A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT OR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN MAKING PLAYING AND OTHER CARDS, AND ALSO OTHER ARTICLES MADE WHOLLY OR IN PART OF PAPER OR PASTEBOARD, PART. OR PARTS OF WHICH SAID MACHINERY MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE PRESSURE IS REQUIRED
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
CHURCH, Civil Engineer, and THOMAS LEWIS, Woollen Draper, both of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-sixth day of October, in the twelfth year of Her reign,
and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said William
Church and Thomas Lewis, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that we, the said William Church and Thomas Lewis, our
exors, adiñiors, and assigns,.and such others as we, the said William Church
and Thomas Lewis, our exors, adñors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our
Invention of "A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT OR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
TO BE EMPLOYED IN MAKING PLAYING AND OTHER CARDS, AND ALSO OTHER ARTICLES
MADE WHOLLY OR IN PART OF PAPER OR PASTEBOARD, PART. OR PARTS OF WHICH
SAID MACHINERY MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE PRESSURE IS
REQUIRED;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that we,
the said William Church and Thomas Lewis, or one of us, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court

page_text: of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Church, do hereby declare that the nature of our said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the following
explanation thereof (that is to say) :-
:-
Our Invention of A certain Improvement. or certain-Improvements in
Machinery to be employed in Making Playing and other Cards, and also
other Articles made wholly or in part of Paper or Pasteboard, Part or Parts
of which said Machinery may be applied to other Purposes where Pressure is
required, consists,--
First, in certain arrangements of mechanism, designed for the purpose of
cutting sheets of pasteboard to the required size and form either for playing or
other cards, and also blanks for boxes and various other purposes, such as gun
waddings, &c.
Secondly, in certain apparatus to be attached to the aforesaid machinery for
the purpose of piercing or perforating the said cards, or such of them as
require piercing or perforating, such as button cards, &c.
Thirdly, in a certain novel arrangement of mechanism for pressing the paste-
board during the process of its manufacture, which latter part of our Invention
is also applicable to other purposes where pressure is required. The nature
of these several improvements, and the manner of carrying the same into
practical effect, will be more fully explained in the following description, which
will be readily understood, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
in which the same letters denote similar parts in all the Figures.
In Sheet 1 of the Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a
machine adapted for cutting the pasteboard to the required form and size for
button cards, and for piercing or perforating the same, being drawn to a
scale of about one inch and a half to the foot. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken
transversely through about the line A, B, in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section
taken longitudinally throngh about the line C, D, in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan
or horizontal view of the same as seen from above, and Fig. 5 is an elevation
of the reverse or opposite side of the machine to Fig. 1, with the fly wheel
removed. Fig. 6 is a front view of the slitting. rollers for cutting the cards
into longitudinal slips, and Fig. 7 represents a transverse section of the
feeding, slitting, and discharging rollers, the punch bar, bed, and punches for
piercing the cards, also the guides and holding down pieces, and the shears

page_text: for cutting the boards transversely, and Fig. 8 is a front view of the punch
bar and punches. In cutting pasteboard to the required size and form for
button cards by this machine, and piercing the holes therein, in which the
shanks of the buttons are secured, a suitable number of sheets of pasteboard
placed one above the other are fed into the machine by hand. In order to
facilitate this operation the upper feeding roller a is slightly raised from the
lower one by depressing the pedal c with the foot, (the pedal c being
connected to the levers d, d, by the links e, e, and shaft f. f.) one end of
the sheets of pasteboard may be then conveniently introduced between the
feeding rollers a and b, and the pressure being withdrawn from the pedal c,
the upper roller a will by its own gravity, and by the action of spiral springs,
close upon and hold fast the sheets of pasteboard. Rotary motion being given
to the crank shaft g by means of the fly wheel h, the cam i upon one end
thereof (see Figs. 2 and 5) is brought into contact with the upper extremity
of the thrust bar k, which being bridled at its upper end to the framework of
the machine by the link 7, cannot move in a lateral direction, and is conse-
quently pushed downwards by the caini. The bar is connected at its lower
extremity to the shorter end of the lever m, which has its fulcrum at n, and
is thus caused to move through a portion of a circle. At the end of the
longer arm of this lever is affixed a spring and click o, taking into the teeth
of the ratchet wheel p, consequently when the lever m is forced round upon
its centre in the direction of the arrow by the action of the cam i, the ratchet
wheel p is driven round with it. The ratchet wheel p is keyed firmly upon
one end of the lower feeding roller b, and the feed rollers a and b being
coupled together at the reverse end (see Fig. 1) by the spur wheels q, q, are
caused to perform part of a revolution at each revolution of the cam shaft,
thus drawing in at each movement the required length of pasteboard, that is
a length equal to the distance between the holes for the shanks of the buttons
in the cards, which distance may be regulated by altering the position of the
adjustable stop, which acts against a stop fixed to the frame (seen best in
Fig. 2). The boards having thus been carried forward underneath the punches
affixed to the punch bar r, r, (see enlarged views Fig. 7 & 8, the punches
are forced downwards and caused to perforate the boards with holes at equal
distances apart, in a line extending across the whole breadth of the sheets. This
is effected by the punch bar r, r, being connected by the links s, s, to the cranks
on the shaft g, so that as the fly wheel and crank shaft revolve the punches
are forced down and drawn up again once at each revolution. We would
here remark that as soon as the cam i has passed the thrust bar k, the
spiral spring draws the lever m into the position shewn in Fig. 5, thus giving

page_text: the click o a fresh hold upon the ratchet wheel p. Thus it will be evident
that at each revolution of the crank shaft a certain length of the boards will
be fed in and a row of shank holes pierced. The next operation of the
machine is to divide or slit the sheets of pasteboard (as they progress)
longitudinally into breadths, equal to the proposed widths of the button cards.
This operation is performed as the sheets advance from the punching appa-
ratus by a series of circular shears fitted on to the rollers. t, t, and kept at
the required distance apart by the tubes or ferrules u, u, (see Figs. 6 and 7).
It will be observed that the ferrules. upon the lower_roller are grooved in
order to prevent them from closing the perforations in the cards; the lower
discharging roller is. also grooved for the same purpose. These rollers are
connected by gearing to the feeding rollers a and b, and revolve with them,
thus cutting the pasteboards into slips longitudinally as they advance. These
strips are then cut transversely into lengths as they progress by the fol-
lowing means:-The crank shaft as it revolves communicates motion by
means of the spur wheel and pinion v, v, to the cam shaft w,. upon which are
keyed two cams x, x, one at each side of the machine. In the groove of
these cams (see Fig. 3) a friction roller works, which is attached to the back
of the levers y, to which. the ends of the upper cutting bar are connected.
The lower cutting bar 1 is stationary, and is attached to a sliding frame 2,
which may be adjusted so as to regulate the length of the cards by means of
the screw 3. 4, 4, are the discharging or delivering rollers, which are con-
nected by gearing to and revolve with the rollers t, t. [We would here
remark that when playing or other plain cards are cut the punch bars are to
be removed].
In Sheet 2 of the Drawings a modification of the above is represented,
the difference consisting principally in the mode of feeding and in employing
straight shears instead of revolving ones for slitting the pasteboard longitudi-
nally; being drawn to a scale of about one inch and a half to the foot. Fig. 1
is a side elevation of the machine, and Fig. 2 a transverse section taken
vertically through about the line A, B, in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal
section of the cutting and delivering end of the apparatus taken vertically
through about the line C, D, in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan or horizontal view
of the same as seen from above, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of part of the
apparatus shewing the guide blocks between the shears, and Fig. 6 is a
longitudinal section of the same. In this apparatus sheets of pasteboard are
fed in as follows:-The feeding bar a, it will be perceived, is furnished with
several spring clips b, b, (see enlarged views, Figs. 7, 8, and 9,) which may be
opened, as represented in Fig. 9, by depressing the trigger c.
The feeding

page_text: bar a having been brought by means of the hand wheel d into the position
shewn by dotted lines in the plan view Fig. 4, the pedal e is depressed with
the foot, which causing the rod f, f, to press down all the triggers c,. c, opens
the clips b, b. The sheets of pasteboard are then placed between the clips
with their ends resting against the studs 9, 9, (see Figs. 8 and 9). The
pressure is then withdrawn from the pedal, and the springs close, and hold
the sheets of pasteboard fast. Rotary motion. is then given to the crank
shaft h, h, by means of the fly wheel i, i, the cam k upon the end of the same
communicating a reciprocating motion to the rod 7 by means of the lever m
and link n. This rod is provided with a notchi which works upon a pin
at the lower end of the lever o. When the rod l is drawn: by the action. of
the cam k in the direction of the arrow, the upper end of the lever o is pressed
against the lower side of the slide p (to which the feeding bar a is attaclied);
and carries the slide and feeding bar with it, thus passing the sheets of paste-
board forward underneath. the punches. When the rod recedes it releases
the upper end of the lever o, which recedes with it so as to get a fresh hold
upon the slide p, the distance which the rod recedes, and consequently the
distance between each row of shank holes, being regulated by means of the
screw y. The upper series of longitudinal cutters 9, 7, are affixed to the
punch bar r, the lower cutters s,. s, being affixed to the punch. bed. In Fig. 6
t, t, are holding down pieces for holding down and guiding the pasteboards
between the longitudinal cutters. The punch bar, transverse cutters, &c. are
similar to those in the previous machine, and are wrought in a similar manner,
and therefore need no further description. In order to prevent the spring
clips b, b, from advancing too far, so as to come in the way of the transverse
cutters, the slide p is furnished with a small projecting piece v,. which when
the feeding bar has advanced the pasteboard as far as required, comes into
contact with the upper arm of the lever u, u, the lower arm of which releases
the lever w, and allows it by the aid of the spiral spring x to raise the end
of the rod 1, thus releasing the notch from the pin on the lever o; and throwing
the rod out of gear with the slide p; as shewn enlarged: in the detached. view,
Fig. 10.
In Sheet 3 of the Drawings our improved apparatus for pressing the
pasteboard is exhibited drawn to a scale of about one half of an inch to a
foot, Fig. 1 being a plan or horizontal view of the same, as seen from above,
and Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an end view, and Fig. 4. a vertical
transverse section of the apparatus. a, a, is the bed of the press upon which
the sheets of pasteboard are laid. The platten is composed of two parts b, b,
and c, c. It will be seen, upon referring to the Drawings, that the lower part b,b,

page_text: has always a tendency to approach the upper part c, c, owing to the agency
of counterbalance weights attached to the cords d, d, but is prevented from
coming any nearer to it than it is represented in Fig. 2 by the jointed levers
e, c, c, e. Rotary motion being given to the fly wheel f is imparted to the
spur wheel g by means of a sliding key or cotter g*, and is thence commu-
nicated to the vertical screws h, h, by the spur wheel hand bevil gearing i, i,
which will have the effect of bringing down both parts of the platten together
and thus compressing the pasteboards to a certain extent. When the resist-
ance increases the cotter g (see Fig. 5, which is an enlarged section of this
part of the apparatus) is slipped into the boss of the wheel j; thus-decreasing
the speed, but at the same time increasing the power.
When the platten
has been thus brought into the position shewn in Fig. 2, the sliding key or
feather is then withdrawn from the boss of the wheel j, and locked into that
of the spur wheel k, by means of the rack and pinion m. The spur wheel k
is in gear with a wheel n keyed fast upon the shaft o. This shaft o has a
right and left handed screw cut upon it, working through nuts p, p, attached to
the jointed levers c, e, e, e, so that as this shaft revolves it advances the nuts
p, p, towards the centre, which has the effect of straightening the jointed levers
e, e, e, e, thus increasing the distance between the two parts of the platten b
and c; and as the upper part c is prevented from ascending by the resistance
of the vertical screws h, h, the lower part b is forced downwards. The cotter g
is subsequently slidden into the boss of the wheel k*, thus further reducing
the speed and increasing the power, and thus the pasteboards are still furthur
compressed. Detached views of the levers e, e, &c. are exhibited at Fig. 6.
Of course it will be evident that this apparatus is equally applicable to a
variety of other purposes where pressure is required to be given.
Having thus described the nature and object of our Invention, together with
the method of carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark, in
conclusion, that we claim as our Invention the peculiar construction and
arrangement of machinery exhibited in Sheets 1 and 2 of the Drawings
annexed, and above more particularly set forth, or any modification thereof,
for making playing and other cards, and also other articles made wholly or in
part of paper or pasteboard, and also the improved arrangement of machinery,
exhibited in Sheet 3 of the Drawings, for pressing pasteboard, or for other
purposes where pressure is required.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Church, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-nine.
WILLIAM (L.S.) CHURCH.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fifth day of April,
in the year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid William Church came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
5 above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-sixth day of .April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand night hundred and fartic
Enrolled the Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty nine.