CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPES OR OTHER TYPOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERS INTO PROPER RECEPTACLES, AND PLACING THE SAME IN ORDER FOR SETTING UP, AFTER BEING USED IN PRINTING
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ETIENNE
ROBERT GAUBERT, of Paris, in the Kingdom of France, Professor of Mathe-
matics, but now residing at the George and Vulture Hotel, in the City of
London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Thirteenth day of March, in the third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Etienne Robert Gaubert, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Etienne Robert Gaubert, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Etienne Robert Gaubert,
my executors, administrators, 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 mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING
TYPES OR OTHER TYPOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERS INTO PROPER RECEPTACLES, AND
PLACING THE SAME IN ORDER FOR SETTING UP, AFTER BEING USED IN PRINTING;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
Etienne Robert Gaubert, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to

page_text: be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part 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, I, the said
Etienne Robert Gaubert, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The object of my Invention is to distribute or separate one from another
types, numbers, or other typographical characters, and deposit each letter or
character, by mechanical means or apparatus, in its proper place in a regular
manner side by side in the box intended for its reception, with its face upper-
most, instead of performing this operation by hand, or employing the time of
the compositor or distributor for this purpose when breaking up a form of
type, after the required number of impressions have been struck off. The
effect of this machine is to distribute or separate the letters or other typogra-
phical characters in a much shorter time than can be done by hand; for
example, this machine will in three minutes do what would occupy a workman
two or three hours. In the ordinary process of letter-press printing, after the
types and other typographical characters have been set up and used in printing,
they are obliged to be distributed or placed in the proper receptacles intended
for each letter or character before they can be again used by the compositor, or
a form of types can be set up to print fresh matter. This operation is tedious,.
and occupies much valuable time of the compositor or distributor, as each
separate letter, space, or other typographical character, must be placed by hand
in the compartment of the "case" intended for its reception. My Invention
is intended to obviate this loss of time; and I will first briefly explain the
system, manner, or method in which my improved mechanism is intended to
act, and then proceed to describe and explain an arrangement and construction
of apparatus by which my Invention may be carried into effect, referring to
the accompanying Drawings, which are several representations of apparatus
for distributing letter types. In the first place, it is well known that the
different types vary in thickness, according to the letter formed upon them;
for instance, the letter m occupies more width of type, or a greater space in a
word, than the letter I, consequently, if the letters of different thickness are
placed promiscuously in a heap, they may be separated one from another by
causing them to be moved over or sifted through different sized holes in plates.

page_text: or recesses.
or surfaces, or under guages like flat arches of bridges. The narrower or thinner
type pass under the different bridges, guages, or apertures from one to the
other until they are stopped by their proper bridges, while the thicker will be
stopped and made to pass off into a receptacle or channel intended to receive
them; but as there are upwards of one hundred different letters and characters,
many of them are necessarily of the same size, and consequently several
different letters would pass through the same apertures, and therefore sonic
other means than the mean difference in the size or width of the type must
be resorted to to separate different letters of the same width or guage one
from another. To give the means of effecting this further separation or
distribution, and in order that each individual type or letter may be passed
into its proper channel or receptacle, I cause notches or indentations to
be cast or formed in the sides of the types or characters intended to be
used in connection or conjunction with my Invention, which notches or
indentations vary in each letter or type in position, that is to say, no two
types of the same thickness are to have the same or corresponding notches
I also separate the letters by making openings or apertures to
correspond with the shape or configuration of the head of the letter, either
in conjunction with or without the different notches. It will now be under-
stood that if the holes or apertures are made to correspond with the form or
figure of the several types, they will fall or pass through the corresponding holes
or apertures, and them only. This will be better illustrated by reference to
the Diagrams, Figs. A, B, and C, in the accompanying Drawing. Suppose
a, A, to represent a side view of a type with two notches or grooves at b, b,
formed in its side, then the aperture c, through which it is intended to pass, is
to be furnished with two corresponding points or projections d, d, formed on
its side. Suppose Fig. B to represent a side view of a type of the same size
or guage, but having a different letter or character formed on it, then, in order
that these may be separated one from the other when placed in a promiscuous
mass, the situation of the grooves must be varied, in order that the one may
not be allowed to pass through the aperture of the other. I have therefore
shewn in Figure B the type e and its aperture f, having the same notches
b, b, and points and stops d, d, but placed in a different part of the side of the
type. Now supposing that the apertures are formed in the bottom plate g of
the groove or channel h along which the types are made to pass, either by
pushing them by mechanical force, or by causing them to descend by their
own gravity down an inclined groove or plate, it will be evident that these
different types, although of the same guage but not being of the same figure,
will pass over the aperture of the other one, it being stopped from falling

page_text: through any hole but its own by the projecting pins or studs d, d, which
extending across part of the hole support the type and prevent it falling through,
at the same time serving as a guide or assistant in its passage across or over
this aperture until it meets with its own or corresponding hole, when it will
fall through and pass off by a channel into the receptacle intended to receive
it. Figures C and D shew further variations of the change which may be
made in the position of the grooves and points in the types and apertures.
Having thus stated in general terms the system or mode or method of
operation upon which my improved mechanism or apparatus is founded, I
will proceed to state more in detail the manner or method of carrying my
Invention into effect, and an arrangement or construction of channels, steps,
guages, bridges, apertures, and other parts constituting an apparatus or piece
of mechanism by which the several different types may be separated one
from another after being used in printing. The types are placed promis-
cuously in a heap on an inclined plane, down which they slide or are shaken
into the apparatus; they are fed or conducted into the interior of the machine
by grooves or channels which are placed in an inclined position to assist their
forward motion. An apparatus attached or connected to these grooves pre-
vents more than one type at a time from passing into the sorting or separating
part of the machine. This apparatus consists of stops or bolts, which are alter-
nately raised or depressed by any suitable mechanism, as these stops rise up
above the thickness of one type, and impede the progress of the types, in the
following manner:-If one type should advance on the top of another the
lower one would be retained and the upper allowed to slide over the stop and
enter the channel conducting to the apparatus; from these grooves the types
and spaces descend on to plates furnished with a number of oblong slits or
passages which are long enough to allow the spaces or blanks to pass through
and fall down on to a plate which conveys them away, as will be after described,
but are not sufficiently long to admit of a letter or other typographical cha-
racter passing through. The spaces are by this means separated from the
letters and disposed of, and it only remains to separate the letters and convey
them to their proper receptacles. The separation of letters is effected in two
or three different ways, which will be better understood by reference to the
accompanying Drawings. Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a plan view of the whole
machine. A is the inclined plane upon which the types are promiscuously
placed. This plane has a slightly oscillating or shaking motion, which is com-
municated to it by any suitable mechanical contrivance. The plane A is
sufficiently inclined to allow the types to descend slowly when it receives the
oscillating or shaking motion before mentioned. From the plane A the types

page_text: pass on to a plane B (which I call the directing plane), from whence they ar
conducted by the oblique bars a into the passages C, called the directing passages.
The types follow in a row down the directing passages, the sides whereof (on
part of their length) are raised only sufficiently to allow of one type passing
down at a time, and consequently if one letter is on the top of another the
upper one will be shaken off and fall down into a receptacle placed below, from
whence they are removed back on to the plane A. The passages are closed at
their lower ends by the moveable bolts or stops c, d, which are raised and
lowered by the backward and forward motion of the transverse bars e below.
In each passage one of the stops. or bolts is raised when the other is lowered.
A side view of this part of the apparatus is shewn detached at Fig. 7, Sheet I.
It will be seen on reference to this Figure that the upper edges of the trans-
verse bars e are indented or have elevations formed on them, which, as the bars
e are made to move backwards and forwards, alternately raise and depress the
bolts c and d by pressing on their under sides, which are constantly kept in
contact with the transverse bars e by means of springs. This arrangement of
alternately raising and lowering the bolts is, as before stated, for the purpose of
preventing more than one type from passing down the passage or groove at
the same time, or one type on the top of another. Suppose that the bolt or stop c
is raised, and the top d is lowered, the row of types one on the top of another,
as the case may be, will rest or abut against the first stop c, and when the
blades e are set in motion the stop e will be lowered and allow the types to pass ;
but simultaneously with lowering the stop c, the stop d will be raised, and will
therefore arrest the further progress of the type which is undermost, and only
allow the upper one to slide over the stop into the lower channel, and from
thence into the interior of the machine to be sorted. The distance between
the two stops c and d is less than the length of a type, consequently, when a
type abuts against the stop & the tail of the type rests on the top of the stop c;
and when the position of the stops is again altered, or when the stop d is
lowered, this single type escapes down the channel, the others being arrested
in the descent by the stop c, which rises as the other descends, as before
described. The types and spaces descend singly and separately from the
channels 1 on to the sifting or separating plate D, which is furnished with
openings or apertures sufficiently long to admit of the spaces passing through
them, but not long enough to allow letters or other characters to pass
through. It will be seen that there are ledges at each end of these openings
which would support a letter, and prevent it from falling through. By
this means the spaces are separated from the letters and other characters,
and conveyed away. The types may fall on to the plate D in four different

page_text: positions. I have arranged that each type may be tried in all the four
positions before it is allowed to escape into compartments to undergo a similar
sifting. The positions in which it may be tried are upon one or other of its
faces, and also with the head to the right or left. Each type is made to cover
over the openings h and i in a regular manner by means of the transverse
bars f, ff, which stops it from passing over the opening without being tried.
These bars are furnished with openings alternately to each aperture, conse-
quently when one aperture is open for communication with the lower one i
the aperture g, adjoining the first one, is closed, and so on alternately. The
manner in which the letters are sifted is as follows:-The openings through
which the letters are intended to pass are furnished with small studs, as seen
in the detached view, Figure 5, therefore when the type arrives at the opening,
if it is intended to pass through, it will be found that the type has corre-
sponding notches formed on its side; and if the type arrives at the opening
with the notch uppermost it will not pass through the opening h, but when
the transverse barf is shogged on one side, so as to allow it to pass, it will
come over the aperture i; and as the notch on the type and the stud or
pin in
the opening will be found to correspond, the letter will fall through and be
carried away, as will be hereafter described; but if the notches in the type
do not correspond with the stud or stop in the aperture the type cannot pass
through, as it will be supported by the pin or stop, therefore it must be con-
veyed away to another stage in order to be sifted or tried a second time, to
see whether it belongs to the next class situated lower down in the machine.
In order to let the type escape, the transverse barf is shogged on one side, so
as to bring an opening opposite to the compartment in which is placed; the
head or tail of the type then meeting with an obstruction from the block j will
be turned round and shot foot foremost down the diagonal ways k, which will
direct it down through the opening 7 into the lower compartments. In passing
through the opening the types fall into diagonal passages m; see Figures 1
and 2, Sheet II. These passages m are beneath the plate D, and perpendicular
to it, and convey the types into the lower compartments of the plate F,
situated below the plate D, and parallel to it. The types which have passed
through the openings h and i of the plate D, and have arrived in the compart-
ments n and o of the plate F below, see Figure 1, are brought into the com-
partments p by means of stops q, similar to the stops j, which will cause them
to turn round and fall against the oblique guides r, which direct them into the
compartment p, but always keeping the foot or end of the type to the right.
Those types which fall properly, so as to register the notch with the stud in
the apertures, fall through, but the other continue their progress until stopped

page_text: by the part t, colored yellow. In this position they are raised up by the bolt u,
which is put in motion by a transverse blade, actuated by any suitable mecha-
nism. Upon being raised up by the bolt u the inclination of the whole machine
causes the type to fall over on to its other face, and passing over the obstacle t
rest against the projection ; and when the projection x is removed the types
will
pass down and fall*
the aperture v. Those types which have not
undergone all the trials are received at the edge of the plate F in a box, and
removed from thence to the plate A above; but those that have passed through
the openings or apertures s and are conducted by the passages G, which are
inclined from left to right (see Figure 1 and 2, Sheet II.), on to the plate H,
which is situated below and parallel to the two former ones D and F. The
types arrive here all in the same order, that is to say, with the foot to the
right. The plate H, I call the plate for separating the classes, as it is here
that the machine divides the types into species. The Drawings have been
made under the supposition that there are one hundred and eight different
sorts, not including the spaces, quadrats, &c., which were separated at the
commencement of the operation. The types are divided into two principal
classes, viz, those with a notch in the middle of the foot, and which
pass through the apertures y, and are conducted by the inclined con-
duits I, see Figures 1 and 2, Sheet II., which are inclined from left to right
to the right-hand part of the plate J below. The second class have
no new notch in the foot, and are prevented from passing through the
openings y by a small projection which is formed on the right-hand end of
these openings, and which corresponds to the notch formed in the foot of
the types of the first class. The second-class types must therefore pass over
to the openings z, through which they fall, and are directed by the inclined
conduits K to the left-hand part of the plate J below. The types of both
classes are simultaneously submitted to the same operations. Each class is
divided into three divisions. The types of the first division have a notch
towards the foot of the type, but at the bottom of the letter, and fall through
the apertures a. Those of the second class have a notch at the same distance
from the end of the type, but at the upper part of the letter, and fall through
the apertures b. Those of the third class have no new notch, and descend to
the lower part v, v, of the plate J. The types of the two first divisions in
passing down the conduits L, M, which are inclined diagonally from left to
right, arrive upon the little under plates N and P, see Fig. 1, Sheet II., pass
by the openings c and d, and are directed by the conduits or guides Q and R
(which are inclined from right to left) to the lower plates S and T, which, as
well as the plates N and P, are parallel to the upper plates. The change of

page_text: direction caused by the conductors L and Q, and M and R, which are inclined
in a contrary direction one to the other, has for its object bringing back the
types of the two first divisions into the planes situated exactly below the
plane J. Each division is divided into three subdivisions. The types of the
first have a notch in the under part of the letter within a short distance of the
head of the type; those of the second have a notch made at the same distance
from the top, but on the upper part of the letter; those of the third have no
new notch. The types of each subdivision fall through one of the openings e,
f, or g. In consequence of this classification each subdivision consists of only
a few different sorts, but which, however, differ in thickness sufficiently to be
able to separate them. Supposing, then, that each class, division, and sub-
division is equal, and there are one hundred and eight different sort of typo-
graphical characters, each class will contain fifty-four, each division eighteen,
and each subdivision only six. The types of the same subdivision are directed
by the inclined conductor V into the little compartments h, h, which are
ranged side by side in steps; they pass through the openings in these com-
partments, and fall upon the inclined conductors of the plane X, which
brings them all into the common conductor i. At the end of this conductor i
is an apparatus Y called the plane for separating by thickness; this plane is
placed perpendicular to the plane X. Upon this plane Y a number of brass
bars jjjjjj, are fixed in such a manner that six parallel grooves are
formed, being the number of characters that this part of the apparatus is
intended to separate. Other transverse bars k extending from the upper ends
of the bars guide the types as they come down from the channel i. These
bars k form bridges under which types of various thicknesses may pass; that
is to say, if a thin character, the letter 1 for instance, comes down the chan-
nel i, it will pass under all the bars k, and find its exit at 1. If, however, a
thick letter, such as m, comes down, it will not be able to pass under any of
the bridges, and will consequently be conveyed out at b. When the types
have arrived at these passages, they are completely sifted or separated, and
may therefore, by proper channels, be conveyed in their proper boxes in a case
of letter. The spaces which were separated from the letters at the beginning
are sorted according to their thicknesses by a similar apparatus, which, how-
ever, must have eight instead of six channels and bridges. If there should
be more than one hundred and eight different sorts, in fact, should there be
double or triple the number, the separation may be effected by multiplying
the number of classes, divisions, and subdivisions, and by employing a larger
number of notches situated in different parts of the type. The annexed
Drawings shew only four conducting guides, and consequently only four series

page_text: of corresponding compartments, but by multiplying the parts the speed of
distribution will be augmented in proportion. I have not shewn in the Draw-
ings by what means the simultaneous movement of all the transverse bars is
effected to alternately open and shut the bolts in the compartments, nor yet
the manner of giving the shaking motion to the plane A, where the type
is placed in a mixed heap. These matters may be arranged according to
circumstances and choice; and it will only be necessary to add, that the
mechanism may be put into action in any convenient manner, and does not
need any human assistance or intelligence to guide it. I will here observe,
that the different dimensions of many of the parts of the apparatus as
represented in the Drawings may be varied according to the description or
size of type to be distributed, and that the machine when set to work must
be at such an inclination to the horizon as will allow of the types to slide
down without assistance when not prevented from so doing by any parts of
the apparatus which may be placed there for that purpose. The proper incli-
nation of the machine is shewn on the Drawings by the dotted line, Fig. 1,
which represents the horizontal line when the machine is properly mounted
for work.
In witness whereof, I, the said Etienne Robert Gaubert, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty.
and provi
Inrolled the same Twelfth day of September, in the year above
written.