Improvements in Stencil or like Copying Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Stencil or like Copying Apparatus.
I, MAURICE LUCIEN EYQUEM, of 208, Boulevard Pereire, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to machines for the automatic printing of proofs obtained
by means of a perforated sheet.
As is well known, several forms of machine enabling proofs obtained by means
of a perforated sheet to be printed automatically, have been constructed. These
various machines have hitherto given only imperfect results, as the printing of
the proofs has not been uniform owing to differences in the friction which takes
place between the fixed. lower frame and the movable carriage; as a result of
these differences of pressure the hand of the operator is not able to effect the con-
tinuous movement which is absolutely indispensable in order that the proofs
may be thoroughly uniform.
It is for the purpose of obviating this important defect that I have devised the
improvements which form the subject of this invention.
I obviate the differences of friction which have hitherto existed between the
movable carriage and the fixed lower frame, by means of balls which I interpose
between these two parts in the following manner.
The fixed lower frame is bevelled in such a manner as to form a slight cup,
and the carriage provided upon each side with an angle iron forming the
counterpart of the said cup. I thus obtain between the fixed lower frame and
the carriage two longitudinal conduits arranged one upon each side, and which are
adapted for the reception of balls serving to render the friction uniform.
As will be readily understood, it would be impossible to arrange the balls
without providing special means to that end, because, owing to the movement
along the fixed frame, these balls would immediately drop out. The means
which I employ for preventing this are as follows:-
I arrange in each longitudinal groove two balls only and each of them is en-
closed in such a manner as to turn easily within a flat ring. The two flat rings
are connected one with the other by means of a rod, thereby rigidly connecting
the two balls one with another, without however preventing them from rotating,
and consequently without prejudicially affecting the result which it is desired that
they should produce as regards the reduction of friction. The assemblage con-
sisting of the two rings and the rod constitutes, so to speak, a carriage which
follows to a greater or less extent the displacements of the carriage along the
frame the balls being unable to leave their groove owing to the provision of
stops arranged at the extremities of the frame. The interval separating the two
balls is thus constantly the same, owing to the rigidity of the rod, and the carriage
will therefore rest in a constant manner upon four points, forming always the
summits of the same rectangle.
The stability is thus perfect and is obtained by means of a relatively small
number of balls, whilst an equal degree of stability could only be obtained with
a large number of balls, if they were merely arranged in longitudinal conduits.

page_text: Instead of maintaining the separation of the balls by means of the small
carriage, I may form at intervals in each of the longitudinal conduits, cells or
recesses for the reception of the balls, which, being unable to leave such recesses,
produce the same effect as the balls connected by the rod.
The apparatus for effecting automatic printing does not itself present any special
feature. It consists as usual of a movable carriage at the upper portion of which
is stretched the perforated sheet which is inked by means of suitable rollers and
which receives the necessary pressure at the proper moment from a printing
roller. Upon one side of the frame is fixed an inclined part, effecting the lifting
of the upper portion of the carriage, for the purpose of enabling the printed proof
to be removed and the insertion of a fresh sheet of paper for the next impression.
Dated this 9th day of March 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
I, MAURICE LUCIEN EYQUEM, of 208, Boulevard Pereire, Paris, in the Republic
of France, 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 machines for the automatic printing of copies by
means of a stencil or perforated sheet.
As is well known, several forms of machine enabling copies obtained by means
of a stencil or perforated sheet to be printed automatically, have been constructed
These various machines have hitherto given only imperfect results, as the print-
ing has not been uniform, owing to differences in the friction which takes place
between the fixed lower frame and the movable carriage; as a result of these
differences of pressure, the hand of the operator is not able to effect the continued
movement which is absolutely indispensable in order that the copies may be
thoroughly uniform.
It is for the purpose of obviating this important defect that I have devised the
improvements which form the subject of this invention.
In order that the invention may be readily and clearly understood, I have
represented the same in the accompanying drawing which shows by way of
example, a machine provided with my improvements.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal side elevation of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a cross-section shewing in detail the friction surfaces between the
movable carriage and the lower fixed frame.
Figure 4 is a plan of the same.
I reduce the friction between the movable carriage and the fixed lower frame
by means of balls interposed between these two parts in the following manner.
The fixed lower frame is bevelled in such a manner as to form a slight cup,
and the carriage 6 is provided upon each side with an angle iron c forming the
counterpart of the said cup. I thus obtain, between the fixed lower frame and
the carriage, two longitudinal conduits arranged one upon each side, and which
are adapted for the reception of balls, serving to render uniform, or reduce the
friction.
As will be readily understood, it would be impossible to arrange these balls
without providing special means to prevent their escape, because, owing to the

page_text: movement along the fixed frame, they would immediately drop out when the
carriage was moved along. The means which I employ for preventing this are
as follows.
In each longitudinal groove are arranged two balls d, d, enclosed in such a
manner as to turn easily within a flat ring e The two flat rings e are connected
one with the other by means of a rod f, thereby connecting the two balls together.
without however preventing them from rotating, and consequently without pre-
judicially affecting the result which it is desired that they should produce as
regards the reduction of friction. The arrangement, consisting of the two rings e, e
and the rod f, constitutes, so to speak, a small carriage which follows to a greater
or less extent the displacements of the carriage balong the frame, the balls being
unable to leave their groove owing to the provision of stops arranged at the
extremities of the frame. The interval separating the two balls, is thus
constantly the same, owing to the rigidity of the rod f, and the carriage will
therefore rest in a constant manner upon four points, forming always the angles
of the same rectangle.
The stability is thus perfect and is obtained by means of a relatively small
number of balls, whilst an equal degree of stability could only be obtained with
a large number of balls, if they were merely arranged in longitudinal grooves.
Instead of maintaining the separation of the balls by means of the rod I and
and rings f. I may form, at intervals in each of the longitudinal grooves. cells
or recesses for the reception of the said balls, which, being unable to leave such
recesses, produce the same effect as the balls when connected by the rod f.
The apparatus for effecting automatic printing does not itself present any
special feature. It consists as usual of a movable carriage at the upper portion
of which is stretched the perforated sheet which is inked by means of suitable
rollers g, and which receives the necessary pressure at the proper moment from
a printing roller h. Upon one side of the frame is fixed an inclined part f. for
effecting the lifting of the upper portion of the carriage, for the purpose of en-
abling the printed copy to be removed and the insertion of a fresh sheet of paper
for the next impression.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The application to stencil or like copying apparatus for the automatic
printing of copies, of balls arranged between the movable carriage and the lower
fixed frame, such balls being placed in longitudinal grooves provided for that
purpose.
2. For the purpose above described, the arrangement of a rod terminating at
each of its extremities in a ring surrounding a ball, with the object of maintaining
the separation of the halls in the longitudinal grooves; the arrangement constituted
by the two rings and the rod being replaced if desired by cells or recesses formed
in the longitudinal grooves in which the balls are placed and always maintained
at the same distance, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
HASELTINE. LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.