IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING APPARATUS TO BE OPERATED BY HAND, AND WHICH MAY BE COMBINED WITH A POCKET KNIFE OR SIMILAR ARTICLE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING APPARATUS TO BE OPERATED BY HAND, AND
WHICH MAY BE COMBINED WITH A POCKET KNIFE OR SIMILAR ARTICLE."
A communication from abroad by Joseph F. de Buigue, of Storé (Stiermark),
Austria.
Sealed the 29th August 1879, and dated the 19th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th March 1879.
tt
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING APPARATUS TO
BE OPERATED BY HAND, AND WHICH MAY BE COMBINED WITH A POCKET KNIFE
OR SIMILAR ARTICLE." [A communication from abroad by Joseph F. de Buigne,
of Storé (Stiermark), Austria.]
The present improvements relate to a self inking or hand printing apparatus,.
which occupies in comparison with apparatus heretofore employed for the same
I purpose a smaller space, and is also of a less weight, whilst the impression surface
is the same.
The apparatus constructed according to this Invention may be carried on the
person without causing inconvenience, and may be combined with other objects,
such as keys, pocket knives, or similar articles which it is usual for a person to
carry.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I employ cylinder-printing, that is
to say, the type is on the circumferential surface of a revolving cylinder, which by
its rotation imparts a revolving motion to an adjacent inking roller, touching on
the other side a receiver, from which it takes up the ink or colour in order to
transmit it to the said impression cylinder. The said receiver consists of capillary
elastic material, for instance, common sponge, and communicates with a chamber,
the capacity of which corresponds with the volume of liquid ink or colour which
this receiver is capable of absorbing and retaining, so that the capacity of the

page_text: receiver may not be exceeded when feeding the apparatus. From the said chamber
openings capable of being closed up lead to the exterior. One of them serves for
filling the chamber, while the other provides means for the escape of the air.
The most suitable manner for filling the chamber with ink is to use an injection
tube.
The cylindrical form of the said receiver has the advantage of bringing, if desired,
any spots of its surface in contact with the inking-roller. For this purpose the
receiver is provided with a corresponding handle or tappit, by means of which it
can be rotated from the outside.
When the apparatus is made of small size this receiver is dispensed with. In
this case the inking roller is generally made of felt, and is large enough to be able
to absorb the corresponding quantity of ink necessary for the desired number of
impressions, and the ink may be directly applied on the inking roller.
The apparatus is placed in a box provided with a locking device, permitting
when opened the bringing of the impression cylinder in contact with the paper, so
that when rolling on it and by exercising a suitable pressure while in use the type
is printed on the paper.
The impression cylinder has at least one rolling flange of the same diameter as
the former in order to supply the hollow places on the circumference of the impres-
sion cylinder caused by the arrangement of the type, and to enable a regular rolling
motion on the paper. It serves also to facilitate the commencement of the motion
at that point where between the commencement and end of the line a hollow place
is left in the circumference of the cylinder for the purpose of preventing at the
starting position the ends of the type from touching the paper, and thus avoids
scrawling.
The stopping mechanism which automatically arrests the impression cylinder
when in use, after having made a determined portion of a rotation, consists of a
curve, which produces by reason of its slope the impulse for the stopping by con-
ducting (while the cylinder rotates) a catch against a stop, whereby the impression
cylinder is brought to rest. In order to be able to turn again the impression
cylinder when next required this catch is brought back to its starting position every
time the apparatus is to be employed. Whatever kind of stopping mechanism may
be applied it will always be necessary to release or to engage the same from the
outside; this releasing or engaging may be caused by means of a simple device
which will be hereinafter described.
Out of a helical curve fixed to the impression cylinder, and consequently turning
with the latter, is cut away a piece so that a catch is allowed to pass freely between
the two ends of this curve. This catch is provided with a notch, through which
the curve may pass. Supposing the impression cylinder is to turn when in use
in the direction of the dial of a watch, and the exterior ends of the curve to stand
at the beginning of the rotation above the said notch in the catch, the end of
the curve will by the next motion of the cylinder enter the said notch of the catch,
being thus obliged to move according to the slope of the curve. As the latter
displaces the catch the passage for a second revolution is cut off on account of the
exterior end of the curve being on that part of the catch which is not notched. In
this position the catch is pulled so far toward the centre of the impression cylinder
that a tappet laterally placed at the other end of the catch is put against the rear
part of a spring which forms the spring-catch of the locking device of the box.
Now if the said spring is pressed to the right in order to open a cover the catch
will be thereby at the time released and brought back in consequence of the
aforesaid tappet. When set free the spring will advance without taking the catch
with it, but leaves it in that position into which it was formerly brought and
which permits the end of the curve to enter the aforesaid notch for a new impression.
It will be seen that there is no special operation requisite for releasing the catch
"and the impression cylinder, but it is effected simultaneously in opening the box.
However when the box is once opened a pressure from the left to the right is

page_text: every time to be exerted on the spring in order to release the catch before each
new imprint.
To prevent the impression cylinder as well as the catch from being displaced by
any accident, I provide a catch acting simultaneously as a spring, pressing on the
one hand against the cylinder, and on the other against the wall of the box, and
serving thus as a backspring for itself as well as for the cylinder.
To render the releasing operation still more simple I provide an arrangement by
means of which it is effected at the instant the apparatus is put on or taken off the
paper, and this is done by the action of putting or taking it off, and by applying a
touch or movable piece.
A catch pivoted to a point touches on one side with a tappet the inside of a
curve fixed to the impression cylinder. On the other side it rests on a pin of the
said touch or movable piece, which is maintained in its position by an elastic force,
and pushes forward the circumference of the cylinder in this position. When
putting the apparatus on the paper the said movable piece is repelled so that it will
no longer push forward the circumference of the cylinder. In doing so the catch
which during this operation remained in its place will be released from the pin of
the said movable piece. In consequence of the next movement of the impression
cylinder the catch is raised by virtue of the tappet entering the curve to such an
extent that it interferes with the rotation of a pin fixed on the cylinder, causing
thus the latter to stop. By the raising of the catch produced by the slope of the
curve the former comes again in contact with the pin of the said movable piece,
which will bring it back to its starting position as soon as the said piece is moved
forward by elastic force when taking off the apparatus from the paper. It follows
that the catch engages by the revolving motion of the cylinder, and is again released
by taking off the apparatus from the paper.
I may modify the construction of the movable piece with stoppage without a
curve, as follows, that is to say-With the impression cylinder there is a separato
dise with one point of its periphery on the paper; this disc constitutes at the same
time the movable piece and the catch. The pivot of this disc is placed excentrically
with regard to the centre of the impression cylinder. On conducting the apparatus
over the paper a revolving motion is imparted to the impression cylinder as well as
to the disc. On this occasion a pin fixed on the cylinder crosses, on account of its
advanced position, the path of a rib fixed on the disc. However the rotation of
the disc is limited (by striking against a pin in the box) in such a manner that it
is firmly maintained as soon as the said rib placed upon it enters the path of the
pin on the cylinder, serving afterwards for it as a stop. In the moment of taking
the apparatus off the paper the friction between the former and the disc will also
cease, and the latter therefore flies back to its starting position on account of the
elastic force, whereupon another impression may be made.
The chief difference between the examples given for the touches 'or movable
pieces is that the former touch is indirectly, the second directly influenced by the
rotation of the impression cylinder. I therefore call each piece a touch which
touches the paper for the main or secondary purpose of an influence upon the
rotation of the impression cylinder, and which causes indirectly or directly a
stopping or releasing, whatever the manner of operating and construction may be.
In order to make the greatest use of the periphery of the impression cylinder I'
provide the following arrangement with regard to the starting point of inking or
colouring the impression cylinder. Properly speaking those parts of the type which
pass first the inking roller ought also to come first to the printing
:-
If, for various reasons, it should be difficult to make the starting point of the
inking coincide with the starting point of the imprint without losing any part of
the useful circumferential surface of the impression cylinder, I allow any suitable
point of the surface of the cylinder to come in contact with the inking roller. At
one revolution of the impression cylinder each point of its periphery is obliged to
make also one turn; consequently each point will pass the inking roller and print.
In this case the first imprint of the apparatus will not be inked or colored on the

page_text: length from the starting point of the imprint to the starting point of the inking,
but each following imprint will be entirely inked, and even the above mentioned
length of the circumference of the cylinder will be, whilst accomplishing the last
imprint, inked in advance for the next following imprint.
When the apparatus has not been in use for a long time the ink or colour will
partly pass over to the uninked parts of the type, which receive a dead appearance
when making the next imprint. However it would be sufficient in such a case to
make a trial imprint before using the apparatus, as then all others successively
made will be regularly inked or coloured.
•
In order to provide for better work or execution I cause the cylinder to make a
partial rotation after its use, bringing thus the commencement of the line to the
inking roller, and afterwards before employing the apparatus by the inversed
rotation back to the starting position. To obviate the necessity of employing a
hand or other device for effecting the partial rotation of the cylinder I make it
depend on the opening and closing of the box cover.
A pin fastened to the locking pieces passes through a circular slot in the box-
wall, and protruding, this one enters a radial slot made in the impression cylinder,
which cylinder is further provided with a concentric opening, into which the said
slot discharges.
In opening the cover or locking piece the pin takes the cylinder along with it
till the former passes from the radial slot into the concentric opening, a position
which corresponds to the starting position of the cylinder, which is now allowed to
move freely.
In closing the box again, which can only be effected in the starting position of
the cylinder the pin enters again the radial slot, and causes the latter to revolve
back, and holds it fast in this position while the apparatus is not being used.
It is recommended to provide small apparatus destined for simple lines with a
second point in order to give a steady guide to the whole when the imprint is being
effected.
If greasy inks or colours are to be used with the apparatus I apply to such inks
or colors some fine purified oil, such for instance as those used for chronometers, in
order to protect the apparatus from the injurious effect which such greasy inks or
colours would otherwise have.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th September 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING APPARATUS TO
BE OPERATED BY HAND, AND WHICH MAY BE COMBINED WITH A POCKET KNIFE OR
SIMILAR ARTICLE." A communication from abroad by Joseph F. de Buigne, of
Storé (Stiermark), Austria.
The present improvements relate to a self inking hand printing apparatus, which
occupies in comparison with apparatus heretofore employed for the same purpose a
smaller space, and is also of a less weight, whilst the impression surface is the
same.
The apparatus constructed according to this Invention may be carried on the
person without causing inconvenience, and may be combined with other objects,
such as keys, pocket knives, or similar articles which it is usual for a person to
carry.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I employ cylinder printing, that is to
say, the type is on the circumferential surface of a revolving cylinder.
In the accompanying Drawing, in Figure 1, a represents the impression cylin-
der, on the circumference of which is placed the type, and which by its rotation
imparts a revolving motion to the adjacent inking-roller b, touching on the other
side a receiver c, from which it takes up the ink or colour in order to transmit it
to, the impression cylinder a. This receiver consists of a capillary elastic material,
for instance, common sponge, and communicates with a chamber d, the capacity of
which corresponds with the volume of liquid ink or colour which this receiver is
capable of absorbing and retaining, so that the capacity of the receiver may not be
exceeded when feeding the apparatus. From the said chamber d openings c, c,
capable of being closed up lead to the exterior. One of these openings serves for
filling the chamber, while the other provides means for the escape of the air. The
most suitable manner of filling the chamber with ink is to use an injection tube,
as represented in Figure 2.
The cylindrical form of the said receiver permits any desired portion of its
surface to be brought in contact with the inking-roller, the said receiver being pro-
vided for this purpose with a handle or tappet f, as shewn in Figure 1, by means of
which it can be rotated from the outside of the apparatus.
When the apparatus is made of small size this receiver is dispensed with. In
this case the inking roller b.is generally made of felt, and is large enough to be
able to absorb the corresponding quantity of ink necessary for the desired number
of impressions, and the ink may be directly applied to the inking roller b, as shewn
in Figure 3.
The apparatus is placed in a box provided with a locking device, which when
opened permits the impression cylinder to be brought in contact with the paper, so
that when rolling on it and by exercising a suitable pressure while in use the type
is printed on the paper.
The impression cylinder has at least one rolling flange a¹ (see Figure 1) of the
same diameter as the said impression cylinder in order to supply the hollow places
on the circumference of the impression cylinder caused by the arrangement of the
type, and to enable a regular rolling motion on the paper; it serves also to facilitate
the commencement of the motion at that point where between the commencement
and end of the line a hollow place, as shewn at 9, Figure 1, is left in the circum-
ference of the cylinder. for the purpose of preventing at the starting position the
ends of the type from touching the paper, and thus avoid scrawling.
The stopping mechanism which automatically arrests the impression-cylinder
when in use, after having made the desired portion of a rotation, consists of a curve,

page_text: which produces by reason of its slope the impulse for the stopping by conducting
while the cylinder rotates a catch against a stop, whereby the impression-cylinder
is brought to rest. In order to turn the impression-cylinder when next required
this catch is brought back to its starting position every time the apparatus is to be
employed. Whatever kind of stop mechanism may be applied it will always be
necessary to release or to engage the same from the outside. This releasing or
engaging may be effected by means of a simple device hereinafter described.
Figure 4 represents a side elevation of my improved apparatus combined with a
pocket knife, and provided with the said releasing or engaging device. A portion
of a helical curve h fixed to the impression cylinder a, and consequently turning
with the same, is cut away, as shewn, so that a suitably guided catch j can pass
freely between the two ends of the said curve. This catch is provided with a
notch i, through which the curve h may pass. Supposing the impression cylinder
is to turn when in use in the direction of the dial of a watch, and the exterior ends
of the curve at the beginning of the rotation are in a position in line with the
notch in the catch j, one end of the curve will on the commencement of motion
of the cylinder enter the said notch i of the catch, which will thus move according
to the slope of the said curve. As the latter displaces the catch a second revolu-
tion of the impression cylinder is prevented on account of the other end of the
curve striking the part of the said catch j, which is not notched.
By this arrangement the catch is pulled so far toward the centre of the impres-
sion cylinder that a tappet n placed at the side of the other end of the said catch
is brought in contact with the rear part of the spring k, which forms the spring-
catch of the locking device or cover of the box, the position of the said cover when
the case is closed being indicated by dotted lines. Now if the spring k is pressed
to the right in order to open the cover l, the catch j will at the same time be
released and drawn back by the said spring, which comes in contact with the
aforesaid tappet n. When the said spring is released it will return to its normal
position without drawing the catch, that is to say, it leaves the said catch in such
a position as to permit the end of the aforesaid curve to again enter the notch i to
allow of a new impression. It will be seen that there is no special operation
requisite for releasing the catch and the impression cylinder, as they are both
released simultaneously on opening the box. When however the box is once
opened a pressure from the left to the right must be exerted upon the spring k in
order to release the catch j before each new imprint.
To prevent the impression-cylinder as well as the catch from being displaced by
accident, I provide a catch acting simultaneously as a spring, pressing on the one
hand against the cylinder and on the other against the wall of the box, and serving
thus as a back-spring for itself as well as for the cylinder..
To render the releasing operation still simpler I have shewn in Figures 5 and 6
a further arrangement, by means of which the said operation is effected at the
instant the apparatus is put on or taken off the paper and by applying a touch or
moveable piece. The position of the stoppage just before the printing operation
takes place is shewn in Figures 5 and 6, the box being opened. A catch pivoted
at the point m, Figure 6, is provided on one side with a tappet 1 which is in
contact with the inside of a curved surface h fixed to the impression cylinder; on
the other side the said catch rests on a pin 2 of the touch or moveable piece p,
which is maintained in its position by an elastic force, and projects from the cir-
cumference of the cylinder in this position. When putting the apparatus on the
paper the moveable piece p is forced in or repelled as shewn in Figure 7, so that it
will no longer project beyond the circumference of the said cylinder. In this
movement the catch j which during this operation remained stationary will be
released from the pin 2 of the moveable piece p. In the next movement of the
impression cylinder the catch j will be raised by reason of the tappet entering the
curve to such an extent that it interferes with the rotation of a pin 3 fixed on the
cylinder, thus causing the latter to stop as indicated in Figure 8. By the raising
of the aforesaid catch produced by the slope of the curve the said catch again comes

page_text: into contact with the pin 2 of the moveable piece p and the said piece is brought
back to its starting position as soon as it is moved forward by the elastic force
when taking off the apparatus from the paper as shewn in Figure 6. It follows
that the catch engages by the revolving motion of the cylinder and is again
released by taking off the apparatus from the paper.
I may modify the construction of the moveable piece with stoppage without
In connection with the
employing a curve as represented in Figures 9 and 10.
cylinder a is arranged a separate disc p with one point of its periphery on the
paper. This disc constitutes at the same time the moveable piece and the catch.
The pivot m of this disc is placed excentrically with regard to the centre c of
the impression cylinder. On moving the apparatus over the paper as in Figure 10a
revolving motion is imparted to the pressing cylinder as well as to the disc p.
During this rotation a pin 1 fixed on the cylinder freely crosses the path of a rib 2
fixed on the disc p on account of the advanced position of the said pin as shewn in
Figure 9. The rotation however of the disc p is limited (by striking against a
pin 3 of the box) in such a manner that it is firmly maintained as shown in
Figure 10 as soon as the rib 2 placed upon it enters the path of the pin 1 which
afterwards serves as a stop for it.
At the moment when the apparatus is taken off the paper the friction between
the former and the disc p will also cease, and the said disc therefore flies back to
its starting position on account of elastic force, as shewn in Figure 9, whereupon
another impression may be made. The chief difference between the examples given
for the touches or moveable pieces is that the former touch is indirectly and the
second directly influenced by the rotation of the impression cylinder. I therefore
call each piece a touch which touches the paper for the main or secondary purpose
of an influence upon the rotation of the impression cylinder, and which causes
indirectly or directly the stopping or releasing whatsoever the manner of operating
and construction may be.
At one revo-
In order to make the greatest use of the periphery of the impression cylinder I
provide the following arrangement with regard to the starting point of colouring
the impression cylinder. Properly speaking those parts of the type which first
pass the inking roller ought also to come first to the printing. If for various
reasons it should be difficult to make the starting point of the inking coincide
with the starting point of the impression without losing any part of the useful
circumferential surface of the pressing cylinder, I allow any suitable point of the
surface of the cylinder to come in contact with the inking roller.
lution of the impression cylinder each point of its periphery is obliged to make
also one turn, consequently each point will pass the inking roller and print. In
this case the first imprint of the apparatus will not be inked or colored on the
length from the starting point of the imprint to the starting point of the inking,
but each following imprint will be entirely inked and even the above mentioned
length of the circumference of the cylinder whilst accomplishing the last impression
will be inked in advance for the following imprint.
When the apparatus has not been in use for a long time the ink or colour will
partly pass over to the uninked parts of the type, which receive a dead appearance
when making the next imprint. It will be sufficient however in such a case to
make a trial imprint before using the apparatus, as then all others successively made
will be regularly inked or colored.
In order to provide for better work or execution I cause the cylinder to make a
partial rotation after its use, thus bringing the commencement of the line to the
inking roller, and afterwards, before employing the apparatus, by the inversed
rotation back to the starting position. To obviate the necessity of employing a
hand or other device for effecting the partial rotation of the cylinder, I make it
depend on the opening and closing of the box cover.
In Figure 9 the box is shewn closed, and is shown open in Figures 5 and 10, the
cover or locking piece of the box being pivoted at o, the pivot being arranged
excentrically with regard to the centre of the cylinder. A pin fastened to the
•

page_text: :
locking piece passes through a circular slots in the box wall, and projecting
through the said wall enters a radial slot t, Figure 9, made in the impression
cylinder, which cylinder is further provided with a concentric opening u, into which
the slott opens. In opening the cover or locking piece 1, Figure 10, the pin r takes
the cylinder along with it till the said pin passes from the radial slot t into the
concentric opening u, a position which corresponds to the starting position of the
cylinder, which is now permitted to move freely. In closing the box again, which
can only be effected in the starting position of the cylinder, the pin r reenters the
radial slot t, and causes the latter to revolve back, and holds it fast in this position
while the apparatus is not being used.
It is advantageous to provide small apparatuses destined. for simple lines with a
second point v, Figure 4, in order to give a steady guide to the whole when the
imprint is being effected. I may dispense with all automatic stop mechanism for
the impression cylinder in apparatus of small size. In this case the above mentioned
hollow place g on the circumference of the impression-cylinder, even when the
rolling flange a' is retained, may be recessed in such a manner that the said
impression-cylinder after having accomplished its rotation falls upon the paper with
a stroke just perceptible to the touch. This printing apparatus is to be used in an
inclined position, and in rolling over the paper the said apparatus occupies at the
commencement of its movement a more inclined position than at the end, in order
to obtain for the following impression as much lead or advance for the position of
the impression cylinder as required to enable the operation to be recommenced in
the first inclined position of the apparatus.
If greasy inks or colours are to be used with the apparatus, I apply to such inks
or colours some fine purified oil, such for instance as those used for chronometers,
in order to protect the apparatus from the injurious effect which such greasy inks or
colours would otherwise have.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim the improvements in the printing apparatus, and in and relating
to its combination with a pocket knife or other article, and comprising the following
novel features, that is to say:-
First. The application of a revolving impression cylinder in the said apparatus.
Second. The manner of inking the cylinder.
Third. The manner of stopping the cylinder and of producing the rotation.
Fourth. The box enclosing or carrying the entire apparatus.
Fifth. The combination of this apparatus with a pocket-knife, key, or other
object.
Sixth. The application or employment of a touch or moveable piece.
Seventh. The arbitrary starting point of inking of the impression cylinder, and
its partial rotation by the locking of the box.
Eighth. The application of fine purified oils, such as chronometer oils, for pre-
paring greasy or thick colours for the above described apparatus, in order to prevent
their becoming thick and viscous,
All as above set forth, and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
.
ww PORT
זזז