IMPROVEMENTS IN STAMPING OR PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Horby, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAMPING OR PRINTING MACHINES:"
Sealed the 16th April 1867, and dated the 20th October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Horby at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
October 1866.
I, THOMAS HORBY, of Sheffield, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAMPING OR PRINTING
MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
machines for stamping or printing documents, envelopes, receipts, and other
papers by means of a die or sett of tipe and black or colored inks.
The machine consists of a base plate or stand on which a curved arm
supports a vertical standard containing the bearings of two grooved pullies,
one above the other; from these pullies two radial arms project, and are jointed
to a handle by means of screws and pivots attached to the stem of the handle,
the screws being fixed tightly in the pivots on the side of the radial arms
opposite the stem, which is provided with a knob for the hand to grasp. The
upper radial arm is made longer than the lower one, so that when the handle
and stem are on the inking pad or the document it assumes an oblique angle,
but when raised in either direction to a point over the centres of the bearings

page_text: of the pullies it acquires a vertical position, and being further caused to
traverse downwards on the opposite side of the standard assumes the oblique
angle. The pullies are provided with an endless cord or band of gutta percha,
india-rubber, leather, gut, or other suitable material for the purpose of aiding
the motion of the pullies, arms, and handle; the stem of the handle at its
lower extremity is perforated with a socket to receive the head of a die or
stamper, which is secured in the stem by means of a thumbscrew passing
through the stem into the socket, and just entering a recess cut in the head
of the die or stamp. The two pullies are fixed to the standard in the same
manner as the stem is adjusted to the radial arms. The base plate contains
at each end a recess, one for the purpose of holding a pad for the bearing
surface of the document or other article to receive a stamped or printed
impression, such pad being made by preference of hard vulcanized india-
rubber, or it may be of other suitable material, the other recess is provided
with a pin or screw let in from the under side and projecting upwards in such
position that its centre comes in a vertical line with the stem and stamp when
it is brought down on that end of the machine; this pin or screw supports
a metal plate fitting within the edges of the recess, so that such plate is free
to oscillate on a pin, it therefore follows that when such plate is covered with
cloth, felt, or other absorbent fabric and supplied with ink or colouring matter
suitable for the impression required it will always assume a proper position
under the blow of the stamp or die in order to take an uniform amount of
ink over its entire surface, which is communicated to the document at the
other end of the machine on the india-rubber or other pad.
The chief advantages most desirable are the adoption of wheels, endless
band, chain, gut, or any other suitable material for carrying the standard over
the centres, which it does much more smoothly than by the old method of
cranks and connecting rod, and also doing away with the intricate parts of
machinery which so very soon get out of order, and the application of the
oscillating and self-acting inking pad, all which renders the machine very
efficient and much supérior to any other stamping or impressing machines. -
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Horby in the Great, Seal Patent Office on the 20th
April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME I THOMAS S

page_text: WHEREAS Her 'most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Ler reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Horby, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Horby, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Horby, my exécutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man,' an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAMPING OR
PRINTING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Horby, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner. the same was to be performed, and cause 'the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Thomas Horby,.do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention; and. in what manner the same is, to be 'per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
machines for stamping or printing documents, envelopes, receipts, and 'other
papers by means of a die or sett of type and black or colored inks.
The machine consists of a base plate or stand on which a curved arnı
supports a vertical standard containing the bearings of two grooved pullies,
one above the other; from these pullies two radial arms project, and are
jointed to a handle by means of screws and pivots attached to the stem of the
handle, the screws being fixed tightly in the pivots on the side of the radial
arms opposite the stem, which is provided with a knob for the band to grasp..
The upper radial arni is made longer than the lower one, so that when the handle
and stem are on the inking pad or the document it assumes an oblique angle,
but when raised in either direction to a point over the centres of the bearings of
the pullies it acquires a vertical position, and being further caused to traverse.
downwards on the opposite side of the standard assumes the oblique angle.
The pullies are provided with an endless cord or band of gutta percha, india-
rubber, leather, gut, or other suitable material for the purpose of aiding the.
motion of the pullies, arms, and handle; the stem of the handle at its lower

page_text: extremity is perforated with a socket to receive the head of a die or stamper,
which is secured in the stem by means of a thumbscrew passing through the
stem into the socket and just entering a recess cut in the head of the die or
stamp. The two pullies are fixed to the standard in the same manner as the
stem is adjusted to the radial arms. The base plate contains at each end a
recess, one for the purpose of holding a pad for the bearing surface of the
document or other article to receive a stamped or printed impression, such
pad being made by preference of hard vulcanized india-rubber, or it may be
of other suitable material; the other recess is provided with a pin or screw
let in from the under side, and projecting upwards in such position that its
centre comes in a vertical line with the stem and stamp when it is brought
down on that end of the machine. This pin or screw supports a metal plate
fitting within the edges of the recess, so that such plate is free to oscillate on
the pin, it therefore follows that when such plate is covered with cloth, felt, or
other absorbent fabric and supplied with ink or colouring matter suitable for
the impression required it will always assume a proper position under the blow
of the stamp or die in order to take an uniform amount of ink over its entire
surface, which is communicated to the document at the other end of the
machine on the india-rubber or other pad.
. The chief advantages most desirable are the adoption of wheels, endless
band, chain, gut, or any other suitable material for carrying the standard over
the centres, which it does much more smoothly than by the old method of
cranks and connecting rod, and also doing away with the intricate parts of
machinery which so very soon get out of order, and the application of the
oscillating and self-acting inking pad, all which renders the machine very
efficient and much superior to any other stamping or impressing machines.
In order that my Invention may be completely understood, I annex a
Drawing, partly in section, shewing a front elevation of the machine.
a, a, is the base plate or foundation; b, the curved arm supporting the fixed
vertical standard c carrying the two grooved pullies d, e, in bearings d¹ and e¹;
fis the upper radial arm, and 9 the lower one, to which the traversing handle
and stem are joined by short axles and screws behind; his the tightening
screw for securing the die in the socket of the stem; and i, i, the endless.
band surrounding the grooved pullies; k is the receiving india-rubber pad,
and the oscillating inking pad which is supported by the central reversed
screw m, as described. The pads are covered with lids when not in use.
The action of the machine is therefore obvious from the details already
mentioned.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner.

page_text: in which the same is to be carried into effect, I would remark in conclusion
that I do not limit myself to the precise details and configuration of parts I
have described and shewn, nor to any special dimensions, as the same may be
slightly varied or modified without in any way departing from the principles
of the Invention; but what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the
herein in part recited Letters Patent are, the applications of the grooved rollers
or wheels and endless band for carrying the standard over the centres, the
improvements in the radial arms in conjunction with the grooved pullies, and
the application of the oscillating inking pad, constituting improvements in
stamping or printing machines substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Horby, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
5 Witness,
CHARLES HALL,
Percy Street,
Sheffield.
THOMAS HORBY. (L.S.)