Improvements in Perforating Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 25th June, 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1804
INUYIDIONAL DEVIATION.
Improvements in Perforating Machines.
I ALEXANDER FERRIE MABON Mathematical Instrument Maker of No. 10 West
Campbell Street, Glasgow do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for perforating letters,
monograms, numerals, signs and any given figures or characters on stamps, cheques,
bonds, bills, drafts and other documents to prevent erasure or alteration.
:
The improvements have been designed with special reference to simplicity of
construction, facility in working and decrease in cost of manufacture. My
improved machine is capable of various modifications as regards the shape and
arrangement of its details but the essential and characteristic features are as
follows: A vertical rod is fixed to a casting carrying a box for holding a number
of needle punchies. A tube is fitted on the rod with freedom of movement. Fixed
to the end of the tube is a plate, which for reference may be called the "master
plate." The master plate may be either circular or sectorial in shape. Near the
circumference of the master plate formers are arranged. The formers may be
cast as projections on the face of the master plate, or the master plate may be
cleared of all metal around the formers, leaving only sufficient metal to form the
required devices. Fixed to the tube but above the master plate there is another
plate marked with the letters &c. to guide the operator. On the same tube, but
above these plates a handle is fixed to work the machine. To move the paper along
the required distance after each perforation a roller is fitted in the casting. A
recess is made to admit the roller. The axis of the roller moves along horizontal
slots in the casting. In the roller recess, but above the roller is pivoted at or near
its apex a right angled rocking lever solid at one end, said end being made to press
ou periphery of roller to act as a brake. The lever is forked or split at the other
end, a leg of the fork being on either side of roller and reaching down beyond its
axis to propel the roller.
The casting carrying the needle punches is fixed to a base plate, and to the base
plate is fitted a platform and also the matrix for needle punches. The platform is
hinged at one end and kept pressed against roller by means of a spring. To
operate the machine the platform is depressed to admit of document to be perforated
being placed under roller, when document has been put in proper position the
pressure is released from platform. By turning the handle of machine the plate
marked with letters &c. is revolved until the required letter or other character is
opposite the index and guide. The guide prevents the master plate from revolving
when being pressed down upon the needle punches. While the needle punches are
perforating the document the legs of forked end of rocking lever are brought into
contact with axis of roller which propels the axis of roller along the horizontal
slots and allows the roller to revolve over the paper without moving it.
the cheque has been perforated and the pressure is taken from the handle the
master plate and needle punches are forced back to their normal position by
means of springs. As the master plate and needle punches are regaining their
normal position and when the punches are clear of the document, the solid end
of rocking lever is made to press hard against periphery of roller which then acts
as a brake on the roller and moves the document along the required distance for
the next perforation.
Dated thin g2nd day of Carbon 1902
After

page_text: Improvements in Feriorating Machines.
I, ALEXANDER FERRIE MABON of 52 West Nile Street in the City of Glasgow,
Mathematical Instrument Maker, 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 improvements in machines for perforating letters,
monograms, numerals, signs, and any given figures or characters on stamps, checks,
bonds, bills, drafts and other documents to prevent erasure or alteration.
The improved machine, which has been designed with special reference to
simplicity of construction, facility in working and decrease in cost of manufacture
and which is capable of various modifications as regards the shape and arrangement
of its details, is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 being a vertical
section, Figure 2 a sectional plan, and Figure 3 a detail of the feeding mechanism
of the apparatus.
A is a vertical hollow rod fixed at its lower end in a casting B, which also carries
a box C having a number of needle punches D of the same or different lengths
fitted therein. A tube E the upper end of which is provided with a hand grasp E
passes through an eye B³ in an arm of the casting B and surrounds the hollow rod A
with freedom of movement thereon against the resistance of a spring a contained
between the upper ends of the rod and tube. Fixed to the lower end of the tube E
is a circular or other shaped plate or disc F called the master plate having formers
cut or cast in it, or the formers may be cast wholly or in part as projections on the
lower side of the plate, which so act on the needle punches as to form the desired
devices. Springs g which act on a projection on the side of the box Care
provided for the purpose of retracting the punches D. Above the master plate
and supported on a ring F is another plate G which is marked with the devices in
order to guide the operator, a pointer over the punches indicating the numeral or
letter formed on the master plate beneath, and the master plate is kept from turning
during the stamping operation by a pin in the casting B entering one of a series
of holes in the plate F. The plate G is so keyed to the tube E that it turns with
the master plate to bring the desired letters or numerals over the punches whilst
permitting the tube to pass through it in its descent.
Within the hollow rod A another rod H is fitted whose upper end is flanged and
formed with projections, indentations or holes c which are acted on by a pin d fixed
in the inside of the hand grasp. These indentations or holes are necessary in order
that the spacing between letters of different breadth may be equal. A light
springe is placed around the rod H and acts between the upper end of the hollow
rod A and a pin in the rod H to prevent the rod being carried down by the friction
of the tube E. The lower end of the rod H carries a pin f which acts on the
forked arm of a rocking lever I pivotted in horizontal slots in a recess in the
casting B or in a box framing J fitted in the recess. The other arm of the rocking
lever is also forked one leg of the fork being on either side of the axis of a
roller L in order to propel it along the slots or this arm of the rocking lever may
as shewn act in a slot 6 formed in a carriage K carrying two rollers L, M, said
carriage being fitted to slide backwards and forwards in the framing J. The
bearings of the rollers L, M, in the carriage are elongated horizontally in order
that the rollers may be pushed into contact with brakes, L, M, and so prevent
them revolving when the carriage is moved in one direction and to allow them to
revolve when the carriage is moved in the opposite direction.
The casting B is fixed to a base plate B' in which a die is formed directly beneath
the punches D and to the base plate there is also pivotted a spring held platform B²
which bears against the under side of the rollers L, M.

page_text: When the paper to be perforated is very thin I provide a backing of paper N
in order that the perforations may be clearly defined. For this purpose two
rollers O, P, are carried beneath the base plate B' the paper N from one roller O
being led up through a slot in the base plate over the die and down to the other
roller P which roller is provided with a thumb wheel for bringing a fresh portion
of this paper over the die when desired.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
The outer end of the spring held platform B2 is depressed in order to admit the
document to be perforated. The handle E' is then turned so as to bring the desired
numeral or letter opposite the pointer and depressed, the pin d acting on the
flanged part of the rod H causes the pin on the lower end of this rod to actuate
the rocking lever and so propels the roller carriage K. By the depression of the
hand grasp G the master plate acts on the punches to make a perforation and at
the same time the rollers L, M, roll freely over the paper. After the perforation
has been made and the pressure taken off the handle E the master plate and rod H
are carried up again and the rollers consequently return to their original position.
This return movement brings the rollers against their respective brakes and drags
or feeds the paper forward the requisite distance. Sufficient play is allowed to the
rocking lever I which works in the slot b to ensure that the punches shall be clear
of the perforated paper before the rollers act on said paper to feed it forward.
The extent of feed of the rollers may as shewn at Figure 3 be regulated by
adjusting the pivot of the rocking lever I relative to the centre line of the rod H,
by means of the screw I'.
Having now particularly described and ascertained, the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A perforating machine the parts of which are constructed, arranged and
combined, substantially as described with reference to the annexed drawings.
2. In a perforating machine the combination of a master plate or former a series
of needle punches acted on thereby means for operating said master plate to select
and depress the punches and means for retracting the master plate and punches,
substantially as described.
3. In a perforating machine the arrangement of devices for feeding forward the
paper to be perforated, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1894.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.