Year: 1886

page_text: I,' WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst. P. A. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and
323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention (a communication from abroad by John Loudon
M Millan, of Ilion, County Herkimer, State of New York, United States of
America, Manufacturer) 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 type distributing machines, and consists essentially in
d disk or wheel and an encircling ring, each provided with type channels and one
arranged to rotate while the other remains at rest; and a series of intermediate
removable wards or guards which hold the type in the channels of one of said
paths until the wards or guards are brought to register exactly with the nicks or
notches of the type, (each letter or character of the type being differently nicked),
whereupon the type is ejected by spring or otherwise from the distributing channel
into the receiving channel.
Figure 1 of the accompaning drawings is a top plan view of a portion or section
of the machine.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line x-x of figure 1.
Figure 3, a plane projection of the cams or inclined grooves which control the
position of the wards, guards or selecting pins as they are variously called:
Figures 4 to 10, inclusive views illustrating details.
Figure 11, a plan view illustrating a modification.
Figure 12, a view illustrating a detail of the modified construction.
Prior to this invention and dating back many years, type-distributing machines
have been proposed, and have from time to time been constructed and operated
with more or less success. ⚫
-

page_text: Perhaps up to the present time no machine for the purpose has been more
successful in operation or simple in construction than that of Sorensen of Denmark,
exhibited at the London World's Fair in 1851, and at the Paris Exhibition
in 1855.
In said machine the type were each nicked in a peculiar way and arranged in
grooves on the inside of a hollow cone or basin; this was inverted on the edge of a
cylinder, on the inside of which were grooves so constructed that each letter could
slide into a particular groove. The lower cylinder was kept stationary while the
upper one was turned around slowly in a horizontal direction by means of a
treadle.
As each letter reached its own groove, it slid down the inside of the lower
cylinder, and in this way each groove was filled with one kind of letter.
Certain difficulties have however presented themselves in all machines of this
general construction known to the inventor, and the present invention is designed
to obviate such difficulties and still retain the valuable features of the Sorensen
machine.
These difficulties embrace among other things the occasional twisting or canting
of the type in passing from the distributing to the receiving channel, great wear
and injury of the type; and stoppage of the machine, or mutilation of the type
through their failure to pass fully into the receiving channels.
These defects are not only avoided but the efficiency and durability of the
machine is materially increased and the machine cheapened and simplified by the
construction which will now be explained.
A, indicates a bed or table, mounted upon legs B, and formed or provided with
a central boss a, having a vertical opening to receive a shaft or spindle O, which
has threaded portions b, b, above and below the boss, upon which are screwed
nuts D, and jam nut E.
By means of these nuts the spindle may be raised or lowered as required, and
secured firmly at any desired height, the upper nut D resting upon the boss a and
forming a supporting collar for the spindle.
"
The lower end of the shaft or spindle O is furnished with a worm wheel F,
meshing with and receiving a slow rotary motion from a worm G, carried by a
shaft H, supported in hangers I beneath the bed or table A, and furnished with
fast and loose pulleys J, K, to receive a driving belt from any convenient motor.
In practice the driving gear is so proportioned as to produce a slow but regular
rotation of the spindle C; commonly about one turn in a minute and a half,
though the speed may be varied as found expedient.
The spindle C carries at its upper end or above the table A, a wheel or disk L,
the upper face of which inclines downward slightly from the centre to the
periphery, for a purpose hereinafter explained.
The wheel L. is furnished with a series of radial channels c of a width corre-
sponding to the width of a type or its measurement in the direction of the height
of the letter or character thereon, and preferably of a depth equal to the height of
the type to the shoulder.
These channels are best formed by means of separate strips, or sections d, screwed
or bolted upon the upper face of the wheel or disk L, but may be formed by
placing grooves directly in the face of the disk.
Each channel is designed to contain a line of reading matter to be distributed,
and is formed with a narrow slot e in its lower side, through which extends one
end of a bent wire spring M, the other end of which is inserted into a hole or
socket in the hub or boss of wheel L, and secured therein by a set screw or
equivalent means.
The free end of each spring projects through the slot e, of the particular channel
to which it belongs, and enters a notch or recess f, in the lower side of a sliding
block or follower N with which each channel is supplied. .

page_text: The office of the follower and spring is to press the line of type outward toward
the periphery of the wheel or disk L, and as the follower is liable to tip or rise
under the pressure of the spring unless prevented, each channel is formed with a
longitudinal groove g, in one wall, as shown in Figure 6, and each follower with
a rib or feather h to enter and traverse said groove thus effectually preventing any
except direct forward and outward movement.
The periphery of the upper part of the wheel or disk L, or that portion between
the channel c is slightly recessed or grooved from near the top to near the bottom
of the channels, forming a circumferential depression or space i, which in practice,
is made about one hundredth of an inch in depth.
Close by the side of each channel there is formed in the periphery of the wheel
or disk L, a vertical groove or seat to receive two sliding blocks and P, respec-
tively provided with laterally projecting pins or fingers j, and k, which are termed
feeding pins or selecting fingers, said grooves being plainly shown in the top plan
view Figure 1.
These pins or fingers j and k are formed at the outer side or face of the blocks or
slides O, and P, and work in the depression i formed in the periphery of the
wheel L their ends projecting laterally a short distance across the mouths of the
type channels, as best shown in Figure 6, and serving to prevent the escape of type
except when both of said pins register exactly with the arbitrarily located nicks or
notches formed in the type, and differently arranged in each letter and character
of the font. They also hold the forward type back a short distance within the
periphery of the disk.
The pins or fingers are caused to move vertically as the disk or wheel rotates,
and at different points in each revolution to come exactly in line with the nicks
or notches of each separate type or character.
At each of such points there is placed a receptacle for the particular character or
type with which the pins register at that point, and whenever such type is at the
outer end of one of the channels c, and the pins reach such point, the ejecting
spring M will force the line of type forward in the channel and eject said
forward type.
In this way all type of a certain letter or character will be ejected at one point,
those of another character at another point, and so on throughout the series, or
provision may be made for bringing the fingers to given adjustments and permitting
the escape of certain types at two or more points in the revolution of the disk or
wheel L.
•
The necessary rise and fall of the blocks or slides O and P is produced by
means of cam guides or inclines extending around the wheel or disk and below
the same.
These guides are most conveniently produced by forming grooves and m in the
inner face of a ring or band Q, concentric with the wheel or disk B, as illustrated
in Figures 2 and 3.
The ring or band Q is advisably made in sections and is screwed or otherwise
secured to a heavier ring R, encircling the wheel L, and mounted upon arms S,
which are supported at suitable intervals by posts T, and U, rising from the bed or
table A, the upper ends of the posts U being threaded and passing through holes
in the arms, and into sockets in the ring to secure the latter firmly in place as
shown in Figure 2.
This machine is more particularly designed to distribute type for use in
connection with a type setting machine invented by the inventor, and to place
the types of each different letter or character side by side in a single line in a type
case or slide,
The machine is therefore adapted to receive the type cases or slides of the setting
machine, and to hold the same with their open ends in position to receive the type
ejected from the channels of the wheel or disk L.
;

page_text: To do this the arnis S are extended outward a suitable distance and support an
outer ring or hoop V to sustain the outer ends of the type cases or slides W, the
inner ends of which enter seats n, formed in the periphery of an inner hoop X,
resting upon and held in place by the ring R, as shown in Figure 2.
The hoop X, extends in a vertical direction from the lower face of wheel or
disk L to the upper line of the type channel, bars or strips d, and its inner face
is provided with a recess or depression o, corresponding with the recess i, in the
periphery, of the wheel or disk L, but considerably deeper; being in practice about
six-hundredths of an inch in depth.
The two recesses or depressions i and o jointly form a space of proper width to 1
permit the free but close vertical play of the fingers j and k, and their travel about
the axis of the wheel or disk L.
At each point where the pins register with the notches or nicks of a type, a
passage p is cut through hoop or ring X, slightly wider than the width of a type,
so that when any one of the channels c, comes into coincidence therewith, said
passage forms a continuation of the channel.
The outer side or end of each passage p is widened sufficiently to receive the end
of one of the type cases W, which is inserted into said enlargement, the channel or
groove of the type case forming a further continuation of the channel c of the disk
or wheel as shown in Figure 1.
The outer end of each case is held between two pins or studs q, on the hoop V.
It will be seen from the foregoing that a type ejected from any one of the
channels c will pass through one of the passages p and into one of the type
cases W.
To provent the type from falling down in the cases W, each case is furnished
with a spring quoin Y, which may conveniently be made of sheet metal bent into
shape as shown in Figure 5, and inserted into the slot or channel of the case as in
Figures 1 and 2.
By referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the upper face of the disk or
wheel B, which face forms the bottoms of the type channels c, is inclined downward
toward the periphery and that the periphery of the wheel, and of the ends of the
bars & forming the type channels together with the inner face or hoop or ring X;
are all perpendicular to said upper face of the disk or wheel.
The object of this arrangement is to prevent thin type from turning edgewise
in the channels, or when passing therefrom into or through the passages p, the
inclination or tipping of the type causing each to fall forward and to lie flat
against the one previously ejected.
This is a very important provision, and effectually overcomes a serious difficulty
of prior machines of this class.
The wheel B revolves slowly but continuously, the rate of movement being such
that no difficulty is experienced in properly ejecting the type whenever they come
to the proper outlet point.
Referring now to Figure 10, the arrangement of the nicks in the type will be
more fully explained, it being distinctly understood however, that the inventor
does not restrict himself to the measurements here given, nor to the division into
series as stated.
A type measured from heel to face is 92 of an inch and from the heel to the
shoulder is 87. Allowing '08 above the recess i, o, for the meeting of the disk B
and hoop or ring X at top, we find that the feeling pin or finger j at its highest
point reaches a point 79 of an inch from the heel of the type.
The pins are 04 of an inch thick, therefore the highest nick is between points .75
and 79 of an inch above the heel of the type.
To secure a sufficient number of combinations of nicks to distinguish each type
from all others of the font; or in other words, to ensure a different nicking for
each type so that when the feeling pins or selecting fingers are in a given relation
and position they shall register with only one type of the entire font, the type is

page_text: classified in groups, each group containing a definite number of characters, and
throughout each group, one of the nicks retains a given position, while each
successive type of the group has its second nick lowered a definite distance below
the corresponding nick of the preceding type.
This will be readily understood upon referring to Figure 10.
In passing from each group to the next, the first nick of the type of the latter
group is dropped a certain distance below the first nick of the type of the former
group, as shown in Figure 10, and retains such position throughout the group or
series, while the second nick of each type in each group corresponds in position
with the second nick of each corresponding type of all the other groups as also
indicated in Figure 10.
In the machine which the inventor has built and operated, he has separated the
type into six groups or series, four groups containing ten characters or type each,
and the other two containing thirteen each, making a total of sixty six.
In the groups containing ten characters of type each, the upper nick is
dropped 04 of an inch from channel to channel, while as stated, the lower nick
remains unchanged throughout the group.
In passing from one group to the next the lower nick is dropped 04 of an inch
and such location is maintained throughout the group, and beginning with the first
upper nick between the points 79 and 75 of an inch from the foot or heel of the
type, as in the preceding series said upper nick is again dropped 04 of an inch
from channel to channel so that the nicking of the first type of one series differs
from that of the first type of the next series; only in that the lower nick of one
is 04 of an inch out of line with the lower nick of the other, and the same is true
with corresponding type throughout any two adjoining series.
In the groups containing thirteen characters or type each, the drop of the upper
nick from channel to channel in each series, is made only 03 of an inch making a
total of 39 of an inch as the outside limits of the nicks of the upper series, instead
of 40 as in the ten character groups.
This is rendered necessary by the fact that the vertical movement of the pins
or fingers is limited and that such movement must be divided up between the type
or characters of each group.
As already mentioned the upper line of the highest nick of the upper series
is 79 of an inch from the foot, and the lower line of the lowest nick of the upper
series is 40 of an inch below, or '39 of an inch from the foot or heel of the type.
Between the lower line of the upper series of nicks and the upper line of the lower
series of nicks a space of 06 of an inch is left for a purpose presently explained,
and this brings the upper line of the lower series of nicks 33 of an inch above the
heel, and as the nick is dropped 04 of an inch from series to series and as there
are six series, the lower line of said lower nicks will be 24 of an inch below the
upper line or 09 of an inch above the foot or heel of the type, which '09 represents
the meeting faces of the periphery of disk or wheel B and hoop or ring ✗
Having thus determined the nicking of the type and arranged them in groups
or series as explained, the ring Q has its grooves and m made in sections corre-
sponding to the required movements of the selecting pins or fingers as illustrated in
Figure 2 and by dotted lines in figure 6.
Between each series of type channels and the next, it is necessary to raise the
pin or finger k to its first or highest position, and between the first and last series
or at any other suitable points it is necessary to raise the pin or finger I to its
first or highest point. While this is being done it is important that the type be
held back out of contact with the feeling pins or fingers to prevent the type from
being lifted thereby.
To elevate the pins the sections of the grooved ring Q are connected by inclines T
upon which the guiding studs or pins s of the sliding blocks O and P ride in
passing from section to section or group to group.

page_text: "
M
To hold the type back from the feeling pins or fingers during the elevation of
the latter, a thin plate or strip of metal Figures 1 & 7 is placed above each
incline r, which is secured.to ring ✗, extends across the space i, o, and projects
into a circumferential groove or recess u, formed in the face or wall of the
depression i above the lower block O the block P being cut away in its outer face
as shown in Figure 8.
The ends of this plate or strip being bevelled, the type in passing it are forced
and held back until they pass above the inclines r from end to end of the latter,
when they resume their original position.
When the type are ejected from the channels c, of the wheel or disk, they enter
the inner ends of the passages 2, just clearing the periphery of the disk from
which position they are forced outward, as the disk rotates, by inclines v formed
upon or applied to the periphery of the disk, or the ends of the channel bars d.
This arrangement relieves the springs M of the necessity of moving forward the
line of type in the receiving channels or type cases, and leaves in front of each
channel can open space to receive the next type or types ejected from said
channel. As a consequence of this provision, the type are ejected quickly and
with certainty, and the springs M are permitted to be light and very elastic.
•
The studs s are simply screws with reduced ends, which being withdrawn,
permit the insertion and removal of the blocks O and P at will. •
The foregoing explanation is given to make clear the general principle of con-
struction and operation; but in order to distribute a large percentage of the type
as possible during each revolution the cases and cams or inclines for those letters
which occur most frequently are repeated; and therefore it happens that the
precise order and arrangement of inclines and of nicks above stated is not followed
throughout.
The extent of movement of the pins, the size of nicks and pins or fingers, and
other like matters of detail may be varied as desired.
Where two type of a given letter occur together both. are ejected at once..
The chambers c might be omitted and merely a depression formed in the
periphery of the disk at each point where the channels shown terminate, an
ejecting spring being placed in each such depression, and the type to be dis-
tributed could in such case be pushed one at a time from a galley into said spaces
as they pass at a given point.
To permit this to be done it is necessary. that the guard fingers be moved out of
the way of the incoming type line, at the point where the openings of the wheel
coincide therewith, in order that the type may all enter said recesses freely.
This is accomplished by merely elevating the cam groove l, and depressing cam
groove m, at that point, sufficiently to carry the guard finger j above, and the
guard finger k below the type, as illustrated in Figure 12.
'As the wheel rotates and carries the type to the different cases; the grooves
and m bring the fingers again into operative position and said fingers permit the.
type to escape from the wheel to the cases in precisely the same manner as above
'set forth."
The operation of the machine under the first described construction is as follows:
The attendant takes a line of type on a rule as for distributing by hand, places
the line in one of the channels c of disk or wheel B, presses back the follower N
with a finger of the hand next it, and this is repeated with all or any number of
"the channels, the motion of the disk being so slow as to cause no difficulty in
placing the type in the channels. As the wheel rotates, the pins or fingers j, k at
some point or points in each revolution come exactly into line with both nicks of
the forward type of the channel, which type is thereupon ejected, and the same
operation is performed with the next, and so on. As the type are ejected, they
and the line ahead of them are forced outward by the inclines v, the selecting pins
or fingers.rising and falling as their studs or pins & traverse the grooves 7 m, and
inclines r

page_text: The action of the machine is automatic, and all that is required by the attendant
is to keep the channels o supplied with type, to remove the filled cases, and to
supply empty ones.
It is obvious that either the disk B or the outer series of channels may be made
to move; that the type may be made to move vertically instead of horizontally,
that a reciprocating instead of a rotary motion may be adopted; and that straight
instead of circular faces may be opposed, the principle of construction and
operation being independent of these considerations.
It will also be seen that the machine can be used to merely drop the type into
separate boxes or receptacles instead of placing them on cases, and therefore the
inventor does not restrict himself to the use of such cases.
Weights connected by cords and guided. by pulleys may obviously be substituted
for springs M to advance the line of type, and a step by step movement may.
be used.
The outer ring V is made in separable sections in order that any section and the
cases supported by said section may be removed at will, to enable the attendant to
stand in close to the distributing wheel for adjusting or.fixing any part.
This is of very considerable practical importance.
The inventor is aware that it is not broadly new to provide means for adjusting
the type wheel vertically; and he confines his claims in this particular to the
special means of adjustment shown and described.
He is also aware that movable type cases or channels have been combined with
a type distributing wheel, but, never so far as he is aware have they been arranged
radially outside of the same and in position to receive the type direct without the
intervention of lifters or like devices.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a type distributing machine the combination of a body having spaces to
contain types, and movable blocks provided with pins or fingers extending partially
across the mouths of said spaces and adapted to permit or prevent the escape of
type as they are moved into or out of line with the nicks of the type.
2. In a type distributing machine, the combination of a body provided with
channels to contain a line of type side by side, blocks having pins or fingers
extending partially across the mouths of the channels and of a size to pass freely
through nicks formed in the type, and means substantially such as described and
shown for moving said blocks and bringing the pins into line with the nicks of
the different type successively.
3. In combination with a body formed with channels to contain a line of type
side by side, movable blocks provided with pins or fingers extending partially
across the mouths of the channels, and cams or inclines adapted and arranged to
move the blocks and their fingers and to bring the latter into line with nicks of
the different type successively.
4. In combination with a body having a series of channels to contain a line of
type side by side, and a second series of channels or receptacles to receive and hold
the type in a line as they are ejected from the first series, blocks carrying inter-
mediate pins or fingers adapted to be moved into line with the nicks of the type
and cams or inclines serving to move the blocks with their fingers, substantially as
set forth.
5. In combination with a channeled body, as L having a depression i across the
ends of the channels, cases adapted to receive type from said channels, the body or
the cases being movable one in relation to the other and intermediate blocks
having pins or fingers extending partially across the mouths of the channels,
working in the depression i, and adapted to be brought into line with the nicks
of the respective types; all substantially as described and- shown, the depression
.

page_text: permitting the fingers to hold the type back from the meeting line of the
channeled body and the cases and thus to prevent the wear of the type.
6. In combination with a body channeled to retain single lines of type side by
side, a series of receiving channels one set of channels being movable past the other
set, intermediate movable blocks having fingers to permit or prevent the escape of
the type from one set of channels to the other, cams or inclines for moving the
blocks and their fingers downward inclines for elevating the blocks and their.
fingers and a blade or plate projecting from the body containing the receiving
channels into the space between the distributing channels at points above the
elevating inclines, whereby the type are pressed and held back from the fingers
during the rise of the latter.
'
7. In combination with a series of type-containing channels for type to be
distributed, and a second series of channels to receive the type discharged from the
first series, blocks provided with wards or fingers to control the escape of type
from the channels of one series to the channels of the other series, and inclines
projecting from the space between the channels of the first series, and serving to
force the type outward in the channels of the second series, as one series is moved
past the other.
8. The combination of a series of channels to contain type to be distributed, a
second series of channels to receive the type from the channels of the first series
and guards or fingers to control the passage of type from one series to the other,
said channels being inclined slightly downward in the direction of the travel of
the type, substantially as and for the purpose explained.
9. The herein described type distributing machine consisting of bed or support A,
spindle C provided with wheel or disk L, having channels O, springs M. and
followers N in said channels, hoops or rings V and X, the latter closely encircling
wheel L and formed with passages p type cases W supported by said rings, sliding
blocks O and P provided with fingers ; and k, inclines v, between the channels c,
ring provided with grooves 2, and m, and inclines r, between the grooved
sections of the ring, all substantially as described and shown.
10. In a type distributing machine the combination of a bed or support, a
spindle C passing through said support, and having threaded sections b, b, provided
with nuts D, E, by which the elevation of the spindle may be regulated, a
channeled distributing wheel L carried by the spindle C; a ring or hoop ✗
encircling said wheel and provided with passages p, and guards or fingers inter-
posed between the periphery of the wheel and the passages p to control the escape
of the type from the channels of the disk to the passages p.
11. In combination with wheel L provided with channels c, and encircling ring
or hoop X provided with passages p, an intermediate annular space i, o, and
sliding blocks O, P, having fingers j, k, arranged to move up and down within
said space.
12. In combination with wheel L provided with channels c, circumferential
depression i, and groove u, ring ✗ encircling said disk and provided with
passages pand and depression o, sliding blocks O, P, provided with fingers j k
between the disk and ring and with studs s, ring provided with grooves ; m
inclines r between the grooved sections of the ring Q, and plates t, extending from
ring X into the grooves u above the inclines r, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
13. In combination with wheel I, having channels c, ring ✗ provided with
passages p, and intermediate wards or guards, spindle C carrying said wheel L,
worm wheel F, secured to said spindle and shaft H, provided with worm 'G,
meshing with the worm wheel F, and serving to give motion to wheel L.
14. The combination of wheel L provided with channels c, ring or hoop ✗
provided with passage p, intermediate fingers j, k, and inclines v between the
channels o, substantially as and for the purpose set forth,

page_text: 15. In combination with wheel L having channels c, hoops X and V, the former
provided with passages p and the latter having studs or pins 9; ring provided
with grooves l, m, and inclines r, and blocks O, P, provided with fingers j, k, and
studs 8.
16. In a type distributing machine the combination of a rotary distributing
wheel and a series of independent removable type cases arranged radially outside
of said wheel to receive the type therefrom.
17. In a type distributing machine, the combination of a rotary distributing disk
or wheel, a series of external radial receiving channels, and supporting rings or
hoops for said channels, substantially as shown.
18. In combination with a rotary distributing disk and an external series of
removable receiving channels, an outer supporting ring for said channels made in
separable sections, whereby any section may be removed at will to give access to
the distributing disk.