IMPROVEMENTS IN NUMBERING MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING PRESSES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st April 1878. A communication from
abroad by Thomas Sheridan Bowman, of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
of America, Printer.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN NUMBERING MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR PRINTING PRESSES." [A communication from abroad by Thomas
Sheridan Bowman, of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America, Printer.]
The object of the present Invention is to provide machinery or apparatus for
consecutively numbering impressions of type matter, and which will be economical
in construction, readily operated, and available for printing the numbers indepen-
dently, but more especially in combination with and as part of an ordinary form of
type matter, and which when thus used will be capable of being located in any part
of the form, and so as to print, if desired, the number even in the centre of the
impression.
The said Invention consists mainly in a portable device that can be enclosed in
the chase like ordinary type, and caused to operate by the pressure of the platen of
the press, forming numbers consecutively, which are printed as part of the
impression.
The said Invention comprises an inner case containing a series of wheels bearing
numerals, and which is in turn contained in an outer case, which is locked in the
chase. The inner case has a slight vertical movement in the outer case, in con-
nection with which movement and as a result thereof the numbers are consecutively
formed in the top of the device to be printed at the same time and by the same
means as the remainder of the form.
The inner case is in the form of a square frame, open above and below. A shaft
supported longitudinally in it rests in the end walls of the said case; this shaft
does not rotate. The numeral bearing wheels are arranged and turn upon the said
shaft.
There is combined with one of these wheels a ratchet provided with an offset,
and a spring pawl and dog provided with a point, which acts in combination with

page_text: the said pawl and ratchet. In combination with the said numeral wheel there is
a part which carries a stud that operates on a cam on the said shaft, and there is a
hook that engages with the first numerical wheel, and is operated by a ledge
assisted by a spring and a spring arm pivotted or fulcrumed on a post.
The inner case or frame containing the series of numeral wheels is detachable
from the outer case.
By this Invention I provide a consecutive numbering machine for printing presses
operated by the platen of the press acting directly on the number wheels, and the
number wheels of which are depressed by the platen of the press in taking the
impression, to be rotated in rising by means of the aforesaid hook connected with
the case of the machine engaging with a ratchet on the first number wheel.
The number wheels have a vertical movement in the form; the ratchet has its
teeth curved with recesses at the end thereof, in combination with a pawl having a
projection and extension to fit the said teeth, and recesses to facilitate the move-
ment of the aforesaid pawl.
The said extension on the pawl moves outwardly from the periphery of the
number wheel or wheels, causing a separation of the paper and the wheel or
wheels in advance of the rotation of the latter after the impression is printed.
A projection is arranged at the side of the unit wheel for the purpose of printing
the periods.
In combination with the aforesaid cases there is a spring arm having a projection,
and a wheel provided with stops to control the operation of the said wheels,, and I
provide a locking device that in addition to locking the wheels between the
impressions co-operates with the devices used in lifting the number wheels.
It is obvious that any desirable number of wheels can be used, and the capacity of
the said machine or apparatus accordingly enlarged. Moreover any desirable
number of machines can be used in the forin, according to the numbers it is desired
to print at one time.
'T'ho said machine or apparatus can be used upon a bed or platen press, as above
described, or on a cylinder press, as the impression of the press is the operative
agency.
It will be observed that by means of the hook engaging with the ratchet the
detachable portion of the device, that is, the inner case and its contents, is practically
locked to the outer case sufficiently to prevent its being withdrawn from the latter
by the suction of the rollers or other cause.