IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SETTING AND OBTAINING IMPRESSIONS FROM TYPES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the-nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR SETTING AND OBTAINING IMPRESSIONS FROM TYPES, a communi-
cation to me from abroad by H. P. Graves, of 115 Monroe Street, Chicago, United
States, Manufacturer, 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 an apparatus for setting, taking impressions from, and
distributing types, and consists in the several devices and combinations of devices
hereinafter described and claimed.
The letters employed in the drawings severally indicate corresponding parts in
tho several figures, excepting those letters which appear on the circular knobs in
Fig 1, which indicate the letters or types carried by the moving parts of the
machine operated by the several knobs.
Fig 1 is a top view of the apparatus, in which are shown a limited number of
rods, to which type arms are attached, together with their operative mechanism;
but a sufficient number to illustrate the arrangement and movement of the parts.
Fig 2 is a vertical transverse section near the centre of the machine.
Fig 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the central space shown in
Figs 1 and 2.
.f
Fig 4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section, through the centre of Fig 1.
Fig 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing special parts.
.
Fig 6 is also a fragmentary perspective view, specially designed to show how any
number of the type-bearing bent arms may be thrown into position to bring the
types into line.
Fig 7 is an elevation of the hinged impression bed.
Fig 8 is a detached view of one of the expansible "spaces" employed in the
machine..
GL b v
..
Fig. 9 is a detached view of a forked lever, used to finally lift the type-arms to
proper height, as will be explained.
'

page_text: A and A¹ are two sections of an inclined table supported on a suitable frame, at
proper height, and separated by a central longitudinal space B.
C and C¹ are longitudinal supports perforated to receive the rods D and D¹
arranged in two series parallel with each other on the respective sections A and A¹
of the table, said rods having free movement in said supports, so as to both rotate
and slide longitudinally therein. These rods are provided with arms which when
not in use, are pendant through the central space B of the inclined table, each of
said arms being set at a right angle with the rod to which it is attached. These
arms are shown pendant in Figs 2 and 3. At the extremity of each arm is formed
a head E, directed at a right angle with the: arm, into which head is set and
secured a type.. When the machine is at rest and the arms pendant, the arms of.
each series and their heads are in the same longitudinal inclined plane, as shown in
Fig 2. These heads and the type which they bear are to be thrown up at a common
point in the space B, in order to form a line, as will be hereafter explained. The
arms to which the types are attached therefore require to be of increased length
according to the remoteness froin such point of the rods upon which they severally
rotate into place. They thus hang with their extremities or heads in oblique lines,
as shown in Fig 3:
G represents a supporting guide-piece or, composing bed, fixed to the section A¹
of the table, running upward from and at right angles with the lower edge of said
section.
The several types and the heads to which they are attached, are raised through
the space
B opposite the end of this guide-piece and are slid along thereon, to
form a straight line. For this purpose, the upper margin of said guide-piece is
made shaped, as shown in Fig 3, and the lower end of each head is corre-
spondingly notched at n.
It is intended that the machine shall be provided with several types of each
letter of the alphabet, both capital and small letters, several "spaces" and several
of each of the characters and punctuation marks used in printing, so that a
single line of any desired length, according to the purpose of the machine, may be
set up.
Now, in order that the types may be selected and brought into line in the
almost infinite number of changes or orders of arrangement, required for this
purpose, there are formed at the juncture of the rods D and D₁ with the arms d
and d, off-sets e and e¹, turned in opposite directions in the upper and lower series
by which, as shown in Fig 6, the arms of both series, when rotated into horizontal
position, to support the type in line on the guide or bed G, take their places
in a common plane, intermediate between the planes occupied by D and D¹
respectively, the former of which is shown in said Figure and in Fig 2, to be
somewhat higher than the latter.
Each of the arms is thrown up, or the rod to which it is attached is rotated, by
means of movable keys, the finger pieces or knobs of which are generally indicated
by the letter b.
The manner chosen to operate the arms of the several series is separately and
more distinctly shown in Fig 5, wherein the knobs b are attached to bent arms-F,
and F. Said arms are pivoted to the parts C. F being the key arms of the lower
series, and F¹ the key arms of the upper series.
..
The free end of each of the key arins F, as shown in Fig 5, is provided with a
backwardly inclined projection g, and the forward projection g'; the projection g
rests in such a position as to fall, when the key arm is depressed, behind the
off-set e, and its operation is first to throw the arm and the rod. D, to which the
arm is attached, forward to a point midway in the space B, of the table. At this
point the projection g¹ rests upon the off-set or shoulder e, and further depression of
the key arm F, operates to rotate the bar D and to swing the arm d'upward, into
horizontal position. To prevent rotation of the bar in the first or horizontal
movement mentioned, the lower end of the bar, not shown in Fig 5,-but shown in
Figs 1 and 2, is squared, or provided with the flat end v,' which lies in a groove

page_text: formed in the head T, fastened to the lower margin of the section A of the table,
it being arranged that the squared end of v shall escape the groove in head T
when the arm shall liave been thrown out the proper distance midway of the
space B, so that said arm may be rotated or thrown up into horizontal position, as.
described, without coming in contact with other arms of either series.
As the off-set e¹ of the upper series is turned in a direction opposite to that of
the off-set e in the lower series, it is not available to rotate the arm to bring the
type into place, and therefore a bent projection e¹¹ is formed, on the upper end of
the rod D¹, to serve as a crank or lever through which the proper movements are
given to the arm of the series, by the key-arm F'. Said key-arm is pivoted
to the guide C, and has on its free end the inclined projection g", and the
horizontal projection or shoulder g¹¹. The inclined projection g" is arranged
with reference to the bent end ell of bar D¹ to first throw the bar longitudinally
downward and bring the type arm to a point midway of the space B. When
thus thrown downward the projection or shoulder strikes the bent end e¹¹ of
the bar D¹, and by further depression of the key arm F¹ said bar is rotated and
the type arm d¹ is thrown up into horizontal position to bring its type into place.
Rotation of the rods D¹ during their longitudinal movement is prevented by means:
of notches n¹, formed on a horizontal flange of the metal strip C!! fastened to the
lower edge of the upper section A¹ of the table, which strip has the further
purpose of supporting the lower ends of the bars Di
In what manner the type arms daro drawn upward and held in these notches
will be hereafter explained in connection with the distributing process.
For the purpose of accomodating the numerous type arms and types in the
machine, and to avoid the use of longer type arms than necessary, the whole
number of types, arms, and other mechanisms for their individual inanipulation,
is divided about equally, one half being placed at the right and the other half at
the left of the central point of the table, at which point the line of type is to be
set up.
Fig 6, to which reference has been made, shows the direction of the off-sets e
and e¹, in the double series at the right.
+
It is plain that in order to bring the types of the double series at the left upward,
at the same point with those at the right, the off-sets e and e¹ of the type arms
at the left will be on sides of the arms opposite those at the right.
As each type is lifted by the mechanism described, into the central position
opposite the supporting bed piece G, it is pushed upward upon said guide piece
and held, while the succeeding types are brought into place upon the guide piece,
until the line is completed. The length of the line is determined by a sliding
gauge I, held by the thumb nut H, clearly seen in, Fig 4.
The mechanism by which the types are successively pushed upward and held on
the bed piece G, consists in the devices next described.
R is a sliding bar arranged upon the lower section A of the table, and opposite
the composing bed G; said bar is held in place beneath the guide L, and is given a
reciprocating movement by means of a cam plate Ķ secured thereto in a vertical
position, as shown in Figs 2 and 4.
On one side of said plate is cut a cam groove c and c¹ having a branch c¹¹, as
shown in said figures. J and Jare parallel parts of rocking frames, one on each
side of the centre of the table. Each frame is pivoted in bearings m, and the two
are centrally connected, as shown in Fig 1. The part J of each frame extends
beneath the curved key-bars F of the lower series, as more plainly shown in Figs 1
and 2, and the part J extends over the lower prolongations of the key-bars F' of
the upper series as appears plainly in Fig 2. At the ends of the frames near the
centre of the machine the journal of each is extended to form the lever J", which
moves vertically in proximity to the vertical cam-plate K, and is provided with
a pin p, which rests in the cam-groove of said plate.
In Fig 2, the pin p, upon lever J¹¹ is shown in the branch groove c¹, which is
its proper position when the types are to be distributed. When setting type, said

page_text: pin will be in the upper extremity of the continuous groove c, c¹ and the arm is:
held up by means of the spring S, connected to a fixed' point beneath the table,
and to a short arm j, upon the other extremity of the journal of. the rocking
frame..
By depressing either of the key arms the frame J J¹ is rocked and the lever Ju
is depressed, carrying the pin p downward in the groove c', of the plate K. The
direction of this groove is such that during about half the downward movement
of the lever J the bar R is retreated or moved from the bed G, and during the
remainder of its downward movement said bar is again advanced to its original
position. When the pressure upon the key arm is relieved, the lever J is lifted
by the spring S; the pin p rising in the groove c, which is an arc, drawn from the
centre of movement of the lever J¹¹.
No movement of the bar R, therefore takes place when the lever J¹ rises. The
key arms F and F¹ are also restored to their former position by the operation of
the spring S. To insure that the pin p shall pursue the circuit of groove e c', as
described, the pin is flattened and obliquely placed on the lever J1 and if necessary
a spring is so placed at the extremity of the throw as to give the pin its proper
direction. These or other familiar devices for this purpose may be used. The
bar R, is provided at its upper end with a head R¹ which strikes the type-heads E
and slides them successively upon the bed G.
The retreating movement of the bar R and the head R¹ above described is to
permit each successive type to rise and during its retreat, the types already in
position upon the bed G are temporarily held there by a projecting arm N, on the
end of the rocking-shaft M. This projection N bears against the edge of the
type-head last pushed into place. When a succeeding type rises, it is thrown
upward by the rising type head, and again falls, to hold this latter in place when
the head R shall have pushed it forward with those before it upon the bed G.
The arm N is supported in proper position by the head R¹, which is provided
with a projection 2, for the purpose of continuing this support of N, when the
head is retreated. The bar M has also a longitudinal movement, whereby the
arm N may be carried forward to finally sustain less than a full line.
As an auxiliary to the reciprocating bar R and head R¹ which push the type
head upon the supporting bed G, a rigid frame O, is employed, secured to the
bar R, and extending in proximity to each and; every one of the bars D and D¹
for the purpose of moving them forward simultaneously with the first forward
movement of the type-head as it is pushed upon the bed G.
This effect is produced by means of short pins u, projecting horizontally from
the bars D and D¹, when the latter are at rest or not, in use, but which assume a
vertical position when said bars are rotated in setting the type. These pins are so
placed with reference to the frame O that the frame will strike them at the same
time that the head R' strikes the type head E, and thus avoid bending the
type-arms.
An auxiliary device for lifting the type heads into proper position to be moved
forward upon the bed G, is also employed, which consists of a lever l, l', pivoted to
a piece fixed to the bed on which the bar R runs, at p. The upper arm of this
lever is provided with a pin p¹ which runs in a grooved cam-piece o, secured to the
arm J, already described. The lower arm is forked as shown in the detached
view, Fig 9. The cam-groove is so constructed and arranged with reference to
the pin p¹ that when the type head has been raised by the key arm nearly into
position, the lower arm of the forked lever, rises beneath the type head and lifts
it to the proper height. The arm is forked for the purpose of catching the
type-head rising from either the right or left hand section of the machine. For
the purpose of properly "spacing" or regulating the distance between the words
set up, and insuring at the same time, lines of equal length, expansible or
compressible spaces attached to the arms in the position of types, already
described are used. These "spaces" consist of a V shaped head, formed of flat spring
metal of proper width, and about half the height of the type.
"
"

page_text: More properly their height may be described as being such that their bearing
point will be in the line of pressure between the gauge I, and the arm N, between
which the type are finally held.
Enough type being always set in a line to compress the "spaces" in some degree,
the types will obviously form a compact line between I and N.
After using the line of type for any of the purposes suggested or hereinafter
described, the same is distributed, by first tilting the arm M¹ over into the position
denoted by the dotted lines Fig 1, thus releasing the types, from the arm N, and
thereafter directing the pin p into the branch groove c¹¹ by manipulation of the
lever J. The type heads may then be pushed off the supporting guide G and
allowed to drop downward into place. By making the table of proper inclination,
say about twenty degrees towards the operator, the parts being constructed with
proper accuracy, the type heads will, by their own gravity, slide off the support G.
The force of gravity will also be sufficient to carry the ends of the bars D back
into the groove of the head T. As a means for drawing the bars D' backward
and upward, and carrying their several arins into the notches n¹ of the flanged
plate C, there are provided the weighted levers W, pivoted at p¹¹, Figs 2 and 5,.
the upper short arms of which are bevelled on their upper curved end, as shown in
Fig 5, a pin p1 (more clearly shown in Fig. 2) projecting from each arm D¹
strikes the bevelled top of the adjacent lever W near the point, and in rotating in
obedience to the gravity of arm d¹ to a horizontal position said pin tilts the upper
end of said weighted lever forward. But when said pin has reached a horizontal
position, it no longer is against the bevelled face, and the, re-action of the lower or
weighted end of the lever W, serves to throw the bar D₁ upward, bringing its
type-arm d into its appropriate notch n¹.
When the type line is in position upon the supporting bed G, it may be inked,
and an impression taken from it on a sheet of paper, or an impression may be
taken from it in wax or any suitable substance, to serve as a negative for an
electrotype or other printing plate, or to form a plate from: which to print directly,
according to the form of the type, and the nature of the material. There is herein
shown and described a device for taking successive impressions in wax of any
number of individual lines that may be successively set up. For this purpose All
is a frame hinged at a¹ to suitable standards, rising from the back of the tablo
already described, having the bed B¹ affixed, thereto. Upon this bed is arranged
a removable sliding secondary bed-piece B, upon which may be secured, in any
suitable manner, a body of wax, or other impressible substance. The bed piece B
is moved by any proper mechanism, or by hand. There is herein shown a long
screw S having a fixed position with reference to B¹, and arranged to carry the
sliding bed B by means of a clamp-nut, or other equivalent device, adapted to
engage with the thread of the screw S¹. The screw is rotated by means of the
flexible crank C, leaving the pointed pin cl1 projecting inwardly from its
extremity. D¹¹ is a disc located about the shaft of the screw, near the flexible
arm and fixed to the end of the bed B¹, which disc has any desired number of
holes in position to receive the pointed pin c. By these means thes liding bed B₁₁
may be advanced any determinate distance required." In operating the machine
for the purpose of taking impressions in wax, the bed B is moved to the right, 'to
bring its left hand end in proper position over the point of the table at which the
type are set up. The first line of type being in place the frame A" is swung
forward over the table, the line of type striking the wax and bedding itself
therein. Suitable stops are provided on the table to strike the bed, or vice versa,
to determine the depth of the impression. The impression bed is then raised into
its former position, the line of type is distributed, another is set up, the sliding bed
is moved to the left by the screw S₁ the proper distance to give the required space
between the lines, another impression is made, and so on.
"
For the purpose of holding the line of type firmly in position and with their
faces even while taking an impression from them, cross bars B1, are fixed to the
main bed Bas shown in figure 7, on the faces of which cross-bars are secured the

page_text: yielding rubber cushions R". When the frame bearing the impression bed is tilted
forward one of these cross bars falls on each side of and close to the type-heads,
and one rests by its cushioned face upon the type-arms, near the heads. The
pressure is only such as will be sufficient to hold the type-heads firmly upon
the supporting bed G, and not enough to bend the arms. The elasticity of the
rubber will also operate to detach the type readily from the wax. Should the force
required to make the impression be greater than can be conveniently applied
directly by hand, any suitable form of clamping device may be used for the
purpose.
After taking all the impressions required, or for which there is room in the body
of wax upon the sliding bed B¹¹ the latter is removed and another bed substituted
in its place.
In arranging the types'in the machine it is proposed to have reference somewhat
to the thickness of such type, since the type arms cannot be thicker than the
types themselves; it is proposed, therefore, to place the thinner types nearest the.
centre of the machine, where the arms to which they are attached being the thinner,
will also be the shorter, and, therefore, less liable to bend.
In order to place the type mountings, composed of the rods D arms d and
heads E, as near as possible to each other the knob, by which the key arms are
operated is located in the alternate relation shown in Fig 1, all corresponding types,
as for example, all the commas will be located in a group by themselves, and it
may be thought desirable to indicate the types on the finger knobs belonging to
them. This has been done in Fig 1. It may also be thought desirable to make the
knobs of alternating groups of types of different colors, as for example, one group
white and the next black.
"
It is estimated that a machine containing two hundred and eighty types, and
spaces," properly apportioned among the several capitals, small letters, figures, &c,
will afford all the letters and characters required in setting any line of average
book length. This would require the machine table to be about forty inches long,
the longest arms being eighteen and one-fourth inches, and the bars to which the
arms are attached one-fourth inch apart. It is obvious that by placing in each of
the right and left hand sections a sufficient number of types, two lines may be set
up, one made up wholly from the types at the left, and one from types at the
right; but not more than two lines can be set in proper proximity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
:-
1. In a machine for the purpose stated the combination with each other of two
or more type-mountings, composed each of the arm d, and rod D, and having the
off-set e at the juncture of the arm and rod, said rods D being arranged side by
side and having. both rotary and longitudinal movement, and said arms being
of unequal length according to the distance of the respective rods apart, whereby
said arms may be revolved into juxtaposition in a common plane to bring
their types side by side in any desired order of arrangement substantially as
described.
2. In a machine for the purpose stated the reciprocating bar R having the
head R', in combination with the type heads E and the composing bed G,
substantially as described.
3. In a machine for the purpose stated, the combination of the vibrating rod M
having the arm N, with the support G, stop I and reciprocating bar R¹, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
4 The combination with the type head E, the reciprocating bar R, and tho
composing bed G, of mechanism substantially as described, whereby the bar R is
thrown forward to carry the type head upon the support, when brought into place
before it, being actuated at the proper moment through connection with the
mechanism by which the type is brought into place, substantially as described.

page_text: 5. In combination with the rod D having the type arm d and off-set e, the
pivoted arm F, provided with the inclined projection g, and shoulder g¹, arranged
with reference to the off-set e to first throw the rod D forward and then rotate the
same and raise the type arm, substantially as described.
6. In combination with the series of pivoted knob arms F, adapted and arranged
to actuate the several type arms d, as described, and the rocking bar J having
attached thereto the lever J" provided with the pin p, the cam-plate K secured to
the sliding bar R, and provided with the continuous groove c, o¹, substantially as
and for the purpose stated.
7. In a machine for the purpose stated the combination with pivoted type-arms,
mechanism substantially as described for raising said arms to bring the type up at
a common point, and a composing bed for the reception of the types after being so
raised, of auxiliary lifting mechanism adapted to engage the arms when nearly
raised to the level of the bed and to positively sustain the same at the level of the
bed preparatory to their being moved forward thereon, substantially as described.
8. In combination with the type arms d, d¹ and composing bed G, the lever e, e¹,
and arm J, actuating said lever, substantially as described and for the purposes
set forth.
9. In a machine for the purpose stated, the two series of rods D and D', located
in different planes, and having their type arms off-set or bent at e and e¹ in
opposite directions, said series being arranged to have their arms proximate and to
lie in the same intermediate plane, when raised, so as to bring their types into
juxtaposition in a line, substantially as set forth.
10. In combination with the numerous rotating and longitudinally moving
rods D having type arms d, which depend in the same plane when at rest, the
strip T, having a groove adapted to receive the squared ends of the rods D,
whereby said rods are held from rotating while being longitudinally moved,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
11. In combination with the rods D₁ having the pins 2111 of the upper inclined
series of type mountings shown, the weighted vibrating lever W, bevelled on their
upper arms and operating substantially as described, to draw the arms d' backward
into the notches n when said arms have fallen to a perpendicular.
12. The pressure bars B in combination with the movable bed B¹ and type-
arms d, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
13. The combination with the reciprocating bar R, and rotating and longi-
tudinally moving rods D, D¹, provided with pins u, as shown, of the rigid frame O
extending in proximity to the several rods, substantially as described and for the
purpose stated.
14. In a machine for the purpose stated, the compressible space P attached to
the extremity of the type arm d, in combination with the type bearing arms and
the bars I, N, and B for locking the line, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.