IMPROVEMENTS IN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, STAMPING, OR MARKING MONETARY OR OTHER DOCUMENTS; SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Henry Robinson, of 4, Clyde Road, in the
County of Dublin, Ireland, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, STAMPING, OR MARKING
MONETARY OR OTHER DOCUMENTS; SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Henry Robinson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th December 1880.
86
ARTHUR HENRY ROBINSON, of 4, Clyde Road, in the County of Dublin, Ireland.
IMPROVEMENTS IN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING,
STAMPING, OR MARKING MONETARY OR OTHER DOCUMENTS; SAID IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to further improvements in a hand perforating or punching
apparatus of the kind described in the Specifications to two former Letters Patent
granted to me, dated respectively 23 March 1880, No. 1242, and 25 March 1880,
No. 1270, and it has for its object affording increased facility for carrying out the
several operations of perforating or punching monetary or other documents, and
thereby rendering the possibility of mistakes by the operator less likely; and
further, a novel method of perforating or punching the required sums or amounts
in any document, whereby a shorter lineal space is required for the amounts to be
perforated.
According to one modification my present improvements consist in the arrange-
ment and combination of manual or finger keys, and the mechanical means
employed for automatically operating the said apparatus. This modification is
carried out in the following manner :-
Upon a suitable bed plate or table I mount a rotating perforating apparatus
provided with a matrix, and a series of punches or needles forming words from
one to nine inclusive, also the word nought, and a star or asterisk, each word
converging towards one common cutter, so as to perforate at an angle across the
paper or other document.

page_text: The spindle on which the said apparatus is mounted is arranged vertically, and
is provided at its lower end with a toothed wheel, which gears into and is operated
by suitable clock work arranged beneath the bed plate or table, and provided with
either a spring or a weight as a motive power, and a fly, such as is used in musical
boxes, or a suitable escapement movement to regulate the speed, suitable means
being also provided for winding from the top of the apparatus, which operation
may be effected at convenient intervals by means of a key or otherwise.
The top or crown plate of the rotating apparatus is provided with a series of
consentric grooves suitably spaced, and each having a stud for. pin fixed therein.
The spindle on which the apparatus rotates, as also the pistons for operating the
needle blocks or punches, project above the crown plate, the spindle acting as an
upper journal, and is carried in a bridge plate above the rotating apparatus. Upon
the bed plate is also mounted a frame or key board, which extends across the top
of the apparatus, and is provided with a series of vertical manual or finger keys,
one key for each word or device in the apparatus, and corresponding to the number
of grooves in the crown plate. This frame or key board is also provided with a
slotted hinged plate for the purpose of actuating a spring detent or catch, which
drops into notches in the crown plate for the purpose of holding the apparatus
stationary after each operation.
The shanks of the keys are provided with fixed collars above the hinged plate
for the purpose of depressing the same when the keys are acted upon, the ends of
which keys pass through the slots in the hinged plate, and are provided with
springs for returning them to or retaining them in their normal position.
Each key is numbered or lettered to guide the operator; or any one of the keys
being depressed the corresponding spring catch or detent is withdrawn from the
notch in the crown plate, and the apparatus is caused to rotate by the clock work
or other motive power until checked by the end of the depressed key coming in
contact with the stud or pin in the groove directly under the key, at which
moment the catch drops into the notch provided for it, and the hinged plate is
lifted on the return of the spring catch or detent. The front of the rotating
apparatus is left open to admit of the introduction of any cheque or document
requiring to be perforated, or punched, or operated upon, a suitable lever being
attached for the purpose of depressing the needle blocks or punches as required.
According to another modification, in lieu of fixed needles, or punches, or a fixed
matrix I may employ a rotating apparatus in combination with the clock work
and key board, before referred to, constructed and arranged with sliding pistons
capable of receiving and holding movable or interchangeable punches, which form
words, figures, or letters, or type consisting of the letters of the alphabet or other
device for printing, cresting, embossing, stamping, dating, cancelling, or otherwise
impressing various documents, the bed plate or table being constructed and
arranged so as to hold the necessary dies or the counter parts of the punches. Or
I may employ fixed needle blocks forming figures from one to nine, and a 0 and
set to any desired angle, a spacing slide similar to that described in my former
Specification being also provided.
The locked case, described in the Specification to my said former Letters Patent,
No. 1270, may be combined with either of the aforesaid arrangements. The
apparatus may be applied to printing by affixing thereto any suitable inking
apparatus, the apparatus being suitably modified to meet the requirement. It
may also be applied to other useful purposes analogous to those before referred to.
›

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Arthur Henry Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th June 1881.
ARTHUR HENRY ROBINSON, of 4, Clyde Road, in the County of Dublin, Ireland.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING,
STAMPING, OR MAKING MONETARY OR OTHER DOCUMENTS; SAID IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
My said Invention relates to further improvements in a hand perforating or
punching apparatus of the kind described in the Specifications to two former Letters
Patent granted to me, and dated respectively twenty third March, one thousand
eight hundred and eighty, No. 1242, and twenty fifth March, one thousand eight
hundred and eighty, No. 1270, and it has for its object affording increased facility
for carrying out the several operations of perforating or punching monetary or
other documents, and thereby rendering the possibility of mistakes by the operator
less likely; it further relates to a novel method of perforating or punching the
required sums or amounts in any document, whereby a shorter lineal space is
required for the amounts to be perforated.
My present improvements consist in the arrangement and combination of finger
keys and the mechanical means employed for automatically operating the said
apparatus.
The said improvements are carried out in the following manner, reference being
had to the several Figures on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings:-
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same with the lever arm hereinafter referred to
removed, but shewing the attachments for same; Figure 3 is a plan with the key-
board hereinafter referred to removed, and the table hereinafter mentioned also
removed for the purpose of shewing the detail of the spring spacing device also
hereinafter described; Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along the line A, B, on
Figure 2; Figure 5 is a sectional elevation, the section being taken along the
line D, C, in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a plan of the matrix hereinafter referred to
showing the method or arrangement of words; Figure 7 is a plan of a hinge plate
hereinafter referred to; Figure 8 is an end view of the same; Figure 9 is a detail
of a spring catch or detent hereinafter referred to, and which holds the rotatable
apparatus stationary after each operation.
Figure 10 is an end view of the said spring catch or detent; Figure 11 is a side
elevation of a spring catch hereinafter referred to which prevents any rebound of
the rotatable apparatus; Figure 12 is an end view of the said spring catch;
Figure 13 is a plan of a plate which forms part of the key-board; Figure 14 is an
end view of the said plate; Figure 15 is a plan of a seat on which the matrix
turns; Figure 16 is an end view of the said seat; Figure 17 illustrates an example
of the application of the Invention.
Upon a bed plate A I mount a rotatable perforating apparatus B provided with
a matrix C' and a series of punches or needles D constituting words from one to nine,
both inclusive; also the word nought and a star or asterisk, each word converging
towards one common centre, as shewn in Figure 6, that is to say, the several sums
or amounts being arranged so as to be perforated at an angle across the paper or
document, an example of which is shewn at Figure 17.
Referring to Figure 4, b, b, are two of a series or set of twelve needle blocks
which are mounted in the rotatable frame B, and are capable of vertical motion
therein, and are provided with pistons a, and needles or punches D, the needles of
each block forming a distinct word or mark, as shown on the matrix C¹, Figure 6.

page_text: C is a plate forming part of the frame B which is perforated with holes
corresponding to the needles D, and below this plate is the matrix C, also similarly
perforated, and which is capable of rotating on the seat 7; the needles when the
blocks bare depressed by aid of the pistons a and lever P, as hereinafter explained,
being caused to pass through the plate C and enter the matrix C'. This part of
the apparatus as thus constructed is mounted fast upon a spindle E so as to be
capable of rotating bodily. For this purpose the spindle is provided at its lower
end with a toothed wheel or pinion F which gears into and is operated by ordinary
clock work G arranged beneath or within the bed plate A, and provided with a
spring as motive power. H is a spindle provided at its lower end with a toothed
wheel for winding the spring of the clock work, which operation may be effected at
any convenient time.
The top or crown plate I of the rotatable apparatus B is provided on its upper
and lower surface with a series of studs or pins K and K¹ rigidily fixed therein, the
studs K' being arranged at regular intervals around the lower surface, and the
studs K being suitably placed on the upper surface for a purpose hereinafter
explained. The spindle E of the rotatable apparatus B, as also the pistons a for
operating the needle blocks b project above the crown plate I, the top of the
spindle E acting as an upper journal is carried in a bearing provided in plate No. 3
which forms part of the key board J hereinafter referred to.
Upon the said bed plate A is formed a framing A', on which is carried the key-
board J, consisting of plates 1, 2, and 3 (rigidly attached together by studs B¹).
the key board extends across the top of the rotatable apparatus B, and is provided
with a series of finger keys L having vertical motion therein. For each word,
number, or device in the rotatable apparatus there is provided a key L and an
upper stud or pin K and a lower stud or pin K¹, the upper studs or pins K being
suitably arranged in relation to the respective keys, whilst the lower studs or
pins K are regularly placed, as before mentioned.
The key board J is also provided with a slotted hinge plate M, as shewn at
Figures 7 and 8, which is common to all the keys for the purpose of actuating the
spring detent or catch N shown at Figures 9 and 10, which impinges when it and
the rotatable apparatus are at rest against the pin or stud on the under surface of
the crown plate corresponding to the key operated for the purpose of holding the
rotatable apparatus stationary after each operation. A second (self acting) spring
detent O, shewn at Figures 11 and 12, is also provided for the purpose of preventing
any rebound of the apparatus, this detent being depressed by such of the studs or
pins K¹ as come within its range as the rotable apparatus turns round, the said
detent rising by its own spring after each stud has passed, and thereby preventing
any rebound of the rotating apparatus.
The shanks of the keys L are squared at the bottom (the squares being set to
suit the running radius of the rotatable apparatus), and are provided with fixed
collars above the hinge plate M for the purpose of depressing the latter when the
said keys are acted upon; the said keys are also provided with springs for returning
them to their normal position; the shanks of the said keys pass through slots in
the hinge plate M, and through the plates 1, 2, and 3, forming the key board J, and
each on being depressed comes in contact with the stud or pin K corresponding to
the key operated upon as the apparatus rotates, and thereby stops the rotation of
the rotating apparatus B at the proper time.
Each key is numbered, lettered, or otherwise marked to guide the operator.
The manner in which the perforating, punching, stamping, or marking is
performed is as follows:-
On a key representing the required sum, number, device, or character being
depressed, the hinge plate M is also depressed, which in its turn depresses the spring
catch or detent N so as to cause the same to clear the studs or pins K' on the under
surface of the crown plate I, when the rotatable apparatus B, arranged as herein-
before described, will fly round by the aid of the clock work, the spring of which is
kept in constant tension until the rotating apparatus is arrested by the corresponding

page_text: stud or pin K on the upper surface of the crown plate coming in contact with the
shank of the depressed key; during this operation the spring detent o has been
depressed, passed, and risen, and impinges against the stud or pin K¹ last passed at
the opposite side of the rotatable apparatus, thereby preventing its rebound. The
punch, stamp, or die bearing the required device is thus brought with certainty
and speed under the operating spring lever P which is carried upon an axis 4 and
adapted to act upon the pistons a under it. By the act of depressing this lever the
piston a, which has come into position is acted upon and the needles or punches D
are caused to pass through the plate C and matrix C¹, between which the paper or
document to be operated upon should be first introduced; the operation is now
complete, and on the pressure being removed the lever and punches rise to their
normal position.
An adjusted spring slide R is provided for the purpose of regularly spacing the
perforations in the paper or other document; this operation is accomplished in the
following manner :—
The paper or document being placed under the apparatus is allowed to rest upon
the handle 5 of the draw slide R and upon the table 6. The paper or document
and the slide R are then taken hold of together by the left hand, and the slide is
drawn out to the full extent, the paper or document travelling with it, the slide
being then released returns, while the paper or document remains stationary, the
right hand resting upon it on the table; by this means a clean and definite space
has been brought into position for the next operation, and so on for as many as
may be required.
In lieu of the rotatable apparatus B being provided with the fixed needle blocks b
and the fixed matrix C', it may be constructed so as to be capable of receiving and
holding interchangeable punches, dies, or stamps, forming a word or words, a
figure or figures, or a letter or letters, or other devices for perforating, punching,
stamping, or marking paper or various documents. In this case the punches,
dies, stamps, or devices may be attached to the pistons a by means of a socket and
pinching screw or in any other well known manner, and the equivalent for the
matrix plate C is constructed and arranged after any well known manner so as to
be capable of receiving and holding the counter parts of the moveable or inter-
changeable punches, dies, stamps, or devices, the plate C of the rotating apparatus B
being modified to suit the shape of the punches, dies, or devices passing through it.
In lieu of expressing sums or amounts in words as hereinbefore described, Figures
may be employed.
A locked case similar to that described in the Specification to my said former
Letters Patent, No. 1270, One thousand eight hundred and eighty, may be combined
with the aforesaid improved apparatus. It is obvious that a foot lever may be
substituted for the hand lever P and a weight may be used as motive power in
lieu of the spring.
The rotatable apparatus combined with keys and clock work may be constructed
with fixed punches or dies, and fixed matrix forming a series of stamps for
impressing stamp duty on legal documents from one penny to any sum desirable;
such apparatus may be constructed in sets, as, for example, one for pence, one or
more for shillings, and one or more for pounds.
In lieu of the key board and its appurtenances being arranged at the top of the
instrument they may be placed at the side, the stops being then arranged on the
periphery of the rotatable apparatus instead of upon the crown plate.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not claim the use alone of perforating
apparatus hereinbefore described and illustrated in the Drawings hereto annexed
or any one of the parts or details of the machine taken separately, but what I
consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,--
First. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts

page_text: constituting a rotatable perforating, punching, stamping, or marking apparatus
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. In a rotatable perforating, punching, stamping or marking apparatus
the combination of finger keys and intermediate mechanism for the purpose of
withdrawing the locking device and thereby allowing rotatable apparatus to rotate
until the required punch, die, stamp, or other device is brought under the depressing
lever and of the clock mechanism adapted to impel the said rotatable apparatus
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third. A rotatable perforating apparatus provided with a crown plate I, having
fixed studs or pins and carried on a vertical spindle E, having a pinion or toothed
wheel F, which is actuated by clock work in combination with the key board J
having the spring keys L and with the hinge plate M for withdrawing the locking
device, the whole of the parts being arranged and combined together so as to
operate substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Henry Robinson, have to this my
Specification set may hand and seal, the Seventh day of June, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
ARTHUR H. ROBINSON. (L.S.)