US367213A - Check printing and adding machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet I.

W. KOCH.

CHECK PRINTING AND ADDING MACHINE.

No. 367,213. Patented July 26, 1887.

QJ YQOW M @mgm (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

5 vShe@1;s--Sheet 3. W. KOCH.

GHDGK PRINTINGr AND ADDINGr MACHINE. No. 367,213.

Patented July 26, .1887,

(No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 4.'v

W. KOCH.

v@NECK PRINTING AND ADDING MACHINE. j No. 367,213. Patented July 26,'17887.

Ewen/1107i' Mami/M NCAA M JSM@ -mwt (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

W. KOCH.

CHECK PRINTING AND ADDING MACHINE. N No. 367,213. Patented July 26, 1887.

UNITED y STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM KOCH, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., AssICNoE To r"rHE KEUsE CHECK AND ADDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF sAME PLACE.

CHECK-PRINTING AND ADDING MACHINE.

,SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,213, dated July 26, 1887.

Application filed July 13,1885. Serial No. 171,452.

To all uhom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM' KOCH, of the city, county, and State of New York, have in` vented new and useful Improvementsin Check- Printing, Numbering, and Adding Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying d rawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon,

1o making a part of this specitication.

` My invention relates to apparatus for printing and delivering checks of different denomi nations and registering the sum of the denominations of all checks issued.

The object of the invention is to produce a machine which shall not only with positive accuracy print or emboss from a continuous strip of paper a series of checks, each of the precise denomination denoted and determined 2O by the position of an indicator, but alsoconsecutively number the checks as issued and permanently register the sumof the denominations of all checks so issued, and which shall y be exact and durable in all its movements;

v and it consists in the novel construction, com; binatiomand arrangement of mechanism which is hereinafter fully described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a rear elevation of my check-machine with 3o the rear face of the casing removed and with portions of the machine broken .away or re moved to illustrate underlying parts, the printing-wheels being illustrated` as brought together in position for printing the checkstrip; Fig. 2, a transverse'seetion in the ir regular line x of` Fig. 1, looking toward the left-,with the cover of the case removed, a detached sectional view of the inner end of the printing-crank in its normal position when at 4o rest being included in the view; Fig. 3, a

transverse section in line y y of Fig. 1, looking toward the right, with the cover of the case removed; Fig. 4, a front elevation of the mechanism, the front plate of the casing being removed to expose the same, andthe brake for the reel of paper omitted; Fig. 5, a front elevation of the exterior of the machine, a portion of the indicator-lever being broken away to illustrate its spring-actuated stopbolt; Fig. 6, an end view of a portion of the (No model.)

gearing by which the adding mechanism is actuated; Fig. 7, a plan view illustrating the sliding cover for the paper-guideway; Fig. 8,

a detached elevation of the stop mechanism for the adding device; and Fig. 9, a central ver 55 tical section ofthe machine, looking in same direction as in Fig. l, illnstratingthe combination therewith of a consecutive numbering device for numbering each check issued.

The machine is operated by two cranks, one 6o of which, represented by theletter A, (see Figs. 3 and 5,) is mounted upon the journal C of a spur-wheel, C, and vibrates over the face of a semicircular index-plate, A', fitted upon the front face of thecase of the machine. Upon this index-plate A are marked in plain figures t-he numerals denoting the several denominations for which checks are required.

In the drawings these are represent-ed as increasing by five, from 0 to 100. (See Fig. 5.) 7o

The index-plate A is made in the form of an arc having the axis of the crank A as its center, and its lower concave edge is serrated with a series of notches corresponding to the number' of the ordinals marked on the index- 73 plate, the apices between the notches being made to present each a sharp angle sloping directly to the inner angle ofthe notch on either side of it, as shown in Fig. 5. Theend of the clankarm is provided with a linger, A2, 8o to project and sweep over the ordinals. A bolt, A3, (see Fig. 5,) is fitted in a longitudinal recess upon the-under or inner side ofthe crank-arm, and is combined with a spring which operates to `force it out beyond the end' 85 of the arm into contact with the serrated edge of the index-plate so as to engage its notches.

The power of the spring is such as that cousiderable vforce is needed to move the 'crank from notch to notch, so thatit may not be read- 9o ily or accidentally displaced, and as the bolt may not rest between the notches, because cf the sharp angle forming the apex between each notch, it will operate automatically not only to check and stop the crank at` each notch, but 9 5 will automatically carry the type-wheel actuated by the arm far enough .in one direction or the other to bring one of the series of types thereon invariably into line of print before the crank-arm is brought to a stop. This device loo facilitates the ready and accurate adjustment between two curved arms, E Al, pivoted upon and stoppage of the indicator-finger A over any desired figure in the scale.

The indieatorfcrank A and the spur-wheel C rotated thereby serve to actuate a train of gear-wheels, which operate to bring into position a pair of printing-wheels for printing, or embossing between them, upon an interposed strip of paper, numbers corresponding to those on the index-plate A, as hereinafter described.

The second crank, represented by the letter B, (see Figs. 2 and 5,) is fitted upon the end of a shaft, B, whose rotation is made, as hereinafter described, to lock the printing or embossing wheels when adjusted, force them together upon the interposed strip of paper, number consecutively the blanks for the checks upon the strip, feed the strip forward after it has been printed, and, finally, sever the printed 'check from the remainder of the strip. A bolt, B2, (see Fig. 2,) is fitted longitudinally in the handle of the crank to project out from its inner end, and is forced out automatically by means of a spring` concealed within the handle. rlhe crank B is arrested automatically at each complete revolution thereof by the contact of the end of the bolt BL with a stop pin or lug, B, projecting from the face of the case. To enable the bolt B2 to be retracted to permit it to pass the lug B, the handle is fitted to playlongitudinally upon thelongitudinal ease B", containing` the spring, and which is made integral with or securely fitted to the crank-arm, and is so secured tothe bolt by means of a head or washer, B, (sce Fig. 5,) on the outer end of the latter as that an outward retraction of the handle will operate to draw the bolt and release it from the lug. rlhis au tomatic stop, which comes into play at each revolution of the printing-crank,- prevents effectually an accidental duplication in the issue of a check or a partial movement of the priuting-whcels after a check has been printed and issued until the operator is ready for another positive movement.

The wheels D D, by and between which the checks are printed or embossed, are of equal diameter, and are mounted one above the other in a vertical plane at one end ofthe ease and at a right angle to its face. The periplr cries of the two wheels are fitted, respectively, with a series of type and an opposite impression-plate for printing, or with male and female dies for embossing the checkstrip, said type or dies being made to represent, at equal distances apart, all the figures marked upon the index-plate A; and the embossing-dies, where used, are carefully adjusted to interlock accurately as the wheels are rotated. The lower wheel, D, is journaled in fixed bearings between two standards, E E, Figs. l and 4, and is geared by means of a beveled contratewheel, D2, formed upon its face, (see Figs. l and 2,) and an intermediate beveled pinion, D3, with the main spur-wheel C, actuated by the indicator-crank A.

The upperimpressioirwheel, D, isjournaled the axis of a pinion-wheel, D, (see Fig. 2,) which is journaled in fixed bearings between the standards E E at a point equidistant from the axes of both printing-wheels D and D', when they are superimposed one upon the other in the same vertical plane. The cogs of the pinion-wheel D-L gear into the cogs at the side of each of the wheels D and D, (sec Figs. l and 2,) so that the movement ot' the lower wheel, D, is constantlyimparted to the upper wheel, D', and the two are made to move in unison. rllhe upper wheel, D', is free to swing out upon its pivoted arms E/ E about the pinion Dl and away from the lower impressionwheel, D, to admit of inspection or repair, (see dotted lilies in Fig. 2,) and in returning into contact with the wheel D' will fall into proper position thereon without possibility ofdisplaeement or of making a false registry. rlhe wheel D is normally upheld outofcontact with the wheel D, so as to leave au open space between them, by means of a spring or a spring-actuated pin, El, (see Fig. 4 and dotted lines, Fig. 3,) in the upper end of the standard or support E ofthe frame, which rises under the end of one of the arms. By applying pressure vertically to the wheel D the spring is compressed and the arms E allowed to drop, so as to bring the periphery of the wheel D into contact with that of the wheel D, and thereby produce an impression therefrom upon aslip of interposed paper. This pressure is obtained from a cam above by means of a swinging yoke, E, (see Figs. l and 2,) whose arms are pivoted to the ends of the journal of the wheel D, projecting through the arms E E. The cross-bar E4 of the yoke is fitted with a friction-roller, a, whose axis is parallel with the shaft F,

mounted immediately over the impressionwheels D D' and in the same horizontal plane as the main shaft B' of the printingcrank B, and which isjournaled in lateral brackets F' F, (see Fig. 2,) projecting from the end of the case or frame of the machine. A cam, c', (see Fig. 2,) upon the shaft F, immediately over the friction-roller e, is brought into Contact with said roller to bear thereon and force down the yoke E and bring the wheel D into peripheral contact with the wheel D at each revolution of the shaft. rlhe swinging yoke Eiis upheld in a vertical position over the axis of the wheel Dl and in line with the cam a by means of a sliding stop-plate, G, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) which is made to embrace the shaft F and play freely vertically against the face of thejournalbracket F at that end of the shaft, so that its lower end will drop below and in front of the upper end of the yoke, as shown in Fig. 2. By lifting the stop-plate G the yoke is left free te swing outwardly, and serves as a handle by which to swing out the wheel D', as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

A rotary movement of the printing-wheels D D and of the indicator-crank A, actuating them, (as well as of the adding mechanism geared thereto,) is positively prevented, ex-

IOO

l'lO

cept at the time when the printing-crank B is at rest against the stop B3, by means-of a pin or bolt, H, (see Figs. 1, 3, and 9,) mounted to reciprocate horizontally in suitable bearings vthrough the side of the case and the adjacent standard, E, (see Fig. 1,) and to enter one of a series of apertures, s s s, Figs. 3 and 9, pierced in the side of the lower impression-wheel, D, in a circle concentric with the periphery'of the wheel. These apertures correspond in number to the numbers on the face of the wheel.

The inner end of the pin or bolt H-is made to taper to a point, and the holes"are formed in close contiguity, so that the end of the pin shall inevitably enter one of the holes when moved toward it, and in entering the hole will operate as a wedge to move the wheel into eX- aet register with the bolt, and consequently bring the upper number positively into exact line for print. By this device the possibility of a failure of the dies or type to properly register because of lost motion in the gears is absolutely prevented. This pin H is made to yenter the particular hole s which properly falls in register therewith, when any one of the numbers is brought into position for producing an imprint, by means of a lever, H', eX- tending from the pin upward t0 the plane of the shaft F and in line with the outer end thereof. This lever is bent in its length (see Figs. 2 and 3) to adj ust it to the difference between the position of the' pin H and of the end of the shaft, and is fitted to a hub, H2, near to its lower end, which embraces a pivot-pin, H3, upon which the lever is free to oscillate. Its lower end is pivoted to the center of the pin H, and its upper end is coupled bya link, H, (see Fig. 1,) to a crank, H5, upon the end ot' the shaft F. The length of the crank H5 and the position of the pivot H3 ofthe lever are so adjusted that the pin H is Withdrawn from the wheel D for a brief interval by the rotation of the shaft, the position or angle of the crank-arm H with reference to that of the printing-crank B, by which the shaft F is made to rotate, being likewise so adjusted that this withdrawal and rrelease of the pin H from the wheel will take place at the moment` the crank B is arrested against the stop B3.

The shaft F is geared to the shaft B by means ofthe cog-wheels Y Y, (see Figs. l and 9,) ofet'jual diameter, so that the two shafts rotate in unison.

A pair of parallel feed-rollers," I I, (see Fig. 2,) are mounted in brackets J J, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 4,) tted to the sides of the standards E' E. The journals of the lower roller, I, (see Fig. 2,) turn in fixed bearings in the brackets at such a. height as that the periphery of the roller shall touch a horizontal plane intersecting the point of contact of the two printingwheels D and D. Thejournals of the upper rollers, l', turn in boxes b b, (see Fig. 1,) which slide freely in longitudinal slots in the brackets J J, vertically above the lower roller, I, and permit the periphery of the upper roller to rest upon that of the lower roller, the pressure thereon.

geared together by cog-wheels I? l? (see Fig.

2) of equal diameter, .and an intermittent movement is imparted thereto to cause them to rotate toward each other, in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, by means of a large spuiwheel, l, meshing with the upper wheel and rotating upon an independent stud, I", secured to the front of the casing or frame of the machine. This wheel I3 is actuated -by a pawl, K, (see Fig. 4,) pivoted to the longer arm of a lever, K', which is itself pivoted upon the stud l. The opposite shorter arm ofthe oscillating pawl-lever K is coupled by a link, K?, to a wrist-pin, K3, upon the face of a wheel, K4, secured upon the end of the shaft F, so that the rotation of the shaft shall produce intermittently a to and-fro movement of the pawl.

The arms of the oscillating lever K are of such a length, the wrist-pin K3 is so located, and the-diameter of the spur-wheel 13 so proportioned in respect to the cog-wheels Il Il of the feed-rollers that a proportional revolution of the feed-rollers is produced at each rotation of the shaft F immediately after the cam et on said shaft is released from the frictionroller a on the yoke E, to permit the upper impression-wheel, D', to rise. The feed-rollers then remain stationary until the printingwheels D D have again been brought into contact.

The periphery of the wheel K'1 is toothed t0 h forni a rack for a pawl, K5, (see Fig. 1,) pivoted to the easing or frame to engage the same and prevent a reverse movement 0f thewheel, and consequentlyv of the printing-crank B and its connections. Y

Aguideway, L, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 7,) formed in a metallic plate, slotted to permit the printing-wheels and feedrollers to engage each other in the plane of` its upper surface, is fitted and secured to the fraaie to extend from outside ofthe printing-wheel inward and project beyond the feed-rollers. v(See Figs. 1, 4, and 9.) The way or recess in the upper face of this plate is of suitable width to receive the strip of paper U, from which the checks are to be cut, and the paper is thereby'led horizontally in the plane passing between the printing-wheels D and D and the feed-rollers I and l. The way L is provided with two coveringplates, L L, which are slotted transversely (see Fig. 7) to allow the printing and the feed rollers to pass lthiough the same, and which are titted .to slide longitudinally into place in grooves formed in the inner sides of the way,

4so as to admit of ready removal in case the paper strip passing through the way becomes caught therein.

A knife, M, is secured to a bar, M1, (see Fig. 3,) pivoted at one end to the frame of the machine, to extend transversely across the front end of the gnideway L at a right angle IOO thereto and to close upon a suitable bed-plate, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9. The free end of the knife bar is thrown up by a spring, M5, (see Fig. 3,) and it is forced down with a positive movement by means of a sliding bar, N, fitted to play vertically in suitable ways, N N', over the center of the knife, and whose upper end is `fitted with a friction-roller, c, to engage a cam, N2, (see Fig. 9,) on the shaft B. In the lower end of this sliding bar a transverse rod, P, is fitted to project outwardly through the casing. lts outer end is fitted with a thumb-key, P. (Sec Fig. l.) Its inner end is fitted with a disk, I, (see Fig. 3,) having two faces cut at right angles to each other and to radii passing through the center of each, the one (the longer face) being` much closer to the center than the other. These faces are made to bear upon the k nite-bar, and the rod P, to which they are secured, may be turned by the key P, so as to bring the one or the other of the faces to bear upon the bar, as may be desired, a further movement of the rod and key being prevented by a stoppin, d, Fig. 1, engaging offsets upon the edge of the key. The depression ofthe sliding bar N when acted upon by the cam l 'l will bring the one face or the other of the disk l into contact with the knife-bar. It' the face of the disk P which is the longest or nearest its center be toward the knife, the knife will not be carried down far enough to make a'cut. It the other shorter face be turned downward, the knife will be carried entirely across the end of the guideway L, so as to sever the paper strip projecting therefrom. If, when the sliding bar N is up, the disk F2 be turned so as to change the faces, the angle e between them (see Fig. 3) will operate in the movement as a cam to force down the knife independently of the bar, and the paper strip may thus be cut at any time by simply turning the key F. By setting the disk l"2 so that its short face shall be down, the paper will be :fed through by the movement of the machine without being cut.

Vhile the knife-bar is automatically raised by the action of the spring M5, its elevation is positively seeured,even should the spring become weakened, by means of a cam, M, (sec Figs. 2 and 3,) on the main shaft Bf, and a bar, M, which, pivoted at its lower end, is bent at its upper end to overhang the cam M", so as to be struck and lifted thereby before the printingwheel closes upon the paper. This cam M4 acts but for a moment, leaving the knife-bar free to be depressed thereafter by a movement ofthe thumb-key P.

The addi-ng mechanism of the machine (not shown in the drawings) consists of a series of rotating disks geared together in manner to indicate successively the units, tens, hundreds, che., to be counted thereby, in manner as is common in :ulding-machines of well-known constructions. These disks are actuated by the rotation of asingle-toothed wheel, Q, Figs. l, 4, and 6, which alone of the adding mechanism is shown in the drawings. This wheel contact with its inner face.

Q is mounted in the upper lpart of the Vframe or easing of the machine approximately iu line with the shaft B and F, and is geared to a larger wheel, R, which is made to rotate intermittently more or less) at each revolution ofthe printingcrauk 3, by means ot a springactuated pawl, R', (see Figs. l and 4,) pivoted upon the end of an arm, R2, in position to engage the teeth of the wheel R. The arm RZ projects from the hub or collar of a loose pinion-wheel, R3, (see Figs. l, 4, 6, and 8,) mounted to turn freely upon the pivotal axis ofthe wheel R. The pinion R is in turn engaged by a toothed segment, R, Figs. l and 1i, upon one end or arm of a bent lever, R, pivoted centrally upon astud or pin, t', projecting from the casing or frame between the wheel R and the shaft F, as shown in Figs. l and 4. The opposite end or arm of this eentrally-pivoted lever R5 is coupled by a link, R, with the crank-pin K on the face of the wheel Kb', se-

cured upon the shaft F, as hereinafter de-` scribed.

Thus the rotation of the shaft F will produce a reciprocating movement ofthe toothed segment Rt, whose engagement with the loose pinion t3 will cause a reciprocating movementthereof, and consequently of the pawl R', over the periphery of the spur-wheel R. As the pawl moves forward it will engage the spur-wheel R and cause its rotation, and the reciprocating movement ofthe pawl will thus produce an intermittent movement of said wheel and of the adding mechanism geared thereto. The several gear-wheels QR R and the segment R" are so proportioned that the complete movement of the segment produced at each revolution of the shaft F will cause one complete revolution ofthe adding-wheel Q.

The engagement of the pawl R' with the teeth of the wheel R is controlled, so as to limit the extent of the movement which the complete stroke of the pawl will impart to the wheel, by means of a disk, S, whose extreme diameter coincides with that ol' the extreme diameter ofthe toothed wheel R, upon whose axis it is mounted, so as to revolve thereon iu (See Fig. 6.) The pawl R is made wide enough to extend over the rim of the disk, and resting thereon it is prevented from dropping into and engaging the teeth of the wheel R. A portion ot' the rim of the disk S is ent away, however, so as to allow the pawl when it reaches this portion of the rim to drop into the teeth of the wheel R. As the pawl reeiprocates back and forth over the rim ofthe wheel R and of the disk S, the degree of the movement of the wheel by the pawl is restricted to the distance left between the point of the disk at which the pawl will drop between the teeth and the end ofthe stroke of the pawl. AThis controlling-disk S 4is carried upon the face of the wheel S, (see Figs. l, 4, and 6,) rotating loosely upon the journal. ofthe wheel R. The wheel S is geared by a train of toothed wheels, S, S, and S with the shaft ot' the indicator, and it is so adjusted that when the indicator points to the zero on the scale the widest portion of the disk S will be made to cover the entire movement of the pawl R, so that it cannot actuate the wheel R, and when the indicator points to 100 this wide portion of the disk S will be Withdrawn entirely from under the pawl, leaving the pawl free to engage the wheel R at the start and to carry it forward during its ent-ire sweep, producing thereby a complete revolution of the addingwheel Q. The adjustment of the indicator at the intermediate points will in like manner produce such an intermediate adjustment of the cam-disk S that the rotation of the wheel Q will be exactly proportioned to the position at the time of the indicator between its two eXtreme points at and 100. To prevent the wheel Q and the adding mechanism from moving too far by reason of its momentum when suddenly turned forward, a tooth or lug,'t, is formed `upon the end of the arm R2, (see Fig. 8,) in position to engage the wheel Q so soonas the arm has completed its forward stroke and is about to swing back.

j This momentary engagement of the wheel Q by the tooth tserves effectually and positively to stop the movement of the wheel Q the instant the pawl R has completed its forward movement.

Theindicatingdevice is completed by tting adisk, T, upon a horizontal transverse shaft, T', mounted in the upper portion of the case, so that the upper half of said disk shall project up through the top of the case. The periphery of the wheel S', carrying the cam-disk S, is toothed, and the shaft T' is geared thereto by means of a pinion, T, (see Figs. 1 and 4,) so proportioned as that the shaft T and disk T will make one complete revolution at each complete movement ofthe indicator from Oto 100, or vice versa. The opposite faces of the disk T are each marked with ordinals correspending to those upon the indicator-scale, and the disk is inclosed by acovering-casaV, Fig. 5, in which openings V are left opposite each other, one upon each side, through which the ordinals on the disk may be seen one at a time. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) The disk T is so adj usted with reference to said openings that when the indicator A points to any given number on the indicator-plate the same number rwill appear at'the openings in the case, thereby facilitating the determination and publication of the denomination of the check to be printed, and whose amount is to be added-to the 4sum of checks already issued.

The paper U for the checks is supplied to the print-ing or embossing mechanism in a continuous strip from a reel,U,whieh is mounted to revolve freely upon a transverse pin, U, at one side of the case in line with the feed-rolls. The pin is free to be drawn out to facilitate the mounting of the reel of paper thereon. Vhen thus mounted to rotate upon the pin U as its axis, the reel may be' protected by a skeleton frame,W, forming part of the case of the machine. The pin when inserted is preend of a flexible arm, h, is mounted within the case of the machine in front of the reel U, so as to drop upon the strip of paperas it is led off from the reel, and by its automatic pressure thereon serve as a brake to prevent a too free or rapid movement thereof.

5 5, Figs. 3 and 9, represent printingor embossing dies secured toeach side of the knife M, to move therewith and toY imprint, at the moment the separation of the check from the strip is effected, a suitable check-'mark upon the adjacent edges both of the severed check and of the stripfrom which it is cut.

To provide for the consecutive numbering of the checks issued from the machine, a consecutive numbering-machine, 20, of any approved construction, is mounted upon the guideway L, (see Fig. 9,) back of the feed-rollers [i,in position to print thestrip as it passes forward between said rollers.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 9, the numbering machine is illustrated as constructed in the well-known form which operates by the reciprocating movement of a vertical plunger,13. This plunger carries a frame, 14, in which are pivoted the type-wheels 15. These are actuated by a pawl, 16, made to reciprocate horizontally at each vertical movement of the frame by reason of its attachment to a second frame, 17, dependent from a rod, 18, and whose ends move in inclined slots 19 in the standard 20 of the machine. A reverse movement of the numbering-wheels is prevented by pawls 21,iixed to the movable frame 14,in front of the wheels. The types are inked at each lmovement of the frame 14 by means of a pad, 22, whichis made to sweep under and over the face of the type as the carriage moves up and down. A pad, 23, is let into the face of the guideway L in register with the numbering-wheels to facilitate obtaining an 1mprint therefrom upon the' paper slip. The plunger 13 is made to move up and down to produce an imprint of the numbering-wheels upon the strip each time a check is printed or embossed by the wheels D D', by means of a curved lever, 25, which, pivoted at one end to the shaft B,eXtends thence over a camwheel, 24, on the second shaft,-F, to engage the upper end ofthe plunger 13. (See Fig. 9.) The lever 25 is thrown up by the cam 24 at each revolution of the shaft F and is forced down by the pressure thereon of a spring, 26, and its oscillation thus produced operates to cause the required vertical reciprocation of the plunger 13 of the numbering-machine.

In the operation ofmy machine, the bolt B ICO IIO

in the handle B of the printing-crank being against the stop B,the indicator-lever A is turnedto the figure on the index-scale representing the denomination of the check to be issued-as, for example, fifty cents. Vhile the spring governing the lever is not strong enough to prevent a ready movement of the lever, its resiliency operating to throw the bolt A3 into the notches in the rim of the index-plate, (see Fig. 5,) tends to stop the lever in line with the several figures, and thus facilitates a quick arrest of the indicator at the desired figure. The movement of the indicator actuating the train of gear-wheels S", S, S2, S', and T sets the disk rlqse that the figure 50, to which the indicator is set, will appear at the opening in the cover V, and at the same time the printing or embossing wheels D D are turned back or forth until the appropriate type or die for the figure 50 is brought into register and in line with the strip ofpaper U. It also turns the controlling-disk Sinto such a position as that the pawl It is left free to engage the wheel R d u ring Iifty one-hundredths only ofthclength of its stroke. So soon as the printing or embossing wheels have thus been set by a movement ofthe indicator the handle B ofthe printing-crank is drawn out to release its stop-bolt B2, andthe crank is turned. Its first movement, actuating the eran k Hand the locking-lever H connected thereto, operates to throw the bolt H into one of the boltholes s in the lower printing-wheel, D, and thus prevents effectually any movement of the printing-wheels until the prin ting-crank B has made a'eomplete revolution, and consequently locks und prevents any movement whatever ofthe adding mechanism after the check is printed until it has been delivered .from the machine. Immediatelyfollowing the locking of theprinting-wheels D D and of the adding mechanism operated thereby the cam a is brought into play to force down the upper printing-wheel upon the lower one, so as to imprint theinterposed strip of paper U with the gure 50, to which the wheel was set, and simultaneously the pawl R', moving over the disk S, finally drops at one-half the length of its strokeinto contact with the wheeel. R, so as to carry it forward during the remainder of the stroke, the same being far enough, with theindex at 50, to produce a fifty one-hundredth rotation of the master-wheel Q, in the adding mechanism. As the upper printing-wheel is closed upon the lower one by the action of the cam a', to produce an imprint of the value ofthe check thereon,the cam 24tupon the same shaft F is in position to permit the spring 26 to force down the level' 25 of the consecutive numbering-machine, and thereby produce an imprint of the number of the next succeeding check upon the blank strip, in preparation for its being fed forward to receive its denominational imprint. So soon as the printing or embossing wheels D D are relieved from the action of the cam a', and the upper wheel, D', is lifted-by the spring E2, the movement of the pawl K,wln`ch in the meantime has been carried back to engage the ratchet-wheel I, by the rotation of the wristpin K3,(see Fig. 4,) will causearotation ofthe feed-wheels I l, so that the paper strip U is fed forward, the imprinted portion carried out beyond the knife M, and a fresh portion, imprinted, as deseribed,with its consecutive number, is drawn in between the printing-wheels, in readiness for an impression therefrom. When each intermittent movement ofthe paper` strip is completed, and as the printingeran k B approaches the completion of its revolution,the cam N2 is brought into play to force down the knife-bar M2 and sever the printed end of the strip, and at the same time imprint the edges both ofthe check and of the strip on each side of the line ot' severance with the safety-prints or guard devices. So soon as the knife-bar BF has made its cut it is lifted by the action of the spring M5, assisted positively, if need be, by the momentary engagement of the cam or toe Ml with the liftingbar M lfa cheek is required for more than one hundred cents-as, for example, for one dollar and fty cents-the thumb-piece P is turned so as to bring the longer face of the disk l toward the knife-bar M (see Fig. 3) before printing the number 50 in manner as above described, so that the movement of the cam NL will not carry the knife down far enough to cut the strip when said number has been printed thereon. After the printing-crank B has made the one revolution required to print 50 the indicator is set at 100 and the disk P2 turned to present its shorter face to the knife-bar, so that upon a second turn of the crank B the figure l0() is printed upon the strip in advance ofthe 50, and the check is severed with the two figures 100 and 50 thereon. The fraudulentseparation of this double check into two separate cheeks for the purpose of presenting one only is prevented by means of thesat'ety-prints produced on the ends thereof by the dies on the knife-bar, the absence of the imprints upon both ends of a check indicating to the cashier that the check was cut in two otherwise than by the machine.

I am aware that the combination of a springactuated bolt with a movable piece formed. with angular notches to engage t-hc bolt is not new. My improvement in the means `for arresting and delining thc movement of the indicatingfinger A2 in reference to the index-plate A differs from all other analogous devices in that a serrated edge is formed upon the index-plate to present a series of sharp angular apices between the angular notches, whereby the springbolt upon the crank arm is prevented from resting and remaining stationary between the notches, and is automatically guided into the nearest notch by the pressure of the spring which actuates the bolt, so as to carry automatically the type on the type-wheel invariably into position for print whenever theindieating-arm comes to a reet.

I claim as my invention- ICO IIO

1. The combination, with a printing orembossing wheel rotating in iXed bearings, of a second counterpart wheel superimposed upon the first, with the relief-type on the periphery of the one in register with the counterpart intaglio-type on the periphery of the other,the second wheel being mounted to rotate in bearings in a swinging frame pivoted upon the axis of a pinion gearing into cogs ou both wheels, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination, with a printing or embossing wheel rotating in fixed bearings and a second counterpart wheel superimposed upon the first and mounted to rotate in a frame which is pivot-ed upon the axis of a pinion gear ing into cogs on both wheels, of a spring actuating the swinging` frame to lift the upper wheel from thel lower wheel, substantially inthe manner and for thepurpose herein set forth.

3. The combination, with a printing or embossing wheel rotating in fixed bearings and a second counterpart wheel superimposed upon the first and mounted to rotate in a frame which is pivoted upon the axis ofa pinion gearing into cogs on both wheels, of ayoke pivoted upon the journals of the upper wheel to swing into line vertically over the axes of the two wheels, and a cam upon a rotating shaft mounted in position to engage said yoke and bear down the upper wheel at each revolution of the shaft, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. The combination, with a printing or embossing wheel revolving in fixed bearings and geared to `the shaft or spindle of an indexpointer, by whose movement itis set, and with a second independent shaft actuating by its rotation the mechanism for obtaining an imprint from the wheel upon a strip of paper, of a bolt mounted to engage the printingwheel, a pivoted lever actuating said bolt, and

an eccentric upon said second shaft actuating the lever, whereby the bolt is made to engage the wheel during the major part of the revolution of the second shaft, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. The combination, with a printing or embossing wheel rotating in fixed bearings and pierced transversely with a series of contiguous holes forming a circle concentric with its periphery and corresponding in number to the type thereon, and with a second counterpart wheel superimposed upon and geared to the first, with freedom to move radially to and from the same, of a reciprocating taperpointed bolt mounted to enter said holes and by the wedging action of its pointed end produce positively an accurate registry of the counterpart impression-surfaces on the two wheels, substantially in the manner and for Ythe purpose herein set forth.

6. The combination,with theknife for severing the checks from the check-strip in a checkprinting machine and with a sliding bar in-" terposed between the knife-bar and a cam on its actuating-shaft, of a disk having two adjacent flat faces formed upon its rim or periphery at a right angle to each other and which differ in their radial distance from the aXis of the disk, the disk being mounted upon a rotating shaft actuated by a thumb-key and journaled in the lower end of said sliding bar, so that either fiat face may be brought to bear upon the knife-bar, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

7. The combination, in a check-machine, of the printingwheels, the mechanism, substantially as described, for obtaining an imprint from said wheels, the crankshaft B', actuating said mechanism, the spur-wheel R, geared to the master-wheel of the adding mechanism, the reciprocating pawl R', engaging said spurwheel R and actuated, substantially as described, by the rotation of the crank-shaft B, the recessed or segmental disk S, governing said pawl to control its engagement with the wheel R, and the indicator-arm A and its shaft C', gearedmediately both to said segmental disk S and to the printing-wheels, whereby the movement of the indicator-arm to adjust the printing-wheels will simultaneously adj ust the segmental disk, and thereby control the engagement of the pawl with the wheel operating the adding mechanism when said pawl is moved by the rotation of the crank-shaft as it produces an imprint from the printing-wheels under said adjustment.

8. The combination, with the printingwheel in a check-machine and with the lever by which the wheel is adjusted and its position indicated, of a series of angular projections and intervening angular notches, in nurnber corresponding with the number of operative positions of which the printing-wheel is capable, an angular V-shaped catch or bolt tted nponthe lever and adapted to engage said projections and by a wedging contact with the sloping sides thereof to prevent the wheel from standing at rest between any two of its actuating positions, and a spring bearing upon the catch or bolt to enforce its operative pressure upon the sides of the angular projections, whereby the wheel may not rest4 until the catch or bolt has reached the bottom of the nearest notch, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

9. The combination, with the shaft B', actuating by its rotation the feed and imprinting mechanism in a check-machine, and with a pawl, K5, and ratchet-wheel K3, adapted to prevent its rot-ation in one direction,ofa crank, B, geared to the shaft, a stop or lug, B3, upon the face of the casing under the crank, and a spring-actuated bolt, B2, playing longitudinally in the handle ofthe crank to automatically engage said stop and thereby lock the crank and shaft at each complete turn thereof in the opposite direction, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

l0. The combination, ina check-printing machine, with -a swinging reciprocating arm, R2, actuated by the mechanism, substantially ICO as herein described, which operates to imprint the check, and with apawl carried by saidarm, and an1aster-whee1 in a train of addingwheels actuated by said pawl, of a tooth or lug upon said ar111 fitted lo engage and stop said masterwheel at the rnonlent its niovelnentby the re` clproeating arm is completed, snbstanliallyin the 11111111101 and Yfor the purpose herein set forth.

l1. lThe con1l1inatio11, in a check -111achine, Withlhe shaft F and with the crank-pin K 11pon the wheel K, carried by said shaft, of rocking levers K and R, actuating. respect ively, the feeding-rollers and the a1'lding` and registering mechanism of the machine, and connectingrods K2 and K, coupling said 1evers to the one crank-pin K, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

12. The combination, with a single crankshaft in a check-machine, of the type-Wheels, the lock-bolt engaging one of said wheels, the

numbering device, thepaper-ieeding rolls, the reciprocating knife, andinterrnediatemechanis111,substantial1 y asherein described, Wh creby said locking device, type-wheels, numbering device, paper-ieeding rolls, and knife are severally actuated by the crank-shafts to produce, consecutively, during a single revolution of the crank a lock ol' the type-wheels to prevent their rotation, an imprint from said wheels and numbering device on a strip of paper earried by the rolls, a forward 111ove111e11t of the imprinted paper, a severance of the outer end thereof by the knife, and a release of thc lockboit, ailsnbstantially in the manner and i'or the purpose herein set i'or-th.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the preseneeof two s11l1- seribing witnesses.

VILLIAM KOCH.

Vitnesses:

J. F. Aoiinn, Jr., A. B. MOORE.

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