IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND COMPOSING TYPE FOR PRINTING
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Otto Eisele, of Edward Street, Bethnal Green Road, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Inventon of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND
COMPOSING TYPE FOR PRINTING."
Sealed the 6th January 1880, and dated the 10th July 1879.
Sealed the 6th January 1880, and dated the 10th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Otto Eisele at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th July 1879.
OTTO EISELE, of Edward Street, Bethnal Green Road, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPA-
RATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND COMPOSING TYPE FOR PRINTING."
This Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of apparatus
whereby the operations of distributing and composing type for printing are per-
formed by one machine in an expeditious, efficacious, and economical manner,
whilst owing to the great simplicity of the apparatus it is not liable to get out of
order.
That postion of the apparatus which is employed for distributing the type
consists of and inclined table, provided with a series of grooves or channels which
extend from the upper end of the table to the lower end thereof, and are of sufficient
diameter to allow of the free passage of the type. In order to facilitate the intro-
duction of the latter the mouths or upper ends of the grooves or channels are
enlarged the necessary space for so doing being obtained by arranging the said
upper ends in three rows, as will be well understood. When the type are placed
in the grooves or channels, they slide down the same until the first type in each
groove or channel projects partially beyond the lower edge of the inclined table,
when their further progress is arrested by coming into contact with the bevel edge
of a bar or plate. The apparatus for composing the type is constructed and
arranged in combination with the before described distributing apparatus as
follows: To the lower edge of the said inclined table is connected or attached a.
plate which is inclined at a much greater angle than the said table, and is provided
with grooves or channels corresponding in number and position to those of the
tables, thus forming continuations of the latter. The grooves or channels in the
said plate are slightly curved, and open at their lower ends into a groove or channel,
Price Bd1

page_text: which runs obliquely in a downward direction. The last mentioned groove or
channel serves to guide the type as they descend into a suitable case which works
in guides, and is suspended vertically by means of a spiral spring. Above the
lower end of the inclined-table-is-fixed-transversely a bar to which are attached
a series of small rods, the opposite ends of which are bent, and are situated respec--
tively above that portion of each-type-which projects beyond the edge of the table;
over the said rods is a perforated plate, the perforations corresponding in number
and position with the rods.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The type having been placed in their
respective grooves or channels slide down by reason of their own weight until the
-lower ones project beyond the edge of the inclined table, as hereinbefore described.
The operator who is to actuate the composing mechanism then passes a small
pointed tool through one of the perforations of the before mentioned plate, thereby
depressing the rod beneath and causing the bent portion thereof to come into
contact with the projecting portion of the opposite type, which is thereby tilted
into one of the grooves or channels of the inclined plate, and descending into the
before mentioned oblique groove or channel is conducted into the case, having been
previously turned into the desired position by a slight twist in the last named
groove or channel. The said case is open at both sides, snd is sufficiently large to
hold a row of type placed one above the other. The type are prevented from
passing through the case by a stop which is connected to a guide through which
the case works, and they are prevented from rebounding after having once entered
the case by being caused to pass beneath a weak spring connected above the lower
extremity of the oblique groove or channel. As each type enters the case the
additional weight thereof causes the latter to descend into a position to receive the
next type. When the case has been filled the weight acting on the spiral spring
will cause it to descend; a bar actuated by a lever is then caused to push the type
so arranged out of the case into any suitable receptacle, and the case being thus
relieved is carried to its former position by the action of the spiral spring.
It is preferred that the grooves or channels be covered with glass.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Otto Eisele in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th January
1880.
OTTO EISELE, of Edward Street, Bethnal Green Road, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPA-
RATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND COMPOSING TYPE FOR PRINTING."
My said Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement
of apparatus to be employed in the operations of distributing and composing type
for printing, whereby the said operations are effected in an expeditious, efficacious,
and economical manner.
That part of the machine which is employed for effecting the distribution of the
type consists of a table, which is provided with a series of grooves or channels and
is inclined at any suitable angle. The said grooves or channels extend the length
of the table and correspond in number with the different type employed, the depth
and width of the respective grooves or channels varying according to the size of the
type to be placed therein. As the operation of placing the type directly into the
narrow grooves or channels would be extremely difficult, and would necessitate a
great loss of time, a series of narrow plates are arranged one behind the other
across the upper part of the said table, and in or on the surface of the said plates
are formed a number of recesses, wide at the top and gradually decreasing in
diameter towards the lower portion, at which point they correspond in size with
the groove or channel opposite which they are situated, and the end of each recess
has a trough like continuation, which has a twist therein of about one quarter turn,
so that the type which slide down the recesses on their flat sides are turned on to
the opposite side, that is to say, with their nicks or notches upwards by the twist
in the said continuations, and are deposited in the grooves or channels and slide
down the same in that position. If four such plates be employed then the recesses
in the first plate would conduct type into every fourth groove or channel, the
remainder of the latter being supplied from the second, third, and fourth plates;
the type from each of these plates in the passage down their respective grooves or
channels, passing under the plate or plates in front. Opposite the lower end of
the table and at a little distance therefrom is arranged a bar or plate, for the
purpose hereinafter described.
The plate of the composing machine is connected to or formed in one piece with
the lower edge of the above described inclined table, and is inclined at a greater
angle than the latter. The said plate is provided with grooves or channels corre-
sponding in number, size, and position with those of the distributing table, thus
forming continuations of the same. The plate is of a triangular or other similar
shape, and along the lower edge thereof is a groove or channel running obliquely
in front of the ends of the other grooves or channels which lead into it, and in some
cases the said ends or lower portions of the grooves or channels are slightly curved
in order to facilitate the passage of the type into the said oblique groove or channel,
along which they slide and fall into position in the case or stick. In close proximity
to the end of the said oblique groove is mounted a toothed wheel, on the spindle
of which is wound a cord, one end of the same being attached to a sliding block
connected with the case or stick; a rocking plate or lever, provided at each end
with a detent, gears into the teeth on the said wheel, and attached to the said
rocking plate or lever is an arm situated in front of the end of the oblique groove,
so that as the type descend and enter the case or stick they act on the lever and
cause it to permit the escape of a tooth at a time of the said wheel, thereby
releasing a portion of the cord and allowing the block to slide down the case or
stick in accordance with the number and size of the type entering the latter. As
the block slides down a small spring on the spindle of the wheel is wound around

page_text: the same, and when the said block is released from the pressure of the type the
spring will actuate the said spindle and cause the cord to be again wound thereon,
thus bringing the block to its normal position.
In some cases the type are pushed or knocked forward together with a suitable
friction pad or block in the case or stick by means of an eccentric or cam shaped
disc, which is caused to revolve rapidly immediately in front of the end of the case
or stick-by any suitable. and known arrangement of clock work mechanism.
-Instead of the above described arrangements for arranging the type within the
stick I sometimes employ the mechanism shewn in Figure 5, and which is herein-
after described.
The passage of the desired type from the inclined table to the plate of the com-
posing machine is effected by the following mechanism :-Above the lower end of
the said table is mounted transversely a bar, to which are attached a series of bent
levers corresponding in number with the grooves or channels, the bent ends thereof
being situated above the lower portions of the type which project beyond the end
of the table; over the said levers is arranged a perforated plate, the perforations
or appertures corresponding in number and position with the various levers.
I will now proceed to refer to the accompaning Drawings, from which the nature
of my said Invention will be more clearly understood. The same letters of reference
indicate like parts in the several Figures. Figure 1 is an isometrical projection of
the combined distributing and composing machines. A is the frame; B is the
inclined table of the distributing machine; C are the narrow plates with the
recesses c, for guiding the type into the grooves or channels in the table B; c'
are the trough like continuations of the recesses; D is the bar at the lower
part of the table; E is the plate of the composing machine, and e the oblique
groove or channel extending along the lower edge thereof; F is the case or stick
in which the type are arranged; G are the type. The apparatus for arranging the
type in the case or stick, as shown in the above mentioned Figure, is also repre-
sented in Figure 4. H is the toothed wheel thereof; I, the sliding block; J, the
rocking plate or lever; and K, the arm thereof. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section,
and Figure 3 is a plan of the arrangement of levers for transferring the type from
the distributing table B to the plate E of the composing machine; in Figure 2 is
shown in dotted lines the position of a lever and type, when the latter is being
tilted into one of the grooves of the said plate; L are the levers which are attached
at one end to the bar M, and N is the perforated plate. Figure 5 represents the
arrangement herein before referred to, in which the case or stick F is suspended
from the support O by means of the spring Q; R is a guide for the case or stick to
work in, and U is a plate which, when desired, may be employed for the purpose
of preventing any forward movement of the type after they have been arranged in
the desired position in the case or stick. Figures 6 and 7 are respectively plan
and side view of one of the recesses c' and continuation c¹ of the plates C.
The action of the apparatus above described is as follows:-The distributing is
-effected-by-placing the-type-in-the-respective-recesses-c in the plates C, whereby..
they are guided into the corresponding grooves or channels of the inclined table B,
as hereinbefore described, and slide down the same by reason of their own weight
until the lowest type in each groove or channel project a certain distance beyond
the lower edge of the table B, their further progress being arrested by the bar D,
as shown in Figure 2. The type are then in the required position for the purpose
of composing, which operation is performed by passing a pointed instrument
through any of the perforations or apertures in the plate N and depressing the
opposite levers, the bent end of each lever is thereby brought into contact with one
of the type and tilts the same from the groove or channel of the table B into the
corresponding groove or channel in the plate E, and the said type then slides down
the same into the groove or channel e, and thence into the case or stick F, and
comes into contact with the arm K of the rocking plate or lever, and moving the 5
same causes the wheel H to be released, and to allow the lock I to slide down the
case or stick and to draw off a length of cord equal to the width of the widest type,

page_text: and in so doing it causes the wheel H to revolve the distance of one tooth; the
type move down the stick or case with the sliding block, and thus make room for
the succeeding type. The lever and wheel are so arranged, as will be well under-
stood, that the latter is only released when the former is acted on by one of the
widest type or a sufficient number of smaller ones as will together equal the width
of the same.
When the before described arrangement of the clock work mechanism and
eccentric or cam shaped disc is employed the action is as follows:-The said disc
is arranged at the end of the stick or case in which is a friction pad, and imine-
diately opposite the end of the groove e, and is caused to revolve rapidly by the
action of the said clock work mechanism. As each type descends into the stick or
case the enlarged portion of the disc knocks the side thereof and forces the same
together with the preceding type and friction pad along the stick or case.
The action of the apparatus, shown in Figure 5 is as follows:-The support O
is arranged near the exit end of the groove or channel e, and has suspended there-
from the stick or case F by means of a spring Q, the strength of which is so
regulated that when the case F is empty the lower end thereof is opposite the end
of the groove or channel e, and as each type enters the stick or case the weight
thereof is just sufficient to extend the spring to an extent corresponding with the
depth of the type, so that each type will come into position on top of the preceding
one. The guide is so arranged that a portion thereof passes round the back of the
case F exactly opposite the end of the groove or channel e, thereby preventing the
impetus of the type from carrying then through the said stick or case.
When the case F is full it is removed, and the type as arranged therein are taken
out and deposited in any desired receptacle.
The inclined table B and the plate E are constructed by arranging a number of
longitudinal strips of metal side by side, and bolting them together in such a
manner that they form alternately the sides and bottoms of the desired grooves ;
or the said grooves may be formed in or on the surfaces of plates of metal, wood,
or other suitable material; or the grooves or channels in the said table and plate
are in some cases cast or molded in the desired form, any suitable substance, such
as vulcanite, being employed for that purpose.
The grooves are covered by means of plates, which may be made of glass, in order
to keep the type in their proper positions.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that I
no not desire to claim any of the arrangements of apparatus, herein before described,
for arranging the type in the case or stick; but what I consider novel and original,
and therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the said herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The combination and arrangement of mechanism for distributing and composing
type for printing, substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Otto Eisele, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
OTTO EISELE. (L.S.)