IMPROVEMENTS IN NUMBERING MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING PRESSES
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st October 1877. A communication from
abroad by Thomas Sheridan Bowman, of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
of America, Printer.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN NUMBERING MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR PRINTING PRESSES." [A communication from abroad by Thomas
Sheridan Bowman, of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America; Printer.]
The object of the present Invention is to provide machinery or apparatus for
consecutively numbering impressions of type matter, and which will be economical
in construction, readily operated, and available for printing the numbers inde-
pendently, but more especially in combination with and as part of an ordinary form
of type matter, and which, when thus used, will be capable of being located in any
part of the form, and so as to print, if desired, the number even in the centre of
the impression.
The said Invention consists mainly in a portable device that can be enclosed in
the chase like ordinary type, and caused to operate by the pressure of the platen
of the press, forming numbers consecutively, which are printed as part of the
impression.
The said Invention comprises an inner case containing a series of wheels bearing
numerals, and which is in turn contained in an outer case which is locked in the
chase. The inner case has a slight vertical movement in the outer case, in con-
nection with which movement, and as a result thereof, the numbers are consecutively
formed in the top of the device to be printed, at the same time, and by the same
means as remainder of the form.
The inner case is in the form of a square frame, open above and below; a shaft
supported longitudinally in it rests in the end walls of the said case. This shaft
does not rotate. The numerical bearing wheels are arranged and turn upon the said
shaft.
There is combined with one of these wheels a ratchet provided with an offset, and
a spring pawl and dog provided with a point which acts in combination with the
said frame and ratchet

page_text: In combination with the said numerical wheel there is a part which carries a stud
that operates on a cam on the said shaft, and there is a hook that engages with the
first numerical wheel, and is operated by the said ledge, assisted by a spring and a
spring arm pivoted or fulcrumed on a post.
The inner case or frame containing the series of numerical wheels is detachable
from the outer case.
By this Invention I provide a consecutive numbering machine for printing
presses operated by the platen of the press acting directly on the number wheels;
and the number wheels of which are depressed by the platen of the press in
taking the impression to be rotated in raising by means of the aforesaid hook con-
nected with the case of the machine engaging with a ratchet on the first number
wheel. The number wheels have a vertical movement in the form.
The ratchet has its teeth curved with recesses at the end thereof in combination
with a pawl having a projection and extension to fit the said teeth and recesses to
facilitate the movement of the aforesaid pawl. The said extension on the frame
moves outwardly from the periphery of the number wheel or wheels, causing a
separation of the paper and the wheel or wheels in advance of the rotation of the
latter after the impression, is printed.
A projection. is arranged at the side of the unit wheel for the purpose of printing
the periods.
In combination with the aforesaid cases there is a spring arm having a projection,
and a wheel provided with stops to control the operation of the said wheels; and
I provide a locking device, that in addition to locking the wheels between the
impressions, co-operates with the devices used in lifting the number wheels.
It is obvious that any desirable number of wheels can be used, and the capacity
of the said machine or apparatus accordingly enlarged. Moreover, any desirable
number of machines can be used in the form, according to the numbers it is desired
to print at one time.
The said machine or apparatus can be used upon a bed or platen press as above
described, or on a cylinder press, as the impression of the press is the operative
agency.
It will be observed that by means of the hook engaging with the ratchet the
detachable portion of the device, that is, the inner case and its contents, is prac-
tically locked to the outer case sufficiently to prevent its being withdrawn from the
latter by the suction of the rollers or other cause.