Improvements in Apparatus for and Methods of Re-producing Designs and the like by Cutting, Burning, Drawing, and similar Processes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1395-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for and Methods of Re-producing
Designs and the like by Cutting, Burning, Drawing, and
similar Processes.
WILLIAM BIRKS 22 Claypole Road, Nottingham, Draughtsman ALFRED
CULLEN, 15 Burns Street Nottingham, Hosiery Manufacturer and JOHN TAYLOR,
11 Burford Road Nottingham, Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
--
This invention relates to improved means for, and methods of reproducing one
or more copies of a design, drawing, or the like, by engraving, carving, and
etching; also by the use of crayons, pencils, brushes or sprays, and by poker work,
fretwork, and other known processes or instruments, the object of this invention
being the simultaneous reproduction of a number of copies upon the surface of the
material operated upon, or by cutting away or removing part of such surface.
According to this invention the instruments used for reproducing the pattern are
suitably mounted and the material operated upon is carried by a frame which is
attached to, and moved by a pantagraph arrangement of levers, one of which is
guided by the attendant over the pattern it is required to reproduce.
The instruments used for the purpose of carrying out this invention are so
mounted that they can be rotated and be moved to and from the material operated
upon, the former movement being obtained by belts, chains, or other convenient
mechanisms and the latter movements by means of oscillating cranks, revolving
cams or other means, the mechanisms used for both motions being so arranged that
they may be stopped and started by the attendant as required.
For producing engravings on wood and the like, any suitable revolving tool may
be used and it may be moved to and from the work if desired, or a carving tool
may be used without being revolved.
When crayons, pencils, and the like are used they are so mounted in their
holders that they always project a definite distance in front of the same, and there
is also a knife, rubber or other means for sharpening the points of the crayon or
pencil by rotating the latter when in contact with the sharpener.
Etchings may be produced upon metals by means of revolving cutters and upon
paper and the like by means of peices of solidified ink or other suitable material
which may be sharpened in a similar manner to crayons. Or liquids may be used
instead of the tools or pencils such liquids being applied by means of a pen or a
brush and the pen used may be in the form of a tube.
For producing drawings by liquid colours, a spray is used, the colour being
applied by means of a current of air. The instrument used may be arranged to
give a continuous or intermittent spray, the latter being obtained by moving the
liquid supply tube away from the air jet, by stopping the air supply or removing
the air jet away from the liquid supply tube.
For poker work the tool inay be revolved aud oscillated, and is heated by gas or
other means or a jet of flame.may be directed upon the material instead of using a
heated tool. Fret work is produced by using two sets of oscillating spindles to
which the saws are attached, the connections between the saws and spindles being
such that the former are free to turn on the latter and instead of the ordinary flat
saws, round or other shaped saws may be used, these saws having both a rotating
and oscillating movement.
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page_text: The machine is also provided with means for enabling a number of parallel lines
to be drawn or engraved, these means embracing a ruler which can be turned about
a fixed centre and also moved parallel to itself.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1894
W. H. POTTER, Wh. Sc.
Nottingham, Patent Agent.
Improvements in Apparatus for and Methods of Re-producing
Designs and the like by Cutting, Burning, Drawing, and
similar Processes.
WILLIAM BIRKS 22 Claypole Road Nottingham, Draughtsman, ALFRED
CULLEN 15 Burns Street, Nottingham, Hosiery Manufacturer, and JOHN TAYLOR
11 Burford Road Nottingham Agent 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:-
This invention relates to improved means for, and methods of re-producing one
or more copies of a design, drawing, or the like by engraving, cutting, or, etching,
and by the use of pencils, crayons, brushes, peus, and sprays; and by poker work,
fret-work, and by other similar and known processes or instruments, the object of
the invention being the simultaneous re-production of a number of copies by the
means referred to.
According to this invention the instruments used for re-producing the patterns
are so mounted and carried that they may be revolved at pleasure and moved to
and from the surface of the material upon which the design is to be reproduced,
while the material to be operated upon is carried by a frame which is capable of
moving in any direction in the same plane, and in the case of materials having a
circular surface, such as a roller for printing purposes the centre line of the
cylinder would be capable of moving in one plane while the cylinder itself would
be fitted to revolve about its centre. The frame carrying the material is suitably
balanced and is connected to a pantograph arrangement of levers, one end of
which is moved by the attendant over the design or drawing it is required to
re-produce.
This invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings which are referred
to in the following detailed description.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of part of a machine used for re-producing the design
or patterns.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is an elevation, and Figs. 4 and 5 are sections of part of the machine
showing the means for revolving and oscillating the re-producing instruments.
Figs. 6 and 7 are sections showing the mechanisms for carrying, feeding and
sharpening pencils, crayons, and the like.
Fig. 8 shows the method of carrying the pen for liquid inks.
Fig. 9 shows the appliance used for producing pictures by means of a spray, and
Fig. 10 is a section of the slides and spindles carrying the saw for fret work.
The general arrangement of the machine used for carrying out this invention is
shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and comprises end standards a which are held together by
tie bars b and cross rails c. Running through the machine and below the front rail
is a shaft d which is fitted with fast and loose pulleys and belt gear for stopping
and starting the machine. This shaft carries a number of pulleys d' by which
motion is given to the spindles E. At the front of the machine is another shaft f
from which a to and fro motion is given to the spindle carrying frame e', this
motion being derived from a cam d² on the shaft d and a lever and cam truck f' on

page_text: the shaft f. This arrangement for driving the frame e¹ is used when the instruments
are required to move to and from the material; as in fret work. Instead of the
cam arrangement the shaft may be moved by means of a hand lever, worm and
wheel or other similar mechanism, as is required for sharpening the pencil and
varying the spray effects, also for other purposes.
The material to be operated upon when the same has a flat surface, is attached
by clips, screws, or other means to bars 9 which are carried by a frame g',
preferably built of angle iron. This frame is adjustably suspended at g³ to a
pantograph arrangement of levers h which are fulcrumed at to brackets ", so
that the position of the handle end of the pantograph may be adjusted with
regard to the pattern or design on the pantograph board. The joint at y² is
attached to the frame by means of a piece o which is fitted to slide on a
bracket and is provided with a toothed pinion and rack for raising and
lowering the frame g', and a hand wheel and lever 96 for turning the pinion and
locking it in position. The upper rail of the frame g₁ is fitted at both ends
with rollers between which is a vertical roller 98 fitted to revolve on centres
carried by brackets from the front rail c and tie bar b. The bottom rail of
the frame is fitted with brackets 9 carrying rollers 910 and these letter are
arranged to run upon a rail or bar g" which is fitted to slide on vertical guide
rods 9 at each end of the machine. The rods 912 and the rollers g³ maintain the
frame in one plane and at the same time allow of it being moved in any direction
in that plane. The weight of the frame is balanced by weights g carried
by bands which pass over pulleys 9" and are attached to the bar g¹. The
pantograph is also balanced by weights at the ends of cords which are attached to
the levers at suitable positions and pass over guide pulleys.
When the design or pattern has to be produced or cylindrical pieces as printing
rollers, the centres of the same are fitted to revolve in bearings carried by the
frame and each cylinder is provided with a toothed wheel fitted to gear into a
rack which is so connected to the pantograph lever that it is moved horizontally or
vertically by it while the frame is arranged to move vertically or horizontally only.
When the cylinder is placed horizontally in the frame the joint in the panto-
graph is made with a slot, and for vertical cylinders the joint 4 has a slot, thus
allowing the frame to be moved by the pantograph in one direction only according
to the position of the roller. The tool frame E is fitted with trucks which run on
one or more of the cylinders and allows of the tool following to a limited extend
the curve of the cylinder thus compensating for any undesireable motion due to the
varying angles of the levers h. By this arrangement lines may be drawn on the
cylinders parallel to their axes without revolving the cylinder, and lines may be
drawn round the cylinders without moving them end ways, or if the two motions be
combined lines may be drawn on the cylinders in any direction.
The mechanisms for carrying and actuating the working instruments are shown
more clearly in Figs. 3. 4 and 5. The cross rail c, shafts. d and f and spindle
frame e are in relatively the same positions as they are shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The spindles e are fitted to revolve in removable carriages E2 which are fixed
upon the frame e¹ by screws e³. Each spindle is fitted with a pulley by which
it is revolved and the inside end e of the spindle is made to receive and hold the
working instrument.
In some cases, as for drawing on a waxed surface, the instrument is a simple
point; for carving wood on engraving on metal the instrument has cutting edges
similar to a "rosebit" and it is tempered and revolved according to the material
operated upon. An ordinary carving or engraving tool may be used for drawing
a number of parallel lines. For assisting the operator to draw parallel lines, a
ruler k Fig. 1 is used. This is similar to the ordinary parallel rulers, but one end
is prolonged and is fixed to the board at any required position, by a removable
pin k'.
For moving the instruments to and from the work, the frame e¹ is fitted to slide
on pins f carried by brackets f* which are attached to the rail c, the frame e¹

page_text: having a boss which forms a bearing for the pins f. To this boss is attached a
pin which is connected by a link to a lever fi on the shaft f from which the
to and fro motion is obtained.
When drawings are to be made by crayons, pencils, solidified ink and similar
means, referred to hereafter as pencils, the pencil Figs. 6 and 7 is fitted in a
holder which is fixed in a hollow spindle, and this latter is placed within the
spindle E which is fitted with the usual pulley and revolved in the usual way.
The spindle is fitted to rotate with, and slide within the spindle E and at its
outer end is made with a number of ratchet grooves 3, and provided with a ratchet
clawker carried by a lever (which is fulcrumed at to a projection on the
carriage, and is held up to a stop pin 18 by means of a spring 1. When it is
required to sharpen the pencil, the carriage el is drawn back and carries with it
the lever until the latter strikes the fixed rod 1°. The continued withdrawal of
the carriage causes the lever to turn on its fulcrum and the spindle with its
pencil is pushed forward a distance equal to the pitch of the teeth on the same.
The pencil, which continues to revolve is then sharpened by a file or rubber m on
a lever m¹ which is carried by a shaft m² and moved into the sharpening position
Fig. 7 by a hand lever or automatically by an incline m³ on the carriage.
When it is required to make drawings with liquids, the end of each spindle e
Fig. 8 is fitted with a bracket n upon which there is pivotted a clamp n' fitted
thereto with a pen and slot arrangement for limiting the motion of the clamp n¹
and a spring n for holding the clamp in its forward position. Within the clamp
is the pen ³ this in the drawing being a bent tube which has a very fine opening,
or the tube may be provided with a wire to act on the same principle as writing
pens of similar construction. In some cases the pen is rigidly connected to the
spindle e and in other cases the pressure of the pen on the paper is regulated by
fitting the axle of the lever n' with an extra lever o shown in the lower part of
Fig. 8. This extra lever o carries an adjustable pin o', the end of which is fitted
with a ball of which allows the regulating pin to be moved over the work without
destroying the surface of the same.
For producing poker work a tool of the required shape is attached to the
spindle E and is revolved and oscillated as required. Under each tool is a gas jet
for heating the same and a wire or similar brush may be mounted similarly to
the rubber m Figs. 6 and 7, and used for keeping the end of the instrument
clean.
When fretwork is being produced the two cross rails c are each fitted with a
frame e and mechanism for oscillating the same, and the two frames are timed to
move simultaneously in the same direction. There is a short spindle in each
carriage e fitted to run on ball bearings r¹ of the ordinary description. The saw
is fixed to both spindles by clamps 3, one of which is provided with means such as
a nut for tightening the saw. The saw is thus mounted so that it has a positive
to and fro motion and can turn to follow the pattern.
When a brush is used, the bristles are made shorter than usual and the colour
is supplied by means of a tube. The brush is fixed to the spindle e and by
preference is slowly revolved as the work is moved in front of it.
In Fig. 9 there is shown an arrangement for producing drawings by means of a
spray. In this arrangement the spindles are removed and the carriage e fitted
with a box s into which another box s containing the colour is placed. This box
has a pipe which terminates in a fine nozzle and the spray is produced by a
current of air which is directed against the nozzle by means of a tube t which is
held by a swivel clamp arrangement t, thus allowing the relative positions and
angles of the two pipes to be varied. The air is supplied by any known. means
such as a fan or pump, and the effects on the drawing may be varied by moving
the nozzles to and from the material by means of the arrangement shown in
Figs. 1. 2 and 3 or by reducing the air pressure.
The pattern or design to be copied is fixed on the pantograph board and the
frame is then adjusted until the tool and pantograph, poiuter are in their proper

page_text: relative positions. The machine is then started and the attendant works the
pantograph according to the pattern on the board, this gives a similar motion to
the frame and the tools trace out the pattern on the material carried by the
frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is —
1. The method of, and the means substantially as shown for simultaneously
re-producing a number of patterns, designs, drawings and the like by means of
engraving, carving, etching pencils, pens, crayons, brushes sprays, fretwork, poker-
work and other similar known processes as herein described.
2. In machines for the purpose herein set forth the provision of means for
carrying and moving the reproducing instruments in combination with means for
carrying the material to be operated upon and moving the same according to
any required pattern, substantially as herein shown and described.
3. In machines for the purpose herein set forth, mounting the pencil crayon,
ink, or the like in a spindle or holder capable of sliding in, and turning with
its carrying spindle and the combination with the same of means such as are
herein described and illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7 for pushing forward the
pencil or the like and sharpening the same so that the sharpened point is
always a fixed and definite distance in front of the carriage.
4. The general arrangement and combination of means for reproducings
patterns by poker work as herein set forth.
5. The general arrangement and combination of means for reproducing
patterns by fretwork as herein set forth.
6. The general arrangement and combination of means for reproducing patterns
by means of a spray as herein set forth.
7. The general arrangement and combination of means for reproducing patterns
by means of a brush as herein set forth.
8. The general arrangement and combination of means for reproducing patterns
by means of a revolving cutter as herein set forth.
Dated this 1st day of August 1895.
W. H. POTTER,
Nottingham, Patent Agent.