CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPE AND IN APPARATUS FOR PREPARING TYPE FOR DISTRIBUTION
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Mackie, of Warrington, in the County
of Lancaster, Newspaper Proprietor, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPE AND IN APPARATUS
FOR PREPARING TYPE FOR DISTRIBUTION."
Sealed the 18th June 1867, and dated the 26th December 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Mackie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th December 1866.
I, ALEXANDER MACKIE, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, News-
paper Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPE, AND IN APPA-
RATUS FOR PREPARING TYPE FOR DISTRIBUTION," to be as follows:-
My Invention is designed for the purpose of separating type from the
"forms" or lines, in which condition it leaves the printing press, and for
distributing it in alphabetical order ready for subsequent re-composing
either by hand or machinery.
The improvements consist, first, in preparing the type by notching,grooving,
cutting, casting, or otherwise indenting the type on their sides or broadest
surface (instead of on the top or bottom or narrow surface) which is an
important and novel feature in the Invention, and also in the application of a
revolving disc, reciprocating plunger, or mechanical equivalent to act upon
[Price 8d.]

page_text: the type as it comes from the press so as to turn each type on its side (that
is, from the vertical position to the horizontal) so as to present the notched
side upwards, in which position it is passed to the distributing apparatus,
which constitutes the second purt of the Invention, and is hereafter
described. The type thus laid flat passes along a channel or case, and
is propelled by mechanism (well known and not claimed) so as to cause a
regular intermittent movement (say, about an inch at once), and during
its progress a series (about an inch wide) of fingers arranged in step-like
groups along a bar pass backwards and forwards at a right angle over the
type, and as the position of each set of fingers on the bar corresponds
relatively with the position of the notches on the type, each finger entering
its relative notch in the type effects the separation and withdrawal or ex-
traction of such type as the length of the finger and position of the notch corre-
spond with each other. These movements are obtained by mechanism well
known to mechanics, and which is not claimed as any part of the Invention.
In order to prevent more type than those acted on by the fingers being
extracted, small catches or stops may be applied in front of the type, which
become withdrawn when a finger enters a notch, and so allow the type to be
forced out by the finger, or the weight or gravity of the type may be made to
form a slight resistance to the finger by inclining the type backwards, so that
only the type in direct contact with the fingers would be extracted by the
forward movement of the fingers and bar. The type when thus extracted or
propelled from the line or channel may either fall on to a table or down an
incline, to which spouts or ducts may be applied to convey each letter to its
proper receptacle. I would remark that this combination and arrangement
of mechanism may be multiplied and arranged back to back, or in tiers one
above another, or one behind another, the back to back being preferable
because the reciprocating movement of the finger bar would thus distribute
type from two channels at each backward and forward motion, and it may
be so arranged, if desirable, that the fingers may be stationary and the
channels of type moved to and from the fingers, the arrangement previously
described being preferred.
A third part of the Invention relates to apparatus for distributing type, in
which the indentations or notches hitherto used are available, and by which
each type is placed in its proper receptacle immediately as it issues from the
lines or channels. This apparatus consists of a series of channels placed or
inclined upwards, the type being propelled or raised up such channels (on its
flat side) by plungers or pushers which are worked by any ordinary gearing
producing an intermittent movement. The upper or delivery ends of these

page_text: channels are all level (or of the same height), and above them a bar carrying
a series of fingers continually passes having a reciprocating and also a
gradual retrograde motion (by mechanism now in use for similar purposes)
so as to correspond with the position of the notches on the narrow edge of
the type, and by these fingers the type as they project from the channels
are removed and carried into boxes which are arranged close to the channel
apertures, and which rise and fall to recive the type according to the letters
extracted from the channels.
Lastly, my Invention relates to a means of separating the type called
spaces" from the letters (which are of less length than the letters), and
this is effected by forming a slot or opening in the. plate or channel along
which the type pass, this opening being of sufficient width to allow only
the short type or "spaces" to fall through on to a platform below the long
type or letters passing over the slot, so that all the spaces are deposited
below the letters on the top of the plate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Mackie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDAR
MACKIE, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, Newspaper Proprietor,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of December, in the year ofour Lord
Onethousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alexander Mackie, Her special license that I, the said Alexander Mackie, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Mackie, 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 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for " CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPE, AND IN APPARATUS FOR PREPARING TYPE FOR
DISTRIBUTION," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander
Mackie, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands-and seals, should particularly describe and

page_text: 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 mouths next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I. the said Alexander Mackie, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
My Invention is designed for the purpose of separating type from the forms
or lines, in which condition it leaves the printing press, and for distributing
it in alphabetical order ready for subsequent re-composing either by hand
or machinery, it being first notched on edge or flat. The type is passed
along a channel or case and is propelled by mechanism (well-known and not
claimed), so as to cause a regular intermittent movement (say, about an inch
at once), and during its progress a series of fingers arranged in step-like
groups along a bar pass backwards and forwards at a right angle over the
type, and as the position of each finger on the bar corresponds relatively
with the position of the notches or holes on the type each finger entering its
relative notch in the type effects the separation and withdrawal or extraction
of such type as the length of the finger and position of the notch correspond
with each other These movements are obtained by mechanism well known
to mechanics, and which is not here claimed as any part of the Invention.
A second part of the Invention relates to apparatus for distributing type
in which the indentations or notches, as described in Letters Patent, No. 1252,
dated 1865, are available, and by which each type is placed in its proper
receptacle immediately it issues from the lines or channels. This apparatus
consists of a series of channels placed in an inclined upward or vertical position,
the type being propelled or raised up such channels by plungers or pushers
which are worked by any ordinary lifting gearing movement, the upper or
delivery ends of these channels may be level or step like, and above them a
bar carrying a series of fingers either in steps or otherwise continually passes
having a reciprocating and also a gradual retrograde motion, by mechanism
described in the aforesaid Letters Patent, so as to correspond with the posi-
tion of the notches on the narrow edge of the type, and by these fingers the
type as they project from the channels are removed and carried into boxes or
shelves which are arranged close to the channel apertures, and which rise or
fall to receive the type according to the letters extracted from the channels.
In order that the Inventton may be better understood and explained in
detail I have hereunto attached a sheet of Drawings; Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4

page_text: are made upon a scale of about three inches to the foot, and Figs. 5 and o
about full size.
Fig. 1 represents a plan view of one arrangement of distributor in which
the expelling fingers or needles are placed upon a reciprocating bar in step-
like order, and so act upon the type as to fall into the respective notches
of the same for expelling, the type being moved transversely and intermittently
a distance equal to the series of fingers or needles upon one step,thus bringing
the whole range of unsorted type under the action of their respective expellers
or distributors.
Fig. 2 represents a vertical end section of the other arrangement of
distributor; Fig. 3 represents a front elevation of the same shewing inore
particularly the vertical grooves or channels in which the type is placed
previously to being distributed; Fig. 4 represents a plan view of the same.
Fig. 5 represents an enlarged detached end view of the vertical grooves in
which the type is first placed, and also the moveable and adjustable shelves
or grooves on which they are received and placed when distributed.
And Fig. 6 represents a front elevation of the vertical grooves and the
arrangement of apparatus whereby each set or groove of type is independently
and separately governed and raised to the proper and required elevation for
being distributed.
In the Figs 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, a, a, are vertical grooves or channels supported
by the standards of the framingb, in these grooves the type is placed preparatory
to being distributed; the top or termination of each of these grooves at the
distributing end is provided with a collar or shoulder e, seen more particularly
in Fig. 6, against which each body of type press when raised thereto by the
action of the pushers or plunger c, and counterbalance weight d; but in order
that one range or elevation of type shall be thoroughly distributed before
another range is presented for distribution the counterbalance weights are
retained or prevented from acting by means of an eccentric rod or screw
break or clamp as soon as the top range of type is raised so as to press
against the collar or shoulder e) until the whole set on that elevation has
been cleared off and placed on the shelves or receivers hereafter described.
When this clearance of the top type has been effected the counterbalance
weights are relieved which immediately raise (by means of the plungers c) the
next range of type in those grooves from which the top set has been removed
so as to press the next type against the collars or shoulders e ready for the
renewed action of the distributing fingers or needlesf; these fingers t, which
may either be rigid or supplied with a hinge joint, are secured to the bar g
which receives a constant reciprocating motion equal to the length of the

page_text: type by means of the eccentric h, and are caused to act upon the indentations
or notches formed on the flat or narrow edge of the type as it is presented and
raised in the grooves or channels a on its side, their first action being upon
the type having the notches nearest the front; but in order that each set of
type shall be extracted according to the position of its indentation or notch
the fingers or needles are caused with each to-and-fro motion to recede
gradually, as described in the Specification of aforesaid Patent. This motion
is effected by means of the worm h, the thread of which in revolving gradually
withdraws the slide 2 supporting the fingers or needles f, the retrogrademovo-
ment of which is completed when the worm has completed one revolution, at
which time the whole top series of type having been distributed a groove in
the thread of the worm allows the spring k to expand, which immediately
forces back the slide and bar g so as to cause the fingers f to assume their
original position to commence the process of distributing another series
of raised type. The type as it is thus expelled or extracted in proper
alphabetical order is received upon the grooved shelves m which are raised
by the levers and screw x or other equivalent at each backward or forward
movement of the fingers or needles f so as to present another line of shelf
for each set of letters expelled; these shelves receive a regular intermittent
lift, but in order that their grooved upper surfaces shall correspond and be on
a level with the line of type under distribution the shelves vary in thickness or
position according to the varying thicknesses of the type, thus the edge of
each particular shelf at the time of receiving the type forms an obstruction
to the lower type, thereby preventing any displacement of the type underneath
which might otherwise occur during the removal of the upper type, as each
shelf is charged with its respective type; the forward action of the pusher o
forces it back, leaving each shelf not hitherto employed ready to receive its
portion in alphabetical or other order from the range of type last lifted in the
groove or channel by the pushers and counterbalance "weights;" the series
of shelves pushed back and containing the distributed type are during the
filling of the second series emptied of their contents which are placed in their
respective compartments for re-composing, or a duplicate series may be
substituted for the full series which has been removed, or one shelf only may
be used for obstructing the lower type, the piston o removing the upper from
it to a travelling band. I would remark that these combinations and arrange-
ments of mechanism may be multiplied and arranged back to back or on tires
one above another, or one behind another, the back to back being preferable
because the reciprocating movement of the finger bar would thus distribute
type from two channels at each backward and forward motion, and it may

page_text: be so arranged if desirable that the fingers may be stationary, and the
channels of type moved to and from the fingers, the arrangement previously
described being preferred.
for
my
I would also here remark that since the filing of the Provisional Specification
said Invention I have ascertained that the part of the Invention as
therein described relating to the the means for turning the type on its side,
and also the apparatus described and embraced between the words "in order
that" and the words "proper receptacle;" and lastly, the part of the Invention
relating to the means of separating the type called spaces from the letters are
not so novel or of such importance as I then considered them to be, I there.
fore hereby disclaim such portions of the Invention.
Having now discribed the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical, I wish it to be distinctly under-
stood that I claim,-
First, the arrangement and combination of apparatus for distributing type
either by means of a "step-like" series of fingers having a regular recipro-
cating motion and operating upon the type as it passes in front thereof, or
by means of a regular line of such fingers having a reciprocating and a
retrograde movement, and acting upon the top types as they rise up the
channels.
And, secondly, the peculiar arrangement and adaptation of receivers or
shelves which receive the type as it is extracted from the channels or case,
and also the method and means of displacing such shelves as they become
filled, and the means of preventing the passage of more than one type at
once from the same channel, as herein-before described, set forth, and fully
illustrated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Mackie, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
0
Witnessed by
JOHN L. DAVIES, C.E.,
Office for Patents,
Manchester.
ALEXANDER MACKIE. (L.S.)