Improvements in Apparatus for Distributing or Composing Type.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Distributing or Composing Type.
We, JULES GUSTAVE RETAUX of 84 Chaussée Marcade, Abbeville France, and
JOSEPH AGNATIUS MEDAWAR of Suffolk House, Lawrence Pountney Hill,
Cannon Street, E.C., Insurance and Advertising Contractor, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the operations of type dis-
tributing and type composing and will be best understood by reference to the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus showing the type distributor and the
compositor in position this view being drawn to a smaller scale than all the
others.
Fig. 2 is a plan and Fig. 3 a side elevation of the distributor.
Fig. 4 is a section of the distributor showing the plungers G G¹ and plate H in
elevation.
Fig. 4 is a view of one of the blades of the distributor.
Fig. 5 is a view of the distributor shown partly in elevation and partly in section
on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a view of the distributor shown partly in elevation and partly in section
on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 with one of the type shifting blades moved.
Figs. 7 and 8 are sections taken respectively on the line 7-7 and 8-8 of
Fig. 4.
Fig. 9 is a plan of the compositor.
Figs. 10 and 11 are similar sections taken on the line 10-11 of Fig. 9 showing
the same part of the compositor in different positions.
Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the compositor and a section of one of the type-
channels and showing the shoot-door closed.
Fig. 13 is an elevation of the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 12 of the
compositor and channel showing the door opened.
Figs. 14 and 15 are sections on the line 14-15 of Fig. 9 showing the apparatus
in two different positions and looking towards the bottom of Fig. 9.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
As shown in Fig. 1 the apparatus consists of an inclined plate A. having as many
grooves or channels A' as there are different letters, numerals, punctuation
marks, spaces, quads and other characters, symbols or devices in the complete font
which it is intended to assort in the apparatus, these in different apparatus being
constructed to suit different requirements. These characters, symbols or devices
for convenience are herein generally referred to as type pieces. At the upper end
of the channels A' there is a correspondingly grooved plate A' of greater inclination
to the horizontal than plate A and into the upper ends of the channels in which
plate A the distributor B is adapted to deliver the type. The lower ends of the
grooves or shoots A¹ are each provided with a door R adapted to be opened by the
compositor C.
The distributor B and compositor C are each mounted on a carriage B¹ and
rollers B' so that they may be moved along the rails A* in order to deliver a type
piece into or withdraw one from any of the channels A'. The plates and rails A À*
and A are supported on a suitable framing A' which may be of any desired
construction.
The distributor shown in Figs. 2 to 8 consists of a plate B on which the batch or
forms of type to be distributed is supported between two vertical plates D and D'

page_text: the former of which is stationary on the plate B and the latter adjustable, being for
this purpose formed with the horizontal slotted extensions D' through which pass
the thumb-screws D³ which also pass through the clamping plate D to which are
attached the guide bars D' and which clamping plate is adapted to be screwed down
on to the extensions D'.
In the plate B is formed a groove B of sufficient width to accommodate one line
of type and along this groove a plunger or driver E is moved by a spring E' so as
to press said line of type towards the discharging opening B. The driver E is
guided in the casing secured to plate B and is provided with a thumb plate E
by means of which. it may be pulled back by hand to its starting position against
the pressure of spring E¹ which acts on it through the bracket plate E which like
the spring E is guided on the rod E' mounted on plate B by means of brackets E
At one side of the groove B³ is arranged the cheek E' which forms a vertical
continuation of the wall of said groove.
F is a latch guided in a bracket F1 secured to the back of cheek D¹ and pressed
forward by a spring F and which may be pulled back against the pressure of said
spring by means of a knob F or equivalent whenever it is required to release the
driver E this latch serving automatically to retain the driver in its inoperative
position.
At the front part of plate B are provided two brackets B' in which are supported
four plungers G G G G each of which may be pushed by its head G in one
direction and returned to its original position by a spring G.
The space
between the brackets B' is preferably closed-in by a casing G. Each of the
plungers G G G G at its inner end is adapted to be pressed against the lug h of
a plate H H'H' or H' which plates correspond in number with the plungers which
is four in the example illustrated but which may be more or less than that number.
To each lug his secured one end of a rod or wire H which at or near its opposite
end is guided and free to move longitudinally in a fixed bracket H' of which in the
accompanying drawings there are shown two, each one serving for two rods H. A
spring His provided on each of the rods H for returning the plates H H¹ H* H³
to the normal position in which they are shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. To each of
these plates which may be of brass or equivalent metal is secured a preferably steel
blade J J J J each of which as shown most clearly in Fig. 44 is formed with a
recess through which the type pieces pass as hereinafter described and another
recess into which fits the bar I which forms a vertical continuation of one side of
the groove B³. The plates H H' and H' are each formed with a slot ¹ and the
plates H H and H are each provided with a pin or projection h². The pin ² of
plate H engages with the slot of plate H, the pin of plate H engages with
slot of plate H and the pin of plate H³ engages with slot of plate H*. The
plate His the only one of the four which can be moved independently of the others
when it is moved by its plunger G its slot h' moves over the pin /² of plate H¹
without affecting it and the blade J only is operated. When plate H' is operated
by its plunger G¹ its pin h³ normally resting against the end of the slot h¹ of
plate H moves said plate along with it so that instead of one blade the two blades J
and J are moved the slot of plate H' meanwhile sliding over pin of plate H³.
Similarly when plate H' is operated by its plunger G, its pin 2 carries along
plate Hwhich in its turn carries along plate H and so causes the three blades J.J
and J to be operated and so on. When plate H is operated by its plunger G³ all
the four blades J J1 J2 and J' are operated simultaneously. These blades are
operated one, two three or four at a time according to the thickness of the particular
type piece it is desired to release from the end of the line being distributed, for
example if the letter "i" is to be detached the plunger G and consequently only
the blade Jare operated if the letter "W" is to be detached then the plunger G
is operated so that all the blades J to J are moved. K is the stop against which
the end of the line of type pieces being distributed is pressed by the driver E' and
against which the leading type of said line bears until removed by one or more 'of
the blades J J¹ J* J*.

page_text: The plates H to H³ are guided in a case H' the before mentioned brackets H
being preferably formed in part therewith.
The compositor shown in Figures 9 to 15 consists of a plate C provided with two
vertical plates or cheeks L and L' the former of which is permanently fixed to C
and the latter is adjustable thereon according to the length of the lines into which
the type is to be set up;-the means for providing this adjustment are similar to
those for rendering D₁ adjustable on B and consequently the parts are similarly
lettered. L' is another vertical plate or cheek which supports the form of type on
a third side. To this plate are secured two rods L' each of which slides freely in
a bracket L L secured to the plate B and each of which is reduced or shouldered
down so that a spring L' acting between said shoulder and the outer face of the
member L of each of the brackets tends always to return the cheek L³ from the
position in which it is shown in dotted lines in Figure to the normal position in
which it is represented in full lines and in which latter position it bears against the
inner faces of L. To the outer ends of the rods L³ is secured a bar L' by means
of which the operator may push the cheek L' inwards against the pressure of the
springs Le from the position shown in full lines in Figure 9 to the position shown
in dotted lines. M is a bracket secured to the cheek L by screws M' or equivalent
means and which carries a screw or projection M' which engages with slots M and
guides the inner parts of two plates M M the outer part of each of which as
shown in Figures 10 and 11 is forked and guided in a bracket M secured to the
plate C. M' are spiral springs bearing at one end against the bar L' and at their
other ends bearing respectively against the outer ends of the plates M* M* in such
manner that when the bar L' is pushed inwards the plates M* Ms will be moved
with it if only the weight of the type has to be overcome but if a type piece
projects out from the end of the channel N beyond the face of the cheek L and is
not clear of said channel then, according to the extent to which it projects either
one or both of the plates M* M' will be held back by it while the bar L' or both
the bar L' and plate M will continue their movement and push the type free of
the channel N further over the plate C. L³ are two spring catches one applied to
each of the plates L L' so that their points project inwards and retain the type in
position after it has been pushed aside by the cheek L' so as to leave room for the
line of type pieces to be next set up.
To the wall N of the channel N a lever O is pivotted by a screw O' and from
this lever projects a stud 0 which passes through slot O' in the wall N¹ traverses
the channel N and passes through a second slot in wall N' and projects beyond
the outer surface of said wall N°. The lever O is operated upon at one end by a
plunger O adapted to be pressed down by hand and raised by a spring O³ Figure 12
and guided in its vertical movements in a bracket O secured to the outer face of
wall N¹. Between the walls N' N' is pivotted a cam plate P which a spring P',
secured within the channel N always tends to move back to its normal position
shown in Figure 15 after it has been tilted by the stud O' of lever O in the manner
shown in Figure 14. The surface P' of lever P acts as a guide and cam for feeding
the type-pieces along the channel N as will be seen by observing the difference in
the position of the types Z represented in dotted lines in Figures 14 and 15
respectively. To the outer side of wall N' is pivotted the lever QQ¹ the arm Q of
which is acted upon at the underside by the stud O' which raises said arm when
the plunger O is depressed as shown in Figure 13 and at its upper side this arm Q
is acted upon by a spring Q which returns the lever Q Q¹ to its normal position
when the plunger 0 is released. The member Q' of lever Q Q' terminates in a
head Q which projects laterally so as to be over the chanuel N and so that it is
capable of operating the door R of only that particular groove A¹ beneath which
the channel N is at the time the plunger O is depressed. Each of the doors R is
formed preferably in one piece with a projection R¹ and stop or cheek R³ the latter
of which is carried on the end of a spring R³ and each door R is secured by a
spring R to the bar R' which serves for the corresponding attachment of all the
doors. This bar R which is secured in any convenient manner to the plate A in

page_text: the position shown and the bar R" which is also suitably secured to the plate A are
so arranged that there is only room between said bars and the bottom of the
grooves A¹ for one type at a time to descend beneath each of them. S is a frame
secured to one or both of the walls N' N' and provided with an opening S¹ through
which the types fall when released by the opening of the doors R.
T is a pointer secured to the compositor for indicating in conjunction with an
index plate secured to the plate A (but not represented in the accompanying
drawings) the position to which the compositor must be moved in order that the
channel N may be brought beneath any particular groove A¹ to receive one of the
particular type pieces contained in said groove.
The distributor is similarly provided with a pointer which in conjunction with a
stationary index plate (neither of which is shown in the drawings) shows the
position to be occupied by said distributor in order that the types may be delivered
into the proper grooves A'.
The compositor when applied to the machine as in Figure 1 is inclined so as to
facilitate the movement of the type thereon and it is for this reason that all the
Figures 12 to 15 are shown inclined.
The operation of the before described apparatus is as follows:-
The form of type to be distributed is laid on the plate B between the cheeks D
and D¹ the latter of which is adjusted by means of the thumb-screws D' but in such
manner that the form of type although supported by said cheeks will be free to be
easily pushed by hand between them. The driver E is then by means of the thumb
plate E moved back to its inoperative position in which it will be temporarily
retained by the spring controlled latch F automatically engaging it. The form of
type is then bodily pushed by hand towards the cheek E' so that the first line will
fall into the groove B³. The latch F is then by means of the knob F³ pulled out
of engagement with the driver E which under the action of its spring E¹ will
immediately push the first line of the form along the groove B³ until its first type-
piece abuts against the stop K.
Assuming merely for the purpose of showing the distinctive operations of the
distributor that the first four letters of the first line of type are i, h, w and W and
that the thickness of each of said types increases progressively to correspond with
the different collective thicknesses of one, two, three and four of the blades J J¹
JJ, the distributor is first moved along its rails A until it is in proper relation to
the ""shoot at which juncture the plunger G is pressed towards the right of
Figure 2 and consequently only the blade J is operated. The thickness of this
blade being the same as or less than that of the "i" type which is then within the
recess which like the recesses; of the other blades is normally opposite the
groove B. The said type is pushed from the end of the type line in groove B³ to
the opening B through which it falls into its proper shoot A', the said opening
being restricted by the three then-unoperated blades JJ' J' to the size necessary
for releasing the thinnest only of the type-pieces. The plunger G is then released
and it and the blade J are returned to their normal positions by their respective
springs G and H and as soon as the recess; of blade J is opposite the groove B'
the next type piece "" is pressed up to the stop K. The distributor is then
moved until it is properly over the "h" shoot when the next plunger G¹ is operated
so that through the pin ³ of plate H₁ and slot ¹ of plate H the two blades J J¹
are operated, these blades together being approximately of the same thickness as
the "h" type-piece. This type-piece is also therefore moved over to and falls
through the opening K the size of which at the time is restricted by the two
blades J Js to just sufficient to admit of the "h" type-piece or other type-pieces of
similar thickness passing through it. When the plunger G' is released it and the
blades J J' are returned to their normal positions by their respective springs G
and Ho, and the next type-piece is pressed up to the stop K. The distributor
having been properly adjusted to the "w" shoot A¹ the next plunger G' is
operated and the three blades J J'J' which together are of about the same
-thickness as the "20" type-piece move said type-piece to the opening B* and allow
66
20

page_text: "
it to fall through it into the shoot A then below it, the effective size of the
opening K being at the time reduced to the extent of the thickness of the blade J³.
The plunger G is then released and it and the blades J J J' are returned to their
normal positions by the springs G and H, and the next type-piece "W" is pressed
up to the stop K. The distributor is then adjusted to the "W" shoot A' and the
plunger G³ is operated so that the four blades, JJ J J which together practically
make up the same thickness as the "W" type-piece, are simultaneously moved and
push the said "W" type-piece over to the opening B' (which is then fully open)
and allow it to fall into the "W" shoot of plate A.
This series of operations is continued until the first line of the type-form has
been distributed at which time the pusher E is pulled back until the latch F
engages it.
The remainder of the type-form is then moved bodily forward to the
thickness of the next line when its then first line falls into the groove B' when
the latch F is again withdrawn from driver E which moves the said first line along
the groove B³ until the first type-piece of that line abuts against the stop K at which
juncture the before described series of operations is repeated.
The composing is effected as follows:-
The cheek L is adjusted in relation to cheek L to the length of lines of type
it is desired to set up.
The compositor C is moved along the rails A Figure I to the shoots A¹ in the
proper succession and from each shoot a type-piece is obtained by pressing down
the plunger O. This through the levers O and QQ'at each such operation raises
one of the doors R as shown in Figure 13 and so allows the lowermost of the type-
pieces Z to fall from the shoot A' and through the opening S₁ on to the surface P*
which guides it into the channel N. The descent of all but the lowermost of the type-
pieces Z in any of the shoots A¹ when the door R thereof is opened is prevented by
the stop or check R2 which at the same time as the door R is opened to release the
said lowermost type is pressed on to the type next above it as shown in Figure 13.
When the door R is closed the stop R' is removed from the type which can then
slide down until stopped by the door R as indicated in Figure 12.
The plunger O' is then released and it and the levers O, P and Q Q¹are returned
to their normal positions by their respective sprin rs the type-piece last connected
in the channel N being by the return movement of lever P moved onwards towards
the cheek L by the action of the cam surface P' against said type-piece. This
operation is repeated until the front end of the line of type then being set up abuts
against the cheek L' when the cheek L' is pushed inwards and moves said line of
type further on to the plate C between the cheeks L and L¹ thus making room for
the following line and one or both of the plates M* M* being stopped according to
the thickness of the type-piece projecting out from but not clear of channel N.
The set-up type including the last-composed line is held back by the catches L
while the end of bar L or plate M' or M by being opposite the outlet end of the
channel N arrests the type still in said channel. The bar L' is then released by
the operator and this allows the springs L to return the cheek L' to its normal
position, the plates M M being also removed from the end of the channel N as
SOOD as the screw M' abuts against the end of the slot M'. The before described
operation is then repeated until the necessary form is completed.
The before described apparatus may be modified without departure from the
spirit of our invention for example it will be obvious that instead of four
blades J J J J and a corresponding number of plungers G G' G' G' being used
more or less than that number may be employed and that the blades may
be of varying thicknesses and instead of spiral springs M' being used flat springs
may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In type distributing apparatus the combination with a plunger such as G of a

page_text: plate such as h H and blade such as J j j¹ substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
2. In type distributing apparatus the combination with a plunger plate and blade
such as G H J constituting one set of one or more similar sets such as G¹h H₁
Jj substantially as and operating in the manner before described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
3. In type distributing apparatus the combination with two or more sets of
plungers plates and blades such as G G H H J J¹ of springs G H and slots and
pins such as h¹ substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
distributor substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 2 to 8 of the accom-
panying drawings.
5. In type distributing or composing apparatus the combination with a shoot
groove or channel A' and door R of a check or stop such as R' so connected with
the door that when said door is opened to release the lowermost of the types in the
shoot A' the stop R' is pressed upon the type next above it such pressure being
removed when the door is closed substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
6. In type composing apparatus the combination with a plunger O* of levers O
P P and Q Q Q' and springs P¹ Q' substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
7. In type composing apparatus the combination with a channel such as N and
type pushing bar such as L³ of one or more spring controlled plates such as M*
or M substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete compositor
substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 9 to 15 of the accompanying
drawings.
JULES GUSTAVE RETAUX.
JOSEPH AGNATIUS MEDAWAR.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.
JULES GUSTAVE RETAUX.
JOSEPH AGNATIUS MEDAWAR.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.