Improvements in Machinery for Loading Type, Type Matrices, or similar Matter into the Channels of Type or Matrix Distributing Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 29th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1900-Accepted, 28th July, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Loading Type, Type Matrices, or
similar Matter into the Channels of Type or Matrix Distributing
Machines.
I, EMIL FRANK LINKE, of 112, Oak Street, in the City and County of Hart-
ford, State of Connecticut, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is on an improved machine for "loading" type, type matrices,
or similar matter into the channels of type or matrix distributing machines, the
object being to provide improved and reliable means for automatically injecting
the lines of type matter into those channels only which by the progress of the
distributing operation have become emptied of their type to any desired predeter-
mined extent, without interrupting the distributing operation, and without the
services of the attendant, save occasionally for the insertion of a new column or
galley of type when the previous column has by the successive loading operations
been transferred to the channels of the distributing machine. This invention
comprises also improved means for feeding forward the column of type, for
break-
detaching the succeeding foremost lines singly therefrom, for positively
ing" from the column the lines of type which may have become matted together
during the previous printing or stereotyping operations, an improved guard device
for cushioning the force of impact of the feeding movement of the column of type,
and means for intermittently removing the tension of the feeding spring from
the column and from the injecting devices during the operation of injecting the
detached line into the distributing machine.
The invention further comprises improved features of construction and arrange-
ment tending to facilitate the manipulation and control of the mechanism. These
include a controller by means of which the trigger of the automatic starting device
may at any time be withdrawn by the attendant from its operative position, so as
to arrest the operation of the loading mechanism, to permit all of the distribut-
ing channels to become entirely empty, or for any other purpose; an automatic
stop or knock-off device by means of which the operation of the loading mechan-
ism is also stopped when the galley is emptied of its column of type; a hinged
frame upon which the loading mechanism is mounted, thereby permitting the

page_text: entire mechanism to be swung aside for examination, adjustment, or repairs; and
a cover plate for the series of channels in the distributor, serving as an abutment
for the follower springs, and provided with one or more slots which by moving
the cover plate, may be brought into co-incidence with any one of the type
channels, to allow of the ready removal therefrom of the followers and their
springs.
This invention, although applicable to other types of distributing machines, is
herein shown as being applied to the distributing cylinder of a Thorne type-
setting machine. That machine is provided with a stationary composing cylin-
der 23, and with an intermittently rotating distributing cylinder 18, located
above and concentric with the composing cylinder. The distributing cylinder is
provided with type receiving channels which run longitudinally of the cylinder,
and are located at equal distances apart around the periphery thereof. The com-
posing cylinder is provided with similar channels located in a corresponding
relation around its periphery, the upper ends of those channels being provided
with wards set in differing combinations, each of which permits only those type
which are nicked in accordance with the combination of its wards to enter from
the channels of the upper or distributing cylinder during the intermissions in
the rotation thereof. These intermissions occur just when the two series of
channels in the two cylinders are coincident, thereby allowing the types in the
distributing cylinder which have arrived at their proper channels in the com-
posing cylinder, to drop past the wards into these channels.
Figure 1 of the drawings is a plan view of my improved mechanism, showing
in connection therewith a fragment of the distributing cylinder and its channels,
into which the type is to be loaded. Figure 2 is a front view projected from
Figure 1, showing in addition thereto a portion of the driving shaft and gearing
of the machine, by means of which movement is transmitted to the loading
mechanism. Figure 3 is an end view projected from the right hand side of
Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 is an end view, in section taken on the line 4-4 of
Figures 1 and 2. Figure 5 is a plan view in section taken on the line 5-5 of
Figure 6. Figure 6 is a front view in section taken approximately along the
line 66 of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a plan view, and Figure 8 a left hand end
view, showing the line engaging devices of the mechanism in a different position
from those in which they are represented in Figures and 5. Figure 9 is a
plan view, representing the line engaging devices in still another position,
illustrating the operation of the guard arm by-pass. Figure 10 is a plan view
of the driving mechanism and the clutch device, the latter being shown just at
the moment of release from its detent. Figure 11 is a front view projected from
Figure 10, and showing in addition thereto the automatic starting device, and the
manual and automatic stop devices, in section taken substantially along the
line 11-12 of Figure 8. Figure 12 is a fragmentary view, taken on the same
section line showing the trigger of the automatic starting device withdrawn
below the plane of rotation of the followers, by the operation of the stop device,
whether manually or automatically operated. Figure 13 is a left hand end view
in section taken approximately along the line 13-13 of Figure 1, with the slot
of the type channel cover moved into coincidence with the plane of the section.
Figure 14 is an end view of a modified form of stop device, which like that of
the previous figures is adapted to be operated manually or automatically.
6
"
The terms front," rear,' right," "left," upper," lower," and other
similar terms, are herein used in their relative instead of their absolute sense.
For example, the view shown in Figure 2 is herein described as a front view
of the loading mechanism, although this mechanism is preferably placed upon
the rearward side of the typesetting machine, and therefore this view, regarded
with reference to the entire machine, would be a rear view thereof.
This loading mechanism in the preferred embodiment herein shown, is mounted
upon the framing 15, which is pivotally attached to a portion of the frame 16
of the type distributing machine, by means of the hinge pin 17, upon which

page_text: the entire mechanism may be swung outwardly away from the distributing
cylinder 18 of the machine, so as to allow of ready access to all parts of that
cylinder, or to the loading mechanism. The device is secured in its inward or
operative position, as best shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, by means of the bolt 19,
which passes through the hub 20 of the frame 16. The T-head of the bolt when
turned into coincidence with the slot 21 in the framing 15, allows that framing
to be swung to its open position away from the hub 20, and when turned cross-
wise of the slot, as shown in Figure 4, clamps the framing in position against
that hub by means of the hand nut 22. The vertical main shaft 24 is fitted to
rotate in bearings in the framing 15 and is provided with a series of actuating
cams each of which will be described in connection with the device which it
operates. The axis of the main shaft 24 is in line with the axis of the driving
shaft 25, when the loading mechanism is in its operative position.
The driving shaft 25 is journalled in the bracket 26, attached to or integral
with the frame 16, and it receives a regular rotary motion by means of the bevel
gears 27 and 28 from any convenient shaft, as 29, of the type distributing
machine.
The column 30 of the type matter to be loaded into the channels 31, of the
distributing cylinder 18 is contained in an ordinary removable galley 33, which
is supported in a corresponding recess in the framing 15, with its leading end
in close proximity to the line injector, being held endwise to place by means of
the latch 39. The faces of the type at the front of the galley are shut in and
protected by means of the door 34, which is preferably provided with a pane 35
of transparent glass, through which the progress of the column may be observed
by the attendant. The door is pivotally attached by means of the H-shaped
link 36 to suitable hubs 37 of the framing 15, so that the door may upon being
released from its latch 38, be pushed longitudinally backward, and then swung
open to the position represented by dot and dash lines in Figure 1.
The injector for transferring or "loading" the lines of type from the galley
into the channels of the distributing cylinder is herein shown to consist of a
slide 40, which is located in line with one of the stopping positions of the type
channels 31. That slide is fitted to reciprocate in guiding ways in the framing 15
to an extent represented by comparison of the extreme positions of the slides
shown in Figures 1 and 5. The reciprocating movement of the injector slide is
imparted by means of the cam 41, fixed on the shaft 24 and operating through
the medium of the bell cranked arm 42, and the link 43. The type engaging end
of the injector is preferably provided with a facing 44 of celluloid, compressed
fibre, or other similar substance, to avoid damaging the character faces of the
type. The cam 41 is so formed and timed with relation to the movements of
the distributing cylinder as to move the injector forward during each intermission
in the rotation of the cylinder.
During the return movement of the injector, as soon as its type engaging end
has been drawn back beyond the plane of the faces of the type in the column, the
latter is moved forward far enough to bring its next leading line of type into
the path of movement of the injector, against the stop 64, in position to be
loaded into the succeeding channel of the cylinder at the next stroke of the
injector. This forward feeding movement of the column is imparted by means
of a column pusher, which, as best shown in Figures 4 and 5, extends through the
space between the door 34 and the galley 33, and engages behind the rearmost
line of type in the column. For convenience of manipulation the column pusher
is preferably composed of two separable parts, the pusher blade 45, and the
carriage 48, the base 46 of the rusher blade being fitted to slide transversely, as
best shown in Figure 6, in the column pusher carriage 48. That carriage is fitted
to slide in the framing 15 beneath the type galley, and parallel therewith, far
enough to enable the column pusher to traverse the entire length of the galley.
By this arrangement the column pusher can be withdrawn laterally from its

page_text: carriage by opening the door 34; or both the pusher and its carriage may be
withdrawn longitudinally from the mechanism by swinging the door entirely open.
The carriage 48 is provided with a pawl 51 which rests by gravity, aided if
necessary by a spring, upon teeth cut in the upper surface of the feeding rack 50,
which is fitted to slide in a longitudinal groove in the framing 15 beneath and
parallel with the carriage 48, so as to enable the rack to reciprocate longitudinally
to the extent of two or three of its teeth. The feeding impulse is intermittently
imparted to the column by means of the spring 53 attached between the rack 50
and the framing 15, the period and extent of the intermissions being controlled
by a cam 54 on the shaft 24, which engages with an arm 55 of the rack, and
withdraws it from the pawl 51, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, during the time
that the injector 40 is in front of the column, thereby transferring the pressure
of the spring 53 to the cam from the column and consequently from the side
of the injector 40 during the reciprocating stroke thereof, so as to allow it to
move freely without side pressure.
The feeding rack 50 is provided with a projecting handle 56, by means of which
the operator may draw the rack backwardly away from the cam 54 so as to
transfer the tension of the spring from the cam to the pawl 51 and thence to
the pusher 45 when starting, the feeding operation upon a new column. The
handle 56 is also useful to facilitate the release of the pawl 51 from the tension
of the spring when desired, by first drawing back the rack and then lifting the
pawl out of contact therewith, the pawl being provided with an arm 52 which
extends beyond the framing, so that it may readily be reached by the operator
whenever it may be necessary to move the carriage 48 by hand.
As it frequently happens that some of the lines of the type in the column
become matted together during the printing or stereotyping operations, means
are provided for positively "breaking" or detaching each leading line of type
from the column before injecting it into its channel. The means for this purpose
embodied in the present invention consist of a breaker 58, which is pivotally
supported upon one or more swinging links 59, so mounted on the framing 15
as to guide the type engaging end 60 of the breaker behind the end of the
injector 40, and against the feet of the next line of the column, which has at
that time been fed forward into the plane of the injector, thereby breaking that
line loose from the column and moving it to the position shown in Figure 1. In
Figure the breaker is shown at the opposite end of its movement, with its
type engaging end outside of the plane of the injector 40.
As a means for moving the breaker through its desired stroke, it is made to
engage with the injector slide 40. In the machine shown herein, the outer end 61
of the breaker is extended into the plane of movement of the outer end of the
injector slide 40, the engaging surfaces being bevelled so as to facilitate starting
the breaker from its extreme position, shown in Figure 5. The breaker is vield-
ingly held in this position by means of a spring 62 attached to the framing 15.
Thus by the operation of this breaker, eacli succeeding foremost line of type is
positively detached from the column upon each return movement of the injector
slide, so as to have a free line in readiness for the succeeding operation of the
injector.
The breaker is herein shown to be mounted upon two of the links 59, like a
well known parallel ruler. This, however, is not essential to its operation, since
one of those links, preferably located near the type engaging end 60 of the
breaker, would serve equally well, the opposite end of the breaker having a
slotted connection with the injector, or being guided in any convenient way in
the path of movement thereof.
It is considered desirable to engage the "foot" ends of the type for the
breaking operation, in order to avoid, or at least to reduce to a minimum, the
liability of marring or bruising the type faces. Although the force of the impact
or pressure against the foot of the line operates to carry the faces of the suc-

page_text: ceeding lines with an equal force against the door or cover of the galley, still
that pressure or impact is distributed over all the faces of all the cohering lines,
thereby correspondingly lessening the liability of injuring the individual faces.
In order to cushion the force of impact of the feeding operation of the column
against the stop 64, a guard arm 65 is provided. This is pivotally mounted upon
the framing 15 with its type engaging end 66 extending across the end of the
column. The opposite end of the guard arm is provided with a by-pass 67 pivot-
ally attached thereto, and yieldingly held in the position shown in Figures 1
and 5, by means of the spring 68, the arm being prevented from moving beyond
this position by the contact of the two shoulders 69. The by-pass extends into the
path of movement of the cam 70 on the injector 40, which upon its return from
the injection of each line, moves the guard arm, as shown in Figure 7, into
contact with the succeeding type line, just before the feed cam 54 reaches. a
position which allows the tension of the spring 53 to be transferred to the column.
The force of impact of the forward feeding movement of the column is cushioned
by the receding movement of the guard arm, which is controlled by the cam 70
as the latter moves away from the by-pass 67, from the position shown in Figure 6.
The guard arm is, during the intermissions in its movement, held in its outward
or open position, shown in Figure 8, by means of the spring 71, attached to the
framing 15. The succeeding forward or line loading movement of the injector
swings the bypass 67 to the position shown in Figure 9, without operating the
guard arm, which therefore is operated only by the rearward or return movements
of the injector.
The type channels in machines of this class are ordinarily provided with fol-
lowers 85, which rest upon the type, and by their weight, aided if necessary by
the springs 84, serve to impel the type toward its lowest position in the channel.
The upper ends of these followers project beyond the circumference of the dis-
tributing cylinder, as shown in Figures 1 and 13, so as to form shoulders 86, for
engagement with the follower lifter and the trigger of the automatic starting
devices hereinafter described. The lifter 87 for these followers is pivotally
mounted upon the framing 15, and engages with the cam 88. The end of this
lifter extends into close proximity to the distributing cylinder, and is adapted to
engage beneath the projecting shoulders 86 of each of the followers as they
successively reach the position of coincidence with the injector 40, as best shown
in Figure 13. The cam 88 is so formed and timed with relation to the rest of
the mechanism as to raise and hold the followers above the level of the incoming
line of type just in advance of and during the line loading movement of the
injector 40, leaving that follower resting upon the top of that line, and returning
to its lowest or resting position in readiness for the succeeding follower. The
construction and mode of operation of this lifting device are substantially like
the correspondingly numbered device shown in Letters Patent No. 24624, Nov. 22,
1898, differing therefrom principally in the respect that the lifter of the present
machine is adapted to operate as a lever of the third kind, while the machine of
the patent referred to it operates as a lever of the first kind.
This loading mechanism is intermittently operated by a driving device which is
similar in its essential features to the device employed for a similar purpose in
the machine of the aforesaid Patent No. 24624 of 1898. The main shaft 24, which
carries the cams for actuating the loading mechanism, is located, as already
described, in line with the driving shaft, when the loading mechanism is swung
into its operative position, shown in the figures of the drawings. That driving
shaft 25 has fixed upon it a carrier 73, having in its periphery a shoulder 74.
A plate 75 is fixed upon the cam 88, and thereby fixed to the shaft 24, and has a
pawl 76 pivotally mounted thereon in the plane of the carrier 73. A projecting
hook 77 of the pawl is adapted to engage with the shoulder 74 of the carrier,
and the pawl is normally held toward its engaging relation with the carrier by

page_text: means of the spring 78, shown in Figure 10, in which the pawl is also shown
to be in driving engagement.
During the desired intermissions in the operation of the loading mechanism,
the pawl 76 is held out of engagement with the carrier, as shown in Figure 1,
by means of the detent 90 pivotally mounted upon the framing 15, and engaging
with the outer end 79 of the pawl. As herein shown, the detent is mounted upon
the stud which also forms the pivot for the lifter 87, although this is merely for
constructive convenience and economy. While in the detached position shown in
Figure 1, the pawl 76, under the tension of its spring 78, operates as a lever
against the engaging detent 90, tending to turn the plate 75 and its shaft 24,
backwardly, which movement, if permitted, would allow the hook of the detent
to be struck by the shoulder 74 of the carrier at each rotation. This backward
turning of the plate is, however, prevented by a latch 80, best shown in Figure 5,
which is pivotally mounted upon the framing 15, and engages with a suitably
located rearwardly facing shoulder S1 on the hub of the feeding cam 54, being
held into contact therewith by means of the spring 83.
The construction and mode of operation of the intermittently operating driving
device described in the preceding paragraph are substantially like those of the
device shown in the Patent No. 24624 of 1898 above referred to, but the auto-
matic starting device herein shown for automatically releasing the carrier pawl 76
from its detent 90, so as to permit the pawl to engage with its career and operate
the loading devices whenever those channels which have become emptied of their
type to a predetermined extent arrive at the position of coincidence with the
injector, is an important feature of the present invention, and will now be
described.
The detent 90 is provided with a trigger 91, best shown in Figures 11 and 12,
located close to the distributing cylinder in a plane substantially coincident with
that of the lowest position reached by the shoulders 86 of the followers 85, when
their respective type channels are empty, or when the type has receded to any
desired stage in the distributing operation. The trigger is fitted to slide in a
direction substantially coincident with that of the rotary movement of the followers
at the line injecting position, and is provided with an upwardly extending
shoulder 92 for engaging with the shoulders 86 of the respective followers. The
trigger is connected by means of the rod 93 with the lower end of the pivotally
mounted detent 90, so that the trigger when engaged by one of the followers, as
shown in Figure 11, withdraws the upper end of the detent 90 from the carrier
pawl 76, and allows the latter to engage with its carrier, as shown in Figure 10,
thereby starting the loading mechanism upon one of its operations. The detent 90
and the trigger 91, are during the intermissions in that operation yieldingly held
in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6, by means of the spring 94, shown
in Figures 1 and 4, attached to pins on the rod 93 and on the framing 15. The
rod 93 is attached to a slotted arm of the detent 90, so as to allow of varying the
angular movement of the detent. Almost the first step in the operation of the
loading mechanism is that of raising the follower 85 away from the shoulder 92
of the trigger, as shown in Figure 6, thereby disengaging these parts for the
succeeding rotative step of the cylinder. Before thus lifting the follower, how-
ever, the trigger is pushed forward therefrom, so as to remove from the follower
the lateral pressure of the trigger spring 94. The detent 90 is provided with
an arm 95, which extends into engaging relation with a cam surface 96 of the
plate 75, which immediately upon the starting of the loading mechanism, as
shown in Figure 10, comes in contact with the arm 95 and pushes the shoulder 92
of the trigger away from the follower, as shown in Figure 11. The cam 96 is so
formed and timed with relation to the rest of the mechanism as to allow the
trigger and its detent to return again to their position shown in Figures 1, 2
and 6, for detaching the pawl 70 from the carrier at the completion of its rota-
tion, and to be in readiness for the follower of the succeeding type channel in

page_text: case that channel should be emptied of its type sufficiently to allow its follower
to engage with the trigger.
As it is frequently desirable to entirely stop the operation of the loading
mechanism, at the will of the operator, in case of a disarrangement of the type,
or to allow the distributing channels to become entirely emptied of their type,
a controlling device is provided, the construction and mode of operation of which
is best shown in Figures 10 and 11. The trigger 91 is mounted upon a cross-
head 97, which is fitted to slide vertically in a suitable slideway in the framing 15.
The lower end of the crosshead is inclined and rests upon a correspondingly inclined
portion of the controller 98, which is fitted to slide transversely to the direction
of movement of the crosshead, and extends to any point of the machine at which
it may be most conveniently reached by the attendant or operator. Its range of
movement, determined by the screw 99 and the shoulder 100, is, as represented by
a comparison of Figures 11 and 12, sufficient to enable the controller when in
one position, as shown in Figure 11, to support the crosshead with the shoulder 92
of the trigger projecting into the zone of movement of the followers, and when
in the other position to allow the crosshead to drop, so as to withdraw the
shoulder 92 below that zone of movement, as shown in Figure 12, thereby per-
mitting the distributing cylinder to rotate without actuating the loading mechan-
ism. It will be obvious that but one, and either one, of the co-engaging surfaces
of the controller and the trigger support need be inclined for the performance
of this function. The dropping movement of the crosshead and its trigger may
be by the force of gravity along, or by the operation of a spring, as 89, according
to the weight of the parts, or their disposition with relation to the vertical.
It is also desirable to have the loading mechanism stopped automatically when-
ever the last line of each column has been fed out of the galley, so as to relieve
the attendant or operator from the necessity of watching the progress of the
loading operation. This feature is of great importance in connection
with a
loading device, which like that of the present invention is intended for use upon
a type composing and distributing machine to be manipulated by a single
operator, since that operator is thereby enabled to devote his entire attention to
the composing portion of the machine, excepting when the automatic stopping of
the loading mechanism indicates that the column of type has all been loaded
into the machine.
The means for thus automatically stopping the loading mechanism consists,
in the embodiment shown in the principal figures, of the bell-cranked knock-off
arm 108, which is pivotally mounted upon an ear of the framing 15, and extends
immediately beneath the controller 98. This arm is provided with a connecting
rod 109, which extends substantially parallel with the path of the column pusher
carriage 48, and is provided with a pin or similar projection 110 extending into
the path of movement of the projection 49 of that carriage. The latter is so
located that it will collide with the pin and thus operate the knock-off in pushing
the last line of type from the colunin in front of the injector 40, thereby raising
the latched end of the controller 98 and allowing it to be withdrawn from be-
neath the trigger crosshead 97 to its non-operative position, shown in Figure 12,
by means of the spring 111, which is attached between the controller 98 and a
convenient fixed portion of the machine or framing. This spring is so disposed
and connected as to exert its tension downwardly as well as longitudinally upon
the controller, thereby tending to carry the latter to, and hold it yieldingly in its
latched position shown in Figure 11.
This loading mechanism may be adapted to the loading of lines of differing
lengths by suitably proportioning the respective parts, or its capacity in this
respect may be modified within certain limits by adjusting the stroke of the
follower lifter 87, or by substituting another lifter arm having the desired stroke.
Or another and suitably adapted mechanism with its own framing may be sub-
stituted by withdrawing the hinge pin 17.
In order that the type channel followers may be accurately adjusted and

page_text: maintained in a uniform relation to the trigger and also to allow of the substitu-
tion of other followers of different length, or springs of different tension when
changing the machine to operate upon a different width of column, it is desirable
that these followers and their springs shall be readily removable by the operator.
As a means of accomplishing these objects, the entire series of channels is pro-
vided with a cover plate 101, which, as applied to a cylinder is an annular plate
extending entirely around the top of the cylinder, being held in position by the
annular gib 102. The plate is provided with a slot 103 corresponding in position
with that of the type channels, so that the slot may by shifting the plate be
brought into coincidence with any one of those channels. That portion of the
slot which coincides with the position of the series of springs is enlarged to
permit of the passage of the spring through the slot, the opening being closed
by the screw plug 104, the end of which is coincident with the bottom surface
of the plate, so that it may be moved along the series of springs without catch-
ing their upper ends. When it is desired to remove a spring or a follower, or
both, the operator seizes the plate by its projecting rim 105, which is preferably
rounded like the rim of a hand wheel and moves the slot 103 into coincidence
with the desired channel. He then removes the plug 104, thereby permitting
the removal of the spring and the follower. This cover plate may, if desired, be
provided with additional slots 103, located at substantially equal intervals around
its circumference, in order to lessen the extent to which the cover must be moved
in order to bring one of the slots over a desired channel.
may
which
then
A brief description will now be given of the operation of this device. A galley
of type is placed in position, the carriage 48 is shifted to the rearward end of
the galley, the column pusher 45 is inserted behind the bottom or rearward line
of the column, and the door 34 is closed. The tension of the feeding spring 53
is then transferred from the cam 54 to the pawl 51 of the carriage by drawing
back the feed rack one or two notches by means of its handle 56. During these
preparations the mechanism remains in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3,
and during this time also the distributing cylinder should be stopped or the
trigger 91 should be retracted to the position shown in Figure 12, out of engaging
relation to the followers, by means of the controller 98. The controller is then
forward to
pushed
the position shown
in
in Figure 11,
it is latched by its shoulder 100, and the distributing machine
be put in operation. The first follower 85 which is low enough in its
channel to collide with the shoulder 92 of the trigger, moves that trigger and
its connected detent 90 to the position shown in Figure 11, thereby releasing the
pawl 76, and allowing it to engage with its carrier 73, as shown in Figure 10,
thus inaugurating one of the intermittent rotations of the driving shaft 25,
and its actuating cams. At the commencement of that rotation the cam 96,
engaging with the arm 95 of the detent 90, moves the shoulder 92 of the trigger
clear of the follower which actuated it, and the lifter 87 raises the follower to
the position shown in Figure 6. By this time the detent 90 is released from its
cam 96 and is permitted to return to the position shown in Figures 1 and 6, in
readiness to collide with the ends 79 of the carrier pawl and disengage it from
its carrier 73. Meanwhile, the injector 40 is moved by its cam 41 toward the
distributing cylinder, carrying into the coincident type channel thereof the line
of type which lies in its path of movement. During this forward movement of
the injector, the bypass 67 is carried forward by its cam 70, as shown in
Figure 9, without operating the guard arm, but upon the return movement of
the slide, upon reaching the position shown in Figure 7, the guard arm is carried
forward against the succeeding line of type of the column, so as to take the
tension of the feeding spring 53, now transferred from the cam 54 to the column,
after having been supported by that cam during the forward movement of the
injector. The cam 70 of the injector is so shaped as to allow the guard arm to
recede, as gradually as the timing of the parts will permit, to the position shown
in Figure 1, so as to cushion the force of impact of the column against the

page_text: stop 64. At this time also the breaker 58 is brought into operation by the move-
ment of the injector, the type engaging end 60 of the breaker being swung by
the angular movement of its link into the plane of the foremost line of the
column, and against the feet thereof, moving to the position shown in Figure 1,
and forcibly breaking the foremost line from the column, in which position the
line rests in readiness to be loaded into the succeeding emptied channel of the
distributing cylinder at the next operation of the loading mechanism.
As the last line of the column is pushed in front of the injector 40 the pro-
jection 49 of the column pusher collides with the pin 110 and operates the auto-
matic stop device, thereby withdrawing the trigger 91 out of the zone of move-
ment of the followers 85, and thus stopping the operation of the line loading
mechanism. When it is desired to stop that mechanism before the completion
of the column then in the galley the stop device is manually operated by lifting
the latching shoulder 100 of the controller clear of its catch.
The modified construction shown in Figure 14 may be employed to advantage
wherever the environment will permit. The crosshead 115 is fitted to slide verti-
cally as before, and is provided with the pivotally attached controller 116, to the
bell cranked end of which is attached the spring 117, which thereby exerts a
downward pressure upon the crosshead, and a lateral
pressure upon
the controller, holding it against the catch 118, upon which
the latching shoulder 119 of the controller rests when the device is in its
upper or operative position shown in the figure. The controller extends into
engaging relation to the projection 49 of the column pusher, so that the latter upon
reaching the desired limit of its movement carries the controller laterally away
from the supporting catch 118, thereby allowing the crosshead to be drawn by
the spring 117 to its lowest position, corresponding to that of the crosshead 97
shown in Figure 12. The controller may extend downwardly as here shown, or
upwardly, if preferred, to any point at which it may be most conveniently reached
by the operator. It is also preferably provided with a stop shoulder 120 to
arrest its upward or starting movement at a point which permits its latching
shoulder 119 to pass over the catch 118.
The framing 15, although shown in the drawings as being made up of several
separate parts for convenience in constructing and assembling the mechanism, is
herein described as a single element, inasmuch as it serves, when in use, as a single
integral piece. So also does the bell cranked arm 42, which is herein shown to
consist of two members, clamped together for convenience in adjusting the
stroke and position of the injector, since the two members operate as an integral
In like manner the
piece after being adjusted in proper angular relation.
column pusher would be equally effective for the performance of its principal
function of feeding the type, if it were constructed in an integral piece, being
herein shown to consist of two separable parts for convenience in manipulating
the machine.
The hinge pin 17, upon which the framing 15 is pivotally mounted, is herein
shown to be located at a point near the axis of the actuating main shaft 24, thereby
bringing that shaft out of axial alignment with the driving shaft 25 when swung
away from its loading position. It is obvious, however, that the framing might
he hinged upon, or concentric with, the main shaft itself, thereby keeping that
shaft always in alignment with its driving shaft. The matter to be loaded is
herein before referred to under the generic name of type matter," which should
be understood to include matrices, and all other similar matter to which this
invention is or may be found applicable.
Dated the 20th day of July 1899
CHAS. S. WOODROFFE,
Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for Loading Type, Type Matrices, or
similar Matter into the Channels of Type or Matrix Distributing
Machines.
I, EMIL FRANK LINKE, of 112, Oak Street, in the City and County of Hart-
ford, in the State of Connecticut, one of the United States of America, but at
present of 153, West 130th Street, New York, in the State of New York, like-
wise one of the United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention is on an improved machine for "loading" type, type matrices,
or similar matter into the channels of type or matrix distributing machines, the
object being to provide improved and reliable means for automatically injecting
the lines of type matter into those channels only which by the progress of the
distributing operation have become emptied of their type to any desired pre-
determined extent, without interrupting the distributing operation, and without
the services of the attendant, save occasionally for the insertion of a new column
or galley of type when the previous column has by the successive loading opera-
tions been transferred to the channels of the distributing machine. This inven-
tion comprises also improved means for feeding forward the column of type, for
detaching the succeeding foremost lines singly therefrom, for positively "break-
ing" from the column the lines of type which may have become matted together
during the previous printing or stereotyping operations, an improved guard
device for cushioning the force of the impact of the feeding movement of the
column of type, and means for intermittently removing the tension of the feeding
spring from the column and from the injecting devices during the operation of
injecting the detached line into the distributing machine.
The invention further comprises improved features of construction and arrange-
ment tending to facilitate the manipulation and control of the mechanism. These
include a controller by means of which the trigger of the automatic starting
device may at any time be withdrawn by the attendant from its operative posi-
tion, so as to arrest the operation of the loading mechanism, to permit all of the
distributing channels to become entirely empty, or for any other purpose; an
automatic stop or knock-off device by means of which the operation of the loading
mechanism is also stopped when the galley is emptied of its column of type; a
hinged frame upon which the loading mechanism is mounted, thereby permitting
the entire mechanism to be swung aside, for examination, adjustment, or repairs;
and a cover plate for the series of channels in the distributor, serving as an abut-
ment for the follower springs, and provided with one or more slots which by
moving the cover plate may be brought into coincidence with any one of the type
channels, to allow of the ready removal therefrom of the followers and their
springs.
This invention, although applicable to other types of distributing machines, is
herein shown as being applied to the distributing cylinder of a Thorne type-
setting machine. That machine is provided with a stationary composing cylin-
der 23, and with an intermittently rotating distributing cylinder 18, located
above and concentric with the composing cylinder as shown in Figure 2. The
distributing cylinder 18 is provided with type receiving channels 85 which run
longitudinally of the cylinder, and are located at equal distances apart around
the periphery thereof. The composing cylinder 23 is provided with similar
channels located in a corresponding relation around its periphery, the upper ends

page_text: of those channels being provided with wards set in differing combinations, each
of which permits only those type which are nicked in accordance with the com-
bination of its wards to enter from the channels of the upper or distributing cylinder
during the intermissions in the rotation thereof. These intermissions occur just
when the two series of channels in the two cylinders are coincident, thereby
allowing the type in the distributing cylinder which have arrived at their proper
channels in the composing cylinder to drop past the wards into these channels.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of this
specification and read therewith:
:
Figure 1 is a plan: Figure 2, a front elevation of Figure 1: Figure 3, a plan
showing a fragment of the distributing cylinder 18 and some of its channels 85
into which the type is to be loaded Figure 4, an elevation projected from
Figure 3 but including a portion of the driving shaft and gearing: Figure 5, an
end view projected from the right hand side of Figures 3 and 4: Figure 6, a
section taken on the line 4-4 of Figures 3 and 4: Figure 7, a horizontal section
on the line 5-5 of Figure 8: Figure 8, a vertical section taken approximately
on the line 6-6 of Figure 7: Figure 9, a plan and Figure 10, a left hand end
view, showing the line engaging devices of the mechanism in a different position
from those represented in Figures 3 and 7: Figure 11, a plan representing the line
engaging devices in still another position and illustrating the action of the guard
arm by-pass: Figure 12, a plan of the driving mechanism and the clutch device,
the latter being shown at the moment of release from its detent: Figure 13, a
front view projected from Figure 12 and including the automatic starting device
and the manual and automatic stop devices in section taken substantially along
the line 12--12 of Figure 10: Figure 14, a detail taken on the same section line,
showing the trigger of the automatic starting device withdrawn below the plane
of rotation of the followers, by the action of the stop device, whether manually or
automatically operated: Figure 15, a left-hand end view in section taken approxi-
mately on the line 13-13 of Figure 3 with the slot of the type channel cover
moved into coincidence with the plane of the section and Figure 16, an end view
of a modified stop device likewise adapted to be manually or automatically
operated.
This loading mechanism in the preferred embodiment herein shown, is mounted
upon the framing 15, which is pivotally attached to a portion of the frame 16
of the type distributing machine, by means of the hinge pin 17°, upon which
the entire mechanism may be swung outwardly away from the distributing cylin-
der 18 of the machine, so as to allow of ready access to all parts of that cylinder,
or to the loading mechanism. The device is secured in its inward or operative
position, as best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, by means of the bolt 19, which
passes through the hub 20 of the frame 16. The T-head of the bolt when turned
into coincidence with the slot 21 in the framing 15, allows that framing to be
swung to its open position away from the hub 20, and when turned crosswise
of the slot, as shown in Figure 6, clamps the framing in position against that
hub by means of the hand nut 22. The vertical main shaft 24 is fitted to rotate
in bearings in the framing 15 and is provided with a series of actuating cams
each of which will be described in connection with the device which it operates.
The axis of the main shaft 24 is in line with the axis of the driving shaft 25,
when the loading mechanism is in its operative position.
The driving shaft 25 is journalled in the bracket 26, attached to or integral
with the frame 16, and it receives a regular rotary motion by means of the bevel
gears 27 and 28 from any convenient shaft, as 29, of the type distributing
machine.
The column 30 of the type matter to be loaded into the channels 31, of the
distributing cylinder 18 is contained in an ordinary removable galley 33, which
is supported in a corresponding recess in the framing 15, with its leading end
in close proximity to the line injector, being held endwise to place by means of

page_text: the latch 38. The faces of the type at the front of the galley are shut in and
protected by means of the door 34, which is preferably provided with a pane 35
of transparent glass, through which the progress of the column may be observed
by the attendant. The door is pivotally attached by means of the H-shaped
link 36 to suitable hubs 37 of the framing 15, so that the door may upon being
released from its latch 38, be pushed longitudinally backward, and then swung
open to the position represented by dot and dash lines in Figure 3.
"
The injector for transferring or "loading the lines of type from the galley
into the channels of the distributing cylinder is herein shown to consist of a
slide 40, which is located in line with one of the stopping positions of the type
channels 31. That slide is fitted to reciprocate in guiding ways in the framing 15.
to an extent represented by comparison of the extreme positions of the slides shown
in Figures 3 and 7. The reciprocating movement of the injector slide- is
imparted by means of the cam 41, fixed on the shaft 24 and operating through
the medium of the bell cranked arm 42 and the link 43. The type engaging end
of the injector is preferably provided with a facing 44 of celluloid, compressed
fibre, or other similar substance, to avoid damaging the character faces of the
type. The cam 41 is so formed and timed with relation to the movements of the
distributing cylinder as to move the injector forward during each intermission
in the rotation of the cylinder.
During the return movement of the injector 40, as soon as its type engaging
end 44 has been drawn back beyond the plane of the faces of the type in the
column, the latter is moved forward far enough to bring its next leading line of
type into the path of movement of the injector, against the stop 64, in position
to be loaded into the succeeding channel of the cylinder at the next stroke of the
injector. This forward feeding movement of the column is imparted by means
of a column pusher, which, as best shown in Figures 6 and 7, extends through the
space between the door 34 and the galley 33, and engages behind the rearmost
line of type in the column. For convenience of manipulation the column pusher
is preferably composed of two separable parts, the pusher blade 45, and the
carriage 48, the base 46 of the pusher blade being fitted to slide transversely, as
best shown in Figure 8, in the column pusher carriage 48. That carriage is
fitted to slide in the framing 15 beneath the type galley, and parallel therewith,
far enough to enable the column pusher to traverse the entire length of the
galley. By this arrangement the column pusher can be withdrawn laterally from
its carriage by opening the door 34; or both the pusher and its carriage may be
withdrawn longitudinally from the mechanism by swinging the door entirely open.
The carriage 48 is provided with a pawl 51 which rests by gravity, aided if
necessary by a spring, upon teeth cut in the upper surface of the feeding rack 50,
which is fitted to slide in a longitudinal groove in the framing 15 beneath and
parallel with the carriage 48, so as to enable the rack to reciprocate longitudinally
to the extent of two or three of its teeth. The feeding impulse is intermittently
imparted to the column by means of the spring 53 attached beween the rack 50
and the framing 15, the period and extent of the intermissions being controlled
by a cam 54 on the shaft 24, which engages with an arm 55 of the rack, and
withdraws it from the pawl 51, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, during the time
that the injector 40 is in front of the column, thereby transferring the pressure
of the spring 53 to the cam from the column and consequently from the side of
the injector 40 during the reciprocating stroke thereof, so as to allow it to move
freely without side pressure.
The feeding rack 50 is provided with a projecting handle 56, by means of which
the operator may draw the rack backwardly away from the cam 54 so as to
transfer the tension of the spring from the cam to the pawl 51 and thence to
the pusher 45 when starting the feeding operations upon a new column. The
handle 56 is also useful to facilitate the release of the pawl 51 from the tension
of the spring when desired, by first drawing back the rack and then lifting the

page_text: pawl out of contact therewith, the pawl being provided with an arm 52 which
extends beyond the framing, so that it may readily be reached by the operator
whenever it may be necessary to move the carriage 48 by hand.
As it frequently happens that some of the lines of type in the column become
matted together during the printing or stereotyping operations, means are pro-
vided for positively "breaking" or detaching each leading line of type from the
column before injecting it into its channel. The means for this purpose embodied
in the present invention consist of a breaker 58, which is pivotally supported upon
one or more swinging links 59 so mounted on the framing 15 as to guide the type
engaging end 60 of the breaker behind the end of the injector 40, and against
the feet of the next line of the column, which has at that time been fed forward
into the plane of the injector, thereby breaking that line loose from the column
and moving it to the position shown in Figure 3. In Figure 7 the breaker is shown
at the opposite end of its movement, with its type engaging end outside of the
plane of the injector 40.
As a means for moving the breaker through its desired stroke, it is made to
engage with the injector slide 40. In the machine shown herein, the outer
end 61 of the breaker is extended into the plane of movement of the outer end
of the injector slide 40, the engaging surfaces being bevelled so as to facilitate
starting the breaker from its extreme position, shown in Figure 7. The breaker
is yieldingly held in this position by means of a spring 62 attached to the
framing 15. Thus by the operation of this breaker, each succeeding foremost
line of type is positively detached from the column upon each return movement
of the injector slide, so as to have a free line in readiness for the succeeding.
operation of the injector.
The breaker is herein shown to be mounted upon two of the links 59, like a well
known parallel ruler. This, however, is not essential to its operation, since one.
of those. links, preferably located near the type engaging end 60 of the breaker,
would serve equally well, the opposite end of the breaker having a slotted con-
nection with the injector, or being guided in any convenient way in the path
of movement thereof.
"
It is considered desirable to engage the "foot' ends of the type for the
breaking operation, in order to avoid, or at least to reduce to a minimum, the
liability of marring or bruising the type faces. Although the force of the impact
or pressure against the foot of the line operates to carry the faces of the suc-
ceeding lines with an equal force against the door or cover of the galley, still
that pressure or impact is distributed over all the faces of all the cohering lines,
thereby correspondingly lessening the liability of injuring the individual faces.
In order to cushion the force of impact of the feeding operation of the column
against the stop 64, a guard arm 65 is provided. This is pivotally mounted upon
the framing 15 with its type engaging end 66 extending across the end of the
column. The opposite end of the guard arm is provided with a by-pass 67
pivotally attached thereto, and yieldingly held in the position shown in Figures 3
and 7, by means of the spring 68, the arm being prevented from moving beyond
this position by the contact of the two shoulders 69. The by-pass extends into
the path of movement of the cam 70 on the injector 40, which upon its return
from the injection of each line, moves the guard arm, as shown in Figure .9.
into contact with the succeeding type line, just before the feed cam 54 allows
the spring 53 to pull the column forwards. The force of impact of the forward
feeding movement of the column is cushioned by the receding movement of the
guard arm due to the pull of the spring 71, which movement is controlled by the
cam 70 as the latter moves away from the by-pass 67, from the position shown
in Figure 8. The guard arm is, during the intermissions in its movement, held
in its outward or open position, shown in Figure 10, by means of the spring 71.
attached to the framing 15. The succeeding forward or line loading movement
of the injector swings the by-pass 67 to the position shown in Figure 11, without

page_text: operating the guard arm, which therefore is operated only by the rearward or
return movements of the injector.
The type channels in machines of this class are ordinarily provided with
followers 85, which rest upon the type, and by their weight, aided if necessary
by the springs 84, serve to impel the type toward its lowest position in the
channel. The upper ends of these followers project beyond the circumference of
the distributing cylinder, as shown in Figures 3 and 15, so as to form shoulders 86,
for engagement with the follower lifter and the trigger of the automatic starting
devices hereinafter described. The lifter 87 for these followers is pivotally
mounted upon the framing 15, and engages with the cam 88. The end of this
lifter extends into close proximity to the distributing cylinder, and is adapted to
engage beneath the projecting shoulders 86 of each of the followers as they suc-
cessively reach the position of coincidence with the injector 40, as best shown
in Figure 15. The cam 88 is so formed and timed with relation to the rest of the
mechanism as to raise and hold the follower above the level of the incoming
line of type just in advance of and during the line loading movement of the
injector 40, leaving that follower resting upon the top of that line, and returning
to its lowest or resting position in readiness for the succeeding follower. The
construction and mode of operation of this lifting device are substantially like
the correspondingly numbered device shown in Letters Patent No. 24,624 of 1898,
Figure 2 differing therefrom principally in the respect that the lifter of the
present machine is adapted to operate as a lever of the third kind, while in the
machine of the patent referred to it operates as a lever of the first kind.
This loading mechanism is intermittently operated by a driving device which is
similar in its essential features to the device employed for a similar purpose in
the machine of the aforesaid Patent No. 24,624 of 1898. The main shaft 24,
which carries the cam for actuating the loading mechanism, is located, as already
described, in line with the driving shaft 25, when the loading mechanism is swung
into its operative position. That driving shaft 25 has fixed upon it a carrier 73,
having in its periphery a shoulder 74. A plate 75 is fixed upon the cam 88,
and thereby fixed to the shaft 24, and has a pawl 76 pivotally mounted thereon
in the plane of the carrier 73. A projecting hook 77 of the pawl is adapted to
engage with the shoulder 74 of the carrier, and the pawl is normally held toward
its engaging relation with the carrier by means of the spring 78, shown in
Figure 12, in which the pawl is also shown to be in driving engagement.
During the desired intermissions in the operation of the injector 40, the pawl 76
is held out of engagement with the carrier, as shewn in Figure 3, by means of
the detent 90 pivotally mounted upon the framing 15, and engaging with the
outer end 79 of the pawl. As herein shown, the detent is mounted upon the stud
which also forms the pivot for the lifter 87, although this is merely for con-
structive convenience and economy. While in the detached position shown in
Figure 3, the pawl 76, under the push of its spring 78, operates as a lever against
the engaging detent 90, tending to turn the plate 75 and its shaft 24, backwardly,
which movement, if permitted, would allow the hook of the detent to be struck
by the shoulder 74 of the carrier at each rotation. This backward turning of
the plate is, however, prevented by a latch 80, best shown in Figure 7, which is
pivotally mounted upon the framing 15, and engages with a suitably located
rearwardly facing shoulder 81 on the hub of the feeding cam 54, being held into
contact therewith by means of the spring 83.
The construction and mode of operation of the intermittently operating driving
device described in the preceding paragraph are substantially like those of the
device shown in the Patent No. 24,624 of 1898, above referred to but the auto-
matic starting device herein shown for automatically releasing the carrier pawl 76
from its detent 90 so as to permit the pawl to engage with its carrier and operate
the loading devices whenever those channels which have become emptied of their
type to a predetermined extent arrive at the position of coincidence with the

page_text: injector, is an important feature of the present invention, and will now be
described.
The detent 90 is provided with a trigger 91, best shown in Figures 13 and 14,
located close to the distributing cylinder in a plane substantially coincident with
that of the lowest position reached by the shoulders 86 of the followers 85, when
their respective type channels are empty, or when the type has receded to any
desired stage in the distributing operation. The trigger is fitted to oscillate in
a direction substantially coincident with that of the followers at the line injecting
position, and is provided with an upwardly extending shoulder 92 for engaging
with the shoulders 96 of the respective followers. The trigger is connected by
means of the rod 93 with the lower end of the pivotally mounted detent 90, so
that the trigger when engaged by one of the followers, as shown in Figure 13,
withdraws the upper end of the detent 90 from the carrier pawl 76, and allows
the latter to engage with its carrier, as shown in Figure 12, thereby starting the
loading mechanism upon one of its operations. The detent 90 and the trigger 91,
are during the intermissions in that operation yieldingly held in the inoperative
position by means of the spring 94, shown in Figures 3 and 6, attached to pins
on the rod 93 and on the framing 15. The rod 93 is attached to a slotted arm
of the detent 90, so as to allow of varying the angular movement of the detent.
Almost the first step in the operation of the loading mechanism is that of
raising the follower 85 away from the shoulder 92 of the trigger, as shown in
Figure 8, thereby disengaging these parts for the succeeding rotative step of the
cylinder. Before thus lifting the follower, however, the trigger is pushed for-
ward therefrom, so as to remove from the follower the lateral pressure of the
trigger spring 94. The detent 90 is provided with an arm 95, which extends
into engaging relation with a cam surface 96 of the plate 75, which immediately
upon the starting of the loading mechanism, as shown in Figure 12, comes in
contact with the arm 95 and pushes the shoulder 92 of the trigger away from
the follower, as shown in Figure 13. The cam 96 is so formed and timed with
relation to the rest of the mechanism as to allow the trigger and its detent to
return again to their position shown in Figures 3, 4 and 8, for detaching the
pawl 76 from the carrier at the completion of its rotation, and to be in readiness
for the follower of the succeeding type channel in case that channel should be
emptied of its type sufficiently to allow its follower to engage with the trigger.
As it is frequently desirable to entirely stop the operation of the loading
mechanism, at the will of the operator, in case of a disarrangement of the type,
or to allow the distributing channels to become entirely emptied of their type, a
controlling device is provided, the construction and mode of operation of which
is best shown in Figures 12 and 13. The trigger 91 is mounted upon a cross-
head 97, which is fitted to slide vertically in a suitable slideway in the framing 15.
The lower end of the crosshead is inclined and rests upon a correspondingly
inclined portion of the controller 98, which is fitted to slide transversely to the
direction of movement of the crosshead, and extends to any point of the machine
at which it may be most conveniently reached by the attendant or operator.
Its range of movement, determined by the screw 99 and the shoulder 100, is, as
represented by a comparison of Figures 13 and 14, sufficient to enable the con-
troller when in one position, as shown in Figure 13, to support the crosshead
with the shoulder 92 of the trigger projecting into the zone of movement of the
followers, and when in the other position to allow the crosshead to drop, so as to
withdraw the shoulder 92 below that zone of movement, as shown in Figure 14,
thereby permitting the distributing cylinder to rotate without actuating the load-
ing mechanism. It will be obvious that but one, and either one, of the co-
engaging surfaces of the controller and the trigger support need be inclined for
the performance of this function. The dropping movement of the crosshead and
its trigger may be by the force of gravity alone, or by the operation of a spring,
as 89, according to the weight of the parts, or their disposition with relation
to the vertical.

page_text: It is also desirable to have the loading mechanism stopped automatically when-
ever the last line of each column has been fed out of the galley, so as to relieve
the attendant or operator from the necessity of watching the progress of the
loading operation. This feature is of great importance in connection with a
loading device, which like that of the present invention is intended for use upon
a type composing and distributing machine to be manipulated by a single
operator, since that operator is thereby enabled to devote his entire attention to
the composing portion of the machine, excepting when the automatic stopping
of the loading mechanism indicates that the column of type has all been loaded
into the machine. The means for thus automatically stopping the loading
mechanism consists, in the embodiment shown in the principal figures, of the bell-
cranked knock-off arm 108, which is pivotally mounted upon an ear of the
framing 15, and extends immediately beneath the controller 98.
This arm is
provided with a connecting rod 109, which extends substantially parallel with
the path of the column pusher carriage 48, and is provided with a pin or similar
projection 110 extending into the path of movement of the projection 49 of that
carriage. The latter is so located that it will collide with the pin and thus
operate the knock-off arm 108 in pushing the last line of type from the column
in front of the injector 40, thereby raising the latched end of the controller 98
and allowing it to be withdrawn from beneath the trigger crosshead 97 to its
non-operative position, shown in Figure 14, by means of the spring 111, which
is attached between the controller 98 and a convenient fixed portion of the machine
or framing. This spring is so disposed and connected as to exert its tension
downwardly as well as longitudinally upon the controller, thereby tending to
carry the latter to, and hold it yieldingly in its latched position shown in Figure 13.
This loading mechanism may be adapted to the loading of lines of differing
lengths by suitably proportioning the respective parts, or its capacity in this
respect may be modified within certain limits by adjusting the stroke of the
follower lifter 87, or by substituting another lifter arm having the desired stroke.
Or another and suitably adapted mechanism with its own framing may be sub-
stituted by withdrawing the hinge pin 17.
In order that the type channel followers may be accurately adjusted and main-
tained in a uniform relation to the trigger and also to allow of the substitution
of other followers of different length, or springs of different tension when chang-
ing the machine to operate upon a different width of column, it is desirable that
these followers and their springs shall be readily removable by the operator. As
a means of accomplishing these objects, the entire series of channels is provided
with a cover plate 101, which, as applied to a cylinder is an annular plate
extending entirely around the top of the cylinder, being held in position by the
annular gib 102. "The plate is provided with a slot 103 corresponding in position
with that of the type channels, so that the slot may by shifting the plate be
brought into coincidence with any one of those channels. That portion of the
slot which coincides with the position of the series of springs is enlarged to permit
of the passage of the spring through the slot, the opening being closed by the
screw plug 104, the end of which is coincident with the bottom surface of the
plate, so that it may be moved along the series of springs without catching their
upper ends. When it is desired to remove a spring or a follower, or both, the
operator seizes the plate by its projecting rim 105, which is preferably rounded.
like the rim of a hand wheel and moves the slot 103 into coincidence with the
desired channel. He then removes the plug 104, thereby permitting the removal
of the spring and the follower. This cover plate may, if desired, be provided with
additional slots 103, located at substantially equal intervals around its circum-
ference, in order to lessen the extent to which the cover must be moved in order
to bring one of the slots over a desired channel.
A brief description will now be given of the operation of this device. A galley
of type is placed in position, the carriage 48 is shifted to the rearward end of the
galley, the column pusher 45 is inserted behind the bottom or rearward line of

page_text: the column, and the door 34 is closed.
The tension of the feeding spring 53 is
then transferred from the cam 54 to the pawl 51 of the carriage by drawing back
the feed rack one or two notches by means of its handle 56. During these
preparations the mechanism remains in the position shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5,
and during this time also the distributing cylinder should be stopped or the
trigger 91 should be retracted to the position shown in Figure 14, out of engaging
relation to the followers, by means of the controller 98. The controller is then
pushed forward to the position shown in Figure 13, in which it is latched by its
shoulder 100, and the distributing machine may then be put in operation. The
first follower 85 which is low enough in its channel to collide with the shoulder 92
of the trigger, moves that trigger and its connected detent 90 to the position
shown in Figure 13, thereby releasing the pawl 76, and allowing it to engage with
its carrier 73, as shown in Figure 12, thus inaugurating one of the intermittent
At the commence-
rotations of the driving shaft 25, and its actuating cams.
ment of that rotation the cam 96, engaging with the arm 95 of the detent 90,
moves the shoulder 92 of the trigger clear of the follower which actuated it, and
the lifter 87 raises the follower to the position shown in Figure 8. By this time
the detent 90 is released from its cam 96 and is permitted to return to the
position shown in Figures 3 and 8, in readiness to collide with the ends 79 of
the carrier pawl and disengage it from its carrier 73. Meanwhile the injector 40
is moved by its cam 41 toward the distributing cylinder, carrying into the coin-
cident type channel thereof the lines of type which lies in its path of movement.
During this forward movement of the injector, the by-pass 67 is carried forward
by its cam 70, as shown in Figure 11, without operating the guard arm, but upon
the return movement of the slide, upon reaching the position shown in Figure 9,
the guard arm is carried forward against the succeeding line of type of the column,
so as to take the tension of the feeding spring 53, now transferred from the
cam 54 to the column, after having been supported by that cam during the
forward movement of the injector. The cam 70 of the injector is so shaped as to
allow the guard arm to recede, as gradually as the timing of the parts will
permit, to the position shown in Figure 3, so as to cushion the force of impact
of the column against the stop. 64. At this time also the breaker 58 is brought
into operation by the movement of the injector, the type engaging end 60 of the
breaker being swung by the angular movement of its link into the plane of the
foremost line of the column, and against the feet thereof. moving to the position.
shown in Figure 3, and forcibly breaking the foremost line from the column,
in which position the line rests in readiness to be loaded into the succeeding
emptied channel of the distributing cylinder at the next operation of the loading
mechanism.
As the last line of the column is pushed in front of the injector 40 the pro-
jection 49 of the column pusher collides with the pin 110 and operates the auto-
matic stop device, thereby withdrawing the trigger 91 out of the zone of movement
of the followers 85, and thus stopping the operation of the line loading mechan-
ism. When it is desired to stop that mechanism before the completion of the
column then in the galley the stop device is manually operated by lifting the
latching shoulder 100 of the controller clear of its catch.
The modified construction shown in Figure 16 may be employed to advantage
wherever the environment will permit. The crosshead 115 is fitted to slide verti-
cally as before, and is provided with the pivotally attached controller 116, to the
bell cranked end of which is attached the spring 117, which thereby exerts a
downward pressure upon the crosshead, and a lateral pressure upon the controller,
holding it against the catch 118, upon which the latching shoulder 119 of the
controller rests when the device is in its upper or operative position shown in the
figure. The controller extends into engaging relation to the projection 49 of the
column pusher, so that the latter upon reaching the desired limit of its movement
carries the controller laterally away from the supporting catch 118 thereby allow.

page_text: ing the crosshead to be drawn by the spring 117 to its lowest position, corre-
sponding to that of the crosshead 97 shown in Figure 14. The controller may
extend downwardly as here shown, or upwardly, if preferred, to any point at
which it may be most conveniently reached by the operator. It is also prefer-
ably provided with a stop shoulder 120 to arrest its upward or starting movement
at a point which permits its latching shoulder 119 to pass over the catch 118.
The framing 15, although shown in the drawings as being made up of several
separate parts for convenience in constructing and assembling the mechanism, is
herein described as a single element, inasmuch as it serves, when in use, as a
single integral piece. So also does the bell cranked arm 42, which is herein
shown to consist of two members, clamped together for convenience in adjusting
the stroke and position of the injector, since the two members operate as an
integral piece after being adjusted in proper angular relation. In like manner
the column pusher would be equally effective for the performance of its principal
function of feeding the type, if it were constructed in an integral piece, being
herein shown to consist of two separable parts for convenience in manipulating
the machine.
The hinge pin 17, upon which the framing 15 is pivotally mounted, is herein.
shown to be located at a point near the axis of the actuating main shaft 24,
thereby bringing that shaft out of axial alignment with the driving shaft 25
when swung away from its loading position. It is obvious, however, that the
framing might be hinged upon, or concentric with, the main shaft itself, thereby
keeping that shaft always in alignment with its driving shaft. The matter to
be loaded is hereinbefore referred to under the generic name of "type matter,"
which should be understood to include matrices, and all other similar matter to
which this invention is or may be found applicable.
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. In a machine of the class specified, in combination with a distributing
channel thereof, and with a device for loading type into the channel, means
operative with the receding type in the channel, for automatically starting the
loading device in operation when the type in the channel recedes to a pre-
determined extent.
2. In a machine of the class specified, in combination with a distributing
channel, an intermittently operating type loading device therefore, a detent for
holding the loading device out of operation during the desired intermissions, and
means operable with the type in the distributing channel for automatically dis-
engaging the detent from the loading device when the type in the channel reaches
a predetermined point in its distribution.
3. In a machine of the class specified, in combination with a distributing channel
thereof, and with loading mechanism for injecting type into the channel, a detent
for intermittently holding the loading mechanism out of operation, and a follower
for the type in the channel for disengaging the detent and automatically start-
ing the loading mechanism when the type in the channel recedes to a pre-
determined extent.
4. The combination of a distributing channel, a type follower therefor, inter-
mittently operating loading mechanism for injecting type into the channel, and
detent mechanism for preventing the operation of the loading mechanism at the
desired intermissions, extending into engaging relation with the type follower at
a predetermined point in its movement, whereby the loading mechanism is released
and permitted to operate.
5. In a type distributing machine comprising a distributing channel and a
follower for the type in the channel, loading mechanism for inserting additional
matter in the distributing channel, an intermittently operating driving device

page_text: for the loading mechanism, a detent for holding the driving means stationary
during the desired intermissions, and means operable with the channel follower
for disengaging the detent and releasing the driving mechanism when the type
in the channel reaches a predetermined point in its distribution.
6. In a machine of the class specified, in combination with a distributing
channel thereof, and with loading mechanism for inserting additional type matter
into the channel, an automatic starting device for the loading mechanism, located
in engaging relation to the follower, and means operable with the loading mechan-
ism for disengaging the starting device from the follower.
7. In a machine of the class specified, in combination with a distributing
channel, a follower therefor, and intermittently operating loading mechanism
for inserting additional type matter into the channel, a starting device for the
loading mechanism located in engaging relation to the follower, and a lifter for
raising the follower again above the plane of the starting device.
8. In a machine of the class specified, in combination with a distributing
channel, a follower therefor, and loading mechanism for inserting additional type
matter into the channel, a starting device for the loading mechanism located in
engaging relation to the follower, means, as a cam, for disengaging the starting
device from the follower, and a lifter for raising the disengaged follower out of
engaging relation to the starting device.
9. In a machine of the class specified, the combination, with a distributing
channel thereof, and with a follower for the type in the channel, of automatic
loading mechanism, comprising means for holding a column of type, for cutting
off single lines therefrom, and for injecting them into the channel.
10. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a distributing
channel, a follower for the type in the channel, line loading mechanism, com-
prising means for supporting a galley of type, means for cutting off the single
lines of type from the galley and inserting them in the channel, and a lifter for
raising the follower out of the way of the incoming type.
11. In combination with a series of intermittently and laterally moving type
distributing channels, loading mechanism therefor, comprising means for auto-
matically loading type into the successive channels which become emptied to a
predetermined extent.
12. In combination with a series of intermittently and laterally moving type
distributing channels, provided with followers, intermittently operating loading
mechanism therefor, comprising, a lifter for the followers, and means for automati-
cally injecting type into the succeeding channels as they become emptied to a
predetermined extent.
13. In combination with a series of intermittently and laterally moving type
distributing channels, provided with followers loading mechanism therefor, com-
prising, a lifter for the followers, means for cutting off lines of type from the
column or galley and injecting them into the succeeding channels at one of the
stopping positions thereof, an intermittently operating driving device
for the loading mechanism, and a starting device operable with the
followers for putting the loading mechanism in operation at each of those channels
which have become emptied of type to a predetermined extent.
14. In combination with a series of intermittently and laterally moving dis-
tributing channels, provided with followers, loading mechanism therefor, com-
prising, a lifter for the followers, means for cutting off lines of type from a column
or galley and injecting them into the succeeding channels at one of the stopping
positions thereof, an intermittently operating driving device for the loading
mechanism, a detent for holding the loading mechanism stationary during the
required intermissions, and means, operable with each of those channels which
have become emptied of type to a predetermined extent for disengaging the detent,
and releasing the driving device.
15. In combination with a series of intermittently and laterally moving dis-

page_text: tributing channels provided with followers, loading mechanism therefor, com-
prising a lifter for the followers, means for cutting off lines of type from a
column or galley and injecting them into the succeeding channels at one of the
stopping positions thereof, an intermittently operating driving device for the
loading mechanism, a detent for holding the loading mechanism stationary dur-
ing the required intermissions, and a trigger operatively connected with the detent
and located in position to be engaged by each succeeding follower of those
channels as it becomes emptied of type to a predetermined extent, when it reaches
the aforesaid stopping position.
16. In combination with the distributing channel and with a follower therefor,
an automatic starting device having a trigger located in engaging relation to
the follower at a predetermined point in the path of movement of the follower.
17. In combination with the distributing channel and with a follower therefor,
an automatic starting device having a trigger located in engaging relation to
the follower at a predetermined point in the path of movement of the follower,
with means for withdrawing the trigger from the said path of movement.
18. In combination with the distributing channel and with a follower therefor,
an automatic starting device having a trigger located in engaging relation to the
follower at a predetermined point in its path of movement, and a movable sup-
port for the trigger for enabling it to be moved at will into or out of the path
of movement of the follower.
19. In combination with a series of intermittently and laterally moving type
distributing channels, provided with followers, an automatic starting device hav-
ing a trigger located in engaging relation to the successive followers at the end
of their required path of movement, and a movable support for the trigger for
moving it at will into or out of engaging relation to the series of followers.
20. In combination with a series of intermittently moving distributing channels
provided with followers, an automatic starting device having a trigger located
in engaging relation to the successive followers at the ends of their required
paths of movement, a support on which the trigger slides laterally with the
followers when engaged thereby, and means as a cam for moving the trigger
laterally away from the follower after each engagement.
21. In combination with a series of intermittently moving distributing channels
provided with followers, an automatic starting device having a trigger located
in engaging relation to the successive followers at the ends of their required
paths of movement, a support for the trigger allowing it to move with the
followers when engaged thereby, and a controller for moving the trigger into and
out of engaging relation with the series of followers.
22. In combination with a series of intermittently operating distributing chan-
nels provided with projecting followers, an automatic starting device having a
trigger located in engaging relation to the successive followers when at the ends
of their required paths of movement, a support for the trigger movable in a
direction substantially parallel with that of the movement of the followers, and a
controller engaging by means of an inclined surface with the trigger support for
moving the trigger into and out of the plane of rotation of the projecting co-
engaging members of the followers.
23. In a machine of the class specified, in combination with the intermittently
rotating distributing cylinder thereof, intermittently operating loading mechanism
therefor, comprising, an injector located at a stopping position of the distribut-
ing channels of the cylinder, means for feeding succeeding lines of type into the
path of movement of the injector, and means for starting the loading mechanism
in operation at those channels only in which the type has receded to a pre-
determined extent.
24. In combination with a series of intermittently and laterally moving type
channels, provided with followers, loading mechanism therefor, comprising an
injector, located in coincidence with a stopping position of the channels, means

page_text: for feeding the type successively into the path of movement of the injector, and
an intermittently operating driving device for the loading mechanism, operable
with the followers in the channels for operating the loading mechanism only at
each of those channels in which the followers have reached a desired predeter-
mined position.
25. In combination with means for supporting a column of type, and for feeding
it longitudinally, driving mechanism for operating the parts, and means operable
with the column feeding means for stopping the driving mechanism when the
column reaches a predetermined point.
26. The combination, with means for supporting a column of type, and for
feeding it longitudinally, of driving mechanism and of a knock-off device for the
mechanism located in engaging relation to the column feeding means when the
latter reaches a predetermined position.
27. The combination of means for supporting a column of type matter, a pusher
for feeding the column longitudinally, driving mechanism for the respective
parts, and a knock-off, operable with the column pusher when the latter reaches
the end of its intended movement, for holding the driving devices out of operation.
28. In a machine of the class specified, the combination with a distributing
channel, and with a follower for the type in the channel, of automatic mechanism,
comprising means for holding a column of type and for feeding the column
longitudinally, intermittently operating driving mechanism, a starting device for
the driving mechanism located in engaging relation to the follower, and means
operable with the column feeding means for withdrawing the starting device out
of engaging relation to the channel follower at a predetermined point in the
feeding movement of the column.
29. In combination with an injector for removing succeeding lines of type from
a column or galley, a breaker operable with the injector upon the return of the
latter from its previous stroke, for detaching the succeeding line of type from
the galley, in readiness for the following movement of the injector.
30. In combination with an injector for removing the succeeding lines of type
from a column or galley, means for feeding the succeeding lines into the path of
movement of the injector, and a breaker operable by the injector upon its return
stroke for detaching from the column the line of type to be removed by the
succeeding movement of the injector, the breaker being mounted to swing out of
the path of movement of the injector, and its line of type during the forward or
injecting movement thereof.
31. In combination with the described injector for lines of type a breaker
operable by the injector, mounted upon a link for guiding it into and out of the
path of movement of the injector.
32. In combination with an injector for lines of type, means for supporting a
column of type and for feeding the succeeding lines thereof into the path of
movement of the injector, and a breaker operable win the injector for engaging
behind the end of the succeeding lines, and detaching them from the column in
the direction of the return movement of the injector.
33. The combination of an injector for lines of type, means for supporting a
column of type and for feeding the succeeding lines thereof into the path of
movement of the injector, and a breaker operable by the last portion of the
return stroke of the injector for moving the breaker into contact with the foot
end of the foremost line of type, to detach it from the column in readiness for
the succeeding forward stroke of the injector.
34. In combination with an injector for lines of type, means for supporting a
column of type and for feeding its succeeding lines into the path of movement of
the injector, a guard arm for engaging with the foremost line of type to cushion
the force of impact of its feeding movement.
35. In combination with an injector for lines of type, spring actuated means for
feeding the succeeding lines of a column of type into the path of movement

page_text: of the injector, a guard arm for cushioning the impact of the feeding movement
of the column, and means, as a cam, operable with the injector for controlling
the return movement of the guard arm.
36. In combination with means for supporting and feeding a column of type, a
guard arm for cushioning the force of impact of the feeding movement, and a
reciprocating cam for controlling the movement of the guard arm, the latter being
provided with a by-pass device for engaging with the cam for allowing the latter
to return without actuating the guard arm.
37. In combination with means for supporting and. feeding a column of type,
a reciprocating injector for the type lines, a guard arm for cushioning the force
of impact of the feeding movement, means for yieldingly holding the guard arm
out of engagement with the type, and a cam upon the injector for actuating the
guard arm upon the reciprocation of the injector in one direction, the guard arm
being provided with a by-pass for permitting the return movement of the cam
without actuating the guard arm.
38. In combination with means for supporting a column of type, a spring
actuated intermittently operating feeding device therefor, and a cam for removing
the actuating pressure of the spring at the desired intermissions in the feeding
movement.
39. In combination with means for supporting a column of type, an inter-
mittently operating feeding device therefor, comprising a pusher, a pawl, a recip-
rocating ratchet for the pawl, a spring for the forward feeding movement of the
ratchet, and a cam for removing the pressure of the spring from the column at
the desired intervals in the feeding movement.
40. In combination with means for supporting a column of type, an inter-
mittently operating feeding device therefor, comprising a pusher, a pawl, a recip-
rocating ratchet for the pawl, a spring for the forward feeding movement of the
ratchet, and a cam for retracting the ratchet to bring its succeeding teeth into
engagement with the pawl as the column progresses.
41. In combination with an injector for removing the lines of type, means for
supporting and feeding the succeeding lines of a column or galley of type into the
path of movement of the injector, comprising a column pusher, a pawl, a ratchet,
a spring for the feeding movement, and a cam for retracting the ratchet to
remove the tension of the spring from the column of type during the opera-
tions of the injector.
42. In a type distributing machine having a series of type channels provided
with followers, a cover for the ends of the series of channels, having a slot
movable into register with each channel of the series to permit the removal of
the follower therefrom.
43. In a type distributing machine, in combination with the type channels
thereof, provided with followers, and with actuating springs therefor a movable
cover plate and abutment for the springs, provided with a slot which may be
moved into register with any channel of the series to permit the removal of the
follower therefrom, the slot being provided with a removable plug at the spring
engaging portion thereof for preventing the escape of the intervening springs
while moving the plate to the desired channel.
44. In combination with a type distributing cylinder, provided with a series
of peripheral channels, an annular cover plate for the series of channels mounted
concentrically therewith, the cover plate being provided with a slot coincident
with the position of the peripheral channels, which by the rotation of the cover
plate may be brought into register with any one of the channels.
45. In combination with a type distributing machine, a loading device for the
channels thereof, mounted upon a hinged frame whereby it may be swung to
and away from its loading position with relation to the channels.
46. In combination with a type distributing machine, loading mechanism for
the type channels thereof, provided with an actuating shaft, and pivotally

page_text: mounted upon the machine, whereby it may be swung into and out of operative
relation to the type channels, the machine being provided with a driving shaft
located in engaging relation to the actuating shaft of the loading mechanism when
the latter is in its operative position.
D
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