Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 17th Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 18th Oct., 1887
I, PERCY DAVID HEDDERWICK, of No. 10 Heathfield Road, Acton in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus whereby in breaking up a printing forme, the
various types of which it consists are separated from one another and so distributed
that all those of the same character are collected in receptacles, one receptacle for
each character. For this purpose, I provide two separate sets of apparatus. By
means of one of them, an operator, looking at, the forme or the copy printed from it,
striking keys like those of a piano or of a type-writer, punches holes in a travelling
web of paper or other suitable material, each hole or set of holes so punched occu-
pying a position relatively to the line of travel of the paper determined by the
character to which the particular key is appropriated. The sheet thus punched is
transferred to the other part of the distributing apparatus where it is made to travel
and automatically effects distribution by acting, somewhat as the punched cards act
in a jacquard loom. The forme is slid along a guide, step by step, each step being
the width of a line, the types of which as they come opposite a side aperture and
against a shoulder are pushed through the aperture laterally, and are then pushed
down a shoot, whilst the leads which have less width than the depth of a type pass
the shoulder and are moved onwards horizontally. The character types descending
the shoot along with the space types are separated at the bottom by a sliding lever so
arranged that when a space type, which is shorter than a character type, presents
itself at the bottom of the shoot the lever moves in a different attitude from that in
which it moves when a character type presents itself. The effect of this is that while
the space types are pushed endways in one direction the character types are pushed in
the other direction. By means of a lever oscillating over each space type as it is
delivered a gauge forme is raised or lowered more or less according as the type is
thinner or thicker, and then another pusher delivers these into separate receptacles
arranged according to their respective thicknesses. The character types thus
separated from the leads and space types are received each on a separate shelf of a

page_text: travelling band and are thus conveyed under a series of tappets each of which
descends when a needle connected to it moves through a hole in the punched sheet
which is travelling above. A tappet thus descending forms a stop for one of the
types so that as the band continues to travel this particular type being arrested slides
off the shelf into a receiving tube or chace below. The travel of the band and of
the punched sheet is made dependent on the attitude of the sliding lever which
separates the space types from the others so that when a space type is being separated,
the band and punched sheet are stopped, and thus every shelf of the band is made to
receive in succession a character type.
In some cases, instead of employing a travelling punched sheet, I use a revolving
barrel which has numerous holes in its periphery, each of these holes fitted with a
friction plug which usually occupies the exterior mouth of the hole, but some of
which are pressed inwards by the action of the keys thereby opening the mouths of
holes in the barrel to receive the needles and operate in the same way as the holes in
the punched sheet. Instead of arranging the operating keys like those of a musical
instrument or type-writer, it is often convenient to make them as knobs arranged
similarly to the separate type receptacles of a compositor's case, as a compositor
habituated to direct his hand to a certain place for a certain character can thus
readily press on the knob corresponding to that character. In cases where a
composing machine is used, the punching apparatus may be connected to that for
composing in such manner that the act of the operator in selecting and extracting
each character type from its receptacle, punches the appropriate holes in the sheet
which can then be retained ready for use in the distributing machine when the forme
has to be broken up.
Dated this 26th day of November 1886
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Apparatus for Distributing Types.
I, PERCY DAVID HEDDERWICK, of 10 Heathfield Road, Acton, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:—
My invention relates to apparatus whereby, in breaking up a printing forme, the
various types of which it consists are separated from one another and so distributed
that all those of the same character are collected in receptacles, one receptacle for
cach character.
For this purpose, I provide two separate sots of apparatus. By means of one of
them, an operator, looking at the forme or the copy printed from it, striking keys like
those of a piano or of a type writer, punches holes in a travelling strip or web of
paper or other suitable material, each hole or set of holes so punched occupying a
position across the line of travel of the paper determined by the character to which
the particular key is appropriated. The strip thus punched is transferred to the other
part of the distributing apparatus where it is made to travel and automatically effects
distribution by acting somewhat as the punched cards act in a jacquard loom. The
forme is slid along a guide, step by step, each step being the width of a line, the types
of which as they come opposite à side aperture and against a shoulder are pushed
through the aperture laterally, and are then pushed down a shoot, whilst the leads,
which have less width than the depth of a type, pass the shoulder and are moved
onwards horizontally. The character types, descending the shoot along with the
space types, are separated at the bottom by an extractor so arranged that when a
space type, which is shorter than a character type, presents itself at the bottom of the
shoot, the extractor moves it in a direction opposite to that in which it moves a
character type when it presents itself. The effect of this is that, while the space
types are pushed endways in one direction the character types are pushed in the other
direction. By means of a lever oscillating over cach space type as it is delivered, a
gauge frame is raised or lowered more or less according as the type is thinner or
thicker, and then a pusher delivers these space types into separate receptacles arranged
according to their respective thicknesses. The character types, thus separated from
the leads and space types, are received each on a separate shelf of a travelling band
and are thus conveyed under a series of tappets each of which descends when a needle
connected to it moves through a hole in the punched travelling strip. A tappet thus
descending forms a shunt or a stop for one of the types so that, as the band continues
to travel, this particular type which may have been diverted by a shunt, when arrested
slides off the shelf into a receiving tube or chase below. The travel of the band and
of the punched strip is made dependent on the attitude of the extractor which
separates the space types from the others so that when a space type is being separated,
the band and punched strip are stopped, and thus every shelf of the band is made to
receive in succession a character type only.

page_text: Figure 1 is a part side view Figure 1ª being a part cross section thereof and
Figure 2 is an end view of a type distributing machine according to my invention,
parts of which are shewn to an enlarged scale in the other figures, thus Figure 3 and
Figure 3 which is a part of the same view show respectively the end part and the
middle part of what is shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a transverse section of Z% of
Figures 1 and 3. Figure 5 is a plan partly in section of the mechanism shown in
Figure 3. The other figures shew separate details which will be hereafter referred to.
I will first describe the mechanism for breaking up a column of type and separating
the leads if any, and presenting to an extractor each character type and space, one
at a time. A forme or part of a forme A such as a portion of a newspaper column of
type is placed in a rectangular frame or chase a open at the front and back and having
a thickness equivalent to the depth of a lead or space that is to say about inch. The
forme A is held between the left hand end of the frame a and an inner frame a
a central rod of which passes through a friction gripper a as shewn in the part cross
section, Figure 2". Within the frame a are arranged toggle arms urged by a spring a
which press out friction blocks which act as brakes preventing the frame a¹ from
moving to the right within a.
The friction gripper a is fixed in the frame a. The
frame a with the forme A in it is placed and secured by a catch on a bar at which on
its under side has rack teeth gearing with those of a pinion a. In front of tho
forme A is a vertical shoot or trough B having two sides and a front cover a, also
closed at the back in its lower part by a back cover a. The sides of this vertical
trough touch or nearly touch the face of the frame a except that the left side has a
gap cut out of it equivalent in height to that of the largest forme that has to be dealt
with, and having a depth a little more than the projection of the types beyond the
frame a as shewn facing A in Figures 1 and 3. The trough B in front of A is of
rectangular shape in plan, of such size that a type can lie in it horizontally on
its side.
Behind the forme A is a pusher as which, by means hereafter described, advances
and pushes the front vertical line of types from the forme into the trough B, and
remains so advanced until that line is so far disposed of that it will allow of a
succeeding line to be introduced into the trough above it. When this is the case, the
pusher as is withdrawn and then the frame a containing the forme A is advanced to
the right until the next vertical line of types is brought to bear against the hinder lip
of the trough B thereupon the pusher as again advances and introduces this line into
the trough. When it happens that the lines are separated by leads, these, being of
less depth than the types, pass the hinder lip of the trough and become accumulated
between the front of the forme and the frame a¹ which is thus gradually pushed to
the right resisted by the friction of the gripper a². In order to prevent the lead
behind a line of type from being advanced by friction when the line of type is itself
advanced, a pair of fingers a worked by a cam are opened apart while the frame is
advancing, but are made to move towards each other so that their points come in
front of the lead between the lines of type at the time that a line is being pushed
into the trough. When no lead is present, these points simply rest against the ends
of the line of types.
In order to effect the advance of the frame a by means of the rack and pinion a³,
also to move the pusher and the fingers a, and also to stop the rest of the
distributing mechanism while the frame a is being advanced and the front line of the
forme is being pushed into the trough B, a spindle driven by a weight or spring,
which allows it to be stopped at each revolution, has on it a cam shewn in
Figure 1 which by means of a lever and rod 2 works a ratchet wheel 63 which is
loose on the spindle of the pinion a but is held with spring pressure between cheeks
on the spindle giving sufficient friction to turn the pinion a³ and advance the
frames a and a if they are capable of advancing, but allowing it to slip when such
advance cannot be made owing to the front line of types in the forme bearing against
the hinder lip of the trough B. On the spindle is another cam 6', which appears
in edge view in Figure 2. This cam by means of a lever moves forward the
pusher as, in opposition to a spring and allows it to be retracted by the spring, which

page_text: is not shown. Another cam 6 on the spindle by means of a lever and rods
therefrom acting on opposite sides of the fulcra of the fingers a withdraws these
fingers in opposition to a spring not shown, and allows them to be advanced by the
spring towards each other. A disc has a notch into which drops a roller on
the end of a lever 69, which, as will hereafter be explained, allows the rest of the
distributing mechanism to move except when the roller is held out of the notch by
the circumference of the disc during one revolution. Further, on the spindle bis
fixed a disc 60 with an angular notch cut out of it and at one side of this notch is a
curved stop. A loaded lever has jointed it to a plunger 613 which rests on the
line of type in the trough B, the plunger being preferably made with loaded pins
projecting from it, as shewn in Figures 1 and 3, so as to avoid risk of the uppermost
type adhering to the face of the plunger. A roller on the lever 612 rests on the
periphery of the disc 60 and the pin of that roller projecting comes to bear on the
stop when the revolution of the disc is completed. So long as this pin bears
against the stop 6 the spindle is prevented from revolving, the plunger 613
descending and pushing down the line of type in the trough B. When this has
descended so far that the pin on the lever escapes the inner end of the stop 611,
then the disc 610 revolves and the inclined face of its angular notch raises the lever 61
and plunger 13, and the periphery of the disc keeps them up until the disc 10 has
made a revolution bringing the stop again against the pin of the lever, whereby
the revolution is stopped.
It will thus be understood that the spindle b makes one revolution operating the
parts above described, that is to say advancing the forme A the width of one line of
types with or without a lead towards the right, moving the pusher a whereby the
line of types is thrust into the trough B, working the fingers a and stopping all the
rest of the mechanism, but that the spindle b and the cams on it are themselves
stopped until the line of types has descended in the trough B so far that another line
can be moved into the trough.
For dealing with the line of types in the trough B, so as to separate the spaces
from the character types and to lodge the latter on the travelling trays by which they
are conveyed to their appropriate cases, the following mechanism is employed. An
extractor C, shown in plan by Figure 6 and diagrammatically in Figure 7, is caused
to reciprocate horizontally under the trough B, at the same time rocking a little in a
vertical plane. This motion is given to it from a cam path c¹ in the face of a disc c²
which is fixed on a spindle c, and works a sliding rod and an arm ³ on a rocking
shaft c. Two arms con this rocking shaft are linked, as shewn in Figure 7 to points
a little below the spindle c of the extractor so that as the arms c move to the right
they cause the front end of the extractor C to rise, and as they move to the left they
cause the rear end to rise, the guides in which the extractor spindle moves being, as
shewn in Figure 6, subject to spring friction. From the front end of the extractor C
an arm jointed to it so as to admit of a slight up and down motion bas at its end a
nose which can slide either above or below a fixed guide . In case the lowest type
in the trough B should be a space, then as the space is shorter than the type, the
front tappet of the extractor can rise up in front of the end of the space type, and
thus the nose of c' will ride over the guide cs and the hook of the extractor will be
kept down below the type during the forward stroke of the extractor. The hook of
the extractor having in its forward stroke passed the front end of the space type rises
and catches the space type which by its back stroke it carries back with it and
delivers between gripping rollers whereby the space types are moved away to the left
to be distributed according to their thicknesses as will hereafter be described. In
order to prevent the extractor hook from catching more than one space type at a
time, the nose of the arm c' at the end of its forward stroke lodges on the top of a
projection con a pivotted segment, and prevents the extractor hook from rising at
the beginning of its back stroke more than the thickness of the thinnest or hair space;
after it has made a small part of its back stroke enough to take the hook back behind
the front end of the next higher space, the nose of c having left the projection c³, the
extractor hook is free to rise farther if permitted.

page_text: When there is a character type at the bottom of the trough B, the tappet at the
front of the extractor being held down by the type, the nose of the arm & passes
under the guide and the hook of the extractor is therefore raised a distance
somewhat less than the thickness of the thinnest type. In its forward stroke it
therefore carries with it the lowest type which after passing onwards a certain
distance drops through a slot in the extractor plate on to one of the distributing
trays below. When the nose of chas passed under the guide it rises pushing
away the projection, and in its back stroke it moves along the upper side of the
guides thus keeping the extractor hook down below the line of types in B which
have descended an amount equivalent to the thickness of the type last removed from
them.
In order that the lowest type may be freely withdrawn as above described without
tending to drag with it the type above it, the plate e which extends under the
bottom of the trough B to the end of the type spaces therein, and which has through
it a narrow slit in which the extractor hook, formed of a thin plate, moves to and
fro, instead of being fixed has a slight up and down rocking motion imparted to it
while the extractor C is resting at each end of its stroke. This motion is derived
from a cam, as will hereafter be described, and it, in conjunction with the motion of
two laterally pressing plugs also acted on by a cam and urged by springs,
operates as follows: Assuming that the extractor Chas made its forward stroke, then
the bottom plate " rises slightly, the plugs 2 are withdrawn relieving the types in
the trough B from lateral pressure, the plunger 13 and the line of types descends
until the lowest rests on the plate el. The plugs care then allowed by the cam
which acts on them to be pressed by their springs against the sides of a few of the
lowest types in the trough B so as to hold them by friction in position, and the
plate then drops slightly. A similar action takes place when the extractor C has
made its back stroke. Thus the lowest type in B is left comparatively free to be
displaced by the extractor, being held only by the side pressure of narrow segments
of the circular plugs cl2, while several of the types above it are held firmly by these plugs.
The plugs care preferably faced with leather at their ends which bear against the
types; to prevent this leather facing from becoming lined or grooved by its pressure
against the types, the plugs are turned a little round overy time they make their
stroke. The arrangement for this purpose is shewn in Figures 4 and 5, that is to
say, the spindle of one of the plugs, to which the spindle of the other is geared, has
cut on its end a screw ea of rapid pitch which works through a ratchet wheel cas a
nut, this wheel being free to turn when the plugs are advancing but being prevented
by a pawl from turning when the plugs are retracted. One of the pinions
which the plug spindles are geared together has a pawl acting in the opposite way..
The gearing by which the movements of the extractor and its adjuncts, and of the
remaining portions of the distributing mechanism are effected, is arranged as follows.
The pulley or wheel D (see Figure 8) driven continuously from any convenient motor
is loose on the spindle c and has pivotted on it two connected spring pawls d one of
which can engage in a notch in the came. When the lever is clear of the path
of the pawls, that is to say when the upper end of is engaged in the notch of 68,
then the pawl remains engaged in the notch of c and D drives thereby the spindle c.
But when the lever comes in the way of either of the pawls d then c² is no longer
driven. Thus when the upper spindle revolves, the lower spindle c remains at rest,
and conversely. The spindle c, by gearing d in the proportion of 1 to 3, drives a
tube free on a spindle E. On this tube are fixed a set of cams and a pulley: First, a
face cam e, which by means of a lever pushes back the plugs in opposition to their
springs Secondly on the tube enclosing E is fixed a pulley el which by means of a
band or cord drives a set of rollers at F for effecting distribution of the space types;
Thirdly, there is a cam e² which by means of a bent lever e³ raises and lowers a small
roller in the space distributing apparatus F. Fourthly, a cam et by a rod e works
an arm on a rocking shaft . Two vertical arms on this rocking shaft are jointed to
two barse which are pivotted at e and which carry the plate and all the extractor
gear on it as well as the space distributing gear F, the whole of this being thus made
by

page_text: to have a small up and down movement at each end of the to and fro strokes of the
extractor Fifthly, a came by means of a lever e works a rocking shaft el which
moves pushers for forcing the space types down their respective cases. On the tube
enclosing there are also fixed a disc g. shewn in front view in Figure 9
and a bevil wheel gl. On the disc g are pivotted three connected pawls gone
of which has a tail that can engage, as shewn in Figure 9, with one or other
of three arms projecting from a boss that is fixed on a spindle E, one of which arms
carries a bevil pinion gearing with a bevil wheel . This wheel and a cam g³
beyond it are fast together but are free on the spindle E. On the arm c of the
extractor C is a lateral projection g over which, when the extractor has made its back
stroke, there is a lever arm g' on a rocking shaft gs. Another arm g' hangs vertically
down from the rocking shaft gs nearly parallel to the disc g. When, owing to the
extractor having a space to deal with, its arm is raised as has already been
described, the arm g' is raised and thereby the arm is moved into such a position
that it comes in the way of one or other of the three pawls g² and thereby disconnects
the disc g from the arms projecting from the spindle E. In that case the spindle E
remains at rest but the pinion g3 gearing with both gland causes the cam g³ to
revolve in the direction opposite to that of the tube on E. When, however the arm g'
is not raised, the extractor (then dealing with a character type, the pawls g² are by
a suitable spring restored to the position shewn in Figure 9, and the spindle E is
thus engaged and revolves with the tube upon it, also as the pinion g³ is thus carried
round in gear with both gland g*, the cam g is driven in the same direction as the
tube and spindle E. On the end of the spindle E is a bevil wheel gearing with a
pinion on a longitudinal spindle H the function of which will be hereafter described.
The proportion of the bevil gear which works it is to 1 so that when the spindle H
revolves it does so at the same rate as c. The proportions of the gear being 1 to 3,
the cams on the spindle E and the tube enclosing it are made to act 3 times in each
revolution the cam et acting 6 times, because the distributing trays, as will hereafter
be described, are so arranged that 3 of them have to pass during each revolution of
the spindle E. The gearing might however be arranged in other proportions such
as 1 to 4 or 5 according to the number of trays passed in each revolution, and in that
case the cams would have to be made so as to act 4 or 5 times in each revolution and
the cam e 8 or 10 times.
The mechanism at F for distributing the space types is arranged as follows. A set
of pairs of sumall horizontal rollers geared together and driven from the pulley e
receive between them the successive space types brought back by the hook of the
extractor C and pass them on under a small roller f¹ which, as previously described,
receives a slight upward motion from a cam 2, and which is caused to descend by
gravity. On the arm of the lever which raises rests a cross bar suspended
from and on this rests a lever arm ƒ which is connected by multiplying levers to
a vertically sliding gauge box f³. In this box are a number of passages at different
levels, these passages bending towards the one side or the other so as to
lead respectively to a number of recipient tubes each of which is intended to
receive a different thickness of space type. According as a thick or a thin space
type comes under the roller the gauge box is less or more lowered, so that one
of the curved passages in it, at a lower or higher level as the case may be, is presented
to receive the type. The type is in due time pushed along the passage by succeeding
types towards one or other of the tubes and under one of the pushes f³ which it
raises. These pushes are loose on the rocking spindle " but they are at due
intervals depressed by a cross bar connecting two arms fixed on e" which as
previously described, is worked by the came. Under the types in each of the
tubes there is a piston held by spring friction sufficient to support the weight of
the types above.
The spindle E as above described, is caused to revolve while the extractor Û is
operating for the delivery of a character type from the column B, but is stopped
while the extractor operates for delivery of a space type. On this spindle E are
fixed two band wheels K, round which and round a corresponding pair of wheels K'

page_text: at the right hand end of the machine pass endless bands which may be of steel
ribbon. To these bands are attached at equal intervals, as shewn in cross section by
Fig. 10 crossheads carrying at each end a roller which runs in guides k² at each
side, and in the middle a roller free to revolve on the axis of the crosshead.
Intermediate between these crossheads carrying the rollers, there are journalled in
bearings fixed on the bands & other crossheads as shewn in Figs. 11 and 11", free
to turn in their bearings. The wheels K K are of such size that, to suit the
gearing above described for working the spindle E, they at each revolution pass
three of each of the crossheads above mentioned. From each of the crossheads k
hangs freely a weight having a roller mounted at each of its upper corners, and a
tail projects down from the crosshead. On a pair of arms projecting horizontally
back from is pivotted a tray 7 which is shewn in Figure 11 in its inclined position
carrying a type 1. As the wheels K K revolve one of the trays is made to
move under the trough B at the time that the extractor C is advancing the lowest
character type and at the same speed. At this time the tray is raised so as to be
close up to the type in the recess of the extractor plate in the following manner. The
cam (which as previously described revolves with K when a character type is
being delivered, but revolves in the opposite direction when a space type is being
delivered) has three wipers, one of which acting on a lever causes a rail to rise
and thus raises the tray k In the act of raising, the tail of the crosshead
meets the end of the rail 49 and thus the crosshead is canted, and the rollers of the
weight pass along the rail in its elevated position. As the tray k having received
on it a character type continues to advance after the extractor C has made its
forward stroke, the rail descends allowing the tray with the type 48 on it to
descend and to cant itself into the inclined position shewn in Fig. 11. In this
manner there is a series of successive trays cach carrying a type moving onwards
with the hands towards the right hand end of the machine, and these trays as they
pass round the band wheels K¹ are caused by the weights still to maintain the same
attitude as they return with the bands towards the left. In this return movement
they pass over the mouths of a number of receptacles L, each intended to receive
types of one character. These receptacles L are tubes of rectangular section placed
not quite vertical but somewhat inclined, and are, like the space receptacles,
provided with friction pistons to support the columns of types above them. In
order to economise space and simplify distribution, the receptacles L are arranged in
the machine shewn three deep as indicated at L in Figs. 4 and 5. They might
however be otherwise arranged, as for instance two deep or four deep, but for the
sake of simplicity it is preferable to arrange them three deep as shewn.
The longitudinal shaft. H by a wiper at each revolution raises a rod and allows
it to descend. A pawl on the rod moves at each ascent a ratchet wheel h² one
tooth round and at the same time by means of a lever moves partly round a
circular segment, which, on the descent of 2, is moved back by a weight or spring.
On the ratchet wheel is fixed a fluted wheel N, or it might be a wheel with a
number of holes in its periphery, each flute or row of holes corresponding with a
tooth of the ratchet wheel ². Around the wheel N and between it and a roller n¹
geared to it is passed a strip of paper or equivalent material which has punched
through it rows of holes, each row being a different combination, mostly of pairs
of holes, differing in position across the strip. Above the wheel N and the strip n
which envelops its upper part there are arranged a number of necilles n the lower
ends of which rest upon the strip n except when any of them find holes in the strip
presented to them, in which case they drop through these holes, being urged down
if necessary by springs. At every up stroke of the rod the segment, acting by
a series of sloped notches on the cross heads n³ from which the needles n hang,
raises all the needles including such as may have passed through holes in the strip n
and then by acting on the ratchet wheel 2 moves the strip one division forwards so
that it presents a set of fresh holes to each of the needles. It is convenient to
arrange the needles n² in groups of three as shewn in Fig. 3, and most of the
needles are double as shewn in Fig. 4, so as to suit combinations of pairs of holes

page_text: in the strip n.
The cross heads n³ of the needles or combined pairs of needles are all
linked to levers n which are connected by slotted links to loaded pawl levers n³
each of which is arranged to catch in a notch in the segmental arm of a lever nº.
From the opposite arin of n hangs a plate n' which normally is held up by the
catch n out of the way of such type trays as pass under it. When however by
means of a wiper on the shaft H, the segment of n is moved down so as to leave
clear the pawl if it happens that the needles connected to that particular pawl can
descend through holes in the strip n then the pawl n being taken out of the way,
the segment of n is free to ascend allowing the plate n² to descend in the way of a
type on the type tray passing below it as indicated at n' in Fig. 3, and thus the type
is displaced from the tray and dropped into its proper receptacle L, after which the
rollers passing over it press it down in the receptacle. As the receptacles L are
arranged three deep, means are provided for shunting to right or left the type trays
which normally pass directly over the middle line of receptacles. For this purpose
two of the holes in the width of the strip n are reserved for receiving two special
needles which, instead of acting like the others on the plate n, act in a similar manner
on a shunter. The two shunters are shewn in plan in Fig. 12 each having a sloping
face directed the one to the right the other to the left across the central path of the
type trays. When either of these shunters descends, the tray instead of continuing its
central course is shifted to the one side or the other so as to continue its course over
the front or the back line of receptacles L as the case may be, and then the type which
it carries when displaced by one of the plates n' is lodged, not in a middle
receptacle, but in one of the others in the same line in depth. The shunters shewn in
Fig. 12 are situated near the right end of the machine so as to act on trays before
any of the plates n' act on them. After the trays have passed all the receptacles L
they pass under a centraliser n shewn in plan by Fig. 13 the effect of which is
to bring back into the central line of travel such of the trays as may have been
previously shunted.
The perforated strip n may be punched with the required holes by any suitable
machine, such for instance as that employed for punching strips for telegraphic
purposes. I will now, however, describe a machine suitable for the purpose, referring
to Fig. 14 which is a longitudinal section, Fig. 15 which is a front view partly in
section and Fig. 16 which is a plan, half on the right taken above the punches, and
half on the left taken at a lower level.
The machine is intended to punch combinations of any of ten holes across the strip,
and also a hole at each side for determining the regular advance of the strip by these
two holes engaging on pins on the moving barrel. For punching some or other of
the 10 holes I provide 5 finger keys p for each hand of the operator. Each key when
it is depressed raises a bar extending across the front of a spring trigger with-
drawing the trigger and thereupon a lever p² urged by a spring engages a grooved
friction pinion p with a driving wheel pt and a driven wheel p³ on a shaft on which
there are two eccentrics p". The wheel pt being continuously driven, the engagement
of the pinion p³ with it and with p causes p to revolve until a roller p' upon it
meeting the face of the lever p² moves it back and thus throws the pinion p³ out of
gear. But at this time the eccentrics p' are turned to such a position that springs p
which had been compressed by their movement react causing the wheel to continue
to turn and complete a revolution whereby the lever p² is moved back and again
engaged by the trigger p¹. The eccentrics p are linked to a pair of bolts p' which
slide through a rectangular frame q and have round them springs that butt against
the front member of the frame q.. To these bolts is attached a cross shaft q' which
travels with the bolts. Within the frame are fitted 12 punch slides, that at each
side marked for punching the guide holes in the strip always moves to and fro
with the cross shaft ; the other 10 punch slides 3 move only when triggers q' on
the shaft are pushed up by the depression of some of the keys p and engage in
catches on the under sides of the punch slides. Each punch slide is fitted in front
with a punch q which works through the front member of the frame
hole in a fixed matrix bar. Between shoulders on one side of the frame
and into a
13
is

page_text: spring pawl of which engages with a ratchet
between which and a pressing roller the
engaged the end of a pawl lever q', the
wheel having on its axis a roller
strip n passes. The punch slides 3 are retracted by blade springs q10, one for each
slide as far as permitted by shoulders on the slides coming to butt against a
fixed bar. The action of the machine is as follows:-The wheel p being driven
continuously by any convenient motor, the operator having before him a print of the
forme to be distributed, desiring to punch for a particular letter of the forme such
as a, depresses such of the keys pas are appropriated to that letter. This withdraws
the trigger p, and thereupon the eccentrics make their revolution advancing the
frame so as to compress the strip n between the front of the frame and the matrix
bar and also advancing farther the shaft q with its triggers 7. Such of those
triggers as are at the time raised by the depression of the keys engage with the
punch slides above them and cause them to advance forcing their punches
through the strip . This being done, the punches and the frame recede and the
pawl lever is moved back by the frame causing the ratchet to turn one tooth
and thereby advancing the strip n one division of its length so as to be ready to
receive a subsequent punching. The two side punch slides which are intended to
punch the guide holes in the strip are never released from their triggers' so that
at every forward stroke of the shaft ¹ these guide holes are punched.
.2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a machine for distributing types, the apparatus for separating the leads
from the lines of type in a forme, for extracting the space types separately from the
character types and collecting these space types in separate receptacles according to
their thickness, for extracting the character types and depositing each on a shelf
of a travelling band, and for sliding these character types off the shelves into separate
receptacles as determined by tappets worked by needles passing into holes punched
in a travelling strip in combinations appropriated to the separate characters of the
types, substantially. as herein described and illustrated by Figures 1 to 13 inclusive
of the accompanying drawings.
2. The apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 14, 15
and 16 for punching a distributing strip for use in apparatus such as is referred to
in the preceding claim.
Dated this 17th day of September 1887.