Improvements in Machines for Defacing Cheques, Drafts, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Defacing Cheques, Drafts, and the like.
I, JAMES MONROE WILLBUR, of 29, Broadway, New York, N.Y., U.S.A., Inventor,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this my invention is to provide a machine for defacing paid
cheques, drafts, and the like in such an effective manner that they cannot be
represented for payment, after skilful treatment, without detection.
The invention comprises a suitable frame in which a plunger is fitted to be
reciprocated vertically by a cam working in contact with a roller journalled in
the upper end of the plunger. The cam has a hand-lever which, when raised,
permits the plunger to rise but causes it to descend when depressed.
The lower end of the plunger is fitted with longitudinally-tapered knives which
enter through a disc fitted in the interior of a sleeve, and which disc is prevented
from coming out of the sleeve by an annular inturned flange on its upper edge.
The sleeve prevents the operator's hands coming into contact with the knives.
Cheques or the like to be cancelled are placed beneath the sleeve and are per-
forated by the knives when descending.
1
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.
I, JAMES MONROE WILLDUR, of 29, Broadway, New York, N.Y., U.S.A., Inventor,
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:
5 My invention relates to cutters and punches for cancelling or -mutilating
cheques or the like after they have been returned to the bank upon which they were
drawn in order that they may be recognized if any attempt is made to use them
a second time. The device includes a suitable frame carrying a punch, with means
for operating the same, and a series of cutters removably attached to the punch
proper.
the invention also includes the details of construction as will be hereinafter

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, Fig. 2 is an end olevation, and
Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views.
The frame of the machine may be of any suitable design embodying a base 1
and side standards 2 and an intermediate solid portion 3, through which extends
an opening to guide the punch proper 4. The base 1 is provided with a suitable
way for the reception of the base plate 5 which is retained in position by the latch
6, pivoted to the front of the base. A lever 7 is pivoted eccentrically between the
standards 2 in the upper part of the same, and the cam face of this lever bears
against a roller 8 journalled between the sides 9 of a bracket 10 on the punch 4.
The lever 7 is made telescopic in order that tho required leverage commensurate
with the number of papers to be pierced, may be obtained. This lever comprises
the inner tube 11 and outer sleeve 12 sliding thereon and provided with the handle
13. The two sections are connected together by a chain 14 which prevents the
sleeve 12 being slipped entirely off the tube 11. The cutters may be of any shape
or size or number, but in the present instanco I have shown but four knives of
L-shape this being a very desirable form. The knives are slightly tapered to a
cutting edge which is V-shaped, being larger at the top and they are held in a dise
15 into which they are tightly driven. A backing plate 16 is then attached to
the disc by suitable fastening means, ordinary screws being shewn in the present
instance. Centrally from the upper face of the backing plate 16 a stud 17 projects,
said stud being proferably cast integral with said plate and being screw-threaded
externally to correspond to the internally screw-threaded socket formed in the lower
end of the plunger 4 into which said stud fits. The knives are thus removably
attached to the plunger and a series of cutters of different configuration may thus
be readily used on the same machine. The knives and holder are encased in a
loose sleeve 18 provided with a head 19 closing its lower end, said head being pro-
vided with a series of slots conforming to the shape in cross section of the cutter
knives. This sleeve is adapted to rest upon the bunch of papers to be punched and
thus hold the same in position, and as said sleeve is freely movable longitudinally it
will ride up in relation to the cutters as the same pass through the papers; the
slot in the head 19 allowing the free passage of the cutters. The papers are thus
always held in a compact form and the knives themselves protected by this auto-
matically adjustable sleeve. To raise the plunger after the papers have been
pierced to release the same from the knives, a chain connects with the under side of
the lever 7 and the bracket 10. A rod 20 extends vertically between the standards
2 from the base 1 and is provided with a head or cap that acts as a stop to limit
the downward movement of the lever 7, which also comes in contact with the anti-
friction pulley or wheel attached to the plunger, thus relieving the lever from all.
friction when the paper is being out or perforated.
It will be noticed that I form the side edges of the knives V-shaped in cross
seotion thus materially reducing the friction which is caused in the withdrawal
of the knives after the papers have been perforated.
The disc 15 is slightly larger in diameter than the backing plate and the sleeve
at its upper end is fitted to these rings by being slightly reduced in diameter form-
ing a shoulder which will act as a stop to prevent the sleeve from falling off and
Bo that it will be raised from the cheques when the plunger is raised.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
(1) In combination, the frame, the plunger guided therein the backing plate
secured to said plunger, the knives and the independent disc carrying said knives
said disc being secured to said backing plate as described.
(2) In combination, the frame, the plunger guided therein, with means for
operating the same, the longitudinal tapered cutting knives, the independent disc
in which said knives are driven and held, and the means for connecting the said
disc to the said plunger, substantially as described.

page_text: (3) In combination, the plunger, the knives, the disc carrying the same, the
backing plate for said disc of reduced diameter, and the loose sleeve entirely enclos-
ing said knives whereby it is impossible for the operator's hand to reach the
bevelled edges of the blade, said sleeve having an annular shoulder near its upper
end adapted to abut the edge of said disc.
(4) In combination, the frame, the plunger carrying the cutters, and the lever
operating the same, comprising the inner tube, the outer tube adapted to slide
thereon, and the flexible connection between said tubes.
(5) In combination, the frame, the plunger carrying the cutters, and the operat-
ing lever comprising the inner tube, the outer tube adapted to slide thereon and the
chain connecting said tubes whereby said section cannot become disengaged.
(6) In combination, the frame, the plunger, the means for operating the same
and the cutting knives carried by said plunger, the longitudinal edges of said
knives being bevelled substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of December 1897