Improvements in Machines for Distributing Type.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Distributing Type.
I, FREDERICK HOLDSWORTH, of 37 and 39 Essex Street, Strand, London W.C.,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My improvements in machines for distributing type, relate to that class of
machines, for which Letters Patent were granted to Sydney Pitt, dated
23rd November 1881, No. 5127, and its object is to increase the efficiency and
smoothness of operation of type distributers of the above mentioned class.
According to my invention I effect improvements in the feed mechanism, by
means of suitable attachments in connection with the brake, whereby the machine
is automatically stopped, when the column of type to be distributed is nearly or
entirely exhausted and damage caused by the striking of the type follower upon
the side of the type driving or feed mechanism is prevented: also in the distributing
mechanism, whereby any types which may have passed all the feelers, and still
remain in the carriers, are ejected; thus preventing the machine becoming
"blocked"; and also in means for removing "foreign" types, such as small
capitals, italics, and the like.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a plan of so much of a type distributing machine of the class above
mentioned, as is necessary to indicate the first of my above mentioned improve-
ments.
Fig. 2 is an elevation illustrating one method of operating the brake for the
purpose of stopping the motion of the driving gear, when the column of type to be
distributed has become nearly or entirely exhausted, aud another column or page
of type is required to be placed in position upon the galley for distribution.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are elevations illustrating other methods of effecting a similar
operation.
Fig. 6 is an elevation and Fig. 7 a plan of an improved method of ejecting types
which have escaped the feelers, and have been brought by the carriers to the return
raceway.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 ;-8 is the galley, 9 is the page follower, 10 is the
line follower, and 12 is a line of type which has been lifted into position from the
13 is the lever,
page of type 11, and pressed forward by the line follower 10.
pivoted at 14, which operates the brake mechanism as usually applied. 15 and 15
are two lever arms fast on a spindle 16, at right angles to each other, the arm 15"
being linked to the lever 13 by a connecting rod 17. 18 is a pin pivoted to the
lever 15.
If during the temporary absence of the attendant, the last line of the previous
page has been lifted from the galley by the type lifter, the absence of type permits
the page follower to come into contact with the pin 18, thereby operating the
levers 15, 15 and 13, immediately applying the brake, and stopping the machine
until another page of type is placed in position upon the galley.
Referring to Fig. 3, another method of operating the brake is shewn to meet the
foregoing conditions. The page follower 9, in the absence of a line of type, comes

page_text: into contact with a lever 19, fast on a shaft 21, another lever 20 being also fast on
the same shaft, its end being in contact with the lever 13.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevation and Fig. 5 is a transverse elevation,
illustrating another method of operating the brake to meet the foregoing conditions.
22 is the knock-off" or lever pivoted at 23. 24 is a strut or projection in contact
with the lever 13. 25 is a double ended lever having a slotted end 26 engaging an
arm of the lever 22. 27 is a lever of the bell crank order. The page follower 9
is fitted with a snug 9, wh ch comes into contact with the lever 27. in the absence
of a line of type, and thereby causes the operation of the brake mechanism and the
stoppage of the machine.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 7 a plan, illustrating my improved
method of ejecting types, the nicks of which have not tallied with any of the
feelers. Such types having been carried through the raceway 28 by the carriers
in the direction of the arrow, and returned by the carriers in the raceway 29 in the
direction of the arrow, are ejected and carried down the channel 30 by an ejector 31
formed with several prongs 32, (3 being shown in Fig. 7). The ejector 31 is
attached to the feeler bar slide 33 which receives a reciprocating motion by means
of the arm 35, the roller 36 at the end of the arm being kept in contact with the
cam surface of the wheel 34 by the spring 37, as shown. 38 is a box for the
reception of the ejected types.
It will be evident that these arrangements may be varied considerably without
departing from my invention by which I obviate the danger of injury to the
machine when the column of type to be distributed is exhausted.
In distributing machines of the class above mentioned, as at present constructed,
the italics and small capitals have to be removed by hand, before the page of type
has been placed upon the galley. This labour is rendered unnecessary by means of
my improvements, which consist in fitting (preferably two) feelers and hooks, one
for italics and one for small capitals, at the farther end of the raceway 28, whereby
such types are transferred to suitable channels provided for their reception, and in
a position ready for hand distribution.
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 type distributing machines as aforesaid, protecting the machine from
injury when the column of type to be distributed is exhausted by automatically
stopping the machine, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In type distributing machines as aforesaid, the improvements in the feed
mechanism, consisting of the combination of levers 15 and 15" fast on the shaft 16;
link 17 connecting the lever 15 with the brake lever 13; the lever 15 being fitzed
with a piu 18 for receiving the thrust of the page follower 9, in the absence of a
line of type for operation by the type follower, severally operating substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of
the drawings.
3. In type distributing machines, as aforesaid, the improvements in the feed
mechanism, consisting of the combination of the levers 19 and 20, the lever 20
being in contact with the brake lever 13, and the lever 19 being in position to
receive the thrust of the page follower 9, in the absence of a line of type for
operation by the type follower, severally operating substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by Fig. 3 of the drawings.
4. In type distributing machines as aforesaid, the improvements in the feed
mechanism, consisting of the combination of the levers 22, 25, and 27, the strut 24,
integral with the lever 22, being in contact with the brake lever 13, and the
lever 27 being in position to receive the thrust of the page follower 9, in the
absence of a line of type for operation by the type follower, severally operating
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated by
Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

page_text: 5. In type distributing machines as aforesaid, the improvements in clearing out
any types which may have been missed by the feelers, consisting of the combination
with the feeler bar slide 33 of an ejector 31 having several prongs 32, for ejecting
such types through a passage 30, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings.
Dated 22nd! November 1895
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.