IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PUNCHING OR PERFORATING CHEQUES, BILLS, AND OTHER LIKE DOCUMENTS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Shirlaw, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
PUNCHING OR PERFORATING CHEQUES, BILLS, AND OTHER LIKE DOCUMENTS."
Sealed the 2nd December 1879, and dated the 30th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Shirlaw at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1879.
ANDREW SHIRLAW, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PUNCHING OR PERFORATING CHEQUES, BILLS, AND
OTHER LIKE. DOCUMENTS."
This Invention refers to machines for punching or perforating cheques, bills, and
other like documents. :
It consists of a frame containing a bed frame, or block on which are the matrices
for the several punches, and also a die frame for the punches; the die frame is
capable of sliding within the outer frame so that it may be brought into contact
with the bed frame; a steel spindle runs through each of these frames, and these
spindles carry centrally in the frames, one or more ten sided revolving cylinders, each
side being furnished in the upper cylinders with punches representing a figure and
in the lower cylinders with corresponding matrices. Each spindle carries also index
cylinders with plain figures on them so that the operator can by this index adjust
the punches and matrix cylinders to any figure required, and they may be kept in
their requisite relative positions by the index cylinders being formed as pawls or
by side pins through the cylinders. The die frame is brought into contact with
the matrix frame by a plunger governed by a spring to throw it upwards. The
side parts of the frames right and left of the revolving cylinders are furnished, the
upper with punches, and the lower with matrices, representing words, such as under
and pounds, and a cheque, or other document placed upon the lower frame and the
numeral punches adjusted, a blow on or pressure on the plunger or the action of a
lever is caused to force the upper. frame down on the lower one and drive the
punches through the cheque, piercing it thus, for instance, under 200 pounds, which
would require three revolving, cylinders. In like manner with any other number
of cylinders the number of numerals may be, given whilst the value of those
numerals may be varied by shifting the relative positions. of-the-sides of each
cylinder. This apparatus may be, employed for other devices than words=or
numerals if required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent_filed by
the said Andrew Shirlaw in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th January
1880.
34
ANDREW SHIRLAW, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PUNCHING OR PERFORATING CHEQUES, BILLS, AND
OTHER LIKE DOCUMENTS."
My Invention refers to machines to be employed for punching or perforating
documents of value, such as cheques, bills, or vouchers, with the view of preventing
the fraudulent alteration of the same.
gure), a side elevation.
: (Figure 3), a side elevation of the punch wheel.
(Figure 4), a side elevation of the die or matrix wheel.
(Figure 5), a cross section through the meeting points of both the working parts
on line A, B. (u) is a metal frame formed below as a bed frame (b) on which are
matrices (c) for some of the punches, and carrying in bearings in (d, d,) the dic
wheels or matrices a, x, for the remaining punches; this frame (a) also carries a
draw off plate (a'), Figures 1 and 2 and 3, and which draw off plate is formed with
long slots for the numeral punches to pass through. The frame (a) in its upper
portion carries also a second sliding frame (e), in which are fixed; punches (ƒ)
corresponding to the matrices (e) in the bed frame (b) and punch wheels (g, g,) in
gear with the die wheels or matrices (x, x). The punch and die wheels are hung in
their bearings in the frames by centre pins (h, h), and when adjusted are keyed
in their relative positions by the pins (,), the vertical position of the sliding
frame (e) being governed by pins (3, 1) fixed in the frame (e) and working through
slots (2) in the outer-frame-(a)-Figure-2.-The frame (e) is capable of rising or
falling within the out er frame (a) by the operation of a spring plunger (/) actuated
by the lever handle (1) which on being released from pressure of the hand is
returned to its normal position by the spring on the plunger (k). The dotted
lines in Figure 1 shew this action.
'
The construction of the punch and die wheels is illustrated in detail in (Figures
3 and 4). (m) is a block of metal pierced with a centre for the pin (m, Figure 3),
and with other holes (n) for the key pin (i), and also with apertures (o) which are
filled with soft metal or other suitable material to form a seating for the punches (2);
the die wheel (Figure 4) is similarly pierced for the centre and key pins and is
countersunk on each of its sides to receive steel matrix plates (r) dovetailed into
the metal of the wheel and having behind them chambers (s) to admit of the escape
of the punched out blanks, or I can employ solid steel matrices in lieu thereof. In
similar manner the spaces (t) Figure 1) are filled with soft metal for the seating of
the punches (f); and the bed or matrix plates (b) Figure 1) are fitted with steel
matrix plates (6); this is shewn in section (Figure 5). In the Drawings the
machine is shewn as adapted for two columns of figures only, but by the addition of
extra wheels the columns may be extended. The small figures in each face of the
wheel are to indicate the figure which the punches represent. Ciphers upon the
stationary side frame can also be employed to multiply the amounts by ten or to
indicate francs, florins, or dollars, or other currency capable of decimal subdivision.
Each face of the wheels contains on the one a numeral arrangement of the punches,
and on the other a similar arrangement of the matrices, and each wheel being
capable of shifting independently upon the centre pin any two numbers may be
adjusted; the punches and matrices (f and c) in the side frames are set to represent
on the one side "under," and on the other side the currency, such as "pounds,"
francs," or "dollars." The punches are made of varying lengths, so that they may
6

page_text: not enter the paper all together, which would involve more power than necessary,
and I prefer to make the side punches on the frame the longest, that by entering
the paper first they may hold it stretched for the numeral punches. In place of
the matrix wheels and matrix plates herein named I can employ if preferred an
india rubber or other resilient bed plate. The operation is as follows:-The punches
having been adjusted to the required amount the cheque or other document is
slipped into the space (w) (Figure 1), and pressure is applied by the handle (l)
which lowers the frame (e) and with it all the punches, causing them to pierce the
cheque and force the cut out blanks through the bed plates into the spaces behind
the dies, leaving the cheque perforated with the words and figures (say, for instance)
"under fifty pounds."
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be carried into effect,
I do not confine myself to the precise details of the machine as herein described
and illustrated, as the same may be varied without departing from the principle of
the Invention; but that which I claim is, the construction of the machine for
punching or perforating documents of value by the employment of wheels carrying
punches and dies suitably mounted, or the system of revolving punches with a
resilient bed plate, and generally the arrangement and combination of the several
parts of the machine, as herein more fully set forth and specified.
hand
In witness whereof; I, the said Andrew Shirlaw, have hereunto set my
and seal, this Twenty eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.