IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING THE EDGES OF BOOKS, AND PAPER FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN IMPRESSING ORNAMENTS, LETTERS, AND FIGURES ON THE BINDING OF BOOKS AND ON OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
WHITAKER, of the Borough of Cambridge, in the County of Cambridge,
Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Fourth day of September, in the fifth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard
Whitaker, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege.and authority, that I,
the said Richard Whitaker, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Richard Whitaker, my exors, admors, or assigns, shoud at any
time agree with; and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING THE EDGES OF BOOKS, AND PAPER FOR
OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN IMPRESSING ORNAMENTS, LETTERS, AND FIGURES ON THE
BINDING OF BOOKS AND ON OTHER SURFACES;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso that I, the said Richard Whitaker, shall cause a par-
ticular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of

page_text: Richard Whitaker, do hereby declare that the nature or my said invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The Drawings, for the most part, represent the machinery as being suitably
arranged for impressing ornaments, figures, and letters, on books and other
surfaces, and for impressing the backs of books into the proper figure to facili-
tate such impressions being received more uniformly by the binding on the
backs of books. I will, therefore, first, describe the machinery for such pur-
poses, and afterwards explain the change to be made in working part of the
machinery, with other apparatus, to cut the edges of books and paper for
other purposes.
Figure 1 represents a side view of the machine. Figure 2 is a right-hand
end view thereof. Figure 3 is a plan. Figure 4 shews a longitudinal section.
Figure 5. is a left-hand end view. In each of these Figures the same letters
indicate similar parts. a, a, a, represent the framing of the machine, the
nature of which is clearly shewn by the Drawings. In the upper surface of
the machine there is an opening or space b, b, in which the book is securely
held by means of the cheeks c, c', and the wedges or backing boards c, which
retain the book in the proper position to have the back of the book operated
on by the machinery, the book being kept tightly pressed between the wedges
by means of the cheeks c, c¹, in the following manner :-The cheek c is a
stationary cheek made fast by screws to the two uprights c, which form part
of the same casting with the plate d, and the plate d is combined with the
upper plate e by means of the side plates f. f, through the flanches of which,
and through the plates d, e, the uprights g of the framing a pass, and the
whole are combined securely together by means of the screw nuts g', as is
shewn. In the upper plate e is formed a dovetail groove e', in which slides the
bar h of the guage h', as is shewn, such bar h having a set screw to hold it
securely in any part of the dovetail groove. By this means the book is
perly guaged in its position between the cheeks c, c. The cheek c¹ is affixed
to uprights i, i, by screws i, i, such uprights forming part of the same casting
pro

page_text: with the plate and other parts marked t², ², such plate sliding freely on the
upper plate, hereafter explained; the pressers k, hereafter explained, resting
against the lower bar, and also against the upper bar, under the plate,
as is shewn. Hence, when the pressers are forced towards the book the plate
and parts will move, and with them the cheek c¹. Between the moveable
cheek c¹ and the plates j and there is a space for the movement of the
pressers k, k, and the cheek c'. The lower plate, and part of the same casting
marked j, are secured to the upper plate by the side plates f, f, through the
flanches of which the uprights a³, a³, of the framing pass, and also through the
plates j, l, and all parts are secured by the screw nuts a', as is shewn. m is an
axis which turns in bearings at m², m', such axis having a cranked handle m
to fit on the end and to turn it when required. m³ is a ratchet wheel affixed
ön the axis m, there being a click or catch m* to retain the ratchet wheel from
turning when the pressers k are in the position desired. On the axis m is
affixed a screw or worm, which takes into and drives the toothed wheels n, n,
which are affixed on axes n³, n', which turn in bearings formed in the plates j
and I, as is shewn, and the wheels n take into the racks ', formed on the
stems of the pressers k, such pressers at top and bottom being rivetted or
otherwise affixed to the parts . Hence any movement being given to the
screw or worm on the axis m will give motion to the pressers, either to press
the book more closely or to withdraw the cheek c'. The Drawings shew a
book securely held, and ready to receive the ornamental and other impressions
at the back; o, o, being a platform on which the book rests, such platform
being capable of being raised or lowered in order to accommodate the same to
the size of the book, such platform being affixed to the bars o¹, o¹, which turn
down at right angles, having teeth formed thereon, as is shewn, the bars o¹
being combined together by means of the bars o2, at each end of which there
is a friction roller o', which move on the angular guides o', as is shewn. p is
an axis or shaft turning in bearings at p¹, there being a crank handle affixed
at one end, and also a ratchet wheel p³, having a click or catch p³ to retain it
secure from turning back when once set up to the required position. On the
axis or shaft p are affixed two toothed wheels p', which, taking into the teeth
on the bars o', raise or lower the platform o when required.
Having explained the manner of holding a book to be operated on by my
Invention, I will proceed to explain the nature of the apparatus for holding
and working with ornamental and other surfaces for making the impressions
desired. And I may here remark, that the means of holding books when the
backs are to be operated on, as above explained, may be varied so long as
books are suitably held, that my mode of operating may be resorted to. g is

page_text: a wheel having several grooves, so as to cause the cord of the pressing weight
to be nearer to or further from the centre, in order to vary the effective
pressure of the weight on the parts hereafter explained. The wheel q is
affixed to the axis q', which turns in bearings, as is shewn. r is a cord,
which is fastened to one of the grooves on the wheel q, and passes under the s
pulleys, and is made fast to the lower end of the bar t, there being ratchet
teeth formed on the bar t, as is shewn, the object of which is, that the bar,
when raised, may be supported by the spring catch v, as hereafter explained.
The upper end of the bar t is formed into a fork, and carries the axis u of
the lever w, such lever being also forked where it is attached to the axis u.
This lever w carries the impressing apparatus, which I will now describe, the
parts of which are shewn on a larger Figure in a separate Drawing. Figure 6
shews a plan or under side view of the chase or frame within which the
impressing surfaces are retained. These surfaces are similar to those some-
times employed by bookbinders, in fact, they are type, which go together in
making up an ornamental surface, and the letters may be of ordinary type
metal, but the chase and mode of using it are different to the means now
resorted to for holding and working with such type. The chase or frame a
consists of the quadrangular frame x, the nature of which is clearly shewn in
the Drawing. This chase or frame x is divided into three compartments, by
means of the moveable partitions y, by means of the screws y', which pass
through female screws formed through the partitions y; and the screws y¹ turn
on necks or axes y, in bearings formed in the frame r, as is shewn; hence
the partitions y can be set up to any desired position, according to the desired
arrangement of ornamental pattern, to be arranged and fixed in the various
compartments. 2, 2, are screws at the end of the chase, in order securely to bind
and fix the impressing surfaces in the chase by means of the partitions or
plates z¹.
In addition to the screws z, there are other screws which pass
through the sides of the chase, and pressing on the plates at the sides, as
shewn, securely press the type or impressing surfaces together, and hold them
correctly in the chase x. At the outer edges of the type is applied bent sur-
faces or plates A, A, which act as guides in lowering the form of type on to
the back of a book. The chase, when used, is connected with a heater box B,
in order that the type in the chase may be heated. This heater box consists of the
frame B, the nature of which is clearly shewn, it having grooves B' into which
the projecting edges B3 of the chase enter, and B³ is a sliding door to enclose
the heater C, when it has been placed above the chase. Figure 7 is a side
view of the chase, with the ornamenting and other impressing surfaces set up
therein. Figure 8 shews a longitudinal section of the chase without any type

page_text: therein. Figure 9 shews an end view of the chase with a form of type therein.
Figure 10 shews a transverse section of the chase. Figure 11 shews some of
the impressing surfaces or type separately. Figure 12 shews a longitudinal
section of the heater box. Figure 13 shews an end view of the heater box.
Figure 14 shows a longitudinal section of the heater box, heater, and chase,
with a form of type. Figure 15 shews a transverse section of the heater box,
heater, and chase with type, by which a workman, aided by the description
above given, will readily construct these parts of my Invention. The lever w
is affixed on the upper surface of the heater box by screws or otherwise; and
in using the chase with the impressing surfaces by the machinery above
described, having fixed a book in the position shewn, the workman lowers
the chase on to the back of the book, taking care that the form of type
therein comes correctly down, then pressing on the lever w, the surface of
the type will pass over the back of the book, the bar which carries the
axis of the lever w rising as the other end of the lever w is pressed down, and
the click or catch above mentioned will prevent the bar carrying the axis of
the lever w descending again; consequently, when the workman has made an
impression on the back of a book, when he lifts the lever w, the impressing
surface will be immediately raised from the book, and will not again touch it,
thus preventing any injury to the impression obtained, which might take place
if the impressing surface passed back in contact with the book. I would remark,
that the chase above explained may be used in an "arming press," in substitu-
tion of the blocks heretofore used, applying heaters in a similar manner to
what are used in arming presses, the workman making such slight alterations
as may be necessary in using the chase in place of the blocks now used.
In using this machine for cutting books or paper for other purposes, the
lever w, with the chase and the bar which carries the axis of the lever w, are
to be removed, and also the gunge from the dovetail groove, and the book or
quantity of paper to be cut is to be placed between the usual boards used
when cutting, and securely held between the cheeks c, c', of the machine;
and in place of using the ordinary plough I employ a plough with some
improvements thereon shown at Figures 16 and 17, such Figures shewing a
plan and side view of a plough so improved. And such improvements consist of
the application of the dovetail slide D, which, fitting into the dovetail groove
of the machine, slides freely therein when the plough is moved to and fro by
the workmen in the act of cutting; and it will be seen, that the blade E has a
diagonal stay, which stiffens that blade; in other respects, the plough used is
similar in those before used.
In using the machinery above described for impressing ornamental and

page_text: :
other devices on the backs of books, it is of great importance to have the
figure of the back of a book equal and regular, in order that in working the
chase, as above described, that one part of the impressing surface carries
thereby may not enter the binding deeper than another part; for this purpose
I submit the back of the book, before applying the back binding, or what is
called the lining, to the process of a roller press, which is made to fix on the
framing of the machine above explained; or such pressure may in some
cases be advantageously used after the lining and after the binding is complete,
and before the process of impressing, in order to equalize the surface of
the back to receive the impressions more uniformly.
Figure 18 shows a plan of this roller press separately; Figure 19 shows an
end view partly in section; and Figure 20 shows the roller press as affixed by
screws F, F, to the framing or side plates f,f, of the previously described
machinery. G, G, is the framing of the roller press, the nature of which is
clearly shown in the Drawing. On the inside of the framing G (are formed two
projecting guides H for the roller frame I, I; the roller frame having two grooves
H', into which the projecting guides H enter; hence, when the roller frame I
is moved to and fro it will be kept horizontal by the guides H. The roller
frame I consists of a rectangular frame, the side bars of which have teeth formed
thereon, in order to the frame being moved by the cog wheels hereafter
described. J is the pressing roller which is placed on the axis K; but the
pressing roller is capable of sliding on such axis, in order to adjust the position
of the roller by the screws L to the position of the work, such screws not
binding or holding the roller, but simply controlling its position. The roller
has holes in it, in order to receive heaters, and the plate M has corre
sponding holes; such plate turning on the axis, by means of the handle N,
the heaters will be closed in the roller. The axis of the roller is carried
by the bearings O, O, which are capable of being raised or lowered by the
screw nuts 0¹. Motion is communicated to the roller frame by means of the
handle P, which is affixed to the axis or shaft Q, which turns in bearings
carried by the framing G, G, as is shown. The axis Q has two cog wheels R
affixed thereto, which take into the teeth at the sides of the roller frame,
and cause that frame to move to and fro. I would remark, that the roller
may be used with or without the heaters, according to the class of work to
be done.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details shown, so long as the peculiar character of any
of my improvements be retained. But what I claim is, first, the mode of

page_text: compressing books or paper to be impressed or cut by means of the pressers k,
worked by racks and cog wheels driven by a screw, as above described.
Secondly, I claim the mode of raising the platform o for supporting books
or paper (when the same are being impressed or cut) by means of two toothed
wheels p and toothed bars o', as above described.
Thirdly, I claim the application of a dovetail slide D, and diagonal stay E,
to the blade of a paper plough, as above described.
Fourthly, I claim the mode of working a chase or ornamenting impressing
surface by means of the lever u, and parts connected therewith, as above
described,
Fifthly, I claim the mode of constructing a chase or frame for holding type
or ornamenting surfaces for impressing books and other surfaces, whereby
such surfaces are securely held in such chase, as above described.
Sixthly, I claim the mode of combining a chase containing impressing
surfaces with a heater box, as above described.
And seventhly, I claim the mode of preparing the backs of books, in order
to ensure uniformity of impressing of the backs, as above explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Whitaker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-two.