IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSING AND DISTRIBUTING TYPE
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alphonse Cajetan de Simencourt, of Paris, France, and
of 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alphonse Cajetan de
Simencourt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 27th January 1854.
I, ALPHONSE CAJETAN DE SIMENCOURT, of Paris, France, and of 4, South
Street, Finsbury, London, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSING AND DISTRIBUTING TYPE" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in employing sets of finger stops as in pianofortes,
corresponding to the several characters of the type. The type is set upright in
inclined open cases composed of a large number of narrow boxes, and is made to
slide down by a weight placed over it in each box: In its descent it is taken
hold of by nippers, of which there is one to each box, and on the upper
árms of
which are set finger stops. As soon as the finger is removed from the stop
the type drops through a hopper, and is received in its upright position on the
composing stick at its proper place.. A similar mechanism is employed for

page_text: distributing the type. The annexed Drawings represent the several parts of
the Invention.
On Drawings 1 & 2 are shewn A, B, C, frame of the apparatus; D, E,
cross bars, carrying the finger stops; H, iron supports, into which are fitted
the cross pieces D, E, I, &c.; I, I, rods on which are ranged the nippers a, a;
M, N, cases with narrow boxes for type. The upper. case may contain the
capitals, figures, &c. Figures 2 & 3, Drawing 2, shew at full size; a, a
nipper; b, a small conical piece fixed to a rod C, Fig. 3. When the finger
bears on the stop, the nipper moves round I, the branch dis raised, and the
small concb, touching a cross rod K, is forced between the branches of the
nippers which open for receiving the type; when the finger is removed, a
spring h, fixed at the cross bar L, brings back the nippers which are open, and
which shut only on touching the cross bar J; M, N, are the wooden boxes
or compartments of the case; O, P, Q, hoppers through which the type drops
before arriving at R.
To confine the machine within narrow bounds, two sets of type cases,
nippers, & finger stops are placed one over the other. Hoppers of smooth
sheet iron are made for the type dropping from the nippers to slide from one
to the other down to R, when it enters the composing stick A, A, Figure 1,
Drawing 3, arranged for printing. The square part I, Figure 4, slides in the
groove of the composing stick.
In Drawing 4 are represented the arrangement of organs for distributing
the type. The type to be distributed is taken from the form and placed on the
inclined plate A, Figure 1, and is caused to drop by the hinged blade B; the
piece C, C, which runs along the rod E, E, carries a pair of nippers D, Fig. 2,
similar to those for composing, and the narrow slanting box G, into which
when brought close to B, the blade is lifted sufficiently to allow a line of matter
to drop. The nippers D seize the type when the finger presses on the stop;
the type drops into H, whence it slides into the several boxes of the case.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alphonse Cajetan de Simencourt in the Great Seal Patent.
Office on the 27th July 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALPHONSE
CAJETAN DE SIMENCOURT, of Paris, France, and of 4, South Street, Finsbury,
London, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Alphonse Cajetan de Simencourt, Her special license
that I, the said Alphonse Cajetan de Simencourt, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alphonse Cajetan de
Simencourt, 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 of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMPOSING AND DISTRIBUTING TYPE," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Alphonse Cajetan de Simencourt, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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 Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alphonse Cajetan de Simencourt, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
sane is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say:
My Invention consists, firstly, in the construction of apparatus for com-
posing type, as herein-after described; and, secondly, in the mechanical
arrangements for distributing the type, as herein-after described. And in
order that the Invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe
the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Drawing 1, Figure 1, front elevation of the apparatus for composing type;
Figure 2, side elevation of the same; Figures 3 and 4, detached views of
portions thereof.
Drawing 2, Figure 5, side view and plan of the galley; Figures 6, 7, and 8,
details of the same; Figure 9, modified arrrangement thereof; Figures 10

page_text: and 11, parts of the composing apparatus; Figure 12, front elevation of the
distributing apparatus; Figure 13, end view of the same; Figures 14 and 15,
details.
Figures 1 and 2, Drawing 1 A, cast iron uprights, upon which the various
organs of the machine are fixed; B, C, cross bars, bolted at their extremities
to the uprights A; D, E, connecting bars, upon which are ajusted the hoppers
and key boards; F, G, moveable iron frames set between the uprights pivoting
on i, i, and upon which are placed the type boxes. These frames are main-
tained in an inclined position by means of latches which are keyed to the bars
V and X; H, HI, iron ears adjusted upon the bars D and E, and in which are
fixed the rods and bars holding the keys of the key boards; I, rods upon which
are set the keys; J, bars upon which the keys rest; K, bars for limiting the
range of the keys; L; bars to which are screwed the key springs; M, N, type
cases with slides: O, P, Q, hoppers through which the type passes. on its way
to the point R; the nippers and keys are placed upon two rows, so as to lessen
the size of the machine. The keys are all similar, and provided at their
extremities with a nipper a, between the prongs of which is a small cone b,
Figure 3, screwed to a rod c, (Figures 3 and 4,) which is held at d by tlie
rivets, which permit of its position being shifted. The nipper a is made to
rise by pressing upon the key, and the cone b, which it draws with it, bearing
upon the bar k, introduces itself between the prongs, and forces them to sepa-
rate. By releasing the key, the springs f, which are fixed upon the bar L, will
bear against the handles of the nipper h, and cause the nipper to fall down,
which in descending opens, and does not close till the rod c reaches the abutting
bar J. S and T, Figure 1, two key boards. The type cases M and N correspond
to the said key boards, and have as many slides as there are nippers. The
top part of the hoppers O, P, Q, is set at the junction of the nippers and
type boxes. The lower key board S is provided with forty-five nippers, and
contains the letters, signs, &c. composing the lower case.
The upper key board T, has sixty-five nippers, and contains the large and
small capitals, figures, italics, &c.; the letters are placed in the slides of the
type cases.
The signs that are similar are placed all together and set upright in columns,
bearing upon each other in the same direction.
At the upper extremity of the columns are placed small iron pieces which
bear upon the type, and sliding with it, prevent the letters stopping on their
way, and compel them to advance.
Metal racks covered with caoutchouc are set at the lower extremity of the

page_text: type boxes, the teeth of which bear upon the last letter but one, so as to pre-
vent it falling out when the letter that precedes it is removed. These racks may
be dispensed with. The hoppers are composed of two triangular iron plates
well polished inside, and placed parallel to each other; the distance between
them is regulated in such manner that the letters which pass through them
cannot return. Two hoppers are set at top and one at bottom, which com-
municate, thus enabling the type from the upper ones to pass through to the
lower one to arrive at R.
To exemplify the operation of this machine. When the nipper a, Figure 3,
bears upon the type box N, and holds between its prongs the last letter of the
column of one of the compartments or slides, by pressing upon the extremity
of the key, the nipper will raise the letter, and remove it from the type box,
and while it is being removed, the column which bears upon its lower part
communicates to it a motion which places it perpendicular to the opening of
the hopper. When the movement has taken place, the small cone b, meeting
the bar K, forces itself between the prongs of the nipper a, which in sepa-
rating let fall the letter. If the key be then released the nipper falls open,
encloses between its prongs the letter which has taken the place of that with-
drawn, and when the letter has arrived at the end of its journey, the rod c,
bearing against the bar forces out the small cone from between the prongs,
which in closing seize hold of another letter, exhausting in this manner all the
letters in the compartment. The letter released by the nipper falls through
the hopper, and when arrived at R, encounters and stops upon the galley,
where the lines are formed. The galley should be large enough to contain
from fifty to sixty lines. a, Figure 5, Drawing 2, iron plate forming the
support of the galley, fastened to a small plate in front of the machine, and
capable of shifting; it is provided with notches on either side, which permit of
its being inclined when charged with type; b, iron plate forming the bottom
of the galley at d, where it is turned up at right angles. The rule e, Figure 5,
placed upon the other side is likewise turned up at f; it slides over the plate 6,
and can approach or recede from d; the lines are formed between d and f.
The part g, Figure 7, is set on the plate b, between d and f; it slides on the
plate b, and serves to maintain erect the letters of the lines to be formed upon
the galley. At the extremity of the galley is a groove j, for the piece k,
Figure 8, to slide in, called the "justifier." The top of this piece should be
level with the bottom of the galley.
The letters coming down through the hoppers fall against the justifier.
Instead of the galley before described the following arrangement can be

page_text: employed, videlicet, the rod 1, Figure 9, is fixed at R, behind the hopper, and
a composing stick held in the hand, and while supported by this rod receives
the letters.
The type falling down to the lower part of the hopper at R, requires to be
pushed forward successively. Two arms m, m, Figure 10, are fixed at each
end of the cross bar I (Figures 1, 2, and 3, Drawing 1); they are made so as
to turn on it, and are united together by a rod O, having a sharp edge p,
which keys into a notch made in the lower part of the knob of the key. The
arms m, are perforated at their extremity r, for the passage of the rods S; S,
which pass through the holes and correspond with the driving bolt ; by
pressing on the key, the notch y draws along the rods o, o, which raise the
arms m, m, the latter raising the rods S, the tooth of which causes the wheel
t to perform a quarter of a revolution, and repel the driving bolt æ, fixed to
the hopper, kept at its place by a spring u, Figure 11.
The apparatus for the distribution of the type is as follows:-The letters to
be distributed into the type boxes are set upright upon the plate a, Figure 12,
which is placed in an inclined position; they are maintained by the blade b,
which is hinged to the plate a.
The piece d, Figures 12 and 13, is set between the bars c and e, and slides
from one end to another of the bars; it is provided with a nipper f, and with
a groove or slide g.
The case N for receiving the type is placed at h, Figure 13, and pressed
against the rod i, so as to make the compartments correspond exactly with the
funnel of the rule j, Figure 14, screwed to the uprights k.
To effect the distribution of the type 1 advance the piece d along the groove
of the plate a, and by raising the plate b, I cause a row of type to fall into the
groove g; the piece d being loaded with a line of type is made to travel over
the bars c, c, by the action of the nipper f; the type falls through the pipe m,
into the compartment of the case selected for that purpose. The organ n,
Figure 15, forming part of the pipe m, serves to repel the columns as they
form in the box.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein laid down, so long as the peculiar
character of my Invention be retained; but what I claim is,
First, the construction of apparatus for composing type, as herein-before
described and referred to in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, Drawing 1; and Figures
5 to 11, Drawing 2.

page_text: Secondly, the construction of nipper a, as hercin-before described and referred
o in Figures 3 and 4, of Drawing I.
Thirdly, the mechanical arrangement for distributing type, as herein-before
lescribed and referred to in Figures 12 to 15, Drawing 2.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alphonse Cajetan de Simencourt, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of July,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
ALPHONSE CAJETAN DE SIMENCOURT. (L.S.)