IMPROVEMENTS IN SETTING UP (COMPOSING) AND DISTRIBUTING TYPES."
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hadden Young, of 66, Great College Street,
Camden Town, London, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SETTING UP (COMPOSING) AND DISTRIBUTING TYPES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hadden Young at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th April 1859.
I, JAMES HADDEN YOUNG, of 66, Great College Street, Camden Town,
London, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SETTING UP (COMPOSING) AND DISTRIBUTING
TYPES," to be as follows:-
My improvements in the construction of the composing machine are as
follows:-Under that part of the composing machine at which the types issue
to be collected into a line, I place a propeller in order to propel the types as
they stand in the receiver, and over this propeller I cause the types to tilt in
such a manner that the head of the type issuing from the composing machine
and about to fall into the receiver shall be raised, so as to prevent the tail of
the type immediately following from passing over it. The tilting may be
assisted by striking the tail of the types by a moveable piece, and I may use
long spaces. The entrance of the types into the receiver may be effected or
facilitated by the use of a blast of air.

page_text: By another method I place at the exit of the composing machine a small
sliding piece, which, by a to-and-fro movement, opens and closes alternately an
aperture through which the types fall, as they arrive, into a receiver. The end
of the sliding piece may be made to push down the types in the receiver, or it
may have no action on the types, and these may be pushed down by a separato
pusher, which only acts as the sliding pusher closes. Or the types may be
pushed on one side over the entrance of a receiver, the pusher in this case
being a thin blade over which the types can slide casily when it is out. Before
the receiver there is a pusher, which propels the types down it, but its move-
ment is regulated so that it avoids striking a type while it is moving sideways.
When in sliding down the inclined plane a type turns on its edge, in order to
place it in its proper position I hollow a part of the lower part of the inclined
plane slightly, giving a slight inclination to one of the sides of this hollow
channel, and this inclination being gradually increased until it is quite flat, it
will cause a type sliding on its edge on coming into this channel gradually to
assume its proper position. In the composing machines I have hitherto con-
structed, the receiving line has been connected to an apparatus termed the
justifying box, where the continuous line of types issuing from the machino was
divided into lines, and what is technically called "justified." By the improve-
ments effected in the composing machine the rapidity of the player of the keys
will exceed the speed of the justifier, and I have, therefore, thought it necessary
to separate the justifying box from the composing machine, and arrange receivers
that will conveniently hold a large quantity of type which may then be carried
to one or more justifying boxes to be justified by one or more justifiers. One
form of a receiver is in the shape of an oblong plate or galley, having grooves
of a width and depth suited to hold the types made use of. A sliding. pieco to
support the types moves in the groove, and when the groove is filled, the player
forces or pulls out the sliding piece, causes the apparatus to move so as to
bring an empty groove before the beater, and draws up the sliding piece, so
that it may be ready to receive the types issuing from the inclined plane. A
moveable bar is placed at the end of the galley, the furthest removed from the
beater, to prevent the types falling out of the receivers; another bar at the
other end may be also used, in order still further to enclose the types and
prevent their falling out, especially when the galley is removed from the
composing machine. The filled galley is placed at one side of the justifying
box in a slide, up or down which it can be moved so that each lino can be
conveniently drawn into the justifying box. This box can be made to move
on a pivot, so that the composed type may be slid into an ordinary galley
without difficulty. The playing on the keys of the composing machine is

page_text: sometimes interrupted by the types not issuing properly from the reservoirs; to
remedy this defect I affix to the side of each reservoir a spring, which, by
means of a lever attached to a rocking or a rotatory bar, alternately retains or
frees the heads of the types in the reservoir acted upon, and thus causes the
types to assume a position suitable for being sent out of the reservoir. The
same effect may be produced by fixing small brushes which shall touch the
heads of the types. In the construction of the composing machine it is found
necessary to place some types at some distance from the other letters most
commonly required, and in order to bring the keys of these types more con-
veniently under the hands of the player I attach to them a prolonging piece.
In order to facilitate the playing I place at different parts of the keyboard
stops or indicators, by touching which the player can ascertain the position of
his fingers without looking at them.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements in distributing types.
When a reservoir is used to hold types of uniform thickness, or nearly so, the
aperture which regulates their exit may be of a determinate size, but when the
reservoir is intended for all the sizes of a fount I have found the following
arrangement useful:-In front of the exit aperture I place three or four thin
blades of metal, each provided with a spring, and connected by a catch bar
with the puslier that sends the types out of the reservoir. The pusher is made
as thin as the thinnest type used, and so are the blades in front of the exit
aperture. The mode of operation is as follows:-The pusher being moved
forward it causes the type in front of it to be pushed against the blades; if the
type is of the thinnest sort it only moves one blade, if thicker it moves two,
and so on.
When the type and blade have been moved a distance rather
greater than the width of the type, a projection on the blade is caught by the
catch bar, which is thus held back; the pusher now recedes, and the type is
free to slide down the incline on which it is lying, and ultimately immediately
before the pusher returns to its first position, it draws back the catch bar over
a projection, freeing it from the thin blade, which also resumes its original
position by the force of the little spring already mentioned. These types may
be made to slide down one common channel, or they may be guided down
different ones, by connecting a guide piece with the thin blades, and at the
extremity of these channels they may pass immediately under separating blades,
and then into receivers or into receivers to be transferred to other reservoirs:

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
.
by the said James Hadden Young in the Great Seal Patent Offico on
the 8th October 1859. •
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HADDEN YOUNG, of No. 66, Great College Street, Camden Town, London,
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing dato the Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
.thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Janies Hadden Young, Her special licence that I, the said James Hadden
Young, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Hadden Young, 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
SETTING UP (COMPOSING) AND DISTRIBUTING TYPES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Hadden Young, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals,
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 James Hadden Young, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, that is to say :-
My improvements in the construction of the composing machine are as
follows: Under that part of the composing machine at which the types issue
to be collected into a line, I place a propeller in order to propel the types as they
stand in the receiver, and over this propeller I cause the types to tilt in such
a manner that the head of the type issuing from the composing machine, and
about to fall into the receiver shall be raised so as to prevent the tail of the
type immediately following from passing over it.
Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of an apparatus for setting up types
constructed in this manner, a is a portion of the incline plane; 6 the pusher,
moved by an excentric; c is a receiver; d are the types resting against a

page_text: support c. The dotted lines show the pusher in its forward position. The
action of this apparatus is as follows:-The pusher b is kept constantly moving
to and fro, when fully drawn back the type that has slid down the incline
plane a, tilts over the rounded end of the pusher 'b, and falls into the receiver c,
the forward stroke of the pusher 6 places the type in an upright position and
pushes it and the types already set up in the receiver forwards. The distance
which the pusher is drawn back must be regulated so that a space lying back
against it shall project sufficiently with its head as to prevent the type on the
inclined plane immediately succeeding it from passing over it. This is clearly
shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1. The entrance of the type into the
receiver may be facilitated by the use of a blast of air.
Figure 2 is a view of an arrangement similar to that shewn in Figure 1,
but with the addition of a small spout f, from which issues a current of air
(obtained from a fan or blower, not shewn). This current of air serves to force
the tail of the type down into the receiver. By another method I place at
the exit of the composing machine a small sliding piece, which by a to-and-
fro movement opens and closes alternately an aperture, through which the
types fall, as they arrive, into a receiver. The end of the sliding picco is made
to push down the types in the receiver.
Figure 3 is a view of this method of setting the types in the receiver. a is the
inclined plane; b is a pusher; c, the receiver; d types; e support. The action
is as follows:-The pusher 6 is kept moving to and fro, the type sliding over. it
is stopped by coming against the back of the receiver c, when the pusher is
drawn back the type falls through the aperture thus made on the column of
types already set up in the receiver, and resting on the support e, and it and
the column are pushed down by the pusher b, at its next forward stroke.
Or the types may be pushed on one side over the entrance of a receiver, the
pusher, in this case, being a thin blade, over which the types can slide easily
when it is out. Before the receiver there is a pusher which propels the
types down it, but its movement is regulated so that it avoids striking a type
while it is moving sideways.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, show respectively a plan, side view, and section of this
method of placing the types, in the receiver. a is the inclined plane; b, the
pusher; c, the receiver; d, types; c, support; f, is an inclined plane carried
by the slide h, this inclined plane is acted upon by the piece l'attached to the
pusher b; the sliding piece is constantly pushed forward by a spring h'.
The action is as follows:-The types slide down the inclined plane, guided by
the guides a'. When the pusher is depressed by the lever B (kept in motion
by the cain B', see Figure 5), the piece b' on the pusher b, acts on the incline.f

page_text: of the slide h (see Figure 6), and forces back the slide h, so that a typo
falling at that moment will occupy the place recently occupied by the forward
end of the slide h; when the lever B is raised, the piece h is drawn back by
the spring h', and pushes the type forward into the receiver c, and at the next
stroke of the lever B, the piece b will depress the whole of the types d, in the
receiver c, together with the support e. When in sliding down the inclined
plane a.type turns on its edge, in order to place it in its proper position I
hollow a part of the lower part of the inclined plane slightly, giving a slight
inclination to one of the sides of this hollow channel, and this inclination
being gradually increased until it is quite flat, it will cause a type sliding
on its edge, on coming into this channel, gradually to assume its proper
position.
Figure 7, shows four transverse sections on an enlarged scale taken at
distances apart through an inclined plane, near the lower part of which a
hollow channel is formed, as above described. Section No. 1. shews a type d,
sliding down in a proper position. Section No. 2, shews a type d¹ sliding on
its edge, or in an improper position; when this type d'has passed the positions
Nos. 1 and 2 and reached the part shown in section at No. 3, where the
hollow channel is formed, it will be forced to incline by resting on the inclined
side of the groove, and the inclination of this side being increased as the
groove continues (see section No. 4), the type is ultimately laid on its broadest
side.
In the composing machines I have hitherto constructed the receiving line
has been connected to an apparatus termed the justifying box, where the
continuous line of types issuing from the machine was divided into lines, and
what is technically called "justified." By the improvements effected in the
composing machine, the rapidity of the player of the keys will exceed the
speed of the justifier, and I have therefore thought it necessary to separate
the justifying box from the composing machine, and arrange receivers that
will hold conveniently a large quantity of type, which may then be carried to
one or more justifying boxes to be justified by one or more justifiers. The
form of the receiver is in the shape of an oblong plato or galley, having
grooves of a width and depth suited to hold the types made use of. A sliding
piece to support the types moves in the groove, and when the groove is filled
the player forces or pulls out the sliding piece, causes the apparatus to move,
so as to bring an empty groove before the beater and draws up the sliding
piece, so that it may be ready to receive the types issuing from the inclined
plane. A moveable bar is placed at the end of the galley, the furthest
removed from the beater to prevent the types falling out of the receivers;

page_text: another bar at the other end may also be used in order still further to enclose
the types and prevent their falling out, especially when the galley is removed
from the composing machine.
Figures 8 and 9 are plan and side view of the exit of the composing
machine and of the galley, holding a number of receivers in which the types"
are set up as they come from the composing machine. a is the inclined plane
down which the types slide; 6 is the pusher, similar to the one shown and
described at Figure 1; this pusher is moved by the excentric f and connecting
rod g; c, c, are receivers, which, by means of pins h, are fixed on a travelling
table i; on the table i is a rack j taken into by the pinion on the shaft 1,
which turns in bearings m; on the shaft is the ratchet wheel n driven by a
clawker o; e is a support which slides in the receiver c, against which support
the types d rest; on the support e there is an arm e' on which the rod & rests,
this rod works on a centre at &, and serves to give the required friction to the
support e. The action is as follows:-When a receiver c has been filled by
the moving to and fro of the pusher b, the support e weighted by rod eⓇ will
have been pushed nearly to the extreme end of the receiver; to one end of the
support e there is attached a string e, and to the other end there is a string &,
both carried over pullies to the front of the composing machine, so as to be
under the control of the player. When a receiver is full, the string &' is
pulled, which draws the support e clear of the receiver c on to a ledge c*; the
lever p in connection with the clawker o is then depressed, this, by means of
ratchet n, causes the table i carrying the receiver c to move forward a
sufficient distance to bring the next receiver opposite to the mouth of the
incline a, the string e' is now pulled, which brings the support e to the upper
end of the new receiver against the pusher b, so that immediately a type
comes down from the incline a, the slide e is ready to support it. On the
withdrawal of support e the types are held by the spring a, carried by the
bridge piece y until the receiver is pushed to one side, when the types fall
back upon the wire r. When all the receivers are filled, the wire r will close
up the ends of all the receivers, so as to enable the galley to be moved to the
justifying apparatus. The filled galley is placed at one side of the justifying
.box in a slide, up or down which it can be moved, so that each line can be
conveniently drawn into the justifying box. This box can be made to move
on a pivot, so that the composed type may be slid into an ordinary galley
without difficulty.
Figure 10 is a side view, and Figure 11 a top view of this apparatus. i is
an oblong plate or galley furnished with a number of receivers c, as above

page_text: described; is a table having.pins to receive and hold the galley; on the
under side of the table j is a rack into which a pinion m, worked by a winch
handlen takes; o is a counterbalance acting. on the friction band p, this
friction band keeps the table; from moving, except when moved by the winch
handle; is part of the general framing; r is a slight bar with guide »"",
forming a connecting line between the table; and the justifying box. The
action is as follows:-The attendant having placed the galley filled with types.
.correctly on the table j, he moves the winch handle m until the first of the
receivers e is opposite the bar or ledge r, the friction band p and weight o
then serves to hold the galley in position, and the attendant slides the types
along the bar towards the justifying box, and repeats the process as
required.
Figures 12, 13, 14, are views of a justifying box similar to what has
heretofore been used, and I have only here described it that my present
Invention may be better understood. The box having been adjusted to the
desired width of line to be justified, the handle s is pressed down, by this
means the apparatus is in a suitable state, as shown in Figure 14, to receive a
line of types. This line is slid by the operator on to the plate t; the operator
justifies the line. The handle s is next raised, this moves the plate t (sce
Figure 12) from underneath the line of types already justified, and allows
them to fall on the types, or if the box is empty, on the block u, which moves
stiffly by means of a spring placed in a recess, causing the block to press
against the sides u¹ of the justifying box. The movement of the handle s nt
the same time brings forward the part v, and this presses down the types and
the support in the justifying box, whilst the return of the handle places the
plate t in its former position ready to receive a fresh line.
In order to suit different widths of lines, blocks similar to that marked u,
of different widths are provided, and used as required; one of the sides u',
being moveable, can be shifted so as to give any desired width.
For the purpose of more readily emptying the justifying box, it is made s
according to my present Invention to pivot by lugs and pins w, one on either
side; in this way the lower end of the justifying box may be raised, and at the
same time, by means of the hinge y, (Figure 11), it may be set at an angle,
so as to enable the types to be slid off into an empty galley, as usually made
use of in printing offices.
In the construction of the composing machine, it is found necessary to place
some types at some distance from the other letters most commonly required,
and in order to bring the keys of these types more conveniently under the

page_text: hands of the player, I attach to them a prolonging piece. In order to
facilitate the playing, I place at different parts of the keyboard stops or
indicators, by touching which the player can ascertain the position of his fingers
without looking at them.
Figures 15 and 16 shew respectively a front view and plan of this arrange-
ment. a and b are white and black keys, each key is connected with suitable
mechanism, so that each time a key is depressed, a typo is caused to pass into
a receiver, as heretofore; c and d are stops, placed at intervals along the key-
board, the stops d are fixed on black keys, and the stops c, are fixed in front
of the keys. The person playing, by feeling those indicators, can ascertain the
position of his fingers without looking at them; e and fare compound levers
in connection with the keys 9 and h; it will be seen that striking g will make
hact, the key h only being connected with mechanism for causing a type to
pass into the receiver. This arrangement is adopted with such letters as aro
much required, but which, from their size, require to be placed at a distanco
from the other letters most used.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements in distributing types.
When a reservoir is used to hold types of uniform thickness, or nearly so, tho
aperture which regulates their exit may be of a determinate size, but when the
reservoir is intended for all the sizes of a fount, I have found the following
arrangement useful:-In front of the exit aperture I place three or four thin
blades of metal, each provided with a spring, and connected by a catch bar;
with the pusher that sends the types out of the reservoir. The pusher is made.
as thin as the thinnest type used, and so are the blades in front of the exit
aperture. The mode of operation is as follows:-The pusher being moved
forward, it causes the type in front of it to be pushed against the blades; if
the typo is of a thin sort, it only moves one blade, if thicker, it moves two, and
so on. When the type and blade have been moved a distance rather greater
than the width of the type, a projection on the blade is caught by the catch
bar which is thus held back; the pusher now recedes, and the type is free to
slide down the incline on which it is lying, and ultimately, immediately before
the pusher returns to its first position, it draws back the catch bar over a pro-
jection, freeing it from the thin-blade, which also resumes its original position
by the force of the little spring already mentioned.
These types may be made to slide down one common channel, or they may
be guided down different ones by connecting a guide piece with the thin
blades, and at the extremity of these channels they may pass immediately into
receivers to be transferred to other reservoirs.

page_text: Figure 17 is a plan, Figure 18 a side view, Figure 19 a transverse section
of an apparatus constructed in this manner. q is a reservoir containing types;
b is a pusher, the end of which is thin enough to push out the thinnest type in
the reservoir; this pusher works to and fro through an aperture in the lower
end of the reservoir a, and serves to push out at intervals the lowest type in
the column or line in the reservoir through an aperture opposite the one
through which tho pusher works, this opening being made sufficiently large to
allow of the thickest type used passing. c, d, e, f, are thin slices or blades,
the united thickness of which is equal to the opening in the side of the
reservoir a, through which the type is pushed. These plates work in guides h
carried on the framing; i, j, are springs serving to press the plates forward;
k is a catch with a spring l; m is a slide carrying a projection m', which
serves to draw back the thin slides c, d, e, f; n is a spout piece, turning on
a centre at n', with an arm or projection n³ extending upwards; the slides e
and are connected with this arm n' by means of the connecting links e¹
and f. o is a bar working in guides connected to pusher b, which serves to
draw the arm n³ of the spout n into its first position whenever it has been
moved; p, p, aro channels, down which the types slide after they leave the
spout n. The action of this apparatus is as follows:-The pusher b being
moved by a cam, tappet motion, or otherwise, presses in its forward motion
against the lowest type of the column of types in the reservoir a, and pushes
it out against one or all of the plates d, e, f, according to its thickness; should
the type moved happen to be of the thinnest sorts, such as a thin space, it will
pass under the lowest slide, and slide down by the spout n, and into the
receptacle No. 1 intended to receive the thinnest types. If the type moved is
of a size larger, the lowest slide f is moved without affecting the others; the
next size will move f and e, and the fourth thickness will move d, e, and f.
As the type is pushed forward by the pusher b, the slide or slides moved raise
the catch k by means of the projections d, e, f2; the catch k holds these
slides back while the pusher 6 recedes, and the typo no longer held fast is at
Before
liberty to slide down the inclined plane * leading to the spout n.
the pusher 6 completes its backward movement, it draws the sliding piece m
and m' back by means of the arm b' acting on the pin m*, and this raises tho
catch k, thus liberating the slides, and allowing them to resume their original
position. When the slide f is the only slide moved, the link f¹ attached to it
causes the spout n to turn on the centre n', so that it corresponds with the
channel No. 2; when e and fare moved the link e' causes the spout to turn
so that it corresponds with the channel No. 3, and the moving of d, e, f,
b

page_text: moves the spout to correspond with No. 4; this is effected by the sliding
piece c carried upon an upward projection d* on the slide d, the part c¹ of the
sliding piece c coming against the arm n² pushes it so as to cause the spout to
correspond with the channel 4. The types in sliding down the channels p, p,
are to be received and set up in line in receivers by any suitable means.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hadden Young, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
JAMES H. YOUNG. (L.S.)

page_text: moves the spout to correspond with No. 4; this is effected by the sliding
piece c carried upon an upward projection d* on the slide d, the part c¹ of the
sliding piece c coming against the arm n³ pushes it so as to cause the spout to
correspond with the channel 4. The types in sliding down the channels p, p,
are to be received and set up in line in receivers by any suitable means.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hadden Young, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-ninc.
JAMES H. YOUNG. (L.B.)