AN IMPROVED QUADRANTAL-ACTION-LEVER STAMPING AND CANCELLING PRESS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Sulman, of No. 40, City Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Manufacturing Stationer, and Robert Willis,
of the same Place, Clerk to the said Benjamin Sulman, for the
Sealed the 14th April 1870, and dated the 20th October 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Sulman
and Robert Willis at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 20th October 1869.
We, BENJAMIN SULMAN, of No. 40, City Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturing Stationer, and ROBERT WILLIS, of the same
Place, Clerk to the said Benjamin Sulman, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED QUADRANTAL-ACTION-LEVER STAMPING
AND CANCELLING PRESS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to such presses as are required for marking,
stamping, or cancelling bills, notes, cheques, bags, or other articles.

page_text: We form the body of the press of any suitable material, but by
preference of cast iron, with a vertical back, a horizontal front plate, and
two curved sides (each side forming a qurdrant or thereabouts) having
a space between them sufficient for the lever herein-after described to
work in. We prefer having the back, sides, and front plate just
described cast in one piece. On the horizontal plate and beyond the
sides we fix the stamping pad with its face upwards. To the upper part
of the vertical back we fix the inking pad with its face in a vertical
position looking towards the stamping pad, and consequently the two
pads are at right angles to each other or nearly so; these pads are
adjustible upon centres to allow the die or stamp to strike them fairly
and with an equal pressure, and are capable of being removed for renewal,
repair, or alteration. Attached to the press and working between the
sides thereof we fit a suitable lever, which works upon a pin or axle as a
fulcrum at or near the angle of the press, the curved portion of the
sides forming a guide slot to guide the other end of the lever and keep
it in a line with the two pads or cushions, as it is actuated from one pad
to the other alternately. Upon this lever a sleeve or tube is fitted made
of brass or other suitable material, which sleeve or tube has a semi-rotary
motion round the lever. Towards the upper end of this sleeve the die
or stamp or other device is attached, so that the stamp receives a similar
motion to that of the sleeve. By means of this semi-rotation of the
sleeve and stamp the latter is brought alternately in contact with the
inking pad (when in a vertical position), and with the paper or other
material to be stamped, impressed, or marked lying upon the stamping
pad (when in a horizontal position). The sleeve has likewise attached
to it a half pinion, which gears into a rack fitted on the inner side of
one of the sides at or near the guide slot, and which causes the semi-
rotary motion before mentioned.
By means of a spring the lever is brought into a vertical position
when the power is removed, and the stamp is thereby pressed against
the inking pad and remains in that position until power is again applied
to it for marking or stamping. The lever may be actuated by hand by
means of a handle fitted to it, or by a lever or pedal moved by the foot.
In the latter case the motion may be imparted to the lever by either a
crank or pulley with a suitable connection to the pedal. It may also be
actuated by machinery without any manual power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Sulman and Robert Willis in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 20th April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, BENJAMIN
SULMAN, of No. 40, City Road, in the County of Middlesex, Manu-
facturing Stationer, and ROBERT WILLIS, of the same Place, Clerk to the
said Benjamin Sulman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Benjamin Sulman and Robert Willis, Her special
licence that we, the said Benjamin Sulman and Robert Willis, ur
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Benjamin Sulman and Robert Willis, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED QUADRANTAL-ACTION-LEVER
STAMPING AND CANCEL. ING PRESS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Benjamin Sulman and Robert Willis, our executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Benjamin Sulman and Robert
Willis, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
:-
Our Invention relates to such presses as are required for marking,
stamping, or cancelling bills, notes, cheques, bags, or other articles.
We form the body of the press of any suitable material, but by
preference of cast iron, with a vertical back, a horizontal bottom and

page_text: front plate, and two vertical sides with curved fronts (each side forming
a quadrant or thereabouts) having a space between the sides sufficient
for the lever herein-after described to work in. The back, bottom,
sides, and front plate just described may be formed of one or more
castings. On the said horizontal plate, and beyond the sides, we fix the
stamping pad in a horizontal position with its face upwards. To the
upper part of the vertical back we fix the inking pad with its face in a
vertical position looking towards the stamping pad, and consequently
the two pads are at right angles to each other or thereabouts. Attached
to the press and working between the sides thereof we fit a suitable
lever, which works upon a pin or axle as a fulcrum, the curved portion
of the sides forming guides to guide the lever and keep it in a line with
the two pads, as it is actuated from one pad to the other alternately.
Upon this lever a sleeve or tube is fitted, made of brass, which has a semi-
rotary motion round the lever. At a suitable distance from the fulcrum
and upon the sleeve the die or stamp or other device is fixed in such a
manner that the stamp receives a similar semi-rotary motion to that of
the sleeve. By means of this semi-rotation of the sleeve and stamp
the latter is brought alternately into contact with the inking pad (when
in a vertical position) and with the paper or other materials to be
stamped, impressed, cancelled, or marked lying upon the stamping pad
(when in a horizontal position). The sleeve has likewise attached to it
a mutilated pinion, which gears into a rack fitted on one of the sides,
and which causes the semi-rotary motion before mentioned.
By means of a spring or springs the lever is brought into a vertical
position when the power is removed, and the stamp is thereby pressed
against the inking pad and remains in that position until power is again
applied to it. The lever may be worked by hand as herein described, or
power may be applied by means of a lever moved by the foot. In the latter
case the motion may be imparted to the die by either a crank or pulley,
with a suitable connection to the pedal. It may also be actuated by
machinery without any manual power.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the Invention, in which
similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in
the several Figures.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the press complete. a, a, is the cast-iron
bottom plate; b, the upper part, also of cast iron (sides and back in one

page_text: piece) screwed to a by screws passing through a, as shewn by dotted
lines at c; d is the lever or handle for working the press; e is the die or
device, which is here shewn in contact with the inking pad f. The die e
is attached to a tube or sleeve which revolves on d. When the lever d
is moved into the position y (shewn by dotted lines) the die is moved
round the lever ninety degrees or thereabouts, as shewn, and when the
lever is moved into the position (shewn also by dotted lines) the die
moves round the lever one hundred and eighty degrees, as shewn, and
is capable of being pressed upon the paper or other materials to be
stamped. 9 is the stamping pad, which is formed of vulcanized india.
rubber or other suitable materials; this pad g may also be formed and
fitted in a similar manner to the pad f herein-after described. Fig. 2
is a front elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the
line i, k, of Fig. 2. In this Drawing No. 3, d¹ is the main rod or body
of the lever formed of wrought iron, to which the hard wood handle / is
attached; d is the tube or sleeve fitted to revolve easily on d' by the
action of the mutilated pinion n.
In order to shew the action more clearly a sectional Drawing of Fig. 1
on the curved line o, p, is shewn in Fig. 4, the curved line o, p, being
in Fig. 4 laid down as a plane. A separate external view is also given
in Fig. 5 of the guide block m and pinion n, and a plan of n sectional on
the line 9, 10, is shewn in Fig. 6. By referring to these several Figures
it will be seen that when the lever is upright the guide block m and
sleeve is prevented from turning in the guides q formed on the cast-iron
sides, and that when the lever is moved forward the pinion n comes into
contact with the rack r of two teeth fixed to the side, as shewn. Here
the guide q is cut away above r to allow the guide block m to turn in
it, which it does upon the pinion being actuated by the rack r. Fig. 7
is a plan of the lower plate a. Fig. 8 is a back view of a and b with
the inking pad and lever removed to shew the slots formed for the
purpose of screwing the inking pad in its place, where it can be shifted,
turned round, or removed for supply of ink.
;
The inking pad is shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. In Fig. 1 its side is
shewn in Fig. 2 its front; and in Fig. 3 it is shewn in section. It
consists of a back plate t of brass turned to the form shewn in section in
Fig. 3, having a flange in front and a screw behind, as shewn, to which
screw a nut u is fitted. A brass ring of the form shewn is turned to
fitt loosely enough to allow the outer edge of a piece of cloth (x) or
v

page_text: other suitable material to be squeezed and thereby held between the
flanges of and t. Pieces of felt (w) or other suitable material are
inserted between x and t for padding to give the inking pad sufficient
spring and firmness. At 11, Figs. 1 and 3, an axle of steel is fitted passing
through the two sides of 6, upon which the lever works as a fulcrum.
Two steel springs are fitted to the lever d, one on each side of the boss,
one of which springs is shewn in Fig. 3 marked 13. One end of each
spring is attached to the boss of the lever, as shewn, and the other end
of each spring is attached to a pin marked 12 passing through the sides
of b, as shewn. These springs by their action restore the lever d to a
vertical position when power is withdrawn.
Brass slips or finishing pieces marked 14, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, are screwed
to b, as shewn.
Having described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, it is to be understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the particular materials named, as other materials
of suitable strength and quality may be substituted; and we claim as
our Invention, the form of press herein described with its mode of action,
as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Benjamin Sulman and Robert
Willis, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth
day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy.
Witness,
THOS. MOY,
1, Clifford's Inn.
BENJAMIN SULMAN. (L.S.)
ROBERT WILLIS.
(L.S.)