IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OR DETECTION OF THE ALTERATION OF DRAFTS, CHEQUES, BILLS, RECEIPTS, TICKETS, OR OTHER PAPERS, VOUCHERS, OR DOCUMENTS." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Henry Robinson, of Dublin, Ireland, Gentleman,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE
PREVENTION OR DETECTION OF THE ALTERATION OF DRAFTS, CHEQUES, BILLS,
RECEIPTS, TICKETS, OR OTHER PAPERS, VOUCHERS, OR DOCUMENTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Henry Robinson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd March 1880. ¡
ARTHUR HENRY ROBINSON, of Dublin, Ireland, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OR DETECTION OF THE ALTERATION
OF DRAFTS, CHEQUES, BILLS, RECEIPTS, TICKETS, OR OTHER PAPERS, VOUCHERS, OR
DOCUMENTS."
This Invention relates to means and apparatus whereby the alteration of any
figure or amount in any draft, cheque, bill, receipt, ticket, or other paper, voucher,
or document, may be readily detected, and the possibility of fraud thereby
prevented.
In carrying out my Invention I employ apparatus whereby I perforate, print,
stain, emboss, or block out words or figures corresponding to the manuscript amount,
or the date mentioned in any draft, cheque, bill, receipt, ticket, or other paper,
paper voucher, or document. In order to effect this object I construct the apparatus
in the form of a press or stamp having a series of punches, needles, or stainers
forming words or numbers froin " one to "nine" inclusive, also the figure "0"
and a star x or stars, the said punches, needles, or stainers being arranged in
separate frames capable of a sliding motion, whilst the whole are combined in a
fraine capable of an axial or other motion.
33
In applying the Invention to the prevention of alterations in drafts, cheques,
bills, or receipts, for example, I use by preference a special form of draft, cheque,
bill, or receipt. For example, I may prepare a cheque with the usual lettering or
wording, in addition to which I add the word pounds, shillings, pence, in addition
to the ordinary signs; beneath each of these denominations I, by means of the
apparatus above mentioned, insert, in the manner hereinbefore described, words or
numbers in amount corresponding to the manuscript sum for which the cheque is
Drinn H11

page_text: drawn, the star or stars being used to prevent any word or number from being
added thereto. In like manner the number and date of a cheque may be
recorded, the apparatus being prepared with suitable modifications upon the same
principle.
In the case of a receipt for money taken I prepare the form as above described,
but in duplicate, the receipt and its counterpart numbered alike, both being
operated upon at the same moment and by the same action, whereby a corresponding
amount to that entered or denoted is returned on the counterpart, so that the
possibility of fraud is prevented. In order to ensure that the duplicate shall be
a counterpart of the original it is united thereto at the edges on thiree sides, one
side being left free for the separation of the duplicate from the receipt, which
separation is accomplished by the payec, to whom the receipt is handed after it
has been impressed and removed from the book, the payee then retaining the
-original.and returning the duplicate to the collector.
In operating with the apparatus the punches, needles; or stainers. are depressed
by means of a lever or other appliance, and resume their normal position under
the action of springs. For the purpose of guiding the operator numbers or signs
are provided on the exterior frame denoting the several words or characters; the
operator is thus enabled, by rotating the apparatus, to bring any required punch
under the lever or other operating appliance, whereby the desired words or number
may be recorded either singly or any number of times as required.
It is obvious that the apparatus may be constructed with one word or number
instead of a series of words, as above described.
In lieu of using punches or needles I may employ type with any usual or suitable
inking apparatus, or I may effect the same object by staining, that is to say,
extracting or discharging colour in a manner which will be well understood.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Lettors Patent filed by
the said Arthur Henry Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Offico on the 23rd
September 1880.
ARTHUR HENRY ROBINSON, of Dublin, Ireland, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OR DETECTION OF THE ALTERATION
OF DRAFTS, CHEQUES, BILLS, RECEIPTS, TICKETS, OR OTHER PAPERS, VOUCHERS, OR
DOCUMENTS."
My said Invention has for its object the provision of means and the production
of a portable apparatus, machine, or instrument, whereby fraud by attempting to
alter any sum in a cheque, draft, bill, receipt, or other monetary document is pre-
vented or detected in a more simple, perfect, and certain manner than has heretoforo
been proposed, and effecting a public benefit not previously attained.
The said Invention is also applicable to checking the receipts or payments of
money in banks, government, mercantile, or other establishments, and in detecting
frauds in the collection of accounts; it is, morcover, available for indicating in an
unalterable manner the amount of any article received or delivered, also tho weight
of commodities sold, bought, received, or delivered, and as a perfect means of
certifying to accountants, auditors, or examiners of receipts, accounts, vouchers, or
other documents, the sums, amounts, quantities, or weights received, disbursed,
distributed, or disposed of, as the case may be, or denotablo thereon.
In order that my said Invention may be perfectly understood I shall first describe
the apparatus by means of which it is carried out, reference being had to the several
Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a vertical section of the
apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan of the same; Figure 3 is a view of the plate, herein-
after termed the matrix, on which the paper or document rests during the process
of perforation, as hereinafter described.
Figure 4 is a detail shewing the check spring, hereinafter referred, on the
bottom of the apparatus.
Figure 5 is a sectional detail of one of the spring slides hereinafter referred to;
Figures 6 and 7 represent respectively an elevation and plan of a portion of an
apparatus of a modified construction.
Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 are examples illustrating the application of the
Invention.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, A is a series or set of eleven needle blocks
which are mounted in a rotatory frame B, and are capable of vertical motion
therein, and provided with needle punches or prickers a, the needles of cach
block forming a distinct word or mark, as hereinafter moro fully described.
The plate of the frame B is perforated with holes corresponding to the needles a,
and below this plate is another plate c (hereinafter termed the matrix), also
perforated; the needles when the blocks A are depressed, as hereinafter explained,
being caused to pass through the plate band enter the matrix c. The apparatus
as thus constructed and provided with a cover c¹ is mounted so as to be capable of
rotating bodily upon a vertical spindle C which is secured to a stationary frame D
adapted to a table E.
To the upper end of the spindle C is attached a lever F carrying a fixed punch d;
when the rotary frame has been turned to the required position the lever is
depressed, and the needles are thus caused to perforate any document placed
between the plates b and c. Slides G, sec detail Figure 5, are provided in order to
ensure that the paper or document is moved or drawn to the requisite length after
each operation of perforating; when a number of words and marks are required to
be produced, the paper or document is taken hold of together with the slide by the
operator and the slide drawn out, after which it is released and retracted by
springs e, the paper or document remains in the position to which it has been
moved.

page_text: The apparatus operates in the following manner :-The paper or document to be
perforated is introduced into the opening above the matrix c; while in this position
the block forming the wood or mark to be indicated is brought under the lever by
the act of turning the moveable frame B, and then depressed; the lever of the
apparatus when being operated upon faces the operator.
The paper or document is then taken hold of together with the slide piece G, and
both are drawn to the left till the full travel of the slide piece is reached; on this
being done, the slide is released and returns without the paper, which is again
perforated; this operation is repeated as often as necessary; where it is necessary
to perforate a x or asterisk, the slide is only operated to about half of its travel.
The morcable frame B is retained in any adjusted position by means of a spring ƒ,
Figure 4, which causes a bolt to engage in recesses in the matrix.
In the apparatus hereinbefore described all the words are of equal length, but
when they are of unequal lengths, the modification illustrated in Figures 6 and 7
may be resorted to for spacing the paper or document.
According to this modification, the apparatus is constructed with outside needles
or perforators for the purpose of defining the position of the words as perforated,
thereby enabling the operator to indicate each word or mark at regular distances
from each other, and at such a distance as will not allow the introduction of any
additional matter.
These needles or perforators are carried in arms g rigidly attached to the needle
blocks, and are only required in connection with an apparatus constructed with
words of irregular length. The operation of moving or spacing the paper or
document in this case would be as follows:-The perforation made by the outside
needle indicates the termination of the word or inark perforated, and supposing
it necessary to repeat the word or mark, the paper is drawn towards the left hand
till the perforation is brought under the needle on the next block, and so on for
each word or mark required to be perforated.
Having thus described the apparatus, machine, or instrument employed in
carrying out my said Invention, I shall now proceed to explain more fully by the
aid of examples the mode of applying my Invention to accomplish the objects
before mentioned.
Assume a cheque, money order, bill, receipt, or other monetary document to be
drawn for any of the following sums, I perforate in the document to be operated
upon words corresponding to or representing the sum to be indicated; for example,
by the words "one one" I indicate eleven.
A money order drawn for £0, 11, 1 I perforate as shown in Figure 8.
A cheque drawn for £1,, 10,, 0 I perforate as shown in Figure 9.
A draft drawn for £55, 14, 11 I perforate as shown in Figure 10.
A bill drawn for £100,, 1 91 perforate as shown in Figure 11.
»
A receipt drawn for £1111, 0, 2 I perforate as shown in Figure 12,
And so on to any amount; fractions may be recorded in a similar manner for
3/4 x three four x
I apply the same principle to indicate dates, numbers, amounts, quantities, bulk,
size, weight, or measure.
For example, as to date :-
1st August 1879 I would express by perforations x one x eight x seven ninc.
10th September 1880 I would express by perforations one nought x nine x
eight nought.
Numbers, amounts, quantities:-
3960 cases of tea I would express by perforations × three nine six nought ×.
Bulk or size :-
yda. ft in.
44, 2, 3 I would express by perforations × four four x two x three.
Measure liquid:-
=
Rls. qta. pts.
79, 3, 1 I would express by perforations x seven nine x three × one, and in
like manner other matters under their own denominations, the respective documents

page_text: in each case indicating in the ordinary manner the denominations of the sums or
amount perforated; for example, in a cheque, draft, bill, or receipt the denominations
aro £ s. d.; and in an invoice weight would be expressed in tons, cwts., qrs., lbs.;
measure in gallons, quarts, pints; and dates in days, months, years; and so on for
other commodities.
It will be observed that in all cases I commence with a x or asterisk for the
purpose of preventing any word being prefixed to the word or words in the highest
denominations, and that I separate the respective denominations by a similar mark
or asterisk; also that I terminate in some cases with a × or asterisk, as, for instance,
in the case of one penny I put a × or asterisk upon the word one, to prevent an
addition being made thereto.
Should the highest denomination be blank the word nought is perforated.
In the case of receiving money, in one instance I check the receipts as follows,
say, for instance, in the case of mercantile sales, such as shop goods :-
The shop bills or dockets are prepared in duplicate and filled up as in the
ordinary manner and taken to the cashier, who perforates therein the sum mentioned
on the document with the apparatus in the manner herein beforo described, and in
presence of the runner or assistant. On this being done the shop bills or dockets
are separated; one is taken back to the salesinan, who examines it to see that the
amount perforated thereon corresponds with his entry also thereon, on being
satisfied of this he hands it to the purchaser; or it may be destroyed, as the
counterpart or duplicate which has been retained by the cashier is a complete check
on the amount received, the perforations in the duplicate bill or docket being
a facsimile of those in the bill or docket returned to the salesman.
These bills or dockets and the counterparts are numbered alike, and may either
be taken from a shelf or a roll hanging adjacent to the salesman, or be carried by
him, in which case I prefer to number the shop bills or dockets consecutively, the
counterparts or duplicates bearing a corresponding number, and to give cach
shopman a roll of a particular color for himself. The rolls would be returned to the
office or proper officer at the close of each day's transactions, when the next
succeeding number on the bills or dockets would indicate the number of bills or
dockets removed, the duplicates or counterparts of which should be in the hands of
the cashier, cach representing so much cash, and the sum total of these would be
the amount to be accounted for. By this means there would be a ready check
on the sales of any department, and in the case of errors or carelesness on the part
of the shopman the individual responsible for same.
In the case of collecting accounts I may employ books of duplicate receipts, con-
secutively numbered, the counterparts being numbered in a corresponding manner.
Every two of these forms, that is, the receipt and its counterpart, are slightly joined
together on three sides to insure both being operated upon at one and the same
moment.
The collector on receiving payment of any sum perforates the receipt in the
manner hereinbefore described; he then dates it, fills in the proper name, and
having signed the document hands it to the payer, who then detaches the duplicate,
which he returns to the collector. The duplicate becomes then the collector's voucher
for the amount received, and who must therefore account for this sum.
These receipts may be joined at only one side if desirable.
In the case of money received in banks, government, mercantile, and other
establishments, say, for a bill of exchange or a money order, the documents are
prepared in duplicate, as in the manner hereinbefore described, and are perforated,
also in the manner hereinbefore described, for the amount that the bill of exchange
or money order is required for. One of these documents is handed to the party
applying for same, and the other is forwarded as an advice document to the office
where payable; or the duplicate or counterpart may be filed as a check on the
amount received.
In the cases of payments of accounts, et cetera, I perforate the document to be

page_text: receipted with the amount to be paid. This I do in presence of the party being
paid, and I take thereon his receipt for the amount.
In the case of the receipt or delivery of goods, parcels, or other articles a sufficient
illustration is hereinbefore given.
Vouchers, accounts, or other documents may be certified in the following
manner:-
Take, for example, a merchant's account, amounting to, say, five pounds ten
shillings, and six pence, for goods sold and delivered. This account on being
presented (to a finance committee, or other public body, or other person) for final
examination and order for payment, is certified (by incans of the apparatus herein-
before described) in the manner shewn in Figure 13, the operation being carried out
by some member of the committee, or public body, or other duly authorized person.
If desirable the words "examined and ordered "may be added to the instrument
-in an abbreviated form, thus, exd and ord.
The certificate thus recorded cannot be altered without detection; tho document
therefore becomes a satisfactory voucher or record for any auditor, examiner,
accountant, or other person.
Weights, quantity, and measure may be certified in a similar manner.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not claim the perforating of paper,
or the puncturing of words, numbers, letters, or characters in documents, or any ono
of the parts or details taken separately of the construction of the perforating
apparatus or machine, herein before described and illustrated in the Drawings;
neither do I lay claim to indicating money value in monetary documents, save and
except in the method, means, and manner by the perforation of words and marks
by means of my said apparatus, as herein before set forth and described; but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the hereinbeforo in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The means and apparatus for the prevention or detection of alterations in drafts,
cheques, bills, receipts, tickets, or other papers, vouchers, or documents, substantially
as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Henry Robinson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of September, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
ARTHUR H. ROBINSON. (L.S.)