Improvements in or relating to Printing Devices.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 27th Sept.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Printing Devices.
I, JAMES SAMUEL FOLEY, of 20 Richmond Gardens, Shepherd's Bush, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is intended to take the place of the usual rubber and other stamps
or printing devices and may be made portable and so compact that it may easily be
carried in the pocket notwithstanding that in addition to the stamp or types and the
inking pad it contains a reservoir of ink.
The shape and general design may naturally be considerably varied without
departing from the spirit of the invention which will be understood from the following
illustrative description :-
In an apparatus which I have made the outside appearance is that of a flat case
formed of two circles, one larger and the other smaller and with the peripheries
adjoining. The case itself is in two portions joined together by screws or rivets in
any convenient manner. The working mechanism may be described as follows:-
The printing device consists of a wheel or cylinder carrying around its periphery
the type. As however it is desirable to be able to change the type so as to substitute
the one, address or name or whatever it may be for another, the printing wheel
instead of being, as it may be, formed solid with the type cut in its periphery,
I prefer to make it in sections between which the type are gripped. This wheel
would then consist of a pair of discs upon a common sleeve or centre upon which
at least one of them is preferably screwed and if desired one or more interior discs
which lie upon the sleeve between the discs previously described. The types which
are preferably tapered from the working face down the shank so that when placed
together they may fit properly in the wheel may be secured therein or thereon in any
convenient manner but preferably by means of one or more grooves on the side of
the type and corresponding flanges or equivalent projections from one or more of
the discs. Another way of securing the type would be to form a recess in one type
and a corresponding projection on the contiguous face of the next type so that when
Other means may
arranged around the circle they would hold each other in.
however be employed for securing the type in the wheel. The type may be arranged
in one or more rows around the wheel according to requirement, may be made of
any suitable material preferably metal or rubber, and can be firmly secured in the
wheel by screwing up the movable disc. When complete the type wheel may be
secured in the case upon any suitable arbor, pivot or equivalent so that it will
revolve in the case, which latter may be constructed with a movable cap preferably
pivotted on the same axis as the wheel, so that when turned in one direction it
exposes a portion of the wheel and when turned in the other direction it protects it.
The inking device may be constructed as follows:-
A wheel somewhat similar to the already described type wheel but preferably of
larger diameter so that the same portion of the pad will not always come in contact
with the same type
carried in suitable bearings in the case; it is preferably made
with two flanges at least one of which should be removable and the interior is hollow
like the spring barrel of a watch. A peripheral groove or space is provided and
around this is the inking pad which may be made of any of the usual materials, say
for example, a silk covered felt. The hollow interior is filled with ink and the
removable flange or disc which forms an ink tight joint with the body of the wheel
is screwed up tight the ink being thus securely held in the hollow interior of this
wheel. When it is desired to supply, more ink to the pad this may be done in
various ways, for example; into a groove in the edge of the movable flange.can.be

page_text: projected a stop which thus holds the flange from turning and by then turning an
external button or equivalent the rest of the wheel is revolved thus partially unscrewing
the movable flange this will allow a portion of the ink to escape when it will be
soaked up by the surrounding pad and by screwing the button in the opposite
direction the movable flange is tightly screwed up again and the rest of the ink securely
locked in the reservoir. The stop which may be spring controlled can now be
released and the pad is ready for use again.
It will be seen that various other devices may be employed for retaining the ink
or allowing it to escape, for instance each flange of the wheel may be provided with
an interior sleeve fitting telescopically so that when the two flanges are screwed up
the sleeves either lock against each other or lock each against its opposing flange
thus forming a tight reservoir, to release these the flanges would be unscrewed until
provision was made for the passage of the ink. This provision either in the device
last described or otherwise may be a series of openings adapted to be covered like
a hit and miss ventilator or may be otherwise arranged.
The axis upon which the inking wheel revolves is preferably made slightly movable
and spring controlled so as to keep the inking wheel and pad in proper contact with
the type wheel.
In use it is merely necessary to press the exposed portion of the type wheel on
to the paper and draw the instrument along and the device upon the type wheel will
be printed upon the paper.
One or more small rollers are preferably provided in or on the case to facilitate
the travelling of the caso when in use. Operating buttons are preferably provided
on the outside of the case for both inking and type wheels the latter button
preferably being the projecting end of the spindle upon which the wheel revolves.
It will be understood that more than one type wheel may be used in connection
with a single inking wheel, any number in fact according to the size of the inking
wheel may be arranged around it.
Dated this 6th day of December 1889
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Printing Devices.
I, JAMES SAMUEL FOLEY, of 20 Richmond Gardens, Shepherd's Bush 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:—
This invention is intended to take the place of the usual rubber and other stamps
or printing devices or instruments and may be made portable and so compact that it
may easily be carried in the pocket notwithstanding that in addition to the stamp
or types and the inking pad or roller it also contains a reservoir of ink.
The shape and general design may naturally be considerably varied without departing
from the spirit of the invention which will be best understood by reference to the
accompanying drawings in which the instruments are represented about twice the
usual pocket size and of which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of one form of the printing instrument in an inoperative
or closed condition that is to say as when ready for carrying in the pocket;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 1 with the cover turned back as when ready
for use;
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line a-b of Fig. 2 representing the combined
inking roller and ink reservoir in its closed condition and Fig. 4 is a similar view but
partly in elevation and showing in an exaggerated manner the ink reservoir open for
supplying ink to the inking roller ;
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line c-d of Fig. 2 through the type wheel or
printing roller ;

page_text: Figs. 6 and 7 are views of one of the types detached from the printing roller.
Fig. 7 is a view of an alternative form of type and Fig. 7' is a view showing a
number of such types fitted together.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
"
A is the case which as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 may consist of two parts a¹ a² the
latter constituting a removable cover plate secured. to a¹ by screws a³ or equivalent
means. A is the adjustable cap which in Figs. 1 and 8 is shown closed and in
Figs. 2, 5 and 10 open and which is pivoted on the arbor a passing transversely
through the case into one side of which it may be screwed and on which rotates the
printing roiler or typewbeel B as shown clearly in Fig. 5. This typewheel B may be
solid and carry the type upon its periphery but it is preferred to construct it so that
the type may be "set up so as to provide for the making of any changes or alterations
that may be required. One way of constructing the roller with this provision is shown
as an example in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 7 in Fig. 5 of which is a disc provided
with a sleeve b² through which passes the before mentioned arbor a*.
63 is a
corresponding disc on the opposite end of the sleeve 62 and 64 65 are other discs which
slip easily over the sleeve and between which are gripped the type 66. The disc b
may be formed with an annular projecting rim 67 fitting into a notch or recess ª
formed in each of the types 66. These types as shown most clearly in Fig. 7 are
tapered from their printing end down the shank so that when placed together in the
manner shown in Fig. 2 they will fit properly into the printing roller. When it is
desired to alter the type in the roller B all that is necessary is to unscrew the disc b³
and take it and the disc 65 off the sleeve b² remove the type then in the roller and
re-arrange it or substitute for it other desired type and then again replace the
discs 3 6.
The discs 6 and 66 may be dispensed with and the types firmly held between the
discs ¹³ one of which may be formed with the annular rim 67 to secure the types
against longitudinal displacement or, instead of this arrangement each of the types
may as shown in Fig. 7° be formed with a projection 6° and a recess 610 so that as
shown in Fig. 7 the projection of one type may fit into the recess of the contiguous
face of the next type in order that when arranged around the circle they would hold
each other in. Other means may however be employed for securing the types in the
wheel B. The types may be arranged in the wheel B in one or more rows according
to requirements and may be made of any suitable material preferably metal or
rubber.
The lower part of the case A where it surrounds the printing wheel or roller B is
cut away so as to allow the type faces to project beyond it, and in the edge of the
disc is formed a recess or notch 68 Fig. 2 into which takes a spring a which may
be secured to the cap A' as in Fig. 2 or to the case A. The types are arranged in the
wheel B so that when the line of printing to be effected by it is completed the spring a³
will enter the notch with a click and thereby sensibly indicate to the user the completion
of such line. This spring a³ and notch 68 moreover prevent the type wheel B from being
rotated in the wrong direction.
C is the inking roller which in the device shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is combined with
the ink reservoir D but which may be independent of such reservoir. This combined
inking roller and reservoir is constructed of two discs d' d² the former of which has
secured to it the metal cylinder or drum d³ around which is absorbent material c'
which may be of felt with an outer covering of calico or other suitable material.
D' is a spindle one end of which is threaded for screwing into the hollow trunnion d³
secured to the disc d² and whose other end terminates in a milled head do. The
disc d' has also secured to it an inner cylindrical casing d' one end d³ of which is
perforated to allow the cylindrical part d of the spindle D₁ to slide freely through it
and the other end of which is internally threaded to receive the gland d¹ whose
flange d at the outside of the case A prevents lateral displacement of the
inking roller in one direction, while the boss d¹² or end of casing d' by abutting
against the inner side of the case A prevents the roller moving laterally in the opposite
direction. The gland do is formed with a central square opening through which can

page_text: freely slide the square part d¹³ of the spindle D'. Within the casing d is a helical
spring d whose pressure is exerted between the end ds and the washer d¹s seated
against the end of the square part 3 of the spindle in such manner as to tend always
to force the said part outwards farther through the gland do and thus through the
screwed end of the spindle D' and its connection with the disc d² to draw the said
disc tightly against the edge of d³ as in Figure 3. In consequence of this arrange-
ment the ink which is contained in the reservoir D is prevented from escaping until
the disc d² is moved away from its seat or edge of drum d³ which may be done by
pressing the head de closer to the case A as shown in Fig. 4 where however such
displacement is represented as exaggerated, as but very little movement of the disc d²
away from d³ is required to enable ink to pass sufficiently to replenish the absorbent
material c. Immediately the pressure against the head de is removed, the spring d
again draws the disc d² tightly against the seat d³ and thus prevents any further escape
of the ink.
The gland do and trunnion d are supported in slotted bearings one of which is
represented in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and which admit of the inking roller C being
moved nearer to or farther from the type wheel B. d¹6 Fig. 2 is a spring or pair of
springs which act against the case A and bosses d' and d¹² so as constantly to press
the inking roller C into peripheral contact with the type wheel B which roller and
wheel are preferably of different diameters so that the same portion of the roller C will
not always come into contact with the same type.
When it is desired to use the before described instrument the cap A' then in the
position shown in Fig. 1 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 2. The projecting
portion of the type wheel B is then pressed on to the surface to be printed on and the
instrument is drawn in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2 and
by the friction first upon the edges of the discs 61 63 between the commencement and
end of the line of type at which part there are no type faces and then afterwards as
the wheel is turned farther round upon the type faces, the type wheel B will be rotated
and printing thereby effected. As soon as the spring a enters the notch 68 the line
of printing is completed.
When it is desired to distribute ink over the type faces before using it, it may be
effected by giving one or more turns to the head do and thus to the inking roller Č.
The type wheel B and roller C by the friction between them always rotate together
no matter to which of the two the power is applied.
If desired the disc d² instead of being spring controlled may be moved up to and
away from the seat d³ by a screw or equivalent means suitable provision such as a
spring controlled stop being made for securing the said disc against rotation when it is
required to supply ink to the roller C.
It will be seen that the before described means for retaining the ink may be modified
in many ways for instance each of the discs d¹ d² may be provided with a sleeve fitting
telescopically one within the other so that when the two discs are screwed up the
sleeves either lock against each other or lock each against the opposing disc; to release
these, the discs would be unscrewed or moved apart until the passage of the ink was
effected.
The case A is preferably so constructed that to remove the type wheel B it will only
be necessary to withdraw its arbor a and draw out the said type wheel without
necessitating the opening of the case A.
If desired one or more small rollers may be provided in or on the case to facilitate
its travelling over the surface to be printed on."
It will be understood that more than one type wheel may be used in connection with
a single inking wheel, in fact, any number according to the size of the said inking
wheel may be arranged around it.
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 pocket printing instrument the combination with the type wheel B having a

page_text: recess or notch 68 of a spring a adapted to engage with such recess to indicate a
certain position of the wheel and also to prevent its rotation in a wrong direction
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a pocket printing instrument the combination with an ink reservoir such as D
of a spring controlled disc or valve such as d² substantially as herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a pocket printing instrument the combination with an ink reservoir such as D
surrounded by an inking pad and having a movable valve or cover d² of a spindle or
arbor such as D' secured to and adapted to operate the said valve or cover for por-
mitting the ink to flow out of the reservoir and provided with a square portion (13
key or like means for enabling the reservoir and inking pad to be rotated substantially
as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a pocket printing instrument the combination with an ink reservoir such
as d' d' d³ of a spindle D' casing d d screwed gland do and spring d substantially
as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a pocket printing instrument the combination with a type wheel such as B of
a combined inking roller and ink reservoir such as CD substantially as herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the complete pocket printing
instrument substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 19th day of August 1800