AN IMPROVED MODE OF SETTING UP PRINTING TYPES
Year: 1840

page_text: YOUNG AND DELCAMBRE'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
HADDEN YOUNG, of Lille, in the Kingdom of France, now residing at No. 106;
Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex, Merchant, and ADRIEN DELCAMBRE,
of Lille, aforesaid, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Thirteenth day of March, in the third year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said James
Hadden Young and Adrien Delcambre, Her especial licence, that we, the said
James Hadden Young and Adrien Delcambre, our exors, adiñors, or assigns, or
such others as we, the said James Hadden Young and Adrien Delcambre, our
exors, adiiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all Her said
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, our Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MODE OF SETTING UP PRINTING TYPES;" in which said Letters Patent is con-
tained a proviso, obliging us, the said James Hadden Young and Adrien'
Delcambre, by an instrument in writing under our or one of our hands and
seals, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention,
and 'in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to

page_text: be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
James Hadden Young and Adrien Delcambre, do hereby declare the nature
of our said Invention to consist in a set of elevated receptacles or chambers
containing types, which are pushed out of the said chambers in the order
required by levers, and what we call pushers, acted upon by keys, somewhat
similar to pianoforte keys, touched for that purpose by the fingers and thumbs,
and when pushed out of their respective chambers the types fall upon an
inclined plane, grooved, and set at so steep an inclination, that the type on
being pushed out of its chamber instantly slides down the groove adapted to
receive it. (This groove leading to one point at the lower end of the inclined
plane, where all the grooves on the inclined plane meet immediately over a
small box) and drops into the said box. This box answers the purposes of the
ordinary composing stick, wherefore we call it the composing box, and the
type is deposited therein by the mere force of its own weight in a proper
position to receive the printers' ink, and is afterwards removed to the ordinary
chases for that purpose. And in further compliance with the said proviso,
we, the said James Hadden Young and Adrien Delcambre, do hereby describe
the manner in which our said Invention is to be performed by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawing annexed, and to the
figures and letters marke thereon that is to say: -
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
"
The machine as represented in the Drawing is arranged for "setting up
seventy-six different letters or spaces, merely for the purpose of explaining the
movements of the various parts; but in a machine suitable for composing
type in the ordinary way the same number of receptacles or chambers for the
types would be required as is provided in the "case" now ordinarily used in
printing offices.
In the Drawing hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the
machine, with some of the casing, which covers it from dirt, removed to show
the mechanism more distinctly; Figure 2 is a vertical side section of the
same, and similar letters are used to denote similar parts in all the Figures.
A, A, A, is the casing and framework of the machine, in the middle of which
is a horizontal bed plate B, to which is attached bearings m, which carry the
pins C, forming axes for keys, like piano keys, D, D, D, to vibrate upon, three

page_text: rows of which are shewn in the Drawing, and colored brown, pink, and green,
to distinguish them. The ends of the keys are connected by joints 8 to the
inclined levers E, E, E, on the upper part of each of which levers are fixed
inclined planes or wedge-shaped pieces, acting as cams F, F, (shown on a
larger scale hereafter), which wedge-shaped pieces act against the lever frames
G, G, which we call pushing frames, by which the types are forced out of the
receptacles or chambers II, H, H. These chambers consist of brass bars placed
parallel to each other, and raised one above the other, as in Figure 1, to cor-
respond with the inclination of the back of the inclined plane J, and forming
open channels a hair's breadth wider than the types, so that they may slide
down freely. For this purpose they are mounted in an inclined position upon a
framework I, as in Figure 2 (which is at right angles to the inclined plane J).
This framework, it will be seen in Figure 1, is in the form of a pointed roof,
and is strengthened on the under side by cross ribs x, x, cast upon it for the
purpose of supporting the whole weight of the collected types; it is also firmly
attached to the framework A by screws at y, y'. The levers E pass through
slots t, cut in the lower arms of the support u (see Figure 5). These sup
ports are screwed to the under side of the inclined plane J, and v, v, are centre
screws, upon the points of which the pushing frames vibrate. To the supports
are fixed by screws the springs w, the points of which act against the pushing
frame G in an opposite direction to the inclined planes or wedges F, and force
back the frames to their former position as the wedges recede from the faces
of the frames, which is caused by the gravity of the levers E, and consequently
bringing back the keys D to their former position. J, J, is a grooved plate,
also placed in an inclined position, and forms the inclined plane, herein-before
alluded to as one of the principal features of our said Invention, see Figure 2.
It is provided with strengthening ribs 5 on Figures 2 and 5. This grooved
inclined plane receives the types immediately on their being pushed out of
their chambers (there being a groove to each type), and as soon as each type is
pushed out of its particular chamber it slides down the inclined plane, and is
conveyed by the cross channels n, n, see Figure 1, to the box which we call
the setting-up or composing box K, at the point J¹. This box serves the
purpose of the ordinary "composing stick," and receives the whole of the type
while it is being formed into pages or sentences. L is a small lever or arm
(which is fixed to a vibrating spindle L', extending across the machine, aud
mounted upon pivots at each end, connected by a joint to the lever S of the
parallel motion r, which is fixed by a bracket 6 to the framing A, and at every.
depression of a key the lever L vibrates, and the end L² of the parallel bar s
passes through an opening in the side of the box K, and comes in contact

page_text: with the column of type which is being formed, and pushes it away from
the point J of the inclined plane, as shewn by red lines in the detached
Figure 3, so that another type may fall into the space caused by this move-
ment; and the opposite end of the column is supported upon a brass slide M,
which also recedes with the type at every stroke of the lever through a notch.
in the opposite side of the box, and is prevented from slipping too far by the
pressure of a spring N against it, which causes the slide to move only so far as
it is pushed by the lever. The lever L receives its motion from the vertical arms
0, 0, 0, one of which is fixed to each key, and which arms are shewn with the
keys detached in Figures 12, 13, and 14, and as soon as the depression of the
key takes place its arm. O presses upon the edge of the bar P, which is also
fixed to the spindle L', and forces the lever L through the notch in the side of
the box K, and its end L against the type which has just dropped from the
inclined plane J. Z is a spring, attached at one end to the framing A by a
bracket 7, and its opposite end presses against one side of the bar P, in an
opposite direction to the arms O, to bring the lever and its end L² into its
former position after it has forced the type away from the point J' of the
inclined plane, and thus to leave a space for the next type to fall into the box.
But in order to guard against the breaking of a type should it stick in the
channel J', that part of the channel is made to move on a hinge, and is sup-
ported upon a spring Q, and thus allows the type, when pressed upon by the
shoulders L2, Fig. 3, of the parallel lever S, to yield or recede till the pressure
is removed, when it drops into the box K. R is a covering plate, which we
call a shield, shewn in Figures 2 and 8, (but partly removed in Figure 1, the
better to see what it covers). This shield is to prevent the types from jumping
out of the cross grooves n should they fall too rapidly. In Figure 2 a line of
type is shewn as having been just completed in the box K, and the slide M
as projected to its full extent out of the box; this will also be clearly seen by
reference to Figure 4, which is a plan of the box detached from the machine.
As soon as the line of type is filled, it is necessary to move it sideways to make
room for the next line to be placed in the box K; this is effected in the fol-
lowing manner: At one end of the machine is a handle and wheel S (shewn
in Figure 1), one revolution of which will move the type sufficiently for the
next line; this wheel is fixed to a shaft T, which at its opposite end carries a
toothed wheel U, and is mounted in a bearing V. In the bottom of the box
K, on the face of the toothed wheel, is a cam W, projecting from it as much
as the width of the type, which acts upon a stud X fixed to the brass slide Y,
which moves in dovetailed grooves in the box K, and has a spring Z on its
under side (shewn by dots) for the purpose of making it, move stiffly. This

page_text: slide Y, as will be seen in Figure 4, supports the type on one side, and on the
other is a similar acting slide a, which also supports the type; this is also pro-
vided with a spring Z underneath, to prevent it giving way to the action of the
cam too easily. The brass slide M, which moves though a notch in the side
of the box, has a guide pin 6 at one end, passing through a bearing c (sce
Figure 2) fixed to the bed plate B of the machine, for the purpose of keeping
its motion steady; at this end also is an arm d connecting it with a toothed
rack e, which gears with the wheel. U, and passes through a bearing.t on the
under side of the box, and also through a bearing 1 fixed to the upper side of
the bed plate B. It will now be evident, that when the workman turns
the handles S the cam W' will act upon the stud. X of the slide Y and force it
back in the direction of the arrow, as well as the several lines of type in the
box, and the slide a on the other side of the type; also, when as soon as the
cam has left. the stud X, a spring g, fixed to the bearing 6, will force back the
slide to its former position; the teeth of the wheel U will now move the rack e
and bring into the box the slide M; (for the wheel U, it will be seen, on refer-
ring to Figures 2 and 16, has a portion of its surface without. teeth), so that
whilst the cam is moving the slides Y, a, and the lines of type between them,
it shall not move the rack and slide M. In order that the workman may
know when a line of type is filled, there is a rod.h, seen in Figures 1, 2 and
4, which passes through a loop i and bearing 1; and 2 is an arm, with an eye
extending from one side of the slide M, and. as the slide recedes from the box
the eye of the arm comes in contact with the stud 3 and brings the point of
the rod h within the loop i, which will indicate that the line is complete; and
as the slide M is brought again into the. box. by the rack and pinion, the eye of
the arm will come in contact with the stud 4, and thus bring the point of the
rod out of the loop to its former position. That part of the box K where the
page of type is composed or set up is made to slide. in: dovetailed grooves, see
Figures 1, 11, and 16, and as soon as a page is complete the workman with-
draws that part of the box by means of a handle k, and along with it the
whole of the type, so that it may be placed. in the ordinary chase for printing.
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 10 are detached portions of the machine of the full size,
shewing the movement of the lever. E and. wedge: piece F, which as soon as
key is depressed pushes the type from its chamber H, the action, in Figure
6, being shewn by red lines. Figure 8.is. a plan: of the inclined plane J, with
the shield R fixed upon it, and at one side. is a. section of some of the elevated
receptacles or chambers H, with the types; therein; a longitudinal section of
the composing box K is also shewn in this Figure. Figure 9 is a transverse
section, shewing the form of the arm d, slide M, rack e, and arm and eye.2;

page_text: and Figure 11 is a transverse section of the box K, shewing the side elevation
of the slide M and rod h projected from the box to their full extent. In order
that the workman may be guided in his operations with the machine, and that
wrong letters may not be brought into the composing box, we have marked
upon each key the letter contained in the chamber II with which its action is
connected, and the chambers should also be marked with similar letters, that
the persons employed to fill or charge them may not insert the wrong letters
therein. Figures 12, 13, and 14 are side elevations of the keys D detached
from the machine, shewing the form of the vertical arms O. Figure 15 is a
plan of the keys D, shewing the joints 8 to which the levers E are connected.
Figure 16 is a transverse section through the box K, of the full size, with the
slide M projected out of the box, the arrow indicating the direction in which
the cog wheel U is moving so as to bring the slide M into the box by means
Should the machine be
of the rack e; and Figure 17 is a plan of the same.
extended in the number of its keys and chambers of type, it will of course
be necessary to increase in a similar proportion the number of grooves in the
inclined plane J; but these grooves should be so arranged that the length of
the parallel grooves, combined with the cross channels, should be so much
shorter as to compensate for the differences in the time the types would be
sliding down into the box, so that the letters should fall in the same order of
time in which the keys are struck.
Having thus described the various parts of the apparatus, and the mode of
operating with the same, we hereby disclaim all exclusive right to the principle
of using keys similar to pianoforte keys as the medium of communicating the
necessary movements to the various parts of our apparatus, such keys having
been often used before in the various unsuccessful attempts hitherto made to
compose types by machinery; but we claim as our Invention,-
First, the use of an inclined plane for setting up printing types, by the
inclination of which plane the types placed thereon in whatever manner are
caused to slide by their own gravity to a given point, whether such point be
the required position in the composing box, or receptacle answering the purpose
of the composing stick, as shewn in the Drawing, or any other required point.
Secondly, the particular form and arrangement of the elevated receptacles or
chambers H.
Thirdly, the pushing frames G and wedge-shaped pieces F by which the
types are pushed on to the inclined plane.
Fourthly, the hinged piece J' and its spring.
Fifthly, the composing box and the various mechanical movements connected
Grooves therewith.

page_text: And, sixthly, the shield which prevents the escape of the types out of the
grooves or from off the inclined plane.
And such our Invention being, to the best of our knowledge and belief,
entirely new, and never before used within that part of Her said Majesty's
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her said
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, nor in any of Her
said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, we do hereby declare this to
be our Specification of the same, and that we do verily believe this our said
Specification doth comply in all respects fully and without reserve or disguise
with the proviso in the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent con-
tained, wherefore we do hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege
to cur said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hadden Young, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty.