IM- PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PERFORATING PAPER OR OTHER LIKE MATERIALS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Thomas Marler, Manager of the Viaduct Works,
Farringdon Road, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PERFORATING PAPER OR OTHER LIKE
MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by William Braidwood, of Mount
Vernon, Lewis Francis and Cyrus Horton Loutrel, of the City of New York,
all in the State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 24th April 1877, and dated the 10th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Thomas Marler at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th November 1876.
EDWIN THOMAS MARLER, Manager of the Viaduct Works, Farringdon Road, in
the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINERY FOR PERFORATING
PAPER OR OTHER LIKE MATERIALS." A communication.
This Invention relates to machinery for perforating paper or other similar
materials, that is to say, for producing in these materials lines of perforations by
means of which they can be severed readily along the perforated lines.
In the following description I more particularly refer to paper, but it will be
understood that the same description refers to other materials.
I provide the said machinery with a grooved wheel and a punch or cutter provided
with M shaped teeth for perforating the paper, so that, in making a perforation, the
ends of a tooth will cut across the paper at the ends of the perforations to be made
previously to punching out the intermediate portion. With this object in view the
ends of the teeth are made sharp, but square transversely, so that they will punch
the paper in advance of the action of the central part of the tooth.
I also provide an improved device for lifting the cutter from the paper at the end
of the line of perforations. This device for lifting the cutter shaft consists of a cam
wheel mounted on the lower shaft, and on the upper shaft and opposite to it is
fixed a wheel with a wide face against which the cam runs. These cam wheels are
provided with a stationary cam on one side, and with an adjustable cam piece on
the opposite side, so arranged that it can be moved to the right or left, and in con-
nection with the stationary cam will prolong the time during which the cutter shaft
shall be raised.
I combine with the said machine a gauge rest, against which the paper rests

page_text: when introduced into the machine, in order that it may be evenly and automatically
adjusted under the cutter in readiness to be perforated when the cams have passed
from the antifriction wheels and allowed the cutter shaft to fall. This gauge rest
has two or more vertical pieces mounted adjustably under the cutter shaft on a
rising and falling frame in such a manner that when the frame is in its higher
position they come opposite and above the feed table, so as to intercept the paper,
which can be pushed into the machine under the cutter until its edge meets the
gauge. And when the frame is in its lower position, they will sink below the level
of the feed table and allow the paper to pass over them. The frame on which these
gauge pieces are mounted extends across the machine, and its ends are turned down
and slide in guides placed along the inner side of the frame, and have, below the
slides, arms which project towards one of the shafts, so that they can be pushed
down, carrying the frame with them by cams on the shaft. The said cams are so
timed as to come round and strike the arms and depress the gauges just before the
cutter commences its operation on the paper. The ends of the said arms are lifted
to their former position by springs after the cams have passed over them.
I employ guide mechanism constructed with a fixed and a loose roller placed in
front of the machine, which rollers revolve in surface contact with each other.
The fixed roller is geared in such a manner that together with the loose roller it has
the same surface speed as the cutters of the machine, while by means of the rollers
the sheet of paper to be perforated is accurately and evenly guided through the
cutters. The loose roller is so connected with the cutter shaft that it partakes of
the rising and falling movement of the said shaft, and permits the removal or
changing of the position of the paper to be perforated. The connection of the said
loose roller with the cutter shaft is effected by means of yokes and arms fastened
to the yokes which form bearings for the roller. These yokes are pivoted to
the machine frame, and are arranged in such a manner, relatively to the cutter
shaft, that when the shaft rises it carries with it the yokes, the arms, and the loose
roller. The lower ends of the yoke arms form hooks in which the loose roller is
journalled removably while the said arms are fastened to the said yokes through
the medium of lock nuts, by means of which the hooks may be adjusted in proper
relation to the loose roller.
Two rollers are placed on the back part of the machine, geared similarly to those
on the front part, and having the same surface speed as the cutters, between which
two rollers the paper or other article passes after being perforated. The purpose of
said rollers is to receive the paper after it has been perforated, to prevent its siding,
and to carry it uniformly into the delivery box.
A tongued wheel and grooved wheel are placed on the outer ends of the upper
and lower shafts, and work into each other. The purpose of these tongued and
grooved wheels is to prevent any endwise motion of the shafts and injury to the
cutters, whereby they might be rendered unfit to perform the operation of perforat-
ing the paper or other material.
The said improved cutter teeth are applicable to reciprocating cutters, as well as
to rotating cutters or wheels.
This machine is designed to be operated by steam or other power, but may be
driven by a crank arm on the lower shaft.
I modify the said Invention in such a manner that the cutting of the perforations
is performed by the action of the hand perforator. This hand perforator comprises
a wbecl carriage which supports a rotary cutting tool, and two parallel and station-
ary knives secured to a platform, and between which the cutting tool is made to
pass. The said platform is provided with two or more rails to form guides for the
wheels of the perforator. With the guide rails are combined cams which cause the
perforator to assume a higher position at the part of the rails where the cam is
located, and by this means the cutting tool is brought out of contact with the paper
to the extent of the length of the cam, and a portion of the paper remains un-
perforated.
In this modification of the said Invention I use a clamp which has a longitudinal

page_text: slit for the passage of the cutting tool in combination with a pin attached to the
ends of the clamp. A beam carries the said pin and clamp, a treadle is connected
with the said beam, and springs are arranged between the beam and the frame of
the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Thomas Marler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th May 1877.
EDWIN THOMAS MARLER, Manager of the Viaduct Works, Farringdon Road, in
the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PERFORATING
PAPER OR OTHER LIKE MATERALS." A communication from abroad by William
Braidwood, of Mount Vernon, Lewis Francis and Cyrus Horton Loutrel, of the
City of New York, all in the State of New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to machinery for perforating paper or other similar
materials, that is to say, for producing in these materials lines of perforations by
means of which they can be severed readily along the perforated lines.
In the following description 'I more particularly refer to paper, but it will be
understood that the same description refers to other materials.
•
I provide the said machinery with a grooved wheel and a punch or cutter
provided with M shaped teeth for perforating the paper, so that in making a per-
foration the ends of a tooth will cut across the paper at the ends of the perforations
to be made previously to punching out the intermediate portion. With this object
in view, the ends of the teeth are made sharp, but square transversely, so that they
will punch the paper in advance of the action of the central part of the tooth.
I also provide an improved device for lifting the cutter from the paper at the
end of the line of perforations. This device for lifting the cutter shaft consists of a
cam wheel mounted on the lower shaft, and on the upper shaft and opposite to it
is fixed a wheel with a wide face against which the cam runs. These cam wheels
are provided with a stationary cam on one side and with an adjustable cam piece
on the opposite side, so arranged that it can be moved to the right or left, and in
connection with the stationary cam will prolong the time during which the cutter
shaft shall be raised.
I combine with the said machine a gauge rest against which the paper rests
when introduced into the machine, in order that it may be evenly and automatically
adjusted under the cutter, in readiness to be perforated when the cams have passed
from the antifriction wheels and allowed the cutter shaft to fall. This gauge rest
has two or more vertical pieces mounted adjustably under the cutter shaft on a
rising and falling frame in such a manner that when the frame is in its higher
position they come opposite and above the feed table, so as to intercept the paper,
which can be pushed into the machine under the cutter until its edge meets the
gange, and when the frame is in its lower position they will sink below the level
of the feed table and allow the paper to pass over them. The frame on which these
gauge pieces are mounted extends across the machine, and its ends are turned down
and slide in guides placed along the inner side of the frame, and have below the
slides arms which project towards one of the shafts, so that they can be pushed
down carrying the frame with them by cams on the shaft. The said cams are so
timed as to coine round and strike the arms and depress the gauges just before the
cutter commences its operation on the paper. The ends of the said arms are lifted
to their former position by springs after the cams have passed over them.
I employ guide mechanism constructed with a fixed and a loose roller placed in
front of the machine, which rollers revolve in surface contact with each other. The
fixed roller is geared in such a manner that together with the loose roller it has the
same surface speed as the cutters of the machine, while by means of the rollers the
sheet of paper to be perforated is accurately and evenly guided through the cutters.

page_text: provements.
Figure 2 is a transverse section showing the gear connection of the cutter shafts
and rollers.
Figure 3 is a transverse section showing the position of the paper-guide, rollers,
and levers for lifting the front top roller and also the arrangement of the cams and
levers and slides for raising and dropping the paper stops.
Figure 4 is an end view of the cutter, the paper stops, paper guide, rollers, and
stripper for stripping the paper from the cutters after being perforated.
Figure 5 is a face view of the cam plate with adjustable cam piece for lifting
the upper or cutter shaft when perforating checks, receipts, and the like of any
desired length.
The remaining Figures are herein-after described
A is the frame of the machine. The cutter shaft B is supported in the upper part
of the frame, being journalled in rising and falling boxes C arranged as shown at
one end of the frame. Below the cutter shaft is another shaft running in stationary
bearings in the frame. The said cutter shaft carries the cutter wheels D, D, and
also the antifriction wheels which run against the cams by which the cutter shaft
is lifted. The cutter wheels D, D, are provided with double or M shaped teeth as
shown in Figure 4, separated from each other by recesses whose sides are straight or
as nearly so as the radial arrangement of the teeth will permit; each tooth has an
angular depression or notch in its face so that at the ends of the teeth are formed
pointed prongs F whose outer edges are straight and whose inner edges are inclined
toward and face each other. The sharp prongs F enter the paper or other article
and hold it from slipping while the teeth are punching out and making the cross
cuts of the perforation previously to the parallel cut which completes it. Below the
cutter wheel and on the counter shaft D are grooved wheels G, G, whose grooves H
are arranged to receive the teeth of the cutter wheels, the face of the grooved
wheels G on each side of the groove being made wide enough to give proper support
to the paper or other article to be perforated on each side of the perforations. The
cutter wheels are raised by means of cam wheels provided with stationary and
adjustable cams on opposite sides of the wheels and which act against antifriction
wheels fixed on the cutter shaft.
On the lower shaft D'arc cam wheels N, on one side of which is fixed the

page_text: stationary cam piece or enlargement O, and on the other the movable piece P; the
latter is provided with concentric slots Q as seen in Figure 5, through which pass
set screws R that enter the wheel and screw the cam pieces toward the right or left
as far as the length of the slots will permit with reference to the stationary cam
pieces and thus lengthen or shorten the cam surfaces of the wheels and prolong or
diminish their action on the cutter and feed shaft. The cam wheels effect the
raising of this shaft by means of counter or antifriction wheels S fixed on the cutter
shaft in such position that the cam pieces come around into contact with the faces
of the wheels S and thereby so lift the shaft B as to raise the cutter and feed wheels
from the paper or other article or material perforated.
The shafts B and D are geared together to move with equal speed by means of
the toothed wheels T, T, whose teeth are long enough to permit the rising and
falling of the cutter shaft B, the teeth of the wheels being of such proportions that
the wheels shall not become disconnected. The paper or other article to be per-
forated is delivered to the feed rollers upon a table U.
V, V, are gauge rests consisting of vertical pieces against which the edge of the
paper or other article strikes when it is pushed in by the operator over the feed
table U and which are arranged under the cutter shaft and are connected by slotted
arms W and screws X with a frame Y that passes along the back part of the
machine with its ends extending down through slides Z on the ends of the frame A
and provided below the slides with arms 1; the latter project beneath the shaft D¹
in such manner as to be depressed by cams 2 mounted on that shaft. The cams 2
push down the arms 1 and consequently force down the frame Y with its gauge rests
to take the latter below the level of the feed table and allow the paper or other
article to pass under the cutter and feed wheels. After the cams 2 have passed the
arms 1 the frame is immediately pushed up to its former position by springs 3
arranged beneath the arms 1 and the gauge rests are thereby restored to their place
in line with the feed table.
In Figure 4 a cutter wheel is shewn on the cutter shaft B.
In Figure 3A represents the framework of the machine, forming bearings for the
cutter shaft B and cam shaft D¹. At a suitable point in front of the cutters and
approximate to the feed board of the machine are arranged guide rollers H, I, which
have a revolving motion. H is a fixed or stationary roller mounted in brackets J
and the shaft of which bears a toothed wheel K that gears by an intermediate
wheel K¹ with a wheel L mounted on the can shaft D¹. By this means a
revolving motion is imparted to the fixed roller H from the shaft D', and the
gearing of the parts is such that the guide rollers H, I, have a like surface
speed with the cutters D. The upper or loose guide roller I is arranged in
slotted brackets M, the upper ends of whose slots a are open so that the roller
may be removed.
The loose roller I rests on the fixed roller H by its inherent
weight, and by this arrangement the loose roller acquires a revolving motion.
The object of the rising and falling movement of the cutter shaft B is to admit
of removing or changing the position of the paper or other article or material
passing through the machine when the cutters are raised in order that only a
portion of the said paper or other article or material may be perforated.
permit this movement it is necessary that one of the guide rollers H, I, also should
rise together with the cutters, and therefore the roller I is loose or adjustable as
above specified. And the said roller furthermore is connected with the cutter shaft B
by means of the yokes O¹ and arms P¹ so that it partakes of the rising and falling
movement of the cutter shaft. The yokes O¹ are connected at one end to the
machine frame by means of a pivot b, while to the other end of the yokes are
fastened the arms P¹. The yokes lie above and across the cutter shaft B, or may be
connected thereto so that when the shaft is lifted it will carry with it the yokes O³,
the arms P¹, and the loose roller I. The arms P¹ have a screw thread C¹ on a
portion of their length and are fastened to the yokes O¹ by means of screw nuts Q¹
Thus the yoke arins and the hooks R can be readily adjusted to the gudgeons of the
roller I.
To

page_text: The grooved wheel F¹ and tongued wheel Flare fitted to work very accurately
into each other. The object of these tongued and grooved wheels is to prevent any.
end motion of the shafts and the consequent injury to the perforating cutters. The
tongue and groove are made deep so that when the upper shaft rises and falls the
tongue and groove serve as a guide for the cutters in falling into the slots.
The improved cutter teeth are applicable to reciprocating cutters as well as to
rotating cutters or wheels. This machine is designed to be operated by steam or
other power but may be driven by a crank arm on the lower shaft.
I modify the said Invention in the following manner, that is to say: I so con-
struct a machine that the cutting of the perforations is performed by the action of a
hand perforator. This hand perforator comprises a wheel carriage which supports
a rotary cutting tool and two parallel and stationary knives secured to a platform
and between which the cutting tool is made to pass. The said platform is provided
with two or more rails to form guides for the wheels of the perforator. With
the guide rails are combined cains which cause the perforator to assume a higher
position at the part of the rails where the cam is located, and by this means the
cutting tool is brought out of contact with the paper to the extent of the length of
the cam and a portion of the paper remains unperforated. This part of the said
Invention comprises other improvements herein-after described.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of a machine constructed according to this part
of my Invention. Figure 7 is a plan, and Figure 8 a transverse section of the
same.
In these Figures A² represents the platform of the machine, which is supported
by uprights B2, and is divided by a longitudinal slit a into two parts, on the
parallel edges of which are secured the knives C. The width of the slit a² is such
as to leave a space between the cutting edges of the knives or of the platform,
which in this case forms the stock of the knives. The platform and the knives are
rendered adjustable by providing the platform with slots b², through which pass its
fastening screws c². D² represents a carriage; E2, E2, are wheels; and F a cutting
tool, which form the essential parts of the hand perforator, the carriage being pro-
'vided with a handle G2 and the wheels E2 together with the cutting tool being
mounted on a shaft H2 which has its bearings in the carriage. The cutting tool F2
has the form of a wheel provided with teeth resembling the letter M in outline.
This wheel F is intended to run in the space between the knives C2 and the plat-
form A, is provided with guide rails 12 parallel to each other and to the knives.
In the rails are formed grooves & adapted to receive flanges formed on the wheels
E2 of the carriage.
When the platform is placed on the rails and moved to and fro, it is accurately
guided while a sheet of paper on the platform receives a line of perforations by the
combined action of the cutting tool F and of the knives Ċ². The guide rails I'
form the support for cams J, whose purpose is to raise the perforator so that it
ceases its action on the paper for a portion of the length, and so that a portion of
the paper will remain unperforated. This action is desirable with paper intended
for checks, drafts, and other like purposes, the unperforated portion of the paper
serving to form the stubs of the checks. The cams J2 embrace the sides and the
top surface of the rails I so that the grooves remain unobstructed. The cams
are provided with slots e², as seen in Figure 6, through which pass set screws K²,
by means of which the cams are fastened to the rails, and by which the cams are
rendered adjustable, so that the portion of the paper remaining unperforated will
admit of being gauged.
The rails I are supported on the platform A² by means of screw-bolts L², which
pass through the platform, and are provided with lock nuts f². By loosening the
nuts f the bolts can be raised or lowered to any desirable extent, and the move-
ment of the bolts being imparted to the rails, the rails can be thus raised or
lowered. The object of this arrangement is to permit the regulation of the depth
of cut of the perforator which partakes of an adjustment of the rails, so that its
tool F2 enters between the knives C to a greater or less depth. Above the plat-

page_text: form is situated a clamp M², which has the form of a longitudinal strip, and is
provided with a slit g to permit the passage of the cutting tool F. To the
respective ends of the clamp M2 are screwed pins N2 which project downward
through the platform A, and are fastened to a beat 0², connected to a treadle Pº,
through the medium of a link. The beam 0 is suspended from the platform by
means of springs Q2, as seen in Figure 6, one end of which is secured to the beam
and the other end to the platform. These springs Q are so gauged that they hold
the beam 02 and the treadle in such a position that the clamp N2 is held aloof from
the platform in order to admit of sliding the sheet of paper to its proper position.
While the treadle is depressed the beam 02 and the clamp follow the action thereof,
and the clamp exerts its functions and the paper is tightly held in place while
perforated. In order to prevent jumping of the perforator from the ends of the
rails I, stops R2 are secured at that point to obstruct the farther movement
of the perforator by catching the shaft H. The stops are secured to cross
pieces S2, which form a connection for the ends of the rails 12, and which serve to
keep the rails parallel. The said stops however may be secured to the platform.
The cutter F may be fastened to the shaft H2, and the rollers may be loose, or.
the rollers fast and the cutter loose.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The mechanism comprising the grooved wheel in combination with the
cutter or punch provided with notched teeth, as above described, and for the purpose
specified.
Second. The mechanism comprising the movable cam piece on the cam wheel in
combination with the stationary cain piece and the anti-friction wheel against which
the cams act, as above described, and for the purposes specified.
Third. The mechanism comprising the gauge rests operated automatically from
one of the shafts of the machine in combination with the feeding and cutting
devices, as above described, and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The mechanism comprising the guide rollers and cutters and parts
connected therewith, arranged and operating as above described, and for the
purpose specified.
Fifth. The mechanism comprising the cutter shaft of a paper-perforating
machine in combination with the pivoted yokes, the vertical arms, and feed rollers;
the said yokes and arms forming the connection between the feed rollers and the
cutter shaft, as above set forth, and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. The device consisting of the tongued and grooved rollers, as above
described, and for the purposes specified.
Seventh. A machine for perforating paper or other like materials, consisting of
the parts shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the accompanying Drawing, constructed,
combined, and operating as above set forth.
Eighth. A hand-perforator, consisting of the carriage, the wheels, the cutting tool,
the handle, and the shaft, in combination with the supporting platform and its
parallel knives, as above described, and for the purposes specified.
Ninth. The combination with the said hand-perforator of the clamp, as above
described, and for the purpose specified.
Tenth. The mechanism comprising the clamp having the longitudinal slit for the
passage of the cutting tool in combination with the pin attached to the ends
of the clamp, the beam carrying the pins and clamp, the treadle connected with
the said beain and the springs arranged between this beam and the frame of the
machine, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Eleventh. The mechanism comprising the hand-cutting tool or perforator in com--
bination with the vertically adjustable guide rails constructed to receive the flanges
of the wheels, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Twelfth. The mechanism comprising the rotary perforator and the grooved guide
rails, having cams for elevating the said perforator to bring it out of contact with
the paper, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.

page_text: Thirteenth. The mechanism or apparatus consisting of the parts shown in
Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the Drawing, constructed, combined, and operating as above
set forth and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Thomas Marler, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
EDWIN T. MARLER. (L.S.)