Year: 1888

page_text: I, JOHN NEWTON WILLIAMS of 81 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, in the County of
Kings, in the State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
The Invention relates to those machines which are employed to punch a check with
figures indicating the amount for which it is made so as to prevent any subsequent
alteration or "raising" of the check. To this end the Invention consists in certain
details of construction more fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings and pointed out in the claims.
IV
In said drawings figure 1 is a top view of my improved punching machine.
Figure 2 is a similar view with the top plate removed.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the machine.
Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section thereof in a plane indicated by the line
IV figure 3.
--
Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the punches and dies in a plane indicated
by the line IV
IV" figure 3.
---
-
Figure 4b is a rear elevation of the arm for supporting the hand-and-punch
operating device.
Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section in a plane indicated by the line V -
figure 4.
Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the clamp-plate detached.
Figure 7 is an elevation view of the feed pawl and roller.
Figure 8 is a plan view of the check-stop plate.
-- -
V
The main frame of the machine consists of a bed plate 1 which may be cast with a
vertical plate 2, at rear supporting the cap-plate 3. The parts 2 and 3 are so arranged
as to hide as much as possible the interior of the machine and protect it from dust.
Near the front edge of the cap plate 3, is provided an indicator-plate 4, rigid on the
cap-plate and bearing characters preferably arranged as shown in figure 1, namely,
with the $ in the centre and the figures on each side thereof in such manner that
those characters which are most frequently employed will be near the centre.

page_text: 5 are punches arranged vertically in series' in bearings in blocks or
plates 6
6. The punches 5 bear on their lower end characters which are shown
on the indicator-plate 4, the characters being arranged in the same order or the
indicator-plate as in the line of punches. The bearing blocks 6 are carried at each
end by an arm 7 projecting from the rear plate 2 of the frame. Immediately under
the punches on the base plate 1 is arranged a series of corresponding female dies 8.
A check to be punched is placed between the punches and dies, the arms 7 being
arranged so as to present no obstructions. When in this position the check rests
upon the table 9, which
guided in a path parallel with the series of punches and
which is brought close up against the rear of the dies. The guides of the table are
shown in figure 4 at 10. The present Invention contemplates the use of a series of
punches in fixed bearings in connection with a table sliding with the check under the
punches being thus distinguished from those former machines in which the check is
immovable (except while feeding) and the punches are moved over the same.
In
such a machine it is found important to increase the rigidity of the check and thus
prevent its entanglement with the fixed portions of the machine when being shifted
thereon. To this end it is preferable to make the table 9 with a slight upward bend
at rear as shown in figure 4, so that when the check is clamped thereon it will receive
a slight transverse bend and so be stiffened.
The punches are pressed upward and away from their dies by springs 11. Pro-
jecting from the rear of each punch is a pin 12 of soft steel or other pliable metal.
These pins ride in vertical slots 13, in a plate 14, fixed to the rear of the upper
bearing block 6. These pins and slots thus act as guides for preserving a precisely
vertical and non-rotary movement to the punches and by arranging the slots at a
distance from the punches and making the pins 12 of pliable metal it will be seen that
the punches can be adjusted so as to make each correspond very accurately, with its
proper female die and to preserve such correspondence for a great length of time.
15 is a lever employed for depressing the punches. This lever is pivoted by pin 16
in an arm 17 and passes through a slot in the upper end of an arm 17. The
lower dotted line on the arm 17 in figure 4 shows the position of the bottom of said slot.
The arm 17 though rigid with the table 9 is preferably made in a separate piece and
riveted or screwed to the table and in this connection another important effect of the
inclined position of the rear of the table is noted, for the inclination of such rear end
allows the approximately horizontal portion 17" of the arm 17 to be placed under the
table, thus leaving the upper surface of the table clear while it projects at the rear of
the table above the guide 10 and so does not interfere with the free movement of the
table. Arranged along in rear of the series of punches 5 is a plate 18 having a series
of sharpened projections 19 arranged to alternate with, the punches 5 and thus to
direct the lever 15 as it descends to one side or the other until it is directly in rear of
a punch which is to be depressed. The relative arrangement of the parts should of
course be such that before the punch enters the paper the lever shall be directly over
the centre of the punch and by this means the table 9 carrying the check is brought
to precisely the proper position before the character is punched out of the check.
Preferably the lever 15 as shown enters a cutaway portion in the punches. The
cutaway portions of the several punches are in line so that a path is afforded for the
lever in its movement from one punch to another. After it has performed its part of
depressing the punch, it will be lifted with the punch by spring 11 thereon and
further by a spring 20 which insures the placing of the lever 15 slightly above the
projections 19 after it has performed its work so that said projections will not
interfere with the movement of the lever from one punch to another. A roller may
be provided at the front end of lever 15 to lessen the friction between the said lever
and its bearings on projections 19 and punches 5. Preferably two such rollers 15ª
are provided, one bearing on the punch and the other on the projection so that there
will be no retardation of the roller owing to its bearing at the same time on both
members.
One of the main objects of the present invention is to effect the movement of the
table 9 under the punch by means of the same member that depresses the punch. For

page_text: this purpose the lever 15 might have a rigid projection extending within convenient
reach of the operator but preferably the arrangement clearly shown in figure 4 is
employed.
As here shown a bell crank lever 21 is pivoted in the slot in the upper end of
arm 17 by a pin 22. The upper member of the lever 21 carries a finger piece 24
while the lower member is connected by a link 23 with the lever 15. The upwardly
projecting portion of the lever 21 is curved over sufficiently to prevent its impinging
on plate 14 or on the punches when it is depressed. An index 28 is also carried by
the arm 17, being pivoted thereto by pin 22 in such position as to travel over the
indicator-plate 4 and assist in locating the proper punch to be depressed beneath the
lever 15.
The holding plate or clamp 31 is pivoted to lugs 29 on the table so as to partake
of the sliding movement of the latter. The stripper 32 for removing the check from
the punch is formed on the forward part of the holding plate 31 so as to surround
the lower end of the punch when the latter is depressed. A rod 45 connects the
holding plate 31 with an arm 46 projecting from the index 28 so that the index serves
as a thumb piece for raising the holding plate 31 when a check is to be placed under
the punch. The spring 47 bearing under the arm 17 at one end and pressing upon
the plate 31 at its other end insures the clamping of the check between the table and
holding plate with sufficient pressure. A plate 30 is fixed by slot and set screw 30
under the portion 17" of the arm 17 and has an upwardly projecting stop 30" passing
through slots in the table 9 and plate 31 and there is thus provided an adjustable limit
to the insertion of a check.
A guide and pressure roller 33 rests when there is no check in position upon the
table 9 projecting for this purpose through the slot 34 in the holding plate 31. This
roller is carried by lugs 35 projecting from the plate 31. To ensure the feeding of a
check in a right line a slot 37 is formed in the table under the roller less in width
than the length of the roller, so that said roller will bear upon the check only on each
side of the slot instead of throughout the whole length. The roller 33 is actuated by
a ratchet wheel 40 and spring pawl 41, the latter being fixed at its upper end to the
lever 15. Preferably the means of attachment of the pawl of this lever is that shown;
a tongue is struck out of the pawl the part remaining being bent under the lever 15
and then up against the side thereof. This part, together with the said tongue, is then
fixed to the lever by a pin passing through the whole. It will be seen that the hooked
spring pawl 41 feeds only during the upward movement of lever 15 after the punching
operation and it is made of such length that it does not come in contact with the
ratchet on the upward movement until the punch has left the paper.
While the paper
is being fed forward, pressure on it is lessened.
A stop 48 may be provided on the horizontal arm of lever 21 which impinging
against the arm 17 limits the upward movement of said lever and consequently of the
lever 15 and in this manner friction of the inner end of the lever or of its rollers 16"
against the punches may be prevented. The upward movement of the punch however
is limited by stop 49 placed in holes in the punches and impinging upon the plate 51
fixed to the upper bearing block 6. The plate 51 may be bent inwardly against the
punch as shown in figure 4 so that it bears against stops 49 close to the punch. The
other end of the holes in the punches may receive the upper ends of springs 11.
In order to ensure the most perfect agreement of each die with its proper punch it
is found necessary to provide slight capacity of adjustment of the dies upon the bed-
plate. For this purpose the holes provided in the bed plate for the passage of the die
plate fixing screws 52 are as shewn in figure 4*, made slightly larger in diameter than
said screws.
When the screws are being tightened after the die plate has been
adjusted to the desired position I have found that the friction of the screw heads on
the under side of the bed plate is apt to cause a slight displacement of the die plate.
Copper or other soft metal washers 53 is therefore placed between the screw heads and
the underside of the bed plate so that when the screws are tightened any sharp points
or irregularities on their heads will cut their way through the soft metal, while the
greater friction of the comparatively large surface of the die plate, on the upper side

page_text: of the bed-plate will insure the retention of the die plate to the exact position in
alignment with its punch to which it has been adjusted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In combination with the bed plate 1, having straight parallel guides 10, a table 9
moving on said guides, an arm 17 fixed to said table and projecting forward over it,
a series of vertically sliding punches 5 mounted parallel with the movement of the
table, a punch operating lever 15 mounted in the arin 17, and a hand lever 21 also
mounted in said arm 17 and adapted to operate the punch operating lever, substantially
as set forth.
2. The combination of the bed plate 1, having straight parallel guides 10, a table 9
guided thereon, a spring holding plate 31 hinged to said table a feed roller 33
supported on and projecting through a slot in said holding plate and having ratchet
wheel 40, a punch operating lever pivotally connected to said table, a pawl carried by
said lever for operating said ratchet wheel, means substantially as described for
operating said lever, and series of dies and punches substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of a series of punches mounted in fixed bearings a fixed
indicator-plate having characters corresponding in position with those on the punches,
a movable table a holding plate pivoted thereto and an index carried by said table
moving over said indicator plate and connected with said holding plate as and for the
purposes set forth.
.
4. The combination of a series of punches a lever for operating the same, a
plate having projections for guiding said lever and two anti-friction rollers on said
lever to bear on said punches and projections, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
5. The combination of a series of punches, a plate having a series of slots arranged
parallel to said punches and long pins of flexible metal carried by said punches and
running in said slots, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. The combination of a table, a clamp or holding plate thereon and a roller carried
by said holding plate said table being slotted under said roller, in the direction of the
feed, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
7. The combination of a movable table, a holding plate resting thereon both table
and plate being slotted transversely, a bent arm 17 fixed under the table and projecting
over it, a plate 30 adjustable by a slot and set screw on arm 17, and a stop 30 on said
plate 30 passing through the slots in the table and holding plate, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
8. The combination of a series of punches and a table for receiving a check to be
punched thereby having a transverse bend or inclination, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
9. The combination of the series of punches, a table guided in a path parallel
therewith, paper holding plate and feed mechanism carried by said table, a single
punch operating lever mounted on said table and hand lever also mounted on said
table and adapted to operate table-punch operating lever and feed mechanism, as set
forth.
n
T
21
1000