Improvements in Type Composing Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE Cox TYPE-SETTING MACHINE Co., of
Nos. 183, 185, and 187, Monroe Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois,
United States of America.]
Improvements in Type Composing Machines.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of 28 Southampton Buildings, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 relates to type composing machinery, and comprises mechanism
for automatically assembling ordinary types and word logotypes together: and
improved means and mechanism whereby instead of the ordinary space types,
laterally compressible space types are produced and assembled with the type, so
that the lines of type can be quickly "justified" by lineal compression.
" en
"
In some prior type composing machines it has been proposed to employ types
bearing two or more letters, such as the ordinary
in besides the ordinary
font types "f" "f" etc., but these are not logotypes of the kind above referred
to, as they all are formed on bodies not longer sometimes less than the " em " of the
font, and can be composed and handled like the ordinary types; in this machine
the types "ff""" are set up in the ordinary font channels, because they do not
require any larger channels. The logotypes referred to are much thicker or
longer in the line than the "em" bodies, and necessitate a different handling, and
it is only to these types of extraordinary size that the word " logotype is
hereinafter applied.
66
"
"
One main feature of the invention therefore is. to combine logography and
machine type setting, thereby greatly increasing speed of composition. Not only
are common printers types and logotypes employed, but also logotypes of syllables
and words most frequently used in ordinary speech and writing, such as "tion 'ing'
"the
""and" "that" etc., and one of the important features of the machine is that
it automatically sets such logotypes and ordinary types in line notwithstanding that
the width of the new logotypes is greater than that of the font types and double
types heretofore used. The ordinary font logotypes are made on an ordinary
sized body, not exceeding an "em" body, and can therefore be handled in some
previously invented type setting machines, but the new word logotypes are
necessarily on larger bodies, sometimes several times wider than "em" bodies, but
of the same height and thickness, so that they can be composed and associated with
the ordinary types.
Another main branch of the invention is to enable each line of type to be
mechanically justified. In the machine shewn in Figure 1 as in many other type
setting machines, the types are composed in a long receiving channel and each line
is spaced out and justified by hand, generally a second operator being employed
for this work; the present invention dispenses with the assistant operator, and
relieves the single operator of all manual justifying, this being accomplished very
rapidly, by the mechanism under his control, saving much time and consequently
greatly increasing the rapidity of action or capacity of the machine.
In this part of the invention the ordinary space types are discarded and laterally
yielding spaces are used which normally separate adjoining types or words more
than is necessary, but which can be compressed laterally to about the thickness of
ordinary spaces, thereby allowing a mechanical automatic justification of the
composed matter as hereinafter fully described.

page_text: and the setter is quickly reciprocated. The plunger Q' and block G³, Figure 1,
or rule Q, Figure 12, are arranged to form a continuation of the race-way in the
galley, and strip R is slid over toward the setter: the operator then depresses the
keys corresponding to the types, punctuation marks, logotypes, spaces, etc., necessary
to set up the matter to be printed, and the types ejected upon the moving belt are
carried forward into the chutes, and directed into the race-way, in front of the
setter, by which they are pushed into the galley and justified, automatically or by
band, substantially as above described.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
:
1. The combination with mechanism for composing type and spaces in line, of
mechanism for forming laterally compressible "spaces "and delivering them during
the composing operation so that the line may be subsequently mechanically justified
by lineal compression, substantially as set forth.
2. In combination with the mechanism referred to in the preceding claim the
mechanism for lineally compressing and thereby justifying the lines of type,
substantially as specified.
3. In combination with the mechanism referred to in the preceding claims the
mechanism whereby the justified line may be moved out of the way of the next
succeeding line, substantially as described.
4. In a type composing machine mechanism for making corrugated space types
from a metallic ribbon, such that on depressing a key a space length is severed
and delivered to the line of type being composed substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
5. The combination of the galley, the plunger therein, the rule attached to the
plunger, the devices for automatically raising and lowering the rule as the plunger
is reciprocated in the galley, and means for directing a line of type into the galley
between the plunger and rule, substantially as described.
6. In a type composing machine the combination of two sets of type channels,
diverging from each other, a single race-way or assembling channel situated where
the two sets meet and mechanism whereby types from either set of channels are
conducted into the race-way, substantially as described.
.
7. In a type composing machine the combination of sets of holders respectively.
for font types and for logotypes, ejectors worked by finger, keys, one for each
holder, independent carriers for conveying the types and the logotypes to one
race-way, and a device for pushing the types and logotypes into it, constructed
and operated substantially as described.
8. In a type composing machine, a type reservoir having a series of parallel
type channels, and formed of top and bottom diagonal grooved bars, and vertical
strips a secured in the grooves of the bars, having thin longitudinal portions a³ at
the rear, and tapered at one end as at a', substantially as described.
9. The combination of a series of type channels, an endless belt extending
parallel with the series and close to the lower ends thereof, keys and connections
for ejecting the type upon the belt at will of the operator, the race-way into which
the types are delivered, and a vibrating spring-controlled pusher for moving the
types into said race-way, a pitman for vibrating said pusher, operated in one
direction by a cam on one of the belt driving wheels and in the opposite direction
by a spring all constructed and arranged, substantially as described...
Dated this 5th day of November 1894.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.