Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Printing upon Signs, Show-cards, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Printing upon Signs,
Show-cards, and the like.
I, NICHOLAS THEODORE MINIATI, of 40 Dickenson Street, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, General Agent, 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 :-
This invention relates to apparatus for use in printing signs, show-cards, labels,
tickets and the like, and its object is to so construct such apparatus that it may be
equally applicable for printing with accuracy and ease upon either a straight line
or a curve.
In carrying this invention into effect a suitable arm or extension is movably
connected to a rule or base. This arm is hinged or is otherwise similarly jointed
in its length so that one part may be folded upon the other, and is capable of being
moved along the rule or of simply being pivotted to it so that the end of the arm
may describe a circle or part of a circle. The end of the arm is formed with
suitable guides or flanges against which the desired letter or character is placed.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I have hereto
appended a sheet of drawings to which I will hereinafter make reference.
Figure 1 illustrates the apparatus in plan with the arm folded to its smallest
dimensions and specially adapted for printing along a straight line.
Figure 2 represents a cross section of the rule to a larger scale showing one
method of attaching the arm.
Figures 3 and 4 show in plan and elevation respectively the apparatus as adapted
for printing along a curve with the jointed arm extended to its full length.
A is the rule or the like to which the arm B is movably connected in any
suitable mauner so that it may, when desired, be free to move along the rule, or to
rotate about its point of connection. The figures illustrate the connection of the
arm to the rule by means of a screw C the head of which fits within an undercut
recess in the rule and which may be tightened in position by the nut D. The arm B
is hinged in its length as at E so that one of its parts may be folded upon the other
as shown in Figure 1, or extended as illustrated by Figures 3 and 4. The outer
end of the arm is provided with flanges, projections or the like F, which form
guides for the blocks, characters, or letters G.
Figure 1 shows how the apparatus may be employed for printing along a straight
line. The arm is folded upon itself so that the guides or the like are close up
against the rule, which is disposed along or parallel to the line upon which printing
is to take place. A suitable block bearing upon its face the character or the like
which is to be printed is placed against one of the guides, preferably to the right
of the rule, and the impression is made upon the label, ticket, or similar article.
The arm is then moved along the rule for a suitable space when it is again stopped
to receive the following letter or character which in its turu is impressed. The
operation is repeated as long as there are letters to impress. It is preferred to
form the flanges F in such a manner that, when the arm is folded, they come
against the edge of the rule, with which they keep the arm at right angles. Any
suitable hand stamps may be used for the printing and they may be inked in any
convenient manner.
In Figure 3 the apparatus is illustrated as extended, in which position it is

page_text: particularly adapted for printing along a curve, although it may still be used for
printing in a straight line by moving the point of connection along the rule as
previously described. In printing along a curve the arm is moved around its point
of connection to the rule and its end describes an arc along which the letters or
characters are impressed. As before, the letters or the like are placed in succession
against the guides and the arm is moved to a degree corresponding to the required
space after each impression.
As shown in the drawings the arm or the inner part of the arm is slotted so that
it may be moved inwards or outwards to enable a curve of any desired radius to
be printed.
The edge or both edges of the rule may be graduated or divided to any desired
scale, and in addition the arm or part of the arm may be divided into units of
distance or the like.
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:-
1. An apparatus for use in printing upon show-cards and the like, consisting of
a rule or base provided with a movably connected arm carrying guides, which arm
is adapted to be moved in a straight line or a curve, all constructed arranged and
operating substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. Apparatus for use in printing upon show-cards or the like, constructed and
arranged substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th dox of Annil 1007