IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RULING MACHINES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Cooke, of Kearsley, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
RULING MACHINES."
Sealed the 16th June 1874, and dated the 18th April 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Cooke at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 18th April 1874.
I, ROBERT COOKE, of Kearsley, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RULING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
-
This Invention relates to those machines which rule paper with
parallel straight lines by means of a number of pens placed side by side,
and consists principally in applying these pens to the paper (which
travels beneath them on an endless travelling blanket), and in raising
them therefrom automatically at any required place in the sheet of paper
to be ruled.

page_text: Hitherto this operation has been performed by hand, which causes
great loss of time, as care is required to lower and raise the pens at the
right time.
To one end of the transverse bar which carries the pens I fix a finger
or projection, having at its extremity a small wheel running in a groove
about a quarter of an inch deep in the periphery of a larger wheel
driven by gearing from the feed rollers; at the places where I require
the pens to be lifted from the paper I fill up this groove with wood or
other suitable material so that it acts as a cam upon the transverse bar
(which works on a pivot) to raise and lower the pens at pleasure, the
action of gravity in the lowering operation being assisted by a spring.
Instead of the ordinary fixed table I prefer to use a sliding table like
that of a printing machine, which carries the paper against a stop
(worked by a cam and weight), which rises at the right time and allows
the paper to pass to the feed rollers.
In order to insure the rollers taking in the paper at exactly the right
moment (which is very important) I fix at the proper place on the
circumference of the upper roller two small pieces of india-rubber, which
rarely, if ever, fail to get the required grip.
This last arrangement I find essential to my Invention, as if the
utmost regularity in taking in the paper is not observed the pens descend
in the wrong place, and the sheet is spoiled.
By the use of my improvements I am enabled to drive a ruling
machine by power, which has hitherto never been accomplished.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 25
filed by the said Robert Cooke in. the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
COOKE, of Kearsley, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 30
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the

page_text: Fig. 1 in the annexed Drawings is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 an end
view of a stop ruling machine, showing the application thereto of my
improvements; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, as seen from above.
a, a, is the framing of the machine; b, b, the table; and c, c, the
endless travelling blanket.
To one end of the transverse bar or pen carriage d, d, which carries
the pens, I fix a finger or projection e, e, having at its extremity a small
wheel running in a groove about a quarter of an inch deep in the
periphery of a larger wheel g, g, driven by gearing h, h, from the feed.
rollers i, i. At the places where I require the pens to be lifted from
the paper
I fill up this groove with wood, brass, or other suitable material
k, k, see also detached view, Fig. 5, so that it acts as a cam upon the
finger e, e, of the transverse bar or pen carriage d, d, (which works on a
pivot) to raise and lower the pens at pleasure. The action of gravity
in the lowering operation may be assisted by a spring if necessary.
Instead of the ordinary fixed table I prefer to use a sliding table b, b,
like that of a printing machine, which is moved by a cam 1, 1, and
carries the paper forward to the feed rollers i, i*.
In feeding this machine the paper is placed by hand against a stop n,
which is fixed on a rod or shaft o, o, (see Fig. 3), at the other end of
which is keyed a lever p, p, provided at the end with a bowl (see also
detached view, Fig. 4), which is actuated at the right moment by a cam
q, q, so as to raise the stop and allow the paper to pass into the machine.
The bowl is held against the cam by means of a spring r, r, or a weight.
In order to insure the rollers i, i*, taking in the paper at exactly the
right moment (which is very important) I fix at the proper place on the
circumference of the upper roller i* a strip of india-rubber m, m, (sec
Fig. 3), which rarely, if ever, fails to get the required grip.
This last arrangement I find essential to my Invention, as if the
utmost regularity in taking in the paper is not observed the pens descend
in the wrong place, and the slicet is spoiled.
By the use of my improvements I am enabled. to drive a stop ruling
machine by power, which has hitherto never been accomplished.
It will be evident that by having an additional pen carriage finger and
grooved wheel or cam another set of pens (or even a third set if required).

page_text: might be arranged to rule in the intermediate spaces between the first
set so as to rule lines twice as closely as the pens are set, or to rule in
two or more colors or patterns at a time if desired.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed or carried into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I
claim as my Invention,―
Firstly. The automatic arrangement above described and shown on the
annexed Drawing for raising the ruling peus at the required intervals,
or any merc modification thereof, operating in substantially the same
manner.
And, Secondly. The application to such machines of a self-acting
feeding apparatus constructed and operating substantially as above de-
scribed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Cooke, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
DODLDT COOKT