Improvements in Numbering Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: 'Date of Application, 9th July, 1895-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by FRANCIS MEISEL, of Boston, State of Massa-
chusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Numbering Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 'to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object to simplify and improve the construction of
numbering machines used for printing consecutive numbers upon both sides of sales-
slips and other articles, and my invention consists in the combination of two sets of
type-wheels with two movable co-operating platens having their faces arranged in
planes at an angle to each other and acting upon opposite sides of the sheet or
web to bring the same into contact with the types, whereby the numbers or
characters on both sides of the sheet or web are rendered visible soon after they
are printed and the numbers on one side brought directly over corresponding
numbers on the other side, as hereinafter more fully set forth; and my invention
also consists in certain novel combinations of parts and details of construction as
hereinafter set forth and specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings hereto annexed and forming a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a numbering machine embodying my
invention, taken on the line 1, 1, of Figure 2, a portion of the framework at the
left hand side being broken away.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the same on the line 2, 2, of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional detail on the line 3,3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction
of the arrow.
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section on the line 4, 4, of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a detail in perspective of a portion of one of the movable platens
showing a part of its actuating mechanism."
In the said drawings, A represents the framework of the machine, in suitable
bearings in which runs a shaft, b, carrying at one end a driving wheel, B, over
which passes a driving belt, C. In the outer face of the wheel, B, is formed a
cam-groove, c, in which runs a cam-roll, a, shown dotted in Figure 1, mounted on a
stud at one end of a bell-crank lever, D, pivoted on a stud, d, projecting from the
framework, the lever, D, being thus rocked as the cam-wheel revolves. "To the
upper end of the lever, D, is pivoted a link, e, the opposite end of which is pivoted
to a horizontal rack-bar, E, to which is pivoted a lever, 10, fulcrumed on a stud, f,
and having pivoted thereto a rod, g, pivoted at its opposite end to an arm, h,
mounted loosely on a shaft, i, having its bearings in the framework, to which shaft
are rigidly secured the upper numbering or type-wheels, G, said shaft, i, carrying a
ratchet wheel, k, with which engages a weighted pawl, m, pivoted to the arm, h,
whereby as the rack-bar, E, is reciprocated by the mechanism described, the
numbering wheels, G, will be intermittingly rotated as desired a distance equal to
that between two consecutive numbers on their peripheries, at each complete
revolution of the cam-wheel B. A retaining pawl, 12, is pivoted to the framework
and engages the ratchet wheel, k, to prevent any 'backward movement of the same
due to the friction of the pawl, m, on its backward stroke. The shaft, i, carries
outside of the framework, a gear, H, which meshes with a gear, I, of the same size
[Div.17

page_text: on a shaft, n, supported in bearings in the framework, which shaft carries the lower
numbering or type-wheels, K, securely fastened thereto which are thus intermittingly
rotated simultaneously with the numbering wheels, G, and with the same surface
velocity.
L is a web or strip of paper upon which the sales slips, checks or other similar
articles are to be printed and which is to be provided with consecutive numbers up
to any desired limit, as for instance, fifty or one hundred. Each numbering or type-
wheel is therefore provided upon its periphery with the consecutive numbers
corresponding with the series or bunches of slips to be numbered as for instance
from one to fifty or one hundred. The strip or web of paper, L, passes over a
supporting roll, p. under a guide-roll, g, and over a guide-roll, r, and thence
between a pair of drawing rolls, s, s, adapted to be actuated intermittingly by
mechanism not shown, by which the web, L, is drawn from the printing press
or other location at the desired speed through the machine, the upper and lower
series of printing wheels, G, K, being arranged as shown to print the numbers
upon opposite sides of the sheet.
The number of type-wheels on each shaft may be varied in accordance with
the number of strips or series of sales-slips or other articles into which the web
of paper is to be subsequently divided longitudinally, one upper and one lower
numbering wheel forming a pair which print the same number upon opposite
sides of the web, the arrangement of the wheels one in advance of the other
enabling me if desired to place the two wheels which form a pair in the same
vertical plane as shown at the right hand side of Figure 4, whereby the numbers
one side of the web or sheet are printed directly over the corresponding
numbers on the other side of the same.
on
.
M, N, are two reciprocating platens or impression bars which co-operate with
the type or printing wheels G, K, and serve to bring the paper in contact
therewith to produce the impressions. These platens have their operating faces
arranged in planes at an angle to each other as shown in Figure 1, their opposite
ends, t, fitting within guide slots, w, in the sides of the framework. Each platen
has secured to its opposite ends two carriers, P, which slide in forked guides, a',
the outer end of each carrier being enlarged and provided with a slot, b', in which
fits an eccentric, c', on a shaft, d, which is provided with a pinion, f¹, shown in
Figure 5, and dotted in Figure 1, which is engaged by the teeth of the rack-
bar, E, whereby said rack-bar is actuated by the mechanism described, a vertical
reciprocating movement is imparted to the platen, N, and a horizontal recipro-
cating movement to the platen, M, which causes the under surface of the paper, L,
to be brought into contact with the numbering wheel, K, and its opposite or upper
surface simultaneously in contact with the numbering wheel, G, thus printing the
same number on both sides of the web or sheet at the same time as desired.
guide-roll, y, is made adjustable by means of screws, g', applied to its vertical
sliding bearings whereby the length of the web or sheet between the two
platens, N, M, may be varied to cause the numbers to be printed at the exact points
required.
The
Q, R, are inking rollers which supply ink to the numbering wheels, G, K.
These rollers are journaled in the framework, and run in contact with the numbering
wheels, being intended to be used in connection with suitable ink-distributing rollers
not shown; the inking mechanism may, however, be of any suitable or well known
construction and forms no part of my invention.
By thus arranging the shafts of the numbering or printing wheels one in advance
of the other, and the two co-operating platens in planes at an angle to each other
to operate upon opposite sides of the web or sheet, it will be obvious that the
numbers or characters on both sides of the sheet are rendered visible soon after
they are printed, which is not possible with any other machine of this character
with which I am acquainted, and which is a great advantage in printing work of
this description as it enables the operator to quickly discover any error or
imperfection in the work and stop the machine at once to correct the same.

page_text: I do not wish to limit myself to the exact arrangement of the platens with their
faces at a right angle to each other as shown, as it is obvious that the angle may
be varied to some extent without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Instead of arranging the platen, N, above the numbering wheel, K, as shown, it.
is obvious that it may be placed beneath the same, in which case the platen, M,
would necessarily be arranged upon the opposite side of the numbering-wheel, G.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me,
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a numbering machine, the combination with the intermittently rotated'
printing wheels, of the reciprocating platens working in planes at an angle to each
other to press the paper against the respective wheels, means for operating the
platens, and an adjustable guide-and-web-adjusting roller below the upper platen
and under which the paper passes from the first printing wheel and platen upwardly
to the upper platen, substantially as described.
2. In a numbering machine, the combination, with the intermittently rotated
printing wheels, of intermittently reciprocating platens arranged with their faces
at an angle to each other to move the paper against the respective wheels; one of
the platens being above and in advance of the other, and guides over which the
paper passes with one run extending upwardly to expose the impression from the
first wheel to the operator prior to the impression by the second wheel, substantially
as set forth.
3. In a numbering machine, the combination, with the intermittently rotated
printing wheels, of the reciprocating platens working in approximately vertical and
horizontal planes respectively to press the paper against the respective wheels,.
means for operating the platens, and an adjustable guide-and-web-adjusting roller
below the upper horizontally working platen and under which the lateral run of the
paper passes from the first printing wheel and platen upwardly to the second wheel
and upper platen, substantially as described.
4. In a numbering machine, the combination, with the intermittently moving
printing wheels, G, K, mounted upon shafts, i, n, extending across the machine and
connected by gears, H, I, whereby said shafts are revolved together at the same
speed, of two movable co-operating platens having their faces arranged in planes
at an angle to each other and acting upon opposite sides of the web or sheet to
bring the same into contact with the types, shafts geared to the rack and provided
with cams or eccentrics engaging the said platens, the ratchet wheel, k, on the
shaft, i, the pawl, m, mounted upon the swinging arm, h, the rack-bar, E, and means
for reciprocating the same and suitable connections between the rack-bar and the
pawl-carrying arm, h, all operating substantially as described.
5. In a numbering machine, the combination, with the intermittently moving
printing wheels, G, K, mounted upon shafts, i, n, extending across the machine and
connected by gears, H, I, whereby said shafts are revolved together at the same
speed, of the two movable co-operating platens, M, N, having their faces arranged
in planes at an angle to each other and acting upon opposite sides of the web or
sheet to bring the same into contact with the types, the sliding platen-carriers, P,
moving in planes at an angle to each other, the shafts, d', provided with the
eccentrics, c¹, for actuating the carriers, P, and with the pinions, f', the rack-
bar, E, engaging said pinions, and means for reciprocating the rack-bar, all
constructed to operate substantially as set forth.
6. In a numbering machine, the combination, with the intermittently moving
printing wheels, G, K, mounted upon shafts, i, n, extending across the machine and
connected by gears, H, 1, whereby said shafts are revolved together at the same
speed, of the two movable co-operating platens, M, N, having their faces arranged
in planes at an angle to each other and acting upon opposite sides of the web or
sheet to bring the same iuto contact with the types, the sliding platen carriers, P.
moving in planes at an angle to each other, the shafts, d', provided with the

page_text: eccentrics, c¹, for actuating the carriers, P, and with pinions, 7, the rack-bar, E,
engaging said pinions and means for reciprocating the rack-bar, the ratchet-
wheel, k, on the shaft, i, the pawl, m, mounted upon the swinging arm, h, the rod g,
the lever 10 connecting with the rack-bar, the retaining pawl, 12, the guide-
rolle, q, r, and means for drawing the web or sheet through the machine, all
constructed to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a numbering machine, the combination with the ratable printing wheels, of
intermittently reciprocating platens to move the paper against the respective
wheels, one of the platens being in advance of the other with relation to the strip
to be numbered, and guides over which the paper passes with one run extending
upwardly to expose the impression from the first wheel to the operation prior to
the impression by the second wheel, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 9th day of July 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.