Improvements in Machines for Making Matrices and Printing Surfaces.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1895-Accepted, 6th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Matrices and Printing
Surfaces.
I, HOSEA WAITE LIBBEY of 55 Rutland Square, Boston, in the County of
Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Physician, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:—
The object of my invention is to produce a typograph or apparatus whereby a
line of type can be set and then brought into contact with the surface of a suitably
prepared paper so as to form a matrix.
The invention consists of rotatable type wheels and the mechanism for supporting
and operating them whereby they may be properly arranged and then brought
into contact with a strip of impressionable material, as paper, to form a matrix, as
will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.
The side frames of the apparatus are secured together by bolts and at their
upper ends by cross bars, the upper straight portions of these side frames are
formed with a groove in which a sliding plate is free to work on each side, said
plates being retained in their normal position by springs, the lower ends of which
rest upon lugs formed upon the side frames, the sliding plates are each formed with
an extension which at its lower end is connected to a treadle bar fulcrumed on a bar
or bolt secured to rear legs of the side frames, the forward end of this treadle bar
is formed with a foot rest so that when the foot of the operator is placed upon the
rest and forced down, it carries with it the side plates. Between the sliding plates
there is a series of wheels or disks having upon their periphery, in duplicate,
letters or characters representing the entire alphabet both capitals and small letters
as well as stops and other signs used in printing, that is to say, one set of
letters and signs are on one side of the said disks, and corresponding letters, or
signs diametrically opposite, so that when one line of reading matter is set by the
operator near the upper portion of the disks which would be at about an angle of
45 degrees from the centre the corresponding letters or signs will be immediately
opposite so that by turning the disks a slight distance say of a diameter from
him so as to bring the line that has been set perpendicularly over the centre of the
wheel the corresponding letters will be brought to the centre of the machine so
that when the treadle is depressed the dies or disks will be brought down and come
into contact with a strip of paper that is caused to travel over a table or bed
plate.
The paper is wound upon a roller, the spindle of which run in bearings cast in
one with or secured to the front portion of the side frames. This paper passes
over a loose roller carried in bearings, also formed in one with or secured to the
front portion of the frames.
The paper is fed along automatically in any convenient manner.
The type wheels or disks are recessed out between each letter or character.
The raised surfaces each bear a letter or character, and under each of the said
recesses is formed another recess preferably of triangular form into which a
locking bar is pushed by the operator as he sets the type wheels in position. A
curved slot is cut in the left hand side-plate so that after the plates have been
locked together they can be moved the required distance as above described.

page_text: As the type wheels are set in place the locking bar is pushed through them until
all of the plates are in place and the locking bar extends through all of them, then
by the knob on the end of said,bar the plates are shifted or rotated about one
eighth of a circle, and the end of the locking bar is then pushed through a hole in
the right hand sliding plate. I prefer to form a groove in the inner side of this
plate so that when the locking bar has been pushed through all of the type wheels
it will enter the said groove and the wheels can then be turned until the pin strikes
the end of the groove then it will be in place to be pushed through the hole in said
plate, and hold the plates in the proper position to be brought down upon the
prepared paper.
In order to facilitate the removal from and replacing one set of wheels for
another set of a different style of type I mount them upon a having an
enlargement at one end and a nut at the other end; this tube is of a length just
sufficient to fit between the sliding plates. The type plates are first mounted upon
said tube and secured by the nut then lowered into position and a round bar or
spindle inserted through said tube and the side plates. One end of this bar is
provided with a handle and a collar to form a stop, and the other end is formed
with a screw upon which is a nut, which when screwed up tight holds the said bar
rigid between the two sliding plates.
The type wheels may be made of a thickness sufficient to receive the small and
capital letters, or of such a thickness as to receive only the small letters in which
case half of the capital letters would be upon one, wheel and the other half on the
wheel next adjacent, in which case when a small letter is required only one wheel
would have to be set but when a capital letter is required a wheel bearing half of
said letter would be set and then the next adjacent wheel turned so that the
corresponding half of said letter will be brought opposite to the portion on the
wheel already set. The wheels as they are adjusted are locked by the locking bar,
and after the line is complete they are turned so as to bring the corresponding line
on the under side of the disks immediately in the centre of the machine, then the
treadle is depressed so as to bring the type wheels or disks into contact with the
paper and form an imprint therein, and by the travel of the treadle-being-regulated
by a stop, all imprints made in the paper will be of a uniform depth.
After the imprint of one line has been made the locking bar is withdrawn thus
unlocking the wheels which are then free or loose upon the spindle and are free to
be turned round either way upon said spindle by the operator, as may be required
to form another line.
Instead of a matrix paper, thin strips of celluloid may be employed in which
case the raised surface would form the plate to print from, of course the celluloid
would have to be heated as it passes under the type wheels which might be done
by a heated roller or rollers.
Dated
ed this 22nd day of May 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, WC., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Machines for Making Matrices, and: Printing
Surfaces.
I, HOSEA WAITE LIBBEY of 55; Rutland Square, Boston in the County of
Suffolk and, State, of, Massachusetts, United States of America, Physician,, 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::
,
The object of my invention is to produce a typograph or apparatus whereby 'a

page_text: prepared paper so as to form a ma rix.
The invention consists of rotable type wheels and the mechanism for supporting
and operating them whereby they may be properly arranged and then brought
into contact with a strip of impressionable material, as paper, to form a matrix, as
will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.
Referring to the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1 represents a side view of an apparatus embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the type wheel or disks, and the upper
portion of the apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line a, a, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the type wheels or disks.
Fig. 6 is an edge view of a portion of one of the type wheels or disks.
Fig. is a similar view showing the capital letters half on one wheel or disk,
and the other half on the next adjacent wheel or disk.
Fig. 8 is a side view of the locking pin.
A, A, represent the side frames of the apparatus secured together by bolts a, a,
and at their upper ends by cross bars b, the upper straight portions of these side
frames are formed with a grove in which a sliding plate B, is free to work on each
side, said plates being retained in their normal position by springs C, the lower
ends of which rest upon the lugs a!, formed upon the frames A, the sliding plates
are each formed with an extension B, which at its lower end is connected to a
treadle bar D, fulcrumed on a bar or bolt e, secured to rear legs of the side
frames A, the forward end of this treadle bar is formed with a foot rest d, so that
when the foot of the operator is placed upon the rest d, and forced down, it carries
with it the side plates B. A stop d², is secured upon the front bar a, so that when
the treadle D, is depressed it will always be brought to the same point. E, E, are
a series of wheels or disks, preferably of brass, and having upon their periphery,
in duplicate, letters or characters representing the entire alphabet both capitals and
small letters as well as stops and other signs used in printing, that is to say, 'one set
of letters and signs are on one side of the said disks, and corresponding letters or
signs diametrically opposite, so that when one line of reading matter is set by the
operator near the upper portion of the disks which would be at about an, angle of
45 degrees from the centre, the corresponding letters or signs will be immediately
opposite so that by turning the disks a slight distance say of a diameter from
him, so as to bring the line that has been set, perpendicularly over the centre of
the wheel, the corresponding letters will be brought to the centre of the machine
so that when the treadle B, is depressed, the dies or disks will be brought down
and come into contact with a strip of paper F, that is caused to travel over a table
or bed plate G.
The paper F, is wound upon a roller H, the spindle of which run in bearings a³,
cast in one with or secured to the front portion of the side frames A. This paper
passes over a loose roller I, carried in hearings a³, also formed in one with, or
secured to, the front portion of the frames A.
The paper is fed along automatically in any convenient manner. In the drawing
I have shown four feed wheels g, mounted upon the shafts, carried by brackets i,
secured to the underside of the table G, on each end of the shafts h, is secured a
pawl wheel J, those at the rear portion of the machine being operated by a pawl J,
secured to the sliding plates B, so that when the plates B, are drawn down the
pawls' will not operate the ratchet wheels but when the sliding plates B, are by
the 'springs C, returned to their normal position then the pawls will come into
contact with the teeth of the rear ratchet wheels and cause them to be rotated
sufficient to move the paper F, the required distance between one line and another.
The front and rear shafts 'h, are caused to operate simultaneously by a belt or
chain K, passing around a pulley or sprocket wheel k, secured' on each of the
shafts h, as thus described the front feed wheels j, are only operated when the rear

page_text: ones are actuated by the pawls J, on the sliding plates B, but sometimes it is
required to leave more than one ordinary space between the lines, to accomplish
this I secure to the front frame of the machine a pawl lever L, which is free to
be actuated by the operator, thus by the movement of the pawl lever L, the
paper F, may be fed forward without receiving an imprint from the type disks or
wheels E.
The type wheels or disks E, are recessed out between each letter or character as
will be best seen in Fig. 5, in which the surfaces 1, each bear a letter or character,
and 2 are recesses between such letter or character bearing surfaces; immediately
under each of the recesses 2, is formed a recess 3, preferably of triangular form as
shown into which a locking bar 4, is pushed by the operator as he sets the wheels E,
in position. A curved slot is cut in the left hand side plate D, as shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 1, so that after the plates have been locked together they can be
moved the required distance as above described.
As the type wheels are set in place the locking bar is pushed through them until
all of the plates are in place and the locking bar extends through all of them,
then by the knob on the end of said bar. the plates are shifted or rotated about
one eighth of a circle, and the end of the locking bar is then pushed through a.
hole in the right hand sliding plate B. I prefer to form a groove in the inner
side of this plate shown in dotted lines at g', in Fig. 1, so that when the locking
bar has been pushed through all of the type wheels it will enter the said groove
and the wheels can then be turned until the pin strikes the end of the groove
when it will be in place to be pushed through the hole in said plate and hold
the plates in the proper position to be brought down upon the prepared paper.
In order to facilitate the removal from and replacing one set of wheels for
another set of a different style of type I mount them upon a tube M, having an
enlargement m, at one end and a nut n, at the other end; this tube is of a length
just sufficient to fit between plates B, the type plates E, are first mounted upon
said tube M, and secured by the nut n, then lowered into position and a round bar
or spindle P, inserted through said tube and the side plates E. One end of this
bar is provided with a handle p, and a collar pl, to form a stop, and the other end
is formed with a screw upon which is a nut p³, which when screwed up tight holds
the said bar rigid between the two plates B, B.
The type wheels may be made of a thickness sufficient to receive the small and
capital letters, or of such a thickness as to receive only the small letters, in which
case half of the capital letters would be upon the wheel and the other half on the
wheel next adjacent, in which case when a small letter is required only one wheel
would have to be set but when a capital letter is required a wheel bearing half of
said letter would be set and then the next adjacent wheel turned so that the
corresponding half of said letter will be brought opposite to the portion on the
wheel already set.
It will be seen that the wheels as they are adjusted are locked by the locking
bar 4, and after the line is complete they are turned so as to bring the corre-
sponding line on the 'under side of the disks immediately in the centre of the
machine, then the treadle D, is depressed so as to bring the type wheels or disks
into contact with the paper and form an imprint therein, and by the travel of the
treadle being regulated by the stop d'; all imprints made in the paper will be of a
uniform depth.
After the imprint of one line has been made the locking bar 4, is withdrawn thus
unlocking the wheels which are then free or loose upon the spindle P, and are free
to be turned round either way upon said spindle by the operator, as may be required
to form another line.
Instead of a matrix paper thin strips of celluloid might be employed in which
case the raised surface would form, the plate to print from. Of course the celluloid
would have to be heated as it passes under the type wheel which might be done by
a roller or rollers heated by steam.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a typograph, the combination with a frame, of a pair of vertically
movable plates therein, the lower ends of the plates being extended and provided
with a treadle and one of the plates being provided with a curved slot terminating
in a hole at one end, a series of type wheels journaled between the plates, provided
with registering notches, and a locking bar for engaging with the notches, said bar
having one end adapted to move in the slot and enter the hole, substantially as set
forth.
2. In a typograph, the combination with a frame, provided with lugs, two
movable plates within the frame, each plate being provided with extensions to
register with the lugs of the frame, a spring between each extension and its lug, a
series of type wheels journaled between the plates, means for locking said wheels
against rotation, a plate below the wheels, for the reception of a sheet of
impressionable material and means for moving the wheels toward the plate,
substantially as set forth.
3. In a typograph, the combination of a frame, movable plates therein provided
with type wheels, a table below the wheels, shafts journaled below the table, ench
of which is provided with feed wheels and a ratchet wheel for rotating it, a pawl
on the frame for engaging with one of the ratchet wheels, and a lever for engaging
with the other ratchet wheel, and means for causing said shaft to turn in unison
substantially as set forth.
4. In a typograph, a series of wheels or disks having letters or characters
upon their periphery and integral therewith said wheels or disks being mounted
upon a shaft carried by sliding plates that are brought down when an imprint is to
be made in combination with a strip of impressionable paper, feed wheels arranged
on shafts at each end of the bed plate, ratchet wheels on the ends of one of said
shafts and pawls on the sliding plates for imparting a rotary motion to the feed
wheels whereby the paper is automatically fed forward as the disks are being raised
after the type wheels have been brought into contact with the paper substantially
as Bet forth.
5. In a typograph wheels or disks each having a series of letters and characters
upon one half of its periphery and a corresponding series of letters and characters
upon the other half the two corresponding letters being diametrically opposite each
other said wheels or disks having openings between each pair of characters but in
the rear of said letters or characters in combination with a locking bar adapted to
fit into said openings and hold the wheels as they are adjusted substantially as set
forth.
6. In a typograph a series of wheels each having on its periphery a full
alphabet of small letters, figures and signs and half sections of a capital alphabet
so arranged that when the two adjacent disks are properly adjusted they will
form a complete alphabet of capital letters substantially as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.