AN IMPROVED APPARATUS For Ruling Paper
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henri Scipion Maurel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th May 1873.
I, HENRI SCIPION MAUREL, of Boulevard de Strasbourg, No. 23, at
Paris, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the naturo of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS For Ruling Paper," to be as follows :—
My Invention has for its object an apparatus by means of which
paper can be rapidly ruled, either with pencil or ink.
The apparatus consists of a travelling frame or movable support of
any convenient form in which are arranged independent keys or holders,
receiving the pencil holders, drawing pens, rollers, or other appliances,
for the -purpose of ruling the paper in pencil, ink, or colour, as may be
desired. These holders are placed parallel to one another, and at equal
distances apart, upon a common axis, with solid pieces or intermediary
rollers; the thickness of which may be varied when desired, between
them, in order to regulate the width of the ruling to be produced.
The nature and action of my ruling apparatus will be well understood
from the following description:- In the two lateral projections of a

page_text: The
travelling frame a movable support of any form and made of wood
or metal are arranged the holders, constructed of iron, zinc, or other
metal or material, traversed by the same metal axis. These holders are
kept quite parallel, and at perfectly equal distances apart, or at variable
distances, as desired, by means of solid pieces between them.
lower ends of the keys are formed like cases, with pressure and holding
screws, so as to receive and hold the pencils, pens, or other appliances
which mark upon the paper when a longitudinal movement is imparted
by the hand to the travelling frame lines in pencil, ink, or colour. The
holders permit the pencils or pens to rest freely, and by their weight
upon the paper and each holder can rise so as to yield to any unevenness
or asperity which may occur in the path of the ruler. An eccentric rod
turning on through lateral projections enables all the holders to be lifted
at the same time. The weight of the holder pressing upon the pencil
regulates the force of the stroke of the ruler; and this weight may be
varied by counterbalancing it by a counterweight sliding upon the other
end of the holder.
The distance between the lines of the ruling depends upon the
variable thickness of the solid pieces between the holders, and it will
be understood that lines may be traced at larger intervals apart by
lifting one or more holders by means of a spring attached to the frame,
or by a string, or by other means. The axis upon which all the holders
are held can receive a transverse movement, in order to displace it, so
as to enable all the holders to trace lines between those already drawn,
and thus permit the first ruling to be doubled or trebled. The two
lateral projections of the travelling frame slide longitudinally in two or
more grooves of a guide frame, the distances between which can be
varied in proportion to the width of the paper to be ruled.
When a ruling in ink is desired I arrange behind the apparatus a
trough, the length of which corresponds to the width of the holders, in
order to serve at each backward course of the frame as an inker to the
pens; this trough is filled with the inking liquid, or with a pad
impregnated therewith.