AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR FORMING STEREOTYPE MATRICES
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas George Daw at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st February 1869.
I, THOMAS GEORGE DAW, of Regent Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Printer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR FORMING STEREOTYPE MATRICES," to be as
follows:-
The object of my Invention is the construction of a machine whereby
the matrices or moulds for stereotypes can be produced in a more
expeditious and economical manner than has heretofore been
practicable.
The nature of the said Invention consists chiefly in the peculiar
arrangement of a series of levers each of which carries a type and is
provided with a finger key whereby it can be depressed independently
of the others. These levers are arranged over the table on which is
placed the plastic bed wherein the mould or matrix is to be produced.
It is necessary that the type levers should be so arranged together in

page_text: relation to a certain point in the plane of the matrix that each
type of the series when depressed will be brought to this point,
and I prefer to arrange them in a circle around the said point, all
of the finger keys being then in a convenient position to be reached by
the operator. When not depressed all of the types lie above the plane
of the matrix in a circle around a vertical line taken through the
central point, being kept in this position by springs which raise the
levers.
My Invention also consists partly in the means adopted for causing
the table which supports the plastic bed of the matrix to travel forward
the proper distance between the depressions of the types so that the
successive impressions thereof may form the words and lines with the
required regularity in the matrix, and also in the means whereby this
movement of the table is regulated to make the spaces of various widths
to suit the character of the work or the convenience of the operator.
These objects are effected by means of a wedge-shaped or inclined piece
which when depressed acts upon a spring, ratchet, which when released
takes into the teeth of a rack attached to the table, the movement of the
latter being more or less according to the depression of the wedge or
inclined piece. Above the type levers I arrange a circular plate or
ring which is supported upon a spiral or other spring, and one side of
which is arranged to rest upon the upper end of a rod or stem attached
to the wedge or inclined piece. The keys extend through this ring or
plate, and each of the said keys above the ring is provided with a collar
or projection which when the key is touched depresses the ring and
thereby causes the wedge piece to act on the spring ratchet and throw
it backward. When the key rises it releases the ratchet, which then
acts on the rack and moves the table forward. Around the ring or
plate I arrange keys for producing the various spaces. These space
keys are also provided with collars to act on the ring. By increasing or
diminishing the distance of the collar above the ring or plate the
movement of the table is varied, as the keys all have the same
depression; those keys therefore which represent the wide spaces have
their collars in contact with or near the ring, the distance being
increased for the smaller spaces. In order that the operator in forming
pages or columns of matter may ascertain conveniently at all times the
. exact space left in each line I place on the table a figured scale which

page_text: indicates the space left after each letter, thereby enabling the operator to
"justify" his lines.
My improved machine is constructed with a frame of brass or other
suitable metal or material which when the keys are arranged in a circle
as above described is preferably made of corresponding form. This
arrangement of the keys may, however, be varied, and the machine may
be constructed with the keys arranged in one or a number of straight
rows. The key levers, which are arranged within the said circular frame,
are pivotted at or near the bottom thereof with their free ends carrying
the types projecting inward. Each lever is provided with a spring
arranged to keep it elevated in the proper position to be actuated by its
key. The keys, which are preferably arranged in two rows, are formed
with rods or stems which rest upon the levers near their pivots or
fulcrumis. These levers may be formed of brass or other suitable
material. The types are preferably formed of steel or other hard and
durable metal. The said types are fitted in sockets on the extremities
of the levers and are held by set screws or other fastenings, which
keep them securely in the proper position, but will allow them to be
conveniently inserted and removed. By this means I am enabled to
use types of various sizes in one machine, it being only necessary at each
change of the type to remove the rack and replace it by another rack
whose teeth are pitched to correspond with the size of the type to be
used. The frame is mounted upon a suitable stand or bed whereon the
table is fitted to slide freely in grooves or other suitable guides. The
said table must be fitted to move in two directions, one parallel with the
lines and the other at right angles thereto. The latter movement,
which forms the lines, may be produced by means of a screw or rack or
other equivalent device controlled by the operator, who as each line is
formed in the matrix adjusts the table to the required position for the
next line.
My machine, unlike other machines for the same purpose, requires no
mechanism for bringing the types into the proper position above the
matrix before depressing them, as each type is always in such a position
and needs only to be depressed to produce its impression in the correct
position in the matrix. I am thus enabled to work very expeditiously
and also greatly to simplify the construction of the machine, and
therefore diminish its cost of manufacture, its liability to derangement,
and the power required for its operation.

page_text: I may modify my Invention by dispensing with the levers and fixing
the types directly upon the ends of curved rods or stems attached to the
keys. The said rods pass through guides arranged around the central
point, and by touching its key each type is depressed upon this point.
The types, as in the first described arrangement, are elevated when released
by springs.