IMPROVEMENTS IN NUMBERING MACHINES FOR PRINTING
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN NUMBERING MACHINES FOR PRINTING." A com-
munication from abroad by Phineas Libby Hanscom, of Chicago, Illinois,
United States of America, Printer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st December 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN NUMBERING MACHINES
FOR PRINTING." [A communication from abroad by Phineas Libby Hanscom, of
Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Printer.]
Numbering machines have long been in use for printing from 0 up to 99 by
means of two wheels, the unit-wheel being provided with the types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
7, 8, 9, 0 and the other wheel with the types 1, 2, 3, 4 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and with a
blank space instead of the cypher; at the commencement the blank space of the
tens-wheel will be in line with the 1 of the unit wheel, and after the first impression
the unit wheel will move one step, bringing the 2 of the unit wheel in line with
the blank space of the tens-wheel, and so on, until after the 9 of the unit wheel
has been brought in line with the blank space of the tens-wheel, when the unit-
wheel and tens-wheel will be moved together by suitable well known mechanism
thereby bringing the 1 of the tens-wheel in line with the cypher of the unit-
wheel and printing 10; thereafter the digits of the unit-wheel, are brought
successively in line with the 1 of the tens-wheel, and whenever the unit wheel
moves to bring its cypher into proper place to print, the tens-wheel also moves one
step; but when 99 has thus been reached, the movement of both wheels one step
will set the machine to print 1 by bringing the blank of the tens-wheel in line
with the 1 of the unit-wheel.
The object of the present Invention is to produce a numbering machine which
will print consecutively from 1 up to, and including, 100 and repeat indefinitely,

page_text: this object being accomplished by moving the tens-wheel with the unit-wheel
in the usual manner and at the proper time giving to it a double motion, and
adding to it types to print 10. One way of carrying my Invention into practice is
to use the well known unit-wheel, and a tens-wheel similar thereto, except that it
has types
for printing as high as 10, and one blank space. The mechanism in this
machine is practically the same as in the well known machines for operating until
the 9 of the unit wheel is brought in line with 9 of the tens wheel and 99 is
printed but I provide mechanism in my machine whereby when this point is
reached both the unit and tens wheels move together as before thereby bringing
the 10 of my new tens-wheel in line with the 0 of the unit wheel and printing
one hundred (100). And here suitable mechanism must be used to give my new
tens-wheel a second movement with the unit-wheel in order to bring the blank
space of my new tens-wheel in line with 1 of the unit-wheel in order to print 1.
Thus far, in this embodiment of my Invention, the operation is precisely the same as
in well known machines till 99 is printed when by means of suitable additional
mechanism my new tens-wheel is twice moved with the unit-wheel instead of but
once as in the old well known machines. This double motion of the tens-wheel is
the distinguishing feature of my Invention; and by it I am enabled to print 100
and at the next impression print 1. Or the digits may be duplicated in addition
to using the Figure 10 and the blank space; that is to say, the periphery of my
new tens-wheel may have affixed to it 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10,
and a blank space so that in printing the blank space is first in line with the 1 of
the unit wheel, then in line with the 2, then with 3 and so on till 9 has been
printed when the unit-wheel, and my new tens-wheel, move one step together as
in the old machine, bringing the first character 1 of the new tens wheel in line
with the 0 of the unit wheel and printing 10 and in this case the unit-wheel
and my new tens-wheel again move one step together as above described bringing
the second character 1 of the new tens-wheel in line with the 1 of the unit wheel
and printing 11 whereupon the new tens-wheel rests until the unit wheel has
brought its 9 in line with the second 1 of the new tens wheel and printed 19,
when both wheels again move one step together bringing the first 2 of the new
tens-wheel into line with the 0 of the unit wheel and printing 20 then both
wheels move one step together to bring the second 2 of the new tens-wheel in line
with the 1 of the unit wheel to print 21; and this double movement of the new
tens-wheel is repeated as often as the unit-wheel passes from to and from
0 to 1 so that after the 9 of the unit-wheel is brought in line with the second 9 of
the new tens-wheel to print 99, both wheels move together one step, bringing the 0
of the unit wheel in line with the 10 of the new tens-wheel and printing 100, and
then both wheels move again one step together bringing the blank of the new tens-
wheel and the 1 of the unit wheel in line and re-commencing by printing 1. This
last double movement of the new tens-wheel being the only one which is essential
for it will be clear from what has been stated that the sole purpose of duplicating
the digits on my new tens-wheel is simply to enable me to give a double move-
ment to it as often as 9 of the unit-wheel is used; for I deem preferable to give
these nine unnecessary motions to the new tens-wheel, one double motion for
every revolution of the unit wheel, rather than to give the new tens-wheel
a single motion until its 9 has been printed with the 9 of the unit-wheel,
and then give it the essential double notion, and the reason for this is that
the mechanism for moving the tens-wheel two steps for every revolution of the
unit-wheel seems to me preferable to the mechanism for moving the new tens-wheel
one step at every revolution of the unit-wheel except the 10th and until 99 has
been printed, and then at every 10th revolution of the unit wheel moving the new
tens wheel two steps with the unit wheel instead of but one. This mechanism for
printing up to 100 and repeating indefinitely is not thus limited in its use; but may
be used to print the figures 50 and repeat; then the tens-wheel will be provided
with types for printing 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and a blank space, and the digits are pre-
ferably duplicated as described; but the essential feature is the same as before, that

page_text: is to say after printing 49 instead of 99 (as before) the tens-wheel and unit wheel
move together to bring the 5 of the tens-wheel in line with 0 of the unit-wheel
and 50 is printed (instead of 100 as before) and the next motion of the tens-
wheel with the unit-wheel brings the blank of the tens-wheel in line with the 1 of
the unit wheel and 1 is printed as before. And it is so of any multiple of 10 up
to 100. The tens-wheel moving twice with the unit wheel, the first motion bringing
the two wheels in position to print the full number and the second motion bringing
them into position to repeat. A variety of mechanism may be used to give the
necessary movement to the wheels to print as herein stated as will be obvious to
those familiar with the ordinary numbering machines heretofore in use. Therefore
I do not limit myself in regard to the means employed to give the wheels the
requisite motion. One suitable means is as follows:-
The sliding frame of the numbering machine slides on posts made fast to the
press frame. I provide a bell crank lever which is pivoted and actuated by a crank
to give motion to the sliding frame; a cam wheel actuates a pallet for producing
the intermittent rotary motion of the numbering wheels; a spring is secured to a
block and arranged in such a manner that the spring bears upon the numbering
wheel and brings it to the proper place after it is moved. The block is supported
by a rod which is fast to the frame. A sliding rod is moved by the cam-wheel and
the pallet, the forward motion of which rotates the numbering wheels. The pallet
enters one of inclined slots in the wheel and thereby moves the wheel until the
spring sinks into the next notch in the periphery of the wheel; the spring serving
to complete the motion of the wheel as well as to hold it steady for printing. As
the pallet moves backward its outer end will strike the upper wall of the slot and
be slightly depressed by a spring which will throw it back into position to enter
the next inclined slot, so that at any forward motion of the pallet produced by one
of the short teeth of the cam-wheel, the unit-wheel will be moved one step but
when the pallet is moved by the long teeth of the cam wheel it not only moves the
unit wheel one step but also enters one of the inclined slots in the tens-wheel and
moves that wheel also one step. The cam wheel is moved by a ratchet and pawl
and the latter is actuated by the bell crank lever which is moved as the frame
descends, to make the impression, by a connecting rod, one end of which is pinned
to a lever and the other end to the frame of the press.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said William Robert Lake
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th July 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN NUMBERING MACHINES
FOR PRINTING." A communication from abroad by Phineas Libby Hanscom, of
Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Printer.
Numbering machines have long been in use for printing from 0 up to 99 by
means of two wheels the unit-wheel being provided with the types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9, 0 and the other wheel with the types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and with a
blank space instead of the cipher; at the commencement the blank space of the
tens-wheel will be in line with the 1 of the unit-wheel, and after the first
impression the unit-wheel will move one step, bringing the 2, of the unit-wheel in
line with the blank space of the tens-wheel and so on until after the 9 of the unit-
wheel has been brought in line with the blank space of the tens wheel, when the
unit-wheel and tens-wheel will be moved together by suitable well known
mechanism thereby bringing the 1 of the tens-wheel in line with the cipher of
the unit-wheel and printing 10; thereafter the digits of the unit-wheel are
brought successively in line with the 1 of the tens-wheel and whenever the unit-
wheel moves to bring its cipher into proper place to print, the tens-wheel also
moves one step; but when 99 has thus been reached, the movement of both wheels
ouc step, will set the machine to print 1 by bringing the blank of the tens-wheel
in line with the 1 of the unit-wheel.
The object of the present Invention is to produce a numbering machine which
will print consecutively from 1 up to and including 100, and repeat indefinitely;
this object is accomplished by moving the tens wheel with the unit wheel in the
usual manner and at the proper time giving to it a double motion, and adding to it
types to print 10. One mode of carrying the said Invention into practice is to use
the well known unit-wheel and a tens-wheel similar thereto except that it has
types for printing as high as ten and one blank space. The mechanism in this
machine is practically the same as in the well known machines for operating until
the 9 of the unit wheel is brought in line with the 9 of the tens-wheel and 99 is
printed but I provide mechanism in my machine which when this point is reached
both the unit and tens-wheels move together as before, thereby bringing the 10 of
my new tens-wheel in line with the 0 of the unit-wheel and printing one
hundred (100) and suitable mechanism must be used to give my new tens-wheel a
second movement with the unit-wheel so as to bring the blank space of my new
tens-wheel in line with the one of the unit wheel in order to print one. Thus far
in this embodiment of my Invention the operation is precisely the same as in well
known machines until 99 is printed, when, by means of suitable additional
mechanism, my new tens-wheel is twice moved with the unit-wheel instead of but
once as in the old machines. This double motion of the tens-wheel is tho
distinguishing feature of my Invention and by it I am enabled to print 100 and
at the next impression print 1. Or the digits may be duplicated in addition to
using the figure 10 and the blank space that is to say the periphery of my new
tens-wheel may have affixed to it 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10,
and a blank space, so that, in printing, the blank space is first in line with the 1 of
the unit-wheel, then in line with the 2, then with 3 and so on till 9 has been
printed when the unit-wheel and my new tens-wheel move one step together as in
the old machines, bringing the first character 1, of the new tens-wheel in line with
the 0 of the unit wheel and printing 10, and, in this case, the unit-wheel and my

page_text: new tens-wheel again move one step together, as above described, bringing the
second character 1 of the new tens-wheel in line with the 1 of the unit-wheel and
printing 11 whereupon the new tens-wheel rests until the unit-wheel has brought
its 9 in line with the second 1 of the new tens-wheel and printed 19, when both
wheels again move one step together bringing the first 2 of the new tens-wheel
into line with the 0 of the unit-wheel and printing 20 then both wheels move one
step together to bring the second 2 of the new tens-wheel in line with the 1 of the
unit-wheel to print 21; and this double movement of the new tens wheel is
repeated as often as the unit-wheel passes from 9 to 0 and from 0 to 1 so that
after the 9 of the unit-wheel is brought in line with the second 9 of the new tens
wheel to print 99 both wheels move together one step bringing the 0 of the unit-
wheel in line with the 10 of the new tens-wheel and printing 100 and then both
wheels move again one step together bringing the blank of the new tens-wheel and
the 1 of the unit-wheel in line and recommencing by printing 1. This last double
movement of the new tens-wheel being the only one which is essential, for it will
be clear from what has been stated that the sole purpose of duplicating the digits
on my new tens-wheel is simply to enable me to give a double movement to it as
often as the 9 of the unit-wheel is used; for I deem it preferable to give these nine
unnecessary motions to the new tens-wheel, one double motion for every revolution
of the unit-wheel, rather than to give the new tens-wheel a single motion until
its 9 has been printed with the 9 of the unit-wheel and then give it the essential
double motion, and the reason for this is that the mechanism for moving the tens-
wheel two steps for every revolution of the unit-wheel seems to me preferable to
the mechanism for moving the new tens-wheel one step at every revolution of the
unit-wheel except the 10th and until 99 has been printed, and then at every 10th
revolution of the unit wheel; moving the new tens-wheel two steps with the unit-
wheel instead of but one. This mechanism for printing up to 100 and repeating
indefinitely is therefore not limited in its use but may be used to print the figure
50 and repeat; then the tens-wheel will be provided with types for printing
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and a blank space and the digits are preferably duplicated us
described; but the essential feature is the same as before, that is to say, after
printing 49 (instead of 99 as before) the tens-wheel and unit-wheel move together
to bring the 5 of the tens-wheel in line with 0 of the unit-wheel, and 50 is printed
(instead of 100 as before) and the next motion of the tens-wheel with the unit-
wheel brings the blank of the tens-wheel in line with the 1 of the unit-wheel and 1
is printed. And it is the same with any multiple of 10 up to 100, the tens-wheel
moving twice with the unit-wheel, the first motion bringing the two wheels in
position to print the full number, and the second motion bringing them into
position to repeat. A variety of mechanism may be used to give the necessary
movement to the wheels to print as herein stated, as will be obvious to those
familiar with the ordinary numbering machines heretofore in use. Therefore I
do not limit myself in regard to the means employed to give the wheels the
requisite motion. One suitable means is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing
in which:
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a numbering machine embodying my
Invention as applied to a suitable press.
Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the machine.
Figure 3 is a section on the line X X Figure 4.
Figure 4 is a plan of the numbering wheels, and parts of their mechanism.
Figure 5 is a section on the line y y Figure 3 showing also the pallet which acts
to produce the intermittent rotary motion of the numbering wheels.
.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the ink roller and the unit numbering wheel.
Figure 7 shows the cam-wheel and ratchet mechanism which moves the rod k¹.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the tens-wheel.
Figure 9 is an end view, and,
Figure 10 a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine shown in Figures Į
and 2.

page_text: A is the frame of the press to which the numbering machine is applied. B is the
sliding frame of the numbering machine which slides on posts C made fast to the
press-frame A. D is the inking roller, d the distributing roller, a is the unit-
numbering wheel, b is the tens numbering wheel, d' is the roller which inks the
numbering wheels, and f is a bell-crank lever which is pivoted at p and actuated
by the crank E to give motion to the sliding frame B. G is cam-wheel which
actuates the pallet P for producing the intermittent rotary motion of the numbering
wheels. is a spring secured to a block K and arranged in such a manner that it
bears upon the numbering wheel and brings the latter to the proper place after it
is moved. The block K is supported by the rod k which is fastened to the frame B.
The sliding rod ¹ is moved by cam-wheel G and carries the pallet P the forward
motion of which rotates the numbering wheels. The pallet P is shewn in Figure 5
as it is about to enter one of the inclined slots t in the wheel and thereby move the
wheel until the spring / sinks into the next notch in the periphery of the wheel;
the spring serving to complete the motion of the wheel as well as to hold it steady
for printing. As the pallet moves backward its outer end will strike the upper
wall of the slot and be slightly depressed by the spring s which will throw it back
into position to enter the next inclined slot, so that at any forward motion of the
pallet P produced by one of the short teeth of the cam-wheel G the unit-wheel a
will be moved one step, but when the pallet P is moved by the long teeth of the
cam-wheel G it not only moves the unit-wheel a one step but also enters one of
the inclined slots in the tens-wheels b and moves that wheel also one step. The
cam-wheel G is moved by the ratchet g and pawl g¹ and the latter is actuated by
the bell-crank lever g3 which is moved, as the frame B descends to make the
impression, by the connecting rod g" one end of which is pivoted to the lever g² and
the other end to the frame of the press.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim in a numbering machine
First: The combination of a unit-wheel, a tens-wheel, and mechanism for giving
the proper motion to the said wheels to print from one upwards in regular order,
and for moving the tens-wheel two steps with the unit-wheel in order to begin
again at 1, all substantially as set forth.
Second-The tens-wheel, above described, having in addition to the types for
printing the digits, the type for printing 10, and the blank space, and arranged and
operating with the unit-wheel, substantially as set forth, the tens-wheel having the
double motion with the unit-wheel after 99 has been printed, the first step of this
double motion bringing the 10 in line with the 0 of the unit-wheel and printing
100, and the next step bringing the blank space in line with the 1 of the unit-
wheel and printing 1, as specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Fourth day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)