equivalent is fixed to the plate R in the following manner:-One of its edges is
laid over the teeth and the other edge after being passed down between the
toothed edge of the plate R and the bar is brought round over the said bar and
carried back on to the top of the plate as shown by Figure 8 Sheet No. 5 and is
gripped with the back of the plate when it is placed in the pen holder. By pulling
the back edge of the piece R¹ its free edge becomes firmly engaged with the
toothed edge of the plate R and it therefore lies evenly and smoothly round the
bar on the front edge of the plate R. By this construction of pen which has all
the advantages of a rigid pen a constant and equal flow of ink is obtained enabling
lines of any width to be ruled with a perfectly even tint or color.
In constructing our improved pens for ruling fine lines we use a sheet or strip of
metal R of an even thickness for a portion of its width and then tapering off to a
fine point at its one edge r so that while retaining a thin edge for the operating point
of the pen we obtain increased stiffness and consequently increased elasticity in
the other part thereof, whereby the liability of the pen to receive a permanent set
is greatly minimized. The pens are cut or stamped up out of the sheet R in the
ordinary manner.
To enable a number of lines of different colours to be ruled in close proximity to
each other it becomes necessary to place the absorbent pads T (see Figures 14, 15, 16
and 17 Sheet No. 7) holding the various coloured inks in close proximity to one
another. This we do by placing the said pads on the top of the pen holder one
over the other, separating them one from the other by suitable masks such as T¹
made of metal or other suitable material, each of the said masks having an opening
or recess which exposes the pad beneath it, and thus allows the ink to be fed on to
these separated pads either by the automatic inking device hereinafter described or
by any of the known devices. The ink of any of these pads is led away from the
ruling pen or pens by means of fine pieces of wool or worsted in the usual manner.
By thus grouping the coloured inks one over the other we are enabled to rule lines
of different colours in exceedingly close proximity to one another.
The automatic device for controlling the supply of ink consists essentially of a
number of small flexible tubes P connected to two or more wells or ink reservoirs L
carried by a table A³ which is carried by the brackets A' of the frame. These
tubes P pass between two bars Q and Q the former a rigid bar carried in a
suitable manner by a frame A' carried by the brackets A', and the latter a rocking
or nipping bar mounted on a pair of rocking arms 9 and normally kept up in
contact with the rigid bar Q by means of a weight such as Q³ mounted on a
lever q' rigidly fixed to one of the rocking arms q so that the tubes P are normally
closed and the flow of ink stopped. The rocking bar Q1 is operated to release the
tubes P from any convenient moving part of the machine, and is preferably
accomplished by means of an arm or lever Q2 formed in one piece with or fixed to
one of the arms 9 carrying the rocking bar, the said arm or lever Q2 engaging with
and being operated by the finger Y on the table B. The free ends of the flexible
tubes P are guided and their points of delivery with respect to the pens are
determined by means of guides such as P¹ which preferably take the form of spring
fingers adapted to be placed in holes formed in a frame such as p fixed to the
rocking beam C the elasticity of the guides enabling them to be frictionally
adjusted in any desired position.
The improved pen holder consists essentially of two plates S and S¹ of a suitable
shape placed one over the other and adapted to be drawn together or forced
asunder by the action of a longitudinal bar S carrying wedge-shaped pieces or
projections s which engage with wedge-shaped recesses and s² in the plates S

page_text: and S. The longitudinal movement of the bar S' in one direction draws the two
plates S and S together and its movement in the opposite direction forces them
asunder, the said bar being operated by a thumb nuts or its equivalent mounted
in one end of the holder. The gripping faces of the two plates S and S¹ adapted
to grip the pens R are preferably faced with strips of rubber or other suitable
flexible material to compensate for the varying thicknesses of the metal plates out
of which the pens are made. To enable the top of the holder which carries the
inking pads to be readily cleaned it is faced with a metallic plate S3 which is fixed
to the top plate S of the holder by means of thumb nuts so so that it can be readily
removed for the purpose of being cleaned. The top plate S of the holder is
provided with a longitudinal tongues adapted to fit in the slot in the rocking
beam C of the machine and to be fixed thereto either in the ordinary manner by
means of set screws, or by means of a clamping device similar to that herein before
described for the pen holder.
As a modification the longitudinal bar S2 may have a series of inclined slots s
which engage with a series of pins or studs s' carried by the plate S as shown by
Figures 19 and 20.
In order to secure the instantaneous lifting of the beam carrying the pens
irrespective of the number of sheets of paper on the table the arm or striker F
adapted to lift the beam C by means of the usual cams 62 mounted in the slot 6*
in the table B instead of being fixed rigidly to the beam as heretofore engages
with the beam C by means of a clutch consisting essentially of a clutch block G
carried by a link g pivotted to the rear end of the striker F and of a quadrant C¹
carried by the beam C with which the said block G engages. This device allows
the beam C to rise and fall independently of the striker controlling it, although it
responds to the slightest upward movement of the said striker thus providing for
the use of pens of any length and allowing any number of sheets of paper to be
placed on the table B and to be removed one at a time after they are ruled.
To ensure the pen bean C falling rapidly and accurately after it has been lifted
by one of the cams 62 when the table B is being reciprocated rapidly we sometimes
use double cams such as 3 and use a double clutch and striker as shown by
Figure 18 Sheet No. 8, the duplicate parts being designated by the letters C', F¹, G', ƒ¹
and gl respectively.
To prevent the front end of the striker F from falling into contact with the
table B a stop a² is mounted on the adjacent bracket A' for the striker to engage
with. To regulate the position of the striker F with respect to the beam a set
screw such as at is provided at the rear end of the beam C. The final cam X,
which lifts the beam when the end of the sheet of paper being ruled is reached, is
mounted to slide in a slot 6 in the table B and its position therein is adjusted by
means of a screw such as a capable of being rotated from the front edge of the
table. On a rearward extension C2 of the beam C is mounted an adjustable
weight H for the purpose of balancing the beam. To keep the beam in its raised
position clear of the table B after it has been lifted a catch lever J is pivotted to
an arm c on the beam C extending below its point of pivot which is adapted to
engage with a stop a³ on one of the brackets A. To lift this catch lever J out of
engagement with the stop a³ a finger Y is provided on the table B, the said finger
being adjustable thereon by means of a screw such as y operated from the front of
the table. The position of this stop determines the distance from the front edge
of the table at which the ruling commences as its length is such that it comes into
contact with the bracket A' after it has lifted the catch J and thus prevents the
further movement of the table B. Adjustably mounted on the front of the beam C
is an arm K preferably formed in two parts as shown carrying at its free end a
small roller & adapted to roll on the surface of the paper to relieve the ruling pens
of the weight of the beam and therefore prevent them from becoming bent or
distorted. The arm K is constructed in such a manner that the centre of the
roller & can always be adjusted in a line with the points of the pens.
The fall of the beam C is regulated by a fly M the primary wheel of which

page_text: 4
gears with a rack N carried by an arm O formed on or fixed to the beam C, so
that the ink is not splashed out of the pens by suddenly coming into contact with
the paper.
Those parts of the machine to which no specific reference has been made present.
no novel features and may be of the usual type.
Although these improvements have been described and shown as applied to a
ruling machine having a reciprocating table they are applicable also to all other
types of ruling machines.
We wish it to be particularly understood that we do not limit ourselves to the
precise details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings, but that we hold ourselves at liberty to make such
changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of our invention:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1) The improvements in and relating to ruling machines, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(2) The improved pen for ruling broad lines, tints and the like substantially as
hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying
drawings.
(3) The improved masks for masking the ink pads and allowing them to be
superimposed, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown by Figures 14,
15, 16 and 17 of the accompanying drawings.
(4) The automatic device for controlling the flow of the inks from the reservoirs,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the
accompanying drawings.
() The improved pen holder or clamp, substantially as herein before described
and shown in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 19 and 20 of the accompanying drawings.
(6) The device for regulating the fall of the pen beam substantially as herein-
before described and shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
(7) The device for controlling the movement of the pen beam substantially as
herein before described and shown in Figures 2 and 18 of the accompanying
drawings.
(8) In a ruling machine, a rocking beam for carrying the pens adapted to be
lifted through the medium of a clutch, as and for the purpose set forth.
(9) In a uling machine, the combination with a rocking beam for carrying the
pens adapted to be lifted through the medium of a clutch, of a fly or its equivalent
for regulating the fall of the beam so that the pens fall gently in contact with the
sheets of paper on the table, as set forth.
(10) In a ruling machine, the combination with a rocking beam for carrying the
pens adapted to be lifted through the medium of a clutch, of an adjustable arm
mounted on the beam and carrying a small roller adapted to roll on the surface of
the sheets of paper on the table, to relieve the ruling pens of the weight of the
beam, as set forth.
(11) In a ruling machine the combination with a rocking beam such as C for
carrying the pens, of an independent striker such as I adapted to lift the rocking
bean C by means of a clutch, of a fly such as M for regulating the fall of the
beam, and of an adjustable arm such as K mounted on the rocking beam
and carrying a small roller k adapted to roll on the surface of the sheets of
paper on the table to relieve the ruling pens of the weight of the beam, as set
forth.
(12) In a ruling machine the combination with the beam C for carrying the
pens, of the striker F adapted to be operated by cams carried by some moving
part of the machine, of the clutch G for coupling the striker F to the beam C, of
the latch lever J pivotted to the beam C and adapted to engage with a pin on the
frame of the machine and to be operated by some moving part of the machine,

page_text: either with or without the fly M for regulating the fall of the pen beam, as and for
the purpose set forth.
(13) In a ruling machine the combination with the beam C for carrying the
pens, of the striker F adapted to be operated by cams carried by some moving part
of the machine, of the clutch G for coupling the striker F to the beam C, of the
latch lever J pivotted to the beam C and adapted to engage with a pin on the
frame of the machine and to be operated by some moving part of the machine, and
of the improved pen holder or clamp, either with or without the fly M for regulating
the fall of the pen beam, as and for the purpose set forth.
(14) In a ruling machine the combination with the beam C for carrying the
pens, of the striker F adapted to be operated by cams carried by some moving
part of the machine, of the clutch G for coupling the striker F to the beam C, of
the latch lever J pivotted to the beam C and adapted to engage with a pin on the
frame of the machine and to be operated by some moving part of the machine, of
the improved pen holder or clamp, and of the adjustable arm K carrying the roller k,
either with or without the fly M for regulating the fall of the pen beam, as and
for the purpose set forth.
(15) In a ruling machine the combination with the beam C for carrying the
pens, of the striker F adapted to be operated by cams carried by some moving
part of the machine, of the clutch G for coupling the striker F to the beam C, of
the latch lever J pivotted to the beam C and adapted to engage with a pin on the
frame of the machine and to be operated by some moving part of the machine, of
the improved pen holder or clamp, of the improved masks T' and of the adjustable
arm K carrying the roller k, either with or without the fly M for regulating the
fall of the pen beam, as and for the purpose set forth.
(16) In a ruling machine the combination with the beam C for carrying the
peus, of the striker F adapted to be operated by cams carried by some moving
part of the machine, of the clutch G for coupling the striker F to the beam C, of
the latch lever J pivotted to the beam C and adapted to engage with a pin on the
frame of the machine and to be operated by some moving part of the machine, and
of the device for controlling the flow of ink from the reservoirs, either with or
without the fly M for regulating the fall of the pen beam, as and for the purpose
set forth.
(17) In a ruling machine the combination with the beam C for carrying the
pens, of the striker F adapted to be operated by cams carried by some moving
part of the machine, of the clutch G for coupling the striker E to the beam C, of
the latch lever J pivotted to the beam C and adapted to engage with a pin on the
frame of the machine and to be operated by some moving part of the machine, of
the device for controlling the flow of ink from the reservoirs, and of the improved
pen holder or clamp, either with or without the fly M for regulating the fall of the
pen beam, as and for the purpose set forth.
(18) In a ruling machine the combination with the beam C for carrying the
pens, of the striker F adapted to be operated by cams carried by some moving
part of the machine, of the clutch G for coupling the striker F to the beam C, of
the latch lever J pivotted to the beam Cand adapted to engage with a pin on the
frame of the machine and to be operated by some moving part of the machine, of
the device for controlling the flow of ink from the reservoirs, of the improved pen
holder or clamp, and of the improved masks T', either with or without the fly M
for regulating the fall of the pen beam, as and for the purpose set forth.
(19) In a ruling machine the combination with the beam C for carrying the
pens, of the striker F adapted to be operated by cams carried by some moving
part of the machine, of the clutch G for coupling the striker F to the beam C, of
the latch lever J pivotted to the beam C and adapted to engage with a pin on the
frame of the machine and to be operated by some moving part of the machine, of
the device for controlling the flow of ink from the reservoirs, of the improved pen
holder or clamp, of the improved masks T', and of the adjustable arm K carrying

page_text: the small roller k, either with or without the fly M for regulating the fall of the
pen beam, as and for the purpose set forth.
(20) The combination with the improvements specified in the preceding claim, of
the improved pen for ruling broad lines, tints and the like, as set forth.
(21) The combination with the improvements specified in Claim 19, of a pen for
ruling fine lines constructed as herein before described and illustrated by Figures 6
and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
(22) The respective combination of parts as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings forming our respective improvements
in and relating to ruling machines.
D
T
1000
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.