IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE COMPOSING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Young, of 77, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE COMPOSING AND
DISTRIBUTING MACHINES."
Sealed the 29th August 1863, and dated the 14th March 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Young at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
March 1863.
I, WILLIAM YOUNG, of 77, Fleet Street, in the City of London, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE COMPOSING
AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINES," to be as follows:
This Invention has for its object improvements in type composing and
distributing machines, and the improvements relate to the machines known.as
James Hadden Young's type composing and distributing machines. Patents
relating to these machines were obtained by James Hadden Young on the 14th
June 1858 (No. 1341), on the 9th April 1859 (No. 889), on the 10th March
1860 (No. 650), on the 25th July 1860 (No. 1769). The improvements in
the type composing machine are as follows:-
In order to allow of more than two or three sorts of type being used in one
and the same machine I propose making use of nippers as on the plan already
adopted in the type distributing machine, each particular letter or character
having its special nipper instead of a special lever as is now the case; this
would ensure a comparative economy in the prime cost of the machines made
on that principle, as one might then be used for all sorts of type, but it would

page_text: be at a sacrifice of speed in play, as the present levers cannot be excelled in
that respect. The nippers that I thus propose using in the composing machine
would be made on the same principle as those hitherto used in the distributing
machine, with this difference that the prongs or nipping ends instead of being
slanted would be made exactly parallel to each other, being only slightly rounded
at their extreme points so as to prevent their cutting the edges of the types,
and the distance between the two nipping ends would be a trifle less than the
width of the type they would have to act on, so as to ensure a certain degree of
pressure sufficient to hold a single type, and this distance would be increased
in proportion to the width of the sort of type used, thus being less in
the case of nonpareil and greater in the case of minion, brevier, and so on. To
effect this increase of distance I propose inserting wedges between the two
legs of the nippers or otherwise by using different sets of nippers for each sort
of type, as may be found most convenient. The nippers in question will also
differ from those hitherto used in the following respect:-The nipping ends,
calculating from the cross pin placed at right angles to their length, will
either be of a length suited to the thickness of each particular type the nipper
has to act on, or all the nippers may have their nipping ends, calculating from
this same cross pin, made of a uniform length equal to the thickness of the
thinnest type used. The nippers made according to the last method may also
be used in the distributing machine. The nippers in the composing machine
will be connected by rods or other suitable means to the keys of the machine
so as to be put in motion by the players' fingers striking the keys, or they may
also be moved by a moving chain or belt already described and patented by
James Hadden Young, on the 25th July 1860 (No. 1769). In the event of my
using nippers in the composing machine I should place the reservoirs in a hori-
zontal position, more or less, instead of, as they are now, in a perpendicular one.
As it sometimes happens that some of the thicker letters, such as the small
w and m, transpose with the thick space and thinner letters which pass
down the inclined plane used for the thinner letters, I propose, in order to
prevent this and otherwise regulate the descent of the thicker letters, to make
the bottom of the channels down which they slide rougher, or of a substance
not so smooth as polished metal, so that by augmenting or diminishing this
surface I may be enabled to regulate their descont to a nicety. I may also
obtain the same result by covering the bottom of the grooves to the required
extent with thin pieces of cloth, paper, wood, or other material having a rougher
surface than polished metal; or further, I may also obtain the same result by
making part of the grooves of the thick letters less inclined, or by moveable
slips of metal placed at their upper extremities near the reservoir boxes which

page_text: might be adjusted to give the necessary slope by raising or lowering. The
speed at which the type shall descend down the inclined plane of the distribu-
ting machine can also be adjusted by covering more or less of the inclined
plane with paper or other material having a rougher surface than polished
metal.
Hitherto as one groove of the galley used with the composing machine has
become full the next groove of the galley has been adjusted to the groove of
the receiver by the attendant's eye; I now propose to use a rack and winch to
move the galley, and thus by the motion of the winch to ensure that each
groove of the galley shall in turn come opposite to the groove of the receiver.
I propose adopting a similar arrangement in the use of the galley in the
justifying apparatus.
The improvements in the type distributing machine are as follows:-The
types about to be distributed having been placed in reservoirs are taken from
thence by means of nippers, and caused to slide down grooved channels in
order to be then pushed into the grooves of a revolving chain. As it is,
however, necessary that previous to being thus pushed into the grooves of the
chain that they should be placed on their edges, so as to admit of the nicks
cut therein being exposed to the action of the scrapers which distribute them,
they must be turned in the interval of their leaving the reservoirs and their
arrival at the chain. Now this turning has hitherto been effectually acconi-
plished by means of a certain slanting curve being given to the channels down
which the types slide, which caused the types in their descent gradually to
assume the position of lying on their edges with the nick upwards from that of
lying on their sides. But the channels provided with curves of the kind in
question are very difficult to make, and consequently their perfect construction
is not to be depended on so as to ensure the desired turning with certainty, I
therefore propose adopting the following plan instead, as more easily executed
and therefore more economical and altogether more certain, I propose making
each channel a level surface throughout its entire length, so as to retain the
types on their sides, but at the extreme ends of the channels, which are closed
by a ridge, the descending types are stopped, and here I cut away one side of
each channel to the extent of at least one inch upwards from the ridge, so as
to make an opening of a width about equal rather more than less to the
thickness of a small w, leaving the remaining portion of the channel, the
whole of which should not exceed much, if anything, more than inch in
width as a
ledge. Now when the types in their descent arrive at these
openings they must necessarily drop in edgeways from the ledges that sustain
them of the remaining side, and as these openings are continued down to

page_text: grooves of a similar width placed beneath on a level with the grooves of the
chain, the types in falling are retained in the same position edgeways, and have
only then to be pushed into the grooves of the chain; this arrangement, how-
ever, does not apply altogether to the channel down which the thick types
descend, for no ledge is left in it as the opening extends across its entire width,
so as to allow these thick types to remain in their fall on their sides so as to be
pushed into the grooves of the chain on their sides, their nicks being cut in these
and not as in the thinner types on their edges. The inclined plane instead of
terminating within an inch or two of the side of the chain nearest the nippers
as hitherto, I propose shall now cross the chain and terminate a short distance
on the other side of the chain. The pushers will also be placed on the same
side instead of on the opposite one as before, and will thus push the types at
their tails instead of at their face or letter end on to the chain, which will now
have each link provided with a back piece closing one end of the grooves
against which the types will be pushed.
My next improvement refers to the manner of separating the thick from
the thinner letters. This has hitherto been effected by a fixed bar covering
the fixed inclined plane at its junction with the edge of the upper and move-
alle part of the lower inclined plane. The bar in question was fixed at a
distance above the bottom of the channels of the inclined plane sufficient to
allow all the thin letters equal to and less than the letter n in thickness to:
pass through, but not sufficient to admit of the small w and other letters of
the same or greater thickness passing. The objection to this plan is that if
by any accident a letter stopped in the opening it prevented the flap of
the upper part of the lower inclined plane rising and thereby also prevented
the further action of the machine. In order to obviate this inconvenience I
propose making the moveable part of the lower inclined plane of much
greater length, and placing the bar which separates the thick from the
thinner letters on it instead of on the fixed incline at a distance of at least one
inch from its extremity. This bar I also make capable of being slightly raised,
but when at rest I propose it shall leave an opening between it and the
bottom of the channels which it covers, sufficient to allow all the letters
thinner and equal to the letter u in thickness to pass underneath, but other-
wise so small as to stop all letters as thick or thicker than the capital Z. All
the latter will be retained by the bar until when the flap has been raised by
means of a cam and lever on a level with the upper inclined plane; the bar is
also raised sufficiently to allow all the letters it has hitherto retained to slide
off the flap into the channels of the upper inclined plane, and thence into the
receivers of the sanie.

page_text: My next improvement applies to the motion of the nippers, pushers, scrapers,
and beaters. Hitherto they have been so made to act that the accidental stop-
page of one involved the stoppage of the whole machine. To prevent any inter-
ruption of the kind I ensure in conjunction with the combined action of each
of these distinctive parts, that each single nipper, pusher, scraper, or beater,
shall have a separate independent motion, so that its stopping shall not interfere
with the action of the rest. I obtain this result by either of the two following
methods:-In one case I propel each nipper, pusher, scraper, and beater by
an india-rubber or other suitable spring regulated by a bar crossing them all,
whether nippers, pushers, scrapers, or beaters, at right angles, and abutting
against a shoulder or pin so disposed in each of them as to counteract the for-
ward action of the springs. Or otherwise I place the pushers, scrapers, or
beaters on a slide as the nippers have hitherto been placed, but not attached
thereto, but placed loosely in grooves or channels, or in the intervals of one or
more comb pieces, but otherwise, each of them also provided as in the former
case with an india-rubber or other spring, and also with a bar crossing them
at right angles to regulate their action.
My next improvement relates to the following method for turning the types
from being on their edges, which are provided with nicks, to placing them on
their sides so as to allow of their being ranged side by side in column in the
receivers. I may here observe that this has hitherto been very effectually
accomplished by a slant or curve given to the channels leading into the
receivers when properly made. But as this was not always done with the
requisite skill and care, and the labour of doing so was altogether tedious and
expensive, I propose adopting the following plan instead:-I arrange that the
scrapers shall push the types to the edge of a tilting plane as before, but this
plane instead of falling I cause to rise gradually to a perpendicular position
outwards from the chain, so that when perpendicular the bottom of its grooves
shall be in the same perpendicular and level line as the bottom of the grooves
of the lower and fixed plane in connection with the receivers. But the
grooves of the lower plane will be placed at a slight angle to the tilting
plane, so that the types passing from the tilting plane into the grooves of the
lower plane shall assume a position by which the plane of their sides shall be at
an angle of about 45 degrees, with a line running parallel to the tilting plane
and at right angles to the grooved line of the receivers, which will admit of
the types being pushed by the beaters placed on a line with the grooves of the
receivers into the latter side by side in column. The receivers in this position
will be parallel to one of the diagonal lines of the square formed by the sides of
the machine. But I may also place the chain and tilting plane parallel to one.

page_text: of these diagonal lines, and cause the receivers to be placed parallel to two of
the sides of the machine, and perpendicular to the two others. I also propose
using a piece of plate glass to cover the whole or part of the lower fixed plane
in connection with the receivers. I propose making the scrapers of steel or
other metal rods, about inch in diameter, which I intend to bend so as to
form upper and lower rods in the same plane, and these being passed in the oppo-
site intervals of two comb pieces placed at certain distances apart, will answer
the same purpose of keeping them steady as the flat pieces of metal bitberto
used, but will be much lighter and cheaper. One end of the rod I propose
curving down and flattening out to a width of something more than of an
inch, and of this will act as the scraper to fall into the nicks of the types.
But the remainder will be turned up at either edge in the shape of a hook,
which by giving a certain breadth to the edge will prevent its catching in any
crevice or opening in its progress across the chain to the tilting plane when it
is not supported on a type. The other end of the rod I propose to bend a
second time at right angles to its length, and insert its point in the other rod,
or instead of bending it I may prolong it as far as the scraper part, and insert
its point in the latter.
I also propose to adopt the following plan for turning the types from stand-
ing on their edges to lying on their sides; thus, when they have been pushed
into the grooves of the tilting plane they are still on their edges, and require
to be laid on their sides in order to descend into the grooves of the receivers.
To effect this change of position, I propose using tubes of convenient length,
and square or oblong in section. One of these I propose to attach to the
tilting plane, in a line with each of its grooves, except those for the larger
types, which do not require to be turned, and in such a manner that they will
each of them form a continuation of the groove opposite to which they are
attached, and form part of the tilting plane, so as to partake of its tilting up-
and-down motion, but otherwise pivotted on a pin or spindle passed lengthways
through part of their circumferences, so as to allow the major axis of each
tube to be made to assume both a horizontal and perpendicular position.
Thus, for instance, the tube having by means of a spring or counterbalance
weight been placed with its major axis in a perpendicular position, the
that is in the groove of the tilting plane immediately opposite to it will slide
edgeways into it on the plane descending, and will be prevented sliding out at
its lower end by a rod placed just sufficiently high to stop its exit edgeways,
but not sideways. When, however, the tube is turned on its pin or spindle
by appropriate means so as to cause its major axis to assume a horizontal
position, the type that it contains will be made to lie on its side, and will then
type

page_text: be enabled to slide out from the tube into the channels leading to the receivers.
The tubes may, if preferred, be partially open along their length.
The preceding plan may also be adopted to cause types to be placed on
their edges after lying on their sides, as, for instance, when they slide down
the channels leading from the reservoirs. To effect this I propose inserting
in a convenient part of these channels tubes of the same kind as described
above, but placed in this case with their major axes in a horizontal position to
allow of the descending types to slide into them sideways, but not to slide out
in this way at their lower ends, which is prevented by rods suitably placed for
that purpose. When, however, the major axis of each tube is made to assume
a perpendicular position, the rods that have prevented the types sliding out on
their sides will not prevent their doing so now that they are on their edges,
and they will consequently slide out of the tubes into the channels leading to
the grooves of the chain. The different positions which the tubes are made
to assume may be effected by springs, counterbalance weights, or proper
mechanical movements indifferently.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Young in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
YOUNG, of 77, Fleet Street, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Young, Her special licence that I, the
said William Young, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Young, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no. others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE COMPOSING AND DISTRIBUTING
MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Young, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing

page_text: under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Young, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in type composing and
distributing machines, and the improvements relate to the machines known as
James Hadden Young's type composing and distributing machines. Patents.
relating to these machines were obtained by James Hadden Young on the
14th June 1858 (No. 1341), on the 9th April 1859 (No. 889), on the 10th
March 1860 (No. 650), on the 25th July 1860 (No. 1769).
The improvements in the type composing machine are as follows:-In order
to allow of more than two or three sorts of type being used in one and the
same machine, I propose making use of nippers, as on the plan already adopted
in the type distributing machine, each particular letter or character having its
special nipper instead of a special lever as is now the case; this would ensure
a comparative economy in the prime cost of the machines made on that prin-
ciple, as one machine might then be used for all sorts of type, but it would be
at a sacrifice of speed in play, as the present levers cannot be excelled in that
respect.
The nippers that I thus propose using in the composing machine would be
made on the same principle as those hitherto used in the distributing machine,
with this difference, that the prongs or nipping ends instead of being slanted
would be made exactly parallel to each other, being only slightly rounded at their
extreme points so as to prevent their cutting the edges of the types, and the
distance between the two nipping ends would be a trifle less than the width of
the type they would have to act on so as to ensure a certain degree of
pressure sufficient to hold a single type, and this distance would be increased
in proportion to the width of the sort of type used, thus being less in the case
of nonpareil, and greater in the case of minion, brevier, and so on.
To effect this increase of distance I propose inserting wedges between the
two legs of the nippers or otherwise by using different sets of nippers for each
sort of type, as may be found most convenient. The nippers in question will also
differ from those hitherto used in the following respect:-The nipping ends,
calculating from the cross pin placed at right angles to their length, will either

page_text: be of a length suited to the thickness of each particular type the nipper has
to act on, or all the nippers may have their nipping ends, calculating from this
same cross pin, made of a uniform length equal to the thickness of the thinnest
type used. The nippers made according to the last method may also be used
in the distributing machine.
The nippers in the composing machine will be connected by rods or other
suitable means to the keys of the machine, so as to be put in motion by the player's
fingers striking the keys, or they may also be moved by a moving chain or belt
already described and patented by James Hadden Young on the 25th July.
1860 (No. 1769).
In the event of my using nippers in the composing machine I should place-
the reservoirs in a horizontal position more or less, instead of as they are now
in a perpendicular one.
Figure 1 shows a plan and side view of a nipper constructed as heretofore
used with the nipping surfaces inclined from each other; and Figure 2 shows
a side view and plan of a nipper constructed according to my Invention, the
nipping surfaces a, a, being parallel to each other; the extreme points are how-
ever rounded, as is shewn, so as to cause the nippers as they are moved up to
and caused to come in contact with a type to open and embrace it; the nippers
as they recede with the type so embraced are caused to open as before by
inclines formed on them coming against a fixed stop b, thus causing the nipping
surfaces to be moved away from each other and release the type. The nippers-
to be used in the composing machine are by preference formed with the recess
in their ends, in which the type is received of such a depth as to be equal to the
thickness of the thinnest type in the distributing machine; however, the nippers
must always be made in this manner..
What I claim in respect to this part of my Invention is the constructing
nippers to be used in type composing and distributing machines as above
described, and also when using nippers in type composing machines.
As it sometimes happens that some of the thicker letters, such as the small
w and m transpose with the thick space and thinner letters which pass down
the inclined plane used for the thinner letters, I propose in order to prevent
this, and otherwise regulate the descent of the thicker letters, to make the
bottom of the channels down which they slide rougher, or of a substance not
so smooth as polished metal, so that by augmenting or diminishing this surface
may be enabled to regulate their descent to a nicety. I may also obtain the
same result by covering the bottom of the grooves to the required extent with
thin pieces of cloth, paper, wood, or other material having a rougher surface
than polished metal. Or further, I may also obtain the same result by making

page_text: part of the grooves of the thick letters less inclined, or by moveable slips of
metal placed at their upper extremities near the reservoir boxes, which might
be adjusted to give the necessary slope by raising or lowering.
Although the adjustment of the speed at which the thicker letters descend
can be obtained by any of the above methods, yet I prefer to accomplish it by
covering more or less of the bottom of the grooves down which they descend
with paper, cloth, or other suitable material; the amount of the groove that
should be so coated is readily ascertained by trial, by causing one of the thinner
and one of the thicker to descend their respective grooves simultaneously,
and adjusting the length of paper or other material, placed in the groove until
they both arrive simultaneously at the bottom of the incline.
Hitherto as one groove of the galley used with the composing machine has
become full, the next groove of the galley has been adjusted to the groove of
the receiver by the attendant's eye; I now propose to use a rack and winch
to move the galley, and thus by the motion of the winch to ensure that each
groove of the galley shall in turn come opposite to the groove of the receiver.
Such an arrangement is shown at Figures 3 and 4; a is the rack fixed to
the bottom of the galley; ba pinion, on the axis 6' of which is a ratchet
wheel c, into which a pawl carried by a lever d which can turn around the
axis is pressed by a spring; the lever d can be moved by hand between two
fixed stops, and each time that a fresh groove of the galley is to be brought
opposite the groove of the receiver the lever, which before rested against one
stop, is moved up to the other stop, and again brought back to the first stop; the
distance the lever is allowed to move is adjusted so that the requisite amount
of movement shall be given to the galley.
I propose adopting a similar arrangement in the use of the galley in the
justifying apparatus.
The improvements in the type-distributing machine are as follows:-The
types about to be distributed having been placed in reservoirs are taken from
thence by means of nippers, and caused to slide down grooved channels in
order to be then pushed into the grooves of a revolving chain. As it is, how-
ever, necessary that previous to being thus pushed into the grooves of the
chain that they should be placed on their edges so as to admit of the nicks
cut therein being exposed to the action of the scrapers which distribute them,
they must be turned in the interval of their leaving the reservoirs and their
arrival at the chain.
Now this turning has hitherto been effectually accomplished by means of a
certain slanting curve being given to the channels down which the types slide,
which caused the types in their descent gradually to assume the position of

page_text: lying on their edges with the nick upwards from that of lying on their sides.
But the channels provided with curves of the kind in question are very
difficult to make, and consequently their perfect construction is not to be
depended on so as to ensure the desired turning with certainty.
I therefore propose adopting the following plan instead, as more easily
executed, and therefore more economical, and altogether more certain. I
propose making each channel a level surface throughout its entire length so
as to retain the types on their sides, but at the extreme ends of the channels,
which are closed by a ridge, the descending types are stopped, and here I cut
away one side of the bottom of each channel to the extent lengthwise of at
least one inch upwards from the ridge, so as to make an opening of a width
about equal (rather less than more) to the thickness of a small w, leaving the
remaining portion of the channel, the whole of which should not exceed
(much, if anything) more than th inch in width, as a ledge. Now, when the
types in their descent arrive at these openings, they must necessarily drop in
edgeways from the ledges that sustain them of the remaining side, and as
these openings are continued down to grooves of a similar width placed
beneath on a level with the grooves of the chain, the types in falling are
retained in the same position edgeways, and have only then to be pushed into
the grooves of the chain. This arrangement, however, does not apply alto-
gether to the channel down which the thick types descend, for no ledge is left
in it, as the opening extends across its entire width, so as to allow these thick
types to remain in their fall on their sides, so as to be pushed into the grooves
of the chain on their sides, their nicks being cut in their sides, and not as in
the thinner types on their edges. The inclined plane, instead of terminating
with an inch or two of the side of the chain nearest the nippers, as hitherto,
I propose shall now cross the chain and terminate a short distance on the
other side of the chain. The pushers will also be placed on the same side,
instead of on the opposite one as before, and will thus push the types at their
tails instead of at their face or letter end on to the chain, which will now
have each link provided with a back piece closing one end of the grooves
against which the types will be pushed, but to the so causing the inclined
plane to cross the endless chain I lay no claim.
Figure 5 shows a plan view, and Figure 6 a vertical section, of the lower.
end of the inclined plane down which the types slide when they are released
by the nippers. These views also show the pushers and the endless chain on
to which the types aro to be received. a are the openings at the bottom of
the inclined plane through which the types fall, and by which they are turned
up on edge, and in order that the types may not be descending too quickly as

page_text: they come to the holes at the bottom of the inclined plane I place a bar, not
shewn in the Drawings, a short distance above the holes, against which bar
the types first strike, and are thereby stopped. The bar is then lifted by the
working of the machine, and the types descend slowly to the holes. After the
types have thus been turned on edge they are prevented from turning back
again on to their sides, as the channels into which they fall are not of suffi-
cient width to allow them to do so. When the types have fallen through the
openings they are pushed forward by the pushers into the recesses of the
endless chain. What I claim in reference to this part of my Invention is
the turning the types in the manner herein described.
My next improvement refers to the manner of separating the thick from
the thinner letters. This has hitherto been effected by a fixed bar covering
the fixed inclined plane at its juntion with the edge of the upper and move-
able part of the lower inclined plane. The bar in question was fixed at a
distance above the bottom of the channels of the inclined plain sufficient to
allow all the thin letters equal to and less than n in thickness to pass
through, but not sufficient to admit of the small w and other letters of the
same or greater thickness passing. The objection to this plan is, that if by
any accident a letter stopped in the opening it prevented the flap of the
upper part of the lower inclined plane rising, and thereby also prevented the
further action of the machine.
In order to obviate this inconvenience I propose making the moveable part
of the lower inclined plane of much greater length, and placing the bar which
separates the thick from the thinner letters on it, instead of on the fixed incline,
at a distance of at least one inch from its extremity. This bar I also make
capable of being slightly raised, but when at rest I propose it shall leave an
opening between it and the bottom of the channels which it covers sufficient to
allow all the letters thinner and equal to the letter n in thickness to under-
pass
neath, but otherwise so small as to stop all letters as thick or thicker than the
capital Z. All the latter will be retained by the bar until when the flap has
been raised by means of a cam and lever on a level with the upper inclined
plane, the bar is also raised sufficiently to allow all the letters it has hitherto
retained to slide off the flap into the channels of the upper inclined plane,
and thence into the receivers of the same.
Figure 7 shews a vertical section of so much of a distributing machine as
is necessary to illustrate this part of my Invention. This part of the dis-
tributing machine is merely for separating the type into two classes, the thick
and the thin. a is the moveable part of the inclined place, on which is carried,
according to my Invention, a bar b, which is at such a distance from the

page_text: surface of the inclined plane as to allow the thinner types to pass beneath it;
the bar 6 can rise and fall on pins carried by the moving plane a. Below the
bar 6 are the ends of lever c, which turn on pins d carried by the moving
plane. When the moveable part a of the plane is raised into the position
shewn by dotted lines, the bar 6 will be slightly raised, as is there shewn, by
the levers coming against the upper incline, so that any type that were stopped
by it will descend into the upper inclined plane. When the plane a descends
the bar will resume its first position. Type is then again by the nippers
supplied to the incline a, and is, as before, separated into two classes.
My next improvement applies to the motion of the nippers, pushers,
scrapers, and beaters. Hitherto they have been so made to act that the
accidental stoppage of one involved the stoppage of the whole machine. To
prevent any interruption of the kind I ensure, in conjunction with the com-
bined action of each of these distinctive parts, that each single nipper, pusher,
scraper, or beater shall have a separate independent motion, so that its
stopping shall not interfere with the action of the rest. I obtain this result by.
either of the two following methods :-In one case I propel each nipper, pusher,
scraper, and beater by an india-rubber or other suitable spring regulated by a
bar crossing them all, whether nippers, pushers, scrapers, or beaters, at right
angles, and abutting against a shoulder or pin so disposed in each of them as
to counteract the forward action of the springs. Or otherwise I place the
pushers, scrapers, or beaters on a slide as the nippers have hitherto been placed,.
but not attached thereto, but placed loosely in grooves or channels, or in the
intervals of one or more comb pieces, but otherwise each of them also provided,
as in the former case, with an india-rubber or other spring, and also with a
bar crossing them at right angles to regulate their.action.. The pushers shewn.
in. Figures 5 and 6 are shewn to be arranged.in this manner; the pushers
being all carried in grooves formed in a bar, which I call the pusher slide;
each pusher is provided with a vulcanized india-rubber spring, as is there
shewn, by which it is constantly drawn forward. When, however, the pusher
meets with any obstruction through any of the type sticking or otherwise, the.
spring will give way and no injury will be done to the machine. From the
Drawings, and from the above description, springs can readily in like manner
be applied also to the nippers, scrapers, and beaters in type composing and
distributing machines.
My next improvement relates to the following method for turning the types"
from being on their edges, which are provided with nicks, to placing them on.
their sides so as to allow of their being ranged side by side in column in the
receivers. I may here observe that this has hitherto been very effectually

page_text: accomplished by a slant or curve given to the channels leading into the
receivers when properly made. But as this was not always done with the
requisite skill and care, and the labour of doing so was altogether tedious and
expensive, I propose adopting the following plan instead :-I arrange that the
scrapers shall push the types to the edge of a tilting plane, as before; but this
plane instead of falling I cause to rise gradually to a perpendicular position out-
wards from the chain, so that when perpendicular the bottom of its grooves
shall be in the same perpendicular and level line as the bottom of the grooves
of the lower and fixed plane in connection with the receivers. But the
grooves of the lower plane will be placed at a slight angle to the tilting plane,
so that the types passing from the tilting plane into the grooves of the lower
plane shall assume a position by which the plane of their sides shall be at an
angle of about 45 degrees with a line running parallel to the tilting plane, and
at right angles to the grooved line of the receivers, which will admit of the
types being pushed by the beaters placed on a line with the grooves of the
receivers into the latter side by side in column. The receivers in this position
will be parallel to one of the diagonal lines of the square formed by the sides
of the machine. But I may also place the chain and tilting plane parallel to
one of these diagonal lines, and cause the receivers to be placed parallel
to two of the sides of the machine and perpendicular to the two others. I
also propose using a piece of plate glass to cover the whole or part of the
lower fixed plane in connection with the receivers.
Figure 8 shews a plan view, and Figure 9 a vertical section, of an arrange-
ment, such as is above described, for turning type over on to their sides as
they pass from the endless chain of a distributing machine into the receivers.
a is the tilting flap formed with grooves at the same distance apart as the
grooves of the endless chain; the types are pushed by the scrapers into the
grooves of the tilting flap; the tilting flap is then turned upwards into the posi-
tion shewn at Figure 9, so that the type may slide from them into the grooves
of the plate b; the upper ends of the sides of the grooves of this plate are
made to incline outwards, so that the type may readily enter into them. The
grooves in the plate b are, as is shown, at an angle of 45 degrees to the grooves
of the endless chain, so that the sides of the type as the type enter the grooves
are brought to a similar angle to the grooves of the chain; the groove c of
the receiver are at right angles to the sides of the type when they have been
brought into this position, so that the pushers or beaters, which work to and
fro parallel with the grooves c, will push the type side by side into column in
the grooves of the receiver. I propose making the scrapers of steel or other
metal rods about th inch in diameter, which I intend to bend so as to form

page_text: upper and lower rods in the same plane, and these being passed in the opposite
intervals of two comb pieces placed at certain distances apart will answer the
same purpose of keeping them steady as the flat pieces of metal hitherto
used, but will be much lighter and cheaper. One end of the rod I propose
curving down and flattening out to a width of sometimes more than th of an
inch, and th of this will act as the scraper to fall into the nicks of the type,
but the remainder will be turned up at either edge in the shape of a hook,
which, by giving a certain breadth to the edge, will prevent its catching in
any crevice or opening in its progress across the chain to the tilting plano
when it is not supported on a type. The other end of the rod I propose to
bend a second time at right angles to its length, and insert its point in the
other rod, or instead of bending it I may prolong it as far as the scraper part
and insert its point in the latter.
Figure 10 shews a side. view and Figure 11 an end view of a scraper
constructed in this manner; one end a of the rod of which the scraper is formed
is as is there shewn curved down and flattened out, the central portion of the
flattened out end acts as the scraper to fall into the nicks of the types; the
two sides of the flattened out end are turned upwards as is shewn, so that if
the scraper is not acting on a type these turned up parts may prevent the
scraper from catching when it is being moved forwards and is not supported
by a type; the other end 6 of the rod is shewn to be bent over twice at right
angles to the rod, the bending the rod in this manner facilitates its being held
steady as before mentioned.
I also propose to adopt the following plan for turning the types from
standing on their edges to lying on their sides. Thus when they have been
pushed into the grooves of the tilting plane they are still on their edges and
require to be laid on their sides in order to descend into the grooves of the
receivers. To effect this change of position I propose using tubes of con-
venient length, and square or oblong in section. One of these I propose to
attach to the tilting plane in a line with each of its grooves except those for
the larger types, which do not require to be turned, and in such a manner that
they will each of them form a continuation of the groove opposite to which
they are attached and form part of the tilting plane so as to partake of its
tilting up and down motion, but otherwise pivotted on a pin or spindle passed
lengthways through part of their circumferences so as to allow the major axis
of each tube to be made to assume both a horizontal and perpendicular position.
Thus, for instance, the tube having by means of a spring or counterbalance
weight been placed with its major axis in a perpendicular position, the type
that is in the groove of the tilting plane immediately opposite to it will slide

page_text: edgeways into it on the plane descending, and will be prevented sliding out at
its lower end by a rod placed just sufficiently high to stop its exit edgeways
but not sideways. When however the tube is turned on its pin or spindle by
appropriate means, so as to cause its major axis to assume a horizontal position,
the type that it contains will be made to lie on its side and will then be
enabled to slide out from the tube into the channels leading to the receivers.
The tubes may if preferred be partially open along their length.
Figure 12 shows a transverse section and Figure 13 an end view of an
apparatus constructed as above described. The apparatus shown in these Figures
is for turning the type as they pass from the endless chain of the distributing
machine to the receivers. a is the tilting plane carrying tubes 6 which are open
at the top; each tube turns on a pin passed lengthwise through the bottom of
the tube and near one of its sides; when the tilting plane is level with the
endless chain, as it is shown at Figures 12 and 13, the open tops of the tubes
are uppermost, as the comb c then acts on each tube and holds it in this
position; when however the tilting plane is lowered into the position shown by
red lines in Figure 12, and in end view at Figure 14, the comb piece c is drawn
back clear of the tube, as is shown at Figure 12; the tubes then by their own
weight turn over until the open portion of the tube 6 which before was at the
top is now at one side of the tube. The type is pushed from the endless chain
into the grooves of the tilting plane a, when this plane is in its highest position;
when the plane is lowered the types slide into the tubes b, but are prevented
from sliding beyond them by the bar d, when however the tilting plane is in
its lowest position, and the tubes have turned over on to their sides, the type
can slide out sideways through notches in the bar d into the receiver e.
The preceding plan may also be adopted to cause types to be placed on
their edges after lying on their sides; as for instance when they slide down the
channels leading from the reservoirs. To effect this I propose inserting in a
convenient part of these channels tubes of the same kind as described above,
but placed in this case with their major axes in a horizontal position to allow
of the descending types to slide into them sideways but not to slide out in this
way at their lower ends, which is prevented by rods suitably placed for that
purpose. When however the major axis of each tube is made to assume a
perpendicular position the rods that have prevented the types sliding out on
their sides will not prevent their doing so now that they are on their edges,
and they will consequently slide out of their tubes into the channels leading to
the grooves of the chain. The different positions which the tubes are mado
to assume may be effected by springs, counterbalance weights, or proper
mechanical movements indifferently.

page_text: Figure 15 shows a side view, and Figure 16 a plan of part of an inclined
plane leading from the reservoirs, the inclined plane being fitted with tubes for
turning the types, so that in place of lying on their sides they shall lie on their
edges.
a is the inclined plane fitted at the bottom with a moving piece a' which
carries tubes 6; the tubes when in the position shown lie on their sides so that
the type coming down the inclined plane can slide into them; when the moving
piece a¹ is moved into the position shown by red lines in Figure 15 the tubes
are brought in contact with the fixed comb c, which turns them up into the
position shown in end view at Figure 17; the type can then be pushed by the
pushers d into the grooves of the endless chain. The arrangement for actuating
the pusher I have not thought necessary to show in the Drawings. What I
claim in reference to this last part of my Invention is the turning type over
on to their sides or on to their edges by means of tubes turning on pivots as
above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Young, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
WILLIAM YOUNG. (L.S.)