IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING OR SUPPLYING PAPER OR OTHER LIKE MATERIAL TO RULING, EMBOSSING, PRINTING, AND SIMILAR MACHINES, AND IN CERTAIN PARTS OF EMBOSSING APPARATUS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clark, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Manufacturing Stationer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING OR SUPPLYING PAPER OR OTHER LIKE
MATERIAL TO RULING, EMBOSSING, PRINTING, AND SIMILAR MACHINES, AND
IN CERTAIN PARTS OF EMBOSSING APPARATUS."
Sealed the 3rd October 1861, and dated the 8th April 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th April 1861.
I, JOHN CLARK, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Manufacturing Stationer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING OR SUPPLYING PAPER OR OTHER LIKE
MATERIAL TO RULING, EMBOSSING, PRINTING, AND SIMILAR MACHINES, AND IN
CERTAIN PARTS OF EMBOSSING APPARATUS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
The improvements comprised in this Invention have generally for object
to increase the efficiency, accuracy, and rate of working of the various machines
to which they are applicable.
In a modification of the feeding apparatus suitable for ruling, printing, and
other machines, the paper (or its equivalent) is lifted from a pile sheet by sheet,
by meaus of lifters furnished with. a coating of stiff semi-adhesive matter."

page_text: such as the compound (glue and treacle) used for printers' rollers, whilst,
to prevent more than one sheet from being lifted at once, provision may be
made for blowing air against the edges of the sheets, whereby their separation
will be facilitated. To insure the commencement of ruled lines at a deter-
mined distance from the edge of each sheet, temporary stops are provided
up against which the edge of each sheet is carried by the feeding action of
the web (or its equivalent) upon which the sheets are deposited in succession
by the lifters referred to. The temporary stops are lifted by mechanism
arranged immediately afterwards to put the ruling pens in action, the interval
between these two actions being adjusted in concert with the feeding motion
to cause the ruling to commence at the required points.
In a modification of the feeding apparatus suitable for embossing machines
a slide or carriage is arranged so as to be shifted an adjustable distance
between each stroke, either by hand or in connection with the embossing
action. The sheet to be embossed instead of being freshly adjusted below
the stamp after each stroke is only once adjusted on the slide and is fed
forward the proper distance after each stroke by the action of the slide.
This arrangement is applicable in all apparatus where it is required to repeat
a single impression a number of times upon the same sheet. The present
Invention also comprises a contrivance for increasing the power of embossing
presses, which consists of a combination of screws of different pitches. These
are arranged so that the stamp descends rapidly by the coarse screw until
near the lowest point when stops arrest the motion of the coarse screw and
the final compression is produced by the agency of the fine screw.
A further, improvement consists in despensing with the ordinary plunger
slide to which the pattern is attached, and in fixing the latter to one or two
springs, which may also be arranged to sustain or partly sustain the weight
of the screw or screws and actuating gear.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th 3
October 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CLARK, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Manufacturing
Stationer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Clark, Her special licence that I, the said John
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such other as I,
the said John Clark, my executors, administrators, and 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 IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING OR SUPPLYING PAPER OR OTHER
LIKE MATERIAL TO RULING, EMBOSSING, PRINTING, AND SIMILAR MACHINES, AND
IN CERTAIN PARTS OF EMBOSSING APPARATUS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Clark, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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 John Clark, 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 in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
My said Invention comprises improvements having generally for object to
increase the efficiency, accuracy, and rate of working of the various machines
to which they are applicable. And in order that the same may be properly
understood and carried into effect I have hereunto appended two Sheets of
explanatory Drawings, representing examples of the application of the said
improvements.
In a modification of the feeding apparatus suitable for ruling, printing, and
other machines, the paper (or its equivalent) is lifted from a pile, sheet by
sheet, by means of lifters furnished with a stiff semi-adhesive matter, such as
the compound consisting of glue and treacle used for printers' rollers; whilst
to prevent more than one sheet being lifted at once, provision may be made
for blowing air against the edges of the sheets, whereby their separation is
effected.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a side elevation of a ruling machine,
with a modification of my improved feeding contrivances applied to it.

page_text: The pile of sheets A is placed on a board B, supported by means of a
bracket b, in guides at one end of the framing C of the machine, and provided
with a rack and pinion movement, such that by turning the bandle D, the pile
may be raised at intervals as the ruling progresses. Fingers E tipped at their
bottom ends with the semi-adhesive composition are fixed to one or more
levers F, fixed on a transverse horizontal spindle f, near the middle of the top
frame piece C, this spindlef having fixed on it a lever F' actuated by a pin fixed in
a rotating disc or wheel G; this wheel G is one selected from a series to correspond
to the size of sheet, and is driven by toothed wheels indicated by dotted lines,
the lower one I being fast on the spindle of the drum I, round which passes the
endless web or blanket J (partly indicated by a dotted line) serving to convey
the sheets through the machine and under the ruling pens. The rotation of
the wheel G causes the levers F to vibrate and to depress the fingers E at each
stroke. The fingers descend through apertures in a horizontal stop plate e,
and on rising lift the top sheet up against this plate e, but passing a little higher
free themselves from it. The levers F are elastic, so that the top of the pile A
may, without inconvenience, be a little higher than the lowest level at which
the fingers will lift the paper, the levers simply yielding slightly when this
occurs. Just as each sheet is lifted by the fingers E, the prongs of a slide K
enter beneath it from behind, and carry it forward upon the blanket J beneath
the nipping roller L; this slide K is worked in horizontal side guides by a pair
of cranked levers & centred on brackets k', and actuated by links k² from the
levers F. The air blast for insuring the separation of the sheets is effected by
means of a bellows M, which may be depressed by the foot occasionally, a pipe m
conveying the air to a mouthpiece m' directed against the upper back portion
of the pile A; this mouthpiece is moveable, but fits tightly in a socket in
the board B, and is pushed down gradually by the action of a depresser m³
fixed on the lever F, so that it always delivers the air at the proper place.
Another modification of feeding mechanism is shown in Figure 2, Sheet 1,
which represents a side elevation of parts of a ruling machine. In both
Figures 1 and 2 the same reference letters mark the same or like parts. In
Figure 2 a portion of the side parts at the back end are supposed to be
removed. A transverse horizontal shaft N is mounted in bearings above the
pile A, and is made to rotate by links n from a transverse horizontal shaft O
towards the front of the machine. The shaft N has fast on it eccentrics, which
work the fingers E, and also rotating carriers K, which are arranged to come
round at the proper periods and move forward each sheet as it is lifted, these
carriers working between the fingers E. The wheels O are fast on a transverse
horizontal spindle, which is driven by means of a wheel indicated by the inner

page_text: dotted circle, this wheel having a serrated or other frictional surface, so as to
be driven by a cone U, the smaller end of which is indicated by a dotted
circle u. The cone is driven by toothed wheels II from the spindle of the
blanket drum I; the wheel driven by the coue is adjustable along its spindlo
to suit differently sized sheets of paper, this arrangement being instead of a
series of changeable wheels (G, Figure 1). Amongst the various machines
to which the lifting and feeding mechanism may be applied, there may be
mentioned envelope-making machines, paging machines, folding machines, and
machines for perforating paper.
9
To insure the commencement of ruled lines at a determined distance from
the edge of each sheet, a stop plate P, Figure 1, disposed across the blanket J,
is temporarily lowered thereon, and the edge of each sheet is carried up against
it by the forward feeding motion of the blanket (or of its equivalent). This
stop plate P is fixed to a cross bar p, which is hinged to a stationary bar pl
fixed across the machine. An adjustable screw Q, in the bar p, rests upon a
lever q, which is acted upon by a pin or projection on the wheel G, and by a
spring, which makes it rise on passing the wheel pin. The lever in rising
lifts the stop plate P, and the sheet immediately moves forward, and to prevent
the plate P from catching and raising its edge, wires, indicated by a dotted
line, are fixed in the under side of the bar p', and are curved forward under
notches formed in the lower edge of the stop plate P. The ruling pens
are carried by a transverse bar R, binged to brackets r, and are lifted by
means of an arm S, with an adjusting screw s, which rests on the end of a
lever T, hinged to a bracket. The lever T has an antifriction roller t at its
end, which rests on the rim of the wheel G, and which is acted upon by a cam
projection g, fixed on that wheel in such a position relatively to the movement
of the stop plate P as will cause the pens to be elevated at the entering edge'
of a fresh sheet, and be again depressed at the required distance from the edge.
In some cases a similar effect may be obtained by adjusting the feeding motion
so as to cause the sheets to overlap to the extent required to be unruled, the
stop plate P and relative mechanism being dispensed with.
As the application of my improvements to ruling machines renders them
capable of being worked at a greater speed than hitherto, I find it desirable to
add a contrivance for facilitating the drying of the sheets as they are ruled. This'
consists of a wheel with radial arms into the spaces formed, by which arms the
sheets fall in succession, the wheel being turned slightly between the reception
of each sheet. The size of the wheel and the number of divisions are such
that by the time a sheet is carried round to the point of delivery it becomes
thoroughly dried.

page_text: In a modification of the feeding apparatus suitable for embossing machines,
a slide or carriage is arranged so as to be shifted an adjustable distance
between each stroke, either by hand or in connection with the embossing
action. The sheet to be embossed, instead of being freshly adjusted below the
stamp after each stroke, is only once adjusted on the slide, and is fed forward
the proper distance after each stroke by a movement applied to the slide.
Figures 3 and 4, Sheet 2 of the Drawings, are a side elevation and a front
elevation of an embossing machine, with a modification of my improved feeding
contrivances applied to it; Figure 5 is an enlarged side or end elevation,
showing the slide A open upon its platform B, Figure 6 being an enlarged
back or inside elevation of the slide, also as open; Figure 7 is an enlarged
plan of a portion of the platform B. The slide A is a light wooden board,
having hinged to it a flap a, with a projecting metal plate a', between which
and a similar plate a¹ on the board the paper to be embossed is held. The
paper is further held by pin joints on the ends of arms c secured tightly to the
flap a, but still susceptible of a slight lateral adjustment. These details are
arranged so that the paper nipped between the plates a¹ is presented between
the descending die or platten D and "print" d. The front of the platform B
is formed with a grooved stop holder E, in which stops c can be adjusted at
any required distance apart being fixed by screws beneath, whilst prongs F
are contrived to project down from the front of the slide A, to bear against the
stops e, and between each stroke the slide is raised sufficiently to clear the
stops, and is moved along until the prongs F are put in contact with the next
stops. This operation can be performed by hand in much less time than is
required to adjust the paper to the die at each stroke, and will give very
accurate results, provided that the devices are printed on the paper at regular
distances apart, and that the stops e are accurately adjusted to correspond.
With this feeding mechanism the paper may be cut to shape (with the
exception of a few holding points) before being embossed, and the embossing
will in consequence have a more finished appearance. This arrangement of
feeding mechanism is applicable in all apparatus where it is required to repeat
a single impression a number of times upon the same sheet.
The present Invention also comprises a contrivance for increasing the power
of embossing presses, which consists of a combination of screws of different
pitches. This improvement is applied in the press represented in Figures 3
and 4, and the screws are shown enlarged and partly in section in Figure 8.
The central spindle G, upon which the fly wheel H is fixed, and which acts
on the die or platten D, is formed with a screw thread of fine pitch, and
works in a nut thread formed inside a tubular spindle I. The tubular spindle

page_text: I is formed with external screw threads of comparatively coarse pitch, and
works in the stationary nut in the head J of the press. On a collar formed
on the central spindle G there is fixed a frictional sleeve K, which can be
adjusted to hold more or less tightly the upper part of the tubular spindle I,
and on the latter there is fixed an arm L, arranged to come in contact with a
stop M fixed on the press head J. With this arrangement, on the wheel H
being first turned, the sleeve K causes the tubular spindle to turn with the
central spindle G, and both descend rapidly until the arm L comes in contact
with the stop M, when the tubular spindle I becomes stationary. The central
spindle G, however, continues to turn, and the final compression is effected
with the force corresponding to the fine pitch of the screw of this spindle. On
the return stroke a similar action takes place, a large portion of the rise taking
place rapidly by the coarse screw, and a small portion more slowly by the fine
screw.
A further improvement consists in dispensing with the ordinary plunger
slide, to which the pattern or die D is usually attached, and in fixing the latter
to one or two springs N fixed to the back n of the press, and these springs
are also arranged to sustain or partly sustain the weight of the screw or
screws and actuating gear.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I have to state
that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described and deli-
neated, and that I do not claim to have invented every separate detail herein
described or delineated; but that what I consider to be novel and original,
and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
First, the herein described combinations of apparatus for feeding or sup-
plying paper or other like material to ruling, embossing, printing, and similar
machines.
Second, the applying of a stiff semi-adhesive matter, such as a compound of
glue and treacle, for lifting sheets of paper, and other like material, substan-
tially as berein-before described.
Third, the applying of stopping mechanism arranged to temporarily arrest
the sheets, and acting in concert with mechanism regulating the ruling of or
other operation on the sheets, substantially as herein-before described.
Fourth, the constructing of embossing presses with a combination of a finely
pitched screw, with a coarsely pitched screw, and with stops to regulate the
relative actions of the two, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
herein-before described.

page_text: Fifth, the dispensing with the ordinary plunger slide of embossing presses,
and the supporting of the platten, or die entirely by the recoil springs, sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clark, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord One 5
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witnesss,
EDMUND HUNT, Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square,
Glasgow.
JNO. CLARK. (L.8.)