IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRINTING RAILWAY AND OTHER TICKETS OR CARDS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Partridge, Senior, of 50, Tenby Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRINTING RAILWAY AND OTHER TICKETS OR CARDS."
Sealed the 4th July 1862, and dated the 24th February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Partridge- at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
February 1862.
I, THOMAS PARTRIDGE, Senior, of 50, Tenby Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRINTING RAILWAY AND OTHER TICKETS OR CARDS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for printing
railway and other tickets or cards. For this purpose the blank cards which
are to be printed are placed in a vertical trough, each card lying horizontally,
and the column of cards is constantly pressed to the bottom of the trough by
means of a weight placed on the top of the column. The bottom of the
column of cards rests on a plate, between which and the end of the trough a
space is left slightly greater than the thickness of a card; between the plate
and the bottom of the trough a blade works to and fro, in such manner as at
each forward movement to push out the lowest card from the bottom o the
column; this blade is carried by a slide, to which motion is given by a lever,
which turns on a centre at a point intermediate of its length, the lever having

page_text: a to-and-fro motion given to it; as herein-after described. The plate which
supports the column of cards is made to project beyond the bottom of the
trough, so that the card which is pushed out from the bottom of the column
will still be supported by it, and the card is pushed by the blade to such a
distance as to bring it over a slot formed in the plate. During cach backward
movement of the pusher, and therefore whilst the card is stationary, a
stereotype or other printing block rises through this slot and prints the card
which lies over it, the card being prevented rising by a plate parallel with the
plate on which the card rests. At the next forward movement of the pusher
the card which is by it pushed out from the bottom of the column of cards
pushes forward the card which is over the slot, so as to bring it over another
slot or slots in the plate to be numbered; this is effected (at the same time
that the stereotype or other block is acting on another card) by means of
raised figures carried on numbering wheels rising through the slot or slots; at
the next forward movement of the pusher the card which has been numbered
is again pushed forward, and is either then or afterwards pushed off the end of
the plate into a trough, which is sloped slightly downwards; the card as it tilts
over the end of the plate falls on to an inclined plate which closes the end of
the trough; this plate turns on an axis below the trough, and when the card
has fallen on to it the plate is turned on its axis, so as to move forward the
card lying upon it, and at the same time as the plate turns on its axis it is
caused to incline in the opposite direction, thus causing the card also to
incline in the opposite direction to that in which it falls, so that when
the plate is turned back on its axis, which is effected by means of a spring,
the card will, if the machine has just commenced to work, rest against
a sliding block or weight lying in the trough; or if the machine has been
some time at work, against the end of a column of cards in the trough. The
printing block and the numbering wheels are carried on the upper end of a
sliding frame, which has a vertical to-and-fro motion given to it by a crank
and connecting rod; the sliding frame slides in V-guides, placed both above
and below the crank shaft, and slots are formed through the frame for the
crank shaft to pass through; the moving of the sliding frame to and fro is
arranged to give the to-and-fro motion to the blade which pushes the cards
from the bottom of the column. For this purpose the opposite end of the
'lever to that which is connected to the slide carrying the blade bas jointed to
it one end of a connecting rod, the other end of which is jointed to the lower
'end of the sliding frame, by this means as the sliding frame is descending the
blade will be moved forward to push a card from the bottom of the column,
and as the frame ascends, the blade will be moved back to be ready to repeat

page_text: the operation. The sliding frame in addition to carrying at its upper end the
printing block and the numbering wheels, also carries a curved plate or inking
table, forming part of the circumference of a circle; this table has ink
supplied to it in the following manner-When the sliding frame has nearly
completed its downward movement, the lower end of the curved plate comes
in contact with the roller, and as the sliding frame completes its downward
movement, the roller rolls along the lower end of the curved plate and covers
it with ink, the roller itself being supplied with ink each time that the sliding
frame rises by its being drawn by a spring against a roller, which forms one
side of a trough kept supplied with printing ink, and to which roller a slow
rotary motion is communicated. The ink spread upon the lower end of the
curved plate is further spread upon the plate by a roller pressed against the
plate, by a spring; this roller is carried on a frame which passes across
the curved plate, and which turns on pins or axes projecting from the sides
of the sliding frame above mentioned, the pins or axes being concentric with
the centre of the circular plate. To each side of the frame, and at a point
between the pins or axes on which the frame turns and the edge of the
curved plate, the frame has jointed to it one end of a connecting rod, the
other end of which turns on a fixed pin carried by the framing; by this means
as the pins or axes upon which the frame turns are fixed to the sliding frame,
and rise and fall with it, whilst the point of the frame which is jointed to the
connecting rods is by them prevented from rising or falling, the frame will as
the sliding frame moves up and down be caused to turn on its axes, and the
roller carried by the frame will thus be caused to roll backwards and forwards
over the curved plate. The ink is further-spread upon the curved plate by
another roller, the axes of which tarn in plummer blocks, also carried by the
frame which passes across the curved plate, and the blocks are constantly
pressed downwards by a spring, so as to press the roller against the curved
plate; one of the pins or axes of this roller has a screw thread cut upon it,
which works in a female screw formed in one of the plummer blocks; the roller
has also upon it a pinion, which gears into a curved rack formed upon one
side of the curved plate; by this means as the frame is caused to turn upon its
axes this roller will have a rotary motion given to it, and at the same time it
will be moved lengthwise across the plate by reason of the screw on its axis
working in the female screw in the plummer block, and the ink will thus be
spread evenly over the plate; carried by the frame which passes across the
curved plate is also another roller, which is pressed downwards by a spring,
this roller at times rests against the curved plate, and is by rolling along it
covered with ink, but when the sliding fraine is descending the roller is moved

page_text: forward by the frame turning on its axes, and is caused to project beyond tho
curved plate, and to roll over both the printing block and the figures on the
numbering wheels, and supply them with ink for the next impression. The
numbering wheels which are to print the number upon the ticket are mounted
side by sido upon a common axis, any desired number of wheels being com-
bined upon the same axis; each of the wheels has ten figures projecting from
and arranged equally round its circumference, commencing with a cypher and
ending with the figure nine, thus forming ten lines of figures across the set of
wheels, and the uppermost of these lines is as the sliding frame completes its
upward movement caused to press the card above it, the number printed on
the card thus depending on the figure presented in the uppermost line by each
wheel. The first wheel, which is for marking the units, is connected with a
ratchet wheel having ten teeth upon it, and the wheel is moved round one
tooth each time a ticket is numbered; after the first wheel has made nine
steps it gives motion at its next movement to the second wheel, which marks
the tens, causing it to make one-tenth of a revolution, and so on for the rest
of the wheels. The ratchet wheel is caused to move one step after each card
has been printed by means of a click carried by an arm, which turns around
the same centre as the numbering wheels; this arm at its end is pin-jointed
to a rod, which at its other end turns on a fixed pin carried by the framing;
by this means each time the sliding frame moves upwards the arm carrying
the click will be moved on its centre, and the teeth of the wheel are arranged
so that the click shall slide over them when moved in this direction. When,
however, the sliding frame descends, the arm carring the click is moved in the
opposite direction, the click then catches in one of the teeth, and causes the
wheel to make one-tenth of a revolution. Two sets of numbering apparatus
may be applied to the sliding frame, in such manner as to print a number at
both ends of a ticket, or the number may be printed at one end only.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Partridge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the s
23rd August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
PARTRIDGE, Senior, of 50, Tenby Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Partridge, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Partridge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I; the
said Thomas Partridge, my executors, 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
APPARATUS FOR PRINTING RAILWAY AND OTHER TICKETS OR CARDS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Partridge, 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 I, the said Thomas Partridge, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for printing
railway and other tickets or cards. For this purpose the blank cards which
are to be printed are placed in a vertical trough, each card lying horizontally,
and the column of cards is constantly pressed to the bottom of the trough by
means of a weight placed on the top of the column. The bottom of the
column of cards rests on a plate, between which and the end of the trough a
space is left slightly greater than the thickness of a card; between the plate
and the bottom of the trough a blade works to and fro in such manner as at
cach forward movement to push out the lowest card from the bottom of the
column. This blade is carried by a slide, to which motion is given by a lever,
which turns on a centre at a point intermediate of its length, the lover having
a to-and-fro motion given to it, as herein-after described. The plate which
supports the column of cards is made to project beyond the bottom of the
trough, so that the card which is pushed out from the bottom of the column
will still bo supported by it, and the card is pushed
distance as to bring it over a slot formed in the plate.
movement of the pusher, and therefore whilst, the
by the blade to such a
During each backward
card is stationary, a
stereotype or other printing block rises through this slot and prints the card

page_text: which lies over it, the card being prevented rising by a plate parallel with the
plate on which the card rests. At the next forward movement of the pusher
the card which is by it pushed out from the bottom of the column of cards
pushes forward the card which is over the slot, so as to bring it over another
slot or slots in the plate to be numbered. This is effected (at the same time
that the stereotype or other block is acting on another card) by means of
raised figures carried on numbering wheels rising through the slot or slots; at
the next forward movement of the pusher the card which has been numbered
is again pushed forward, and is either then or afterwards pushed off the end
of the plate into a trough, which is sloped slightly downwards; the card as it
tilts over the end of the plate falls on to an inclined plate, which closes the end
of the trough. This plate turns on an axis below the trough, and when the
card has fallen on to it the plate is turned on its axis, so as to move forward
the card lying upon it, and at the same time as the plate turns on its axis it
is caused to incline in the opposite direction, thus causing the card. also to
incline in the opposite direction to that in which it falls, so that when the
plate is turned back on its axis, which is effected by means of a spring, the
card will, if the machine has just commenced to work, rest against a sliding
block or weight lying in the trough, or if the machine has been some time at
work, against the end of a column of cards in the trough. The printing block
and the numbering wheels are carried on the upper end of a sliding frame,
which has a vertical to-and-fro motion given to it by a crank and connecting
rod. The sliding frame slides in V-guides placed both above and below the
crank shaft, and slots are formed through the frame for the crank shaft to
pass through; the moving of the sliding frame to and fro is arranged to give
the to-and-fro motion to the blade, which pushes the cards from the bottom of
the column. For this purpose the opposite end of the lever to that which is
connected to the slide carrying tho blade has jointed to it one end of a con-
necting rod, the other end of which is jointed to the lower end of the sliding
frame. By this means as the sliding frame is descending the blade will be
moved forward to push a card from the bottom of the column, and as the
frame ascends the blade will be moved back to be ready to repeat the opera-
tion. The sliding frame in addition to carrying at its upper end the printing
block and the numbering wheels, also carries a curved plate or inking table
forming part of the circumference of a circle. This table has ink supplied to
it in the following manner :-When the sliding frame has nearly completed
its downward movement the lower end of the curved plate comes in contact
with a roller, and as the sliding frame completes its downward movement the
roller Folls along the lower end of the curved plate and covers it with ink, tho.

page_text: roller itself being supplied with ink each time that the sliding frame rises by
its being drawn by a spring against a roller which forms one side of a trough
kept supplied with printing ink, and to which roller a slow rotary motion is
communicated. The ink spread upon the lower end of the curved plate is
further spread upon the plate by a roller pressed against the plate by a spring.
This roller is carried on a frame which passes across the curved plate, and
which turns on pins or axes projecting from the sides of the sliding frame
above mentioned, the pins or axes being concentric with the centre of the
circular plate. To each side of the frame, and at a point between the pins or
axes on which the frame turns and the edge of the curved plate, the frame
has jointed to it one end of a connecting rod, the other end of which turns on
a fixed pin carried by the framing. By this means as the pins or axes upon
which the frame turns are fixed to the sliding frame and rise and fall with it;
whilst the point of the frame which is jointed to the connecting rods, is by
them prevented from rising or falling, the frame will as the sliding framė
moves up and down be caused to turn on its axes, and the roller carried by
the frame will thus be caused to roll backwards and forwards over the curved
plate. The ink is further spread upon the curved plate by another roller, the
axes of which turn in plummer blocks, also carried by the frame which passes
across the curved plate, and the blocks are constantly pressed downwards by
a spring, so as to press the roller against the curved plate. One of the pins
or axes of this.roller has a screw-thread cut upon it, which works in a female
screw formed in one of the plummer blocks. The roller has also upon it a
pinion, which gears into a curved rack formed upon one side of the curved
plate. By this means as the frame is caused to turn upon its axes, this roller
will have a rotary motion given to it, and at the same time it will be moved
lengthwise across the plate by reason of the screw on its axis working in the
female screw in the plummer block, and the ink will thus be spread evenly
over the plate. Carried by the fraine which passes across the curved plate is
also another roller, which is pressed downwards by a spring. This roller at
times rests against the curved plate, and is by rolling along it covered with
ink; but when the sliding frame is descending the roller is moved forward by
the frame turning on its axes, and is caused to project beyond the curved plate
and to roll over both the printing block and the figures on the numbering
wheels, and supply them with ink for the next impression. The numbering
wheels which are to print the number upon the ticket, are mounted side by
side upon a common axis, any desired number of wheels being combined upon
the same axis. Each of the wheels has ten figures projecting from and ar-
ranged equally around its circumference, commencing with a cipher and ending

page_text: apparatus
structed according to my Invention; the apparatus is shewn to bo arranged
for printing railway and other tickets requiring to be numbered, but when the
apparatus is to be used for printing cards which do not require to be numbered
the numbering apparatus may be dispensed with.
a, a, is the framing of the apparatus, on the upper part of which is supported
the vertical trough 6, in which are placed the cards to be printed; a section of
the trough b and parts connected with it is shewn separately at Figure 3. The
cards are constantly pressed to the bottom of the trough by the weight c; this
weight, as shewn at Figure 3, is provided with a handle which passes through
a slot in the side of the trough; by this handle the weight can be raised out
of the trough when it is desired to introduce into the trough a fresh supply of

page_text: b
cards; the bottom of the trough 6 comes over a rectangular hole in the top
plate a' of the framing of the machine; the cards pass through this opening,
and the bottom card rests on a plate d, connected by screws to the bottom of
the plate a'. In the bottom of the plate a¹ a groove or channel is formed of
a width and depth slightly greater than the length and thickness of one of the
cards; in this space is a blade e, which is connected to the slide f; this slide
has a to-and-fro motion given to it in the following manner:-In the end of the
slide is a slot, through which one end of the lever f' passes; this lever turns
on a centre at f; the lever at its lower end is pin-jointed to one end of a
connecting rod f³, which at its other end is pin-jointed to the lower end of the
vertical sliding frame g, which has a vertical to-and-fro motion imparted to it.
When the frame 9 is at its lowest position the connecting rod f³ is nearly in a
horizontal position, as shewn at Figure 1, and the blade e is in its most
forward position, it being then immediately under the bottom of the trough 6,
the cards in the trough resting on its upper surface. When, however, the
sliding frame g is at its highest position the rod will have been drawn out of
its horizontal position, and the lower end of the lever will thus have been
drawn towards the plane in which the vertical sliding frame moves at each
upward movement of the sliding frame, the blade e will therefore be moved
back from under the bottom of the trough b, thus allowing the bottom card to
descend on to the plate d, and at each downward movement of the sliding
frame the blade e will be moved forward, and will push the lowest card,
which rests on the plate d along the channel on the under side of the plate a',
the column of cards will then rest on the blade e, when the blade again moves
back the column of cards will again descend, and on the next forward move-
ment of the blade e the same operation will be repeated. Each card as it is
pushed from under the column of cards is by the blade e moved such a
distance along the plate d as to bring it over the slot d', the card being then
supported at its two ends. When the blade e again pushes a card from the
bottom of the column of cards, the card so pushed forward by it will push
forward the card which before rested over the slot d', and will move it forward
so as to bring it over the slots d², shewn in Figure 4, which is a plan view of
the plate d, and after a few more movements of the plate e it will be pushed
off the end of the plate into the trough h, the card falling on to the inclined
plate h', which closes the end of the trough; this plate turns on a centre h²,
and attached to it is an arm h³, against which the projecting piece g¹ of the
sliding frame g strikes at the end of each upward movement of the frame;
this causes the plate h' to turn on its centre and incline in the opposite
direction, thus moving forward the card which before was lying upon it, and

page_text: at the same time causing it also to incline in the opposite direction; as the
sliding frame g descends the plate h¹ is brought back to its original position by
the spring h. The first card which is pushed over the end of the plate d will,
when pushed forward by the plate h', rest on the inclined end of the weight h³,
which slides in the trough h, and as the cards one by one enter the trough the
'weight will, by the plate ' pushing forward the column of cards, be pushed
along the trough h.. The sliding frame g is guided in its to-and-fro movement
by its working in V-guides in the four projecting portions a² of the framing
(see Figure 2). The vertical to-and-fro motion is given to the sliding frame g
by the crank on the axis i, the crank being connected with the frame by
a connecting rod . On the axis i is a fly wheel and fast and loose pullies
2, the axis i passes through slots in the two side pieces of the sliding
framé
9, so that the frame g can rise and fall, and the axis turns in bearings
in the frame a, the height of the bearings being capable of adjustment. kis
the stereotype or other printing block carried on the top of the sliding frame g;
this block is for printing on the cards any words or devices which are required
to be printed on each card; 1, 1, are two sets of numbering wheels, also
carried on the top of the sliding frame g, each set being carried by a separate
axis; on each axis is a ratchet wheel m (see Figure 2), having ten teeth, and
by these wheels motion is transmitted to the numbering wheels. Each set of
numbering wheels is composed of five wheels, around the circumference of each
.of which project the ten numeral characters; the wheel nearest to the ratchet
wheel is the unit wheel; this wheel moves round one step, that is, one-tenth
of a complete revolution for every step made by the ratchet wheel. The wheel
next to the unit wheel, and which represents the tens, is so connected with the
unit wheel that it is caused to move one step each time that the unit wheel
makes its last step to complete a revolution. The next wheel, which repre-
sents the hundreds, is also connected in liko manner to the wheel representing
the tens, and so on for the other wheels. Numbering wheels used for other
purposes have before been combined together in this manner, and the way of
so connecting them together is well understood, so that it is not necessary to
describe it here. Each of the ratchet wheels m is caused to move one step at
each descent of the sliding frame g by a ratchet m', carried by an arm m
turning around the axis of the numbering wheels ; the end of this arm is
pin-jointed to the upper end of a vertical rod m³, which at its lower end is pin-
jointed to the framing; thus as the frame g ascends the click m will be
drawn over the teeth of the ratchet wheel m, the wheel m then remaining
stationary, but when the frame ascends the click n' will take into the next
tooth to the one it before acted on, and will cause the wheel to make one-

page_text: tenta of a revolution, and as each of the wheels is acted on in a similar manner
-the upper row of numerals on each set of wheels which ascends through the
slots d, and prints the card over them, will always correspond the one with
the other. n is the curved inking table, also carried at the upper end of the
sliding frame g; this table forms part of the circumference of a circle, the
centre of which is at o; on this centre and on each side of the table is a
radial arm p, the two arms being connected together beyond the circumference
of the curved inking table by the bars p³, as seen clearly in the plan view,
Figure 4*, which shews separately a plan of the inking table and the parts
working with it. The curved table is supplied with ink at its lower end by
the roller q, carried at each end by an arm q'; this roller at each descent of
the sliding frame g is pressed against the lower end of the table by the
spring on the lever f¹ coming against the projection q² from a bar connecting
the arms q', the roller being thus caused to roll along the bottom of the inking
table ; when, however, the sliding frame g ascends, the roller q will by the
spring 1, also carried by the lever f', be drawn against the roller s, which
forms one side of the trough s¹ containing the ink, and will be supplied with
ink from it, this roller being caused to revolve by the click s taking into a
ratchet wheels on its axis, the click being carried by an arm s', moved to and
fro by the rise and fall of the sliding frame g (as seen at Figure 1); the ink
spread in this manner on the lower end of the curved table n is further spread
on the table by the roller t, connected by arms to the radial arms p, this roller
being caused to roll to and fro along the table as the sliding frame g rises.and
falls by each radial arm p being connected by a connecting rod p² to a fixed
point in the framing, as seen at Figure 1. The ink is again further spread
on the table by the roller u, the bearings in which the pins at the ends of the
rollers turn are carried by the radial arms p, and the bearings are constantly
pressed down so as to cause the roller to roll on the curved table by the
spring u. One of the pins at the end of the roller u has a screw thread cut
on it, as shewn at Figure 4*; this screw works in a female screw in the
bearing; the roller bas also upon it a pinion u², which gears into the curved
toothed rack us, so that as the sliding frame rises and falls the roller u will be
compelled to revolve, and by one of its ends having a screw thread cut on it,
as above mentioned, the roller will also be moved end wise. The ink will thus
be thoroughly spread over the table n. w is another roller, carried on arms
pivotted to the radial arms p; this roller is supplied with ink at each upward
movement of the sliding frame g by being caused to roll along the inking
table, and is as the frame descends caused to project beyond the inking table,
and to roll over the printing block and the upper row of figures of the

page_text: numbering wheels 7, and thus supply them with ink for the next impression.
The axes of the arms which carry the rollers t and w have other arms pro-
jecting from them, which are constantly drawn towards each other by the
vulcanized india-rubber spring x, the rollers t and w are thus constantly drawn
towards the inking table.
Figure 5 shows a different: arrangement to that herein-before described for
giving motion to the blade or pusher e, but to this manner of giving motion
to the blade I separately lay no claim. f¹ is the lever, the upper arm of
which passes through the slot in the slide f, to which the blade is connected.
The lower arm is drawn by the spring y against a cam ≈ on the main axis, the
cam being fixed on the axis in such manner that when the blade is to be
moved forward to push a card from beneath the column of cards the cam is
moving away from the lower arm of the lever f', and the spring only is acting
to draw downwards that arm of the lever. By this means if from any cause a
card becomes set fast and cannot be moved forward the spring will not be able
to move forward the pusher or blade e, and thus no parts of the apparatus can
be injured.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Partridge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
THOMAS PARTRIDGE. (L.8.)