New and Improved Apparatus for Endorsing, Dating, or otherwise Printing Railway and other Tickets or the like, and Recording Value Received or other Desirable Information respecting same.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1892-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New and Improved Apparatus for Endorsing, Dating, or otherwise
Printing Railway and other Tickets or the like, and Recording
Value Received or other Desirable Information respecting
same.
I CHRISTOPHER WYNDHAM WILSON, Gentleman, of Rigmaden Park Kirkby
Lonsdale Westmorland do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
The object of this invention is to produce a machine with appurtenances
admitting of endorsing the destination and value of a railway or other ticket, or
adding such other information as may be desired, and at the same time printing
upon a ribbon, or sheet of paper, or other suitable material the whole or portion of
such information, so that a record is established of the transaction.
A machine of this nature is obviously suitable also for steamboat or theatre
service, or for similar situations where a ticket or receipt for amount paid for
admission or equivalent purposes is required, or a transaction of a like nature
takes place.
It is also plain that the machine may be used to endorse, print,
perforate, or otherwise mark, cheques, notes, and keep a record thereof.
For clearness I will first describe the machine as adapted for service in a
railway booking office, for instance, devoted to supplying single and return tickets
of any one class from that particular station to various destinations.
I prefer to use tickets consecutively numbered, and having printed thereon, the
name of the issuing station, the class, and such other supplementary information
as may be desired, (such as relating to bye laws and the like) a blank space being
left for the addition of destination and value. The date in any convenient position
may be printed by the machine or preferably by the action of withdrawing the
ticket from its hopper. Each machine is supplied with two ticket hoppers, used
respectively for single and return tickets, which may be distinctively coloured to
suit the class. At the open base of each hopper are arranged two rotating dating
wheels, (each having an inking wheel alongside) in such manner that, whilst there
is room for the fingers to withdraw the ticket in the usual manner, the ticket in
travelling out rolls over the aforesaid dating wheel being endorsed thereby, and
when quite freed the wheel resumes its original position by means of a weight or
equivalent means. The dating wheel is preferably fitted with small radiating
needle points, the better to engage with, and be rotated by, the ticket.
The ticket being withdrawn from its receptacle is inserted into one of several
compartments in a machine, hereinafter described, where it is endorsed with
the name of destination and the amount of the fare, at the same time a
similar endorsement is made upon a tape or sheet, thus preserving a continuous
record of the transaction. This result is accomplished by a machine constructed
as follows:-
A drum or cylinder of any convenient length, say 2 feet, is mounted upon an
axle projecting at both ends from an encasing or protecting box, and by means of
a pinion wheel at either end, (working in each case into a toothed segment, which
is in turn, actuated by a vertical lever to which it is fastened) the axle and drum
are rotated through 180 degrees. Upon the drum is fixed longitudinal lines of
type giving in each line say ten separate destinations and fares, and as, say,
40 such lines would be arranged around the whole circumference, it is obvious that
400 separate kinds of tickets might be endorsed thereby. I prefer to arrange on

page_text: any one machine all the type for single tickets on one half of the cylinder and for
each return ticket at a point diametrically opposite that at which a single ticket
for the same destination would be printed thus in such a machine, only
200 destinations would be printed, but both single and return tickets for the
same. These would only relate to one class, and supplementary machines would be
necessary for other classes.
Now along the case embracing this drum compartments are arranged, as
before mentioned, say, 10 in the two feet of length for printing single tickets,
and another set of 10 diametrically opposite for printing return tickets.
Each compartment is fitted with a hinged lid or platen, in such manner that a
ticket thrust thereon is pressed against such portion of the type on the drum as
may be arranged, and the ticket is endorsed and returned in a similar manner t
that at present in use for endorsing dates.-As each compartment admits of printing
any one of 20 tickets by rotating and setting the drum in a corresponding position
in its circuit of 180°, so once set, either the single or return ticket relating
to that destination may be printed by using one or other of the two platen
compartments arranged diametrically opposite each other. The first process
therefore is to set the drum for the destination required, and this is accomplished
as follows.
To the upper end of each of the vertical levers is pivotted a short horizontal
lever and these are joined at one extremity of a connecting bar across the top of
the machine this bar can be raised or lowered, and in combination with a hori-
zontal movement enables the drum to be rotated to any suitable point, and as the
horizontal links are fitted with spherical ends which drop into any one of 20 semi-
spherical recesses in a horizontal table, the machine can he locked into any one of
20 different angular positions, this, (as there are 20 platens), enabling 400 varieties
of tickets to be obtained :-The horizontal table would have 10 rows of names of
20 each, each row being in alignment with, and relating to the corresponding
platen; the names are preferably arranged alphabetically, and have fares alongside,
the whole therefore forming a convenient reference table, when desirable, to
despatch special trains, a special cover plate is slipped over the original index plate,
on which is given only those stations to which the train travels, and thus quickness
is ensured.
Upon the rod joining the short horizontal links may travel a thumb-piece
and pointer, or pointers corresponding to the platens may be permanently fixed
on the rod to facilitate indicating to what station the machine is set.
Now the recording arrangement is operated as follows:-
Within the case closely surrounding the drum, and open only at such points as
required for ticket endorsing is arranged a protecting cylinder, within which the
drum is rotated, and around the outside of this cylinder is passed a series of paper
tapes of preferably a more or less transparent character, and over them simila
tapes of transfer paper or equivalent material, any ticket therefore being pressed
upon any section of the type is printed, and at the same time the semi-transparent.
paper is printed in fac-simile.-The same paper that receives the impression of th
single tickets in any one of 20 stations also receives the impressions of the returns
but at intermediate distances, (to prevent confusion or obliteration,) and after each
movement of the lid or platen, the corresponding paper tape is moved forward a
small distance, the platen movement being utilized to operate a rubber drum
acting on the periphery of the paper roll which contains the record of transaction
and thus causes a certain amount of paper to be pulled off the blank paper drum
..and around the protecting cylinder.
The type drum is constructed so that the type can be readily removed and
replaced, and the case admits of the drum being readily withdrawn without dis-
turbing the recording tapes, or the recording tapes may be replaced without trouble.
The cases are also arranged to rest one above the other after the manner of steps.
thus concentrating a large number of stations within a small space. It will be
seen that the operator need not leave his position before the machine to obtain

page_text: any ticket, that a complete record is kept, the type is never clogged or dirty, and
the working is simple and rapid.
I do not however confine myself to this exact form of the machine, which
may obviously be modified without departing from the general arrangements.
In the case of a small branch line without bookings into the main or supple-
mentary lines, a simple machine may be constructed by using only two platens, and
rotating and shifting the type drum longitudinally on its axis to bring any row of
stations under the platen action, and there being only two of these the hoppers
may be fixed in conjunction therewith and the tickets automatically fed, only one
tape would he then required but the general action would be the same, of course it
would be also possible to feed in the same way all the 20 platens in the first
explained design automatically; but would require great attention to keep so many
hoppers full of tickets; electrical or mechanical indicators might however be used
to prevent running out, both of recording tapes or tickets.
If necessary to keep the type drum rotating in fixed bearing, one set of two
platens may be made to travel along a line and stop opposite any set of stations,
but might cause more loss of time than in the first. Under certain conditions it
may be desirable to make a type drum of short cylinders clamped or locked
together, so that they may be set to give any combination of stations, and if
necessary, they may be operated separately, though on the same axle; this
however involves extra expense in construction.
Dated this
der of March 1891
CHRIST. W. WILSON:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New and Improved Apparatus for Endorsing, Dating, or otherwise
Printing Railway and other Tickets or the like, and Recording
Value Received or other Desirable Information respecting
same.
CHRISTOPHER WYNDHAM WILSON Lieut. Colonel, D.L. J.P. Rigmaden Park
Kirkby Lonsdale Westmorland 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 :-
The object of this invention is to produce a machine with appurtenances
admitting of endorsing the destination & value of a railway or other ticket, or
adding such other information as may be desired, and at the same time printing
upon a ribbon or sheet of paper or other suitable material the whole or portion of
such information, so that a record is established of the transaction.
A machine of this nature is obviously suitable also for steamboat or theatre
service or for similar situations where a ticket or receipt for amount paid for
admission or equivalent purposes is required or a transaction of a like nature takes
place. It is also plain that the machine may be used to endorse, print, perforate
or otherwise mark cheques, notes, & keep a record thereof.
For clearness I will first describe the machine as adapted for service in a railway
moking office, for instance devoted to supplying single & return tickets of any one
class from that particular station to various destinations.
I prefer to use tickets consecutively numbered, & having printed thereon the
me of the issuing station, the class & such other supplementary information as
may be desired (such as relating to bye laws & the like), a blank space being
left for the addition of destination and value see Fig. 1. The date in any con-
venient position may be printed by the machine or preferably by the action of
withdrawing the ticket from its hopper.
Each machine is supplied with two ticket hoppers used respectively for single
&return tickets which may be distinctively coloured to suit the class, see Fig. 3A
for front elevation & Fig. 3B for inverted plan of a hopper. At the open base of

page_text: each hopper is arranged two rotating dating wheels a, a, (each having an inking
wheel alongside as shown marked e) in such manner that whilst there is room
for the fingers to withdraw the ticket in the usual manner, the ticket in travelling out
rolls over the aforesaid dating wheel being endorsed thereby, and when quite freed
each wheel resumes its original position by means of a weight or equivalent.
means.
The dating wheel is preferably fitted with small radiating needle points the better
to engage with & be rotated by the ticket.
The ticket being withdrawn from its receptacle is inserted into one of several
compartments in a machine, hereinafter described, where it is endorsed with the
name of destination & the amount of the fare (compare Fig. 1 with Fig. 2) at the
same time a similar endorsement is made upon a tape or sheet, thus preserving a
continuous record of the transaction. This result is accomplished by a machine
constructed as follows.
C
A drum or cylinder marked A in Figs. 4 & 5 of any convenient length (say
2 feet) is mounted upon an axle projecting at both ends from an encasing or
protecting box B and by means of a pinion wheel at either end (working in each
case into a toothed segment D which is in turn actuated by a vertical lever E to
which it is fastened), the axle and drum are rotated through 180 degrees. Upon
the drum is fixed longitudinal lines of type (marked A in Fig. 8) giving in each
line say ten separate destinations & fares, and as say 40 such lines would be
arranged around the whole circumference it is obvious that 400 separate kinds of
tickets might be endorsed thereby.
I prefer to arrange on any one machine all the type for single tickets on one
half of the cylinder and for each return ticket at a point diametrically opposite
that at which a single ticket for the same destination would be printed, thus in
such a machine only 200 destinations would be printed, but both single & return
tickets for the same. These would only relate to one class and supplementary
machines would be necessary for other classes.
Now along the case embracing this drum compartments or divisions giving the
ticket access to the type drum are arranged as before mentioned, there being say
10 in the two feet of length for printing single tickets, and another set of 10
diametrically opposite for printing return tickets.
Each compartment is fitted with a hinged lid or platen (Fig. 5, F) in such mauner
that a ticket thrust thereon is pressed by the movement of the platen against such
portions of the type on the drum A as may be arranged by the previous adjustment
through the lever E Fig. 4, & the ticket is endorsed and returned in a similar
manner to that at present in use for endorsing dates.
It will be seen in Fig. 5 that the upper platen shows a ticket being printed the
lower one is empty. As each compartment admits of printing any one of 20 tickets
by rotating and setting the drum A in a corresponding position in its circuit.
of 180°, so once set either the single or return ticket relating to that destination
may be printed by using one or other of the two platen compartments arranged
liametrically opposite each other. The first process therefore is to set the drum
for the destination required and this is accomplished as follows:
To the upper end of each of the two vertical levers, one is shown at E Fig. 4.
is pivotted a short horizontal lever Gaul these are joined at one extremity of a
connecting bar across the top of the machine, see H Fig. 6 which is a part plan of
the machine, this bar can obviously be raised or lowered and in combination with a
horizontal movement enable the drum to be rotated to any suitable point, and as
the horizontal links are fitted with spherical ends, shown more fully in Fig.
and marked J, which drop into any one of twenty semi-spherical recesses in a
horizontal table K, the machine can be locked into any one of 20 different
angular positions this (as there are 20 platens), enabling 400 varieties of tickets to
be obtained :-
The horizontal table would have 10 rows of names of 20 in each row (sec
lotted lines K' in Fig. 6), each row being in alignment with and relating to the

page_text: corresponding platen; the names are preferably arranged alphabetically, and have
fares alongside, the whole therefore forming a convenient reference table. When
desirable to despatch special trains a special cover plate is slipped over the original
index plate, on which is given only those stations to which the train travels,
quickness is ensured.
thus
Upon the rod joining the short horizontal links may travel a thumb piece &
pointer capable of sliding longitudinally upon the rod, or pointers L (see Fig. 6ª
which is a front elevation of the pointer) corresponding to the platens may be
permanently fixed upon the rod to facilitate indicating to what station the machine
is set.
Now the recording arrangement is operated as follows:-
Within the case closely surrounding the drum, and open only at such points as
are required for ticket endorsing is arranged a protecting cylinder marked Min
Fig. 5 within which the drum A is rotated, and around the outside of this cylinder
is passed a series of paper tapes N of preferably a more or less transparent
character, and over them similar tapes of transfer paper or equivalent material,
any ticket therefore being pressed upon any section of the type, is printed and
at the same time the semi-transparent paper is printed in fac-simile. The same
paper that receives the impression of the single tickets in any one of the 20 stations
also receives the impressions of the returns, but at intermediate distances to prevent
confusion or obliteration, the distance around the circumference of the encasing
cylinder and the amount of the step by step travel of the paper being arranged to
give this result.
After each movement of the lid or platen F the corresponding paper tape is
moved forward a small distance the platen movement being utilized to operate a
rubber drum O acting on the periphery of the paper roll P which contains the
record of transactions and thus causes a certain amount of paper to be pulled off
the blank paper drum and around the protecting cylinder.
This is simply effected in the case of any lower platen by the movement thereof.
being transferred, through the rod F1 and link with the accompanying pawl at
its extremity, to the ratchet wheel shown which is at the side of, and attached to,
the rubber drum. The upper platen carries a pawl directly acting upon the same
ratchet wheel. It will be noticed the rubber wheel is rotated by the recoil or
return of a platen, due to suitable springs acting thereon.
The paper roll P as it becomes larger travels down the elongated slot P (in its
guide frame) thereby expanding the rubber link which is always pulling it
against its corresponding rubber or driving drum.
The type drum Fig. is constructed so that the type can be readily removed
and replaced and the case may be so constructed that it admits of the drum being
readily withdrawn without disturbing the recording tapes, or the recording tapes
may be replaced without trouble. The cases are also arranged to rest one above
the other after the manner of steps (see diagram forming Fig. 9) thus concen-
trating a large number of stations within a small space. It will be seen that the
operator need not leave his position before the machine to obtain any ticket,
that a complete record is kept, the type is never clogged or dirty as it prints
the railway ticket through intervening paper tape, and the working is simple
and rapid.
We do not however confine ourselves to this exact form of the machine which
may obviously be modified, without departing from the general arrangement.
In case of a small branch line without bookings onto the main or supplementary
lines, a simple machine may be constructed by using only two platens, and rotating
& shifting the type drum longitudinally on its axis to bring any row of stations
under the platen action, and there being only two of these platens, the hoppers may
be fixed in conjunction therewith and the tickets automatically fed as shown in
Fig. 11, only one tape would be then required. This arrangement can be seen by
reference to Figs. 10 (plan) and 11 (section), in these figs. A is the type drum

page_text: and generally, similar figs. refer to similar parts to those in Figs. 4 & 5, the whole
type drum A is however made to travel longitudinally on the axis X see Fig. 10
the longitudinal movement of the rod H, and the drum is rotated by the
horizontal movement thereof upon the table K which is fitted with semi-spherical
recesses for pointer J. In the end elevation Fig. 16 is shown the rack link R &
pinion whereby the horizontal movement of H effects the rotation of drum A.
The action of this modified form is as follows, the tickets are fed down the upper
hopper by a weight W and upwards in the lower hopper by the spring Y shown, or
of course a cord and pulley with a counterweight or the like may be used. The
platen arrangement consists of a sliding tray at the end of each hopper which on
being pressed inwards causes an inking pad 4 to wipe over the face of the dating
stamp and catching ultimately in the bell crank it causes the stamp to press
upon the ticket (printing the date), and the ticket destination is at the same time
printed from the type drum owing to the intervening carbon paper, type ribbon, or
ile like as explained with reference to Fig. 5.
The back of the tray presses also upon the bell crank 1 or 2 as the case may be,
against the force of spring 7, and lifting the rod & pawl 3, a grip is obtained
upon wheel P and the paper ribbon N is moved on the return movement of a
platen.
The return of the tray feeds outward another ticket displacing the one endorsed
fafter the manner of a post card or photo delivering machine), and leaving it
projecting for the operators fingers as shown in the upper hopper and marked 8 a
fresh ticket then standing ready for the repetition of the operation.
Of course it would be also possible to feed in the same way all the 20 platens
in the first explained design automatically, but would require great attention to
keep so many hoppers full of tickets; electrical or mechanical indicators might
however be used to prevent running out of tickets, for instance, the descent of the.
weight W Figs. 12 & 13 may cause electric contact to be made see Fig. 13 or a
spring Z Fig. 12 to "Hip" the bell edge and cause an audible signal to be made
when a certain limit is reached. If necessary to keep the type drum rotating in
fixed bearing, one set of two platens may be made to travel along a line and stop
opposite any set of stations, but might cause more loss of time than in the first. A
side elevation of this is shown in Fig. 14, the spindles QQ acting as guides for
the hopper & appurtenances to travel upon. Similar letters in this figure refer to
similar parts to those in Fig. 5, and reference to the plan also will make the action
lear, e. any horizontal movement of the handle carries with it the ticket hoppers
platens (which may be arranged as in Fig. 11 or other convenient manner) and
the drum is rotated by the horizontal movement of the lever.
t
Under certain conditions it may be desirable to make a type-drum of short
cylinders clamped or locked together as in Fig. 15 so that they may be set to give
any combination of stations and if necessary they may be operated separately
though on the same axle as shown in Fig. 17. Fig. 16 shows how the "rack
link R by its horizontal movement rotates the pinion C and therefore the type
wheel A.
Obviously the machine may be modified without departing from the spirit of
the invention for instance it is easily seen that an ink ribbon as used on a
type writer might be made to work in a longitudinal direction across the printing
apertures of the protecting drum or cylinder, one ribbon being then sufficient for
ach row of platens.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is
1st. The construction or combination of the parts of a machine for printing
or endorsing railway tickets or the like, whereby a drum or drums, may be
a ljusted to bring a prearranged name or its equivalent into a printing position and

page_text: a ticket or the like be pressed thereon to receive the impression thereof, at the
same time a recording tape is similarly printed, substantially as illustrated and
described.
2nd. The combination in connection with a ticket printing device as above
described of a hopper or hoppers so arranged that the withdrawal of a ticket.
causes the date or other information to be printed thereon, substantially as
illustrated and described.
3rd. The combination or arrangement of the parts of a machine as herein
described by which the type drum or its equivalent may be moved relatively to the
ticket containing hoppers and printing platens, or in which the hopper and
appurtenances may be moved relatively to the drum or its equivalent, substantially
as illustrated and described.
4th. The combination or arrangement of the parts forming the index plate and
levers, whereby the list of stations or the equivalent thereof is provided with
adjacent semi-spherical or the like recesses to definitely fix the relative amount of
movement of the printing type for respective endorsenients of destination or other
information, substantially as described and illustrated.
5th. The arrangement in a machine for the purpose herein specified, of separate
drums capable of being locked to form any combination, or rotated separately by
rack and pinion or equivalent appliances, substantially as illustrated and described.
6th. The combination with a ticket hopper for the purposes specified, of electrical
or mechanical indicating mechanism as to amount of tickets remaining therein,
substantially as illustrated and described.
7th. The arrangement of the type in a machine for the purposes herein
specified whereby the printing type once set to print a certain ticket, is capable
by the use of a duplicate platen, of printing the return ticket for the same
destination without change of position, substantially as illustrated and described.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1892.
CHRIST. W. WILSON.