Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1888
Specification Accepted, 18th May, 1888
We, CHARLES SOUTHWICK ELLIS, Manufacturer, and JACOB JOSEPH STURLA,
Merchant, both residing at the City of Memphis, in the County of Shelby and State
of Tennessee, one of the United States of America, 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:-
This Invention relates to a numbering machine, which is designed to be locked in a
chase, the same as a cut, sterotype or electrotype and will print the numbers or
equivalent devices in succession, making a different character or combination of
characters at each impression. The object of the Invention, is to provide simple,
convenient and efficient means for producing the result above mentioned in a
convenient, economical and accurate manner.
The improvement consists in the novel features more fully hereinafter set forth,
claimed and shown in the annexed drawing, in which:-
Figure 1, is a front view of the device, having the front side of the case removed.
Figure 2, is a sectional view on the line, X, X, of figure 1.
Figure 3, a sectional view on the line, Y, Y, of figure 1; and
Figure 4, a perspective detail view of the case and the frame, by which the
operating parts are supported.
The device shown, embodies three rows or chains, D, D1, D2, each containing as
many links as desired, to the number of characters or combinations of characters, to
be printed. The number of printing chains may be varied in the construction of
such devices to suit the work for which they are designed. The links, comprising the
printing chains, are of an equal size and the chains are mounted upon rollers, G, and,
G', journaled upon the shafts, g, and, g¹, and free to turn thereon, independently.
The rollers are preferably, many sided and the width of a side corresponds with the
length of the links of the chain. In the present instance, the rollers are hexagonal
in cross section-any other form will answer equally as well and we do not wish to be
restricted to the exact form shown-and have flanges, at each end to prevent the
lateral displacement of the printing chains.

page_text: The device, being especially adapted for numbering, is shown, having the printing
chains composed of ten links, corresponding with the cardinal numbers, which are
alternately arranged upon the successive printing chains. The numbers, on the first
chain, are arranged in order, from right to left and the numbers on the second chain,
are arranged to read from left to right.
The shafts, g, and, g¹, are located near each end of the frame, C, the one near the
top and the other, g¹, near the bottom of the frame, and support the printing chains.
One roller, G, of the printing chain, D, has the ratchet wheel, F, secured thereto.
The teeth of the ratchet wheel, corresponding with the number of sides of the
roller, which in the present case, are six, so that a new link and character, will
be brought into position to print at each movement of the ratchet wheel, which is
moved forward, step by step, the distance of one tooth, which brings that side of the
roller, next in order, uppermost, to take the place of the one previously displaced.
The frame, C, is encircled at its top, by the rule or presser frame, B, which
permits of a slight movement of the frame, C, therein, in a vertical direction.
The opposite sides of the rule frame, are provided with slots, Q, through which
extensions, R, of the frame, C, extend and limit the movement, which is very slight,
say about one-sixteenth or one thirty-second part of an inch of the rule frame,
relative to the frame, C. The case, A, has a recess, a, formed in its opposite sides,
forming the shoulders, a', near the-top of the case and the shoulders, a³, near the
bottom of the case. The springs, P, seated in said recesses, are confined between the
shoulders, a, and the bottom of the frame, B, which bottom is extended laterally
forming flanges, b, for catching under the shoulders, a', and limiting the forward
movement of the rule.frame, B. The springs, best adapted for the purpose, are
composed of a single wire, bont alternately, right and left.
The frame, C, is adapted to move one-eighth of an inch, more or less and at
each downward movement, the pawl, E, will ride over one of the teeth, on
the ratchet wheel, F, and the springs, P, will be compressed, and during the
upward movement of said frame, which is accomplished by the springs, P,
the pawl catches upon the tooth and will turn the rollers, G, and chain, D. The
pawl, E, is connected at its lower end, to the case, A, and is held in engagement.
with the ratchet wheel, F, by the springs, H. Each of the lower rollers, G, have a
notched disc, K, secured thereto, and the detent, I, one to each disc, is adapted to
drop into each notch of the discs and hold the printing chains in a proper
position, so that the type surface, will come equally upon the work. Springs, J, hold
the detent pawls in position. The first printing chain, D, of the series, is
intermittently moved at each outward movement of the frame, by the ratchet
and pawl, the remaining printing chains are moved forward one link, at each complete
revolution of the preceding chain, and have pinions, N, keyed to the supporting
rolls, G, meshed with pinions, O. Sprocket wheels, M, secured to the pinions, O, are
adapted to be struck by pins, L, projecting laterally, from the adjacent printing chain,
by which they are rotated and the corresponding roller, moved the proper distance,
carrying the chain forward, one link. The number of spurs, of the sprocket wheel,
corresponds with the number of sides of the supporting rolls, or are in sufficient
number to advance the chain, through the intermediate gearing, forward, one.] link.
There are six spurs, corresponding with the six sides of the supporting roll, and the
spur wheel and chain supporting roll, are moved one sixteenth of their distance, when
the pin, L, of one of the chains engages with one of the spurs, of said spur wheel,
the pin, L, is located within the path of the spurs, of the spur wheel, as shown most
clearly, in figure 3.
The case, A, has a series of notches, A', on one of its sides, to indicate the proper
position it should occupy, when set up in the chase and its upper edge comes below
the ordinary type level.
In practice, the device is locked up in a form of type, the same as a cut, type etc.,
and the printing surface of the chains, D, D¹, etc., extend about one-eighth of an inch
beyond the type, in the form. The platen of the press, first strikes the rule frame,
projecting about one-thirty-second of an inch above the printing surface of the chains

page_text: and brings it on a level with the first character or number, on the printing chain, D
a continuous movement, brings the printing characters on the chain, D, on a level
with the type, when the printing is done. During this operation, the pawl, E, rides
over one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel and as the platen leaves the type, the
springs, P, force the rule frame and chain carrying the frame outward, turning the
chain, D, one link, bringing the next character, or higher number, in position to be
printed, and so, until the chain, D, makes one revolution, when the pin, L, will strike
one of the spurs of the spur wheel and through the pinions, O, and, N, and move the
adjacent chain, forward, one link. Thus, at each complete revolution of the chain, D,
the chain, D', will be moved forward, one link, and at each complete revolution,
of the chain, D', the chain, D2, will be moved forward one link and so on, throughout
the series.
The rule frame, which will be made of steel, terminates in a fine straight edge,
above and below the type and in practice, prints a line on each side of the numbers,
which is so fine, as to be almost imperceptible and is not objectionable, the rule frame
pushes the paper away from the type, the moment the platen leaves the same, so that
the adjusting of the ohains, which takes place at the same time, will not blur the
numbers just printed.
Having now partionlarly described and ascertained the unture of our said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare, that what we claim is :-
1. A numbering device, consisting of a case, adapted to be locked in with a form
of type, the rule frame, located within the case and movable, in and ont, relative
thereto, the frame, carrying the printing devices, supported by the rule frame and
having a limited movement relative thoroto, a serios of movable printing devices,
supported by the frame, a ratchet and pawl, for moving the first printing device of
the series, at each movement of the frame, in one direction and devices interposed
between the succeeding printing devices, whereby, each is moved forward, one step,
after each complete revolution of the preceding printing device, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination with the case, the rule frame and the chain carrying frame,
having a limited movement, relative to the rule frame and both movable, relative to
the case of the series of printing chains and the ratchet and pawl, for moving the
first chain of the series, as and for the purpose described.
3. The combination, with the case and the chain carrying frame, having shafts,
near each end of the chain wheels, supported by said shafts, the printing chains, the
ratchet wheel, the pawl, the pinions, O, and N, the spur wheel, M, and the pin, L,
projecting laterally, from a link of the adjacent printing chain, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
4. The combination with the case, the frame, the printing chains and the connections,
consisting of the ratchet, F, and pawl, E, between the case and the first chain of the
series, the pinions, O, and, N, the spur wheel, M, and the pin, L, projecting laterally,
from the adjacent chain, substantially as set forth.
1 1000
CHARLES SOUTHWICK ELLIS,
JACOB JOSEPH STURLA.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.
Dated this 17th day of April 1888.
CHARLES SOUTHWICK ELLIS,
JACOB JOSEPH STURLA.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.