Im- PROVEMENTS IN TYPE: COMPOSING MACHINERY."
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Mackie, of Warrington, in the County
of Lancaster; Newspaper Proprietor, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN TYPE: COMPOSING MACHINERY."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Mackie at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition; on
the 26th November 1873.
I, ALEXANDER MACKIE, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster,
Newspaper Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of the said' In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE COMPOSING MACHINERY," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to machinery or apparatus employed' to select
type from the reservoirs in which they are contained, and' to arrange
the said type in any desired order for purposes which are well under-
stood.
In the Specification of a former Invention, for which Letters Patent
bearing date the Eighth day of December in the year One thousand

page_text: eight hundred and sixty-eight have been granted to me, was described
an apparatus the action of which was governed by means of perforated
paper or material parts of the apparatus which withdrew type from the
type reservoirs or pockets, being styled pickpockets in the said
Specification.
In my present Invention the "type fingers" or withdrawers and
the "tumblers or triggers," the actions of which were described in my
said former Invention, are now carried by swing frames, which are
mounted on studs, and the type withdrawn are received on to tables
formed on the said frames; the table of one frame overhanging the
triggers of the next frame in order that a greater number of swing
frames may be mounted on one wheel. The said swing frames may
thus be arranged so closely together that the said tables together form
nearly a continuous ring. When the table of a swing frame rises to
receive type a sliding bolt is set, which bolt is subsequently acted upon
to lock the swing frame when the table is depressed after receiving
type; and the table is then prevented from rising again until the
swing frame is unlocked when near the delivery apparatus. This
arrangement enables me to reduce the number of triggers, and as a
consequence to reduce the width of the strip of paper.
Another part of my present Invention relates to the delivery
apparatus. I dispense with the travelling band and employ a pusher,
which is mounted on a stud fixed in a sliding bar, to push the type
off the table of the pickpocket and on to the type in the mouth of the
delivery channel. The said sliding bar is actuated by the star wheel o
referred to in my said former Specification; and the said star wheel
also actuates a second sliding bar, which imparts motion to a vertically
acting pusher which pushes the column of type along the channel after
the addition thereto of a type.
To enable the movements of the first-named pusher to be effected
with the rapidity necessitated by an increased length of stroke and a
closer arrangement of the pickpockets I cause the said star wheel to
act upon a lever which is hinged by one end to a fixed stud and is
connected by the other end to the first-named sliding bar which carries
the type pusher.
A remaining part of my Invention has for its object to prevent any

page_text: accumulation of type or from other obstruction to the forward motion
of the aforesaid pusher. The said pusher is fitted to swivel on the
stud upon which it is mounted, and is maintained in working position
by means of a spring of a strength sufficient to enable the pusher to
perform its work.
In the event of an obstruction the said spring yields and the pusher
swivels on its stud, and the upper part of the pusher is then in a
position to act upon a catch which releases a brake. The said brake
is acted upon by a spring or equivalent, which forces it against the
driving shaft or against a revolving part fixed thereon when the said
brake is released, as aforesaid, and the movements of the apparatus
are arrested.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Mackie in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MACKIE, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, Newspaper
Proprietor, send greeting.
1
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Mackie, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Mackie, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Mackie, 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 TYPE
COMPOSING MACHINERY," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the
said Alexander Mackie, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-

page_text: vention, 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 Mackie, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to
say:
My Invention relates to machinery or apparatus employed to select
type from the reservoirs in which they are contained, and to arrange
the said type in any desired order for purposes which are well
understood.
In the Specification of a former Invention, for which Letters Patent
bearing date the Eighth day of December, in the year One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-eight have been granted to me, was described
an apparatus the action of which was governed by means of perforated
paper or material, parts of the apparatus which withdrew type from the
type reservoirs or pockets being styled "pickpockets"
'pickpockets" in the said
Specification.
"
In my present Invention the type fingers or withdrawers and the
" tumblers
66
or triggers," the actions of which were described in my
said former Invention, are now carried by swing frames, which are
mounted on studs, and the type withdrawn are received on to tables
formed on the said frames; the table of one frame overhanging the
triggers of the next frame in order that a greater number of swing
frames may be mounted on one wheel. The said swing frames may
thus be arranged so closely together that the said tables together form
nearly a continuous ring. The action of the said swing frames, and of
parts in connection therewith, will be described herein-after.
Another part of my present Invention relates to the delivery
apparatus. I dispense with the travelling band and employ a pusher,
which is mounted on a stud fixed in a sliding bar, to push the type off
the table of the pickpocket and on to the type in the mouth of the
delivery channel. The said sliding bar is actuated by a star wheel,
which also actuates a second sliding bar, which imparts motion to a

page_text: BLACKIE & Improvements on type composary mannery •
vertically acting pusher, which pushes the column of type along the
channel after the addition thereto of a type.
To enable the movements of the first-named pusher to be effected
with the rapidity necessitated by an increased length of stroke and a
closer arrangement of the pickpockets I cause the said star wheel to.
act upon a lever which is hinged by one end to a fixed stud and is
connected by the other end to the first-named sliding bar which carries
the type pusher.
A remaining part of my Invention has for its object to prevent any
injury of the type or of the apparatus, which might arise from an
accumulation of type or from other obstruction to the forward motion
of the aforesaid pusher. The said pusher is fitted to swivel on the
stud upon which it is mounted and to yield on meeting with excessive
resistance, and by so yielding to move into a position which enables
it to act upon a part which releases a brake, whereby the movements`
of the apparatus are arrested.
And to the end that my said Invention may be the more readily under-
stood I have caused this Specification to be accompanied by a Sheet
of Drawings which are marked with letters of reference, similar marks
indicating corresponding parts in the various Figures.*
Referring in this place to the said Drawings Figures 1 and 2, drawn.
about the full size, illustrate the improvements in the pickpockets or
type withdrawing apparatus; Fig. 1 being an elevation, and Fig. 2 a
plan. In the said Figures F, F, are the said swing frames, which are
mounted on the studs a which are fixed to the periphery of the
revolving wheel B, which corresponds with the wheel bearing the.
same mark in the Drawings which accompany my aforesaid former
Specification. In each swing frame or pickpocket b, b, are the type
fingers or withdrawers, and O, C, the "tumblers or "triggers," the
actions of which are described in the said Specification. The table of
one pickpocket overhangs the arms which carry the tumblers of one of.
the two immediately adjacent pickpockets, as herein-before mentioned, so
that the tables of all the pickpockets form a nearly continuous ring
extending around the said wheel B, as seen in Fig. 3; and I am thus
enabled to arrange the pickpockets closer together, and by that means.
to increase the number of type withdrawn at each revolution of the
"

page_text: said wheel. Each pickpocket carries a table d which receives the type
withdrawn from the "reservoirs or pockets." After the said type
fingers and tumblers have been "set" the pickpocket passes below
the type pockets without withdrawing type until those of the tumblers
which have been set enter pitfalls, as described in my said former
Specification, when the table d will rise and the said type fingers will
withdraw type from the pocket. The rising of the said table causes
a sliding bolt e to come into contact with a fixed incline, which pushes
in the said bolt a short distance. Before the said table reaches the
next succeeding pocket the said table is depressed by the tumblers
passing out of the pitfalls up the inclines at the ends thereof, so that
the type thereon will clear the succeeding type pockets. When so
depressed the bolt e engages with a stump 9 which is fixed to the
wheel B, the said bolt then acting as a spring latch and locking the
pickpocket or swing frame, so as to prevent it from again rising until
it is unlocked. This locking arrangement enables me to reduce the
number of tumblers required for the reason that when locked the
table d cannot rise a second time, although the tumbler or tumblers,
which has or have been set, may pass over a pitfall or over pitfalls, which
would otherwise permit the said table to rise; and I can therefore
made use of one pitfall only, or of combinations of two, three, or more
pitfalls to cach type pocket. In the example each pickpocket is fitted
with four tumblers, this number furnishing changes sufficient for
fourteen type pockets or reservoirs. When the said pickpocket has
passed the last pocket, and before it has delivered its type, the sliding
bolt is withdrawn by the action of an incline and the table d is allowed
to rise. Before the said pickpocket reaches the delivery apparatus a
lever is acted upon by a fixed incline and draws down those of the
type fingers which had previously been set. .
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the arrangement of type delivery apparatus
adapted more particularly for apparatus in which each pickpocket
withdraws only a single type or logotype at one withdrawing action;
and Fig. 5 represents in conjunction with Figs. 3 and 4 the arrange-
ment for arresting the movements of the apparatus when an obstruction
to the action of the type pusher occurs. In the said Figures i is a
bracket, fixed to the framing of the machine, and jis a bar fitted to
slide in a groove formed in the said bracket; the shape of the said
groove being seen in Fig. 5. The said bar is connected by the link k

page_text: with one end of the lever 1, the other end of the said lever being hinged
on the fixed stud m. A bar n is fitted to slide in the fixing o which
is secured to the framing of the apparatus, and the said bar is acted
upon by the star wheel O, which is formed with a number of toothed-
shaped inclines corresponding with the number of pickpockets in the
apparatus. The bar n carries a stud, which works in a block P which
is fitted to slide in a slot formed in the lever l. As the star wheel O
revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow the inclined face of
each tooth acts upon a friction bowl mounted at the end of the sliding
bar n and forces the said bar outwards, and the said bar acting by
means of the aforesaid stud on the lever causes the said lever to
make a sweeping movement in the direction indicated by the arrow, and
to impart a sliding movement to the bar ja type pusher q is mounted
on a stud r fixed to the bar j. The said type pusher is permitted to
swivel on the said stud in the direction indicated by the arrow, but
an arm resting on a fixed point prevents any swivelling movement in
the opposite direction from the upright normal position, as represented
in Fig. 4. A spring S, of a strength suitable to enable the type
pusher to perform its required functions, retains the said type pusher
in the said normal position.
As each pickpocket passes below the delivery apparatus the said
type pusher is caused by the action of the lever / to move across the
face of the table of the pickpocket and to sweep the type which may
be on the said table towards the mouth of the delivery channel t. The.
said channel is of a rectangular form in cross section, and is curved
so as to receive a column of type in a vertical direction and to deliver
the said column in a horizontal direction. A hinged lever u acted
upon by a spring is formed with projections which extend over the
column of type in the mouth of the channel in order to prevent any
return movement of the said type. As the type pusher approaches
the said channel a projecting piece attached to the bar j comes into
contact with a stump w which is fixed to the lever u, and the said
lever is thereby pushed outwards, whereby the aforesaid projections
are withdrawn from over the mouth of the delivery channel, and the
movement of the type pusher continuing the type swept off the table
of the pickpocket, as aforesaid, is pushed on to the top of the column
of type in the said delivery channel. A bar x is fitted to slide in the

page_text: bracket i in a similar manner to the bar j, and is furnished at its inner
end, that is to say, the higher end in Fig. 3, with a bowl, which is
acted upon by the teeth of the star wheel O, so as to cause the said
bar to slide in the said bracket. As the said bar slides outwardly
a stud fixed to the said bar acts upon a lever y on a short shaft which
is fitted to rock in bearings formed in the bracket i, and a second
lever Z on the same shaft is thereby depressed, The lever Z is jointed
to the upper end of a vertically sliding type pusher a³, the function of
which is to depress or move downwards the column of type in the
delivery channel after each addition thereto.
.
The action of the parts is therefore as follows, namely, as the star
wheel O revolves the lever is caused by the action of the said star
wheel upon the sliding barn to move the type pusher 2 towards the
mouth of the delivery channel, and the projections on the lever u being
withdrawn, as aforesaid, the said type is delivered on the top of the
column in the said channel. The pusher a¹, acted upon by the lever Z,
which in its turn is actuated by the sliding bar x, moves downwards.
and pushes downwards the column of type to the extent of the thickness
of the last type previously deposited; and these movements being
repeated as each pickpocket arrives at the delivery apparatus the type
is continuously delivered in regular order along the horizontal portion
of the delivery channel. The return movements of the lever 1, and of
the bars j and n, are effected by the spring 61, and the return move-
ment of the bar x by the spring c².
The remaining part of my Invention is illustrated by Fig. 5, in:
conjunction with Figs. 3 and 4. In Fig. 5 dis the driving shaft of
the apparatus, and e¹ is a bell-crank brake lever, which is mounted on
a stud f. The said lever is so formed as that when the shorter arm
is allowed to come into contact with the circular piece g¹, which is fixed
to the said driving shaft, a gripping action takes place, the effect of
which is to arrest the revolving movement of the said shaft. The said
lever is connected by the link g¹ with a lever h³, which is jointed to
the rod ¹. The lever h¹ is acted upon by a spring j', which tends to
draw the said lever in the direction which will move the lever e¹ into
contact with the piece h¹. When the rod is pushed downwards a.
notch in the said rod enjages with a catch m¹, which prevents a return
.

page_text: apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated
herein-before and in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Mackie, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy- 5
four.