AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING, STAMPING, OR PRINTING FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES
Year: 1831

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
MEPHAM HANNINGTON, of Nelson Square, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Greal Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-second day of January, in the first year of His
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Mepham Hannington, His especial licence, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said Charles Mepham Hannington, my exors, adiñors,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Mepham Hannington,
my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING, STAMPING, OR PRINTING FOR CERTAIN
PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the
said Charles Mepham Hannington, shall cause a particular description
of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be enrolled in His said Majesty's High of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited

page_text: Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Mepham Hannington, do hereby declare the nature of my said Inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention of "An Improved Apparatus for Impressing, Stamping, or
Printing for certain Purposes," consists of an apparatus so constructed as to
indicate the number of impressions which have been struck from any die or
other surface, whether for stamping, printing, or impressing, and thereby may
a perfect register of the quantity of articles impressed, stamped, or printed
be at all times known, as by the apparatus hereafter described no two impres-
sions can be taken of the same number without going through the whole series
of numbers which the apparatus is capable for producing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figures 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 & 6, 7 & 8 represent the two sides of four
wheels, having projections a around their peripheries, on each of which projec-
tions there is a number engraved, either in relief or sunk, according to the
intent or object to which the apparatus is to be applied. These wheels are
combined from the essential parts of my Invention, and are shewn at Figure 9.
Thes wheels which are marked with the letter A in all the Figures, are all of the
same size, and have each ten projections a formed or cut on the circumference,
and with the exception of the position in placing of the stops or sheds and
springs, hereafter described, these wheels are all similar to each other. Fig. 1
represents an edge view, and also one side of the first wheels A; Fig. 2 being
the other side of Fig. 1. In these two Figures b is a stud passing through the
wheol A, and made fast to the spring c, which lies in a circular recess cut on
one side of the wheel, the spring c being fastened by two screws, as shewn in
the Drawing. Figs. 3 & 4 show the two sides of the next wheel A, in which d
is a stud passing through from the spring c, which is on the opposite side of
the wheel A, Fig. 4, and lies in a recess, as shewn, and affixed by two screws,
as is the case in Figures 1 and 2. Figures 5 and 6 represent the two sides of
the third wheel A, and f is a stud passing through from the spring g, which is
affixed by screws, and lies in a circular recess, as before described. Figs. 7
& 8 shew the reverse sides of a fourth wheel A; but as there is no further
wheet represented, and as the apparatus shewn in tho Drawings has only four
wheels A, no spring or stud similar to those described on the other Figures is

page_text: necessary. But in case of a greater number of wheels being used in an
apparatus, then it will be necessary to have springs and studs to all but the
last, as is shown and described with referenco to Figures 1 and 2, 3 and 4,
5 and 6, which will be clearly understood when the object of these studs and.
springs is described. In order to combine the four wheels A into the apparatus.
shown in Fig. 9; the axis i, Fig. 10, is to pass through the hollow axis h,:
Figs. 1 and 2, in such manner that the circular piece of metal k, which is
affixed to the axis i, Figure 10, lies within the circular cavity cut to receive it
on the side, Figure 20, of the first wheel A. Fig. 11 shows a plan of Fig. 10..
In both these Figures lis a small inclined plain, which is affixed to the circular
plate k, and its position in Figure 2 is indicated by the dotted lines at.l. m is
another circular metal plate, which lies on the plate k, and is for the purpos
of keeping the second wheel A from approaching too near the first; the
second wheel A is then to be placed on the axis i in such manner. that the side,
Figure 3, will be against the side of the first wheel, Figure 2, by which means
the studs u (Figure 3) will enter into the circular groove or recess cut in Figure
2, such groove or recess being cut sufficiently deep to allow the studs n to turn
therein, and pass over the stud at the end 6 of the spring c, to which the stud b
is affixed, excepting when such stud 6 comes in contact with a raised projection o..
formed in a circular groove cut in one of the side plates of Figures 9, as will
be hereafter more particularly described. Figure 12 shows an edgo view and
plan of the part next to be placed on the axis i, and by the Drawing this part
will be seen to consist of the circular plate p, having the part q affixed thereto,
and through which there is a square perforation cut, which fits the square part
of the axle 2, Figure 10, and thus the part q, which is cylindrical, when placed
on the axle i, becomes a fixture with it, and does not turn round. On the
circular plate p there is a raised projection or inclined plain r, and its position
on the inside of the circular recess is shewn by dotted lines in Figure 4. The
third wheel A; Figures 5 and 6, is now to be placed on the part 9 of the axis i,
in such manner that the studs n, Figuro 5, enter into the circular groove.com-
taining the spring e, Figure 4, these studs n being permitted to, turn freely
round in such groove, excepting when the stud d comes in contact with the
raised projection or inclined plain l, Figure 10 and 11, which will press the
stud d through the second wheel A, and cause the end d of the spring e to be
projected forward and become a stop against one of the studs n, and cause the
third wheel A to turn round with the second wheel A so long as the stud. d is.
passing over the raised inclined plain or projection ; but so soon as it is
passed, over, the stud d will be forced into its former position, and tho third
wheel A will not again revolve till the stud d comes again in contact with the.

page_text: projection 7, and again passes over it, and this will not be till the second wheel
A has performed the whole of a revolution. The fourth wheel A is now to be
placed on the axis, Fig. 10 and 11, and turns on the cylindrical part S, the
studs n, Figure 7, entering into and turning in the circular groove which con-
tains the spring g, Figure 6. These wheels A so combined and placed on the
axis Figure 10 are to be contained in a square frame formed of the two side
plates, Figures 13 and 14; the hollow axis h, Figure 1, is passed through the
plate B, Figure 13, and the end of the axis i, Figures 10 and 11, which is
formed square, is placed within the square perforation at i in the plate C,
Figure 14, by which the axis i is at all times prevented turning, the object of
which will be more clearly understood when the remainder of the parts shewn
in the Drawings are fully described. The plates B and C are framed together
by four stretchers D, which enter into the four perforations D at the corners of
the plates B, C, and pined together by pins E passing through the stretchers D.
Figure 13 shows the plate B as seen from the outside, but by dotted lines it
is shown that a circular groove is cut on the inside, in which the stud d.
Figures 1 and 2, revolves, and in this circular groove there is a raised inclined
plain or projection o formed, similar to those at 7 and 7 in Figures 10, 11,
and 12, over which the stud b passes, and is thereby projected forward for the
purpose of taking hold of one of the studs n, Figure 3. On the hollow axis h,
Figure 1, there is a stud wheel, shewn by dotted lines, and shewn separately in
Figures 16 and 17, and in its place, in Figure 9, affixed by a screw passing
through at t in Figures 1 and 16, Figure 16 being an edge view, and Figure
17 a front view of the stud wheel, there being 10 studs V formed thereon, as
shewn in the Drawing; Figure 15 is another plate, which is to be screwed
on to the front of the plate B. Figuro 13, W, W, being two projecting
ears, having holes perforated for the passage of the screws which affix
the apparatus to the box F. Figure 9 shews the parts combined and placed
within a rectangular box F, a plan of which is shown in Figure 9, with
the wheels A placed therein; and Figure 18 shews a plan of the box F
-affixed to a block of iron by four screws x, x, x, x.
y, y, y, Fig: 9,
are three springs affixed to the part of the framing D, which press upon
the studs n on the sides of the wheels A, by which means those vessels
are retained in their places, and prevented turning till they are acted on, as
hereafter described. Above, Figure 9, is shewn a side view of one of the
springs y separately, on the under side of which there is a notch cut, into
which one of the studs n enters, and prevents its wheel being turned round at
any other than the proper time; there is also a spring y affixed to the side of
the box F, which presses on and retains the stud wheel v. Figure 19 repre-

page_text: sents a spring catch, which consists of the circular ring G, having the small:
click H affixed thereto by a screw pin I, which acts as a fulcrum for the click H
to turn on. J is a stud formed on the ring G for preventing the chick I being.
press too far inwards by the spring K. This spring catch is shewn in its place in
Figure 9, and is for the purpose of turning the stud wheel. L, Figures 9, 18,
and 20, is a circular plate which turns on the axis M, which is fixed to the
box F by a screw, shewn by dotted lines; N is the axis which carries the spring
catch, Figure 19, the axis N being affixed out of the center of the ring G, as
shewn by dotted lines at N, Figure 19. The axis N passes through the back:
of the box F, and is made fast to the circular plate L by the screw nut O,
so that when that plate L is caused to oscilate on its axis M it will cause
the spring catch to move a sufficient distance to pass from one of the studs v
to the next stud, and this it will be enabled to do by the click H giving
way so soon as it comes in contact with a stud v till it has passed under it,
when the click H will be forced out by the spring k, and by the return swing
of the plate L the spring catch will take hold of the stud and cause it to
move through a distance equal to that from one stud v to the other, and the
stud wheel being affixed to the hollow axis h, Figures 1, 2, and 9, will cause.
the first wheel A to turn a length equal to the distance of one projection a to.
another, and thus each oscilation of the plate L on its axis M will move the>
first wheel A a part of a revolution equal to bringing up of tho succeeding.
projection a into a perpendicular position for the purpose having an impression
taken therefrom. P, Figures 9, 18, and 20, is a lever suspended from the
fixed axis Q, which is affixed to the front of the box F, the lever P being
retained in its place by a screw nut, as shewn in the Drawing, but allowed
to swing backwards and forwards when actuated, as hereafter described. The
lever P is connected at the bottom to the lever R by the cross piece Tat
right angles, which has a hole perforated, as shewn by dotted lines at T. The
lever R is screwed to the circular plate L, Figures 9, 18, and 20, by the screw.
V, Figure 20, and thus when the levers P, R, are caused to oscilate the
plate L will be removed backwards and forwards, as above described, and thus.
give motion to the spring catch for the purpose of turning the wheels A..
Figure 20 also shews an end view of the box F and of the cover S, which
cover S has two descending pieces T, Figures 21 and 22, and by means of the..
springs V the cover S is raised or lowered. The springs V are affixed by
screws to the box F, and are connected together by the bar W, and these
springs pass between studs affixed on the descending parts T of the cover S,
and thus, when the bar W is raised or lowered by the fixed pin X passing over:

page_text: the ratchet wheel Y, Figures 18 and 23, the cover will be raised or lowered, as
more fully explained hereafter, and the springs V are always inclined to press
the bar W downwards from the springs V being held down by the stud Zi
affixed on the box F. Figure 21 represents a back clevation of the cover S;
and Figure 22 shews a plan of the inside of the cover S, by which will be
seen the square holes cut for the passage of the projections a of the wheels A,
by which such wheels A are prevented turning except when the cover S. is
raised sufficiently high by the springs V, acted on by the revolution of the
ratchet wheel Y, Figure 28.
Having now described the various parts shewn in the Drawing No. I, I will
proceed to describe the Drawing marked No. 2, which represents the various
parts as placed in a fly stamping or pressing machine, the construction of which
fly press will readily be understood, there being nothing new excepting the
parts which are applied thereto for giving oscillatory motion to the levers P, R,
for the purpose of actuating the wheels A; and I would bere observe that the
same letters of reference in this Figure or Drawing are used to denote the same
parts as are described with reference to the Drawing marked No. I, Figure 26
representing an elevation of the fly press, having the box F affixed on the iron
block which carries the framing; Figure 18 being a plan of some of the parts
of such block of iron, whereby the position and arrangement of the various
parts will be clearly scen.
In the Drawing, Figure 26, S is the framing affixed to the iron block 2, and 3
is the screw, which is actuated by the handles 4, and is connected to the square
guide 5 in such manner that the turning of the screw will raise and lower such
guide, this guide 5 passing through a square hole cut to fit it in the cross
framing 6; to the lower end of the square guide 5 there is a square metal
surface 7, for giving pressure to the dies contained in the box F, and the
surface 7 is coated on the under side with felting, as is indicated by the dotted
lines. 8 is an open angle affixed to one of the guide rods 9, which guide rods
are made fast to the square guide 5, which carries the surface 7, which gives
the impression. 10 is a rod having a descending pin 11, which passes through
the hole drilled in the cross piece which connects the levers P, R, the rod 10
sliding within the tube 12, which is affixed to the under side of the block which
carries the box F, and to the end of this sliding rod 10 there are two friction
wheels, one on each side of the angle 8, as represented in the Drawing by
dotted lines, so that when the guide rods 9 are raised and lowered by means of
the screw, in giving and withdrawing the pressure of the printing or stamping
surface, the sliding rod 10 will be drawn backwards and forwards, and by

page_text: means of the descending pin 11 passing along the under side of the tube 12,
which has a slit or opening cut from end to end to permit of such movement
of the pin 11, by which action the levers P, R, will be cause to oscilate.
Fig. 24, Drawing No. 2, represents a plan of a plate 18, which lies over the
cover S of the box F, the projections a of the wheels A passing through the
openings made to receive them, as do also the dies or other surfaces placed on
the cover S of the box F; this plate 13.is shown in its place in the elevation,
Fig. 26, and is retained in such position by means of a spiral spring contained
within the tube 14, such spring being twisted round a rod affixed to tho
plate 13, and at the botton of such rod there is a piston affixed which slides
within the tube 14, the one end of the spring coming on the top of such
piston, and the other end being restrained or fastened at the top of the tube 14,
by which means the plate 13 is held firmly on the top of the cover S of the
box F.
"
Fig. 25 shows a plan of the top of the cover S, and the projections a of the
wheels A passing through the same there are a die having a "two pence"
engraved thereon, and also a die with "22nd July 1831 ;" engraved thereon ;
and on the projections a of the wheels A there are the figures 000 1, which
is the number brought up by the first motion of the first wheel A engraved, so
that an impression taken therefrom would represent a stamp indicating that it
was a two-penny one, 22d July 1831, No. 0001; the next stamp would
be 0002, the change from one to two being produced by the next move-
ment of the first wheel A, and so on, till the first wheel A has made a perfect
revolution. But in order that the manner of using the apparatus may be
clearly understood, I will more fully describe the action of the various parts
which are shown in Fig. 9, as in that Figure the position of the wheels A, as
also the parts which actuate them, are shown in plan and placed in the box F,
the cover S being removed. In this Figure it will be seen that the four upper
projections a of the wheels A have each engraved on their surface the figure 0;
the next row of projections a have the figure I, and so on to the figure 9, there
being on each of the wheels A ten projections, and cach ascilation of the lever P
will cause the stud wheel v to turn the length of from one stud to the next
stud v, which will turn the first wheel A from the figure I to the figure 2,
and so on, till it has made a revolution; in the mean while the second,
third, and fourth wheels A are kept stationary by the springs y taking hold
of the studs n, but so soon as the figure 9 is the uppermost one on the first
wheel A, the next turn will bring the stud b to act against the inclined plain o
in the groove cut in the plate B (Fig. 13), which will force out the spring C
and bring it in contact with one of the studs n on the second wheel A, which

page_text: will cause the second wheel A to turn-round-with the first wheel A. from the
figure 0 to 1, which will make the numbers indicated by an impression taken
at this time to stand 00 10, showing that ten impressions have Been taken,
and the next impression would be 0 0 11;, and so on till the first wheel A has
again made a revolution, when the stud b will again come in contact and pass
over the raised inclined plain o formed in the circular groove cut on the insido
of the plate B (Fig. 13), which would cause the stud b again to take against
the next stud n on the second wheel A,.which will bring up the figure 2,
and the impression then taken will be thus 0 0 20, which will show that
twenty impressions have been taken, and there will be one of the projections a
of the second wheel A brought up by the stud b, Figs. 1 and 2, every time
that the first wheel A makes a revolution, and it consequently follows that the
second wheel A will perform a revolution to every ten rovolutions of the first
wheel A; the same action takes place with reference to the third wheel A,
which makes one revolution for ten revolutions of the second wheel A, by
means of the stud d coming in contact and passing over the inclined plane or
raised projection r every time the second wheel A makes a revolution, and the
fourth wheel A makes one revolution for every ten revolutions of the third
wheel A, whereby there may be a consecutive series of stamps taken from any
die or printing surface numbered from 1 to 9, 9, 9, 9, by my improved apparatus,
and yet no two impressions would bear the same number; the next oscilation
of the levers P, R, would bring the wheels of the apparatus into the position
at which they started, that is, 000.0, and by changing the date or by adding
a letter, or changing the device and keeping the date, a second series of stamps
might be obtained, numbered up to a like number, and yet no two of the
impressions be of the same number and device, and at the same time the
individual who makes the impression would be prevented taking off an im-
pression without its being indicated and known. The springs V are raised
and lowered by the revolution of the teeth of the ratchet wheel passing under
the stud affixed to the bar which connects the springs, and the ratchet wheel
is caused to turn by the oscilation of the lever P, which has a projecting-stud
standing at right-angles-with it, and this stud is affixed by a pin to the lever P,
and permitted to move downwards by a spring placed under it, by which
means, in giving the impression, and the consequent oscilation of the lever P,
the stud thercon passes along the inclination from one tooth of the wheel.Y to
another, and in removing of the pressure the stud Z takes hold of a toothed,
and causes the wheel to turn round, and thereby raise the spring and the
cover S, whilst the lever R is by the wheel L and spring catch, are causing a
change to take place in the numbers for the next impression. If it be desired.

page_text: to print in colors from such numbers and dies, then the plate 13 will have to
be removed at each impression for the purpose of inking or colouring the
numbers and dies or other surfaces connected with my improved apparatus,
and the plate is again to be replaced and the impression taken, by which
means the person taking the impression would not be able to take two
impressions at one time by placing two pieces of paper or other material
under the printing surface at one time, which might be the case when the
device; numbers, and letters, are embossed. In order to move the plate 13 with
facility, the handle 20 is to be pressed into the position shown by the dotted
lines in Drawing No. 2, and by the lever to which the handle is affixed being
hinged to the plate 13, the pressing down of such lever will bring it in contact
with the edge of the cover S, by which the spring contained in the box 14 will
be contracted and the plate 13 raised, and may be removed by turning it on
the rod which is in the tube 14; the inking is then to be performed and the
plate 13 replaced, and thus it will be seen that the ink or colour never comes
in contact with any other part than the surface of the numbers and dies, or
other surfaces from which the impression is to be taken.
Having now described the various parts shown in the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and the manner of their action, it will be evident that although
I have described only one description of stamp, yet it will be evident that any
device may be engraved on the dies, according to the instrument or material
which is to be stamped, impressed, or printed, the object of the Invention not
being for the devices, but in the apparatus added, for the purpose of numbering
the impressions, to prevent fraud, and producing security to the employers of
the improved apparatus, whether it be used for producing government, com-
mercial, or law stamps, or for numbering a variety of documents where a
register is desired to be kept, or by stamping pieces of woven fabric with
a number and date, by which it would be known that no two pieces could bear
the same number and date, whereby the purchaser would have only to notice
the number and date, as the government stamp and the piece of fabric could
not afterwards be changed.
Although I have here described certain parts which are separately well
known and in use, yet I lay no claim to the same, neither do I confine myself
to the particular use of the fly press and the parts applied thereto for the
purpose of working and producing the objects of my apparatus; but what
I do claim is, the apparatus which is produced by combining the wheels A in
the manner shewn and described in this Specification, whereby I am enabled
to produce a series of concecutive numbers to the instruments or material
receiving the impressions, and thereby indicating the number of impressions