IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE SETTING MACHINES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE SETTING MACHINES."—A
communication from abroad by Stiles Dennison Sperry, of Hartford,
Cantloman
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 28th August 1872.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE SETTING MACHINES,"
(a communication), to be as follows:-
The said Invention consists in new devices for releasing the types
from the boxes or troughs in which they are placed by means of a hand
of novel construction which pushes them to one side so that they fall
into channels or grooves, whereby they are conducted to the setting
mechanism.

page_text: ITO CO
E
types pass partially open by covering them with strips or slats crossed
at certain intervals, and having an open space between them sufficiently
large for the access of air, but not large enough to allow the types to
fall out.
It also consists in improved devices for regulating the passage of the
types through the main channel, to which all the types are led by their
respective grooves, and for letting them out one by one to the setting
mechanism and composing stick.
This regulating mechanism has several revolving wheels of small size
with yielding edges so placed as to stand in a vertical line, with their
edges in the main channel, so as to press upon the descending type and
hold it so that it can descend only at a rate corresponding with the
movement of the edge of the wheel. The edges of the several wheels
revolve with different velocities, so that after the type is caught by the
regulating mechanism it can only move with a determined velocity
downward, and this is so adjusted that the type moves faster past the
last or lower wheel that delivers it to the valve below than while it passes
the first or upper one. This causes a space to be left between the types,
into which a valve can enter to deliver them one at a time at the will of
the operator, when he sets the machine in motion. The valve continues
to open and close automatically until the machine is stopped. The types
are let into the main channel where the regulator is situated through the
branch channels from each type box as often as the key belonging to
that box is touched. In setting the type the keys upon the key board
are touched with sufficient rapidity by the operator to keep the main
channel supplied.
The said Invention also consists in a plunger or packer having an
inclined face which catches the type and pushes it forward in the line
being set, and in cams and levers which operate this packer automatically
and push it forward at the right time into the composing stick.
It also consists in a block against which the types are pushed by the
packer, and which yields as each type is placed in line. It has an
aperture for the introduction of leads. There is also a device for pushing

page_text: Under the galley is a device for supplying the work with leads. The
leads are placed side by side, and pressed by a spring against a sliding
gate which moves up and down at the will of the operator, or whenever
a line of type is pushed up. When it rises a niche or shelf in its side
catches a lead and carries it up with it. The line of type is then set,
when the gate descends, leaving the lead to be pushed upon the galley
with the type.
When the work is not to be leaded the gate is used without having
the leads placed against it. The gate is operated automatically at the
time the line is pushed up by cams and levers.
The said Invention also consists in the arrangement of two grooved
boards containing channels for the types back to back, and facing out-
ward so that all the parts are visible and accessible. This is used when
more type are needed than can be placed in one set of boxes or receptacles,
or conveyed by one set of channels or grooves to the delivering and
setting mechanism.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th February 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tweny-eighth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, 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 for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TYPE SETTING MACHINES," a communication to me from abroad by Stiles

page_text: Denison Sperry, of Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America,
Gentleman, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing, forming a part of this Specification:-
The said Invention consists in new devices for releasing the types
from the troughs in which they are placed; in improvements herein-
after described in the channels or grooves by which they are conducted
to the setting mechanism; in improved devices for regulating their
passage through the main channel to which all the types are led by their
respective grooves; and for letting them out one by one to the setting
mechanism and composing stick ; it also consists in devices for
facilitating the pushing forward of the lines of type into the galley.
The objects of the said Invention are to ensure a rapid and easy
motion of the types from the troughs in which they are originally placed
to the main channel in which the regulator is situated at the instant the
proper key is touched, and to cause them to pass regularly and evenly
through the regulator, with a positive motion at a determined speed, so
that they can be delivered one by one through a valve opening and
closing automatically at certain intervals, and thereby preventing all
clogging or other irregularity in the delivery of the types to the setting
mechanism. It also has for its object a more certain and positive
motion in setting the types in the composing stick and delivering
them into the galley.

page_text: Figure 3 is a top view of the same, with several lines of leaded type
in the galley already set.
Figure 4 is a side view of the regulating mechanism drawn to an
enlarged scale.
Figure 5 is a front view; Figure 6 is a back view; and Figure 7 is an
end view of the mechanism for letting the types out from their troughs
or boxes into the channels which conduct them to the regulator. The
above three Figures also show the arrangement side by side of the type
receptacles and hands for releasing the types one by one as they would
be in an operating machine.
Figure 8 is a front view, and Figure 9 is a side view of the hand b.
detached.
Figure 10 is a side view, and Figure 11 is a section of the regulating
mechanism drawn to an enlarged scale, and showing some modifications
of my Invention.
Figure 12 is a view in section of a modification of that part of the
machine in which the types are set, including the composing stick, the
galley, and the devices for pushing forward the line of type when set.
a is one of the receptacles or boxes in which the types are placed. It
consists of an inclined trough in which the types are arranged singly
with the face up. They are pressed down toward the hand 6, if necessary,
by a sliding weight or follower w. b is a hand or valve for holding the
types in the trough or box d, and for pressing the foremost type laterally
out of the trough d, and allowing it to fall into the groove a little to
one side of a, through which it descends. There is a nick or shoulder 6'
on the face of the hand b, shown in Figures 8 and 9, which holds one
type, and moves it with the hand. The hand 6 is connected by a central
pin passing through the frame to the arm c on the back, which is
operated by the connecting rod e on which it simply rests, and by the
spring d. fis a lever having at one end the key g. When g is pressed
down, the rod e is raised, and the hand 6 moved so as to release a type
from the trough a. When the key is released, the spring a moves the
hand back again to its place, and allows another type to drop into the
notch in the face of ready for the next movement to press it to one
side, and allow it to fall into the groove h. h, h³, are grooves or channels
in the board B, through which the types descend to the main channel j.
i, i, are strips or slats across the grooves h, h¹, by which they are

page_text: partially covered, keeping the types in the grooves, and permitting them
to move rapidly without resistance. The openings between the slats
scrve for the purpose of cleaning the passages, but are more especially
for the escape of the air in front of the type as it descends. If the
channel is entirely covered, the air within the tube retards the passage
of the type. The channels h, h¹, can also be partially covered at the sides,
leaving a longitudinal slit through the middle for the escape of the air,
and retaining the types by the sides. j is the main channel to which all
the channels h, h¹, converge, and into which the types are delivered con-
secutively as the keys are touched by the operator. 1, 11, 1¹¹, 111, are
revolving wheels, having on their peripheries a series of flexible arms
made of rubber or other suitable material, which enter into the
channel and rest against the types as they pass downward. These
wheels revolve in the direction of the arrows, Figure 4, so that they
draw the types downward as they turn. The wheels hold and regulate
the types in their descent so that they cannot descend too rapidly, and
if the valve or stop below detains them the flexible arms pass over
without advancing them. By this means also the types are pressed
against the back of the channel j and prevented from passing by or
crowding each other. m is a pulley on the axis of one of the wheels, by
which motion is communicated to them all by means of the belts k; m¹is
a pulley which drives m by means of the belt k¹. n is a stop or valve
in the channel which arrests the descent of the column of types in
the channel above it, except when it is sprung so as to allow one type
to pass. This is done quickly, so that the wheels above will not bring
the next one down to it until it is again closed. This valve n is
operated by means of the lever o and a cam u on the arbor of the
wheel m¹. The cam presses the lever forward, and opens the valve
which returns to its place under the influence of the spring as soon
as the cam drops into the notch in the lever o. p is a lever turning on
the axis p¹. It has its upper end operated by a cam on the arbor of
the wheel m¹ against which it is pressed by the spring 8, so that the lower
end of the lever is pushed forward by the cam at each revolution of m'.
q is a set screw for regulating the throw of the lever p by the cam t.
v is a plunger or packer for pushing forward the type into the com-
posing stick, and is operated by the lever p. On its front next to the
type is an inclined piece o³, shewn in Figure 4, for receiving the type as
it falls from the catch or valve n. This inclined piece is held in its
position by a small spring " which yields as the type is pushed forward,

page_text: so that it is placed in its proper position against those that have been
previously set. As the type falls on the inclined surface of v¹ it is pre-
vented from turning by entering the wedge formed between the inclined
face of and the type already set. x is a small spring on the side of
the stationary frame for retaining the last type set, and preventing it.
from following o' as it is drawn back. The wheel m¹ which operates the
regulating and releasing mechanism is driven by a belt from some pulley
outside of the machine, and not shown in the Drawing. y is a sliding
block guided by the partition z against which the types are set by
the packer v, v¹, and which yields as each successive one is placed in
the line. It extends over the partition z, and has one leaf on each
side. On the side opposite that on which the types are set there is a
long guide or "tail" y¹, serving to keep the block steady. Its motion
is regulated by a spring, working against the guide y¹. The part to the
right is for the purpose of retaining the leads in their proper position
while the types are being set. The opening between the two parts of
the block serves to introduce the leads next to the partition z as the
work progresses. The aperture can be made flaring, so as to introduce
the leads more easily and rapidly. G is the galley for holding the types
as they are set line after line. g¹ is a clamp screw, by loosening which
the galley can be removed from the machine. F is a slide for holding
the types in place, which yields as each line is successively pushed
forward. ff", are springs pressing against the sides of the galley to
retain the slide F in its proper position. H is a knob for pushing up
each successive line in the galley. It operates by means of the bottom
plate I upon the partition z to push the line of types last set forward in a
body in the line of the galley G. S¹, S¹, are springs for drawing back
the partition to its original position in order to set a new line of
types. v, v¹, are regulating screws for adjusting the width of the galley.
A regulating screw in H fixes the distance the partition z is moved to
suit different sized type.
The boards A and B are separate pieces, A being removeable with its.
font of type for the purpose of substituting another when desired. There
can also be several boards B in each machine, with grooves or channels,
all leading into one main channel j. These would be placed one behind
the other, and each have its separate set of valves and keys to operate
them. The grooved boards would each face outwardly, and the valve
rods which release the types would operate between them. All the

page_text: grooves would conduct to the same main channel, and be set by the
same mechanism.
In that part of the said Invention, illustrated more particularly in
Figures 10 and 11, a² is a part of the frame of the machine; 62 and c
are two side plates, between which the regulating wheels revolve, and
which support the parts of the regulating mechanism; d2 is the shaft
which gives motion to the regulator; e² is a pulley upon this same shaft
which drives the pulley 93 by means of the belt f'; h³ is one of the
regulating wheels on the same shaft as the pulley g³, and moved by it;
is another regulating wheel, around which and the wheel h³ passes the
belt which presses against the descending types.
Ic³.
p² is a regulating
It has, as shewn
which press upon
The periphery of
The belt has leaves or projections, shewn in the Drawing, to pre-
serve the proper friction and pressure upon the types; but my Invention
is not confined to this particular surface. Any surface of rubber,
leather, or other material that will hold the types may be used.
and are two pulleys or rollers for pressing the belt against the types.
They may be of the same size as or smaller than the wheels * and *; m²
is a pulley fixed upon the same shaft as the wheels 22, and turns with it.
It drives the smaller pulley o³ by means of the belt n³.
wheel fixed to the same shaft as o², and moved by it.
in the Drawing, the elastic projecting radial arms q³
the type to guide its descent and regulate its motion.
this wheel moves with greater velocity than the surface of the belt ², so
that the type under it is drawn away from those above it, as shewn in
Figure 11. The surface of this wheel may be of any form or material
that will hold and guide the type, and is not necessarily composed of the
elastic arms q². is the type channel through which the types descend
to the regulating mechanism. 8 are springs acting upon the axes of the
wheels h², 2, 3, P, to keep them pressed against the line of descending
typė. are types passing through the regulator. is a type passing
under the more rapidly moving wheel p², and is separated thereby from
those above it, leaving a space between it and the next, as shewn in the
Drawing.
Below the regulating mechanism there is a valve or stop σ which is
connected with the type setting mechanism below it, and with the
regulating mechanism above it, so that they all move conjointly to
release and set the types at regular intervals of time. When the valve
stops the type channel, the types. above move downward, and form a solid

page_text: column resting upon it. When it is withdrawn, the column moves
downward under the influence of the regulator, the lower type being
passed rapidly downward by the quicker moving wheel p2, drops into the
setting mechanism, giving the valve an opportunity to enter the channel
and arrest the column before its action is impeded by the arrival of the
next type.
This improved regulating mechanism is applicable to any machines.
which bring the types into one channel to be set by a self-acting setting
mechanism. The types, as they are let out from their proper receptacles
above by the operator, are supposed to fall consecutively into the main
channel²; if dropped faster than the regulator passes them, they are
detained by the types below.
The revolution of the regulator wheels, or of the belt surrounding
them, carries the types downward unless stopped by the valve, in which
case the wheels revolve against the types until they are released by the
withdrawal of the valve, when they move downward as before described.
By means of this regulating mechanism the types are delivered one by
one at regular intervals to be set in line, no matter how fast or irregularly
they may drop into the main channel above by the action of the
operator, who releases the types in their proper order from their
receptacles.
That part of this Invention more particularly shewn in Figure 12
provides for a removable gate which is interposed between the types
already set in the galley and the line of type which is being set. When
the line is filled, the gate drops down and allows the types to be pushed
forward into the galley in the manner already described, or automatically,
as is provided for in Figure 12, as follows:-a³, a³, are parts of the
frame of the machnie; b³ is a sliding plate, to which is attached the
partition which pushes up the successive lines of types as they are set.
It also has the projection c³, d, by which it is moved backward and
forward, as will be described; e³ is the gate frame which moves up and
down in slides, and to which is attached the gate f³; g³ is a block upon
the back of es, in which is cut a cam groove of the form shewn by the
dotted lines. The pin ³ enters into this groove, and gives the required
motion to the gate; ³, ³, is a lever attached to the shaft o³, from which
it receives its motion, causing it to turn forward and backward through
a certain arc to give the proper reciprocating motions to the parts b³
and e. The pin carries the gate downward and upward, and the

page_text: arm
carries the plate forward and backward. The sliding block y³
and the partition operate in the same manner as herein-before described.
H³ is a handle for pushing up or withdrawing the plates 68 by hand.
When the line of type is setting the several parts are in the position
shewn. When it is completed the lever ³, j³, turns, and carries down
the gate by means of the slot in the part g³.
After it has passed
downward far enough to clear the type the pin enters the curved part
of the slot and arrests its movement, at the same time the arm³ strikes
the block d³ and pushes the partition, and with it the line of type set
forward into the galley. The lever then turns back, and striking the 1
block c³ carries with it the partition to its former position, and then
raises the gate so as to interpose between the work already set and a
new line.
When the work is to be leaded a lead is placed upon the top of the
gate f³ as it descends, and is pushed forward by the partition
last line of type set.
with the 1
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The construction and arrangement of the hand b with a
recess 6 by which it holds the types in the trough or box a, and holds
one type in the nick ready to be moved to one side by pressing the key,
substantially as herein described.
Second. The grooved board B in combination with the slats i, i, for
the purpose herein set forth.
Third. Partially covered grooves h for the descent of the types, and
which retain them, but permit the free egress of the air, substantially as
described.
Fourth. The wheels 1, 1, 1, 111, with their flexible arms for regulating
the descent of the types, as herein described.
Fifth. The catch or stop n when used in combination with one or
more wheels with flexible arms, as herein described.
Sixth. The plunger or packer with its inclined face v' when con-
structed substantially as described.
Seventh. The herein described arrangement of the cams t and u, and
the levers o and p, for operating the stop n and the packer at the

page_text: proper instant of time to release the type and push it forward in the
composing stick, substantially as described.
Eighth. The block y, constructed substantially as described, having an
aperture for the purpose of introducing leads, as herein described.
Ninth. The devices shewn by H, I, 8', and z, for pushing the line of
type already set along the galley, when constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as described..
Tenth. The belt around the wheels of the regulator with a suitable
frictional surface for guiding the descent of the types, substantially as
herein described.
Eleventh. The springs 8², 83, in combination with either or all of the
regulator wheels, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
Twelfth. The combination of two or more revolving regulator wheels
or moving surfaces, having different velocities, so as to separate the
lower type in the descending column, substantially as and for the purpose
herein described.
-
Thirteenth. The downward moving gate f³ interposed between the
matter already set in the galley and the line of type being set by the
machine to form a channel for the new line, substantially as herein
described.
Fourteenth. The combination and arrangement of the lever ³, j³, with
the cams c, d, g³, and the sliding plates 6³ and e³, to produce the proper
consecutive movements of the gate f³ and the partition 2³ as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
´unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three
Witness,
HENRY L. VANDERPUMP.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)