Improvements in Apparatus for use in Producing Series of Letters, Figures, and Signs upon Paper or other Material.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug, 1892—Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Producing Series of Letters,
Figures, and Signs upon Paper or other Material.
I JOHNSTON CAMERON LINDSAY of 725 Gallowgate Street Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, Sanitary Inspector, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
The object of the invention is to produce an apparatus at a cheap rate of con-
struction, avoiding complications of mechanism, and readily understood by the user,
adapted to serve for producing series of printed letters, figures, signs or other
indications on paper or other material.
In carrying out my invention I attach around a circular band of metal or other
sufficiently rigid material a series of letters, signs or other indications, so that as
selected by the operator each selected indication on the wheel or circle may be
brought over or in suitable relation to the printing point on the paper or other
material, and pressure and ink applied by means of a handle held between the
fingers of the operator.
The printing circle or band may be one of evenly formed edges, or it may be an
obliquely formed band, with edges of different sizes.
It is connected to the handle or spindle by a bar across it and relative attach-
ments or formations.
The ink reservoir is separably attached to or suspended from the handle or
spindle or from an attachment thereto, or to the cross bar on which the revolving
circle is fixed and ink is conveyed to the printing circle for distribution by fibrous
or porous matter or liquid absorber, and also regulated thereby or partly thereby
and partly by mechanical adjustment. The ink reservoir may be suspended on
either side of the revolving circle.
The printing circle may have perforations to let ink pass through for distribution
to the raised printing surface on its printing side or this may be done by the use of
fibrous matter.
The type surfaces on the printing ring may be absorbent-or fibrous matter or
fabric; or they may be forms of letters and other signs made, or partly made, of
metal or other suitable substance and covered with fibrous or porous material; all
type surfaces being attached to the ring on the side next the paper.
The fingers may further be provided with loops or recesses to facilitate better
holding of the apparatus for manipulation.
The handle stem may also serve by being made hollow as the ink reservoir; or
the reservoir may be separately attached or connected separably or rigidly.
The pressure end of the stem may be made capable of elastic pressure by the
introduction of springs, or a spring sheathing, as india rubber; the ink may be
regulated for distribution by a sponge, textile matter or liquid absorber or by
mechanical adjustment at the exit end where it abuts on the type ring or stencil
plate for distribution therethrough to the raised, sunk or perforated printing surface,
beneath or through opening directly on to the paper.
Or the holder of sponge or other porous matter to abut on the stencil openings,
or letter and other forms, may also be made the sole ink holder; having an elastic
connection with the stem or handle to keep it in place and render it convenient
for use.
The types may be attained by simple stencil openings in the type ring through
which the holder applies ink as the appropriate sign is by the hand brought to the '
printing point; or the type surfaces inay be absorbent or 'fibrous matter or fabric

page_text: on the side of the ring next the paper, ink passing from the holder through the ring
as the holder is pressed thereon as before.
Or the forms of letters and other signs, made of metal, leather, cork or other
suitable substance and covered with fibrous or porous material may be attached to
a circle or ring or equivalently shaped part without or with perforation and placed
outstanding therefrom,, so that on any form being brought into position, ink may
be pressed over it, on to the paper or other material.
The edges of the openings in the stencil printing surface may be burred or
turned downward so that only knife edge surfaces may rest on the printed material,
to avoid blotching or blurring. According to a modification of the apparatus I
provide an attachment which serves to relieve the hand of the weight of the parts
whilst they are in use in printing.
The stiff or comparatively rigid circles may be plain or have a groove all round
and may have perforations or otherwise and hard centred letters may be fixed
directly on the stiff circle, or on a fibrous or porous or flexible band, as tape, cloth,
skin or equivalent material, and this band may be applied on the stiff circle.
Dated the 8th day of November 1891.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Producing Series of Letters,
Figures, and Signs upon Paper or other Material.
-I JOHNSTON CAMERON LINDSAY formerly of 725 Gallowgate Street, but
now of 32 Steven Street Glasgow in the County of Lanark, Sanitary Inspector
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:-
The object of the invention is to produce an apparatus at a cheap rate of con-
struction, avoiding complications of mechanism, and readily understood by the user,
adapted to serve for producing series of printed letters, figures, signs or other
indications on paper or other material.
In carrying out my invention I attach around a circular band of metal or other
sufficiently rigid material a series of letters, signs or other indications, so that as
selected by the operator each selected indication on the wheel or circle may be
brought over or in suitable relation to the printing point on the paper or other
material, and pressure and ink applied by means of a handle held between the
fingers of the operator.
It is connected to the handle or spindle by a bar across it and relative attach-
ments or formations.
The ink reservoir is separably attached to or suspended from the handle or
spindle or from an attachment thereto or to the cross bar on which the revolving
circle is fixed and ink is conveyed to the printing circle for distribution by fibrous
or porous matter or liquid absorber, and also regulated thereby, or partly thereby,
and partly by mechanical adjustment. The ink reservoir may be suspended on
either side of the revolving circle.
The printing circle may have perforations to let ink pass through for distribution
to the raised printing surface on its printing side or this may be done by the use of
fibrous matter.
The type surfaces on the printing ring may be absorbent or fibrous matter or
fabric; or they may be forms of letters and other signs made or partly made, of
metal or other suitable substance and covered with fibrous or porous material; all
type surfaces being attached to the ring on the side next the paper.
The types may be attained by simple stencilled openings in the type ring through

page_text: Pag
point.
The stiff or comparatively rigid circles may be plain or have a groove all round,
and may have perforations, or otherwise; and hard centred letters may be fixed
directly on the stiff circle, or on a fibrous or porous or flexible band as tape, cloth,
skin or equivalent material, and this baud may be applied on the stiff circle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 are side views of various modifications of arrangements
of parts for carrying out the invention and the consequent Figs. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
and 12 are respectively corresponding edge views of the same, some of which are
partly shewn in section.
In Figs. 1 and 2 a is a handle consisting of a spindle of steel or other material
of sufficient strength to be made small enough for convenient turning between the
fingers having its end a screwed into the chamber in the middle of the bar b
placed across the stiff circle c; d is a presser, suspended from the spindle a by an
elastic band with a hook or loop d² on each end, and consists of a small rod with
finger plate at the upper end, and at the lower end is a small plate d' having
sharp talons turned downwards and inwards to hold the sponge d" for damping.
The finger plate d³ has a cut or slit into its side above the small piece of tube d'
fixed to the presser to let it be conveniently put upon or removed from the pointer
or guide on which the tube d' slides easily up and down.
Near the lower end of the presser da loop d is formed in which one of the
loops d on the elastic d' is fixed.
The sponge de should be of a size that when damp with ink its upper portion
must press against the sharp in-turned points of the plate d in order to hold it
firmly, its lower portion being just large enough or wide enough to cover the per-
forations in the circle c. Very near the lower end the sponge d is bound by a
small obliquely formed metal band do held there by a piece of fine wire passed
through a hole on each side of band and its ends bent; or it may be similarly
bound, not too tightly, by thread wound over and through it; this being in order
to prevent the ink overflowing under pressure of the sponge and causing a blot on
the surface being printed on.
The stiff circle c consists of a narrow circular metal band having perforations in
the form of alphabetical letters and other signs between edges slightly raised and
extending or pointing outwards from the circle, see Fig. 1 which shows in side
view an enlarged section of the letter E. The bar extending across through
the centre has its ends fixed to the circle edge, and is slightly off the plane
or line of the circle in order to avoid contact with the inking sponge or pad d
when the printer is in use, see Fig. 2, which shows the circle e by a sectional view
looking to the left hand side of line 1-1, Fig. 1. At its middle is fixed a small
piece of tube with screwed chamber to fit a corresponding screw on the end of
the spindle or handle a. At the edges of the circle the metal may be turned
inwards as on one edge in Fig. 8 for strength and in order to prevent ink from
passing over the edges on to the paper.
The sponge held on the small plate at the lower end of the presser d, being
slightly damped with ink, is pressed on inside of the circle cover and into the
stencilled openings representing alphabetical letters and other signs as the various
raised or knife edges on the outside are laid on the paper where the selected sign
is to be printed.
The stencil openings through slightly raised edges are made by suitably shaping
the metal with dies. and having the raised portions neatly filed into openings.
Fine files may be advantageously used; and unless the metal for the circle be
sufficiently strong of itself some support against the pressure of the file should be
placed within the hollow side thereof as the openings are made.
J
A small bottle or ink well e of glass or other suitable material of any suitable

page_text: form is suspended from a pulley a² placed on the spindle or handle a. The pulley a
has a comparatively deep groove all round and is slit to allow of its being made
sufficiently tight to revolve with the spindle a while it should not be too tight to be
conveniently adjusted to a right position up or down as occasion may require; or as
an aid to steady the pulley a² on the handle a a small piece of elastic tube or
ring a³ of indiarubber may be used.
The cork e' for the bottle has a raised piece of metal plate e to grasp it by,
with a piece of wire e passing through and firmly fixed thereto by another bit of
metal e cemented strongly; the wire or pin having its lower end hooked in order
to seize the fibrous ink conveyors and draw or place them as required from time
to time, or to hold them conveniently inside the bottle e when the printer is put
away from use.
A narrow light metal band is firmly attached around the mouth or neck of the
ink well or bottle e with the requisite attachments thereon, viz. :—
A suspender having in the middle a loop ' exactly fitted to fill but also to
slide easily in the groove of the pulley a placed on the spindle a and having at its
ends loops to hinge upon the ears on both sides of the bottle neck band g.
This allows the bottle e to hang steadily down when in use, and to be conveniently
laid aside at any time.
A support to keep the bottle from oscillating backwards and forwards while at
work as the presser is moved up and down is a small upstanding looped wire g²
rigidly fixed on the band g close to the back of the suspender h at one side.
A spiral wire g³ fixed near the rim of the band g (with opening sufficiently roomy
to let the thread be easily placed therein or removed) holds the fibrous matter
extending from the inside of the bottle e to the sponge at the lower end of the
presser d. This wire should be fixed low enough to be out of the way of the
grooved pulley a² as the spindle a is turned over the bottle e and the printer set
down.
A regulatori, with its upstanding part
fixed on the side of the band y or otherwise
in a round or oblong loop or hook 2 in
conveying ink is placed and regulated.
screwed into a small tube or socket g
attached, has its moveable part ending
which the fibrous or absorbent matter
The hook being placed low or near the bottle mouth allows the ink to pass
freely to the sponge ; but as it is moved upwards by moving the small disc,
where the one part of the regulator turns stiffly in the other, the passage of ink
becomes less or stops entirely as may be required. The regulator is placed where
the thread used as ink conveyor does not come in contact with the suspender h
when it is tilted over the rim to the front of the bottle e as the printer is
laid aside.
Attached to the loop of the suspender and raised over it is a small plate or
block with a round opening or perforation; in which opening the screwed
end d, of the wire guide or pointer d, is inserted upwards and held by a small
screwed cap d with a leather or other washer underneath.
The wire is bent at the upper part suitably for use; and then is made to point
downwards in order that the presser d, being connected thereto by its small tube d
on the side, and suspended from the spindle a, may be guided to the lowest or other
part of the printing circle c, on which the damping sponge de has exactly to impinge
according as the printing is done on a table or a desk.
The guide or pointer can be conveniently bent to point in the direction
required, and can be turned aside with the presser from being in the way of the
bottle as the printer is laid down from being used.
All attachments in connection with the bottle should be of a form and size and
be so placed as not to interfere with convenience.in using, adjusting, or laying aside
the printer.
Ink is passed from the bottle e to the sponge to be pressed into and through
the perforations in the stiff circle c by one or more threads of cotton or other
fibrous or porous material, preferably loosely twisted cotton thread, acting as a

page_text: conveyor. The parts in the bottle may be held there by small weights of lead
fixed at the end of the thread f, and at one or more places along from the end
other weights may be attached to draw back into the bottle, any part of the thread
that has been raised above the mouth of it when the regulator is being lowered.
In order to accelerate the passage of ink, these weights away from the end of the
thread should be attached so as not to prevent the passage of ink along past them.
A knot over the weights connecting the fibrous matter on both sides secures this.
The conveyor thus held in the bottle e is led over the round or oblong hook of
the regulator i, which should be sufficiently roomy to let the thread slide easily in
it, then placed through the spiral wire g³ at the bottle mouth, and again attached
to the presser by having the knotted end of the thread placed between the sponge d
and the lower plate in which it is held or in any convenient way.
The printer in working being adjusted, the spindle or handle a is held between
the fingers of the right hand in a position over and parallel to the line to be
printed on.
By revolving the spindle a any perforation in the circle c may be brought over
and laid upon the paper or the material to be printed on when pressure on the finger
plate at the top of the presser d will cause the sponge d to impinge through the
openings upon the paper and imprint the desired letter or other sign upon it.
When out of use the printer may readily be laid aside by simply raising the
regulator, after regulation below say, or corking the bottle, to prevent further
passage of ink; turning the pointer or guide and presser to the side or back of
the bottle; and tilting the spindle over in front of it when the cross bar can be
laid on the table with the bottle resting near, beside the upstanding spindle or
handle.
Work may be resumed by making obvious adjustments with similar ease.
Figs. 3 and 4 shew a modification in which the handle a is similar to that in the
previous figure.
The stiff circle c is a narrow circular metal band, having throughout its circum-
ference round perforations or openings c' of suitable size, over which perforations
the several alphabetical letters or other signs attached to a flexible band c³
are laid.
An impression of the entire face of the sign is more casily obtainable by having
these outstanding type faces on a flexible band with openings behind them in the
stiff circle so that when laid on the surface for printing the flexible band giving
way slightly if necessary allows the entire face of the letter or other sign to touch
the surface.
Notches or indents c³ made in one edge of the stiff circle c hold the cotton thread
or other fibrous material e for ink conveying. Instead of notches, perforations
near the edge may be used, as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6.
The stiff circle in this modification, however, may be made without the round
perforations cl, which are immediately under the type faces on the band ², and the
type faces c may be attached to the circle c, by a narrow band e², or attached
directly, (as described with respect of Figs. 5 and 6) ink being conveyed to the
type faces either through perforations in the circle or by notches in its edge.
A bar extending across has its ends attached at opposite sides to the edge of
the circular band c and in the middle thereof is fixed a piece of tube with screwed
chamber to fit corresponding screw on end a of spindle or handle a.
A narrow metal band, obliquely lying inwards, has its longer edge neatly
attached to the inside of the stiff circle on the outer edge to be conveniently seen
in use and has alphabetical letters and other signs corresponding to those on.
the printing circle placed on it: similar signs on both being exactly in line
with and close to each other, so that on any sign on this index being placed under
or opposite the pointer or guide d and the printing circle made to press on the
paper, such sign is found to be imprinted.
This index may be made of card board or any other material suitable and attached
by strong cement or in any convenient way.

page_text: The type faces c in this case are made by neatly covering narrow slips of thi
metal (stencil plate) with fine cotton, cotton cambric or other suitable fibrous or
porous material, such as blotting paper, and making it adhere at the edge by strong
paste, cutting pieces into suitable lengths, and shaping them into the several signs
and forms required by means of suitable tools or machinery. The paste for making
the fibrous or porous matter adhere to the hard centre should be applied at one
edge and one side of the slip only, and the other edge free of paste should be
formed into the face to impinge on the paper in printing; and the side free of
paste should, in bending or forming the piece of such slip, be put on the outside of
the type faces to be touched by the ink conveying material, as the ink will
pass more readily into and through fibrous or porous matter which is free of the
adhesive substance. Should the paste be applied all round the hard centre to
make the fibrous or porous matter adhere it may be washed out after the type
faces are fixed on a band or on a stiff circle, and before the printer is used, in
order to let the ink pass freely into and through the type faces.
These type faces are supported on a narrow band c² of flexible substance as
tape, leather or other suitable material, and are placed at regular and similar
distances to the corresponding openings in the stiff circle c, and made to adhere
permanently to the band 2 by placing powdered sealing wax or wax in any
suitable form as in small cakes or wafers between the type faces e and the band c
and having them pressed uniformly or evenly as heat is brought to bear on
the wax.
Though sealing wax appears to be the best for resisting the effects of the ink
any strong cement may be used instead, especially for temporary purposes.
At the ends the flexible band may be held together on the stiff circle c by
fine wire or by thread.
A small bottle or ink well e, and a cork e¹ are similar to those already. described
with respect to Figs. 1 and 2.
The spindle a has on it a grooved pulley a² exactly like the one shewn in the
above mentioned Figs. 1 and 2.
The bottle has found its neck a metal band with the following attachments
somewhat similar to those already described, viz. :—
Suspender / but without the raised attachment over the grooved pulley a² with
a pointer or guide upon it.
Support spiral wire g³, and a regulator i; but the latter is placed on a
different side for convenience when the printer is in use.
Unlike the previous arrangement, in the modification shewn by Figs. 3 and 4,
the pointer or guide de for indicating the lowest or other desired point of the
printing circle c, is attached to the band g in front of the bottle or ink well e, or
on that side nearest to the circle c, by having its upper end bent and placed in a
small tube or ring 75 fixed on the band g, and is moveable to one side in order to
be out of the way when the printer is laid aside, or to be adjusted if the printer is
used on a desk or table, but is prevented from being too loose by a strip of
leather g or india rubber cemented to the band g and pressing slightly against the
guide or pointer d³.
In addition to the above attachments to the band g are two or other number of
small arms of wire extending sideways and slightly downwards in order to reach
close to the printing circle c and ending in a fork d with a small sharp pin ¹³ in
its middle.
Should the arms d extend towards the circle e at a very low point, the grooved
pulley a² must be drawn backwards or upwards on the spindle a as the printer is
laid aside in order to prevent the wet ends of the fibrous ink conveyor f from
blotting the surface on which printer is set down.
The ink in the bottle e being passed by means of cotton thread for other fibrous
material placed over the regulator and through the spiral wire g³ in a similar
manner to that shewn in the previous Figs. 1 and 2, but in this case the ink
conveying thread has its knotted ends placed and held in the small forks d¹² at the

page_text: ends of the extended arms to allow the loose ends beyond the knots saturated
with ink to touch and damp the fibrous material (cotton thread) on inside of
printing circle and passing outwards through the notches to the type faces c.
C
The type faces with hard centres e as they are projecting a little more from the
circle c, are inked by winding soft cotton thread, or other suitable fibrous matter,
around them, and through the notches 3 in the edge (or small perforations near the
edge) of the circle c, in and out. In the case of a few letters or other signs as K
or X, that present a few points merely and little or no outline for convenient touch
by the surrounding fibrous matter, small pieces of cotton cloth or thread c should
be specially placed to convey ink from the fibrous matter to the sides of such
signs at suitable places.
In working, the type faces in this modification being fixed on the band and
circle e as shewn at A B C etcetera, the spindle or handle a is held between the
fingers of the right hand so as to be over and parallel to the line to be printed on
and then twirled so that the desired alphabetical letter or other sign is brought
under or opposite to the pointer or guide as shewn on the index, when a slight
pressure or touch merely at the right spot on the paper imprints the sign desired.
When out of use this printer as well as others according to the modifications
described with respect to the following Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, may be laid aside by
simply raising the regulator to prevent further passage of ink, or corking the
bottle moving the guide or pointer a little to the side, and bending the spindle a
over in front of it when the cross bar can be laid on the table with the bottle
near it.
In Figs. 5 and 6 another modification is shewn in which the handle a is
substantially as in Figs. 3 and 4.
The stiff circle c in this arrangement has perforations or openings at regular
distances all over its circumference. It is of wood and turned in a lathe, but may
be a thin slip of tough wood steamed and rounded into a circle, and fastened
at the ends by wire or small pins; or it may be metal, thinner than the wooden
specimen.
A bar across through its centre, is similar to those already described.
On the inner side of the circle c is a groove all round, where the soft cotton
thread e conveying ink through the perforations is wound in and out and lies
along. This groove is not required when a thin metal or other circle is used.
The edge of the circle e next the person using the printer is sloped obliquely
inwards and has placed upon it alphabetical letters and other signs in a similar
manuer to that described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4, being easily seen as they
face the person using the apparatus, and the bottle is placed sufficiently back from
the circle c to prevent its obscuring the view.
In the case of a circle e made of thinner material the index should be as shown
in Figs. 3 and 4 and made very narrow.
The type faces herein are similar to those in the previous fig. but made to adhere
directly to the stiff circle on places between the perforations c. The several type
faces should be fixed uniformly in the same plane to the circle e all round, in order
that the person using the printer, having by a few touches ascertained the exact
angle at which to hold the spindle a over the place to be printed on, may be enabled
easily to touch the paper with the entire face in every case by holding the spindle
always at the proper angle.
A little roughening of the stiff circle e at the spots where the adhesive matter is
to be applied will increase its strength of grip. The adhesion of the type faces to
the stiff circle is secured by means similar to those used in fixing them to a flexible
band as in Figs. 3 and 4 viz.: melted wax or any strong cement.
The bottle e and its attachments with other means of inking the type faces are
similar to those referred to in describing Figs. 3 and 4, excepting that the soft
cotton thread or other porous matter for conveying ink from the inside of the
circle c to the type faces on the outside is made to pass through perforations c¹ in
the middle of the circle instead of over notches in its edge.

page_text: In working, the alphabetical letters and other signs being in this arrangement
placed in the position as shewn at A. B. C etcetera Figs. 5 and 6, the spindle or
handle is held with one end pointing towards the person using the printer, the
furthest end having the circle c attached to it. It is held between the fingers of
either hand and twirled or otherwise used as in Figs. 3 and 4.
According to a modification of this arrangement the type faces on the circle may
be placed in the same position as those shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and placing
the index on the other oblique edge of the wooden circle than that on which it is
now shewn, while leaving all the inking and other adjustments as shewn in Figs. 5
and 6, by which change this form of the printer is adapted for being held and used
with the handle or spindle over and parallel to the line to be printed on as in the
forms shewn in Figs. 1, 23 and 4 and others.
In Figs. 7 and 8 is shewn another modification in which the handle a is like those
in the previous description.
The stiff circle c is a narrow metal band having perforations cat certain points
in the lines that form the several alphabetical letters and other signs, so that the
thread or cord, preferably cotton laid on the circle c and held by insertion
through such perforations may be made to show on its outside the several forms of
all letters or other signs required.
When any letters or other signs consist of straight lines and angles, perforations
should be made at the ends of the lines and at the angles; when curves are formed
the thread used for a letter or other sign may be held in its place at the curve by a
finer thread brought through another perforation under it as shown in Fig. 8
which shews the stiff circle by a part sectional view looking to the left hand side
of the line 1-1 Fig. 7 thereby exposing the inner circumference of the circle c,
or the curve may be secured in position by means of wax or any strong adhesive
matter placed between part of the curve and the stiff circle.
As in Figs. 3 and 4 à cross bar with chamber in the middle, and an index c
are attached to the stiff circle c, and in addition to this the edge co, opposite to that
to which the index is fixed, is turned slightly inwards in order to prevent any
escape of ink over the edge as well as to increase the strength of the circle. This
may be secured by turning the metal of the band c or by soldering a wire inside
its edge.
The type faces herein described are formed of thread or fine cord spun or twisted
sufficiently hard to make a clean line and to resist being flattened in printing, but
not too hard so as to prevent ink from passing freely, and formed into alphabetical
letters or other signs as already indicated.
Cotton thread is preferable as it conveys ink more readily than others without
previous damping.
With its use in the type faces, no band of porous or fibrous material, (although
of assistance), is actually needed to convey and equalize the ink amongst the
various signs on the circle c, as the damping conveyed to the inside of the stiff
circle by the ink conveyor extended from the bottle e is passed by the portions
of thread there, through the perforations c¹ to the portions forming the alphabetical
letters or other signs on the outside.
C
Should a fibrous or porous band (preferably cotton cloth or tape) be used, as a
help to convey the ink and equalize its distribution among the several letters and
other signs, it may be placed on the inside or the outside of the stiff circle c and
should be laid next to it, and. have the thread or cord c¹ sewn in and out, through
and over it, as the letters or other signs are being made.
All bands of porous or fibrous material, especially if placed on the outside of
the stiff circle c, should be neatly made and set on it, to avoid any risk of
blotches.
The bottle or ink well e, grooved pulley a², band g on bottle neck, suspender h,
spiral wire g³, regulator and cork e here used may be as described in respect
of Figs. 1 and 2 with the points in suspender and regulator i modified as in
Figs. 3 and 4.

page_text: The arms d and inking towards inside of circle c, pointer or guide &, support g²
at suspender are as described in respect of Figs. 3 and 4.
The apparatus is held and worked as in Figs. 3 and 4.
In Figs. 9 and 10 is another modification in which the handle a is a spindle like
the others but shorter, and not having on it the grooved pulley a² with suspended
bottle e which are placed on the other side of the circle c.
The stiff circle is a narrow metal circle having perforations or openings c¹.
throughout its circumference. Two catches 63 are fixed at opposite sides of the
circle c to which a bar, placed across through the centre of the circle c, is attached
by means of screws 13 at its ends. The catches 2 are slightly bent off from the
plane of the circle on one side in order to avoid contact with the extended arms d¹¹
having fibrous matter for inking from the bottle e placed on the other side. A
piece of tube with screwed chambers at each end is fixed on the cross bar bat
right angles, the chamber on one side being for the spindle or handle a and that on
the other side for the pin with screwed end a on which the grooved pulley a² with
suspended bottle e is placed.
An index as in Figs. 3 and 4 is placed on the edge to which the catches 6 and
cross bar bare fixed and the other edge is raised or turned inwards slightly as
described in respect of Figs. 7 and 8.
The type faces are forms of alphabetical letters, figures, or other signs made of.
blotting paper each form or sign being cut or stamped or singed, in whole or in
part into the required shape as most convenient.
When such signs are produced by means of stamping by cold double edges
formed into suitable lines and angles, there should be placed between these edges
means to exert some pressure on the body of the sign itself in cach case against
the plane beneath, in order to preserve it from being drawn or torn as the edges
are cutting on each side; and also to make it pass from between the edges to the
table or plane on which the stamping is done. In the use of a heated iron to singe
or burn out a sign or part of a sign the iron should not be of a red heat but lower;
and means of quickly damping the blotting paper should be at hand in case of any
ignition taking place which may be avoided with a little care.
The fibrous or porous bands 2 may be narrow cotton tape or similar material.
The type faces should be attached to the fibrous or porous band 2 by means of
sealing wax finely powdered. A. convenient way of applying the powdered wax is
to sprinkle it from a small sieve or otherwise over a suitable surface in quantity
(but not too thickly) sufficient when transferred to the blotter type face and melted,
to make it adhere firmly to the fibrous band without preventing the passage of
ink from the band through the melted particles of wax: then damp the type faces
slightly with a wet cloth or otherwise, lift them in small tweezers and touch the
sprinkled wax powder with the side of the damp type faces to be attached to the
band in order to make sufficient wax adhere; again lay them in each case in the
exact position marked on the band; and afterwards bring sufficient heat for melting
the wax to bear, and apply suitable pressure to make all adhere.
Any convenient method may be used.
For temporary purposes the type faces may be attached to the band by any
strong cement.
In this case the glass bottle e is suspended from a grooved pulley a³ placed not
upon the spindle or handle a, as in the previous arrangements, but upon a pin a
secured or fixed into a chamber on the other side of the cross bar b, so that in
working, the suspended bottle e and the operator's hand are on different sides or
edges of the circle e as already indicated.
On the bottle neck is fixed a metal band y like those on the previous arrange-
ments with the following attachments, viz. :-
Suspender as described in respect of Figs. 1 and 2 but modified as stated in
the description of Figs. 3 and 4.
Support for suspender is a forked catch 9 hinged at one side at g' in order to
keep the bottle e steady when used on a table or desk,
.B

page_text: Spiral wire g³, two arms ", bottle e and cork e¹ are similar to those described
in respect of Figs. 3 and 4.
Pointer or guide s as in Figs. 3 and 4 but directly and permanently fixed to the
band g.
Regulator common to all specimens but here placed in a special position for
convenience.
When desirable, as with fibrous ink conveyors having long loose ends, a small
piece of india rubber tube f' may be used, being slit or cut up on one side and
otherwise suitably cut at top in order to be fixed on the two small prongs of the
small, fork at the end of the arms on the bottle e, and further cut or
made thin on the other two sides in order to be so weakened as to give way and
work easily side-ways as the loose ends of the ink conveyors fare being rubbed by
the revolving circle c and so kept in exact position so as not to get over either
edge of the circle and make a blot.
C
This modification of the printer may also be adapted to the use of type faces
with hard centres as those shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, or to those made of thread as
those shewn in Figs. 7 and 8 by simply using circles having the special perforations
shewn in these Figs. 3-4 and 7-8, as they are suitable in the different cases
respectively, instead of a circle having the perforations as shewn in Fig. 10 while
leaving.everything else as regards the circle, cross bar, index position of type faces,
spindle and all the inking arrangements to be formed and placed in relation to cach
other in manner similar to that shewn and explained in Figs. 9 and 10 and relative
description.
In working, the apparatus is held in either hand as explained in describing
Figs. 5 and 6.
In laying this specimen aside after use the suspender support g2 is released, and
the broad disc a, at the end of the pin a from which the bottle e is suspended, is
placed on the table, on which the bottle e also rests beside it while the printing
circle c, unlike the other arrangements, does not rest upon the table but stands
above it.
Figs. 11 and 12 shew by side and edge views respectively a specimen of a metal
band c with a groove on the outside throughout its circumference and with per-
forations c placed at short distances through which cotton thread is passed in
and out to be in the groove making it even on the outside with the edges of the
circle, and to convey ink from fibrous or porous ink conveyors touching it on the
inside of the circle c, the whole being suitable for use with a fibrous or porous band
with type faces of blotting paper like those in Figs. 9 and 10. The inside of the
circle is shown in Fig. 12 by a part sectional view on line 1-1 Fig. 11, and in the
same manner in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
(1) In adjusting the printer for use put the grooved pulley a Figs. 1 and 2 on
the spindle near the end to be attached to the circle c.
(2) Place most of the ink conveyor from the weighted end in the bottle e;
pass the thread or threads within the loop of the regulator i and through the
spiral wire at the bottle mouth; and then let the knotted end or ends be placed
between the sponge and the plate d of the presser d where the simple pressure
should be sufficient to hold it.
(3) Suspend the bottle e with a suitable supply of ink, from the grooved pulley a²
placing the spiral wire y³ and cotton towards the screwed end a¹ of the spindle a.
(4) Attach the presser d to the bottle e by placing the small tube d' at its side
on the guide or pointer, and then place the loop or hook d at the end of
the elastic on the spindle a to suspend the presser d in its position. Let the
sponge also be fixed in the bent hooks d on the edge of the plate at the
lower end of the presser d.
(5) Then let the printing circle e be fixed on the end a¹ of the spindle a, and the
guide or pointer adjusted so that by pressure on the finger plate of the
presser d, the sponge d on its lower end is made to press on the lowest or other
point of the printing circle e as desired and the printer is ready for use.

page_text: PLIANCE W
svenner
somewhat similar, but
simpler as they have no presser. In them the ends of ink conveying threads are
attached to the ends of the arms in the small forks d; with a small india
rubber covering f' (Fig. 10) if necessary to make the ends of the thread touch the
inside of the circle or the fibrous material placed there.
In adjusting any form of the printer for use, the printing circle should be the
last portion affixed and the first portion removed when the printer has to be
laid aside.
DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE PRINTER.
Non-corrosive ink of a good quality should be used in preference as with other
kinds damping the ink conveyor and the type faces or the sponge has more
frequently to be resorted to.
Though with cotton ink conveyor or fibrous band, especially before they have been
much in use, the ink passes quickly from the bottle to the type faces or the sponge,
damping them directly saves time, and is required in the case of most other
materials. For this the damping tongs may be used, or any piece of sponge suitably
adjusted.
In damping, pressure on the type faces sideways should be avoided, the pressure
being effected directly against the circle.
Pressure in damping or printing should be light.
Never let the sponge nor the fibrous or porous type faces have much ink when
printing.
Lay the type faces evenly on the paper.
In laying aside the printer for a time it is advisable occasionally to have the ink
conveyor, sponge and circle cleaned carefully with water. In cases of type faces
of blotting paper, such should be removed from the circle before it is washed.
A few minutes observant practice should impart all requisite knowledge for easy
and rapid use of the printer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
In apparatus for use in producing series of letters, figures and signs upon
paper or other material.
1. The combination or arrangement of parts substantially as shewn and described
in respect of Figs. 1 and 2.
2. The combination or arrangement of parts substantially as shewn and described
in respect of Figs. 3 and 4.
3. The combination or arrangement of parts substantially as shewn and described
in respect of Figs. 5 and 6.
4. The combination or arrangement of parts substantially as shewn and described
in respect of Figs. 7 and 8.
5. The combination or arrangement of parts substantially as shewn and described
in respect of Figs. 9 and 10.
6. The construction or arrangement and use of a stiff circle and of ink distributing
fibres for supporting and inking type surfaces such as described in respect of
Figs. 11 and 12,
7. The various arrangements or combinations of parts substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Dated the 17th day of August 1892.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.