Improvements in Numbering Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1895-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN ROBERT CARTER, of 7 Ashburton Place,
in the City of Boston, County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Numbering Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 has for its object the production of an apparatus for impressing
upon a preferably continuous strip or web of paper, a certain series of characters
or figures at predetermined intervals in a regular sequence depending upon the
scope of the apparatus, and to automatically repeat such series of characters
indefinitely, without additional care or attention on the part of the attendant.
The well known sales-book or bundle check book in very general use in stores is
one article for the consecutive numbering of the pages of which my apparatus
hereinafter described is particularly adapted.
Such checks are subdivided by lines into parts or sections, which are separated
by the salesman, who sends one section with the money to the cashier, while the
other goes with the goods to the bundle counter.
As a general thing the part sent to the cashier comprises also a detachable
cashier's coupon or voucher, and each salesman has a book or package containing a
certain number of checks usually fifty, numbered from one up to fifty.
Each sertion or part of every check has the same number printed thereon, and
it is very desirable that the several numbers be so located upon the sections as to
be cut out of the way of any printed matter, or entry to be made thereon, the
location depending upon the character of the particular check.
By my invention I am enabled to print the numbers upon such checks at any
desired points by means of a simple and rapidly operating apparatus, having a wide
range of adjustment, and for the sake of convenience in illustration I have shown
herein the apparatus as adapted to print a consecutive series of numbers from one
to fifty, inclusive.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a numbering machine embodying my
invention, taken on the line, a, a, Figure 2.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the delivery end of the apparatus shown in Figure 1,
with the feed rolls omitted, a portion of the web being shown as turned over at
right angles to the direction of feed, for a purpose to be described.
Figure 3 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of one of the rotable
character carriers or printing wheels, the supporting shaft being shown in
section.
Figure 4 is a vertical section thereof on the line a².
Figures 5 and 6 are side and sectional views respectively of one of the rotary
platen-carriers with a series of platens secured thereto.
Figure 7 represents the circumference of one of the character carriers or printing
wheels extended, and in five sections to save space, a series of numbers from one to
fifty being shown thereon, in their relative engagement.
Figure 8 is a view of a sufficient portion of a web or strip to show the manner in

page_text: which the numbers are printed thereon for a series of checks, it being supposed
that the strip of paper has been passed through the machine in such manner that
the consecutive numbers increase.
Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 of a modified arrangement of numbers on
a printing wheel, to be described, and
Figure 10 is a view of a part of a modified form of check numbered by the
arrangement on the printing wheel shown in Figure 9.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the operating parts of the apparatus are mounted
upon a frame, A, of suitable shape, and provided with bearings for the rotating
parts to be described.
Shafts B and C are mounted at opposite ends of the frame, A, and respectively
above and below the path of movement of the strip or web, W, upon which the
characters or numbers are to be printed or impressed, one of said shafts, as C,
having usual fast and loose pulleys, D, D', thereon to be driven by a suitable
belt,
not shown.'
:
."
'
Gears, D¹, and C₁of equal size, are secured to the shafts, in mesh with two like
intermeshing gears, B and C, to rotate the shafts B and C in opposite directions
and at the saine surface speed, the intermediate gears being mounted on suitable
studs secured to the frame.
****
Each shaft is preferably provided with a key-way as B², C2, respectively, to
receive suitable keys,' b, and c, whereby the character carriers or printing wheels
are secured to and. to rotate with their respective shafts.---
:
As shown in Figure 2, the shaft, B, has three of such carriers thereon, B, B1, B26,
while the shaft, C, has only two, B3, B4 shown in dotted lines, such arrangement
'provided for the imprinting of three numbers or characters upon the upper side of
the web, and two 'upon the opposite side thereof.
Mounted in the frame, A, below and above the path of the web respectively, are
rotable shafts, B and C, to which platen-carriers, C, C, etc., one to co-operate
with each type carrier, are detachably and adjustably secured.
Gears, B, and C, on the shafts, B3 and C, are in mesh with the gears, B¹, C¹,
see Figure 1, to be rotated thereby at a given relative rate of speed, so that the
platens, to be described supported on the platen carriers, are brought into printing
position at the proper times and moved past such position in unison with the
character-carriers.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, one of the printing wheels or character-carriers is
shown enlarged, and as all are alike only one will be described in detail.
A disk, b, has a hub, 62, with, as herein shown, a key way therethrough to
receive a key, b, and an intersecting threaded opening to receive a clamping
device, shown as a set screw, 63, the inner end of which preferably presses upon a
washer, b, on the top of the key, to firmly hold the latter in its place in the
shaft B.
The periphery of the disk is shouldered, at 1, to receive thereon a flat
annular plate, B6, retained in place on the disk by a series of threaded studs, b',
Dear its periphery, to receive thereon spring like washers, 68, resting on the disk
and annulus, and kept in place by thumb nuts, 6º, loosening of the latter
permitting the annulus, 6, to be turned round the disk b', for a purpose to be
described.
!.
A series of numbers from one to fifty, as herein illustrated, are formed upon or
rigidly secured to the periphery of the annulus, in a certain order, the successive
numbers being non-adjacent and a certain number of spaces apart, the notches or
teeth, 60, on the annulus, 66, shown in Figure 3, representing in an exaggerated
manner the said numbers in side elevation, the printing faces of the numbers all
moving in one and the same circular path.
If the uppermost projection, 10, in Figure 3, be taken as the initial or starting
point, or for the number one, the number 2 would be on the fourteenth tooth to the
right or left, according to the direction in which the type carrier is to be rotated,
the number 3 on the twenty-seventh tooth, counting from number 1, number 4 on

page_text: the fortieth tooth, and so on, the adjacent numbers being shown in Figure 7'
though for the sake of convenience in reading, the said numbers are shown
correctly, it being understood that on the printing wheel or carrier the numbers
would be reversed, as are ordinary printing types.
The successive numbers may be arranged in other ways, as for instance, on every
eighth space or projection, counting the two successive numbers in each set of eight
teeth, or on every fourth, counting in both, the consecutive numbers each time, as
before.
It is to be remembered that the printing wheels are continuously rotated, and
that at each impression upon the web only one number is printed, the numbers
following each other in regular sequence, so it is necessary that the platen must be
moved to bring the paper against only one number at a time, and at the proper
instant.
This is herein accomplished by the rotary platen carriers to be described, which
bring the separated platens thereon into position at the proper time to cause the
impression of the type on the paper, and as the web is preferably moving forward
at a regular rate of speed the movements of the platen and printing wheel are in
unison therewith and in the same direction as the impression is effected, so that the
web will not be torn or retarded.
The distance between any two successive, but non-adjacent numbers on the
printing wheel is regulated by the circumferential length thereof, and also by the
intervening adjacent numbers between the two successive numbers, and by this
means the distance on the web between one number and the next in sequence is
provided for.
No matter which one of the arrangements herein before described is employed,
the successive numbers will be printed in sequence, and when a complete series has
been printed the continued rotation of the printing wheel will automatically cause
the first number of the series to be again printed at the proper distance from the
last number of the series just completed, so long as the apparatus is in operation.
One of the platen carriers is shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6, in general
arrangement being very similar to the character or type-carrier described, a
description of one platen carrier sufficing for all of the others.
The shaft, B3, or C³, has secured thereto preferably by a key, c, a shouldered
disk, c', having a clamping screw, c³, in its hub, e², to hold the key in place, and an
annular plate, c, is held on the disk by clamp screws, c, bearing upon washers, c,
overlapping the disk and plate, tightening of said screws preventing the plate
from moving relatively to the disk, c', two of the screws, c', in Figure 5 being
broken out.
One or more platens, c, preferably of rubber or other suitable material, are
mounted in holders, 68, secured to the periphery of the plate, , in suitable manner,
as by screws, 10, two of such platens being shown on the carriers, to correspond
with and properly co-operate with the particular arrangement of the numbers on
the printing wheel; the size of the platen being such that only one number at a
time can be printed upon the paper resting thereon.
Each printing wheel or set of printing wheels, as the case may be, has an inking
mechanism of suitable construction adjacent thereto, to ink the members before
the impression is made, and one form of inking mechanism is shown in Figure 1 in
section.
A trough, d, has mounted therein a collecting roller, d', rotated by a suitable
ratchet wheel, d², shown in dotted lines, Figure 1, the surplus ink being removed
from the roller by a scraper, d³.
Distributing rollers, d, d³, and do, receive ink from the collecting roller by an
intermediate oscillating roller, d, mounted in bearings secured to a rock-shaft, d³,
receiving its motion from the gear, d, in mesh with the adjacent large gear, B¹,
or C as the case may be. As shown in dotted lines, Figure 1, the rock-shaft has
an arın secured thereto, carrying a pawl which actuates the ratchet wheel, 2, the

page_text: shaft being rocked by means of a crank pin on the gear, d³, said rocking mechanism
forming no part of this invention.
The inking roller, do, is mounted in suitable supports, d", secured to the
frame, A, to contact with the distributing roller, d', and receive ink therefrom, and
also to contact with the periphery of each adjacent character carrier or printing
wheel.
On referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the two inking mechanisms are
alike, and therefore need not be further described.
As hereinbefore stated, the apparatus illustrated is adapted to imprint three
numbers of the same denomination upon one side of the web and two on the
opposite side, all of said numbers however, coming within the extreme limits or
boundaries of the portion of the web which will form a single check or page, to be
used in a sales-book after the complete series of numbers have been properly
imprinted upon the web of paper.
The pages or checks may be severed from the web in any desired manner,
forming no part of my invention.
Each of the printing wheels or number carriers is secured to its supporting
shaft B or C, as the case may be, independently of the other printing wheels on
the same shaft, by suitable means, one specific form, viz. :-
-the slot and key, having
been already described, and viewing Figure 2 it will be seen that the location of a
particular number relative to the longitudinal edge of the web, W, is determined
by the distance of its particular printing wheel from a given point on its supporting
shaft, and that the perpendicular distance between any numbers of the same
denomination when printed is determined by the interval between their respective
carriers or wheels.
Thus in Figure the two printing wheels, B3, and B4, on the shaft, C, are
arranged to print their numbers upon the underside of the web and near its
longitudinal edges, while the three wheels, B6, B1, and B328, on the shaft, B, are
arranged to imprint their numbers on the body of the web and nearer its center,
and on its upper side as it passes through the apparatus.
The successive numbers printed by each carrier or wheel are at equal distance
apart, but those printed by separate wheels are at different distances from the ends
of any one check section, as shown in Figures 2 and 8, and consequently the
numbers on the web are at different distances from each other, measured in the
direction of the length of the web, which direction may be regulated and
predetermined so that the relative position of the several numbers on a given check
section will be the same as on any other section.
This is accomplished by adjusting the angular distances between given points on
the several printing wheels or number carriers on the same shaft, the angular
distance between two given numbers of the same denomination on their respective
carriers determining the interval between such numbers when printed.
This adjustment can be very conveniently made by the construction illustrated
in Figures 3 and 4, wherein I have shown, a pointer or index, 50, on the disk. ',
to act in conjunction with a scale on the face of the annulus, 66, the common key
way in the shaft, B, being taken for convenience as the starting point.
The scale on the annulus is preferably so arranged that its divisions represent
inches and fractions of an inch, measured on the periphery of said annulus,
whereby when it is desired to have one carrier or wheel imprint any one of its
numbers at a distance of 3 inches, for instance, from the corresponding number
printed by another carrier, the set screws, 60, would be loosened and the annulus of
one carrier moved around until the index, 50, pointed to the 3 mark on the scale,
the index on the other carrier being set at zero.
Then inasmuch as such adjustment is equivalent to a space of 34 inches on the
periphery of the wheel or carrier, the two corresponding numbers printed by such
adjusted carriers would be 3 inches apart on the web.
Thus the various printing wheels or carriers ou any one shaft may be properly

page_text: set to impart their numbers on a web at the desired relative intervals, and the
wheels or carriers on the two shafts B and C will be set to properly print the
numbers upon the top and underside of the web, and in their relative places.
It will be obvious that the platen carriers, must also be capable of adjustment on
their shafts and relatively to each other in order to properly bring their platens
into position to move the web of paper against the proper number on the
co-operating printing wheel at just the right instant, and I have herein shown the
means for adjusting the platen carriers substantially the same as has been described
for the printing wheels.
The disk, c', of each platen carrier has thereon an index 60 to co-operate with a
scale on the annular plate, et, the scale divisions being radial to the center of
rotation of the carrier, its divisions corresponding to inches and fractions of an
inch measured on the periphery of the co-operating number or character carrier.
The circumferential distance between two successive but non-adjacent numbers,
on its co-operating type or printing wheel, so that any platen moving in its circular
path eccentric to the printing wheel will arrive at the printing point simultaneously
with the number that is to be printed at that instant, the supporting shaft of the
platen and number carriers being geared together as described.
In order to keep the web away from the face of the character carriers, except
when momentarily brought into contact therewith by the platen, I have provided
guide rolls as f and 9, see Figure 1, arranged in pairs extending across the
apparaone roll on each side of the printing point of each set of printing wheels,
it being understood of course that the paths of movement of the platens are
externally tangent at the printing points to the circular paths described by the
characters or figures, the guide rolls, f, being interposed between the web and the
adjacent set of character carriers.
Suitable feed rolls, F, are located at the delivery end of the apparatus, to be
positively driven in any suitable manner, and shown only in Figure 1, for the sake
of clearness, the said feed rolls nipping the web, W, between them and drawing it
steadily through the apparatus, the continuous operation of the machine being
limited only by the length of the web drawn therethrough, for if any series of
successive numbers are fixed upon the number carriers, or printing wheels after the
entire series has been printed the machine will automatically begin to print the
first number of the series over again, and so on indefinitely.
While in Figures 2 and 8 the checks or pages are shown as having the numbers
printed along the length of the web, it is obvious that they might be printed
transversely to said web, by properly adjusting the printing wheels, the numbers
thereon being so placed that the base of each number will be parallel to the plane
of rotation of the carrier or printing wheel, rather than parallel to its axis of
rotation.
In Figure 8 it is to be understood that the arrangement of the printing wheels
have been changed, and while two numbers are printed upon one side of the web,
and three upon the other, one of the pair prints near one edge, while the other
prints near the center of the web, and of the set of three printing wheels one
prints near the other edge of the web and the remaining two towards its
center.
The space,, Figure 8, is used as a stub or retaining portion, the checks being
severed along the line, '.
The dotted lines represent perforations across the web, whereby the parts of
each check are readily severed by the salesman or cashier.
In the modification shown in Figure 10, the form of check is very commonly
used in restaurants, and the like, a large and a small space on the check having
the same number thereon, the small space, *, being left for a stub and also to
receive the total amount of a transaction while the large space, which is to be
detached therefrom along the dotted lines, ², receives in detail the particulars of
the transaction, such numbering being_termed "double numbering," and to form
such double numbers I have shown in Figure 9, on an enlarged scale, the produced

page_text: periphery, in five sections m, m³, m², m³, and m², of a suitable number carrier or
printing wheel adapted to perform such printing, it being.understood that in actual
practice the circumferential distance between two numbers of the same denomina-
tion ou the carrier will be the same as the distance which is to separate such
numbers on the check or page section when printed.
One hundred numbers, in two sets, each running from one to fifty inclusive, are
shown on the circumference of the printing wheel illustrated in Figure 9, and the
numbers in said Figure 9 indicate the relative location, but not the true position
of the various numbers, as it will be of course obvious that to print the numbers
correctly upon the web they must be reversely made on the carrier.
While I have herein shown a certain number of character carriers or printing
wheels and their co-operating platens, my invention is not restricted thereto, either
as to the number or relative arrangement thereof, for it will be obvious that but
one carrier may be mounted on each shaft if desired.
In any case, however, each character-carrier or wheel has its own co-operating
platen carrier and platen or platens.
.
While I have also shown a very desirable construction for both the rotatable
printing-wheel or character-carrier, and for the platen carrier, my invention is not
restricted thereto, nor is it restricted to securing the said carriers to their
respective shafts in just the manner herein shown, as any other well known form of
adjustable connection' might be used to perform the same function.
The web may be run through the apparatus' at a high or a low rate of speed,
depending considerably upon the thickness and strength of the paper composing
it, the co-operating parts of the apparatus performing their function' equally well
at high or low speed."
Instead of a ecntinuous operation of the apparatus, the paper may be fed thereto
in such manner that the rotation of the printing wheels will be intermittent, so
that one check will be printed, then a pause, then another check, and so on.
Hereinafter in the claims I have designated the arrangement of the series of
successive characters or numbers upon the printing wheels or carriers as successive
and non-adjacent, meaning thereby that any two consecutive numbers on the wheels
are separated by other numbers of the series.
It will be obvious that a single type carrier or printing wheel having a sufficiently
broad face could be made to accomplish the work of several arranged side by side,
but in that case, no relative angular adjustment of the numbers would be possible
unless a series of annular plates were mounted on a common disk.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A revoluble printing wheel having figures or characters rigidly secured
thereto, means to rotate said wheel continuously, a platen, and means to move the
platen toward and from the printing point to print successive figures or characters
on a strip passed between the wheel and the platen, as set forth.
2. A revoluble printing wheel having figures or characters rigidly secured
thereto, means to rotate said wheel, a platen, and means to move the platen toward
and from the printing point intermittingly and also in the direction corresponding
to and with the movement of the printing wheel, as set forth."
3. A series of revoluble printing wheels arranged side by side and having a
common axis of rotation, a series of platens, each movable toward and from the
printing point of one of said wheels, and means to rotate the wheels continuously
and move the platens successively toward and from their respective wheels,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In an apparatus for printing a series of figures or characters in regular
sequence upon opposite sides of a continuous web, a revoluble printing wheel
located at each side of the path, of the web, a platen for each wheel on opposite
sides of the web, means to rotate said wheels, and meaus to move said platens

page_text: toward and from their respective printing wheels in circular paths and in the
same direction as the movement of the adjacent portions of the said wheels, as
set forth.
5. A revolable printing wheel having a series of successive figures or characters.
sernred thereto in a non-adjacent manner, or out of regular sequence, as described,
and moving in a circular path, and a platen to intermittingly approach the printing
point, and to pass by it in unison with the movement of the character being printed,.
combined with means to rotate said wheel through an are greater than the distance
between two adjacent figures or characters, and equal to the interval between two.
successive ones, whereby the successive figures or characters are brought into
printing position opposite the platen, and thereby printed in regular sequence and
means to actuate the platen, substantially as described.
6. A revoluble printing wheel having a series of successive non-adjacent figures
or characters secured thereto and moving in a circular path, whereby the entire
series may be printed in regular sequence by rotation of the wheel in the same
direction, combined with a platen movable in a path externally tangent to the path
of the characters at the printing point, and means to move said wheel and platen,
to bring the platen into position at the printing point simultaneously with the
character to be printed, to cause the figures or characters to be printed singly in
their proper sequence during simultaneous movement of the wheel and platen,
substantially as described.
7. A revoluble printing wheel having a series of successive non-adjacent figures
or characters secured thereto and moving in a circular path, whereby the entire
series will be printed in regular sequence by rotation of the wheel in the same
direction prior to the repetition of the first, and inking mechanism for said printing
wheel, combined with a plurality of separate platens movable about a common
center in a circular path externally tangent at the printing point to the path of the
characters secured to said printing wheel, and means to move said wheel and platens
to bring the latter one after another into printing position with one after another
of the non-adjacent characters or figures on the wheel, to cause the numbers to be
printed in their proper sequence, substantially as described.
8. A series of revoluble printing wheels, each having a series of successive
non-adjacent figures secured thereto and moving in a circular path, a common axis
of rotation for said wheels, and an inking mechanism for the wheels, combined with
a series of separate platens each movable towards and from the printing point of
one of said wheels, means to adjust the relative position of said wheels upon their
common axis and to adjust said platens correspondingly, and an actuating mechanism
to move the wheels and platens to bring the latter into position to cause the figures
or characters on each wheel to be printed singly in their proper sequence by its
co-operating platen, substantially as described.
9. A revoluble shaft, a series of independent printing wheels laterally and
rotably adjustable thereon, each wheel having a series of successive figures or
characters secured thereto in a non-adjacent manner, or out of regular sequence, as
described, and moving in a circular path, and a series of separate platens laterally
and rctably adjustable on a common support, and movable towards and from the
printing point of their co-operating printing wheels, combined with means to rotate
said wheels in the same direction and to move the platens in paths externally
tangent at the printing point to the paths of the figures or characters, whereby the
consecutive figures or characters on each wheel are caused to approach their
respective platens in regular sequence, to be so printed, the intervals between the
printed figures or characters in two or more sets being regulated by the adjustment
of the printing wheels, substantially as described.
10. In an apparatus for printing series of figures or characters in regular sequence
upon opposite sides of a continuous web, a revoluble printing wheel located at each
side of the path of the web, each wheel having rigidly secured upon its periphery
a series of successive non-adjacent figures or characters, a platen to intermittingly
co-operate with each printing wheel, and of sufficient width to act upon but one

page_text: character at a time, and guide rolls adjacent to each wheel and between it and the
web, combined with feed rolls for the web, and means to move said printing wheels
and their platens to bring the latter into position to press the web against one
figure after another fixed on the wheel and to move past the printing point in
unison with the figure being printed, to thereby cause them to be printed singly in
their proper sequence, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of July 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, Loudon, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.