Improved Process of Producing Printing Faces upon Type and the like, and Type-setting Appliances for use in connection therewith.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 11th Aug.,
1900
Improved Process of Producing Printing Faces upon Type and the
like, and Type-setting Appliances for use in connection therewith.
We, FRANK CHARLES FREDERICK KNAAK, Engineer, a Citizen of the United
States of America, residing at 24, Hogarth Road, Earls' Court, in the County
of London, and JOHN SMALLEY CAMPBELL, 11, Pall Mall, London, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in forming or printing typical
faces upon bodies of linotypes and other typographical surfaces.
Heretofore the printing faces of type surface have been produced by subjecting
the type metal to pressure against a die, or by casting in a mould.
In the present invention the printing face is produced by a combination of
heat and pressure, the heat being generated by making either the type body or
the matrix, or both act as a resistant to a current of electricity passing through
it or them as the case may be.
When the current is sent through both matrix and body, the two are so
arranged in the circuit, that the type-body shall be charged with the positive,
and the matrix with the negative electric current.
The bodies may be made of ordinary or any other type metal, but are prefer-
ably made of an alloy consisting of:
Lead from 51 to 57%
Antimony from 27 to 30%
Tin from 11.5 to 13.5%
to which about 2.5 per cent. of copper or about 4.5 per cent. of German silver
have been added as hardening agents.
The matrix are preferably made of platinum because of its high resisting
power to a current of electricity, but any other material that is a good electrical
resistant and is otherwise suited as a material for a type matrix may be used.
It is preferred that the current shall pass through the matrix rather than
through the body, because type metal being a resistant electrically, that body
might be softened throughout its length, whereas the present invention requires
that the softening shall be practically confined to the surface on which the
printing face is to be formed.
The matrix is preferably stationary with reference to the other parts of the
apparatus; and the electrical connections are of any suitable kind."
The bodies are fed one by one so as to stand with the surface upon which the
printing face is to be, opposite and close up to the matrix.
The actuating member of the apparatus is a system of key levers adapted to
close the circuit, push a body up to it, open the circuit and leave the resultant
ype free to be removed.
The push has an antifriction roller in its outer end, which is engaged by a cam

page_text: connected to the arm of a bell crank lever, which end is rocked up by the
depression of the key lever.
As soon as the latter is released a returning spring pulls the end down again.
There is a spiral spring between an offset in the slide above mentioned and
another on the push. This spring is compressed by the above mentioned action
of the lever upon the said slide between the offset of the latter and that on the
push then held up by the cam connected to the arm of the bell crank lever, but
as soon as the latter has been rocked down clear of the said end, the spring
expands and returns the push and slide into their original positions.
electric circuit is opened at the moment the type drops from the matrix.
The
As the heavy end of the so formed new type is released before the other, the
type drops foot first down a suitable shoot.
There is a shoot aligned with each column, all the shoots being inclined towards
the centre of the apparatus. Immediately under this series of shoots there is
'series of grooves standing in the same direction as the shoots and acting as con-
tinuations of them.
These grooves are on the under face of a drum capable of being rotated by
suitable gearing. They are a little wider than the grooves above and the webs
between them are elastic or cushioned to facilitate the rapid entrance of the
type without injury to it.
This drum rotates on a disc having a port in it, registering with a vertical
shoots, down which the types drop from the respective shoots and grooves above
mentioned, as the drum rotates over the port.
The type drops into the above mentioned vertical shoot through which the
line is being assembled.
All the matrices are at the same level and all the shoots are of the same
length and inclined to the vertical axis of the two drums at the same angle so
that they all meet in a common and central mouth about the said axis, at which
point the assembling groove or channel begins
Consequently every type has exactly the same distance to travel and must
reach the assembling groove immediately after the one last made and before the
one made next after it.
The said groove is on or in a slide capable of sliding along suitable guides
in the machine frame.
It has a rack fixed to it the teeth of which have an em pitch. Each type as
it diops down the vertical shoot into the groove, tips a lever which works a
pawl engaging with the rack, so as to move the slide on an em distance and
completes the line which is then justified by any known mechanism.
Dated this 12th day of June 1899.
FRANK CHARLES FREDERICK KNAAK.
Improved Process of Producing Printing Faces upon Type and the
like, and Type-setting Appliances for use in connection therewith.
We, FRANK CHARLES FREDERICK KNAAK, Engineer, of 24, Hogarth Road,
Earl's Court, in the County of London, and JOHN SMALLEY CAMPBELL, Civil
Engineer, of 11, Pall Mall. S.W.. in the County of London, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The present invention relates to an improved process, which we call the
voltotype process, for torming character faces on the bodies ot single type, lino-

page_text: as hardening agents.
The matrices are preferably made of platinum or German silver because of the
high resisting power of these metals to a current of electricity but any other
material that is a good electrical resistant, and is otherwise suited as a material
for a type matrix, may be used.
The bodies are fed one by one so as to stand with the surface which is to form
the character or printing face opposite and close up to but not touching the
matrix.
A reciprocating member then pushes the body into contact with the matrix,
both completing an electrical circuit and forcing the typal body with slight
pressure against the matrix.
The matrix may if desired be kept constantly in a closed circuit, so as to
be constantly hot, and a current sent through the type body as well, when the
latter is brought in contact with the matrix. Or the current may be altogether
confined to the type body, or to the matrix.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a convenient form of apparatus for
applying this invention to the formation of character faces on single type in
the order in which they are required for composing purposes.
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section and Figure 2 a plan.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are details of portions of the apparatus on a larger
scale.
Like letters indicate like parts in all figures.
The apparatus is supported by columns A on a table A. and comprises an upper
cylindrical magazine B. a portion C, likewise cylindrical, in which are placed
the matrices and the operative mechanism for forming the character faces; the
delivery shoots, forming a frustum of a cone D. a collecting drum and a delivery
spout F.
The apparatus is operated through levers controlled by keys, one for each
matrix, arranged on a keyboard G placed to one side of the table A.
Only one key G', and its operative levers is shown in the drawings.
The portion consists of two concentric cylinders: the external surface of
the inner cylinder is curved as shown at (". Its upper edge has a flange, in
which are formed a number of radial grooves or recesses, extending around the
whole circumference. in each of which a matrix H representing a desired
character is fixed.
The outer cylinder is provided with a corresponding series of recesses each
forming guides for two slides which form the reciprocating member J for
bringing the type body in contact with the matrix.

page_text: The external surface of the inner cylinder and the internal surface of the
outer cylinder form. an annular space which is divided into a series of vertical
chambers by walls connecting the two cylinders, each chamber corresponding
to a matrix and being preferably of approximately the width of the type bodies
to be operated on, so as to prevent any danger of the body buckling when pressure
is applied to form the face.
Each of these chambers is coincident with and continued downwards by a
shoot D formed in the cone-shaped portion D, and above they correspond with
similar chambers B¹ in the magazine B.
A preferred construction of matrix is shown in section in Figure 3, and consists
of a body of non-conducting material H¹, which is secured in its recess in the
flanged portion of the cylinder C. The front face of the body H¹ is provided
with a recess to receive the matrix proper H2, formed of a thin square head of
German silver, to which is secured a copper wire or rod H³ which extends to
the rear of the matrix body through a perforation provided for the purpose.
Here the rod is secured to a threaded stud H which is connected with the
supply of electricity, and carries a nut H³ in a cross slot formed in the body H¹.
This arrangement allows an exact adjustment to be given to the matrix head
within its recess. Immediately below the matrix head the body H' forms a
ledge H6 on which one end of the type to be operated upon rests.
The operative member J is shown in detail in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Its
upper slide J is formed of vulcanite or other suitable non-conducting
material, and is provided with a depending flange J and ears J3 carrying a
pin J. In front it is provided with a recess J5 to receive one end of the type
body, and at the back of this recess is a piece of copper J with a terminal for
The
connecting with the battery, transformer or other source of electricity.
slide J has likewise a rectangular slot J.
On its underside the slide is provided with a
broad shallow groove, in
which the upper side of a slide K engages; preferably in the form of a dovetail.
The slide K is also provided with a depending flange or lug K', between which
and the flange J2 of the slide J is arranged a spring K³, the tension of which
tends to force the two slides apart.
Carried loosely on a pin K³ in the framework C is a bell crank lever K+, the
lower arm of which engages the lug K', whilst its upper arm passes through
a slot in the slide K into the slot J7 and engages the slide J¹.
The slide K may be made of brass or other metal, a piece of insulating material
being placed at K³ for the type body to rest on.
It is
Normally the slides J and K are in the position shown in Figure 5.
evident that if the slide J¹ be pushed forward, the lever K will push the slide K
backwards against the tension of the spring K³.
This forward movement of the slide J is operated by means of a cam L
pivotted in a bracket formed on the cylindrical portion C. This cam is opera-
tively connected by a connecting rod and levers with the key G of the keyboard
so that on depressing the key the cam is brought into connection with a roller J
carried on the pin J before referred to and moves the slide J¹ forward.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
When delivered from the magazine the type body, supported at each end by
the ledge H and the slide K respectively, rests between the matrix head and
the end of the slide J¹, but not in contact with either.
On striking now the key corresponding to the character which it is desired
to form, the slide J', corresponding to the desired matrix, is pushed forward
by its cam L and presses the face of the type body against the matrix. at the
same time completing the electric circuit by bringing the type body in contact
both with the matrix and the copper contact piece J6.
The body face is thus heated and impressed with the character desired.
At the moment the slide J¹ comes in contact with the type body, by the action
before described of the bell crank lever K, the slide K is withdrawn from
under the type body, leaving that end unsupported. On the release of the

page_text: key the cam L is disengaged from the slide roller Js and the spring K2 brings
the slides J and K back to their normal position.
Directly the slide Jeleases the foot end of the type this being without
support falls and the type descends over the curved portion (", into the shoot D',
with the character face uppermost.
The shoots may of course be led in any desired direction. In the example
illustrated it is desired to collect the type as formed into a line of matter.
For this purpose the shoots D₁ are made continuous with divisions in an
annular space in the periphery of the drum E. Desirably these divisions
or grooves are a little wider than the shoots D' and the webs between them are
elastic or cushioned to facilitate the rapid entrance of the type without injury
to the same.
The drum is carried on a shaft Erotatable in bearings E formed in the
base of the shoot frame 1) and in the delivery spout F, and is provided with a
wheel, gearing with a worm on a shaft M, carried on brackets 12. The
shaft M may be driven by a pulley and belt or other suitable means from any
convenient source of power.
The floor of the drum is stationary and provided with a single opening
or port 12, into the delivery spout F.
Passing from the shoot
into the drum E the type rests on the floor F1,
but is at once carried round by the revolving drum and falling through the
port F, is finally delivered into an assembling groove N in a slide N held in
guides N in the table A.
The slide is provided with a rack №2 which gears with a wheel N³
The wheel is operated by bevel gear and connections from the shaft M by
a gear wheel M³ loose on the said shaft but under control by a clutch.
The clutch is operated preferably electrically by a pawl pivotally supported
in the wall of the spout F. This pawl is placed in the path of the type passing
down the spout, so that each type in passing throws it into connection with a
spring F, closing an electric circuit and operating the clutch. When the type
has passed the pawl resumes its normal position, thereby breaking the circuit
and releasing the clutch.
The gearing is arranged so as to send the slide N forward an em distance each
time the clutch is thrown into action by the passage of a type.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. Forming a character face on a typographical body which forms part of an
electric circuit for the purpose described.
2. Forming a character face on a typographical body which forms part of an
electrical circuit whilst pressed against a matrix for the purpose described.
3. In apparatus for forming a character face on a typographical body the com-
bination with the said body of a fixed matrix connected with one wire of an
open electric circuit, a reciprocating member, connected with the other wire of
the circuit and means controlled by a key to reciprocate the member, press the
body against the matrix, and close the circuit.
4. In apparatus for forming a character face on a typographical body an adjust-
able matrix comprising a non-conducting body such as H₁, a matrix-head such
as H³, rod H³, stud H and nut H³, all combined and operating substantially
as described.
5. In apparatus for forming a character face on a typographical body the com-
bination of two reciprocating slides such as J K a bell crank lever such as K
with an arm in operative connection with each slide, a spring in tension between
lugs on said slides and means acting on one slide to reciprocate the two slides,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. In apparatus for setting type the combination with a series of shoots of a

page_text: drum such as E placed under the shoots, a stationary floor to the drum having
a port and discharging spout, and means to revolve the drum substantially as
described.
7. In apparatus for forming and setting type a series of matrices and means
substantially as described for pressing a typal body against any desired matrix
and thereby closing an electric circuit, a series of shoots, the head of each
shoot coincident with a matrix head, a drum capable of revolving beneath and
of communicating with the delivery end of each shoot and a stationary floor to
the drum having a single delivery port leading to a delivery spout all arranged
and operating substantially as described.
8. In apparatus for setting type the combination with a delivery spout of an
assembling slide to receive the type, and means substantially as described to
advance the slide each time a type is delivered, said means being controlled
electrically by a pivotted pawl operated by the delivered type.
Dated the 0th day of March 1900
FRANK CHARLES FREDERICK KNAAK.
Boult, Wade & Kilburn,
Agents for the Applicants.