Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1887
Complete Left, 22nd Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster and 323 High
Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to perforating papers preparatory to filing them on the wires
of paper files, composed of two fixed and two movable transfer wires.
In order to file the papers smoothly they should be provided with perforations prior
to placing them on the fixed wires, and the perforations should be made in the paper
so as to register with the fixed wires, and the perforations in all the papers should be
in the same positions relatively to the edges of the papers.
This invention has for its object to obtain uniformity in the position of the
perforations, relatively to the edges of the papers; and to make the perforations by
means of a single punch, so that they register with the fixed wires of the file.
To this end the invention consists in folding the paper to be filed in two equal parts,
forming thus a double sheet, then making two perforations equally distant from the
folded edge of the paper, so that when the paper is opened out flat the two perforations
are equally distant from the center of the sheet.
The paper file used in connection with the invention is preferably of the construction
described in an application for Letters Patent for, "Files for Letters, Papers, Bills,
and the like," filed, and bearing even date herewith No. 8906 of A.D. 1887; but it
may be used with any other file constructed on the same principle. The said file
consists of a tablet, a base, two fixed wires, and two movable transfer wires, which
disconnect and separate from the fixed wires by a longitudinal and a vibratory motion,
in sequence, and are closed by the same motions reversed.

page_text: The perforator is attached for convenience to the bottom of the tablet or the end
opposite the filing wires, and on the same side of the tablet. But it may be attached
to some other surface as a table, a desk, or shelf if preferred, so that where a number
of files are used, one perforator only is necessary.
The perforator consists of a base plate provided at one end and on its adjacent rear
edge with flanges, and at the opposite end with a punch. The jaws of the punch are
at right angles to the plate one end of the plate forms the lower jaw, and in this
jaw is formed an aperture with a hard metal cutting edge. In the other jaw is a
sliding punch connected with a lever and held open by a spring. The sliding punch
is directly in line with the aperture in the lower jaw, and works in the said aperture
when pressed down. The cutting end of the punch is transversely concave-and the
cutting edges are composed of the two opposito convex projections of the end of the
punch. When the convex cutting edges are pressed down on the paper, they cut
through it with a shearing action against the sharp cutting edges of the aperture in
the lower jaw. Thus the perforating is done with much ease, and a number of sheets
of paper can be perforated simultaneously.
The making of the perforations at the proper points is ensured by means of the
gauges on the perforator plate, as the distance from the center of the punch to the
gauge on the opposite end of the plate is exactly one-half the distance between the
fixed wires of the file measuring from their centers.
The perforating of the paper is performed in the following manner: A sheet of
paper, say a letter, that is to be filed is first folded length-wise so as to form two equal
parts or leaves. The top of the folded sheet is laid on the perforator plate, and its
upper edge pressed against the rear gauge, and its folded edge against the end
gauge and the punch being pressed down a perforation is made through both folds.
The sheet being opened two perforations are exposed on opposite sides of the folding
line and equally distant therefrom, and also equally distant from the top of the sheets.
These perforations are the same distance apart as the fixed wires of the file; hence
when the paper is filed on the fixed wires, the perforations register exactly with the
said wires.
Dated this 20th day of June 1887.

page_text: I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and
323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer 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 invention relates to preparing papers for filing on that class of paper files
wherein the paper holding device consists of two fixed wires on which the papers are
impaled, and in some instances also of guard or transfer wires that are separable
from the fixed wires when papers are to be placed on or removed from the file.
The object of the invention is to provide papers that are to be filed away for
reference, with perforation to facilitate placing them on the file wires, and to make the
said perforations in such a manner that they shall always be a certain distance from
the side and top edges of the paper; and also to accomplish these results by means of
a single punch connected with the paper file.
To this end the invention consists in folding the paper on a line the desired distance
from the edges thereof, and perforating the doubled sheet-thus making two holes
simultaneously, at a point regulated and adjusted by means of a double gauge, forming
part of the perforating apparatus.
In the accompanying drawing:
:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved paper file with the device for
perforating papers attached to the tablet.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the perforating device, enlarged.
Figure 3 a vertical transverse section of the same taken on line of Figure 2.
Figuro 4 represents in perspective the perforating device detached from the file and
a paper in position for receiving double perforation-thus, illustrating the method
of making perforations that register with the filing wires of the paper file.
Referring to the drawing, the paper file represented is constructed and operates in
the manner described in Letters Patent No. 8906 of June 22 1887 for "Files for
letters, papers &c."
A, indicating the tablet, B the base of the file, 22 the fixed wires and 9, 9 the

page_text: movable wires of the file. The construction and operation of the file being fully
described in the specification of the said patent, it is not necessary to further describe
it here.
In order to place the papers on the fixed wires 2, 2, they must be punched or
perforated, and this may be done by impaling them on the said wires, but this mode is
objectionable because, by merely sticking the said wires through the paper, a ragged
hole is formed the edges of the hole are bent and thrown up above the surface of
the paper thus forming a burr that prevents the sheets from lying flat and close
together and also interferes with their free running when moved on the wires. Another
objection to this mode of making the perforations is that it is impossible to make the
perforations in different papers at uniform distances from the edges.
The improved file is designed to afford means of making a clean cut hole in the
paper through which the wires will run with perfect freedom, and also to ensure the
making of the perforations at uniform distances from the top and side edges of the paper
and also at any desired distance from the side edges. The perforating device is
designated by the letter D. It consists of a base 25 having one or more screw holes
through it for the screws that fasten it to the tablet of the file or any other surface, for
example, a desk or table, as it is not essential nor is it intended in all cases that the
device shall be attached to the tablet. The underside of the base is held above the
surface by flanges a projecting from the bottom, whereby a space b is formed under
the base into which the disks of paper cut out by the punch fall, and from which they
are readily removable. The perforating machinery consists of two stationary jaws de
arranged at right angles to the length of the base-the lower jaw d being a part of
the said base and the upper connected therewith at the rear, the said jaws and base
being cast preferably integral with each other.
In the lower jaw d is a counter-sunk aperture preferably round, and in the counter-
sink is placed an annular steel die 26 that forms one of the cutting edges of the
perforator. In the upper jaw is housed a punch 27 in vertical alignment, with the
die in the lower jaw the said punch being a little less in diameter than the die so as
to pass into the same when pressed through the paper. The cutting face or point p of
the punch is transversely concave being formed in that way so as to give double sheer
cut when pressed down on the paper, thereby making a much more even perforation
than is made by an ordinary punching point, and also enabling a number of sheets to
be perforated simultaneously with perfect ease.
The punch is operated by a lever 28 controlled by a suitable spring.
On the base 25 at the rear edge is a flange 29 that aligns with and forms a
continuation of the back of the jaws and at the end of the base opposite the punch is
another flange 30 at right angles to the first. These two flanges form the gauges
against which the edges of the paper are adjusted to ensure making the perforations
in the right position.
The distance from the gauge 30 to the centre of the punch 27 is exactly one-half the
distance between the centres of the fixed wires 2, 2 of the file, so that when the paper
is folded, gauged and punched and then opened, the two holes made through the paper
register exactly with the said wires.
The operation of preparing and perforating the paper is as follows:-
The paper P (Fig. 4), is folded at right angles to the top edge t, and on a line
distant from both side edges, not less than the distance between the gauge 30 and the
outer sides of the jaws; thus folded, the paper is laid on the base plate 25 with its top
edges against the gauge 29 and its folded edge fagainst the gauge 30 as shown in
Figure 4. In this position, the punch is pressed through the paper, making a
perforation through both folds; and when the paper is opened these perforations are
on opposite sides of and equally distant from the folded line, and the exact distance
apart as the fixed wires 2 2 of the file, so that the said wires pass through the said holes
without tearing the paper.
In this method of perforating papers, the edges of all the papers on one side can be
made to lie even by folding the paper so that the edge of one fold of all papers shall
be the same distance from the folded edge, whatever the width of the paper may be.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The method herein described of making duplex perforations in papers to receive
the wires of a paper filo consisting in folding the papers once and then perforating
through both folds at one operation and at a point distant from the folded edge of the
paper, equal to one-half the space between the centres of the wires of the file,
substantially as specified.
2. The combination of a paper file having double filing wires, a single punch and a
gauge having such relation to the punch and the wires of the file, that the distance
between the gauge and the centre of the punch is equal to one-half the distance
between the centres of the filing wires, substantially as specified.
3. The combination of a paper file composed of two fixed and two movable wires,
a single punch and gauges 29, 30, the distance of the latter from the centre of the
punch, being one-half the distance between the centres of the filing wires, substantially
as specified.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.