IMPROVE- MENTS IN RULING ORNAMENTAL FIGURES.
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith, of Mauchline, in the County
of Ayr, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RULING ORNAMENTAL FIGURES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smith
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th November 1853.
I, WILLIAM SMITH, of Mauchline, in the County of Ayr, North
Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the particulars of the said In-
vention for IMPROVEMENTS IN RULING ORNAMENTAL FIGURES" to be
as follows:-
"
This Invention relates to a modification of the ordinary ruling
machine as employed for ruling patterns in various colors in such
manner that superior economy may be secured in the process. Thus,
in ruling a tartan" pattern on paper for ornamenting boxes, buttons,
and other articles a separate ruling pen is employed for each "repeat"
of the device, so that the adjusting mechanism for setting the pens at
the required distances simply works over one repeat in the width of
the traverse of the pens during the ruling of an entire piece or sur-

page_text: face, instead of having but one pen with a continuously repeating series
of mechanical adjusting actions. By this plan as now improved the
whole number of repeats in the width of the pen's traverse are ruled
in one color by one repeating action of the adjusting mechanism. The
individual pens or ruling instruments are primarily adjusted or set to
the proper distances asunder at the commencement of a piece of work,
by a separate piece of setting mechanism. When once so set to their
starting points each individual. pen goes over its own repeat, and will
then execute any extent of work to that pattern without further adjust-
ment. In the case of minute patterns or figures where it may be in-
convenient to use a separate pen for every individual repeat, each pen
in the line may be set at starting at a distance of two or more repeats
from its neighbour, and the adjusting or guiding mechanism must then
be repeated for each of the intermediate lines of repeat originally left
unruled."""
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th May 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM SMITH, of Mauchline, in the County of Ayr, North Britain,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Smith, Her special
license that I, the said William Smith, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Smith, my executors,
administrators, or 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

page_text: IN RULING ORNAMENTAL FIGURES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Smith, by an instrument in writing under
hand and seal, 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 William Smith, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the, following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:
My said Invention relates to a modification of the ordinary ruling
machine as employed for ruling patterns in various colors in such
manner that superior economy may be secured in the process. Thus,
in ruling a tartan pattern on paper for ornamenting boxes, buttons,
and other articles, a.separate ruling pen is employed for, each "repeat"
of the device, so that the adjusting mechanism for setting the pens at
the required distances simply works over, one repeat in the width of the
traverse, of the pens during the ruling of an entire piece or surface,
instead of having but one pen with a continiously repeating series of
mechanical adjusting actions. By this plan as now improved the
whole number of repeats in the width of the pen's traverse are, ruled in
one color by one repeating action of the adjusting mechanism. The
individual pens or ruling instruments are primarily adjusted or set to
the proper distances asunder at the commencement of a piece of
work, by a separate piece of setting mechanism. When once so set
to their starting points each individual pen goes over its own repent;
and will then execute any extent of work to that pattern without fur-
ther adjustment: In the case of minute patterns or figures where it
may be inconvenient to use a separate, pen for every individual repeat,
each pen in the line may be set at starting at a distance of two or more
repeats from its neighbour, and the adjusting or grinding mechanism
must then be repeated for each of the intermediate lines of repeat
originally left unruled. And in order that my said Invention may be

page_text: properly understood I shall now proceed to describe the several Figures
on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto attached. Figure 1, on Sheet 1,
of my Drawings is a side, and Figure 2, on the same Sheet is an end
elevation of a ruling machine complete, as constructed according to my
improvements. Figure 8, on Sheet 2, of the Drawings is a plan of
the machine. Figure 4, is a side elevation of one of the working
pens detached together, with its holding and adjusting mechanism.
Figure 5, is a plan; and Figure 6, is a front elevation corresponding
to Figure 4. Figure 7, is a side clevation; and Figure 8, is a plan of
another modification of penholder possessing a superior and more com-
prehensive means of adjustment. Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, are
all drawn to an enlarged scale. The whole of the mechanism is
carried by a substantial wooden framing, consisting of the four
corner posts A, and the upper and lower cross pieces B, C.
Upon this framing there are fixed longitudinally the two stout
wooden bearers or rails D, serving for the support and guidance of the
carriage E, on which are fixed the frames F, containing the paper or
other material G, to be ruled. In the present modification the pens
are stationary during the ruling action, the paper or other material
being made to pass beneath them; the various details, however, may
easily be modified to suit the reverse arrangement. The pens are carried
by an adjustable frame, consisting of a pair of side pieces H, and a stout
transverse top piece I. The side pieces are fitted into vertical grooves
formed upon the sides of the main frame, and they can be fixed at any
height by means of the wooden screws J, which pass through central
longitudinal slots in the side pieces and hold them firmly to the sides of
'the main frame. The pens are actually fixed to a light carriage K,
which traverses the tablet I, on three wheels L, and is guided by a
pair of wheels M, running along the front edge of the tablet I, being
kept well back against this edge by means of a species of spring
formed by a twisted cord N, and lever O, the carriage K, being con-
nected therewith by the cords P. The tendency to untwist exerted by
the cord N, produces a gentle backward strain on the carriage K, and
thereby keeps its guide wheels M, against the front edge of the tablet I.
The pens Q, are in construction similar to the ordinary mechanical
drawing pen, consisting of a pair of pointed steel blades, the distance

page_text: between the points of which is regulated by a small screw. Each
pen Q, is carried by a holder R, the stem of the pen being entered
through a socket in the holder. It fits loosely in this socket to
allow of minute adjustment by means of three small screws S, two
on each side, and one in front of the socket. The inner or back
end of the holder R, oscillates on a horizontal axis, being jointed
by two lateral pivot centres to a small box piece T.
This box
piece is capable of oscillation on a vertical axis, being held by the pivot
centres U, passing through the top and bottom of the bracket piece V,
which last is bolted or screwed firmly down to the carriage K. A pair
of screws W, are passed through the sides of the bracket piece V, and
serve to adjust the holder R, laterally on the vertical axis U, U. The
pens are fixed to the carriage K, at equal distances apart, such dis-
tances corresponding to the repeats of the pattern. If this arrange-
ment is adopted it will be obvious that when a different size of repeat
is required, a separate set of pens fixed on their carriage at distances
corresponding to the required size of repeat must be employed. This,
however, will not be the case if the modification of fixing details repre-
sented in Figures 7 and 8, are adopted, this plan admitting of adjust-
ment to different sizes of repeat, and also possessing other advantages.
According to this modification each penholder R, is jointed to a block
piece X, resting upon the carriage K. This block piece is formed with
a plain eye for the passage of the screw spindle Y, fixed to the carriage
by brackets and on each side of each block piece is a nut a, by
means of which the block piece with its pen can be adjusted at any
point on the spindle's length; and further, by turning the spindle itself,
the whole set of pens may be traversed simultaneously and uniformly.
The pens are all connected by cards b, to wires projecting from a vibra-
ting bar c, held over them upon a slight frame d, fixed to the tablet I.
Short levers e, are fixed on the overhanging ends of the bars c, and from
these levers cords f, pass down to a cross bar g, fixed to a treadle h,
below, and by depressing this treadle the attendant can elevate the
whole line of pens whenever he may have occasion to do so, whilst by
detaching the suspending string b, of any pen or pens which may not
have acted such pen or pens may be made to go over the paper again,
whilst all the rest are lifted up out of action. One end of the pen

page_text: carriage K, has a rod i, bolted to it for the purpose of traversing it across
the machine for a fresh adjustment of the pens. The end of the rod i
is slotted to receive a pinj, which projects below, and lies against the
edge of a long lever k. This lever oscillates horizontally on centres
carried by the bracket 7, bolted to the tablet I, and its free-handled end
lies upon a pattern index m, the upper edge of which is serrated so as
to retain the lever, at any part of the pattern at which it may be set.
To the opposite end of the carriage K, is attached a cord n, which
passes over a pulley to a weight o, serving to draw the carriage to one
side, so as always to keep the pin j, up against the lever k, formed
to an edge at that part. The lever, forms a species of pentagraphic
arrangement, and by means of it the pens can be set to the pattern
with extreme accuracy. The motion of the lever k, on the index is as
much greater than the corresponding motion of the pens as the dis-
is greater
tance of the index from the point of oscillation of the lever
than that of the pin j, or point at which the motion is communicated to
the pen carriage; and the pattern on the index is therefore drawn to
a correspondingly enlarged scale, thereby greatly facilitating the adjust-
ment of the lever . The pin j, is made adjustable in the end of the
bar i, so that the carriage K, may be accurately set at starting. The
carriage E, which bears. the paper G, to be ruled runs on four small
wheels P, and is guided on one side by a pair of wheels 7, running along
the side of the rail D. On the other side a strong blade spring 7, is
fixed to the carriage E, and a wheels, is carried in each end of the
spring, and runs along the side of the rail D, the spring 2, causing the
wheels Jr. ands, to firmly embrace the rails D, keeping the carriage
well to the side at which the spring is fixed. The frame F, is square
in form, and is made to receive four sheets of paper G. It is adjusted
on the carriage by means of register pins at t; and on the completion of
the, ruling-in one direction the frame is turned. a quarter round in order
pens receive
that the paper may be ruled in a transverse direction. The
their supply of color from troughs u, placed at one end of the carriage E,
and rollers, revolving in the color tend to keep it uniform by bring-
ing up the thicker portions. from the bottom to the surface.
opposite end of the carriage E, are-placed brushes, to divest the pens
of any superfluous color which they make take
up.
At the
The movements of

page_text: .
I
the pens are governed by a guide bar a, capable of oscillation on two
arms hinged at y, to the tablet I. Supporting pieces z, are-fixed to the
guide bar at each side; and these supporting-pieces carry small wheels 1,
at their lower extremities which run along the edges 2, of the carriage
E, the wheels being made sufficiently broad to hung half over-the
edge 2, or separate wheels may be carried on the saine spindle: The
overhanging wheels or portions of the wheels are arranged to
be acted upon by cam pieces-3, 4, 5, adjusted to the sides of the
carriage E. These cam pieces cause the supporting bar a, to rise,"
carrying up the pens with it at certain parts of the traverse of the
carriage E. The bar a, is also acted upon at intervals by levers 6;
which oscillate on pins fixed in the uprights 7, which uprights are
themselves fixed to the longitudinal top frame pieces B; pins 8,
projecting from the sides of the carriage E, near its opposite ends
act upon the levers 6, at each traverse of the carriage; and the
length of this traverse is limited by stop pieces 9, fixed on one of the
rails D. The machine is represented in the act of ruling à series of
lines. The attendant standing at the front of the machine draws the
carriage E, .towards him by means of the button 10. This action will
shortly bring the cam pieces 4, under the wheels-1, and thereby raising
the bar, will support the pens across the space between the sheets of
paper. When the carriage E, approaches the end of its traverse the
wheels 1; will descend into the hollow of the cam piece 5, the edge of
the carriage being also hollowed here to correspond. This will allow
the pens to descend into the color dishes or troughs u; after which the
cam will cause the pens to rise up over the rollers v, turning these
round by passing over them, and in this manner receiving the supply of
color for another ruling action. The pins 8, at that end of the
carriage next coming in contact with the levers 6, will cause thein by
means of their cam shaped upper ends to lift up and sustain the bar æ,
thereby keeping the pens elevated during the traverse of the carriage
to the other end of the machine. On this retraverse being effected the
pins 8, at the front end of the carriage cause the levers 6, to pass from
under the bar a, and the pens consequently descend, but as far only as
is permitted by the cam pieces 3, which then act on the supporting
bar a, through the wheels 1. These cam pieces 3 guide the pen
'

page_text: points at a proper level through the brushes w, and the pens are after-
wards allowed to descend upon the paper G; to be ruled, and the ruling
action goes on in this manner, the pens being shifted laterally at each
traverse by means of the lever k.;
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of my
Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery,
apparatus, or means for ruling ornamental figures, as herein-before
described.
Second, the system or mode of ruling ornamental figures wherein
a number of pens are actuated simultaneously or in concert, each pen
producing a separate repeat or portion of a repeat of the pattern, as
herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of ruling ornamental figures wherein the
corresponding lines of each set of lines of the pattern are drawn simul-
taneously on two or more parts of the material operated upon, so as
to produce corresponding repeats of the pattern, as herein-before
described.
Fourth, the system or mode of adjusting the pens of ornamental
ruling machines laterally by means of a lever capable of being set to
an enlarged index or scale of the pattern, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Smith, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Eleventh day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
WILLIAM SMITH. (L.S.)