IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE SETTING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernst Wilhelm Brackelsberg, resident in Hagen, West-
phalia, Kingdom of Prussia, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE
SETTING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINES."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Ernst Wilhelm Brackelsberg
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th August 1882.
ERNST WILHELM BRACKELSBERG, resident in Hagen, Westphalia, Kingdom of
Prussia, "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE SETTING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINES
"
My invention relates to improvements in the machine described in the
specification of former Letters Patent dated the Sixteenth day of April 1881
N° 1669.
My improvements in the said machine are substantially as follows: Firstly, the
adjustment of the type-ejector frame of the setting-machine (formerly called the
composer ") as well as of the same part of the distributing-machine (formerly termed
the "distributer ") is carried out competely by the hand of the operator, and before
the ejector-bar is depressed. Secondly, the ejector-bar of either machine is actuated
at the required moment by a mechanism worked by any available power, and this
mechanism is made to act on the said bar by the same motion of the operator's
hand which causes the adjustment of the ejector-frame. Thirdly, the removal of
the lines of types from the composing-race to the galley is carried out by a
mechanical device. Fourthly, the types delivered from the distributing-race into
the type-channels are pushed forward within the latter by a device operating
independently of the ejecting-mechanism.
Some other improvements of minor importance will be mentioned hereafter.
The invention is represented on the annexed seven sheets of drawings.
Fig. 1 is the right-hand side elevation of the whole machine. Fig. 2 is a
sectional elevation of the setting-machine seen from the left-hand side, and drawu
to a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a part thereof. Fig. 4 shows the
ejector-frame of the setting-machine to a still larger scale from the right-hand side
together with portion of a type-channel in sectional elevation, all parts being in

page_text: their normal position. Fig. 5 is a section on line xx of Fig. 4 Fig. 6 is an
elevation of the same ejector-frame from the left-hand side together with portion
of a type-channel in section, the movable parts being shown in the position which
they occupy when a type is being ejected. Fig. 7 is the front-view of the setting-
machine, drawn on a plane vertical to the type-channels. Fig. 8 is the top view of
the same.
Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the distributing-machine seen from the
left-hand side. Fig. 10 shows the distributing ejector-frame from the same side
with section of portion of a type-channel, all parts being in their normal position.
Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of the same frame seen from the opposite side with
portion of a type-channel, the operating parts being shown in the position which
they occupy while a type is being transferred from the distributing-race to the
type-channel.. Fig. 12 is the rear view, and Fig. 13 the top-view of the distributing-
machine.
The ejector-frame B of the setting-machine consists of a guiding-tube a carried
by the upright a¹, which is attached to the composing-race a². To the latter are,
moreover, fixed the angular plates a³ serving to guide the device on the frame-
part A and the ledge l, while the ledges steady the same lengthwise. Into the
tube a is fitted the tube b carrying the foot b (which should be lined with leather),
while inside of b¹ there is a tube c¹ to which is attached the ejector c, the said
tubes being movable within each other. Between b' and c' is inserted the spring b²,
which tends to draw these parts together. The tube c¹ is fixed at c² by a screw
passing through slits in b¹ and a, to the bar o guided at a, and by the medium of
which downward motion is imparted to c' and b². The bar o is connected by the
bar d with the type-driver d working inside of the composing-race a², the screw
which joins the parts d and d¹ passing through a slit in the side of a². The type-
driver d is pulled forward by the spring o¹, which, by means of the bars d² and o
also tends to push upward the tubular ejector-bar c¹ and the tube b¹. To the ejector-
frame B is jointed at as by a ball and socket or other universal joint, the rod a
carrying at its outer bent end a part as having the form of a short knife, and which
may therefore be termed knife-edge. A handle a7 serves to move the frame B to
and fro on its ways. H is the register carrying the characters of all the types
contained in the type-channels e. These characters have been divided in three
rows on steps one above the other, and in front of each row or step there is a
ledge h', h2, h3 respectively, provided opposite to each character with a triangular
notch. The notch 1 of ledge h³ (Fig 7) is so arranged relatively to the first type-
channel on the left-hand side of the machine, and the length of the bar a is such
that, when the operator introduces the knife-edge as by means of the handle a' into
notch 1 and fully presses the same down to the bottom thereof, the ejector c will
be exactly above, and the composing-race a¹ exactly below the first type-channel.
In a like manner notch 2 of ledge 2 is arranged in respect to the second type-
channel, notch 3 of ledge h³ to the third type-channel, &c, so that by placing the
knife a into the notch marked by the required character, the frame B will be
brought in a line with the channel containing the type bearing the same character.
By means of the described notches, on the inclined edges whereof the knife-edged
or otherwise suitably formed end of the bar a will, when a pressure acts thereon,
slide downward until it is fairly in the corner of the notch, the complete adjust-
ment of the composer is carried out by a single operation, and without any
mechanical devices, such as were applied in my former machine. The characters
of the register have been arranged in three rows in order to obtain a larger space
for each notch, but any other suitable number of rows may be applied. Moreover,
the notches may have other forms, provided they be made tapering downward, so
that the knife-edge a³ cannot shift laterally, when pressed down to the bottom of the
-notch. Also instead of notches cut into a ledge, conical holes arranged in front of
the characters of the register, may be employed in combination with a pin
attached vertically to the bent end of the rod aº, or instead of such pin, a projec
tion, being a triangular prism or a cone, may be used respectively with notches or
holes having such form that the said prism or cone will come in contact with the

page_text: upper edges thereof only. Or, the arrangement is inverted by attaching knife-
edged projections, or pins, or prisms or cones to the register, and providing the
bar a respectively with a triangular notch, or a hollow cone, or with a notch or a
hole adapted to the said prisms or cones, the object being in every case to guide
the end of the rod a' by the agency of two inclined surfaces into the desired
position when it is pressed down by means of the handle a7.
The register, however, not only serves for the purpose described. It is also a
medium for putting into operation at the required moment the type-ejecting
mechanism. For this end it is so arranged that, after the adjustment of the frame B,
the pressure by the knife-edge as, or its equivalent, will cause a slight depression
of the register which is utilized in the manner to be described hereafter.
The said type-ejecting mechanism consists, in the first place, of a shaft g (Figs. 1,
2, 3 and 7) driven continuously by any available power. In the drawing a treadle P
to be operated by the foot, has been shown for this purpose. On the shaft g is
keyed a pulley g' from which motion is conveyed to the shaft f by means of the
strap g and the pulley f'. The said strap is pressed against the circumference of
the pulleys gl and f¹ by a tension-roller g³ suitably suspended and drawn against
the strap by the spring g*, which is so adjusted that the strap will slip without
considerable friction on the pulley f' or g' when the former is prevented from
rotating. The shaft f is connected by the cranks f* and the connecting-rods f³, or
other equivalent devices, to the horizontal rod f* guided at either end on a rod f
and under which grasps the hook o³ at the end of the bar o. Between the hook o
and the rod f there is a slight amount of play, so that the rod may not interfere
with the shifting of the ejector-frame. To the shaft fis fixed an arın fo (Fig. 3)
which in the position shown, is prevented from rotating by the edge of the
slide i guided by the frame-part F and drawn upward by the spring. While
this arm is stopped, the shaft f and the rod f' are at rest, and the strap gs slips on
the pulleys. As soon, however, as the register H is depressed, the slide i is
depressed also, and the arm fe is liberated from the edge . In order to cause the
said action of the slide i, the register is secured to a lever h* having its fulcrum
ath and arranged to act on the upper end of the slide. This lever and the register
are pressed upward together with the slide by the spring ³ attached to the latter,
or they are provided with a separate spring. The notion of the lever is limited by
the stops made, by preference, of india-rubber. (The said lever may, however,
be replaced by a shaft having arms to which the register is attached, while another
arm thereof acts on the slide i.) The arm fe being liberated by the depression of i,
the pulley f¹ and the shaft f will be rotated by the action of the strap g³, but they
can make half a rotation only, as the arm fe cannot pass the edge of the slide i
when the same is pushed down. During this half rotation the rod f' is drawn
downward together with the bar o and the ejector-bar c¹, while the bar d' by
its angular motion pushes backward the driver d. Simultaneously with the
ejector-bar c¹ the tube b¹ is depressed on account of its connection with c¹ by the
spring b; but its motion is stopped as soon as its foot b bears against the types
below the same or against the partition-walls of the type-channels; hereafter the
ejector-bar proceeding on its course expands the spring b². Room having_thus
first been made in the race a' by the backward motion of the driver d, the
ejector delivers a type from the type-channel into the composing-race; (see
Fig. 6.)
When the register is relieved from the pressure of the knife-edge a³ it is returned
into its upper position together with the slide i by the spring ³. This causes the
edge of the slide to liberate the arm f6, whereupon another half rotation of the
shaft is produced, the arm being now again stopped by the edge 2. During this.
period the rod frises. Spring 6' (inside of the ejector-bar) is consequently at
liberty to withdraw the ejector from the type-channel and at the same time to
draw upward the bar o until the bar d¹ has come into a position to allow the
spring o¹ to act, which thereupon not only completes the return-motion of the
parts c¹, b', d' and o, but also pulls the driver d forward and thereby pushes the

page_text: row of types, contained in a², forward by the thickness of the type last introduced.
During the greater part of the upward motion of the ejector-bar with the ejector,
the foot b or holding down foot remains on the types and thus prevents the type
bearing against the ejector from being drawn upward with the latter. The said
foot is, however, finally raised from the types by the end of the ejector-bar butting
against a shoulder inside of the tube 61 (see Fig. 4).
Under the fore-end of each type-channel a pivoted tongue m is arranged, which
is pressed against the edge of the divisions between the channels by a spring m¹,
and which serves to support the types at the front end of each row. When a
pressure is brought to bear on the front type, this tongue will yield by so much as
is required. to let a single type pass. In case any of the following types should at
the same time. sink on account of the displacement of the tongue (see Fig. 6) the
tongue will lift them again after the front type has been ejected.
Beneath the said tongue m there is another tongue pivoted within the top-
end of the race a² and forming an inclined surface for guiding the types into the
'race. D is a desk for the manuscript.
The
A line of types having been completed in the composing-race, it has to be trans-
ferred into the galley G. The arrangements serving for this purpose are to best
advantage to be seen from Figs. 7 and 8, but partly also from Figs. 1 and 2.
galley G consists of a board or plate with a number of channels of the proper width
to receive a line of types. This galley is movable on the ways of the frame-part E.
It is drawn towards the left by a weight G2, or a suitable spring, attached to a
cord running over a pulley and fixed with its other end to the galley. The motion
which this weight or the spring tends to produce, is controlled by a device con-
sisting of the ratchet-bar G¹ secured to the galley, and two palls j¹ and j² pivoted
respectively at j³ and j to a plate screwed to the frame E. The pallis, besides,
pivoted to jat, while j¹ is connected with the lever, which, in its turn, is acted
upon by the lever j. These parts are kept in their normal position by the
spring. Whenever the lever is depressed at its right-hand end, the pall will be
released from the tooth of the ratchet-bar with which it is engaged; the weight G
consequently pulls the galley forward; but as before the complete disengagement
of the pall has entered into the space between two teeth opposite thereto,
this pall now stops the galley. The lever being thereupon released, the pall
is withdrawn, and pall j¹ reenters into engagement, while the galley is advanced
by another step. The entire motion of the galley for one vibration of the lever j
is thus equal to the pitch of the teeth of bar G₁; and, as this pitch has been made
equal to the distance from centre to centre of the channels in the galley, the latter
will be advanced by one channel for every time the lever j' is once depressed and
released. This operation of the said lever is caused by pressing the knife-edge as
into the notch jo of the lever, which is so adjusted that, when as is at the bottom
of, the composing-race a² will register with one of the channels of G, and, besides,
with a rod k. (When, instead of the knife-edge a³, equivalents thereof are employed,
such as described above, the lever 7 will have to be provided with the corre-
sponding equivalents of the notch ³, as specified in respect to the register H.)
The said rod k is so arranged beneath the plate carrying the type-channels, and
guided parallel to the latter that, on being pushed forward, it will enter between
the tongue (which it will lift) and the type-driver d. into the composing-race,
and push all the types contained therein, into the channel of the galley which is
in a line with it. The motion of the rod k may be caused in any suitable manner,
for instance, by a string attached thereto, while it is drawn backward by a weight
or a spring. I prefer, however, to employ the arrangement shown in the drawing,
(see especially. Fig. 8), and in which the rod k is connected by means of a lever k
and suitable connecting-rods with a rod k², guided parallel to k and provided with
a knob, by which the device may easily be handled. The return-motion of the
rod k is produced by a spring .
When the composing-race is filled again, the operator, by pressing the knife-
edge as into the notch, readjusts the race. in a line with the rod k, and

page_text: simultaneously causes the galley to be shifted forward by one channel, whereby the
empty channel next to the one filled last, will be brought in register with the race,
whereupon the types are transferred as before.
In the distributing-machine the ejector-frame C, the arrangements for shifting
and adjusting it, and the mechanism for actuating the type-ejector, are substantially
the same as in the setting-machine. All like parts have therefore been marked by
the same letters as in the setting-machine. The ejector-frame C is guided by the
plate J, the ledges p p on this plate, and the bar p' fixed across the type-channels.
The distributing-race n of the frame C is provided at the fore end of its bottom
with a pivoted tongue m and a spring m' acting thereon, in the same manner as in
the type-channels e.
The main difference between the distributing and the setting-machine consists
in the manner in which the types transferred by the ejector from one channel into
the other, are pushed forward in the lower channel. In the distributing machine
a device, which may be termed a vibrating rake, has been introduced for this
purpose. The same is constituted of a bar r having its position opposite to the
upper ends of the type-channels e, and provided with as many pins 71 of equal
length as there are channels, each pin projecting into a channel.
The bar is
attached to the levers 78 pivoted at and carrying at their ends the cam-bars
embracing the reciprocating rod ft. The bars have such a shape that, when the
bar f begins to descend, the pins will recede sufficiently as to give room for a
type of the greatest thickness. The type having then been ejected into the
channel, the rod f*, on rising, moves the rake forward again, so that the pin being
behind the type transferred, pushes the same forward together with the types in
front of it.
The holding-down foot 6 of the distributing-machine is in its normal position
farther distant from the types below the same, than the foot b of the setting-
machine, in order to give greater facility in reading the types to be distributed.
Moreover, the spring o¹, which draws upward the bar o, is attached differently
from the analogous spring of the frame B, but in the latter this spring may
also be so arranged that it will act in the direction of motion of the bar o.
The particular forms given to the standards a' and to the bars o of the
franes B and C respectively, have been selected as being best adapted to the
particular requirements of either machine, but they are of no consequence in
respect to the nature of the invention.
When the setting and distributing-machines are combined as has been supposed
in the foregoing, the ways on which the ejector-frane C works, will be at such a
height that a raised platform for the operator at the distributing-machine will be
required. This platform has been marked in the drawing by a dotted line ww.
R is a table on which a page of types to be distributed, may be placed.
Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, and the manner
in which it is to be carried out in practice, I hereby claim as new and important
features of the same:
1., In a type-setting and distributing machine, the combination with an ejector-
frame containing the type-ejector c, ejector-bar c¹ and a type-race or channel, and
movable transversely to the inclined type-channels e, of the mechanism for operating
the said ejector-bar which consists of the continuously rotating shaft g with
pulley g', shaft f with pulley f' and arm ƒ, strap g³, tension-pulley g³, slide i and
bar to which a reciprocating motion is imparted from the shaft f, and which
draws the ejector-bar downward by means of the bar o, while the return motion of
the ejector-bar is caused by spring-power, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
2., The combination with a movable type-ejector frame, the ejector whereof is
operated in the manner described, of a rod a jointed thereto, and of a
register H containing the characters of the types in the channels e, the said register
being provided with triangular notches or with the described equivalents thereof,

page_text: and the rod a with a knife-edge a³ or its described equivalent, as and for the
purpose specified.
3., The combination with the register H of a lever h*, or its described equivalent,
which is kept in normal position together with the register by a spring, and which,
when pressed down by the pressure brought to bear on the register by the part a³
of bar a, acts on the slide i of the mechanism operating the ejector-bar, substan-
tially as herein before described.
4., The combination with the tubular ejector-bar c² of a tube b¹ surrounding the
former, and carrying a foot b for preventing types from being drawn upward by the
ejector c, and a spring be placed inside of the ejector-bar and connecting the same
with the tube b₁, which is guided within the tube a forming part of the ejector-
frame, as hereinbefore described and for the purpose stated.
5., The combination with a type-containing race or channel from which types
are to be ejected, of a pivoted tongue m forming the bottom of the fore-end of the
race or channel and pressed upward by a spring m', as and for the purpose
described.
6., In the setting-machine the combination with the composing-race a², of a
type-driver d so connected by the bar d¹ to the bar o, that it will be pushed
backward when the bar o descends, while it is drawn forward when o rises, as
hereinbefore specified.
7., The combination with the setting-machine, of a galley G, propelled forward
on ways by a weight G or a spring, and the motion of which is controlled by two
palls and engaging alternately with the teeth of the ratchet-bar G₁ attached
to the galley, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
8., The combination with the setting-machine of the rod & guided parallel to
the type-channels e and arranged to be pushed from the rear lengthwise into the
composing-race, when the same is brought in a line with it.
9., The lever operating the palls and by the medium of lever jo and
provided with a notch or its specified equivalent, and so arranged that, when the
knife-edge as or its described equivalent is pressed down into jo, the composing-
race a will be in a line with the rod k while the galley is at the same time shifted
forward by one channel, as herein before specified.
10., The combination with the type-channels eat their upper end, of an
oscillatory rake having the pins 1 projecting into the channels e, and which is
operated through the agency of the cain-bars 7 by the rod f of the mechanism
actuating the type-ejector of the distributing-machine, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
In Witness whereof I, the said Ernst Wilhelm Brackelsberg have hereunto
set my hand and seal this fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ERNST WILHELM BRACKELSBERG (L.S.)