AN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TYPE-SETTING ENGINE
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILHELM DREYER, Civil Engineer of Frankfort / Main Germany do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "AN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TYPE-SETTING
ENGINE" 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 an electro-magnetic type setting machine whereby
printer's type is automatically conducted into a suitable receiving channel and set
up in line, said machine differing from machines hitherto employed for this purpose
principally in the following points viz:-
1. The whole type setting effort or manipulation is reduced to the striking of
keys corresponding with the type which is required to be set and thus the work
may be done by any person without previous apprenticeship whilst an experienced
operator will be able to do four times more work than by hand only.
2. All moving mechanisin either rectilinear or rotatory is avoided.
3. The only force employed apart from the gravitation of the types is electro-
magnetism, and it is by this force that the types are discharged from the upper
cells and are pushed into the grooves where the lines are formed.
4. The discharged types enter a funnel of special construction and by their
weight glide on into the receiving cell whence they are thrust into the grooves of
the support.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying two sheets of drawings.
wherein :-
Fig. 1 shows a plan view from above the machine.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the machine on line A, B, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. is a cross section of the machine on line C, D, of Fig. 1.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are details of parts of the machine upon an
enlarged scale.
The principal parts of the machine are arranged upon an upper and a lower
table T and T supported by suitable standards G (Figs. 2 and 3). Near the middle
of the lower table 1 an aperture allows the electro-magnet E carried by the bracket
piece y to appear above the surface. The armature e¹ (Fig. 2 and 9) is fixed to a
shaft carried in two supports c³ (Fig. 9); a lever c¹ fixed to said shaft c is
coupled with the clearing hammer h by bars c³. The hammer is in contact with
[Prins C1

page_text: a spring serving to push the hammer back to its normal position after each
forward stroke. Any excessive action of the spring is prevented by the stop-
picce e (Fig. 3) and by the set screw e³ provided in the armature e¹. The table T'
also carries a support M. (Figs. 2 and 3) provided with sliding grooved plate S
having a number of receiving channels s for reception of the types as they come
down into the receiving cell F and are pushed out of it by the hammer h (Fig. 9).
Upon the upper table T¹ there are four upwardly projecting pieces or ribs a
and a' (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) of which a¹ have as many notches or slots as there are
type receptacles b to be supported by them. To the inner surface of these ribs a¹
there are affixed bars D (Figs. 1 and 3) having a discharging cell (Figs. 3, 4, 5
and 6) in front of each notch or slot, and these cells are each secured to the
bars D by one screw M only (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) so us to allow the cells k to oscillate
thereon as required. The cells are open in front of the type stores b placed into
the notches and form what may be called their heads. The interior ¹ (Fig. 4) of
each cell is adapted to the size of the type but leaving a sufficient free space to
ensure its being readily released therefrom. The types q (Figs. 7 and 8) arranged
vertically in their inclined receptacles b have by their own weight as well as by
that of the triangle d and of the roller d' a tendency to glide forward and to push
the foremost type on into the discharging cell and to press it against the back
of the cell. This tendency is however limited by the stops or studs o (Figs. 4, 5
and 6) which are screwed into the bar D so as to extend their heads into the cell k
through lateral apertures. Thus the type will bear against these studs or stops
and not against the back of the cell k intself. The bottom of each type receptacle
has a projection or lip v (Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7-8) which coming under the discharging
cell serves to sustain the foremost type until it is released by the operator as
will be hereinafter described.
A brass bar f (Figs. 2, 3 and 6) is fastened to the bar D on the side opposite to
the cells and is furnished with as many contact buffers (Fig. 2, 3 and 6) as
there are type stores b or discharging cells k. There is a perpendicular slit in the
bar D in front of each such buffer. An insulating couch z (Fig. 6) (for instance
of asbestos) separates f from D and the fastening of both bars is done so as to
exclude electric communication.
The four rib pieces a and a¹ also form the points of support for the bracket
pieces e for carrying the horizontal electro magnets e (Fig. 3) whilst the perpen-
dicular magnets e are secured to the table T'. The brackets e serve as centres of
motion for the double levers e² (Fig. 3.) the lower parts of said levers forin the
armatures whilst the upper parts reach into and beyond the slits m' (Figs. 5 and 6)
of the bar D. Between the rib pieces a and a¹ the necessary apertures are
provided in the table T¹ (Fig. 3) for introducing the fuunel R from below the
table where it is fastened. On the table T¹ is also the key apparatus L (Fig. 1, 2,
and 11) with as many keys as there are different types required for setting. The
surface of each key is marked with the corresponding letter or sign to that upon
which it operates. In the lower part of the key apparatus L an insulating fillet 27
contains right below each key a contact buffer H to which the wires ware attached
by the screws (Figs. 2 and 11). From the said screws x the wires pass through
holes (Fig. 2) below the table and are conducted thence to and through the
holes t in the insulating fillet ³ to the surface of the insulating fillet where they
are fixed under the screws g (Fig. 1) Under each of these screws g is also an end
of the wire of one of the electro magnets e and thus these latter are in communication
with the keys. To prevent contact between the table T¹ and the wires w before
the electric current has circulated around the magnets the wires are conducted
through several insulating fillets i¹, i², i³ ³ and (Figs. 1, 2 and 3.)
The other wire ends of the electro magnets are simply fixed to the table and
this is put in communication with the negative pole of the electric battery which
is established under the table. All the levers e² being in free communication with
the table T¹ are consequently in connection with the same pole. The brass plate J

page_text: (Figs. 2 and 11) however which is in the middle of the key apparatus L and insulated
from the buffers H communicates with the positive pole of the same battery.
The automatical setting of the type is done in the following way viz:-
When a certain type is wanted for instance the letter A,-the key marked A is
pressed down so as to effect the contact of the two fingers or pieces d² and d³
(Fig. 11) to admit thereby the electric current.
:
Consequently the electro-magnet e corresponding to the type A will be put in
activity it will attract its armature and move the lever e². The upper end of this
lever will according be lifted in the slit m and so throw the discharging cell k
out of its vertical position (Fig. 5) By this oscillation the type in the cell k is
removed from its support and from the studs o, at the same time the cell which
is placed in an oblique direction across the end of the type store b preventing the
following types from entering the cell k and of pressing the first type against the.
back of the cell k which might impede its release therefrom. The first type is
therefore completely free and will glide from the cell k into the channel s¹
immediately below and which forms a part of the funnel R.
As soon as the type is discharged from cell / which is only a moments work
the operating key is let loose the electric current is interrupted and the spring
(Figs. 5 and 6) pushes the cell back into its normal position where it is at once
occupied by the following type. The funnels R (Figs. 2. 3 and 10) are composed
of as many channels s¹ as there are type stores b these channels being so disposed
as to converge or lead all into a central channel and the two or more funnels are
combined to form at their lower extremities one issuing channel or throat whence
the discharged types fall into the receiving cell F (Figs. 3 and 9) arranged upon
the table below.
When the first type is in the receiving cell F another one can be discharged by
pressing the necessary corresponding operating key to the letter required and so
on but apart from the effect mentioned above another one is obtained which will
be now described viz:-
When the upper part of the lever e² is lifted in the slit m¹ it will not only
displace the cell / but also touch the contact buffer (Fig. 3 and 6) and will thus
communicate negative electricity to the brass bar f. The wires of the electro
magnet E (Figs. 2 and 9) communicating on one side with the said brass bar and
on the other with the positive pole of the battery this magnet will be put in action
at every discharge of the type, attracting its armature it will move the hammer h
and cause the type standing in the cell to be pushed into the grooves (provided
in the sliding plate or frame S) before another type has come down.
A sliding piece n (Fig. 3) provided with a spring acts as support to the types in
the groove 8; a stick not marked in the drawings and the length of which is
variable according to the length of the lines to be formed is fixed to this sliding
piece and touches an electric bell as soon as the required length is attained.
compositor then by turning the screw (Figs. 2 and 3) puts an empty groove in
front of the cell F.
The
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is
Firstly. The construction of the discharging cells with the studs o as described
and their combination with the bar D, the levers e² the electro magnets e and the
springs as and for the purpose herein specified.
Secondly. The combination of the insulated bar f and its buffers a³ with the
levers e² whereby the electric circuit is established for the magnet E as set forth.
Thirdly. The ribs or projecting cross pieces a and a¹ combined with the type
receptacles b with the bars D, the electro magnets e and the brackets e³ as set
forth.

page_text: Fourthly. The distribution of the electro-magnets of a type setting machine in
several rows one part of which is fixed horizontally and another part vertically as
set forth.
Fifthly. The application of electro-magnetism to type setting devices and to the
immediate discharging of types by the levers e² combined with the key apparatus L
substantially as herein set forth.
Sixthly. The construction of the funnel R and its application to type setting as
set forth.
Seventhly. The clearing mechanism composed of the electro magnets E its
armature e¹, the shaft c, the lever c³, the small bars the hammer resting on
the spring h¹ and the receiving cell F as set forth.
Eighthly. The support M with the grooved plate S and its application to type
Betting as set forth.
Ninthly. The roller d' and the triangle piece d in combination with the type
store b employed for forcing the types forward as described.
Tenthly. The construction of a type setting machine as herein described and
shown by the drawings.
WALTER A. BARLOW,
6, St. Paul's Churchyard, E.C.,
Agent for Wilhelm Dreyer.