A NEW OR IMPROVED PERFORATING INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRITINGS AND DESIGNS IN PERFORATIONS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Newton Wilson, of High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, André Phillip Hansen, Engineer, and Michael
Treinen, Watchmaker, both of Great Pulteney Street, in the City of West-
minster, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED PERFORATING
INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRITINGS AND DESIGNS IN
PERFORATIONS"
Sealed the 6th June 1879, and dated the 7th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Newton Wilson, André Phillip
Hansen, & Michael Treinen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 7th December 1878.
NEWTON WILSON, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Engineer, ANDRÉ PHILLIP HANSEN, Engineer, and MICHAEL TREINEN, Watchmaker,
"A NEW OR IMPROVED
both of Great Pulteney Street, in the City of Westminster.
PERFORATING INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRITINGS AND DESIGNS
IN PERFORATIONS,"
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of self con-
tained automatic perforating instrument worked by clockwork comprised within
the casing of the instrument itself for the purpose of producing writings and designs
of all kinds in perforations, such perforated writings and designs being intended as
is now well understood for use in the obtainment of copies or reduplications in ink of
the same writings or designs.
According to our Invention we enclose within the head of the apparatus clock
work mechanism which drives at a high velocity a rotary cam or tappet consisting,
by preference, of a polygon, the number of the sides of which is uneven, ranging

page_text: say from three to seven. This peculiar tappet or its mechanical equivalent rotates
between two steel points within a circular metal strap on the end of the stem of
the perforator bar or carrier which vibrates inside a tubular stem forming the
holder of the pen or instrument.
The before mentioned steel points are so placed or disposed as that the one shall
coincide with the centre of one of the flat sides of the polygon, whilst the other
coincides with the ridge or angle forming the junction of two flat sides on the
diametrically opposite side of the said polygon.
On the stem or holder of the instrument there is provided a spring, by pressing
against which the perforator, which may consist of a needle point screwed onto the
end of the perforator bar or carrier, is set in motion (the clockwork having pre-
viously been wound up by a key attached by preference permanently to the
instrument), but on removing the pressure the friction exerted against the side of
the perforator bar is sufficient to arrest for the time the working of the instrument,
which it will be seen is entirely self contained and automatic.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Newton Wilson, André Phillip Hansen, & Michael Treinen in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th June 1879.
NEWTON WILSON, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Engineer, ANDRÉ PHILLIP HANSEN, Engineer, & MICHAEL TREINEN, Watchmaker,
both of Great Pulteney Street, in the City of Westminster. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
PERFORATING INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRITINGS & DESIGNS
IN PERFORATIONS."
Our said Invention relates to a peculiar & more economical construction &
arrangement of self contained automatic perforating instrument worked by clock-
work comprised within the casing of the instrument itself for the purpose of
producing writings & designs of all kinds in perforations, such perforated writings
& designs being intended as is now well understood for use in the obtainment
of manifold copies or reduplications in printing ink of the same writings or
designs.
According to our Invention we enclose within the head of the perforating
apparatus or instrument a complete system of clockwork mechanism which drives
a needle or perforator at a high velocity through the intervention, by preference, of
a rotary cam or tappet consisting of a polygon, the number of the sides of which is
uneven, ranging say from three to seven. This tappet or its mechanical equivalent
rotates between two steel points within a circular metal strap on the end of the
perforator bar or carrier which vibrates inside a tubular stem forming the holder of
the pen or instrument.
The before mentioned steel points are so placed or disposed as that the one shall
coincide with the centre of one of the flat sides of the polygon, whilst the other
coincides with the ridge or angle forming the junction of two flat sides on the
diametrically opposite side of the said polygon. Or in lieu of a polygonal cam or
tappet wheel it is obvious that other well known mechanical movements may be
adopted for imparting the vibratory or longitudinal reciprocating motion to the
needle carrier from the continuous rotary motion of the clockwork.
On the stem or holder of the pen or instrument there is provided a selfaeting
spring, by pressing against which, in the act of holding the pen, the perforator,
which may consist of a needle point screwed or otherwise secured onto the end of
the perforator bar is released & allowed to be set in motion, the clock-
work having previously been wound up by a key attached by preference per-
manently to the instrument itself, but on removing the pressure of the finger or
thumb from the spring the friction exerted against the side of the perforator bar by
the action of the spring itself is sufficient to arrest the operation of the perforator
during such time as the instrument (which it will be seen is entirely self contained
& automatic) is not in use.
In using the said perforating instrument for producing a perforated or stenciled
sheet, the sheet to be perforated, which may consist of thin paper or tracing paper,
is by preference laid upon a pad of soft vulcanyzed india rubber, & the point of the
instrument, which is held vertically, is passed lightly over it as in the act of writing
or drawing.
We are well aware that perforating or puncturing instruments for producing
writings & designs of all kinds in perforations or punctures constituting stencil
sheets for the reproduction of manifold copies thereof in printing ink have long
been known & used, but in all such perforating instruments the source of power for
imparting the requisite reciprocating motion to the actual perforator or needle has
been disposed or situate outside of or away from the casing of the instrument itself
which necessitated the connection of the instrument either by wires with a battery
(when electricity was the source of power) or by a driving spindle & universal
joints, or by a driving band, or by an actuating lever or handle (when direct

page_text: mechanical power was employed) or by flexible tubes when hydraulic or pneumatic
power was used). All these arrangements are now well known, & are both
costly & cumbrous, & in some cases impracticable, & therefore we wish it to be
understood that we do not claim as our present Invention any arrangement or
construction of perforating instrument which does not contain complete within
itself its own motive power. But by the simple application of spring clockwork
mechanism entirely contained within or upon the head of the instrument itself,
which thus carries its own motive power, & becomes completely self contained,
we not only simplify & cheapen its construction but greatly facilitate the
manipulation of the instrument.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we shall now pro-
ceed more particularly to describe the same, & for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figs. on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Fig. 1 of our Drawings is a full sized front elevation of our automatic self
contained perforating instrument; Fig. 2 is a partial section showing the clock work
& cam for actuating the perforator or needle, which mechanism is enclosed com-
pletely within the head of the instrument itself; Fig. 3 shows the head in section
at right angles to Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a full sized transverse sectional detail of the
stem or holder showing the self acting friction stop & spring.
a is a hollow head or chamber containing an ordinary barrel spring b, which is
wound up, as is well understood, by any convenient key c from the outside. We
prefer for convenience to attach the key to the spindle of the barrel spring as
shown;
d is the ordinary ratchet & detent; e is a large toothed wheel on the
barrel which gears into a pinion f on the arbour of the second wheel g; this wheel
in turn drives a pinion h on the arbour of the third wheel i, which gears into a
pinion on the actuating spindle of the perforator. On this spindle there is
mounted, by preference, a polygonal cam or tappet wheel, as shown, which revolves
at a high velocity between two points or hard centres carried in a metal strap or
open frame mounted on the upper end of the perforator bar m, the said open
frame being maintained in position round the cam by a guide pin & vertical
guides at n; o is the hollow stem or holder, which, when in use, is held between
the fingers & thumb somewhat after the manner of an ordinary pen, but in a
vertical position. To the lower end of this stem there is screwed a conical or
tapering nozzle p, which serves as a guide to the perforator working through it.
The actual perforator consists of a needle, which is firmly fixed in a holder q,
screwed to the lower end of the perforator bar or carrier, & having free play
within the guiding nozzle p. When the carrier bar is in its highest position; as in
Fig. 2, the point of the needle should be flush with or just within the end of the
nozzle so that it will protrude slightly when the carrier bar is in its lowest
position; s is the self acting spring attached to the side of the hollow stem o, &
having a hooked or bent friction piece t attached thereto and projecting inside the
stem so as to bear against the opposite side of the carrier bar, & apply friction
thereto when the spring s is released from pressure (see Fig. 4), & thereby
arresting the motion of such bar, but when the spring s is pressed inwards by the
grip of the thumb & finger it removes the friction piece from contact with the
needle carrier bar, & allows it perfect freedom of action. The instrument is thus
only permitted to work during the actual time it is being used, & stops auto-
matically directly it is laid down or is out of hand, thereby arresting the further
running down of the clockwork. To obtain the best results when using the said
stencil or perforated sheets they should be evenly stretched in any suitable or
convenient frame over the paper intended to receive the impression, such latter
being bedded or laid upon an even surface, by preference of glass with a sheet or
two of blotting paper underneath to give a yielding or somewhat elastic surface,
means are provided for readily changing & remounting or stretching the different
stencil sheets in the frame as required, & for raising or lifting the stencil sheet, as
is well understood, from off the printed sheet to allow the latter to be quickly
removed after each impression, & a fresh sheet to be deposited; moreover, it is

page_text: advisable that the inking rollers employed, which may consist of the usual com-
position, should be protected as possible from injury to their, surfaces, also
from contact with dirt & dust. We therefore prefer that the roller should be
mounted in a frame or holder provided with feet for supports so disposed &
arranged as to maintain the roller slightly elevated & clear of the table or surface
when laid down, thus avoiding injury to the roller, & preventing soiling of the
table. When put away or done with for the time being we protect the surface of
the roller from dust & dirt by enclosing it within a convenient jointed or hinged
cylindrical sheath or thin metal cover made to open longitudinally to admit of being
readily placed over the roller whilst within the forked holder or frame, & then
closed & secured by a convenient catch and button.
Having now described & particularly ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, & the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we
would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel & original, &
therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
First. The construction & use of portable perforating or puncturing instruments
intended or adapted for producing writings & designs in successive perforations or
punctures wherein the motive power or force required for actuating the puncturing
or perforating needle is wholly contained or comprised within or upon the casing
of the instrument itself so as to render such instrument perfectly self contained &
automatic as herein before described, & illustrated by the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
Second. The application & use of a self acting stopping arrangement under the
control of the operator on the stem or holder of a puncturing or perforating instru-
ment intended or adapted for producing writings & designs of all kinds by a
series of successive punctures or perforations substantially as & for the purpose
hereinbefore described, & illustrated by the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Newton Wilson, for myself & on behalf of
the said André Phillip Hansen & Michael Treinen, have hereunto set my
hand & seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred & seventy nine.
NEWTON WILSON. (L.S.)