IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF PRINTING TYPE
Year: 1874

page_text: of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF PRINTING TYPE."-A communication from abroad by the
Firm of Renault Robcis and Sons, of Paris, in the Republic of
France, Typefounders.
Sealed the 6th November 1874, and dated the 23rd June 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd June 1874.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 17, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF PRINTING TYPE," a communication to me from abroad
by the Firm of Renault Robcis and Sons, of Paris, in the Republic of
France, Typefounders, to be as follows:-

page_text: a peculiar arrangement and combination of machinery or apparatus for
breaking off the superfluous length of metal, "rubbing" the types so as
to remove burrs or seams, and accurately dress or prepare their surfaces
"kerning" the types when necessary, and finally setting up or arranging
them in lines by self-acting means.
+
In carrying out this Invention there are mounted at a convenient part.
of a foundation or bed plate supporting the whole of the apparatus, two
standards or pedestals carrying a shaft to which motion is imparted in
any suitable manner. This shaft is provided with a series of (say 6)
cams herein-after called cams Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, for transmitting
the motion to a series of vibrating levers mounted on centres, one
extremity of each of which levers provided with an antifriction roller is
maintained in contact with its respective cam by means of a helical
spring, the opposite extremity of the levers being connected with the
various parts of the mechanism.
The opposite extremity of the lever of cam No. 1 enters a strap which
is jointed to one end of a bell-crank lever turning on a centre carried on
a standard or column, the opposite end of such bell-crank lever being
attached to a 66
pusher," the object of which will be herein-after
described. The levers of cams Nos. 2 and 6 are also similarly arranged
and are connected with the mechanism in the manner herein-after
mentioned. The lever of cam No. 3, has for its centre of vibration the
axis of a cylindrical casing which contains or surrounds an emery or
other grindstone employed for effecting the rubbing operation, and is
connected to a bell-crank lever in a similar manner to the levers hercin-
before referred to; it is also provided with a pawl which engages with
ratchet teeth formed around the periphery of the said cylindrical casing
for the purpose of imparting a slight motion to the grindstone at each
vibration, so as to ensure the rubbing taking place successively over the
whole of its surface.
The opposite ends of the levers of cams No. 4 and 5 are attached by
connecting rods to the extremities of other vibrating levers also mounted
on centres and operating as herein-after described. The standard or
column on which the bell-crank lever of cam No. 1 is centred carries a
plate which is inclined to correspond to the are described by one of the
levers lastly herein-before mentioned, and provided with an attachment
through which the "pusher" before referred to slides.

page_text: *
The attachment carries guides capable of adjustment both vertically
and horizontally for the purpose of regulating the size of the spaces
provided for the reception of the types to suit their depth and thickness,
a vibrating loop or eye being employed to maintain thin types in
position whilst admitting of their free passage when acted upon by the
pusher." The "pusher" has a to-and-fro motion in order alternately
to admit of the descent of the types which are inserted in the space and
piled one above, the other, and to push one of such types forward; when
the latter operation takes place a hook with which the bell-crank lever
of cam No. 3 is provided falls and breaks off the superfluous length, and
the motion of the "pusher "being continued the type is directed into a
type carrier, the function of which is to present it to the action of the
grindstone.
The type carrier consists of a frame capable of rotation, and having a
chamber or cavity for the reception of the type, in which chamber or
cavity there is fitted a movable inverted T piece, which under the action
of a helical spring presses upon the type. This type carrier is attached
to the secondary vibrating lever of cam No. 4, and during a portion of
its stroke across the grindstone it is accompanied in its motion by the
secondary vibrating lever of cam No. 5, which lever is provided with
another "pusher" which forces the type contained in the type carrier
against the grindstone, and is drawn back at cach end of the stroke by
a spring lever, the motion of which is effected by one of its extremities
acting against a suitable curved guide. The type carrier on arriving at
the end of its stroke comes in contact with a plate (mounted on a slide
operated by cam No. 2) which causes it to turn slightly, and on the
return motion of the lever to which it is attached it is caused to make a
half revolution by coming in contact with the casing of the grindstone,
by which means the other face of the type is presented to the operation
of such grindstone which acts upon the same during the said return
stroke; another type is then moved forward and the operations of
breaking off and rubbing recommenced, and so on in succession. The
rubbed types are directed on to a setter up where they are arranged in a
line. They are guided at first by a presser acted upon by a spring lever
between which presser and a fixed setting up frame they pass, a slide or
runner being provided at the opposite end of the row or line for the
purpose of maintaining the types in close contact. The types are
removed by hand as they are set up on to a detached setting up frame
by means of a movable bar.

page_text: The operations herein-before described apply to the rubbing of types
having no projections. When operating on types on which projections
have to be formed one side of the type is rubbed, and the other or the side
provided with the projections is "kerned." In this case it is not necessary
to cause the type carrier to turn, another plate is therefore substituted
for the stop plate employed for that purpose, and a suitably shaped tool
is fitted in a dovetailed notch or groove formed in the guide of such
plate, so as to ensure the rectilineal motion of the type carrier when it
has left the grindstone. The non-rubbed face is operated on by means
of a serrated tool carried on a shaft which is rotated by endless chains
and chain wheels, and has its bearings in a slide which may be thrown
out of action when not required for use) and to which motion is imparted
from cam No. 6.
The type contained in the type carrier is pressed by the slide of
cam No. 2 against the serrated tool which operates upon the whole of
the surface, with the exception of the projection which is beyond its
reach. The serrated tool may however if desired be dispensed with,
and the operation be performed by means independent of the machine.
Machines may also be constructed for performing separately one or
more of the before-mentioned operations by means of the mechanical
arrangements herein-before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th December 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN 2
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the 3
38th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, admini-

page_text: strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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 Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
PRINTING TYPE," a communication to me from abroad by the Firm of
Renualt Robcis and Sons, of Paris, in the Republic of France,
Typefounders, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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 immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
The manufacture of printing type comprises various operations; the
first consists in running the metal in a state of fushion into a mould
having a matrix in which the metal assumes the shape of the letter
or character to be produced. The type as it leaves the mould has
attached to its end a superfluous piece of metal, this "breaking off"
of which constitutes the second operation. The third operation has
for its object the removal of the burrs or seams existing on the casting,
and consists in "rubbing "the types over a hard rough body, such
for example as an emery stone, a file, or the like, whereby such burrs
or seams are rubbed down, and the surfaces of the type are accurately
dressed or prepared. This operation is completed in the case of certain
letters by "kerning." The letters or types thus prepared are then
" set up
or arranged in lines.
""
The present Invention consists of a peculiar arrangement and com-
bination of machinery or apparatus for effecting, by mechanical means,

page_text: the four last-mentioned operations, viz., the
rubbing," the "kerning," and the “ setting up
ઃઃ
<<
breaking off," the
" of the types.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood,
I shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for
that purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet
of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all the Figures.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine constructed in
accordance with the said Invention; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan
of same; Figure 3 is an end clevation showing the parts in the
foreground; Figure 4 is a similar view shewing the parts in the
background (those in the foreground being supposed removed). The
remaining Figures represent details of parts, and will be herein-after
referred to.
The whole of the mechanism of this machine is mounted on a cast
iron or other metal plate A, which rests upon a wooden frame, or
upon cast-iron standards; or it may be otherwise supported in any
convenient manner; B is the main shaft which is driven either by a
strap, by means of fast and loose pulleys C, C¹, or by hand, or by a
treadle, or other suitable means. This shaft, from which motion is
transmitted to all the parts of the apparatus, carries a series of cams
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, against which respectively bear the vibrating
levers a, b, c, d, e, f, which are acted upon by helical springs R or R¹
(Figure 1), and the friction of which upon the cams is reduced by means
of rollers, as shewn.
The lever a vibrates on a fixed point a¹, and its extremity opposite
to that carrying the roller enters a strap a² (Figure 3) which is
jointed to a bell-crank lever a³, so that the lever a vibrates under.
the action of the cam 1, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 3, its
centre of vibration which is at a being carried on a standard or a
column D.
The lever b, the roller on one extremity of which is in contact with
the cam 2, vibrates on the centre ', and its opposite extremity enters
a strap (Figure 4) jointed to a lever b³ which also vibrates in a
similar manner to the lever a³, according to the shape of the cam 2.
Motion is transmitted in a similar manner from the cam 6 to the

page_text: inserted in the space x and piled up one above the other therein by the
attendant, and moves forward at given periods in order to push or feed
one of such types into the space x¹.
When a type has been fed forward its superfluous length is laid hold
of by the hook 8, with which the lever c³ is provided, as shewn by dotted
lines in Figure 2, and in full lines in Figure 3, at this moment the
hook 8 falls (by a vibratory motion derived from the cam 3) and breaks
off the projecting length, and the motion of the " pusher" H being
continued the type is conducted into the type carrier I (shewn in dotted
lines in Figure 5).
The type carrier I (which is shewn in detail in Figure 8) is mounted
on the upper end of the vibrating lever d², and consists of a frame I, in
which moves a piece J (of the form of an inverted T), which under the
action of the spring exercises a pressure upon the type which is intro-
duced into the space y. The type carrier is provided with a rod K
entering a socket in the lever d² and forming a pivot on which it is
capable of turning. The type is confined in the type carrier in the
direction of its depth which is to remain intact, and the type so confined
has then to be rubbed against the grindstone E' by means of the
vibratory motion of the lever d² (which in Figure 1 is represented as at
its starting point). The lever d having commenced its vibratory
motion it is first brought into the same plane as the lever e³, after
which the two levers d² and e² move together across the grindstone.
During the stroke of the levers a "pusher "L with which the lever e²
is provided is introduced into the space y of the type carrier I and
presses the type against the grindstone, and is again withdrawn at each
end of the stroke. The motions of the "pusher" L are obtained by
means of the levers M and M', the latter of which is acted upon by a
spring 9 at one extremity, whilst its opposite extremity is provided with
a roller m, which under the action of the spring 9 is maintained in
contact with the guide N, which is provided with curved surfaces at n
for effecting the withdrawal of the " pusher L at the ends of the
stroke. When the levers d² and e² moving in concert have arrived at
the opposite side of the grindstone E¹ the motion of the lever e² is
suspended, whilst the lever d² continues to advance until the type
carrier I comes into contact with a plate O, which action has the effect
of causing it to turn slightly (as shewn by dotted lines in Figure 2),
and on the return motion of the lever d² the type carrier I in its
"

page_text: partially turned position is brought into contact with the periphery of
the casing E, whereby it is caused to perform a semi-revolution on its
own axis. The return motion of the lever being continued the lever e³
accompanies it, and the "pusher" L forces the opposite face of the type
against the grindstone and ultimately both the levers d² and e² arrive at
their starting point.
The cam 5 which actuates the lever e² is formed with a moveable
adjustable portion 5* (Figures 2 and 14) which admits of the
"pusher" L being caused to act with greater force, either towards the
foot or the head of the types when such types are cast with an unequal
thickness.
The motions herein-before described having been completed the
"pusher" H (Figures 5 and 6) feeds another type into the type
carrier I, and the operation of rubbing on the two faces is re-
commenced.
Brushes 6 are employed for the purpose of cleaning the grindstone E',
and also the type which is held in the type carrier I from the filings
or dust resulting from the rubbing operation.
The rubbed types are forced the one by the other on to the "setter-up"
P, Figure 2, where they are arranged in a row or line. The types are
guided at the commencement of their motion on to the "setter-up" by
a clamp or presser Q, on which bears a lever q acted upon by a helical
spring. The types pass between the clamp or presser Q and the
setter-up," then between the bar S and the same, a slide or runner S¹
(fitted so as to work without much friction on the bar S) being provided
at the end of the row or line of types for the purpose of maintaining
them in close contact. The attendant collects the types as the operation
of arranging them on the "setter-up" P proceeds by passing them
by means of the moveable bar P¹ on to a wooden or other setting up
frame.
The plate O with which the type carrier I comes into contact in order
to be turned upon its axis is mounted upon a slide T working in a fixed
guide U, which is supported on two pedestals or columns V, V. This
slide is moved forward at the required time in order to cause the type
carrier to turn round partially (as shown in Figure 2), and its stroke is
limited either by a stop, screw or by a type held by a spring »*,
and

page_text: serving as a stop to a projection o*. A similar mode of adjustment is
applied to the "pusher" H, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
The operations hercin-before described are applicable to the "rubbing"
of types, such for example as that shewn in Figure 9, in which no
projections are employed. When however it is required to operate upon
types on which projections (such for example as the top of the "f,"
Figure 10) have to be formed the operation is slightly modified, as in
this case one side only of the type is rubbed, and the other side "kerned."
As therefore the type has to be rubbed on one side only, viz., that
which is devoid of projections, the type carrier I is not required to be
turned round; the plate O is therefore replaced by a plate O¹ (Figure 11)
which has no action upon the type carrier, and there is introduced into
a dovetailed notch or groove u formed in the guide U a strip Z (shewn
in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, and in detail in Figures 12 and 13),
which maintains the type carrier in a rectilineal position when it has left
the grindstone.
The non-rubbed face is next operated upon by the aid of a roughened
or serrated tool X, carried by the slide X (Figures 2 and 4), which is set
in motion at the required periods by the cam 6, and is caused to advance
so as to bring the tool Y into contact with the face of the type
carrier when the latter is opposite to it. The slide T is also moved
forward towards the type carrier so as to cause the plate O¹ (Figure 11)
with which it is provided to enter the space y, and force the type against
the tool Y, which operates upon the whole of the surface with the
exception of the projection of the kerned type, which is beyond its reach.
Rotatory motion is imparted to the tool Y by means of an endless chain
working over the chain wheels r, r¹, (Figure 2). When the slide X is
not required to be used it is wedged up and held out of action by means
of a piece of metal p introduced into the guide U.
The tool Y and its actuating mechanism may in practice be applied or
dispensed with according to circumstances, as other means independent
of the machine may be employed for effecting the operation for which
the tool Y is designed.
Machines may also be constructed in accordance with the mechanical
combinations herein-before described for performing separately one or
more of the before-mentioned operations, and the details of the parts may
be modified in various ways as found necessary.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I am aware that
machines having the same object have previously been constructed, and
I do not therefore claim generally the use of machines for the purposes
before mentioned, but what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the peculiar arrangement and combination
of apparatus for effecting automatically the operations of "breaking off,"
"rubbing," "kerning," and "setting up" printing types, such apparatus
having vibrating lever arms and bell-crank levers actuated by cams for
imparting motion to the several parts of the mechanism, and the whole
being constructed and arranged and operating substantially in the
manner hercin-before described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Seventh day of
December One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)