Improvements in Type Cases.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1899
Improvements in Type Cases.
I, CHARLES JOHANN BOTZ, Printer, of Sedalia, in the County of Pettis and
State of Missouri, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to mechanism for storing type, and has for its object
to provide a device of the above indicated class, which will be simple and of
comparatively great capacity.
To this end, my invention consists of the features of construction hereinafter
described and pointed out in the appended claims.
I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompany-
ing drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a plan of the improved apparatus ;
Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof with parts in section;
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation on line 33 of Figure 1;
Figure
is a sectional detail on line 4-4 of Figure 3; and
Figure 5 is a plan showing a different arrangement of the type case.
The apparatus comprises a table A, carried on legs B or other suitable sup-
ports, and having a series of openings a for the reception of type boxes C, placed
obliquely to correspond to the inclination at which types are held when the
operator distributes them. The left hand and forward edges of each box C
are raised beyond the top of the table A, as shown at C¹, so as to form a stop
for the type D when the same is brought over the opening a.
The boxes C are rectangular, of a width corresponding to the length of the
types, and of a height selected according to the number of types each box is
intended to hold. The boxes are open at the top and bottom (although the
bottom might be closed) and extend below the table A, as shown best in Figures 3
and 4. One side of each box is apertured or slitted vertically, and in the slot is
arranged one run of an endless apron, belt or cord E, which runs over pulleys
or guides E located adjacent to the ends of the slot. To the inner run of the
apron E is secured a movable bottom or follower F, projecting considerably in
advance of its connection with the apron, so that the follower in its upper posi-
tion will be flush with, or a little above the table A, as shown in Figure 3.
The outer run of the apron E has a projection E', which may be used as a handle
to move the follower F manually, but I prefer to suspend from said projection E¹
a rod, string or like connection G, formed at its lower end with a loop or other
retaining device G¹ for a weight H.
In the drawings I have shown three rows of type boxes C, but it will be under-
stood that their number is immaterial. These boxes are disposed in the central
portion of the table, and along the sides are or may be arranged type boxes C³
of the ordinary pattern, to hold spaces or other types. Of course the table A
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page_text: will, be provided adjacent to the openings a, with characters or other indications
corresponding to the types to be received by the respective boxes.
Along the front and rear edges of the table A are located parallel guides A¹,
which may be bars having dovetail grooves, as shown, and in said grooves is
adapted to slide a frame I, provided, in registry with the (three) rows of open-
ings a, with inclines I forming wedges in the manner more fully described here-
inafter, said inclines being preferably arranged between lugs 12 of the frame I.
In conjunction with the boxes C and the frame I, I employ storage boxes or
reserve boxes C3, which may be placed on racks J (Figure 2) secured to the
legs B below the table A. These storage boxes are open at one end, and this end
may be closed by a sliding lid C. The opposite end of the box is so shaped as to
fit between the lugs 12 of the frame I and has an inclined surface C (see Figure 4)
adapted to engage the incline I' of the frame A, so that the storage box C3 may
be pressed firmly upon the table A.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: The operator puts
the types flatwise into the boxes C, each box receiving types of one kind only.
Some of the types are put in the boxes C2 as hereinbefore described, but my
invention does not relate to the particular construction of these boxes C. The
projection C forming a stop enables the operator to readily insert the types
in the boxes C. The follower F is at first in the elevated position shown at the
left in Figure 3. At the introduction of each type D, the follower F is depressed
correspondingly, friction between the apron or belt E and the pulleys Ea being
sufficient to keep the follower normally stationary. When the follower thus
reaches the lowermost position shown for the central box C in Figure 3, the
box is full and consequently no further types can be placed therein. By refer-
ence to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that the position of the retaining device
or attaching device G¹ (which moves with the follower, since it is connected there-
to by the belt or apron E) will clearly indicate whether the corresponding box C
is full or empty, or partly filled.
When one of the boxes C is full, and there are still types intended for it, I
empty the contents of such box C into one of the storage boxes C3. For this
purpose I remove a storage box from its rack J, and place it over the open upper
end of the box C to be emptied. The flange C¹ will project into the storage box,
being substantially in contact with the lid C. The lid is then opened (see
Figure 3), and the frame I is slid from its normal position (at the side of the
table A, Figure 1) until its incline I¹ engages the wedge surface C of the storage
box C³. The storage box is thus firmly locked in position by wedge action.
The operator then hooks the weight H on the loop or other attaching device G¹,
thereby causing the follower F to transfer the types D from the box C to the
storage box C³. The same result might of course be obtained by simply pulling
on the string G or on the handle E'; the latter, however, is not readily access-
ible in its raised position. The parts then being in the position illustrated at
the right in Figure 3, the lid C is pushed in, the frame I is moved out of engage-
ment with the storage box, and the latter is again placed on the rack J. The
box C which has been emptied as described, is now ready to receive a further
supply of type.
It will be seen that the frame I normally is entirely out of the way, so as
not to interfere with the operator's movements. The frame may be moved to any
desired position relatively to the boxes C, to hold a storage box C3 against the
mouth of any one of said boxes C. The manipulation of the apparatus is exceed-
ingly simple, its capacity is practically unlimited owing to the use of storage
boxes, and type may be distributed with great case and rapidity.
I desire it to be understood that various modifications may be made without
departing from the spirit of my invention.
For instance, as illustrated in Figure 5, the table A may be circular instead
of rectangular, the frame I in this case moving in two concentric guides A¹
In this construction as in the one before described, the type boxes C have their

page_text: receiving openings and their projecting stop edges C¹ arranged obliquely with
reference to the front edge of the table. The frame I and storage boxes C³ are
constructed as hereinbefore described.
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:
1. Arranging the type-boxes, or at least their mouths or receiving openings,
obliquely with reference to the front edge of the table, substantially as described.
2. Constructing the type-boxes, at one side of their mouths, with upwardly
projected sides to form a stop for the type, substantially as described.
3. Providing the type-box with a movable bottom formed by a follower at-
tached to an endless belt moving in the slotted side of the box, substantially as
described.
4. The provision of a rod, string or equivalent connection (G) with or without
a weight (H) upon the outer run of the belt to which is secured the follower (F).
to operate the follower, substantially as described.
5. The use of storage boxes to receive the contents of the type-boxes when full,
by an appropriate movement of the follower, substantially, as described.
6. The frame (I) movable over the table to clamp a storage box over the mouth
of a type box, substantially as described.
Dated this 11th day of July 1899
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.