IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SETTING TYPES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Loughborough Park,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR SETTING TYPES."-A communication from abroad by
Joseph Thorne, of the City, County, and State of New York, United
States of America
WMPLETE SPECIFICATION nied by the said
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 8th November 1867, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
5 TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the County of
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
KESTS IN MACHINERY FOR SETTING TYPES," (communicated to me from abroad
by Joseph Thorne, of the City, County, and State of New York, United
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following stetement
4101
thereof, that is to say:-

page_text: The object of this Invention is to produ
3
combinations of the following instrumentalities, viz.,
me of small
dimensions for setting up types in line, and the Invention consists of certain
Type holders, each containing a column of type, and each having an
opening at its bottom for the admission of a finger, by which the lowermost 5
type of the column is ejected endwise from the type holder.
A race or conductor extending parallel with one or more series of type
holders, and receiving the type ejected therefrom.
Ejecting fingers, one for each type holder, their office being to eject the
types into the type race.
One or more reciprocating carriers to move said ejecting fingers whenever
they are selected by the operator.
Keys to select the ejecting fingers and move them within reach of their
carrier.
Type drivers to move the types in the type race along the same.
A type channel for receiving the types from the type race, and for holding
them in line.
voll mit
A type transferrer for transferring the types from the type race to the type
channel.
10
15
A reciprocating type setter for setting up the types as they are delivered 20
into the type channel.
A spring presser to hold the types erect in the type channel as they are
in the type
set up
therein.
A moveable gauge to straighten such types as may be delivered in skewed
positions by the type driver.
A friction clutch or driver to permit the driving shaft to stop in case of any
impediment to the movement of the members of the machine.
All the said combinations are contained in the type-setting machine re-
presented in the accompanying Drawings as an illustration of a good mode of
constructing them.
25
30
Figure 1 represents a plan of the machine; Figure 3 represents a trans-
verse section of the machine at the line y, y, of Figure 1; and Figure 4
represents a transverse section of the same at the line z, z, of Figure 1;
Figure 5 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the machine at the
centre of the type race; Figure 6 represents a plan of parts of the driver slide 3
and of the gauges; and Figure 7 represents a section of the driving pulley
and the friction driver or clutch thereof.
The machine as represented is provided with a number of type holders

page_text: a, a, a, each fitted to hold a column of types layed on their sides on top
of one another. These type holders are secured to a table B, and are
arranged in four series or gangs A, A1, A2, A3, two of these series constituting
a pair A, A, are arranged in parallel lines at one side of the central type
5 channel C, in which the type are set up in line, and the remaining two
series A¹, A³, are arranged at the opposite side of said type channel and
constitute a second pair, hence each member of one pair of series is arranged
endwise to the members of the other pair. The two series of each pair are
separated by the type race D which extends parallel with the series, and forms
o the pathway along which the types are driven to the type channel, one
series (A, A¹,) of each pair being in front of said type race, and the other
series of the pair in the rear of it.
As the series of one pair (A, A²,) are
endwise to the other pair (A1, A3,) the type race is extended along all four
series (A, A¹, A², A³,) so that a type may be brought from either pair of
series to the central point at which the type channel C is placed. The cavity
of each type holder is separated from those adjacent to it in the same series
by partitions b, b. Each front type holder is provided with a sliding ejecting
finger E to eject the lowermost type; this finger is a little thinner than the
type it is to operate upon, and the side of the type holder furthest from the
type race has an opening in its bottom to permit this finger to enter, while
the side nearest the type race has a similar opening of the requisite height to
permit the type to be ejected by the finger when it is pushed towards the type
race D. Each ejecting finger is connected with a slide F, which is constructed
to move towards and from the type race, and each of these finger slides is
provided with two legs d, d¹, which depend from it and pass through an
opening in the table B of the machine. Each rear type holder (or type
holder in the rear of the type race) is provided with a sliding ejecting
finger E¹ like those (E) of the front type holders, and connected in like
manner with a slide F¹ provided with legs d2, d³, but the ejecting fingers (E¹)
of the rear gang of type holders are arranged at a higher level than the front
fingers (E), so as to deliver the type which they eject upon a race plate m
which divides the type race into an upper course e and a lower course e', the
former for the types from the rear gangs (A2, A3,) of type holders, and the
atter for the types from the front gangs (A, A¹,) thereof. All the finger
lides of each rear gang of type holders are moved towards and from the type
ace by one carrier, which consists of a bar G¹ that is held at the extremities
of two arms f¹, f', which project from a rock shaft H beneath. This carrier
caused to move towards the type race (or forward) by a spring I, and from

page_text: that is caused to revolve continuously while the machine is in operation. The
it (or backward) by means of a cam J, which is secured to a cam shaft K
cam operates upon an arm L which is secured to the rock shaft II of the
finger slide carrier G¹, and as this carrier is connected with the rock shaft (¹)
its upper edge at every point of its length describes a circle, of which the
axis of the rock shaft is the centre; this circle is denoted in Figure 3 by the
dotted line g, g. All the finger slides of each front gang of type holders are
moved towards and from the type race by a similar carrier G secured to
arms f, f, projecting from a rock shaft H. This rock shaft is caused to rock
by connecting it through arms L³, L², with the rear rock shaft H', so that the
two carriers at one side of the type channel C are moved simultaneously from
the type race by the same cam J, and towards the race (when the cam
permits) by a spring I. The cam J for the carriers G¹, G, at one side of the
type channel C is set diametrically opposite that J for the carriers at the
other side of the type channel, so that the carriers and consequently the
ejecting fingers of the two pairs of series of type holders are moved in
alternate succession. That leg d¹ or d³ of each finger slide (F or F¹) which
is furthest from the type race D is so long that the carrier (G or G¹) can act
upon it during the whole of its movement (by the spring I) away from the
type race, which movement will be hereafter called the retrograde movement.
Hence whenever a finger slide has been moved forward (or towards the type
race) it is of necessity moved immediately back to its retrograde position by
the next retrograde movement of the carrier. The other leg (d or d²) of the
finger slide is shorter, so that when the finger slide has been moved to its
backward position by the carrier (G or G') this short leg is beyond the dotted
line (g, g,) and consequently is out of the range of the carrier. Hence so
long as each finger slide remains in its backward position it will remain at
rest, and will not operate the type finger (E or E¹) nor eject a type from the
type holder into the type race, but if the finger slide be moved a little forward
(as represented in dotted lines in Figure 3) its shorter leg is thereby placed
within the range of motion of the carrier, and consequently the latter in its
forward movement will act upon it, carrying the finger slide (from which the leg
depends) forward (towards the type race), and causing its type finger to enter
the type holder and push the lowermost type into the type race, hence
whenever any finger slide is moved forward within the range of its carrier the S
when a particular type is wanted all that is required to have it ejected from
ype corresponding thereto is immediately ejected into the type race, and
its type holder is to select the finger by moving the corresponding finger slide

page_text: slightly towards the type race.
space
In order that each finger slide may be so
selected or moved within the range of its carrier a key M, M¹, is provided for
each. The keys for both the front and rear series of type holders are
arranged in a keyboard at the front side of the front series of type holders,
5 and consequently all in front of the type race, there being four rows
M, M, M, M, of keys for a front series of type holders, and four similar rows
M², M', M', M', for a back series, this number of rows giving a sufficient
to enable each key to be opposite its particular finger slide and the type
holder corresponding thereto when the type holders are close together, as
0 represented in the Drawings. The keys for the pair of series of type
holders A, A2, from which type are delivered for the action of one pair
of type drivers (N, N2,) are arranged in a gang at the left side of the type
channel C, and the keys for the other pair of series of type holders A¹, A³,
from which types are delivered to the other pair of type drivers (N¹, N³,) are
5 arranged in a gang at the right side of the type channel, and as the ejecting
fingers alternate in their action upon the types the former gang of keys can
be operated by the left hand of the operator, and the latter gang of keys by
the right hand of the operator in alternate succession, whereby the operator
can concentrate his attention alternately upon the work of each of his hands.
Each key consists of a piston h arranged to slide vertically in a frame n, and
maintained in its uppermost position by a spring i that is coiled about its
stem. The lower end of each piston is inclined, and the inclined end of each
piston of a front gang of type holders is arranged to operate upon the upper
end of an arm j that projects upwards, the finger slide beneath the arms
j, j, j, j, corresponding with each of the four rows M, M, M, M, of keys
being at the requisite distance from the end of the type fingers to be operated
by their respective pistons, hence when a piston is depressed its inclined
end acting upon the arm of the finger slide moves the finger slide within the
range of its carrier. The pistons h of the rear gang of finger slides F' are
constructed to operate upon the arms j, j, j¹, j', of key slides F2 corresponding
in number and lateral position with the finger slides F', and each key slide is
connected with its respective rear finger slide by a rod w which passes through
the longer leg d³ of the finger slide and a corresponding leg d' depending from
the key slide F2, hence when one of the pistons M¹, M, M¹, M', of the
rear finger slides is depressed the corresponding finger slide is at once drawn
within the range of its carrier G¹. In order that the rear finger slides may
not move the key slides when the former are moved forward by their carrier
each connecting rod is constructed to slide freely in the holes in the legs d³, d',

page_text: but each rod is fitted with heads, so
upper
slide forward, and that the finger slide may draw the key slide back to its
position of rest when the former is moved back by its carrier to its retrograde
position. Each course of the type race is traversed by a sliding driver, there
being an upper driver N2 or Ns for the upper course at each side of the type 5
I channel C, and a lower driver N or N¹ for the lower course at each side of
the said channel. The outer ends of each pair of drivers at each side of the
type channel are connected with a slide O to which a reciprocating movement
is imparted by the revolution of the crank P, the crank being secured to the
end of a short shaft K¹ which is provided with a mitre wheel Q, whose 1
teeth engage with those of a corresponding mitre wheel Q¹ secured to the
cam shaft K, so that the crank revolves simultaneously with the cams J, J,
and impels the two pairs of drivers alternately towards the centre of the
machine. The crank pin k is fitted with a friction wheel 7 which traverses the
slotted frame p secured to the end of the driver slide O, and the throw of
the crank is sufficient to move the inner ends of the type drivers from a point
a little beyond the outermost type holders to the edge of the type channel C
at the inner ends of the pair of series of type holders to which the drivers
appertain. The carrier cams J, J, are so set on the the cam shaft relatively to
the position of the crank P that the type fingers of either pair of gangs of
type holders are pushed forward (or towards the type race from their re-
trograde position at either side thereof) while the type drivers (N, N2, N¹, N³,)
for that pair are passing outward beyond the outermost type holder and
returning again thereto, so that any type that may have been ejected by the
fingers from the type holders lays in the type race either in its upper course
or in its lower course in the proper position to be pushed by the driver
towards the type channel C and delivered at the centre of the type race. In
order that the types delivered at the centre of the type race may be entered
into the type channel a transferring instrument is provided to move the types
endwise (that is, in a direction crosswise to the length of the type race and to
the line of movement of the type drivers) and deliver them into the type
channel. This type transferrer R is arranged to slide in a groove, and is
moved backward (out of the type race) by a cam S which is secured to the
cam shaft K, and acts upon a rocking arm T with which the shank of the
type transferrer is connected by a link r. The transferrer is moved forward
whenever the rotation of the cam S permits by a spring I. The cam S is
double-armed, so that it causes the transferrer R to operate immediately after
each type driver arrives at its innermost position, and the transferrer is forked

page_text: so as to enter each course of the type race and push forward the types that
may
be in either or both of the courses.
In order that the type when so
pushed forward may enter readily into the type channel the bottom of the
latter is arranged below the type race, and a part of the lower course of the
5 type race as well as a part of the race plate m are cut away, so that when
the type in either is moved forward about two-thirds of its length it tips
butt downwards into the type channel and arrives therein in an inclined
position. In order that the type so entered into the type channel may be set
upright a type setter U is provided. This instrument is pivotted in a recess
o in the table or bed plate, and is caused to vibrate upon its pivot at intervals.
When at rest it lays back in its recess, so that its forward side is inclined (as
seen in Figure 4) and forms a way down which the type slides when pushed
forward by the transferrer R. When the type has thus arrived in front of
the type setter it is vibrated forward until its forward side stands erect (as
represented by the dotted lines in Figure 4), and consequently the type in
front of it is set upright, and is pushed forward in the type channel C together
with all the preceding types that have been set therein. The forward move-
ment of this type setter is effected by the same cam S that operates the
transferrer R, the shank s of the type setter being connected by a detachable
rod t with a shoulder u on the rocking arm T that is operated by the trans-
ferring cam S. The backward movement of the type setter is effected by a
spring I2, and the time of this backward movement is determined by a pin v
secured to the transferring cam S, which pin by the revolution of the cam is
brought in contact with a foot a depending from the removeable rod t, and
raising said rod detaches its hooked end from the rocking arm T. As the
type setter is operated at each movement of the transferrer R two detaching
pins v, v, are provided, one corresponding with each protuberance of the
In order that the types which have been set up in the
type channel by the forward movement of the type setter may not fall back
when the type setter withdraws from them a spring presser V is provided to
press upon the rear edge of the last type that is set and hold the row erect.
This spring presser is arranged in a socket in one of the walls of the type
channel C, and protrudes into the type channel when not forced back
types or by the type setter in their forward movement.
5
transferring cam.
the
In order that the
types moved by the type drivers may not escape the action of the type trans-
ferrer when delivered at the centre of the type race, and that they may
be properly entered into the type channel C by the transferrer R, a gauge
is provided to co-operate with each type driver. As the types in this machine
Y

page_text: are driven in both directions towards the centre two gauges 1, I, are required,
one for each pair of type drivers. Each gauge is constructed to slide cross-
I wise to the type race and parallel with the type transferrer R, and its forward
end is forked, so that one prong enters each course of the type race.
Each
gauge
by a
gauge is operated by an incline plane W formed upon the driver slide O.
This inclined plane when the slide moves in one direction draws the
backwards out of the type race, and when the slide is moved in the opposite
direction permits the gauge to be moved forward into the type race
spring I³. The inclined planes which act upon the two gauges are inclined
in opposite directions, so that when one gauge is withdrawn from the type
race out of the way of the type drivers advancing towards the centre of the
machine the other gauge is in the type race directly in front of the types that
are being pushed towards it by the advancing type drivers, so that if the types
happen to be skewed they are straightened by being pressed against the type
gauge by the type drivers. Moreover, as the type driver being operated by a
crank moves almost imperceptibly for a brief period when at its innermost
position the inner ends of the type drivers are for the moment practically
stationary, and constitute a guide at one side of the types while they are
moved forward by the type transferrer R, while the gauge forms a similar
guide at the opposite side of the types. The type channel C is continued to
the front of the table, and is then carried off laterally, so as to deliver the
types in line at the side of the machine, where if deemed expedient a receiving
box may be arranged to receive them and to move at intervals for the purpose
of dividing the row of types into lines.
In using the machine the types are placed in the type holders with their
butts towards the front of the machine; the cam shaft K which transmits
motion to the various moving members of the machine is caused to revolve
continuously by a force which is communicated to it by a belt applied to
a belt pulley X, and this belt may be driven by power or by a treddle
motion worked by the foot of the operator. The pulley X is not fixed S
to the cam shaft K, but is fitted to turn thereon, and is connected with said
shaft by a friction coupling or clutch. This coupling consists of the plate Z,
which is fitted to the square end 2 of the cam shaft K, and is pressed against
the face of the driving pulley X by a nut A. In this construction the
the driving plate Z, and if there be any impediment to the movement of the
pulley X drives the cam shaft by the frictional contact of its face with that of 35
cam shaft greater than the friction of the pulley on the driving plate the
pulley will slip upon the driving plate without turning it or the cam shaft.

page_text: type
By turning the nut A¹ the friction may be regulated, so that if a type catches
in any part of the machine the pulley will slip, and the breakage of the
instrument that is acting upon the type, or of the connections of said instru-
ment, will be avoided. When the cam shaft is revolving the operator depresses
5 the keys corresponding with the types to be set, thereby selecting the ejecting
fingers as required, and the rotation of the cam shaft (operating through
instrumentalities before described) causes the types to be ejected by the said
fingers into the type race to be driven to the centre of the machine by the
type drivers to be transferred to the type channel by the type transferrer, and
0 to be set up and moved forward therein by the type setter. As there are two
drivers at each side of the type channel two types may be driven forward
at once, one type being in the lower course of the race, and the other in the
upper course thereof, and as the type from the upper course stands in advance
of that delivered from the lower course when set up in the type channel, care
5 must be taken when selecting two types simultaneously to select the first in
order from the rear series of type holders. Thus if the types for the word it
are to be set up, the i must be selected from the rear series and the t from the
front series. Each revolution of the cam shaft will set up four types (two
from each side of the type channel), and the setting up may be effected with
great rapidity, because the compactness of the keyboard due to the arrange-
ment of the keys in the parallel lines enables an operator to select letters
without moving the hands any great distance, all the fingers and the thumbs
being used to play upon the keys. In using the machine it is expedient to
place the types which are most required, such as the vowels and quadrats near
5 the centre of the machine, and to use two or more type holders for each, so
that the desired type may be taken either from a front type holder or from a
rear one, and at either side of the type channel.
0
The mode of imparting motion to the various members of the machine may
be greatly varied, and but a portion of the improvements may be used; but it
10 is preferred to use all the improvements in connection, as experience with the
machine represented in the Drawings has proved it to be well adapted to the
purpose to be performed by it.
What is claimed as the Invention to be secured by Letters Patent are the
following combinations of instrumentalities, viz.,―
35 First. The combination of a pair of parallel series of type holders with a
type race arranged between the pair, and with type drivers traversing said
type race, substantially as before set forth.
Second. The combination of two series of type holders arranged endwise to

page_text: each other with a type race extending along both, and with type drivers
traversing said type race in opposite directions, so as to deliver the types at a
central point, substantially as before set forth.
Third. The combination of two type holders arranged at opposite sides of a
type race with a type race divided into two courses, one course for the types
ejected from each series of type holders, substantially as before set forth.
Fourth. The combination of a type holder with an ejecting finger, re-
ciprocating carrier, and key, substantially as before set forth.
Fifth. The combination of two series of type holders with two series of
ejecting fingers and reciprocating carriers operated in alternate succession,
substantially as before set forth.
Sixth. The arrangement of the keys corresponding with a series of type
holders in parallel rows, so that a large number of keys are concentrated
within easy reach of the fingers of an operator, substantially as before
set forth.
Seventh. The arrangement of the keys corresponding with two series of
type holders, from which types are ejected alternately in two gangs, one for
each hand of an operator, substantially as before set forth.
Eighth. The combination of two type holders arranged at opposite sides of
a type race with two keys arranged at the same side of said race, substantially
as before set forth.
Ninth. The combination of a series of type holders, type race, and type
driver with a type transferrer to transfer the types from the type race,
substantially as before set forth.
Tenth. The combination of a series of type holders with a type race,
type transferrer, type channel, and type setter, substantially as before set
forth.
Eleventh. The combination of the type channel with a type setter and
spring presser, substantially as before set forth.
Twelfth. The combination of a type race and type driver with a moveable S
gange, substantially as before set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination of the ejecting fingers with a friction driver
for the shaft which imparts motion to said fingers, substantially as before
set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination of the type driver with a friction driver for
the shaft which imparts motion to said type driver, substantially &
set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination of the type drivor and moveable gauge with a