Improvements in Hand Printing Device.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hand Printing Device.
I, CHARLES ARTHUR ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by Richard Hale Smith, of 45 North
Main Street, Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States of
America, and William Francis Tripp, of 40 Hebron Street, Springfield aforesaid,
Manufacturers), 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 that class of hand printing devices adapted to printing
merchants window and counter signs, price and announcement cards, marking
shipping addresses upon cases etc., wherein the letters are imprinted one at a time,
and the object is to provide apparatus by which this printing may he executed
with a more uniform density of color, more perfect alignment and more correct
spacing of the letters, words, sentences, lines, borders, ornaments, etc. than has
been before attained, and I accomplish the object of the invention by the construction
as herein shown.
In the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference indicate like
parts
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a section of the device, showing a type in position to
print.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device inverted.
Fig. 3 is an end view showing a type in position to print.
Fig. 4 is an edge view of one of the movable presser feet.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of a series of type blocks adapted to be used with the
device, and
Fig. 7 is an imprint of six printing faces to correspond with said blocks.
In detail a indicates the beam or line former; b a right angle type guide mounted
to slide thereon; c a movable presser foot ; d a cushion or face thereon; e engaging
clips or wings on the presser foot; f the gibs or over-hanging parts of the type
guide; g a retaining or tension spring; h, h, grooves in the beam.
a
figured in reverse direction.
In the first figure of the drawing is shown a section of a square straight edge or
beam with the type guide so mounted as to slide thereon and with a type block
in position for printing having the rubber letter c on its face, and the small
indicator c upon the top end of the block. The upper surface of the beam or
straight edge being suitably marked in graduating lines upon each edge and
The type guide b consists of a frame a portion of which passes over the top of
the beam, and having wings which project therefrom on the plane of the lower
surface of the bar, and having one vertical face rising the full width of the bar,
as shown, and provided also with inturned lugs or gibs which engage the lower
face of the beam and while permitting a sliding movement of the guide upon the
beam from end to end it is restrained from all lateral movement thereon.
I
To permit the sliding movement of the guide on the beam with requisite
freedom, and at the same time maintain it with sufficient rigidity in the desired
position, interpose a tension spring 9 one portion of which bears against the
inner vertical side face of the slide and another portion of which bears against
the side face of the beam.
Now as the front face of the guide is at right angles to the adjacent face of the
bar, and as the printing types are mounted upon blocks whose sides are at right

page_text: angles with each other, it will be seen that whenever a type block be placed in
the angle formed by the vertical beam face and the vertical face of one of the
wings, that the type may be pressed down upon the paper in accurate and correct
position and that if the first imprint made from said type is not sufficiently black,
or is in any part defective, it may be re-inked and again pressed down in exact
register with the first imprint taken. When a satisfactory print of the first letter
has been obtained the guide may be moved into position for the next with the left
hand, while maintaining the beam in fixed position by a slight downward pressure,
leaving the right hand free to manipulate the type.
The wings of the guide are preferably constructed with that portion adjacent
to the beam exactly one inch wide but reducing to half an inch at the outer end
by three steps or shoulders in the rear edge, of one sixth of an inch or one pica em
each, and the central portion of the wing is recessed out leaving only a skeleton
rim one pica em wide as shown in the drawings Figs. 1 and 2 by reference to which
it will be seen that the one inch width is divided into six equal parts, forming six
parallel lines at right angles to the side of the beam, by which to measure the
desired space between the characters last printed and the one next to be printed;
for example, in printing a ten line announcement card, if it is desired to place the
letters in the words one pica apart, the words two, three or four picas apart and
the sentences five or six picas apart, the operator can readily accomplish this
uniformity by setting the guide after each character is printed, so that the required
line of the spacer just clears the imprint.
This construction of the spacing guide also provides six shoulders running
parallel with the side of the beam for similar use in spacing one line of characters
from another.
The line may be placed at a true right angle to the edge of card or paper by
means of the square and following lines set parallel thereto by the same means.
While only one wing to the slide is required for plain work, I prefer to construct
it with two wings alike to enable the operator to space off and print in reverse
direction, and by this means and in connection with the double graduation upon the
beam hereinafter described very beautiful and intricate designs may be executed.
The lower face of the beam is provided with movable presser feet, which rest
upon the surface of the paper or other material being printed upon, and raise the
bar a short distance therefrom thus preventing all danger of blurring because of
moving the beam to a position over the imprint before it has dried sufficiently,
thus enabling the operator to perform the complete printing operation without
delay and serving also to hold the paper or other material in position and preventing
danger of the device slipping.
The presser fect are preferably constructed with two wings or clipse which enter
longitudinal grooves in the lower face of the beam and by friction resulting
from the wings h bearing against the walls of these grooves the feet are held in the
position where placed, but can be easily adjusted so as to bear upon the outer
margins only, of the card or sheet to be printed upon. I prefer that the wings e
be made slightly elastic and thus hug the walls of the groove h but they may be
made to just fill these grooves and the desired friction obtained without constructing
them of spring material.
The lower faces of the presser feet are preferably covered or provided with
rubber or other like material to prevent slipping and give a better holding
surface.
It will be seen that with the guide and presser feet mounted on the bean in
the manner shown, either may be slid along to any desired position without
interference with the other, and I am thus enabled to move the guide to a position
directly over the presser feet while printing, so that the whole length of the bar
is at all times available; this construction also enables the operator to readily
remove the guide from the beam and replace it in reverse position while holding
the beam in register upon the paper by a slight pressure. It will also be seen
that even if the sliding type guide were omitted altogether the combination of

page_text: the beam and the adjustably mounted presser feet is a highly useful and operative
device, as it enables me more readily to print straight lines upon sheets of
varying widths without danger of slipping and to operate with safety over freshly
made imprints.
The graduations on the beam extend from end to end, one edge being marked to
read from the right and one from the left, so as to center the work and guide the
operator in working both ways from the center with facility.
It will be readily seen that very many modifications may be employed in
the construction which will readily suggest themselves to one familiar with
the device.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st. In combination with a suitable beam or line former to use with hand
printing type, the combined square, type guide and spacer, constructed to slide.
thereon, and adjustable feet substantially as and for the purposes described.
2nd. In a hand printing device the combination of a beam having one or
more grooves in its lower face, with a foot provided with one or more projections.
to enter and slide in said grooves substantially as shown.
3rd. The combination in a hand printing device of a beam and a movable guide.
to slide thereon, the latter being formed of varying widths substantially as and for
the purposes stated.
4th. The combination in a hand printing device of a beam, a type guide and a
movable presser foot, the latter being provided with a yielding lower surface-
substantially as and for the purposes stated.
5th. In a hand printing device, the combination of a beam or line former having
a vertical wall, and a type spacing guide constructed with a vertical wall to move
along the vertical wall of the beam at an angle thereto and having its lower surface
so raised as not to smear fresh ink prints, substantially as described.
6th. In a hand printing device, the combination of a beam or line former, one
or more feet with yielding lower surfaces whereby the beam is raised out of contact
with the surface to be printed upon, and a type guide having a vertical wall to
move along the vertical wall of the beam at an angle thereto and having its lower
surface so raised as not to smear fresh ink prints, substantially as described.
7th. In a hand printing device, the combination of a beam or line former and
presser feet secured thereon which raise the beam entirely out of contact with the
surface to be printed, one at least of said presser feet being movable along said
beam substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of Anril 1894.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.