Im- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPES.
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Fraser, of Edinburgh, in the County
of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Printer, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPES.
Sealed the 1st October 1872, and dated the 10th April 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Fraser at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th April 1872.
I, ALEXANDER FRASER, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian,
5 North Britain, Printer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPES," to be as follows,
that is to say :-
This Invention relates to improved type distributing apparatus of the
kind in which the required action is effected through the agency of keys.
) successively depressed by hand, and without nicking or other special
conformation of the types.

page_text: A column or number of lines of the types is placed between guides on
a plate, along which it is pushed forward at intervals until the top line
drops into a groove, the near side of which is slightly bevilled, which
bevilling has the effect of separating the line of types in the groove from
the next line on the column-plate. The line of types is pushed along
the groove by means of a spring or by a bar with a rack actuated by a
toothed wheel on a barrel moved by a weighted cord or chain, the barrel
being fusee-shaped, if necessary, to adjust the pressure to the weight. of
types to be moved. The types are thus pushed forward up to a fixed
stop, and the most forward type is pushed by an instrument herein-after
termed the separator through an opening in the bottom, or as is pre-
ferred, in the side of the line groove, the width of which opening is
altered to suit the different thicknesses of type by appliances herein-after
described. Each type as it is pushed through the opening by the
separator slides on its broad side down a distributing plane, inclined
down from the horizontal, by preference at an angle of between 60 and
70 degrees of the circle, and is guided into its proper cell or case groove,
being prevented from turning on edge, as it is liable to do, by a series of
narrow transverse covering bars, which do not prevent its being seen
throughout its course. The distributing plane has on it a number of
guide strips of various lengths forming channels between them for the
respective types, and these guide or channel strips are formed with
hinged or spring parts at their upper ends, constituting doors or switches
for admitting the types each into its respective channel.
The keys are by preference vertical rods with marked buttons on their
upper ends, and are grouped into as compact a horizontal area as is con-
veniently practicable. The set of keys of one machine is divided into
a comparatively small number of sections, and every key in any one
section has, when depressed, an action common to every other key in
the same section in addition to what may be termed its individual action.
All the keys of any one section are made by preference to correspond to
types of the same or nearly the same thickness, the sections thus corre-
sponding to different thicknesses (or there may be two or more sections
corresponding to the same or nearly the same thickness). Each key, by
levers and links or equivalent connections, acts on a corresponding
switch on the distributing plane, and all the keys of any one section
act on a horizontal bar jointed to two parallel levers, so as to be uniformly
acted on by every key of the section. Each section bar, as it may be

page_text: termed, excepting the one for the thinnest types is connected to a wedge-
action appliance in connection with the appliances herein-before referred
to as at the front end of the line groove, and when acted on causes a
sliding door to be adjusted to suit the thickness of the front type.
Certain of the section bars are connected to main switches, situated
higher than the others on the distributing plane, and serving to direct
the types in the first instance into the main divisions of the plane, the
types being subsequently led onwards by minor switches lower down
and within the main divisions. Each section bar also acts on the sepa-
rator, but does not come into contact with the detail transmitting the
action thereto until it has moved or partly moved the sliding door, and
the switches in order to insure that the course for each type shall be
clear for it on its being separated and dropped. The minor switches in
any one of the main divisions are ranged in regular gradation as to
height, the higher ones closing over the lower ones, and the opening of
any one opens those above it. The points of the switches are made of a
curved thickened shape, such that each (except the highest) when
opened enters within or under the thickened part of the next higher one,
and so presents no projecting edge for the type to catch on in passing.
The main division switches are combined together in the same manner.
When any switch is opened it is held open until the operator depresses
another key of the same section, thus allowing the longest possible time
for cach type to go through its course. This important result is obtained
by hooks fixed to or in connection with the switches, and arranged to
engage with catches on holding bars, of which there may be one to each
section bar. Each holding bar is acted on by a spring or weight, so as
to tend to move into a position in which it catches and holds the hook
of any switch that is open; and when any key is depressed the corre-
sponding section bar acts by a cam or tumbler on the corresponding
holding bar, and makes the holding bar move so as to release the hooks
of any open switches, thus allowing such switches to close by the action
of their own or applied springs or weights. The cam or tumbler is
shaped to allow the holding bar to escape before the key is quite fully
depressed, and the bar in returning by the action of its spring catches
the hook of whatever switch is opened or kept open by that particular
depression of the key. The lower part of the distributing plane is curved
so as to terminate nearly vertically, and the types are led by the channels
on the plane into the front ends of a series of case grooves in which they
are severally collected. Rcom is made for each type at the front end of

page_text: its proper groove by a pusher, which pushes back the types previously
in, and such pushers are combined in sets, each set forming a kind of
rake which is acted on by the corresponding section bar. The part of
the framing with the keys is arranged so that it can be easily withdrawn
from the distributing plane at any time on disconnecting a few details.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Fraser in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th October 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
FRASER, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,
Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Fraser, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Fraser, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Fraser, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alexander Fraser, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Fraser, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by

page_text: the following statement in writing, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to improved type distributing apparatus of
the kind in which the required action is effected through the agency
of keys successively depressed by hand, and without nicking or other
special conformation of the types.
.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same may be properly understood, I hereunto append three Sheets
of explanatory Drawings, to be herein-after referred to, and representing
type distributing apparatus as made with my improvements. In these
Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or
like parts wherever they are repeated.
"
Figure 1, on Sheet 1, is a plan; Figure 2, Sheet, 2, is a sectional side
elevation; and Figure 3, Sheet 3, is a front elevation; whilst Figure 4,
on Sheet 3, is a face view of a distributing plane, which being inclined
cannot be so intelligibly represented in Figures 1 and 3, and is therefore
omitted in these Figures and shown separately.
It is unnecessary for me to minutely describe the mere framing of the
machine, as the arrangement I prefer to adopt will be sufficiently under-
stood from the Drawings, and may moreover be varied without affecting
the working parts.
A column 1, or number of lines of the types to be distributed, is
placed between guides 2, on a plate 3, and can be pushed forward when
required by means of a hand wheel 4 and screw 5, until the top line
drops into a groove 6, the near side of which is slightly bevilled at the
top, as shown in Figure 5, which bevilling has the effect of separating
the line of types in the groove 6 from the next line on the column plate 3.
The proper transference of the line of types into the groove 6, and its
complete separation from the rest is further assisted by a hinged plate 7,
which is lifted whenever a line of types is to be put into the groove, and
on being lowered again not only insures every type's getting to the bottom
of the groove, but also effectually prevents the next line from inter-
fering with the movement of the types in the groove 6. The line of
types 8 is pushed along the groove 6 by a bar 9, formed with rack teeth
on its upper edge to be actuated by a toothed wheel 10 on the spindle
of a barrel 11 moved by a weighted chain 12.
This barrel 11 may be
fusee-shaped if desired to adjust the pressure to
the weight of types to

page_text: be moved.
One end of the chain 12 or the end of a separate chain
fixed to a smaller barrel is continued down to a treadle which is not
shown, and when the operator is putting fresh types into the groove 6
he depresses the treadle to draw back the bar 9. Two or more lines of
types, according to the width of the columns, may be put into the groove 6
so that the operator does not require to fill the groove at each line.
The column plate 3 may be placed further back to allow of more types
being in the line groove 6 at once. The types are pushed forward along.
the groove 6, and the most forward type is pushed by an instrument 13,
herein-after termed the separator, down through an opening in the
bottom of the line groove 6, the width of this opening being altered to
suit the different thicknesses of type by appliances herein-after described.
Each type as it is pushed through the opening by the separator, slides on
its broad side down the distributing plane 14, which is inclined down
from the horizontal by preference at an angle of between 60 and 70
degrees of the circle, and is guided into its proper cell or case groove,
being prevented from turning on edge, as it is liable to do, by a series of
narrow transverse covering bars which do not prevent its being seen
throughout its course. The distributing plane 14 (Figure 4) has on it
a number of curved guide strips of various lengths forming channels
between them for the respective types, and these guide or channel strips
are formed with hinged parts at their upper ends, constituting doors or
switches for admitting the types each into its respective channel.
Figure 6, on Sheet 3, is an enlarged section explanatory of the hinged
or switch parts of the channel strips. Each switch 15 is formed with a
pin 16, which passes through and turns in a hole in the distributing
plane 14, and has fixed on it on the inner side of the plane a lever 17,
to which a spring or weight is applied for returning the switch to its
normal position after it has been acted upon. Near its point each
switch 15 is formed with a wing 18, and is shifted by the pressure of a
finger or lever on such wing, whilst the several wings of a series of
adjacent switches are shaped as shown to admit of the transverse covering
bars 19 being placed close down, so as to act effectually in preventing
the types from turning on edge. These covering bars are not shown in
the other Figures to avoid complicating and confusing the Drawings.
The keys are vertical rods 20, with marked buttons on their upper
ends and are grouned into as compact a horizontal area as is conveniently

page_text: .
practicable. The key rods are guided by being passed through holes in
upper and lower horizontal plates 21, 22, fixed to the framing, and they
are made to rise after being depressed by means of springs, which may
be helical springs, like the one shown at 23, or rubber or other springs
attached to the under side of the upper guide plate 21, and connected to
a lower part of each key rod. The downward movement of the key rods
is limited by shoulders on the rods coming in contact with the lower
guide plates 22. The entire set of keys is divided into a comparatively
small number of sections, and every key in any one section has, when
depressed, an action common to every other key in the same section in
addition to what may be termed its individual action. All the keys of
any one section are made to correspond to types of the same or nearly
the same thickness, the sections thus corresponding to different thick-
nessses (or there may be two or more sections corresponding to the same
or nearly the same thickness). Each key 20 acts on a rocking spindle 24
set horizontally in grooves in a frame 25, each spindle having formed at
its outer end an arm or lever 26, entered into a slot in an enlargement
formed on a key rod 20, whilst at the other end of each spindle there is .
a cranked arm or lever 27, which is formed with a flattened end bearing
against the wing 18 of one of the lower series of switches 15 on the
distributing plane 14. Thus the depressing of any key rod 20 acts by
means of the corresponding rocking spindle 24 on the switch 15 deter-
mining into which of the lower or terminal grooves on the distributing
plane the type shall be guided. In addition to this individual action,
all the keys of any one section act on a horizontal bar 28, which is
jointed to two parallel levers 29, so as to be equally acted on by every
key of the section being returned upwards again by a spring 30. The
key rods 20 act on the section bars 28, as they may be termed, by means
of pins fixed in them transversely, and bearing on the tops of the bars.
It will be observed that in the modification shown in the Drawings,
each row of keys 20, shown in a horizontal position in Figure 1, parallel
to Figure 2, and at right angles to Figure 3, acts on one section bar 28,
and therefore corresponds to a section. Each section bar 28, excepting
those for the thinnest type, is connected to wedge action mechanism in
connection with the appliances herein-before referred to as at the front
end of the line groove 6, and when acted on causes a sliding door 31 to
be adjusted to suit the thickness of the front type. This sliding door 31
moves horizontally in a recess formed beneath the front end of the line

page_text: "
of types 8, being pushed forward by a spring 32, whilst it has fixed in it
a little to one side a stud 33, by means of which it is pressed backwards
as required. A bar 34 guided to slide horizontally, pushes the sliding
door 31 back, and is itself acted upon by a series of wedges 35 (having
a set on both sides of it), the wedges bearing against pieces which are
adjustable on its sides. The wedges 35 are guided to move vertically
and are raised by levers 36 connected by wires, shown by blue lines to
the parts beneath. Certain of the section bars 28, namely, all but the
extreme right hand one and the extreme left hand one, are connected to
rocking spindles 37, which act on sectional switches 38, situated higher
than the others (15) on the distributing plane 14. The connection with
the rocking spindles 37 which act directly on the switches 38, is effected
through intermediated rocking spindles 39, disposed lower down and at
right angles to the others, and each connected by wire to the section
bars 28 at one end, and to the upper rocking spindles 37 at the other.
The two innermost section bars 28, however, being directly below the
upper rocking spindles 37, are connected to them by wires without the
intervention of any of the intermediate spindles 39. The upper section
switches 38 are in two sets, corresponding to two main divisions of the
types, one division comprising, for example, the "lower case types,
including all below a certain thickness, and the other including "capitals"
and thicker types; and above these section switches 38 there is a single
switch 40 which causes each type to enter one or other of the two main
divisions of the channels. This single switch 40 has its spring or weight
arranged to tend to keep it open for the "lower case" type division, and
it is turned to the other side when required by a rocking spindle 41,
connected by a wire to a horizontal rod 42 lying under all the section
bars 28 corresponding to the thick types, so as to be depressed when any
one of these is depressed. This rod 42 is carried by small lever arms at
each end and centered on the framing. Each section bar 28 also acts
on the separator 13, but does not come into contact with the detail
transmitting the action thereto until it has adjusted the sliding door and
moved or partly moved the switches and other parts in order to insure
that the course for each type shall be quite clear for it as soon as it is
separated and dropped. The detail acted on by the section bars 28 is
a horizontal spindle 43 extending under the whole of them and carrying
small lever arms 44 to be depressed by them. A lever 45 on one end
of the spindle 43 is connected by a wire to a bell-crank lever 46, which
transmits the motion by a wire to a second bell-crank lever 47, and a

page_text: wire or cord from this last passes round a pulley 48, and thence up to
the separator 13.
The separater 13 is guided to move vertically within a bar 49 fixed
across the end of the line groove 6 and within a guide upon a small
standard 50, whilst this standard carries a spring consisting by pre-
ference of a strip of vulcanised rubber which raises up the separator
after each depression. The separator 13 is peculiarly formed so as not
to injure the types; it is formed with a part projecting down in front of
the type, which descending with the type saves any friction on its front
side. What depresses the type is a shoulder formed by a rebate on the
inner face of the separator 13, such rebate being made equal to the
thinnest type, so that two types cannot be acted on at once. When
the separator rises again it is prevented from frictionally lifting up the
next type by a small glass plate 51, which whilst holding the types down
allows them to be seen.
I formerly proposed to graduate the several minor switches 15, com-
posing a section as to height with the higher, ones closing over the
lower ones; but I have found that it is better to arrange them, as shown
in Figure 4, all those of a section being carried up to the same height or
nearly so, although the wings 18 by which they are severally moved are
arranged in different positions vertically. Corners or indentations 52
are formed in the sectional channels for the points of the switches to be
moved into so as to present no projecting edge for the type to catch
on in passing. A similar arrangement is adopted with the higher
switches 38 and 40, as will be easily understood from Figure 4.
When any one of the minor switches 15 is opened it is held open
until the operator depresses another key of the same section, thus
allowing the longest possible time for each type to go through its course
without the operator requiring to waste time by holding a key down.
This important result is obtained by appliances which, to avoid compli-
cation in the Drawings, are shown as applied to only one section. Each
switch wing 18 has fixed to it a hook 53, arranged to engage with one
of a series of catches 54 on a holding bar 55, which is made capable of
a slight movement parallel to the distributing plane on pins 56 fixed on
transverse frame bars 57, and has imparted to it by a spring 58 an
upward tendency, which makes it engage with any hook 53 moved over
into the way of its corresponding catch 54. The holding bar 55 is moved
downwards whenever the operator depresses a key of the section by the

page_text: action of a cam pin on the inner end of the section bar 28, this cam pin
acting on a similar pin on a tumbler bit 59 jointed upon the holding bar.
When the holding bar 55 is moved downwards in this way by the first
action of the section bar 28 it releases any switch or switches 15 it was
holding, allowing them to close by the action of their springs or weights.
The tumbler bit 59 is however arranged so as to escape from under the
pin of the section bar 28 before the key is quite fully depressed, and
the holding bar 55 in returning by the action of its spring, catches the
hook 53 of whatever switch 15 is opened or kept open by that particular
depression of the key. When the section bar rises again the tumbler
bit 59, being loose on a pin on the holding bar 55, turns up out of the
way. The lower part of the distributing plane 14 is curved, as shown
at 60 in Figure 1, so as to terminate nearly vertically, and a hinged
cover 61 is applied over this. The types drop from the bottoms of the
channels on the distributing plane 14 into the front ends of a series of
case grooves 62 on trays 63, and room is made for each type in its proper
groove by a pusher which pushes back the types previously in the groove.
The pushers are combined in sets, each set forming a kind of rake 64,
which is acted upon by the corresponding holding bar 55. Each rake 64
is held in guides at the front of the trays and is drawn outwards by a 2
spring 65 being moved inwards by, a wedge 66 fixed to the holding
bar 55, and which acts in a slot formed in the shank of the rake.
It will be seen from the Drawings, and on considering the herein-
before described construction and arrangement of the various parts, that
if the levers 45 and 46, through which motion is transmitted to the 2
separator 13 are disconnected, all the parts in front of the distributing
plane (excepting the holding bars 55 and rakes 64) can be removed
without disarranging them or taking them to pieces, an arrangement
which very much facilitates the removal of any accidental obstruction.
Instead of the grooves or channels on the distributing plane 14 being a
covered with transverse bars, as herein-before described, to keep the
types from turning on edge, the parts of them where there are no switches
may be covered with glass plates, as indicated by dotted lines at 67, in
Figure 4, such plates being fitted in grooved frame strips, so that they
may be easily slid out when a type has to be removed from beneath.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to
3

page_text: the precise details herein described or delineated, but that what I
believe to be novel and original and claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of apparatus
for distributing types, substantially in the improved manner herein
described and delineated.
2. The arranging of sections or sets of the key rods to act on section
bars carried by parallel levers, substantially as herein described and
delineated.
3. The combining together of the holding bars with the switch hooks
and actuating details, substantially in the manner herein described and
delineated.
4. The applying of the rocking spindles for transmitting the action
from the key rods, substantially as herein described and delineated.
5. The constructing and arranging of the sliding door for the passage
downwards of a type from the line groove, with the adjusting and other
accompanying details of the said door in the improved manner, substan-
tially as herein described and delineated.
6. The making of the separator with a part extending down at the
side of the type and saving the same from friction, substantially as
herein described and delineated.
7. The keeping of the types in the line groove separate from those
remaining on the column plate by improved arrangements, substantially
such as are herein described and delineated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Fraser, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.