IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOGRAPHIC PRINTING
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Alva Edison, of Newark, in the State of New
Jersey, United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AUTOGRAPHIC PRINTING."
Sealed the 26th April 1876, and dated the 26th October 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Alva Edison at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th October 1875.
THOMAS ALVA EDISON, of Newark, in the State of New Jersey, United States
of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOGRAPHIC PRINTING."
The object of this Invention is to print from a sheet of paper or other material
that is perforated with numerous holes in lines forming the letters, numbers,
designs, or other configurations to be duplicated by printing.
The perforations passing through the paper are filled with ink, preferably an
ink containing glycerine and analine colors. The ink is rubbed into the perfora-
tions by a roller, brush, or other vielding device, and then the perforated and
inked paper is laid upon the sheet to be printed, and pressure is applied sufficient
to cause the ink in the holes to pass upon the surface of the paper and produce a
duplicate of the perforations; this may be doue by the pressure of a roller that
also serves to fill the holes with ink for the next impression, so that by this
means a large number of duplicate manuscripts can be produced, and there is
Lut little more work in preparing the original than in writing on paper.
The mode of preparing the original sheet is similar to that of preparing any
written, or lettered, or drawn document or design.
The writer or draughtsman holds a pen, but instead of ink there is a needle or
point that vibrates with very great rapidity within a small tube or stylus, and
projects each stroke enough to pass through the paper into some soft substance,
such as cloth or blotting paper. The speed of vibration of the needle is to be such
Price RdT

page_text: us to make the perforations very close together, even with rapid movement of the
pen. For this purpose I prefer to use a small magnet upon the top of the stylus,
actuated by a battery with flexible conductors, and the armature opens and
closes the circuit. A variety of electrical or mechanical devices may be employed
to give this rapid vibration to the needle..
Iremark that it is preferable to have the needle vertical, and provide a handle
at an inclination to the stylus, so that the handle may be held like a pen.
In cases where the letters are made by a type writing machine with keys that
are depressed to compose the words, the type are to be composed of numerous
needle points arranged in the form of letters, so that the printing therefrom
perforates the paper as aforesaid.
The battery that I prefer to use is provided with carbon poles in porous cups
containing terchromate of potash and sulphuric acid, and the carbon and zinc
poles are upon arms that are elevated or depressed upon a standard; this furnishes
a battery especially adapted to the rapid movements of the electro-magnet.
The edges of the perforated sheet are preferably held by a frame while the ink
is being pressed through the perforations to the sheet below.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Alva Edison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
April 1876.
THOMAS ALVA EDISON, of Newark, in the State of New Jersey, United States
of America. * IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOGRAPHIC PRINTING."
The object of this Invention is to print from a sheet of paper or other material
that is perforated with numerous holes in lines forming the letters, numbers,
designs, or other configurations to be duplicated by printing.
The perforations passing through the paper aro filled with ink, preferably an
ink containing glycerine and analine colors. The ink is rubbed into the perfora-
tions by a roller, brush, or other yielding device, and then the perforated and
inked paper is laid upon the sheet to be printed, and pressure is applied sufficient
to cause the ink in the holes to pass upon the surface of the paper and produce
a duplicate of the perforations; this may be done by the pressure of a roller that
also serves to fill the holes with ink for the next impression, so that by this means
a large number of duplicate manuscripts can be produced, and there is but little
more work in preparing the original than in writing on paper.
The mode of preparing the original sheet is similar to that of preparing any
written, or lettered, or drawn document or design.
The writer or draughtsman holds a pen, but instead of ink there is a needle or
point that reciprocates with very great rapidity within a small tube or stylus, and
projects each stroke far enough to pass through the paper into some soft sub-
stance, such as cloth or blotting paper. The speed of reciprocation of the needle
is to be such as to make the perforations very close together, even with a rapid
movement of the pen. For this purpose I prefer to use a small magnet upon the
top of the stylus, actuated by a battery with flexible conductors, and the armature
opens and closes the circuit. A variety of electrical or mechanical devices may
be employed to give this rapid reciprocation to the needle.
I remark that it is preferable to have the needle vertical, and provide a handle
at an inclination to the stylus, so that the handle may be held like a pen.
In cases where the letters are made by a type writing machine with keys that
are depressed to compose the words, the type are to be composed of numerous
needle points arranged in the form of letters, so that the printing therefrom
perforates the paper as aforesaid.
The battery that I prefer to use is provided with carbon poles in porous cups
containing terchromate of potash and sulphuric acid, and the carbon and zinc
poles are upon arms that are elevated or depressed upon a standard; this
furnishes a battery especially adapted to the rapid movements of the electro-
magnet.
The edges of the perforated sheet are preferably held by a frame while the
ink is being pressed through the perforations to the sheet below.
In the Drawings.-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the pen or stylus in a form that I have discovered
convenient in use.
to be very
Fig. 2 is a side view of the actuating magnet.
Fig. 3 is a section of the press as closed.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the same as open.
Fig. 5 is a section of the paper holding clamp.
Fig. 6 is a section of the pen-holding stand in smaller size than the pen, Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the battery, illustrating also the flexible connection to tho
distant pen as in use.
Fig. 8 is an elevation of the battery partially in section: and
Fig. 9 is a section of the pole-supporting catch of the battery.

page_text: The pen which I make use of consists of a tubo a tapering to a small point b,
and a needle c within the tube, which needle is reciprocated with great rapidity,
and when the needle point c is projected it is sufficiently long to reach through
the paper, upon which the tubo of the pen rests, and when retracted the needle
is drawn within the tube, so that the small end thereof is free to be moved from
place to place. The great rapidity in the movement of the needle point produces
the punctures in the paper sufficiently close together to form lines when the pen
is manipulated in writing or drawing, and as nothing is removed from the paper
its strength is not materially injured by the punctures or perforations.
It will be apparent that any suitable device may be employed for reciprocut-
ing the perforating needle, several of which are hereafter described, but I prefer
to use an electro-magnet and revolving armature fly wheel for this purpose.
The electro-magnet d is upon the frame e that supports the axis 2 of the fly
wheelf, and this fly-wheel is connected with the armature g. Upon the axis 2
there is an eccentric or a cam with one or more arms acting upon the stock 3 at
the upper end of the needle bar. It is preferable to employ a three-pointed
cam d³, as seen in Fig. 10, upon the axis 2, so as to give three up-and-down
motions to the needle point each revolution of the axis 2. The commutator or
circuit closer to the electro-magnet is composed of the spring 1, acted apon by
the notched or flattened disc 4 to open and close the circuit through the screw 5,
and thus actuate the electro-magnetic motor in the usual manner.
The wires 6 and 7 lead to the battery. shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which the
glass cells m are in a metal stand n held by the standard o and ring o¹. The
carbou pole p and zinc pole q are connected with the cover and cross-bar r, that
are fitted to be raised or lowered upon the standard o, and when raised out of use,
as in Fig. 8, the parts are held up by the latch s passing into a notch in the
standard o, as in Figs. 8 and 9. The porous cups s' in the cells m are nearly half
cylinders, as shown. This construction of battery is very convenient for this
autographic pen, because it occupies but little space and is easily transported
and brought into or put out of action.
The liquids preferably employed in the battery aro terchromate of patash and
sulphuric acid.
The tube of the pen screws into the frame e, and is provided with a set nut 9,
by means of which
can be clamped after the tube has been adjusted, so as to
allow the needle to be drawn into the tube and projected by the motor, as
aforesaid.
A stand, Fig. 6, is provided with a hole at the upper end, of a size to
receive the tube pen, and support the same, and protect the point from injury
when entered within such stand.
The conductor from the pen to the battery must be flexible, so as to allow the
pen to be easily moved about in performing the writing; and the paper to be
punctured should be placed upon some soft substance, such as cloth or blotting
paper, to prevent injury to the needle-point in writing.
The mode of printing from the perforated sheet is to fill the holes with ink by
means of a roller applied to the right side of the perforated sheet, and then when
said ink is well worked into the holes to place beneath such perforated sheet the
paper upon which the impression is to be made, and then pass over the perforated
sheet a roller that presses the ink through the perforations to the surface of the
sheet below.
As a convenient means for doing this printing I make use of the bed t, to which
the frame is hinged at 12, and at the corners of this frame are the spring
plates 13 with holding points, and these spring plates are raised from the surface
of the frame by turning the cam buttons 14. so that the perforated sheet can be
placed between the frame and these clamping springs, and then the cam-buttons
14 being turned the other way allows the springs to catch and firmly hold the
corners of the perforated sheet. A sheet of paper is now laid down upon the
ted t, the frame y is turned over upon it, and secured by the clamping-button 16

page_text: being turned over the edge of the frame u; a roller covered with felt or similar
material and having ink upon its surface is now rolled over the perforated sheet
until all the holes are filled and an impression made by the ink through such
holes upon the surface of the sheet below.
The hinged frame holding the perforated sheet may be lifted for inspecting the
impression, and closed down again if the impression is defective at any point.
After the holes are filled the impression upon other sheets can be made in
succession very rapidly, and a small quantity of ink is added from time to time.
Printers' ink thinned out with castor oil may be employed. Aniline or colors
may be used mixed with glycerine or molasses.
It is generally preferable to have the perforating needle perpendicular to the
paper, and for convenience in holding the same there may be a handle a con-
nected with the pen tube a, and occupying an inclined position, as shown in
Fig. 11.
The same object is accomplished by the device shown in Fig. 12. The perforat-
ing needle instead of being at the end of the rod c is at the end of a short rod c¹
that is guided in the short tapering tube b. and said rod c is connected to the rod c
by the lever . This arrangement allows of the tube a being held in the same
position that a pen is usually held, and of maintaining the perforated needle
perpendicular to the paper.
Various forms of electro-magnetic and other motors may be employed to
revolve the shaft that reciprocates the perforating needle, and I will now briefly
describe a few of the motors that may be advantageously employed.
In Fig. 13 the helices d, d'. ure sustained in the frame c, and the shaft 2 passes
freely through them and forms their core. Upon the shaft 2 arms sf, f, placed at
right angles to each other, and upon the frame e in line with said arms are
metallic blocks 18, 18, forming stationary armatures. After the shaft 2 is once
set in motion the circuit is opened and closed to the helices d, , at the proper
times by a disk and contact spring similar to those before described, and the
magnetic action causes the arms f, f. to be alternately moved around towards
their respective blocks to keep up a continuous rotation of the shaft.
In Fig. 14 the needle-rod c is connected to the vibrating armature lever e¹, and
this lever is moved first in one direction by the magnet d, and then in the other
br a rectractile spring, and when the armature lever and needle-rod are drawn
down by the spring the circuit changer is moved and closes the circuit to the
magnet d, and the armature lever is moved upward, and in so doing moves the
circuit changer in the other direction and breaks the circuit, and so on, the circuit
is opened and closed, and thus a very rapid reciprocating movement is given to
the needle rod c.
In Fig. 15 the electro-magnet d is firmly secured to the shaft 2, and the arma-
ture is stationary. There are insulated hubs or commutators upon the shaft 2,
and the wire connections from the helices d to the commutators and contact
springs are arranged in the usual manner, so that the current is sent first through
one helix and then the other, and a rotary motion obtained by the cores of the
magnet being alternately drawn toward the armature f. By this device the
magnet acts as a fly-wheel, and its weight is utilized.
In Fig. 16 the needle-rode is connected to a vibrating armature lever e' moved
by the magnet d and spring, as in Fig. 14; but a secondary magnet d³ not upon
the pen, but in metallic connection with the magnet d, is employed to open and
close the circuit to said magnet d by actuating the armature lever d' and circuit
changer d
The device shown in Fig. 17 may be employed with equal advantage for open-
ing and closing to the circuit to the magnet d. In said Fig. 17 the electro-
magnet is stationary, and gives motion to a revolving armature and com-
mutator, and this latter in connection with the contact spring opens and closes
the circuit from the battery to said magnet d', and at the same time to the
magnet ɗ, the wire connections being arranged as shown.

page_text: In Fig. 18 the needle-rode is connected a rocking lever e¹ that is provided with
two armatures, and by means of the circuit charger operated by said rocking
armature lever, and the wire connections represented, the circuit is opened and
closed to one helix and then to the other of the magnet d, and a rapid reciproca-
tion given to the needlo rod c by the lever e'.
In Fig. 19 the needle rod c is actuated by a revolving shaft and a cam operat-
ing in the stock of the needle rod c, as .before described: but the shaft is made
in two pieces f', f, so that one part may slide within the other as the pen tube a
is moved over the paper, and one or more ball joints are provided in the
shaft,, to allow for still greater freedom in writing. The power to rotate
the shaft f, f, is communicated from a foot treadle by the link f5 to a pulley f*.
and from the latter a belt. leads to a small pulley on the shaft f. f, mounted in
bearings upon the table on which the operator writes.
In Fig. 20 a small turbine water wheel is made use of to revolve the shaft 2:
this wheel is secured to said shaft, and is within the case h³, and the water is
admitted to the wheel from the vessel h through the flexible tube 3 and is dis-
charged by the tube 5 to the vessel h. Water may be taken from time to time
from the vessel h to replenish the supply in the vessel h.
In Fig. 21 rotation is given to the shaft 2 by the operator turning the handle
upon the arm back and forth with the left hand while holding the pen tube a
in the right hand in the usual manner. There is a ratchet wheel upon the
shaft 2 and a pawl 23 upon the arm, and as said arm is moved back and forth
as aforesaid, the pawl turns the ratchet wheel and shaft 2. and the fly wheel i¹
serves to keep the motion regular.
In Fig. 22 rotation is given to the shaft 2 by means of the wheel m' which is
connected to the pen tube a by the hinged arm m³, and said wheel rolls upon the
table as the pen tube is moved over the paper. Upon the side of the wheel mis
a largo pulley m³, and from it a belt leads to a small puller m², and by the bevel
gearing the motion is finally transferred to the shaft 2. The wheel m' should be
sufficiently broad and heavy to stand upright and not be liable to tip over.
In Fig. 23 the needle rod c is connected to a thin metallic plate that forms the
armaturo to the electro-magnet d, and when the circuit is closed and the plate
attracted by the magnet, the plate moves the circuit changer and breaks the
circuit: the spring of the plate immediately raises it from the magnet and closes
the circuit, and the plate and needle-rod are again brought down, and so on, the
circuit is opened and closed and a very rapid movement given to the needle-rod.
Fig. 24 illustrates how letters or characters like ordinary types may be punc-
tured in the paper. A lever o for each letter or character is employed, as in
type-writing machines, and the letter or character at the end of each lever is
formed of a number of needle points properly positioned and secured. The
levers are connected to finger keys o³, and I have shown the paper to be punc-
tured as passing under a roller o when a finger key is depressed and a letter
punctured, the parts assume the position shown by dotted lines in said Fig. 24.
Any desired mechanism may be employed for feeding the paper.
The letters or characters formed of needle points, might be upon a wheel, as
represented in Fig. 25. I have shown this wheel n' as upon a lever and fitted
so as to be turned by hand to bring the desired letter or character of needle points
into position for puncturing the paper, and the paper is punctured by depressing
the lever, which carries with it the wheel n'. A spring returns the lever to its
normal position against the stop n³, and a pawl n³ taking teeth upon the side of
the wheel may be employed for holding said wheel in the position to which
it is turned. The paper to be punctured is supported upon a bed beneath tho
wheel, and it may be moved by hand or automatically.
What I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. The tube a with a tapering end in combination with a puncturing
needle and mechanism for reciprocating the same, substantially as set forth.

page_text: Second. The portable perforating instrument for writing or drawing composed
of a tube or stock with a small end similar to a pen, and a perforating needle,
and means for reciprocating such needle rapidly, substantially as set forth.
Third. The method herein specified of printing in permanent semi-fluid ink
by puncturing a sheet of paper or similar material with numerous small holes,
filling such holes with a semi-liquid ink and pressing the same upon the surface
to be printed, substantially us set forth.
Fourth. The swinging frame u and paper holding clamps 13 in combination
with the bed for receiving and holding the sheet of perforated paper, and the
sheet to be printed, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the revolving magnetic motor, pen holder a,
und puncturing needle c of the cam 2, having three or more points, substantially
as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the portable hand perforating instrument having
an electro-magnetic motor of a flexible conductor and a battery, substantially
as set forth.
Seventh. The portable galvanic battery composed of cells in a stand with a
pole supporting rod, latch, and cross head, in combination with flexible con-
ductors, a magnetic motor, and a perforating pen, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The ink herein specified for autographic printing composed of printers'
ink thinned out with castor oil, as set forth.
Ninth. The pen tube a provided with the handle a¹ in combination with the
perforating needle and electro or other motor for actuating the same, as set forth.
Tenth. The needle c' guided in the short tube 6' and connected to the rode by
the lever in combination with the tube a and motor for actuating the needle,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Eleventh. The letters or characters for a type-writing machine made of needle
points for puncturing paper or other material for printing, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Alva Edison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of April, A.D. 1876.