Improvements in Machines for Perforating Dates and Amounts upon Documents or Checks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Perforating Dates and Amounts upon
Documents or Checks.
I, ALBERT R. ABBOTT, of 14 Clarendon Street, Boston, in the County of
Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Bookkeeper, 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 relates to improvements in machines adapted for perforating dates
and amounts in checks, or documents of all descriptions, and the object of the
invention is to construct a concise machine, which will be simple, durable, and
economic. A further object of the invention is to provide a means whereby a
table may be conveniently slid beneath any one of a series of punches to present
a check, and the punches be expeditiously and conveniently operated. It is a
further object of the invention to provide the machine with a feed, at once simple
and positive, which feed may be readily thrown out of gear to receive the check
or paper, and will automatically return to its normal position, that is in clamping
engagement with the article to be perforated.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several
parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in both the views.
Figure 1, is a front elevation of the machine, partly in section, and
Figure 2, is a transverse section, taken practically on the line of Figure 1.
The frame of the machine consists of two side pieces A, the said side pieces
each comprising a horizontal bed 10, provided at its rear with an extension 10%,
which extension curves upward and over the horizontal portion of the bed,
terminating at a point at or near its center, and legs 11 supporting the bed. The
ends of the extensions 10 of the bed, are connected by a bar 12, which bar, for
the greater portion of its length, is hollow and is provided with a series of
partitions 13, arranged transversely at the top, and a series of apertures 14,
produced in the bottom of the bar, which is closed, an aperture being arranged in
vertical alignment with about the center of each space between the upper
partitions 13; or vertical slide-ways may be produced in the front bar 12 of the
machine, in any suitable or approved manner.
In each slide-way, or compartment produced in the front bar 12, a key 15, is
held to slide. Each key preferably consists of a head a, which normally extends
upward above the upper edge of the front bar, a stem a', of less diameter than the
head and extending down through an aperture 14 in the bottom of the front bar,
and a socket a³, integral with, or attached to the lower end of the stem, below or
beneath the lower face of the front bar, as is shown in both Figures 1 and 2. The
stem of each key is surrounded by a spring a³, which bears against its head a
and against the bottom of the front bar. The spring normally holds the key in
its upper position, that is, with the socket a² in engagement with the under face of
the bar; but the keys may be otherwise constructed, if desired, and spring
controlled in any other approved manner.
One key, which is ordinarily located at the left hand end of the front bar, is
larger than the others; and this particular key is adapted for use in dating a
check or a document. Each of the other keys are adapted to carry a character,
such as numerals, and when numerals are used in connection with the keys, they
are arranged consecutively, one to each key from and including the numeral "1
37

page_text: the numeral "9" and the cypher. When numerals are employed on sundry of the
keys, characters may be carried by the others, as for instance, the dollar mark,
the mark denoting pounds, and a star; but whatever characters or numbers may be
carried by the keys, the character upon each particular key is produced upon the
outer face of the front bar 12, which may be called a key bar, immediately
opposite the key bearing the character, as shown in Figure 1.
The sockets a at the bottom of the keys are adapted to receive male dies 16,
and these dies are preferably removable from the sockets, being secured in position,
when in use, by set screws 17, or the equivalents thereof.
A die-board, or plate 18 is secured at its ends to the bed sections of the end
pieces A, immediately below the keys. The die board has produced therein,
preferably transversely, a series of recesses, which are ordinarily made dove-tail in
cross section, as illustrated in Figure 1, one of which recesses is immediately below,
or in the downward path of each key; all of the recesses are adapted to receive
female dies, corresponding to male dies in the keys immediately above them, and
when two dies are brought in engagement, a check, or a sheet, or document placed
between the dies will be perforated with the characters carried by the dies. The
side pieces are also connected by a bar 20, located at their forward ends and
attached to the bed sections.
Two shafts, 21 and 22, are secured at their ends, also in the bed sections of the
side pieces, one shaft being located below the front connecting bar 20, and the
other beneath the die board or plate 18. A. table B is held to slide upon
the shafts 21 and 22, being loosely mounted upon said shafts, and the table is
provided with two transverse longitudinal grooves 23 and 24, one loosely receiving
the die board or plate, and the other the front connecting bar 20; and these two
connecting mediums of the side pieces of the frame act as guides for the table.
The table moves from end to end of the machine upon its shafts, and from its rear
a bracket arm is carried upward, and then over the key board or bar 13.
The upper forward end of the bracket arm is provided with a vertical recess 26,
in which a spring-pressed plunger 27, has movement, the plunger terminating
below the under face of the recessed portion of the bracket arm in a head 28,
which is pivotally connected with a horizontal lever 29, the said lever being
pivoted at its rear end to the vertical section of the bracket arm. This lever
extends over the keys and beyond the keyboard or bar, being provided at its
forward end with a suitable handle. The connection between the head of the
plunger and the lever is ordinarily effected by locating upon the head a pin,
and producing a longitudinal slot in the lever to receive the pin, as shown in
Figure 2.
A short shaft 30 is projected forward from the vertical portion of the bracket
to within a short distance of the key-board or bar. This shaft has loosely mounted 4
thereon a feed wheel 31, having integral with one face a ratchet wheel 32. The
peripheral surface of the feed wheel 31 is serrated, or otherwise roughened, and
this feed wheel is adapted to engage with a smaller feed wheel 33, of like
character, the smaller wheel being journalied between lugs 34, projected upward
through an opening 35 in the table from a spring plate 36, located beneath the
table, which spring plate is secured at its forward end only, to the under portion of
the table, and its rear end extends preferably some distance back of the bracket
arm 25, beneath which the plate is located.
The lever 29 at the rear of its fulcrum, has pivoted thereon a dog 37, which
engages with the ratchet wheel 32 at its lower end, and at its upper end, an
engagement is made with a guide pin, located upon the bracket, whereby the dog
is compelled to travel in a vertical plane, irrespective of the movement of the
lever.
In operation, the spring plate 36 is pressed downward, carrying thereby the two
feed wheels out of engagement, and the check or article to be perforated is passed
between the wheels, so that a portion will be brought beneath the male dies of the
keys. The spring plate is thereupon released, and the article to be perforated is

page_text: held between the feed wheels. The table B is then carried in the direction of
either end of the frame of the machine, until the lever 29 is immediately over the
key bearing the character or numeral to be perforated, or over the date key. The
said table is moved in the required direction and to the required position by hand,
the upper part of the bracket 25, the lever 29, or other convenient part being
grasped for this purpose.
When this position of the table has been assumed the lever is pressed downward
and the head 28 of the spring-pressed plunger will be brought in engagement with
the head of the key beneath the lever, and the key will be depressed a sufficient
distance, to force the male die carried thereby, through the check or document to
an engagement with its female die. As the lever is pressed downward, the dog 37 is
carried downward with it, and the moment the lever is released, the spring con- .
trolling the plunger will carry.the lever upward to its normal position, and with it
the dog, and as the dog upon its downward movement had engaged with one of the
lower teeth of the ratchet wheel 32, upon its upward movement it turned the said
wheel, communicating thereby sufficient movement to the feed wheels to feed the
paper a distance equal to the proper spacing between numerals. The table is then
again carried along its bearings, until the lever is over the key bearing the next
character or numeral to be perforated in the article, and the operation above
described is repeated.
It will be observed that the machine is exceedingly simple, economic in con-
struction and not liable to become disarranged in any of its parts, which are but
few in number and positive in their action, and that the machine may be
conveniently and expeditiously manipulated, the feed being automatic and the
arrangement of the keys and the dial upon the key-board, such that a mistake in
the key to be pressed is hardly possible.
If in practice it is found desirable, the female dies may be formed directly in
the board or plate 18; but the female die of the dater, is preferably made
removable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is :-
1. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a keyboard, a
series of spring actuated keys having movement in said board, sockets connected
with said keys, and male dies located in said sockets, of a die board or plate located
beneath the keys, female dies located in said plate or board, and a pressure device
movable along the line of keys and adapted for engagement with said keys, as and
for the purpose specified.
2. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a key-board,
spring-controlled keys having movement therein, and provided with sockets, and
dies located in said sockets, of a die board arranged beneath the keys, and provided
with a series of dies registering with the dies in the keys, a movable table, a feed
device carried by the table and a lever having a pivotal connection with the table,
the said lever extending over the keys and adapted to operate thereon, as and for
the purpose specified.
3. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a key-board,
a series of spring controlled keys having movement in the board and having sockets
connected therewith, and dies located in said sockets for the purpose specified, of
a die board or plate arranged below the keys and carrying dies located in vertical
alignment with the dies of the keys, a movable table arranged to travel beneath
the die board, feed rollers one of which is journalled in the table the other having
connection with a spring plate by which it is moved to and from the table roller, a
spring-controlled lever carrying a plunger pivotally connected with the table and
adapted for engagement with the keys, a ratchet wheel carried by the table roller,
and a dog attached to the lever and operating the said ratchet wheel, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: .
4. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a key board,
a series of spring-controlled keys carried thereby having sockets at their lower
extremities, male dies removably located in said sockets, a die hoard located
beneath the keys, and female dies removably placed in said board in vertical
aligument with the key dies, of a table having a sliding movement beneath the die
board, a bracket projected upward from the table and having a recess in its upper
edge, a spring controlled plunger having movement in the recess of the bracket,
and a head located outside of said recesses and adapted for engagement with the
keys, a lever pivoted upon the bracket and connected with the head of the plunger,
a spring plate fastened at one end only and attached to the under side of the table,
a feed wheel or roller carried by the spring plate and extending upward within
the recess of the table, a second feed wheel or roller carried by a shaft attached
to the bracket above the table and meshing with the lower feed roller or wheel, a
ratchet wheel attached to the upper feed wheel or roller, and a dog depending
from the lever and engaging with the ratchet wheel, substantially as shewn and.
described.
Dated this Eleventh day of February 1892.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.