Improvements in Automatic Type-distributing Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1899 -Accepted, 10th Mar., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Type-distributing Apparatus.
I, ERNST FREDRIK NYDAHL, of 18, Nybrogaten, Stockholm, in the Kingdom
of Sweden, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an automatic type-distributing apparatus, that is to
say an apparatus for conducting the type from the galleys to the proper com-
partment in the type case.
Type distributing machines of the kind heretofor known usually comprise
longitudinal and transverse channels running on longitudinal and transverse
rails, and these channels operate in such a manner, that type not passing through
the longitudinal channels are pushed before transverse pushers until they
reach a predetermined point. By this means the type is arranged in accordance
with its thickness and notchings into a number of different groups, determined
by distinguishing marks or notches carried by the type.
The distributing apparatus which forms the subject of this invention presents
the following essential characteristics; the distribution of the type is effected
from above downwards through a principal admission tube from which the type
pass through various hoppers or tubular branches which are adapted to be suit-
ably displaced. For example the type may be conducted from the main tube in
the downward direction through fixed branch tubes, which upper tubes are in
communication by means of displaceable hoppers with lower fixed tubes, or the
type may pass through displaceable branch tubes, the lower extremity of the
upper of such tubes being displaceable above the upper extremity of the corre-
sponding lower tubular branches, or again through hoppers arranged one above
the other and adapted to be displaced in various directions laterally, in which
the lower and smaller portion of a hopper is always within the upper and larger
portion of the hopper next beneath it."
In such case it is not necessary that the types should be of different thicknesses
in order to conduct a type to its appropriate place, all that is required being a
suitable arrangement of the hoppers or branch tubes one above the other.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figures 1 and 2 show vertical sections taken at right angles one to the other
of the distributing apparatus.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the same, and
Figure 4 is a partial view of the apparatus as seen from above.
The apparatus consists of a number of frames in this case four, 1, 2, 3, 4
arranged one above the other, which are capable of displacement in a horizontal
direction. The three lower frames cach consist of an outer and an inner frame,
the latter 25, 5, and 6 of which are displaceable in a direction at right angles
to the outer frames (Figure 3). Each frame is provided with a number of
hoppers 7, 8, 9 and 10, which participate in the displacement of the frames,
and beneath each frame is arranged a fixed bottom 11, 12, 13 or 14 into which

page_text: fit the upper extremities of a number of tubes 15, 16 and 17 arranged between
the frames.
The lower open extremity of each hopper is always situated exactly over the
upper open extremity in the next group of tubes, and over which of the said
tubes the hopper comes depends upon the position given to the corresponding
frame. The lower open extremity of each tube is always within the limits of
the upper and wider portion of the hopper next beneath it.
The topmost frame 1 therefore carries one hopper 7, which corresponds to the
tubes 15, each of which leads to a hopper 8 in the frame 2. As above described,
these hoppers S are capable of displacement in two directions at right angles one
to the other and are therefore capable of assuming four positions in each of
which, the hopper is situated directly above one of the tubes 16, four of which
therefore lead from each hopper 8 in a downward direction above a hopper 9 in
the frame 3.
In this frame 3 are therefore provided eight hoppers 9. From each of these
lead four tubes 17 each one of which proceeds to a hopper 10 in the next lower frame. 4
so that there are 32 of these last mentioned hoppers. From each of these latter,
four tubes 18 proceed to separate compartments of the type case.
A type arriving in the hopper 7 is therefore able to pass through.all the frames
in order to finally enter one of the tubes 18. Into which of these tubes the type
eventually falls of course depends upon the manner in which the frames are dis-
placed, that is to say upon the various positions which the same assume with
respect to the fixed tubes arranged between them, whilst the type is falling.
Each type therefore requires a special and different displacement of the frames
and these displacements are determined by the type themselves and produced by
means of a special mark apparatus.
For this purpose each type is provided upon one edge (Figure 2) with nicks
or notches, and these nicks vary in number and nature for every kind of type.
In carrying out this automatic distribution, the type may be either in the
galley or they may be placed in a special frame or case (for example 19 in the
drawing). In this case the edges of the type which are provided with the nicks
above referred to are turned towards a number of pins 20 which are adapted to
enter the said nicks. Each of these pins is fixed to a bent lever 21 which, when
the corresponding pin is not engaged in a nick, assumes the position shewn in
dotted lines. When, however, one of these pins is engaged in a notch, the
corresponding lever is caused by the spring 22 to occupy the position shewn in
full lines. The outer oscillating extremity of the lever thereupon comes in the
path of one end of a bent lever 24 pivoted at 23, the other end of this lever
being adapted to displace one of the frames in the manner shewn. One of these
levers 24 is provided for each frame 1, 2, 3 or 4 and also for each frame 25, 5
and 6 (Figure 1) and for each of these is provided a corresponding bent lever 21
with pin 20.
The pivots of the levers 24 move to and fro between the positions 26 and 27.
When during this displacement the bent levers occupy the position indicated by
the dotted lines, they permit the levers 24 to rotate upon the pivots 23 and the
corresponding frames are not displaced. When, however, the levers 21 are
caused to come in the path of the upper ends of the levers 24 in the manner
above described, these latter receive a fixed support during the displacement of
the levers 24 into the position 27, thus producing the displacement of the
corresponding frame.
It follows from this that each type, before falling from the galley, adjusts the
frames in such a manner that these latter, by means of the hoppers and tubes,
cause the type to fall into its proper division in the type case.
When the distributing apparatus has been adjusted in the manner above
described by the type, these latter are released by the pins 20 in order to enable
them to fall, and this is most conveniently effected by moving the levers 21
outwards and from, the position 28 into the position 29.

page_text: The feeding of the type from type box 19 into the distributor is effected by
means of a suitable spring adapted to pass the types against the pins 20.
The operation of my type distributing apparatus will be understood from the
following example:
The frame 1 separates the type into two groups, for example, 64 type in each
group.
The frame 2 divides these groups into four; that is to say 64/4 or 16 type in
each group.
The frame 3 divides these groups into four; that is to say 16/4 or four in
each group.
The frame 4 divides these groups into four; that is to say, 4/4 or one type in
each group.
In this manner 128 type are distributed into their proper divisions.
The apparatus above described may be modified by the omission of the whole
of the fixed tubes 15, 16 and 17. In this case the frames are displaced directly
one upon the other, and their displacement is regulated in such a manner that
the hoppers in an upper frame may be situated directly above another hopper in
the frame below. In this case of course each frame must be displaced differently,
and the displacement must be so much the greater according as the frame occupies
a higher position. In addition to this the hoppers in an upper frame must be
wider than the hoppers in the frame below it.
The apparatus may also be modified in such a manner that the hoppers are
entirely dispensed with. In this case the tubes should be suitably flexible, and
their lower ends should be fastened to the movable frames in such a manner that
upon the displacement of these latter the movable tube ends may be adapted to
be displaced to and fro over the fixed tube ends immediately below them.
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. An apparatus for automatically distributing type, characterized by the
fact that the type, which is admitted through a single principal tube, is con-
ducted downwards through various hoppers or branch tubes which are displace-
able in different lateral directions, in such a manner that in accordance with the
connections between the branch tubes the type finally falls out of one of the
lowest branch tubes at a predetermined point.
2. A constructional form of the automatic type distributing apparatus described
in Claim 1, in which the branches are formed by means of displaceable hoppers
and fixed branch tubes, of which upper branch tubes are connected with lower
branch tubes by the hoppers, or by means of displaceable hoppers without the
employment of branch tubes, in such a manner that within the upper and larger
portion of a hopper arranged in a lower position there is always situated the under
and smaller portion of a hopper arranged above.
3. A constructional form of the automatic type distributing apparatus described
in Claim 1, in which the distribution is effected through branch tubes, the lower
ends of the upper branch tubes being displaceable above the upper openings of
the lower branch tubes.
Yag་སྤ་
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.