PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND COMPOSING OR SETTING UP TYPE FOR PRINTING PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Wicks at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1879.
IM-
FREDERICK WICKS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND COMPOSING
OR SETTING UP TYPE FOR PRINTING PURPOSES."
The said Invention relates to apparatus for distributing and composing or setting
up type for printing purposes.
The said Invention relates, firstly, to machinery or apparatus for distributing
type, that is to say, for sorting set up type into separate receptacles according to
their kind. The said machine constructed according to the said first part of the
Invention consists as follows:-
The column or page of type is placed with its face upwards in a galley, and is
pressed towards one end thereof where there is a transversely sliding bar (pressed
forward by a weight or otherwise) of a width or thickness equal to that of the
type, and provided if desired with a thin strip of metal extending along the side of
the line of types, and embracing the end one so that the line may be drawn back
when desired. This bar urges each line of the said type over an opening through
which rises the upper end of a sliding bar the size or thickness of the smallest type
which raises as hereinafter described one type at a time from the line. This bar
may be called the "ejector." It is actuated by a lever which is also actuated by
any one of a set of levers constituting keys, the said lever being connected with a
frame extending at front and back of the keys so as to be acted upon by each key,
but so that it may be depressed alone if desired. A key is used for each of the
letters, spaces, or kinds of type to be sorted, as hereinafter described. Each key
also actuates mechanism which allows a type of a given size only to rise from its
neighbour through an opening in the "diverger" herein-after described. It also
actuates mechanism by which the types are guided into their proper course in

page_text: "
grooves in an inclined plane, down which they fall on their broad sides towards
their respective receptacles. The apparatus for regulating the opening above for
the type into the "diverger" as aforesaid consists of wedges upon rods attached to
the ends of the keys, the said keys being levers of the first order. These wedges
enter slots in a long plate constituting a continuation of a plate which may be
called the "guage-plate," and which obstructs or widens the opening to the
diverger" through which the types are pushed up. These wedges will be of
various powers, according to the key to which they are attached and the types they
are intended to guide. They shift the aforesaid "guage-plate" to or from the said
opening to an extent which leaves the passage therethrough of the requisite size
for the passage of that size or thickness of type which corresponds with the key
operated. There need be no wedges, it will be evident, on the rods of the keys
for the smallest types. The aforesaid keys are arranged after the manner of the
keys of a musical instrument, each key being for liberating one kind of type,
and being marked to correspond with that kind. The inclined plane aforesaid
down which the types pass from the galley has a main groove from which diverge
other branch grooves, one for each kind of type. The various kinds of type
are turned into their particular groove by means of pieces constituting guides
attached to the rods, which operate the "guage-plate" which regulates the opening
to the "diverger." These guides are so attached to the rods that they (on
the motion of the rods) descend or rise, or are turned so as to obstruct the
main groove and form a continuation of it with the particular branch groove down
which the particular type which has been liberated is to pass. Revolving at the
bottom of the inclined plane is a series of type-receiving and delivering wheels (the
said series may be in one and constitute a single.composite wheel or cylinder), they
having upon their periphery, and formed solid or in one piece with them, projec-
tions preferably like ratchet teeth, of less width than that of the types. These
projections of each wheel or of each series of teeth, as the wheel or cylinder revolves,
pass between a slot or nick of about their own width in the end of the bottom of
a guide of the width of the type, and the type are thus delivered from their
prostrate position to the said guides in an upright position. The said guides lead
to the receptacles which are to receive the different kinds of type. The apparatus
is operated as follows:-The set up type which is to be distributed is put into the
galley, and each end line as the said type is pressed forward is slidden to one side
by the sliding bar and over the opening through which the "ejector" aforesaid
passes. A proof of the set up type being before the operator he dépresses the keys
in the order corresponding to the order of type as shewn by the said proof, and
consequently in an order corresponding to the types presented over the opening
through which the" ejector" passes, that is to say, if the letter b is upon the proof
the type, b is over the said opening, and the operator depresses the key marked
"b." The ejector" rising in the opening aforesaid, the rod attached to the other
end of the key through the wedge thereon having acted upon the "guage-plate
before described, and pushed it into a position to leave the opening to the " diverger
of about the same width as the thickness of the type b, the " ejector" urges up
the type, and it enters an attachment herein-before referred to as the " diverger
through the before mentioned opening in the inclined bottom thereof (the said
opening being when fully open somewhat larger than the largest type to be sorted),
the said type displacing in its upward passage a lever or "kicker." When the
type is thrust completely into the "diverger," the "kicker" by bearing on the
upper end of the type (which is no longer supported at the side) cants up the said
type at its lower end, and causes it to lie on its side upon the inclined bottom of
the "diverger," down which it falls over the opening through which it passed into
the main groove in the inclined plane. When the key b was depressed the guide
piece before mentioned attached to the rod of the said key, by the movement of the
said key, has been caused to stand in such a position before the opening of the
diverging groove which leads to the receptacle for the types b, that it
is
"
"
prevents the

page_text: type continuing its descent down the main groove, and turns it into the diverging
groove, which it descends, and is received upon a projection on the revolving wheel
or cylinder before the opening of the said groove below, the type resting with its
width accross one of the projections thereof, and as the said wheel continues
its revolution the sides of the heel of the type which are beyond the projection on
either side are caught upon the pieces at the side of the notch in the guide through
which the projections of the wheels pass, and there it rests, and as other types b
descend they pass the preceding types b forward along the guide and into the
gallery or receptacle, in which they are finally received. The same action takes
place with regard to the other types as they are presented to the opening through
which the "ejector" passes, and as the keys corresponding to the said types are
depressed. The "diverger" cheeks or sides, and the various other parts above and
below the inclined plane, which have to act as guides, are made, of course, of a
distance apart about equal to the width of the type.
The second part of the Invention relates to the machine for composing or setting
up type. This machine is constructed as follows:-Tubes (preferably slotted down
one side) each containing one kind of types are arranged (so that the sides of the
types are presented downwards and their heels or bottoms towards the operator)
over a series of passages, which open at bottom immediately at the side of inclines
which guide the type heel downwards to the inclined planes, down which they pass
towards the front of the machine to the part where they are finally set up. Between
the aforesaid openings are other openings, from which cross openings communicate
with the first mentioned openings at the bottom thereof. These cross-openings
will be slightly wider than the width of the particular type to which they apper-
tain. Sliding in the said cross openings are push pieces with slots in them, through
which pass inclined pieces at the ends of bars, which bars are connected at their
extremities to the ends of keys, similar in general arrangement to those described
in connection with the distributing machine. The inclined plane aforesaid, down
which the types fall, has guides on it, preferably arranged so that one half of the
number of types are guided to a side guide at one side of the inclined plane, aud
the other half of the number of types are guided to a side guide at the opposite
side of the inclined plane, these two side guides converging or running towards the
front of the machine into one guide or groove, before which revolves a wheel similar
to one of those before described in connection with the distributing machine, the
projections thereof passing through a similar notch at the end of the bottom of the
guide which receives the type from the said wheel, this guide being continued and
curved so as to deliver the type to a galley at the side of the front of. the machine,
before which galley sits the operator who is to divide the composed type into
lines. The compositor sits before the key-board, and the "copy" being before him
he depresses the keys in the order corresponding to the copy and the types are
caused to descend as follows:-Supposing the type c to be required, the compositor
depresses the key c, the rod at its other end being raised the inclined piece at its end
forces outward the pusher with which it is connected, which pusher comes into
contact with the type c, which is deposited on its side before it from the tube con-
taining the types c, the said type c forming the undermost one of a column of
types c constantly tending downwards by their own weight. The said type is
thereby when pushed outwards, as aforesaid; caused to fall down the incline before
mentioned, and thence pass on its broad side to the inclined plane and to one of
the outer guides and down on to one of the teeth of the revolving wheel, by which
it is delivered standing or with its face upwards on to the ledges at the sides of
the notch in the guide, and thence as fresh type descends it is pushed forward into
the guide, and by the continuation of the process a continuous line of composed
type is forced forward to the galley, where the operator divides it into lines, the
operation with regard to each type being the same as that described with regard
to the type c.
The parts of the machine which act as guides for the type before
the inclined plane is reached, as also the guides from the wheel to the galley, are of

page_text: course made of a distance apart so as to accommodate and guide the type. In a
machine, constructed according to this Invention, the type being always at the
front of the machine, is always under the eye of the compositor, and the receiving
galley also being in front, the copy may be placed between the compositor and
the operator at the said galley so as to be referred to by both.

page_text: PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Wicks at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1879.
FREDERICK WICKS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain. "IM-
APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND COMPOSING
PROVEMENTS
OR
IN MACHINERY
OK SETTING UP TYPE FOR PRINTING PURPOSES."
The said Invention relates to apparatus for distributing and composing or setting
up type for printing purposes.
The said Invention relates, firstly, to machinery or apparatus for distributing
type, that is to say, for sorting set up type into separate receptacles according to
their kind. The said machine constructed according to the said first part of the
Invention consists as follows:-
This bar
The column or page of type is placed with its face upwards in a galley, and is
pressed towards one end thereof where there is a transversely sliding bar (pressed
forward by a weight or otherwise) of a width or thickness equal to that of the
type, and provided if desired with a thin strip of metal extending along the side of
the line of types, and embracing the end one so that the line may be drawn back
when desired. This bar urges each line of the said type over an opening through
which rises the upper end of a sliding bar the size or thickness of the smallest type
which raises as hereinafter described one type at time from the line.
may be called the "ejector." It is actuated by a lever which is also actuated by
any one of a set of levers constituting keys, the said lever being connected with a
frame extending at front and back of the keys so as to be acted upon by each key,
A key is used for each of the
but so that it may be depressed alone if desired.
Each key
letters, spaces, or kinds of type to be sorted, as hereinafter described.
also actuates mechanism which allows a type of a given size, only to rise from its
It also
neighbour through an opening in the "diverger" herein-after described.
actuates mechanism by which the types are guided into their proper course in

page_text: grooves in an inclined plane, down which they fall on their broad sides towards
their respective receptacles. The apparatus for regulating the opening above for
the type into the "diverger" as aforesaid consists of wedges upon rods attached to
the ends of the keys, the said keys being levers of the first order. These wedges
enter slots in a long plate constituting a continuation of a plate which may be
called the "guage-plate," and which obstructs or widens the opening to the
diverger" through which the types are pushed up. These wedges will be of
various powers, according to the key to which they are attached and the types they
are intended to guide. They shift the aforesaid "guage-plate" to or from the said
opening to an extent which leaves the passage therethrough of the requisite size
for the passage of that size or thickness of type which corresponds with the key
operated. There need be no wedges, it will be evident, on the rods of the keys
for the smallest types. The aforesaid keys are arranged after the manner of the
keys of a musical instrument, each key being for liberating one kind of type,
and being marked to correspond with that kind. The incline plane aforesaid
down which the types pass from the galley has a main groove from which diverge
other branch grooves, one for each kind of type. The various kinds of type
are turned into their particular groove by means of pieces constituting guides
attached to the rods, which operate the "gauge-plate" which regulates the opening
to the "diverger." These guides are so attached to the rods that they (on
the motion of the rods) descend or rise, or are turned so as to obstruct the
main groove and form a continuation of it with the particular branch groove down
which the particular type which has been liberated is to pass. Revolving at the
bottom of the inclined plane is a series of type-receiving and delivering wheels (the
said series may be in one and constitute a single composite wheel or cylinder), they
having upon their periphery, and formed solid or in one piece with them, projec-
tions preferably like ratchet teeth, of less width than that of the types. These
projections of each wheel or of each series of teeth, as the. wheel or cylinder revolves,
pass between a slot or nick of about their own width in the end of the bottom of
.a guide of the width of the type, and the type are thus delivered from their
prostrate position to the said guides in an upright position. The said guides lead
to the receptacles which are to receive the different kinds of type. The apparatus
is operated as follows:-The set up type which is to be distributed is put into the
galley, and each end line as the said type is pressed forward is slidden to one side
by the sliding bar and over the opening through which the "ejector" aforesaid
passes. A proof of the set up type being before the operator he depresses the keys
in the order corresponding to the order of type as shewn by the said proof, and
consequently in an order corresponding to the types presented over the opening
through which the "ejector" passes, that is to say, if the letter b is upon the proof
the type, b is over the said opening, and the operator depresses the key marked
"b." The "ejector "rising in the opening aforesaid, the rod attached to the other
end of the key through the wedge thereon having acted upon the "guage-plate
before described, and pushed it into a position to leave the opening to the "diverger "
of about the same width as the thickness of the type b, the "ejector" urges up
the type, and it enters an attachment herein-before referred to as the ".
"diverger
through the before mentioned opening in the inclined bottom thereof (the said
opening being when fully open somewhat larger than the largest type to be sorted),
the said type displacing in its upward passage a lever or kicker." When the
type is thrust completely into the "diverger," the "kicker" by bearing on the
upper end of the type (which is no longer supported at the side) cants up the said
type at its lower end, and causes it to lie on its side upon the inclined bottom of
the "diverger," down which it falls over the opening through which it passed into
the main groove in the inclined plane. When the key was depressed the guide
piece before mentioned attached to the rod of the said key, by the movement' of the
said key, has been caused to stand in such a position before the opening of the
diverging groove which leads to the receptacle for the types b, that it prevents the

page_text: type continuing its descent down the main groove, and turns it into the diverging
groove, which it descends, and is received upon a projection on the revolving wheel
or cylinder before the opening of the said groove below, the type resting with its
width accross one of the projections thereof, and as the said wheel continues
its revolution the sides of the heel of the type which are beyond the projection on
either side are caught upon the pieces at the side of the notch in the guide through
which the projections of the wheels pass, and there it rests, and as other types b
descend they pass the preceding types b forward along the guide and into the
gallery or receptacle, in which they are finally received. The same action takes
place with regard to the other types as they are presented to the opening through
which the "ejector" passes, and as the keys corresponding to the said types are
depressed. The "diverger "cheeks or sides, and the various other parts above and
below the inclined plane, which have to act as guides, are made, of course, of a
distance apart about equal to the width of the type.
The second part of the Invention relates to the machine for composing or setting
up type. This machine is constructed as follows:-Tubes (preferably slotted down
one side) each containing one kind of types are arranged (so that the sides of the
types are presented. downwards and their heels or bottoms towards the operator)
over a series of passages, which open at bottom immediately at the side of inclines
which guide the type-heel downwards to the inclined planes, down which they pass
towards the front of the machine to the part where they are finally set up. Between
the aforesaid openings are other openings, from which cross openings communicate
with the first mentioned openings at the bottom thereof. These cross-openings
will be slightly wider than the width of the particular type to which they apper-
tain. Sliding in the said cross openings are push pieces with slots in them, through
which pass inclined pieces at the end of bars, which bars are connected at their
extremities to the ends of keys, similar in general arrangement to those described
in connection with the distributing machine.. The inclined plane aforesaid, down
which the types fall, has guides on it, preferably arranged so that one half of the
number of types are guided to a side guide at one side of the inclined plane, and
the other half of the number of types are guided to a side guide at the opposite
side of the inclined plane, these two side guides converging or running towards the
front of the machine into one guide or groove, before which revolves a wheel similar
to one of those before described in connection with the distributing machine, the
projections thereof passing through a similar notch at the end of the bottom of the
guide which receives the type from the said wheel, this guide being continued and
curved so as to deliver the type to a galley at the side of the front of the machine,
before which galley sits the operator who is to divide the composed type into
lines. The compositor sits before the key-board, and the "copy" being before him
he depresses the keys in the order corresponding to the copy and the types are
caused to descend as follows:-Supposing the type c to be required, the compositor
depresses the key c, the rod at its other end being raised the inclined piece at its end
forces outward the pusher with which it is connected, which pusher comes into
contact with the type c, which is deposited on its side before it from the tube con-
taining the types c, the said type c forming the undermost one of a column of
types constantly tending downwards by their own weight. The said type is
thereby when pushed outwards, as aforesaid, caused to fall down the incline before
mentioned, and thence pass on its broad side to the inclined plane and to one of
the outer guides and down on to one of the teeth of the revolving wheel, by which
it is delivered standing or with its face upwards on to the ledges at the sides of
the notch in the guide, and thence as fresh type descends it is pushed forward into
the guide, and by the continuation of the process a continuous line of composed
type is forced forward to the galley, where the operator divides it into lines, the
operation with regard to each type being the same as that described with regard
to the type c. The parts of the machine which act as guides for the type before
the inclined plane is reached, as also the guides from the wheel to the galley, are of

page_text: course made of a distance apart so as to accommodate and guide the type. In a
machine, constructed according to this Invention, the type being always at the
front of the machine, is always under the eye of the compositor, and the receiving|
galley also being in front, the copy may be placed between the compositor and
the operator at the said galley so as to be referred to by both.