Improvements in Type Setting or Composing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1898
000
Date of Application, 17th Nov.,
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug.,
1898
-Accepted, 18th Sept., 1909
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type Setting or Composing Machines.
We, PHILIP ELIOT HODGKIN, Engineer, and WALTER MAY, Engineer, both
of The Pulsometer Engineering Company, Limited, Nine Elms Iron Works,
Nine Elms, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention consists of improvements in type setting machines.
In type setting machines of the kind in which type are fed through separate
feeding, channels into a common main channel which leads them direct to a
packing device, it often happens that type become jammed in the main channel
at or near its junctions with the feeding channels thereby causing a block
which has heretofore necessitated considerable labour and loss of time to
remove, thus seriously interfering with the efficiency of the machine.
Now according to this invention in order to enable type that may have become
jammed together in the main channel, or main and feeding channels, to be
instantly removed from such channel or channels that the working of the
machine can be continued without the serious loss of time heretofore usual, a
portion of the board or upright in which the said main and feeding passage are
formed is so constructed and arranged that it can be readily moved by the machine
operator away from the remaining portion of the board or upright and into a
position in which type that may have become jammed will fall away by gravity"
and so leave the channel or channels clear for succeeding type.
In one construction for this purpose, the board or upright in which the feed-
ing and main type channels are formed is provided with a movable rear portion
adapted to form the back and one side of the main channel and of part of the
feeding channels where they join the main channel. This movable rear portion
is pivoted at its upper end to turn about a horizontal axis and is adapted to be
turned backward and upward against the action of gravity, and also it may be
against that of a spring, by suitable means, such as a suitably guided cord,
under the control of the machine operator, the arrangement being such that
when type become jammed in the main type channel or at the junction of the
main and feeding type channels, the said pivoted rear portion can be immediately
turned upward and away from the remaining fixed portions of the channels and
the type permitted to fall into a suitable receptacle, such as a pye box.
To enable the operator to readily see the last character composed before the
block took place there is provided in connection with the horizontal type
channel below the vertical main channel and in front of the packing device a
pusher that may consist of a bent bar that is brought to the front of the
machine so that it can be readily pulled forward so as to bring forward the row.
of composed type in the horizontal channel and permit. the last type to be seen
after which the composed matter is pushed back by a special follower which is
so constructed as to prevent the type rising.
In machines of the kind herein before referred to, each type as it falls to the
bottom of the main channel has commonly been pushed forward into the hori-

page_text: zontal composing channel by a packing device comprising a rotary eccentric
but the arrangement of such packing device has heretofore been such that thin
type have been liable to turn round vertically and so render the composing
unreliable. Now in order to obviate this serious disadvantage, the eccentric
packing device is so arranged and its throw is so, adjusted, that the space between
the last type in the composing channel and the eccentric, when the centre of the
latter is in its rearmost position, is of less thickness than that of the largest
type the mutton quad of the particular kind of type being packed, by an
amount equal to the distance which each type will be moved forward by the
centrifugal force or forward impulse imparted to it by the action of the
eccentric independently of the distance it will be fed forward by the throw of
the eccentric and which with an eccentric of about 3 (three quarters) of an inch
in diameter has been found to be about 1/30 (one thirtieth) of an inch. Thus in
the case of minion type, the said space should be less than 1/10 (one tenth)
of an inch in thickness the thickness of a mutton quad of such type-by one
thirtieth of an inch. According to one arrangement, suitable for such type,
which has given satisfactory results in practice, the eccentric is a
plain disc of
about 3 (three quarters) of an inch in diameter mounted eccentrically at the
back of and opposite the lower part of the main vertical type channel which is
enlarged at this part to receive it and has a thickness of about 1/10 (one tenth)
of an inch. The eccentric extends forward so as to rotate below the said main
'channel, and has a throw of 1/10/30-1/15 (one fifteenth) of an inch, and is so
arranged that when the centre of the eccentric is in its foremost position, the
forward portion of the periphery of the eccentric stand 1/30 (one thirtieth) of an
inch beyond the front of the main channel and into the composing channel.
39
To hold the rear type in the horizontal composing channel in proper position
as they are received from the packing device at the rear, there is or may be
provided at one side and near the rear end of the channel, a box or holder that
is pressed by a spring against one side of the adjacent type as they are succes-
sively received from the packing device and holds such type in a vertical
position whilst permitting of their being moved forward by fresh type from
the rear.
:
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying illustrative drawings, show respectively
in front elevation, side elevation and plan, so much of a type setting machine
as is necessary to illustrate the nature of this invention. Fig. 4 is a section
on the line AB of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 show, to an enlarged scale, the
eccentric and adjacent parts of the apparatus, the eccentric being shown in
Fig. 5 in its furthest position from the type, and in Fig. 6 in its nearest position
to the type.
1 is the board or upright with feeding and main type channels 2 and 3
respectively; 4 the movable rear portion pivoted at 4 and adapted to form the
back and one side of the main channel and part of the feeding channels; 5 a
spring acting to normally hold the movable portion 4 in the closed position;
and 6 a cord for turning the said movable portion backward and upward. 7 is
the horizontal type channel; 8 a pusher consisting, of a bent bar extending to
the front of the machine; and 9 a special follower. 10 is the packing device
consisting of a rotary eccentric arranged as described and 11 is the space between
the last type in the composing channel and the packing device. 12 is a box
or holder that is acted upon by a spring 13 for holding the rear type in proper
position.

page_text: Improvements in Type Setting or Composing Machines.
We, PHILIP ELIOT HODGKIN, Engineer, and WALTER MAY, Engineer, both
of the Pulsometer Engineering Company, Limited, Nine Elms Iron Works,
Nine Elms, in the County of London, 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:―
This invention consists of improvements in type setting machines.
In type setting machines of the kind in which type are fed through separate
feeding channels into a common main channel which leads them direct to a
packing device, it often happens that type become jammed in the main channel
at or near its junctions thereof with the feeding channels, thereby causing a
block which has heretofore necessitated considerable labour and loss of time to
remove, thus seriously interfering with the efficiency of the machine.
Now according to this invention in order to enable type that may have become
jammed together in the main channel, or main and feeding channels, to be
instantly removed from such channel or channels so that the working of the
machine can be continued without the serious loss of time heretofore usual, a
portion of the board or upright in which the said main and feeding passage
are formed is, so constructed and arranged that it can be readily and quickly
moved by the machine operator away from the, remaining portion of the board
or, upright and into a position in which type that may have become jammed
will fall away by gravity and so leave the channel or channels clear for succeed-
ing type.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the illustrative drawings filed with our Provisional Specifi-
cation show respectively in front elevation, side elevation and plan, so much of
a type setting machine of the kind referred to as is necessary to show one con-
struction of channelled board or upright according to this invention. Fig. 4
is a section on the line AB of Fig. 1.
In this construction, the board or upright 1 in which the feeding and main
type channels 2 and 3 respectively are formed, is, for the purpose mentioned,
provided with a movable rear portion 4 adapted to form part of the back and
one side of the main channel 3 and part of the feeding channels 2 where these
join the main channel. This movable rear portion 4 is pivoted at its upper
end at 4" so as to turn about a horizontal axis and is adapted to be turned back-
ward and upward against the action of gravity, and also it may be against that
of a spring 5, by suitable means, such as a suitably guided cord 6, under the
control of the machine operator, the arrangement being such that when type
become jammed in the main type channel 3, or at the junction of the main
and feeding type channels 3 and 2, the said pivoted rear portion 4 can be imme-
diately turned upward and away from the remaining fixed portions of the
channels, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the type permitted to fall
through a guide into a suitable receptacle, such as a pye box. An inclined
guide and receptacle are shown for this purpose in Fig. 2 below the turned
back pivoted rear portion 4.
To enable the operator to readily see the last character composed before the
block took place, there is provided in connection with the horizontal type
channel below the vertical main channel 3 and in front of the packing device,
a pusher 8 which may consist, as in the example shown, of a bent bar one end
portion of which extends into the type channel 7 below the packing device, and
the other end portion of which is brought to the front of the machine so that
it can be readily pulled forward by a handle so as to bring forward the row
'

page_text: of composed type in the horizontal channel 7 and permit the last type to be
seen, after which the composed matter is pushed back by a follower 9 which
may consist of a strip of spring steel bent to the shape shown so as to adapt it
to slide in and fit the sides of the type channel 7 and to bear against and
prevent the type rising.
In machines of the kind herein before referred to, each type as it falls to the
bottom of the main channel 3 has commonly been pushed forward into the hori-
zontal composing channel by a packing device comprising a rapidly rotating
eccentric but the throw and arrangement of such packing device has hereto-
fore been such that thin type have been liable to turn around vertically and
so render the composing unreliable. Now in order to obviate this serious dis-
advantage, the rotary eccentric packing device is so arranged and its throw is
so adjusted, that the space between the last type in the composing channel 7
and the periphery of the eccentric, when the centre of the eccentric is in its
rearmost position, is of less thickness than that of the largest type-the mutton
quad of the particular kind of type being packed, by an amount equal to the
distance which each type will be moved forward by the centrifugal force or
forward impulse imparted to it by the action of the eccentric independently of
the distance it will be fed forward by the throw of the eccentric alone and which
in the case of an eccentric of about 3/4 (three quarters) of an inch in diameter
has been found to be about 1/30 (one thirtieth) of an inch. Thus in the case of
"minion" type, the said space should be less than 10 (one tenth) of an inch in
thickness the thickness of a mutton quad of such type-by one thirtieth of
an inch.
According to one, arrangement suitable for such type, which has
given satisfactory results in practice, and which is shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6,
the eccentric is a plain disc 10 of about 3/4 (three quarters) of an inch in diameter
mounted eccentrically at the back of and opposite the lower part of the main
vertical type channel 3 which, as shown, is enlarged at this part to receive it,
and has a thickness measured horizontally just above the enlarged part, of
about 10 (one tenth) of an inch. The eccentric 10 extends forward so as to
rotate below the said main channel 3 and has a throw of 1/10 -30=1/15 (one
fifteenth) of an inch, and is so arranged that when the centre of the eccentric
is in its foremost position (Fig. 6) the forward portion of the periphery of the
eccentric extends 30 (one thirtieth) of an inch beyond the front of the main
channel 3 and into the composing channel 7. With this arrangement it will be
seen that whilst the space between the last type in the channel 7 and the peri-
pheral edge of the eccentric when the same is in its most rearward position
(Fig. 5) is sufficient for the largest size of type in the particular fount of type
being composed, it is too small to admit of smaller type turning round therein
about a vertical axis.
To hold the rear type in the horizontal composing channel 7 in proper position
as they are received from the packing device at the rear, there is or may be
provided at one side and near the rear end of the said channel, a box or holder 12
that is pressed by a spring 13 against one side of the adjacent type as they are
successively received from the packing device, and holds such type in a vertical
position whilst permitting of their being moved forward by fresh type from
the rear.
The box or holder 12 may consist of a piece of thin sheet metal
carried by or acted upon by the spring 13 and comprising a vertical side portion
bearing against the rear type and a bottom portion bearing upon the top of one
of the side walls of the composing channel 7.
Having now particularly described' and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A type composing machine of the kind herein referred to wherein a portion
of the board or upright in which the main and feeding type.channels are formed,
is made movable and adapted to form part of the back and one side of the main

page_text: channel so that when such portion is moved away from the remaining portion
of the board or upright, type that may have become jammed in the main
channel will be released and allowed to fall, substantially as described.
2. A type composing machine of the kind herein referred to having a board
or upright formed with main and feeding; type channels and a pivoted rear
portion constructed arranged and operating substantially as described and shown
for the purpose specified.
3. A type composing machine of the kind herein referred to having a rotary
eccentric packing device so arranged and its throw so adjusted that the space
between the last type in the composing channel and the periphery of the eccentric
when the centre of the eccentric is in its rearmost position will be of less thick-
ness than that of the largest type the mutton quad-of the particular kind of
type being packed, by an amount equal to the distance which each type will be
moved forward by the centrifugal force or forward impulse imparted to it by
the action of the rotating eccentric independently of the distance it will be fed
forward by the throw of the eccentric alone, substantially as described with.
reference to the drawings for the purpose set forth.
4. In a type setting machine of the kind herein referred to, the combination
with the vertical and horizontal type channels 3 and 7 and an eccentric packing
device 10 arranged at the junction of the said channels, of a type holder 12
arranged at one side of and near the rear end of the horizontal type channel and
adapted to bear against one side of the adjacent type as they are successively
received from the said packing device, substantially as described and shown.
5. In a type setting or composing machine the combination and arrangement
of parts herein before described with reference to and shewn in the drawings for
the purposes set forth.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.