IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRINTING NUMBERING AND DELIVERING TICKETS FOR TRAM- CARS OR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas King of East Dulwich and Robert Wilson of
Wandsworth both in the County of Surrey for an Invention of "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR PRINTING NUMBERING AND DELIVERING TICKETS FOR TRAM-
CARS OR OTHER PURPOSES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas King and Robert
Wilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th July 1883.
THOMAS KING of East Dulwich and ROBERT WILSON of Wandsworth both in
the County of Surrey, "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRINTING, NUMBERING AND
DELIVERING TICKETS FOR TRAMCARS OR OTHER PURPOSES
"
For the purpose of checking the receipts of fares by the conductors of tramcars
and omnibuses, some proprietors provide their conductors with consecutively
numbered tickets and with a registering punch for punching a small piece out of
each ticket just before delivering it to a passenger; but as a distinct set of tickets
is necessary for each distinct amount of fare, the method is not convenient and the
punch besides will only register the total number of tickets punched and not the
number issued of each distinct value; this can only be ascertained by collecting
the small punched out pieces in separate lots and counting them. Other pro-
prietors provide their conductors with an apparatus in which a reel has wound
upon it a large number of tickets in the form of a long or continuous strip of
paper. The conductor by turning a handle causes a ticket to protrude so that it
can be torn off and given to a passenger, then another ticket is caused to protrude
in-like manner and so on; and it is usual for the conductor to mark each ticket
with the amount of fare paid before tearing it off, the mark being registered by a
second strip. This method is perhaps better than that first described, but in both
the means of checking is not satisfactory and the expense of previously printing
the tickets has to be incurred.
Now our invention consists in constructing a portable apparatus by which
through the action of the conductor the tickets are printed, consecutively numbered,
and delivered or presented in succession ready to be torn off. Our apparatus is
--

page_text: composed essentially of a reel upon which a long strip of plain or unprinted paper
is wound, of a platen under, upon or against which the paper passes as it is drawn
from the drum, of an inking surface and a surface for printing the necessary words
or matter on the tickets, of any ordinary numbering mechanism by which the
figures for printing in numerical succession are brought into position, of a pair of
rollers for drawing along the strip of paper, and of a pair of nippers or jaws at the
mouth of the apparatus which open to allow as much of the strip as constitutes a
ticket to pass and then close on the strip so as to allow the conductor to readily
tear the ticket off. The apparatus is operated by the conductor by means of a
lever or other contrivance, each movement of which in the one direction brings the
printing surface and numbering apparatus into contact with the paper so as to
print and number a ticket, while in the movement in the reverse direction which
may be effected by a spring or springs the printing surface, and numbering
apparatus are returned to contact with the inking surface (the figures of the
numbering apparatus advancing one number in the well known manner), the
drawing rollers draw forward the paper and cause the ticket to protrude, the jaws
opening to allow it to pass and then closing upon it, all these operations being
effected through the intermediation of any suitable gearing as will be well under-
stood. Every motion of the lever in the one direction may also be made to sound
a bell.
It will be seen that by our apparatus not only are the tickets-printed and
numbered by the action of the conductor without causing him any additional
work, but there is also an efficient check on his receipts because the apparatus is
self registering.
According to a modification of our invention we mount the printing surface
upon a cylinder to which rotary motion is imparted by the lever or other con-
trivance operated by the conductor, and this cylinder may take the place of one of
the drawing rollers before described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas King and Robert Wilson in the Patent Office on the
24th January 1884.
THOMAS KING of East Dulwich and ROBERT WILSON of Wandsworth both in
the County of Surrey IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRINTING, NUMBERING AND
"
DELIVERING TICKETS FOR TRAM-CARS OR OTHER PURPOSES
"
For the purpose of checking the receipts of fares by the conductors of tram-
cars and omnibuses some proprietors provide their conductors with consecutively
numbered tickets and with a registering punch for punching a small piece out of
each ticket just before delivering it to a passenger, but as a distinct set of tickets
is necessary for each distinct amount of fare, the method is not convenient and the
punch besides will only register the total number of tickets punched and not the
number issued of each distinct value, this can only be ascertained by collecting
the small punched out pieces in separate lots and counting them. Other proprietors
provide their conductors with an apparatus in which a reel has wound upon it a
large number of tickets in the form of a long or continuous strip of paper. The
conductor by turning a handle causes a ticket to protrude so that it can be torn off
and given to a passenger, then another ticket is caused to protrude in like manner
and so on, and it is usual for the conductor to mark each ticket with the amount
of fare paid before tearing it off the mark being registered by a second strip.
This method is perhaps better than that first described but in both the means of
checking is unsatisfactory and the expense of previously printing. the tickets has
to be incurred.
Now our invention consists in constructing a portable apparatus by which
through the action of the conductor the tickets are printed, consecutively numbered
and delivered or presented in succession ready to be torn off. Our apparatus is
composed essentially of a reel upon which a long strip of plain or unprinted paper
is wound, of a platen under upon or against which the paper passes as it is drawn
from the reel, of an inking surface and a surface for printing the necessary words
or matter on the tickets, of any ordinary numbering mechanism by which the
figures for printing in numerical succession are brought into position, of a pair of
rollers for drawing along the strip of paper, and of a pair of nippers or jaws at the
mouth of the apparatus which open to allow as much of the strip as constitutes a
ticket to pass and then close on the strip so as to allow the conductor to readily-
tear the ticket off. The apparatus is operated by the conductor by means of a
lever or other contrivance cach movement of which in the one direction brings the
printing surface and numbering apparatus into contact with the paper so as to
print and number a ticket, while in the movement in the reverse direction which.
may be effected by a spring or springs the printing surface and numbering.
apparatus are returned to contact with the inking surface (the figures of the
numbering apparatus advancing one number in the well known manner) "the
drawing rollers draw forward the paper and cause the ticket to protrude, the jaws
opening to allow it to pass and then closing upon it all these operations being
effected through the intermediation of any suitable gearing as will be well under-
stood. Every motion of the lever in the one direction may also be made to sound
a bell.
It will be seen that by our apparatus not only are the tickets printed and.
numbered by the action of the conductor without causing him any additional work,
but there is also an efficient check on his receipts because the apparatus is self
racistarince

page_text: .
The annexed drawings represent an apparatus constructed according to our
invention. Figure 1 is a side elevation with the parts in their normal position
(the side plate being shewn open). Figure 2 is a side elevation with the parts in
the positions they occupy when the printing surface is in contact with the paper.
Figure 3 is à plan of the apparatus as seen from below the top plate. Figures 4
and 5 are sections through the lines 1-1 and 2 - - 2 respectively of
Figure 1. Figure 6 is a partial side elevation and Figure 7 a plan shewing the
inetal band hereinafter described. Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are detail views.
a is the reel containing the strip of paper. b, c is the platen under which the
paper passes, d the inking surface, e the printing surface (shown separately in
Figure 8) for printing the necessary words on the tickets. f the numbering
mechanism of ordinary construction, g g the rollers for drawing along the paper b.
h is a fixed nipper or jaw and i a movable nipper. j is the operating lever. The
parts above enumerated constitute the essential portions of the apparatus.
The printing surface e is carried by the lower part of a frame which, has
guides to receive it and there is a spring el on e to retain it in place. This
frame also contains the numbering mechanism f; those numbers which for the
time being are to print, project through a hole made for the purpose in the printing.
surface e, see m Figure 8. The frame has a central spindle n on which it is free
to turn; this spindle works in fixed vertical guides o o and is attached at its ends
to bars p p. fixed to vertical rods q q. These rods pass through the top plate of
the apparatus and are fixed to a plater (shown separately in Figure 9) to which
the lever j is connected through the intermediation of a link s. On one of the
guides o o are two tripping pins t t which as the frame is being raised by means.
of the lever cause this frame to turn over together with the printing surface e and.
numbering mechanism so as to bring them into position for printing. This turning
of the frame is effected by means of teeth u u¹ u² thereon-see Figure 10
which is an end view of the frame k; the two teeth u u¹ are caught in the first
part of the upward movement of the frame by the pin t which turns the frame
partly round, then the two teeth u u² are caught in the following part of the
upward movement by the second pin t¹ which completes the turning movement of
the frame. These tripping appliances may be repeated at the opposite end of the
frame but we do not consider this necessary; we however think it desirable to fit
to the opposite end a cam-shaped boss u³ which by working against the edges of an
opening o in a bar o during the turning of the frame kassists the turning move-
ment. v is a spindle mounted between the guides o o and fitted with a spring w
which tends to turn it on its axis so as to keep a paul which is keyed thereon in.
its normal position; a tail piece y by abutting against a stop prevents the spindle
turning too far. The paul x is for causing the advance of the numbering
mechanism to the extent of one unit during each descent of the numbering
mechanism; this is effected by the paul catching during the said descent the
ratchet wheel z of the numbering mechanism and turning it one tooth; in the
upward movement of the numbering mechanism the spring w allows the paul to.
yield under the pressure of the wheel z. The rollers gg for drawing the paper are
each composed of a pair of discs as shewn connected by spindles gg. One pair
of discs, preferably the lower has pius or points in its periphery and the other pair
has corresponding holes these pins and holes being for the purpose of taking hold
of the paper b. The upper roller g is driven by toothed wheels A, B, C, the
wheel C being on the same spindle as a ratchet wheel D. This wheel D and,
consequently the rollers g g are rotated one step at every descent of the front end.
of the lever j by means of a paul E carried-by an arm F which in the ascent of the
frame is carried up by a pin G on a cross bar G¹ of this frame into the position.
seen in Figure 2, the arm F having a slot as shown for the pin G to ride in; in the
descent of the frame k the paul E takes into the ratchet wheel D and rotates it.
the distance of one tooth. H is a stop paul to prevent the wheels A, B, C, D, being
rotated in the reverse direction. The movable nipper is shewn detached in
Figure 11. It is actuated by a rod I from a crank on the axis of the lower

page_text: roller g, and slides on guide pins on the front plate of the apparatus. When the
rollers g begin to rotate the jaw i moves down clear of the fixed jaw h and allows
the paper b to pass and by the time the rollers have completed their rotation the
jaw i has risen and again nips the paper against the jaw h. K is a bell whose
striker L is lifted on every descent of the frame k by a projection M coming
against the tail N; as soon as the parts M and N are clear of each other the
striker falls upon the bell.
O is a spring to return the operating lever j and through it all the mechanism to
their normal positions when the pressure has been removed from it.
In routes where there are what are called overlapping fares, it is desirable to
show by the tickets themselves at what part of the route the various tickets are
issued viz: before reaching station 2, or before reaching station 3 &
Where this
is required we employ a very thin spring band of metal P connected at one end to
a roller Q and at the other to a spindle R; this band passes immediately below the
strip of paper b towards one side thereof; in this band is an aperture S; the type
of the printing surface e can therefore not print upon that part of the paper which
is above the band P except upon so much as is exposed by the aperture S. On the
spindle of the roller Q is a handle T Figures 6 and 7 with a spring catch to take
into the holes UU (Figure 6). On reaching each successive station the attendant
by moving the handle round to the next hole U will draw the band P an
equivalent distance thereby shifting the position of the aperture S relatively to the
printing surface. By noticing what particular words or figures have been printed
on the ticket through the aperture S it will be found at what part of the route
the ticket was issued.
It will be evident that our portable apparatus for printing numbering and
delivering tickets can be modified in various ways without departing from our
invention, but the arrangement we have described and shewn in the drawings is
that which we prefer for the purpose.
Having now described the nature of our said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed we declare that we claim :-
1. The combination in a portable apparatus for the use of tram-car conductors
and other persons, of mechanism whereby by one action of the apparatus tickets
are printed and consecutively numbered upon a strip of paper and delivered or
presented in succession ready to be torn off substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. Constructing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in
the drawings for printing numbering and delivering tickets for tram-cars or other
purposes.
3. In a portable apparatus for printing numbering and delivering tickets in the
manner set forth, we claim the employment of the band P with its aperture S in the
manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof we the said Thomas King and Robert Wilson have
hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty second day of January One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
ΤΠΟ,
R. WILSON
THU, KING
(L.S.)
(L.S.)