Improvements in Numbering Machines or Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by RUDOLF AUERBACH, of 9 Stallschreiberstrasse,
Berlin, in the German Empire, Mechanician.]
Improvements in Numbering Machines or Apparatus.
I CARL BOLLE of 57 Barton Arcade, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Consulting Engineer, 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 ordinary plunger machines or apparatus which fixed together with the
letter type in a frame produce a consecutive numbering while printing have the
defect that the plunger carrying the number mark "No." etc., must project con-
siderably above the printing or type surface in order that its depression may effect
the advance of the figure type wheels, in consequence of which the number mark is
printed more strongly and pressed deeper into the paper than the figures; the
plunger also interferes with the proper inking of the figures next to it.
Another disadvantage resulting in the ordinary numbering apparatus from this
arrangement of the engraved plunger relatively to the figure types consists in the
speedy abrasion of the inking rollers by the projecting plunger, the number mark
also is too far distant from the unit wheel when the numbering is to commence
with No. 1 or No. 001.
A further disadvantage is that in such plunger numbering apparatus the plunger
engraved with No. etc. must either always print this mark, or if this is to be
avoided, the inking rollers must be cut out at the place of the plunger.
The object of this invention is to obviate this defect by so arranging the
apparatus that the mark No., the figure types, star etc. are placed in the same
plane so that in printing all these parts are pressed quite evenly and the inking
roller also inks a level surface, so that a uniform impression is obtained. Figures
only without No. stars or other marks can also be printed with this improved >>
apparatus without having to cut out the inking rollers or without a special device
for preventing the printing of the plunger types, as in Wetter's numbering
machine.
These objects are attained by arranging both the figure type wheels and the No.
etc. type in a frame, which can be moved up and down in a box surrounding said
frame and in which fixed stops are so placed that the ratchet or equivalent
mechanism for advancing the figure wheels encounters said stops during the
movement of the frame and during its lift or rise the figure wheel or wheels are
advanced by a unit.
On the two sheets of drawings appended hereunto
Fig. 1 shows the improved apparatus in top view.
Fig. 2 in vertical section along line - of Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 and 4 the mechanism for advancing the figure wheels in two positions.
Fig. 5 the type frame and Fig. 6 the box separately in top view.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 details.
The different figure type wheels A are mounted loose upon the shaft a (Figs. 2
to 4) which is supported in the frame B. This frame consists of two strong sides
or cheeks 6 connected by a solid cross bar b' at the bottom on one side, while the
other side is open (Figs. 7 and 9). Above and near to the cross bar 6' the thin
shaft C is arranged carrying the holding back catches e for the figure wheels and
surrounded at the ends by spiral springs e fixed to it, the free ends c¹ of which
press from below against the oscillating crank D (Fig. 8) as shewn by Figs. 3,
"
I
11

page_text: catches e are pressed from behind by the tongued spring E, (Fig. 9) which is
fixed by its bottom end to the cross bar of the frame B.
The crank D consists likewise of two cheeks or webs d d (Figs. 3, 4 and 8)
which can swing on the shaft a and embrace the figure wheels A, having noses d¹
at one end while their other ends are rigidly connected by a cross bar d. On
this cross bar the small spindle F (Fig. 8) is mounted serving as fulcrum for the
pawl G which carries teeth g for advancing the figure wheels and is held in gear
with the thin ratchet wheels H formed on or attached to the figure wheels A, by
the spiral spring f¹.
The crank D is placed in the frame B so that its cross bar d fills the open side
of the same and is opposite to the cross bar 6. The back catches e and advancing
teeth thus enter into the ratchet wheels H on opposite sides.
On the top side of each of the cheeks 6 of the frame B a notch is made so that
on one side of the figure wheels the foot of the number type and on the other the
foot of a star or point type can be slid into the notches. (Figs. 1 and 5). The
surface of these types however lies exactly in the same plane as the figure types of
the wheels A set for printing; and when they are not to be printed with the figures
they can easily be removed.
The frame B with all the parts before described is placed into a box I (Figs. 1
to 4 and 6) open at the top and can be moved up and down in said box. The
downward motion is effected by the pressure of the printing press. The frame B
is guided by four pins i (Figs. 2 and 6) which are surrounded by springs ¹ and
rivetted to the bottom of the box I and enter into holes bored in the cheeks b.
The springs hold up the frame B with its mechanisms so high that it projects out
of the box I. When the press presses on the figures of the wheels A, the frame B
with its mechanisms is pushed into the box I and the figures as well as the No.
type and star are printed perfectly evenly.
When the pressure is removed, the frame with the types is lifted again by the
springs i¹. In order to effect an advance of the figure wheels fixed stops are
arranged for the crank D, which are formed by two pegs K rivetted to a plate k
and pushed through two slots in the side of the box I (Fig. 6, plate shewn drawn
out) which project below the noses d¹ of the webs d of the crank D (Figs. 3 and 4).
The plate is fixed by screws to the side of the box I so that when the frame B
is pressed down the noses d' of the crank D are stopped by the pegs K and the
crank with the pawl G is turned downwards, the spring c under the webs d being
depressed thereby. The teeth g during this movement slip over the teeth of the
ratchets H on the figure wheel A, as these are held by the back catches e.
printing of the number mark, figures and star consequently takes place as herein-
before described.
The
When the frame B is lifted again by the springs after the printing, the
springs e lifts the crank webs d again into their original positions as shewn by
Fig. 3. As one of the teeth g of the pawl G or several of them have entered
behind teeth of the ratchets H on the figure wheels A (Fig. 4) these are advanced
by a figure, the back catches e slipping over the next tooth, so that when the
frame B has completed its lifting motion, one or more new figures have been
advanced into positions for printing and are printed evenly with the number type
and star as the next impression. The arrangements for transmitting motion from
one figure wheel to another, when other tens, hundreds etc. are to be advanced,
may be of any suitable ordinary kind and need not be further described, as they
form no part of this invention.
With the arrangements hereinbefore described, the advance of the figures begins
immediately after the printing or with the commencement of the lift of the frame B,
and it may happen that the moving figure type smears the just printed figure while
the latter is close to the printing surface. In order to prevent this defect, it is
necessary to provide a device which only allows the advancing mechanisms to act
after the impression or printed surface has been removed from the numbering

page_text: Figs. 17 to 19 details.
For the purpose of retarding the advance of the figure wheels, the frame B is
formed with slots for the two slide bars which are fixed in a plate o, in which
the guide pinsi i may also be fixed; the latter being arranged as herein before
described.
및
The slide bars are guided in slots m of the cheeks 6 and formed with notches
into which the blocks q serving to temporarily arrest the pawls g and the crank
can enter. These blocks are attached to and pushed outwards by spring blades r
fixed in recesses of the cheeks b and liberate the crank D only after they have
completely receded into the cheeks b. Figs. 10, 13, 15 and 18 show the position
of these blocks after they are completely withdrawn into the cheeks, while
Figs. 11, 14, 16 and 17, show their position while they are arresting the crank.
This retarding device acts as follows: While printing, the numbering
apparatus is pushed into the box I and the crank D is operated by the fixed
stops K in the manner hereinbefore described (Figs. 15 and 16). As the frame B.
is pushed into the box, the slide bars enter further into the slots m when the
notches P allow the blocks 9 to protrude from the cheeks 6 as shewn by Figs. 11,
16, and 17, so that the crank D when pressed down by the stops K is below said
blocks (Figs. 11, 14 and 16) and is held by them in this position till the
impression is taken and the pressing surface removed from the numbering
apparatus, and the frame 6 has been lifted again nearly to its highest position,
when the inclines s on the slide bars draw the blocks q back into the cheeks b
and hold them there. The blocks 9 are formed with slots m' for the slide bars / so
that the relative movements of the blocks and slide bars can take place without
hindrance and the bars hold the blocks in their drawn back position while the
crank D is moved downwards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
:
Firstly In numbering machines or apparatus for printing presses the arrange-
ment of the No. type, figure types, and star or other type in one moveable frame
so as to be in one level printing surface, in combination with mechanism for
advancing the figure types operated by the up and down movement of said frame
in such a manner that the advance takes place during the rise of said frame, the
frame being depressed during the printing and raised by springs, substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Secondly: The arrangement or construction of numbering apparatus for
printing machines substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 1 to 9 of the drawings.
Thirdly: In numbering machines for printing presses the arrangement of a
device for retarding the action of the figure advancing mechanism, consisting of
blocks attached to springs which blocks hold the advancing pawl until they are
withdrawn by inclined surfaces encountered by them only after the parts depressed
by the printing have again been raised to nearly their original position, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated.

page_text: Fourthly: The arrangement or construction of a device for retarding the
advance of the figure type substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 10 to 19 of the drawings.
Fifthly: The combination of the improvements claimed in the first and third
claims in one apparatus or machine.