Improvements in Type Setting or Composing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type Setting or Composing Machines.
We, STANLEY HOWARD HODGKIN of 69 Church Road, Richmond, Surrey,
Engineer, and PHILIP ELIOT HODGKIN of Child wall, Church Road Richmond,
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to type setting or composing machines of the kind
in which the type-characters are arranged in rows in troughs, and the end type of
each row is caused, at the required times and by suitable key operated mechanism,
to pass downwards through a slot or opening in the floor of the front end of its
trough into a channel through which it passes by gravity to a packing device and
thence to a composing stick or receptacle. In such machines it has heretofore
been proposed to detach the end type by a pusher that acts upon one end of the
type and at the same time forces the other types backward in order to relieve the
end one from pressure. In such machines, however, precautions have to be taken
to prevent the faces of the types from becoming damaged, and the pusher may
begin to act upon the end type before the pressure upon it is relieved and this
invention has for object, inter alia, to obviate these disadvantages.
According to the first part of our invention, in which a movable stop is used,
each row of type is fed forward against a movable stop arranged at the front end
of the trough, by a follower that is connected to a weight or a string by a cord
that passes around a pulley connected to a toothed wheel in connection with which
there is provided a lever or pawl, the arrangement being such that when the corre-
sponding type key is operated, the said lever or pawl will partly turn the toothed
wheel and cord-pulley in a backward direction so as to relieve the follower of the
pressure due to the weight or spring, and the movable stop will be moved away
from the end type so as to then leave this type perfectly free. This type may be
allowed to fall by the action of gravity alone, or if acted upon by a pusher, it will
be completely relieved from the pressure of the other types, independently of any
action of the pusher itself. The operating key may be carried by the lever for
operating the toothed wheel which lever may be arranged to act directly upon the
movable stop. The movable stop may be in the form of a bell-crank lever, or
other convenient form.
In a modified arrangement of the above we replace the toothed wheel and pawl
by a holding device adapted to be actuated from the key either mechanically or
electrically and to then hold the aforesaid cord pulley stationary whilst the movable
stop is being operated.
According to another modification of the first part of our invention, each row
of types is forced by a follower or by its own weight against a movable stop at the
end of the trough as before, but a holding device is provided for engaging one or
more types behind the end one so as to hold stationary the succeeding types whilst
the end type is being released from the front by a movable stop, thus permitting the
end type to fall by gravity or otherwise as before. The holling device, which
may be in the form of a hinged or pivoted flap, may be operated_mechanically,
electrically, or otherwise, under control of the corresponding key. For instance it
may be operated, to engage a type, by an extension of the key-lever, this lever being
arranged to subsequently actuate the movable stop, which may be in the form of a
bell-crank lever as before.
}

page_text: According to the second part of our invention, in which we use a fixed stop,
each trough is inclined to the horizontal and provided at its front end with a fixed
stop against which the row of type is forced up the incline by a follower acted upon
by a weight or spring through a cord as in the first mentioned construction, the
arrangement, however, being such that when the toothed wheel connected with the
pulley over which the cord passes is engaged by the lever or pawl connected with
the type-lever, the follower and the row of type are enabled to move backward by
gravity to a sufficient extent to relieve the upper end type of pressure and enable
it to fall through the slot or opening in the floor of the trough.
According to the third part of our invention in which no stop is used against the
end type, each trough is so inclined to the horizontal that the types are passed
upwards towards the aforesaid channel, as in the last mentioned arrangement, and
each row of types is fed forward through a space equal to the thickness of each
type, by a follower acted upon, it may be through a cord, by a weight or spring
the motion of which is controlled by an escapement, the arrangement being such
that each time a key is operated, the corresponding row of types will be moved
forward through a space just sufficient to bring the end type, for the time being,
over the slot or opening in the floor of the trough, whence it then falls into the
said channel. In this case the end type is not pressed against a stop.
In a modified arrangement for this purpose, each presser is actuated, to inter-
mittently feed its row of types forward, by screw gear and ratchet-mechanism both
operated each time the corresponding type key is struck.
Dated this 6th day of July 1895.
We, STANLEY HOWARD HODGKIN, of 69 Church Road, Richmond, Surrey,
Engineer, and PHILIP ELIOT HODGKIN, of Child wall, Church Road, Richmond,
Surrey, 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 has reference to type setting or composing machines of the kind
in which the type characters are arranged in rows in troughs, and the end type of
each row is caused, at the required times and by suitable key.operated mechanism,
to pass downwards through a slot or opening in the floor of the front end of its
trough into a channel through which it passes by gravity to a packing device and
thence to a composing stick or receptacle. In such machines it has heretofore
been proposed to detach the end type by a pusher that acts upon one end of the
type and at the same time forces the other types backward in order to relieve the
end one from pressure. In such machines, however, precautions have to be taken
to prevent the faces of the types from becoming damaged, and the pusher may
begin to act upon the end type before the pressure upon it is relieved, and this
invention has for object, inter alia, to obviate these disadvantages.
According to the first part of our invention, in which a movable stop is used,
each row of type is fed forward against a movable stop arranged at the front end
of the trough, by a follower that is connected to a weight or a spring by a cord
that passes around a pulley connected to a toothed wheel in connection with which
there is provided a lever or pawl, the arrangement being such that when the corre-
sponding type key is operated, the said lever or pawl will partly turn the toothed

page_text: wheel and cord pulley in a backward direction so as to relieve the follower of the
pressure due to the weight or spring, and the movable stop will be moved away
from the end type so as to then leave this type perfectly free. This type may be
allowed to fall by the action of gravity alone, or if acted upon by a pusher, it will
be completely relieved from the pressure of the other types, independently of any
action of the pusher itself. The operating key may be carried by the lever for
operating the toothed wheel which lever may be arranged to act directly upon the
movable stop.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal sectional elevation illus-
trating diagrammatically part of a type setting machine according to this part of
our invention.
is a type trough, having in the floor thereof, at the front end, a slot or
opening 2, located above a channel 3, through which the foremost end type for the
time being, of a row of type 4, can, when relieved of pressure, pass by gravity to
a packing device of any suitable construction and thence to a composing stick or
receptacle. 5 is a movable stop arranged at the front end of the type trough 1,
and against which the row of type 4 is pressed by suitable feeding mechanism.
In the arrangement shown for this purpose in the drawing, the row of type is fed
forward by a follower 6 connected to a weight 7, or it may be to a spring, by a
cord 8 that passes two or three times around a pulley 9 connected to a toothed
wheel 10, in connection with which there is provided a lever 11 (fulcrumed at x)
one end of which terminates in proximity to the said toothed wheel and acts as a
pawl thereto. The arrangement is such that, when the corresponding type key 12
is operated, the said lever will first engage with and partly turn the toothed
wheel 10 and cord pulley 9 in a backward direction so as to relieve the follower 6
and row of type 4 of the pressure due to the weight 7 (or spring), and in its
further progress will actuate the movable stop 5, which will be then moved away
from the end type 4" so as to leave this type perfectly free to fall. This type may
be allowed to fall by the action of gravity alone, or it may be assisted by a pusher
not shown. On the key 12 being released, the movable stop 5 will return to its
original position, whereupon the toothed wheel 10 will be released and thus allow
the feeding mechanism to again move the row of type forward, and bring the next
foremost type against the movable stop 5 in readiness to be released the next time
the key 12 is operated.
The key 12 may, as shown, be carried by the outer end of the lever 11, which
may be provided with a tappet or extension 11*, arranged to act, when sufficiently
depressed, directly upon an extension 5* of the movable stop, which may, as shown,
be in the form of a bell-crank lever fulcrumed at y, though it may be of any other
convenient form. 5ª and 11ª are springs for returning the movable stop 5 and
lever 11 to their original positions when the key 12 is released. 5° and 11° are fixed
stops for 5* and 11 respectively.
In a modified arrangement of the above, we replace the toothed wheel 10 and
pawl by a holding device adapted to be actuated from the key 12, either mechani-
cally or otherwise, and to then hold the aforesaid cord pulley stationary whilst the
movable stop is being operated. For this purpose the inner end of the lever 11
may, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, be provided with an elastic or yielding pad
or extension 11, which is so arranged that when the said lever is depressed by the
key 12, it will first act against and hold the cord pulley 9 stationary whilst the
movable stop 5 is being operated by the further downward movement of the said lever.
According to another modification of the first part of our invention, each row of
types is forced by a follower or by its own weight against a moveable stop at the
end of the trough as before, but a holding device provided for engaging one or
more types behind the end one, so as to hold stationary the succeeding types whilst
the end type is being released from the front by a movable stop, thus permitting
the end type to fall by gravity or otherwise as before. The hoiding device may
be operated mechanically, electrically, or otherwise, under control of the
corresponding key.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 illustrating diagrammatically an arrangement
of this kind in which the holding device and the movable stop are operated
mechanically.
Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line A B of Fig. 2.
The type trough 1, movable stop 5, follower 6, and the means for operating the
stop and follower are similar to the corresponding parts in Fig. 1, but the ratchet
wheel 10 is dispensed with and the lever 11 is pivoted at its lower end.
The holding device, for engaging types behind the foremost end one, is, in this
example, made in the form of a flap or lever 10 hinged or pivoted at 10 and
provided on its inner side with an extension 10° passing through the adjacent side
of the trough 1. The upper end of the flap is bevelled on one side and is arranged
in the path of an extension 11° of the lever 11 (fulcrummed at a) the arrangement
being such that when this lever is depressed, by the key 12 carried thereby, the
said lever extension will first act upon and press the flap laterally so that the
extension 10 thereof will be caused to hold some of the type 4 in rear of the end
one 4ª, after which the extension 11* of the underside of the lever 11 will act
upon the arm 5* of the bell crank lever constituting the stop, and move such stop
away from the end type 4ª, which will then be allowed to fall as before. On
releasing the key 12, the movable stop will return to its original position, and the
lateral pressure of the holding device 10 will be removed, thus leaving the row of
type free to be again moved forward up to the stop 5, by the feeding mechanism, in
readiness for the release of the new foremost type.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section; and Fig. 5 a sectional plan, showing
an arrangement in which the holding devices and the movable stops are operated
electrically. Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are vertical sections on the lines CD, E F, GH
and J respectively of Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a similar view to Fig. 8 but showing
the parts in a different position. Fig. 11 is a side elevation showing the movable
stop and adjacent parts in a different position to that shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 12 is
a diagram.
In this arrangement, the row of type 4 in each trough 1 is pressed forward as
before by a follower 6, and weight 7 against a movable stop 5 that is in the form
of a plate arranged to slide in a guide-way 13 in a guide piece 14.
The type
holding devices are in the form of levers 10 hinged at 10ª and connected together
in pairs by toggle arms 15 that are connected by a non-magnetic rod 16 to the
magnetic core 17 of a fixed solenoid 18, the pair of levers 10 serving, when pressed
apart by the toggles on the rising of the core, to hold some of the type 4 behind
the foremost one 4ª of each of two adjacent rows of types. Each movable stop 5
is operated by a pair of toggle arms 19 that are jointed at their outer ends 19ª
and 19 to the stop 5 and a fixed bracket 20 respectively, and are jointed at their
inner adjacent ends 19° to the core 21 of a fixed solenoid 22. 23 is a pusher
normally carried by a support 2. and jointed at 23 to a bar 24 fixed to one of
the toggle arms 19. The circuits of the pair of solenoids 18 and 22 are completed
in succession, on the movement of the corresponding key, in any suitable manner,
as for example by using a metal spring lever 11 (Fig. 12) connected by con-
ductors 25 25° to one pole of each of two electric generators 26 26 and carrying
contacts 27 and 28 that are, when the lever is depressed by the key 12, caused to
bear successively against contacts 27 and 28ª to which one end of the solenoids 18
and 22 are respectively connected, the other ends of said solenoids being respec-
tively connected to the other poles of the electric generators 26 26".
With this arrangement, upon depressing a key lever 11, the circuit of the corre
sponding solenoid 18, which is common to a pair of levers 11, will be completed,
and the corresponding pair of holding levers 10 caused to bear against the
adjacent rows of types 4 (Fig. 10), immediately after which the circuit of the
solenoid 22 will be completed with the result that the toggle levers 19 will be
brought from the horizontal position Fig. 4 into an angular position (Fig. 11)
thereby drawing back the stop 5, and freeing the foremost type 4" which will then
fall by gravity through the opening 2 and channel 3. Should the said type adhere

page_text: for some reason or other to the next type and fail to fall, it will be gently detached:
by the free end of the pusher 23 which will then come in contact with it.
Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional elevation showing diagrammatically another
arrangement of type setting machine according to our invention, in which each
trough 1 is inclined to the horizontal and provided at its front end with a fixed
stop 5* against which the row of types 4 is forced up the incline by a follower 6:
acted upon by a weight 7 (or spring) through a cord 8 as in the first mentioned.
construction, the arrangement, however, being such that when the toothed wheel 10
connected with the pulley 9 over which the cord 8 passes, is engaged by the lever
or pawl 11* connected with the type-lever 11, the follower 6 and the row of type 4.
are enabled to move backward by gravity to a slight but sufficient extent to relieve..
the upper end type 4" of pressure and enable it to fall through the slot or opening 2:.
in the Hour of the trough and channel 3.
Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation showing diagrammatically a further modified.
arrangement of type setting machine according to this invention in which no stop..
is used against the end type. Each trough is so inclined to the horizontal that
the types 4 are passed upwards towards the opening 2 and channel 3, as in Fig. 13..
but each row of types is fed forward at each operation of the key 12, through a
space equal to the thickness of each type, by a follower 6 acted upon, it may be.
through a cord 8, by a weight 7 (or spring) the motion of which is controlled by
an escapement 11, the arrangement being such that each time a key 12 is operated,
the corresponding row of types 4 will be moved forward through a space just.
sufficient to bring the end type 4, for the time being, over the slot or opening 2 in
the floor of the trough 1, whence it then falls into the channel 3. As will be seen,
in this case the end type is not pressed against a stop as in the other arrangements.
hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a type setting or composing machine of the kind in which the types are
arranged in rows in horizontal or inclined troughs and the end type of each row at
the required times passes downward through a slot or opening in the floor of the
front end of its trough into a channel below, the combination with each type
trough of a stop adapted to abut against and be withdrawn from the side of the
foremost type of the corresponding row of types and against which stop the said
foremost type is normally pressed, means for arresting forward movement of the
row of types, and means for afterwards moving the stop away from the foremost.
type, the arrangement being such that when a corresponding key lever is operated,
the foremost type will be relieved of side pressure and afterwards the stop will be
moved away from such type so as to leave it free to fall, substantially as.
described.
2. A type-setting or composing machine of the kind referred to in the preceding
claim in which the rows of types are each normally fed forward by a follower and
a weight or spring the action of which is suspended when a corresponding key
lever is operated in a direction to release the foremost type, substantially as
described.
3. A type setting or composing machine of the kind referred to in Claim 1
constructed with a holding device adapted when operated in one direction to engage
one or more types behind the foremost type of a row of types so as to hold the
types in rear stationary whilst the said foremost type is being released from the
front by the movable stop so as to permit it to fall, substantially as described.
4. A type setting or composing machine of the kind referred to in Claims 1 and 3
wherein the holding devices for preventing forward movement of the succeeding
types and the stops whereby the front types are released whilst those behind are
held stationary, are operated electrically.
5. A type setting or composing machine of the kind herein referred to

page_text: constructed with type troughs inclined to the horizontal and each provided at their
front and higher end with a fixed stop against which the corresponding row of type
is forced by a follower under the action of a weight or spring controlled by a
corresponding key lever, the arrangement being such that when the key lever is
operated to release a type, the follower and the row of type are enabled to move
backward by gravity to a sufficient extent to relieve the upper end type of pressure
and enable it to fall through the slot or opening in the floor of the trough,
substantially as described.
6. A type setting or composing machine of the kind herein referred to con-
structed with type troughs inclined to the horizontal and each provided with a
follower and with feeding mechanism so constructed and operated that each time
a key is moved to release a type, the corresponding row of types will be moved
forward through a space just sufficient to bring the end type over the slot or
opening in the floor of the trough through which it can then fall by gravity into
the channel below, substantially as described.
7. Type setting or composing machines constructed and operating substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference respectively to and shown in Fig. 1 or
modified as set forth in Figs. 2 and 3; in Fig. 13 and in Fig. 14 of the drawings
annexed.