IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING AND COMPOSING TYPE FOR PRINTING
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William. Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING AND
COMPOSING TYPE FOR PRINTING."-A communication from abroad by
the Westcott Type-setting Company, of the City and State of New
York. United States of America.
Sealed the 7th January 1873, and dated the 12th July 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lako
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 12th July 1872.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING
AND COMPOSING TYPE FOR PRINTING," a communication, to be as follows:
:~
Instead of casting types by repeating the letter, then dressing and
distributing the types into cases, then composing for printing and dis-
J

page_text: tributing after use as is now usual, the present machine is made for
casting the types in the order of the composition, dressing and setting
the type up into line ready for spacing-off into pages or columns for
printing, and instead of distributing the types they are simply re-melted,
whereby the great expense of distribution is saved and the types are
always new.
In practising this Invention I take a large cylinder upon which are
the actuating cams; this cylinder is revolved by any suitable power, and
moves a matrix carrier back and forth. At each side of the opening in
which this matrix carrier slides, are ranges of sliding frames, the move-
ment of which is effected by levers connected to finger keys marked
with the respective figures and letters of the alphabet, and in each frame
is a "stock" having in one part a matrix for the given letter. When
one of the finger keys is depressed the connected frame is moved across
the path of the matrix carrier, and as the latter moves along the matrix
and its stock is lifted out of its frame, carried to where the type is cast,
then brought back and deposited in its frame, said frame then withdraws
to its proper normal position, and another matrix and stock are carried
up to place the type cast, and so on.
At the point of casting a sliding mould is employed, the amount of
öpening is regulated to accord with the thickness of the body of the
letter, the matrix stock serving as a gauge. The matrix is held firmly
against the end of the mould.
The melted metal is ejected from a bath by a pump, a valve then
closes the jet hole, the moulds open, and the type is carried out by
fingers and placed in a slide in which it is moved forward to the
mechanism that dresses off any burr or projection at the base of the
letter.
The burrs at the side are first removed by a pair of revolving disc
blades, one of these being in a carriage, the movement in which is such
that the thickness of the body of the type is a gauge for the action of
the cutters. A pair of holding fingers present the type squarely to
these cutters, and a pusher behind moves the type through these cutters
and also through the next pair that are at right angles to the first, a
second pair of fingers grasping the top and bottom of the body of the
type regulates the position of the types in going through the second pair
of cutters to dress off any burr at the top and bottom of the letters.
4

page_text: The type is received upon a plate in line with those previously cast, the
line being pushed along for each additional type..
The case holding the bath of melted metal is heated by gas to maintain
the required temperature, and it is so hung as to yield to the other parts
as they expand. There is also a movable casting nipple that accomadates
itself to the rear of the mould; so that all the parts are easily made
perfectly tight, the necessary cams, levers, and adjustments being
provided for positioning and giving motion to the respective parts.
:
•
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th January 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM. THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
"
2.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
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, exer-
cise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS.
IN- MACHINERY, FOR MAKING AND COMPOSING TYPE FOR PRINTING," a commu-
nication to me from abroad by the Westcott Type-setting Company,
of the City and. State of New York, United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others). that I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing 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
.
:

page_text: Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent..
d
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
déclare 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 made to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
The types are cast in the order of composition, dressed and set up in
line; after being used they are re-melted instead of being distributed.
The letter matrix are on stocks in sliding frames moved by finger keys
into line with a matrix carrier that takes the matrix up to the place of
casting, then returns it. The actuating cylinder is provided with cams
to move the parts at proper time. The moulds open and close to the
thickness of the letter. When the type is cast it is taken away by a
slide, the burs dressed at the side, then at top and bottom of the letter
and delivered in a continuous line ready for dividing into lines for
columns or pages. The metal is melted in a bath by a gas heater.
In the Drawings Fig. 1 is a cross-section of the actuating cylinder
and levers for moving the matrix stocks and frames. Fig. 2 is a section
of the matrix carrier and contiguous parts. Fig. 3 is a transverse
section of the stationary slides for the matrix stocks and frames. Fig. 4
is a section of the means for casting the types. Fig. 5 is a plan of the
same and of the type-dressing mechanism. Fig. 6 is an elevation; and,
Fig. 7 is a plan of the mechanism for dressing the types in larger size.
Fig. 8 is a section of the type moulds and casting jet in about full size.
Fig. 9 is an elevation; and Fig. 10 is a sectional plan of the moulds in
full size; and Fig. 11 is a detached view of the matrix carrier.
H
The main actuating cylinder A is supported upon a shaft a in a
frame B and it is rotated by power applied through a pulley with the
required clutch or coupling to connect and disconnect the power. Upon
the surface of this cylinder A. there are cams attached at the proper
places to give the various movements to the respective parts at the
proper times: The shape of the respective cams will be such as to effect
the respective movements and need not be specially described in regard
to the shape. There is a pot D to contain the type metal; this is
provided with a furnace or heating chamber C in which are preferably
gas burners, the heat from which passes through the flues b, b, to the

page_text: escape pipe b¹. The casting mechanism is connected with this pot and
will be next described.
The dies c, c¹, are within the removable stock E, upon which is a
handle 2 for lifting the dies out bodily from a mortice in the cross
bar B of the frame; this allows for cleaning and oiling the dies. When
in, place the stock E is held down by screws or buttons that can easily be
turned aside. The upper die c is in a frame e sliding in the stock E,
and these parts are lifted so as to open the dies in removing the type
that is cast; this is done by a cam upon A, acting through a lever that
connects with the sliding rod c², and the handle 2 is at the upper
end of this rod. The lower die c¹ is movable lengthwise and at right
angles to the length of the type so as to vary the width of opening
between the shoulders of the moulds c, c', and thereby determine the
thickness of the type according to the letter that is being cast. The.
matrix carrier hereafter referred to acts upon the downward projection 3
of c¹ to move the same. The matrix is pressed up against the front
of the mould by the slide 5 that receives motion through the crank
arm c and rock shaft c8 which is actuated by one of the cams on A,
and at the same time the mould is pressed against the nipple and
shield used in casting so as to make the joint perfectly tight; when the
slide is drawn back the hook c that catches upon the screw c¹ draws
the dies back sufficiently to allow the fingers to act that take out the
type.
Difficulty has been experienced in casting type without a fin or sprue.
at the base that required to be broken off. By the means herein
described the casting is effected without any sprue, and the nick is made
in the lower end of the type and there is no waste or surplus metal.
The pot D contains the pump d that has a piston or plunger d
operated by a lever 5 and cam on A, but a spring 61 intervencs. The
plunger d¹ descends until the end passes the hole 6, hence the melted
metal will be confined and the spring 61 compressed, and as soon as the
valve plug 8 is withdrawn, which is done at the proper time by a cam
acting through the crank and shaft 9) the melted metal is ejected by
the plunger and its spring into the mould and instantly fills the same,
and the plug 8. closes the orifice.
In consequence of the movement of the parts and the expansion
under heat it is very difficult to keep. the joints between the fountain of

page_text: melted metal and the moulds perfectly tight, for if they are not, thie
melted metal will be ejected and obstruct the parts. To prevent this a
removable nipple e is inserted at the end of the tube f for the melted
metal; this nipple is retained by a clamping plate e¹ to the head of the
tube f.
The nipple e is hemispherical, and upon it rests the shield o that is
ground to its place upon the nipple, and is steadied by screws passing
through wings, but there is enough looseness and play to allow this
shield to move slightly by the action of the dies c, c', when pressed back
against the shield, thereby a perfect joint is ensured for the dies at the
surface of said shield, and the shield rolling upon the nipple allows for
whatever slight change of position may become necessary to ensure
tightness in the joints.
The face of this shield o is ribbed and the back of the die grooved so
that the nick is cast in the back end of the types.
In the cross bar g of the frame are grooves in which slide the matrix
carrier h, the same being moved back and forth each complete revolu-
tion of the cylinder A by a cam 10, the shape of which is such as to
arrest the movement of the matrix carrier and hold the same in position
during the operation of casting the type, then the matrix carrier moves
back again, drops its matrix, and comes forward, bringing another
matrix.
In the cross bars B', g, there are transverse grooves receiving the
frames k, and these are as numerous as the letters, figures, or characters
employed in the machine, and a letter or character is allotted to each
frame, and the frames are connected with corresponding finger keys.
The frames k might all be in one line, but they are shown in two
rows, one on each side of the opening in which the matrix carrier /
slides.
The levers 1, 2, swing upon the fulcrum rods 15, 16, and they are
connected at the upper ends by links 17 to the matrix frames, k. The
bars m, m, extend along between the ranges of levers and the cylinder A
and are supported at their ends by arms that swing upon the said
fulcrum rods 15 & 16. The object of the bars m is to, restore all the
levers 1, 2, and the frames k to their normal position, as shown in
Fig. 1, the cams 20, 21, operating upon said bars m to move them and
the levers outwardly. The bars n are moved at the proper time by

page_text: cams, and act, to press in the frames k by the levers or 1, when one
of the dogs p is raised by depressing its finger key q or q¹.
It is to be understood that the levers are acted upon by the keys in
the range q, and the levers 12 are acted upon by the keys in the range q¹
through the levers q³, and that each lever 1, 12, has a dog p hinged to its
lower end, hence when a key is depressed the corresponding dog is
raised, and its end being in the path of the bar n as moved by its cam
gives the motion to the lever l'or and its slide frame.k, and in so
doing the matrix stock is brought into the position shown in Fig. 3 in
the path of the matrix carrier h that takes the stock of the matrix out
of its frame and carries it to the mould where the type is cast and then
brings it back and re-deposits it in its frame k. -
In order to prevent the machine operating when no matrix is opposite
the moulds a blank matrix is provided for casting a space of any desired
character, and this is brought into position automatically whenever there
is not any matrix in use. To effect this there is upon the bar na hinged
finger 25, see Fig. 1, that ordinarily rests upon a pin upon the lever l
that operates the frame that carries the blank matrix, so that the
same will be moved each motion of the bar n except when this finger 25
is raised out of the way of its pin by the depression of one of the finger
keys, this is effected by the finger key lever acting upon one of the
rods that run above and below the respective ranges of levers and act
upon the said finger 25. The matrix frames k are slotted at the bottom
for the passage of the matrix carrier h and in each frame are notched
sockets in which the matrix stock s hangs by pins in its sides. Upon
the carrier are incliness that pass into openings in the stock s and
lift the pins out of the notched sockets clear of the frame k, and hold
the stock upon the carrier h so as to carry it out of the frame k and to
aid in this operation the spring catches t also act in an opening in the
stock 8.
The swinging slotted sector t has a screw that applies a
sufficient friction to prevent the spring latchest sliding too freely in
the matrix carrier, thereby they are kept in a projected position until
they have a firm hold by catching within the opening in the stock.
Upon the return movement the spring latches hold the stock and the
carrier draws back returning the stock. and its pins into the notched
sockets in %, after which the further movement draws the spring. latches
out from this stock, leaving it within its frame..
.

page_text: '
It will be apparent from the foregoing that when a finger key is
depressed its dog p causes one of the levers or to be moved by the
bar n and cam on A, the corresponding frame k and stocks are moved
into the path of the matrix carrier and there held while the carrier
removes the matrix and stock and conveys it to the moulds, and the
type is cast and the matrix and its stock returned into its frame after
which the frame k is moved back to its normal place by the bar m and
its cam acting upon the lever l'or 1. In bringing up the matrix stock
to the mould the die c¹ is closed the proper distance to leave the necessary
space for the body of the type. To effect this the stock s acts against
the downward projection 3, and as each stock has its proper matrix the
parts are easily made, so that the stock only gives the proper sliding
motion to the die c'. As the matrix and stock return the die c is raised
up out of the way, as before described, and a finger ³ is moved back in
between the dies, then the die c¹ is moved endwise by a slide block h³,
connected to c¹ at 5 and cam on A, until the type that rests upon said
die c' is within the finger h³, then said finger is moved by the arm / to
draw the type out from between the moulds and convey it into and
along in the raceway or slide from which it is conveyed to the rubbing
or dressing mechanism. There are small points formed by the ends of
the rods that project at the side of the mould sufficiently to detain
the type in the mould c¹ as the mould c rises, and therefore present said
type to the withdrawing finger h³. At the time the type is drawn into
the slide 1* the sides of said slide are sufficiently far apart to receive the
type whether it is thick or thin, one side of said slide is moved back for
receiving the type and then allowed to close upon the type by the action
of the springs h¹, a cam acting against the pendent arm h¹ for that
purpose. A carriage 35 is brought up by the lever and its cam and
the finger 36, see Fig. 6, acts behind the type so that the type is moved
forward between a pair of vertical disk cutters upon the shaft 37 the
face of each cutter being accurately in line with the inner side of its
respective part of the slide 1, and the moving side of the slide and the
cutter move together, and the slide terminates a little short of the cutters
so that the body of the type will be held by the sides of the slide and
the bur around the base of the letter will be cut off accurately as the
letter is forced endwise through between said cutters.
The holding
blade 40 acts above the type to keep it from rising.
cutters 41, 42, are the same as those before mentioned, but they are
The two disk

page_text: :
fixed at the distance apart that corresponds to the breadth of the type
and stand on a vertical shaft 64, so as to dress off any burs that. there
may be at top or bottom of the letter. The finger or pusher 36 carries.
cach type entirely through between the cutters and leaves it upon the
composing plate wo with the letter end towards the operator. The
vibrator 45 moved by a cam presses the entire line of type along from
time to time as the cast types are supplied one after another at the end
of the line of types in the order of composition. In order to present the
different parts of the cutters to operate upon the types the shafts 37
and 64 and cutters are moved around progressively by pawls 46, 48, and
ratchet teeth 47 and 49.
If desired the dressing mechanism may be made double so as to take
a type out from first one side of the slide 1, and then from the other
by the action of a carriage moving across the slide, there being two
pushers (36), one acting at each side of the slide, and carrying the type.
through between the cutters that dress off the burs.
It is not deemed necessary or advisable to go into all the details of
the shapes of cams and connections from the prime mover or cylinder A,
many of these parts are shown upon the Drawing, and they are easily
shaped and applied to give the movements and perform the operations
specified, and it is remarked that these details and mechanisms may be
varied to suit particular arrangements of machines, and they are easily
constructed by the competent mechanic.
In Fig. 12 a modification of the matrix carrier is represented. In this
the spring fingers are dispensed with, and a parallel square bar me with
a tapering end is employed to enter the hole in the matrix stock 8,
and the block holding this bar is lifted by the incline of the carrier
running under it. The reverse movement deposits the matrix stock in
its frame. The bar and stock slide transversely upon the block as the
matrix and the moulds are pressed up to the casting shield.
In place of having one matrix in each frame k the frame may be
made, as shown in Fig. 13, to contain four matrix stocks 8, and have
a central opening k², through which the matrix stock from other frames
is carried. This frame receives a motion either one way or the other by
one of two bars m, so as to bring the desired matrix stock into line
according to which of the finger keys is depressed. In this case the

page_text: It is to be understood that the cams and mechanical parts that give
the various motions may be varied to suit the character of the work to
be done.
In some instances the cylinder A may be dispensed with, and a shaft
with cams acting upon levers or other mechanism be employed.
Some of the parts of this machine are capable of use upon or in con-
nection with ordinary type-casting machinery for dressing, delivering,
or setting up the type in line..
What is claimed and to be secured by Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination of type composing and casting mechanism to
present the matrix and cast the type in the order in which the types are
to be composed or set up in line, substantially as specified.
5
1
Second. Automatic. self-adjusting mechanism for dressing types of 1
various thicknesses successively, substantially as specified.
Third. The combination of mechanism for casting, dressing, and
setting up types, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination of type-casting and type-dressing ma-
chinery for preparing the type for use previous to delivery from the 2
machine.
Fifth. The matrix carrier h reciprocated at right angles to the
frames in combination with movable matrix stocks s and mechanism
for moving the frames k by connections to finger keys, substantially as
set forth..
Sixth. The matrix carrier / constructed with the lifting inclines and
the matrix stock & removable from the frame k, substantially as
specified.
°
Seventh. The nipple e and shield o in combination with the plug 8
and type-casting mechanism, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The matrix stock 8, matrix carrier' h, and sliding frames k;
constructed and operating in substantially the manner set forth.
3

page_text: Ninth. The slide and dressing disks or tools constructed substan-
tially as specified, so that the body of the type becomes the gauge in
dressing off the bur as set forth.
Tenth. The type moulds c, c', delivery finger h³, and receiving slide /*
operating substantially as set forth for removing the types successively
in the order in which they are cast.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this First day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
Witness,
W. J. LOWE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
WM, ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)