IMPROVEMENTS IN ComSING TYRE
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Haslett Mitchel, of the City of
Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of New York, in the
United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ComSING TYRE"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Haslett
Mitchel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition and Declaration, on the 25th May 1853, pursuant to the
9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
William Haslett Mitchel, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and
State of New York, in the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MEANS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND COMPOSING TYPES," and have petitioned
Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn

page_text: declaration, that I verily believe myself to be the true and first Inventor
thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that T, the said William Haslet Mitchel, do
hereby declare that the following Complete Specification fully describes
and ascertains the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, reference being had to the annexed
Drawings, wherein Sheet 1, shows the distributing apparatus; Sheet 2,
shews the composing machine, and Sheet 3, shews details of the
composing apparatus. The like marks of reference designate the same
parts in all the Figures on these Sheets.
The nature of my said Invention consists in means for distributing
the types from the forms, and setting them up in rows within grooves, a
given letter in each row, with the faces of the types upwards, and their
bottoms in a line, from which grooves the types are removed, each row
of a given letter at a time, and placed within slides or conductors which
supply them to an apparatus connected with finger keys. The striking
of any given finger key drops one of the corresponding types on one of
a series of belts which are moved by competent pulleys. This scries
of belts is elongated as the latter approach the delivering end of
the machine, and is combined with a diagonal belt, so that a type
dropped on any one of the series of belts at the point of deposition
from the conductors will take a period of time to reach the point of
delivery, that is, the composing wheel, equal to that which would be
taken by a type dropped on the corresponding point on any one of the
other belts, and consequently the types reach that point in the same
order in which they are dropped by the finger keys. This is effected
by the diagonal belt aforesaid, to which the types are transferred from
the series by means of small shoots, this diagonal belt carrying all the
types to one point of delivery, where by means of a conductor and
composing wheel they are set up in a line ready to be placed in the
galley in lines for transfer to the composing stone. Sheet 1, Fig. 1,
is a plan of the distributing machine. Fig. 2, is a vertical longitudinal
section of the same. A, is a table of the proper height, receiving small
standards 1, 1, carrying rollers a, a 1, lying across the table, around

page_text: which rollers are belts 2, of any suitable material and of any required
number. These belts in passing from one roller to the other rest on
a support or table b. 3, 3, are cross pieces secured to the frame of the
machine, placed at a sufficient distance above the belts to allow types
to pass under them, and having beneath them guide bars 5, that cover
the joints between the belts. 6, 6, are second cross bars carrying guide
bars 7, occupying the space over the middle of each belt, and one end
of which is by an incline connected to the bars 5. Any type that may
be laid on the belts between the slats 5, is carried by the belts, they
rotating in the direction of the arrows towards an incline plane c, the
second bars 7, forming two spaces on one belt for the reception of types.
The inclined plane c, is shewn with a series of straight grooves 8, in a
part of its face to conduct the types from the passages into which the
belts are divided by the bars 7, to the receiving grooves, where they are
placed in rows, and another portion is shown with branching grooves to
discriminate between thick and thin types. In Fig. 3, one of these
grooves is shewn endwise to represent an opening beneath a curved
bridge 9. Now if a thin type is dropped on any one belt which com-
municates with this part of the inclined plane, the type will run end
first down the incline beneath the bridge 9; but if a thicker type is
dropped on the belt the bridge deflects it down a side groove into a
separate receiving groove. The pulley d, on the shaft 10, is to be
rotated, and by the pulley and band 11, the rollers a, and a 1, with the
belts 2, are rotated. The types as they slide down the inclined plane c,
and pass into grooves between the bars e, pass into the teeth of pushing
wheels 12, on the cross shaft 10. Each of these pushing wheels
revolves in a groove or narrow opening in the bed of the machine, and
its thickness is a little more than one half the width of the type, and
cach type as it falls from the inclined plane is raised by this wheel
and carried over until it comes into a vertical position, when the bottom
takes the top edge of the groove or narrow opening aforesaid in which
the wheel revolves, and the next succeeding tooth of the wheel forces
the type and with it the whole row along the groove formed by the
bars e, to the extent of the thickness of the type deposited. The part

page_text: on which the bottom of the type is arrested should be slightly inclined
upwards, so that the bottom may free itself as the type is forced along,
and a small blocking piece being placed in each groove supports the
outer end of the line of types. It will be evident that cach tooth of the
pushing wheels having a depth on its face greater than the type it
carries forces the whole line of type along the amount required to
deposit its own type. 14, is a check bar set on centres 15, which lies
on the teeth of the pushing wheels, and which as the wheels rotate
rises opposite to the grooves of the inclined plane, and prevents any
type from descending at the moment when a row of teeth of the pushing
wheels is rising above the bottom of the inclined plane. When the
row of teeth passes from under this bar it falls again, permitting the
types to pass into the proper spaces on the wheels and so into the
receiving grooves beyond. Instead of separate belts a web or apron
imight be used of the desired width. The types are to dropped on
the right spaces on their sides, with their bottoms towards the inclined
plane, the operator standing at the side X, of the machine. They may
be dropped by any convenient, means, but I prefer and use the appa-
ratus shewn in plan in Fig. 4, sectionally in Fig. 5, and endwise in
Fig. 6, which I term the distributing stick, and which is formed as a
thin metal trough to receive one line or more at a time from the
composed forms.
In these Figs. f, is the metal trough, having stop points 16, that
prevent the types running out at the lower end; 17, is a spring carrying
cross lips or pushers 18, and extended to form arms 19. In this stick
the operator places a line of types (having first read it) with the
beginning of the line next the stop points 16, and the letters on the
side next him as he holds the stick in an inclined position in his right
hand. Now on striking the arms 19, on the cross bars 8, or 6, with the
end of the stick over the belt proper for the first letter in the line, the
lips or pushers 18, lift the type over the points 16, and it falls in the
correct position on its side on the belt. To prevent more than one
type at a time being thus raised I use keys 21, 22, & 23, the points of
which are at successively greater distance from the points 16. These

page_text: keys move on a centre pin 24, and if the finger of the operator be
placed on the key 21, only a thin type can be pushed up, and if on the
key 22, a thicker one, the key 21, rising to pass the type, and so on.
If a very thick type is to be thrown out of the stick none of the keys
are used, but a cross bar 20, on which the keys rest, keeps the next
type from rising. It will be necessary to have a small block of metal
behind the line of types to keep them in their places, and slide down as
they are successively removed. Capitals and other, type not provided
for will be distributed by striking the stick on the boxes of the common
case, standing near the operator, in such a way that they shall fall into
their proper receptacles therein.
Having thus described the manner in which I distribute a form of
types so as to place each character of letter together in successive rows,
I next proceed to describe the method in which I compose any desired
form. The types are to be taken in the rows from the distributing
machine by any suitable grab, and either laid away ready for use, or
taken at once and placed in the proper conductor or shoot of a series of
shoots y, Fig. 7, Sheet 2, which Figure is a perspective view of my
composing machine. Fig. 8, is a section of the composing wheel; and
Fig. 9, is a plan of the same. Fig. 10, Sheet 3, is a perspective view
of one key and slide or shoot. Fig. 11, is a plan, and Fig. 12, a side
view of the key separately. Figs. 13, and 14, shew the manner in
which the types are dropped one at a time from the conductors or
shoots; and Fig. 15, is a variation hereafter referred to.
B, B, are the legs of the composing machine; C, is a triangular
frame carrying the parts; k, is a pulley to which competent power is
to be applied to rotate the shaft l, which shaft is supported in bearings
33, and receives around it a series of endless belts m, that are made
successively longer, commencing at the right-hand end of the machine,
the key board E, forming the front. These belts are to be formed of
tape, leather, india-rubber, or any suitable material, and pass from the
top of the shaft 7, over the rest bars n 1, and n, around small pulleys i,
returning around the under side of the shaft. The number of belts in
this series corresponds with the number of slides used, which number

page_text: may be more or less according to the capacity required for the machine.
The types are to be dropped as required on the belt by a means hereafter
described, and by the belts they are carried and passed through shoots a
to a diagonal belt o, which passes around pulleys 37, and 39, supported
in standards 38, and 40. p, is a bar or projection of the frame on
which the upper part of the belt rests as it is propelled in the direction
of the arrow by means of the band 34, from a pulley on the shaft 1, or
similar competent means. 35, are tightening pulleys on an upright
fixed to the slotted slide 36, by means of which the band 34, is guided
and tightened. The shoots or conductors a, bisect the angle in which
the belts m, and belt o, travel, so as to partially turn the types and
cause them to enter fair on the centre of the belt o. The length of the
longest of the series of belts m, is such, compared with the shortest from
the base of the series of slides y, to the rollers i, that the belts m, all
travelling at the same speed, and the diagonal belt o, travelling con-
siderably faster, the types all reach the pulley 39, successively in the
same series in which they are dropped from the slides g. For instance, if
a type is dropped on one of the shorter belts it is carried by its belt and
the belt o, past the end of any one of the longer before a type subse-
quently deposited on said longer belt reaches the belt o. The types are
taken from the belt o, at the roller 39, and set up as hereafter detailed.
E, is the key board, with finger keys h, on which the letters dropped by
cach key are denoted. The key is raised a spring 32, Fig. 10,
beneath it, or by a weight if preferred, the amount of motion of the key
being determined by the head of a screw the shaft of which passes
freely through a hole in the key into the key board. The key h, is
formed with an arm connected to the short shaft 30, that is supported
in bearings 29, and 31, at its ends, so that on depressing the key the
shaft 30, is given a partial rotation laterally. 28, is a hub near the
far end of the shaft 30, with a bar formed like a fork with points 26,
and 27. By reference to Fig. 13, it will be seen that the lowest type
in the conductor rests against a bearing block or stopper 25, and on the
part 26, of the fork, and the belt m, travels beneath (the standard 29
being sufficiently out of the way to allow it to pass). When the operator

page_text: strikes any one of the keys h, the parts 26, and 27, are given a partia
rotation downwards, carrying one type with them below the edge of the
blocking piece 25, and it being unsupported at its top and resting on
the curved part 26, falls over on its side, and the face of the type being
towards the operator the belts carry the type with the lower end or foot
first to the roller 39. The part 27, of the fork blocks the line of types
in its descent, (see Fig. 14.) preventing it from sliding down until the
key is relieved and the parts resume the position shown in Fig. 13,
when another type is ready to be dropped as needed. The blocking face
of the part 27, of the fork is presented to the types at an angle to their
sides in order to free it in rising and prevent it from disarranging the
types. The variation shown in Fig. 15, in the mode of dropping the
type consists in the use of one point of the fork instead of two points:
in this the conductor g, is provided with a lip 51, against which the
lowest type lies. 50, is a bar above the type, leaving sufficient room for
the lowest type to be raised up, but to keep down the second one in the
slide, which bar may be made adjustable. 52, is a rod or lifter attached
to the hub 28, on the side opposite to that on which the fork 26, 27, is
shewn (this being dispensed with), so that this rod has a lifting instead of
a depressing motion from the lay, carrics one type up over the lip 51,
and the type being inclined falls over on its side on to the belt m, which
passes partially under the support of the next conductor, so that the
type cannot be thrown beyond the edge of the belt; and on the bar,
which is to be as thin as the thinnest type, being returned as the key h,
is relieved, the types slide down ready for another to be dropped. The
types arriving at the roller 39, in the order in which the keys are struck,
and lying on their sides as before detailed, are slid down a conductor
with the bottom end of the type first, between guide bars e, and w, that
form a groove between them of a width corresponding to the width of
the types in line. These bars v, and w, are fixed on the composing
table D., is a pulley to which power is to be applied to rotate the
shaft 42, in the direction of the arrow on it. This shaft 42, is in
bearings 41, and carries on it within the groove between the bars v, w.
a composing wheel 43, (similar to one of the wheels in the distributing
and

page_text: part of the apparatus,) with teeth of a depth equal to the thickness of
the thickest type that is used with the machine. The teeth of this com-
posing wheel receive the types as they slide down the conductor 9: and
carry them around till they reach the vertical position and deposit them
in the groove, the tooth following each type pressing the whole line
along the extent of the thickness of the last type supplied. To regulate
the descent of the types I use a wheels, set on a shaft 44, and supported
above the wheel 48, on the standards 41. t, is a gear wheel on the
shaft 42, rotating the wheel u, and shaft 44, in the direction shewn by
the arrow. The wheels, is formed with a deep groove around its
periphery receiving on pins 46, fingers 45, set to swing very easily on
the said pins, so that as the wheels, rotates they pass over a stop or
bar 47, and drop, catching each type successively as it falls, and regu-
lating the position of the types so that they fall correctly into the teeth
of the composing wheel, as seen in Fig. 8, the fingers passing through
a slot in the shoot q; and as the fingers swing freely in the direction
contrary to the motion of the wheel, if one of them descends on instead
of below a type, the latter is not detained but passes freely on to the
next finger. The object of the stop 47, is, that in the contingency of a
finger encountering the upper edge of the foot of a type while the
finger 45, was on the radial line, it might be a matter of doubt whether
it would detain the type or let it pass, but by the finger being slightly
detained it will drop in such a position that it will be free to swing
either way. By the means before detailed the types are set up in one
continuous line between the bars v, and w, a sliding block being used to
support the outer end of the line of types. From this continuous line
an assistant operator slides the amount required for one line in the form,
and places it in the galley F, adding the necessary spaces to fill out the
same correctly. One side of this galley F, is to be adjustable to any
desired width, and is furnished with a sliding block which is pushed
back as line after line is placed in the galley. The surface of the galley
should be slightly lower at the end farthest from the assistant operator
By reference to Fig. 7, it will be seen that the shortest of the series of
belts m, is provided with a short conductor y, in which any type, the

page_text: conveyance of which is not otherwise provided for in the machine, may
be placed by hand when required.
I do not claim arranging the composing apparatus so that each type
has to travel nearly the same distance to the point of delivery from the
point at which it is dropped, as this has been effected by grooves, but I
am not aware of any apparatus in which a combination of belts has
been arranged with a view to all the types taking an equal time to travel
from the point of deposition to the point of delivery, thereby carrying
the types with certainty, and avoiding all liability to stick or get into
disorder. I do not limit myself to the precise arrangement of the belts
as long as the same end is attained, neither do I limit myself to the
number or size of the parts, as these must be varied to suit the types and
the capacity required for the machine; but,
First, I claim the feeding belt or belts 2, combined with the inclined
plain c, wheels 12, and grooves to distribute the type in the manner
specified.
Second, I claim the mode herein shown for formning the distributing
stick with the points 16, spring 17, lips 18, and keys 21, 22, and 23,
so as to drop one type at a time on its side, as specified.
Third, I claim the bridge and form of groove to separate the thick
from the thin types as they slide down the incline c, as specified.
Fourth, I claim a series of belts of lengths increasing or speed
diminishing towards the point of delivery of the types, in combination
with a diagonal belt to receive and convey the said types from the series
of belts to the composing table or other point in the order in which the
types are dropped on the series of belts, as specified.
Fifth, I claim elaim fitting the key for dropping the types so that
it shall give a partial rotary motion to the shaft 30, to operate on the
fork or any analagous device to drop the types.
Sixth, I claim the fork 26, 27, and blocking piece or stopper 25, to
drop one type at a time when moved by the key or any similar means,
as specified.
Seventh, I claim the composing wheel 43, to receive and set up the
types either in the distributing or composing apparatus, as specified,

page_text: and I claim the combination of the said wheel with the fingers 45, on
the wheels, or with the bar 14, to supply said wheel, as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Haslett Mitchel, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Third day of May, A.D. One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
WILLIAM HASLETT MITCHEL. (L.S.)
igned, sealed, and delivered in the presence of,-
The words "I claim" in 5th claim being pre-
viously erased, and "fork 26, 27, and "
written over erasure in 6th claim; and
"and" interlined in 3rd page.
ANTIL BARCLAY. H.B.M's Consul.
(L.S.) ANTH. BARCLAY,
Her Britannick Majesty's Consul
at New York.