Improvements in or applicable to Type Composing and Distributing Mechanism.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd. Dec., 1894-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
Improvements in or applicable to Type Composing and Distributing
Mechanism.
We, MARIA HATTERSLEY, ADA MARY HATTERSLEY and ROBERT: LUND
HATTERSLEY, of Woodsend Works, Flixton, in the County of Lancaster, all of,
the Firm "Executors of Robert Hattersley "Printers' Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention to be as follows-
Our invention relates to composing and distributing machines, and is applicable
to what are known as the "Hattersley" composing and distributing machines, and
to machines of like character.
The object of our invention is to so arrange the machines that they may be used
for two or more sizes of type, such machines having hitherto been adapted only for
one size of type.
In the Hattersley composing machine each character of type is in a separate
channel and when a key is depressed the corresponding required type is separated
from those in the channel to which it belongs and is driven and falls and slides
down one of the corresponding guiding channels in a nearly vertical plate, the
channels in which plate converge to a spout from which the type is discharged into
a "stick or receiving channel.
"
The first improvement for carrying out the object of our invention is a spring
forming one side of the channel of the spout or other or equivalent arrangement,
which spring is acted upon by an excentric or other equivalent, so that this spring
can be altered in position to give more or less space in the channel of the spout for
the size of type to be used.
There are also small spout guides which are detachable used in the ordinary
machine and these are changed, one being substituted for another to suit the size
of type to be used in the machine.
The lid over the channels in the guide plate is hinged at its upper end and by
our improvements a pivot or pivots or their bearings are made excentric (or other
equivalent arrangements are used) which excentric pivots or bearings can be partly
rotated and held in any required position to bring the lid to and from the face of
the plate having the guiding channels, so as to give greater or less space for the
type as required, and this hinged lid is also arranged to shut at its lower end
against a stop. which is adjustable by a screw or other equivalent to give the
required space at the lower end of the lid.
•
Further by our improvements the guiding channels have or may have movable
or spring sides or bottoms which can be readily moved and adjusted to suit the size
of type required.
The said lid, covering the channels in the guide plate has or may have projections
formned upon it to fit in and correspond to the guiding channels, so that when this
lid is adjusted by arrangements as above mentioned the spaces forming the guiding
channels are or may be increased or diminished to suit the type required.
In the distributing machine the type channels are or may be increased or decreased
by a lid with or without projections upon it corresponding to the type channels, so
that by moving such lid and securing it when moved, by suitable means the
D

page_text: channels are or may be increased or décreased as desired to suit the size of type to
be distributed.
D
Improvements in or applicable to Type Composing and Distributing
Mechanism.
We, MARIA HATTERSLEY, ADA MARY HATTERSLEY and ROBERT LUND
HATTERSLEY. of Woodsend Works, Flixton, in the County of Lancaster, all of
the Firm "Executors of Robert Hattersley" Printers' Engineers, 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 :-
Our invention relates to composing and distributing machines, and is applicable
to what are known as the "Hattersley" composing and distributing machines, and
to machines of like character.
The object of our invention is to so arrange the machines that they may be
used for two or more sizes of type, such machines having hitherto been adapted
only for one size of type.
In the "Hattersley" composing machine, each character of type is in a separate
channel and when a key is depressed the corresponding required type is separated
from those in the channel to which it belongs and is driven and falls and slides
down one of the corresponding guiding channels in a nearly vertical plate, the
channels in which plate converge to a spout from which the type is discharged into
a " stick or receiving channel.
"
The first improvement for carrying out the object of our invention is a spring
forming one side of the channel of the spout or other or equivalent arrangement,
which spring is acted upon by an excentric or other equivalent, so that this spring can
be altered in position to give more or less space in the channel of the spout for the
size of type to be used.
There are also small spout guides which are detachable, used in the ordinary
machine and these are changed, one being substituted for another to suit the size of
type to be used in the machine.
The lid over the channels in the guide plate is hinged at its upper end, and by
our improvements a pivot or pivots or their bearings are made excentric, (or other
equivalent arrangements are used) which excentric pivots or bearings can be
partly rotated and held in any required position to bring the lid to and from the
face of the plate having the guiding channels, so as to give greater or less space
for the type as required, and this hinged lid is also arranged to shut at its lower
end against a stop which is adjustable by a screw or other equivalent to give the
required space at the lower end of the lid.
Further by our improvements the guiding channels have or may have movable
or spring sides or bottoms which can be readily moved and adjusted to suit the size
of type required.
The said lid, covering the channels in the guide plate has or may have projections
formed upon it to fit in and correspond to the guiding channels, so that when this
lid is adjusted by arrangements as above mentioned, the spaces forming the guiding
channels are or may be increased or diminished to suit the type required.
In the distributing machine the type channels are or may be increased or
decreased by a lid with or without projections upon it corresponding to, the type
channels, so that by moving such lid, and securing it when moved, by suitable

page_text: means the channels are or may be increased or decreased as desired to suit the size
of type to be distributed.
Fig. 1, is a front view of the guide plate, down which the type are guided when
separated by the piston which operates upon the type when a key is depressed.
A part of the middle of the guide plate is supposed broken away in this figure,
and the upper and lower parts of it are only shown.
Fig. 2, is a side or edge elevation of the guide plate.
Fig. 3, is a vertical sectional elevation of the guide plate in about its middle or
longest direction.
Fig. 4, is a section in a horizontal line through the guide plate and its lid,
showing a part of one side of it.
Fig. 5, is a view corresponding to Fig. 4, but of a different modification.
Figs. 6 and 7, are the side and edge views of an adjustable guide part for
guiding the type into line as they are composed when delivered from the spout of
the guide plate.
Figs. 8 and 9, are the side and edge views of an alternative modification of guide
part having the same object as that illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7.
Fig. 10, a plan view of the "swing lever "for moving the type when being
composed in line before or after each type of space is added to the line to make
space for it, or the next type character or space.
This figure also shows the edge of an adjustable plate which acts as the abutment
for the wedged ended vertical rod, the up and down movements of which (shown
in cross section in Fig. 10) actuate the "swing type lever" at each movement of
the keys.
Figs. 11 and 12, are side and edge views of the adjustable abutment plate above
referred to.
Fig. 13, is a plan view of the parts of the distributing mechanism necessary to
explain our improvements applied thereto.
Printers' type and spaces (which will be referred to as type) used in this country
are all of the same length, and type for different sizes of letters or characters
differ only in height (which gives the spaces between the lines of type) and in
thickness.
The type in the "Hattersley" composing machine are arranged in cases, each
character or space in a separate line or channel as when set up for printing, and one
of these type channels comes exactly opposite the upper ends of the corresponding
guide chaunel (a¹) in the guide plate a, shown by Fig. 1.
When a key is depressed the corresponding type is separated from the line of
type in the horizontal type channel by a piston and is discharged down the
corresponding type channel (a¹) in the guide plate a.
The types in their descent pass the slots a, termed the "grid slots" the sides of
which are formed of thin steel or brass plates a³, which are secured at each end of
each slot in a slit in the guide plate a, the edges of these plates extend above the
bottom of the channels for the type in the guide plate a, and form the continuation
of the guiding channels past the "grid slots."
The channels in the guide plate converge into a spout at its lower end which
conducts and guides the type as they descend in succession into the line in which
they are to be set up or composed and opposite the stick b, partly shown in Fig. 1,
and when a line has been composed it is forced downwards in a well known manner
into the stick to make room for the next line to be composed and justified.
The stick b, is at an inclination in the direction across the line in which it is
composed, and the channel in which the line of type is composed has an inclination
in another direction which is such that one type leans and is supported against the
preceding one by gravity. This arrangement is well known.
Each time a key is depressed a projection from the part actuating the piston of
that type depresses an oscillating frame to which frame the upper end of a rod is
connected, the lower end c, of one side of which is inclined or wedge shaped, and
this lower wedge end is guided in a slot so that the inclined or wedge end comes

page_text: against a part on the swing lever c¹, and causes its end to move forward (it is pulled
back by a spring) and push the type forward in the line it is being composed to
make space for each type as it descends.
The bent end of the swing lever c¹, wears by use, and in order to provide against
this the end, is formed separate from the other part c', of the lever so that it
may be secured thereto by screws and thus this part liable to be worn away may
be readily renewed
The wedge ended rod c, works in a space formed by a bracket c³, on one side and
a plate c, (Figs. 11 and 12) on the other side and this plate, has an inclined
projection c, which forms the abutment for the wedge ended rod c, the plate c',
also having slots for screws by which it can be secured to the bracket c³, and
adjusted as the wedge ended rod c, and the parts acted upon by it, wears, this being
a substitute for the arrangement where the plate c, is a fixture not allowing of such
adjustment.
The parts above referred to are shown in the drawings of the Specification of
Robert Hattersley's Patent No. 1794 of 1857-, in that Specification being a
wedge ended rod, acting upon the swing type lever therein marked h³.
In adapting the same composing machine for various sizes of type, the alteration
required is mainly in varying the depth of the type channels a', in the guide
plate a,
that is, the space between the bottoms of the type channels a', and the lid d,
covering these channels in the guide plate a.
The lid d, comes above the upper edges of the divisions a, forming the guide
channels in the guide plate a.
The lid d, (see Figs. 4 and 5) at its upper end is hinged at each side upon
pivots a³.
In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the pivot a', is supposed to screw through a hole in a bush a®,
having a handle a', to it, by which the bush a, can be turned in its bearing in the
projection from the guide plate a.
The hole in the bush a, for the screw pivot a³, is excentric to the bush aª,
consequently if the bush is turned one way, the cover plate d, will be moved
towards the guide plate a, and when turned the other way the cover plate will
move from the face of the guide plate.
By this means more or less space is given for the greater or less thickness of type
which are to be used. There is one of these excentric pivot bearings for the lid on
each side of the guide plate a.
In order to give a greater range of depth in the channels a', in the guide plate a,
for the type, the guide plate a, is or may be formed with channels having greater
depth of divisions a, between the type channels on the guide plate and the cover
plate d, is made with grooves in its face thus leaving projections between the
grooves into which grooves, the divisions at, on the guide plate may enter as shown
in Fig. 5.
The cover plate d, may be hinged to the guide plate a, at its upper end as above
explained in reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, but in Fig. 5, a shaft d', is supposed to
extend across the cover plate d, and to fit holes so as to rotate in projections from
it on each side, and this shaft d', has a pivot at each end that fits a hole or bearing
for it, in a projection from the guide plate, the pivots d, being excentric to the
shaft so that when it is partly rotated, the cover plate d, will be brought nearer to
or further from the guide plate.
The shaft d¹, may be turned by a handle shown in full line at d, and in dotted:
line in another position, this handle d³, having a pointer d', to point to an index on
a projection d', from the lid so that when the shaft d, is turned to bring the pointer
opposite a mark on the index it will show that the lid d, is adjusted for a certain
size of type.
When the shaft d', is adjusted, it is or may be secured from moving by a thumb
screw d', screwing through a part secured to the lid d, through a hole in which part
the shaft passes.
In the arrangements shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the excentric bush a', for each.

page_text: pivot a, is held when adjusted by the end of a bent spring a", secured to the edge
of the guide plate a, which enters a notch in the edge of the bush a', in which there
are several notches corresponding with the position in which the lid d, is required
for various thicknesses of type.
Other arrangements may be used for hinging the lid d, at its upper ends and
moving it to and from the guide plate a, such as changeable bushes for the
bearings of the pivots a³, and adjustable slides or parts carrying the pivots or pivot
bearings.
The spout end of the lid d, at which the types are delivered is also arranged to
shut more or less close to the face of the guide plate a, and this is or may be
effected by a coarse pitched screw d³, screwing into a tapped hole in the side frame
of the guide plate a, near its spout.
This screw, has or may have a handle d³, so as to partly rotate it in order
that the end of a spring d, secured to the framing may enter notches in its edge to
hold it from moving when adjusted.
The head of this screw d, forms a stop for the lower end of the inside face of
the lid, or a projection from the lid to come against and hold the lid at the distance
required from the guide plate for the kind of type to be used.
The lid d, is held closed by a latch lever e, having its fulcrum on a stud or
screw e, screwing into the edge of the guide plate a.
The catch arm of this lever e, is bevelled on its under-side to engage with a bevel
on the outside face of the lid d, so as to easily pass on to it when the lever e, is
turned and hold the lid.
The lever e, and lid d, having inclines as mentioned, permit of the lid being
securely held when it is at varying distances from the guide plate a, to suit
different classes of type.
The axis (e) of the latching lever e, may be a pin secured in it and forming its
axis such pin passing through a hole in the frame of the guide plate, and having a
helical or other spring acting upon it to draw the pin and thus the catch lever e,
towards the guide plate.
This spring is strong enough to hold the lid securely but will give way to varying
distances of the lid from the guide plate to suit various thicknesses of type. Other
stop arrangements (de) and latching devices (e) may be used.
termed the "
"
For some of the type channels a', in the guide plate a, say those for what is
upper case we find an advantage in making the bottom of the
grooves or channels a', undulating as shown in Fig. 3, as by so doing each type in
its descent will strike against the bottom of the channel in the guide plate and
against the inside of the lid, one or more times, and thus while giving free
space for the type, delivers it at the spout of the guide plate more correctly in
position.
This is further effected and the type is kept more in its correct position where
the channels a', are larger in the widthway by say making the channels a', in the
guide plate a, near the spout between the lines a', and a", sufficiently deep to admit
of a thin steel plate or plates f, which when pressed down to the bottom of the
deep channels will give sufficient space in depth for the largest size of type to be
used in the machine.
This thin plate, is cut with slits in it to allow the divisions a, between the
channels to pass through and at its upper end is secured by screws f¹, the heads
of which are counter-sunk in the thin plate, or by other means to the guide
plate a.
.
When so secured the narrow lower end or ends of the thin plate f, press by their
elasticity downwards towards the bottom of the channels , at that end to the
position for the largest type, but they are lifted upwards to reduce the depth of the
channels to suit other lesser sizes of type by resting upon an excentric f³, the shaft
or pivots of which have their bearings in holes on the underside of the guide
plate a, the excentric, working in a slot passing through the back of the guide
plate.

page_text: One end of the excentric shaft has or may have a lever handle f³, upon it, so as
to turn the excentric, to the position required to suit the type to be used, and
this lever handle f³, may have a pointer upon it to point to an index on the side of
the guide plate and when adjusted is secured by a thumb or milled headed screw,
or the excentric may be turned and held by other means.
Or other means may be substituted for the excentric, such as a screw.
To adjust the spout for the width way of the type to suit different sizes of type,
one side of the spout is formed by a spring g secured at one end by a screw 9', and
near the other end there is an excentric headed lever g², on a fulcrum pin in the
guide plate a.
By turning this excentric headed lever g², which acts upon the outside and at the
lower end of the spring g, it is made to move and narrow or widen the channel to
suit the type to be used.
The excentric headed lever g², may be held when moved in any required position
when adjusted by friction or other suitable means.
Each type when discharged from the spout falls, the lower end foremost, into the
bottom of a channel in which the type is composed in line. The end of the type
passes into a space formed by a bevelled guide, projecting from a carrier h', and
the space 2, within the guide has to be varied according to the size of type.
Fig. 6, shows a side and edge view of one of these adjustable guides h, which
may be substituted for the guide h, Fig. 1.
It is formed by a piece of metal with a slot or slit to make one arm or fork h,
elastic, a screw ³, passing through one arm or fork, screws into the other h, so
as to hold such long arm or fork h, nearer to or further from the other fork or
arm *.
The end of the shorter arm A, is secured by a screw to the carrier h¹, Fig. 1.
In Figs. 8 and 9, the guide h, is constructed in two parts and one 7, is secured to
the other, by screws, so that by substituting one long arm h, for another, the
guide is adapted to the size of type to be used, the part h, being secured to the
carrier, Fig. 1.
Fig. 13, is a plan view of part of distributing mechanism by which our
improvements applied thereto may be explained so as to adapt the mechanism to
suit various sizes of type to be distributed.
We may state that the " Hattersley" system of distributing printers' type to
which our improvements apply is described in the Complete Specifications of
Hattersley's Patents No. 552 of 1872; No. 1566 of 1875 and further improvements
are described in Hattersley's Executors' Complete Specification of Patent No. 92
of 1889, and Fig. 2 of that Specification is Fig. 13 above referred to, modified to
explain our invention.
The plate k, is that upon which the "distributing stick is rested when
discharging the type.
"
is
1, is the rail having the index for the characters or spaces upon it so that when
the pointer of the "stick comes opposite the character on the index rail which
corresponds with the type to be discharged, the lower part of the "stick
opposite the corresponding space and tooth of the comb m, which opens the required
space for the type to pass which is to be distributed when the end of the stick is
pushed forward and the type is discharged from the stick by the piston or slide
into the corresponding chanuel, vertically below it which vertical channels are
marked i.
These channels at their lower ends are opposite and in line with the frames
having channels in them for each size of type.
The vertical type channels i, are or may be made by a back sheet of metal
having dividing partitions secured to or formed in them, and this vertical guide
plate is secured to the framing, and there is a cover plate p, for closing the tops of
the channels, which is separate from the channelled guiding plate i, and the two
ends of the cover plate
P are or may be carried in slots in brackets p', secured to
the framing, at each end of the table plate k.

page_text: The channels in the guide plate are made for the maximum size of type, and a
plain plate p, will cover them.
But when the guiding channels have to be reduced in depth to suit different
sizes of type, the cover plate p, is of such thickness as to have grooves cut in it for
the divisions in the guide plate i, to enter, similar to the guide or plate a, and
covered plate or lid d, shown by Fig. 5.
A cover plate p, so formed for the distributing mechanism is moved nearer to or
further from the guide plate i, to suit the size of type to be distributed, and this
adjustment is or may be made by thin pieces of metal which are placed in the slots
in the brackets p', for the ends of the cover plate p, (these pieces of metal forming
packing pieces) to keep the cover plate at the required distance from the guide
plate.
Excentrics, screws or other means may be used if desired for holding the cover.
plate p, at the required distance from the guide plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.
1. The combination of arrangements with the "Hattersley" or like composing
machine, by which each machine is adapted to compose various sizes of type
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The system or mode of adjusting and fixing the lid to move to and from
the guide plate and of forming the lid with grooves or projections, the undulating
bottoms of the type channels in the guide plate and the adjustable and changeable
guides, combined with the said guide plate, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. The construction and arrangement of the guide plate and its lid, the arrange-
ments for varying the depth of the guiding channels or parts thereof for the type,
the increasing and decreasing of the width of the spout through which the type is
delivered, each substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the drawings.
"
4. The combination of arrangements with the "Hattersley or like distributing
mechanism which will adapt each machine for distributing various size of type
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Fig. 13 of the drawings.
Dated this 21st day of December 1894.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.