Improvements in Type-setting Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-setting Machines.
I, JOHN BYRON ODELL, of Chicago, State of Illinois, United States of America,
Electrical 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 for its object to provide a practical machine for setting type in
line and forming the lines into columns. In the organization of this machine I
provide receptacles for holding the type, which are arranged concentrically about a
composing table, the type being fed down by gravity; a bank of keys corresponding
in number to the type holding boxes; levers connecting the key levers with plungers
to force the type, one at a time, from the type holding boxes upon a support and into
position to be grasped by spring actuated carrying levers having gripping jaws which
seize the type and which levers deposit the type in a position opposite the line way on
the composing table; a pivoted transfer lever which is operated to take the
type from the gripping jaws and draw them into position in the line way; and
mechanism for moving the lines along the table to assemble them in columns.
In the accompanying drawings;
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device showing one type compartment and
its corresponding lever-the devices for discharging the type and their supporting
frame being omitted.
Fig. 2 is a plan view, some parts omitted, and designed particularly to show the
arrangement of the key board and levers.
Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section taken centrally of the machine, showing
one type compartment and set of operating levers and other parts in elevation.
Fig. 4 is a broken plan view of the central portion of the composing table, and
showing the mechanisms for assembling the type in the line way.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4 looking in the direction of
the arrow 6.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a follower within the hollow of which the ends of a
pair of lazy tongs work and which is used to support the type in the line way.
Fig. 8 is a detail of one of the key levers; and
Fig. 9 shows an edge and a plan view respectively of the gripping jaws with the
ype therein.
In the drawings, 10 represents the base, from which rise standards 11, supporting
a semi-circular table 12, on which the type boxes 13 are mounted These boxes are
adapted to hold the type superposed upon each other flat wise in single columns and
with their faces projected towards the rear of the boxes. At the lower end of the
boxes there is an aperture in the front thereof above the table 12 through which the
ype are ejected. There will be as many of these type boxes as there are letters or
characters to be represented in type and the type themselves are of the form shown in
Fig. 9 of the drawings, wherein 14 represents the type and 14ª recesses in one of
heir edges for a purpose presently described. There will be as many keys 15 as
here are type characters. These keys may be arranged in any desired way and each
ey is seated upon a compression spiral spring 16, the lower end of the spring
earing upon the base plate and the upper end engaging a shoulder on the key or
he lower side of the key lever 17. These key levers will project parallel to the top
f the base plate and are pivoted at their rear ends as shown at 18. The spring 16
ieldingly sustains the key lever in its normal position, and to said key lever is
ivotally connected a link 19, the upper end of which is connected to a bell crank
ver 20, the upper member of which operates a plunger 21, whereby each time a key
077

page_text: is depressed, the plunger ejects a type through the aperture in the front of the type
boxes 13. 22 are standards rising from the base of the machine and supporting
thereon the composing table 23; 24 is a semi-circular plate connected with this table;
25 are the type carrying levers which are provided with the gripping jaws 25",
shown in Fig. 9. One of these jaws may be a spring having bends therein to enter
the notches 14ª of the type. The lower ends of the type carrying levers 25 are
pivoted to lugs 24ª on the plate 24 and each has a rearwardly projecting arm 26 to
the end of which is connected a spring 27, the upper end of which will be secured to
a fixed part of the frame, such as the bracket rod 28. The arm 25 also has an
extension 29 in front of its pivot to which is pivoted a pendent arm 30, the lower end
of which has a bearing in a notch 30ª of the key levers 17 (see Fig. 8). Two guide
pieces 31 are arranged on the surface of the table 23, parallel to the sides thereof and
a distance apart equal to the width of the column which it is desired to set. 32 is a
plate carried on the end of a sliding bar 33 and which plate constitutes one side of the
line way. The bar 33 will have cap screws 33" passing through the slots 33' into the
bed plate to allow of the free movement of the bar, preferably the width of the line of
type. The outer end of the plate may terminate in a handle 34. The second wall of
the line way is formed by a block 35 having thereon springs 35 adapted to bear
against the guide pieces 31 so as to hold said block up against the type. 36 is a
follower which is shown in cross section in Fig. 7. This follower is
a box like
structure having one open side and into its hollow is projected the end members of a
lazy tongs 37, which will be pivoted to the frame at 38. These lazy tongs being
operated will cause the follower to move along the line way and it is adapted to be
moved so as to bring the follower near to that end of the line way at which the type
will be introduced. In order to prevent the follower from rising by the action of the
tongs it has a projection 36° at its lower side which travels under the edge of the
plate 32.
In order to withdraw the type from the spring jaws of the type carrying levers into
the line way I employ a pivoted transfer lever having a bent end, which lever is
adapted to be turned to bring its end just behind the type and then to be drawn
toward the front of the machine carrying the type with it into the line way. This
transfer lever and its actuating parts are best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the
drawings. This lever is marked 39 and it is secured on a stud 40 formed integrally
with a pinion 41 journalled in a sliding box 42. This box moves in ways 43 secured
to the bottom of the table. Formed on the side of this box are ways 44 in which
moves a bar 45, the end of which bar is provided with rack teeth 46 adapted to mesh
with the pinion 41. The bar 45 has a stud 46" to which is connected a sliding rod 47
having at its outer end two washers 47", between which projects the upper end of a
hell crank lever 48, the lower end of which is pivoted to a stud 49 on the base plate,
the other member 50 of said lever projecting forward. 51 is a bar having ends 51ª
secured with the rod 52, the latter being journalled in brackets 53 on the base plate.
The bar 51 is sustained normally parallel to the base plate by the arm 50 which is
held under its weight by means of the coil spring 48" having one of its ends connected
to the upright member 48 of the bell crank lever and its other end connected preferably
with the rod 53 having adjusting nuts 54 on the respective sides of a yoke 55. The
key levers 17 are adapted when operated, first, to permit the spring 27 to act on
the arm 26 of the type lever 25 to carry the type from the circular table 12 down
through the arc of a circle and deposit it on its end upon a block 56 in front of the
line way, and then by the further movement of the key lever it actuates the transfer
lever 39, bringing it into position to engage the type and then during the completion
of its downward stroke, said transfer lever is moved to withdraw the type from the
jaws of the carrying lever into the line way. This will be best understood by reference
to Fig. 3, wherein the initial movement of the key lever will be understood to have
overcome the superior tension of spring 16 over spring 27, thus allowing the latter
to act upon the type lever 25 and throwing it down carrying with it the type as
indicated in the dotted lines of said figure. By this time the key lever 17 will have
come into contact with the bar 51 and depressed the latter, which will rock the lever 48

page_text: by its engagement with the arm 0, overcoming the tension of the spring 48° and
sliding the rod connected to the rack which will operate to turn the pinion in its
bearing and swing the bent end of the transfer lever around to the position indicated
by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. By this time the rack will have reached the limit of
its travel, preventing the further turning of the bent end, and the rack and sliding
block 42 being now locked together, will both move along the ways 43, thus with-
drawing the type from the gripping jaws by the engagement of the lever 39 therewith
and moving it into the line way. In order to hold the type within the line way I
provide a spring catch 57 having an engaging point located at the adit of the line
way and which is pressed back out of the way by the entering type and immediately
close behind it, thus maintaining it, by its co-operation with the follower, in an upright
position.
Upon the release of the key the movement just described will be reversed, that is
to say, the spring 16 will first act to free the key lever from its contact with the
bar 51 and this in turn will allow the spring 48" to draw the lever 48 back to its
normal position, and during the movement of the latter, the rack will first be thrown
forward until its stud comes in contact with the stop 58. During this part of the
movement the transfer lever 39 will have been turned back to its first position and
when the rack and bar is again locked to the sliding block 42, the latter will be
moved back to its original position. The upward movement of the key lever will act
through the arm 30 under the influence of the spring 16 to return the type lever 25
back to its original position, distending the spring 27. As this type lever is returned
the force of the spring 16 will be sufficient to cause the gripping jaws to engage
another type, and thus the working cycle of the machine is completed.
It will be observed that the key levers 17 must be pushed downward far enough
to allow the type levers 25 to deliver the type upon the block 56 before striking the
bar 51 and the notch 30 in the key levers 17 is deep enough to allow the key levers
to travel downward far enough to fully operate the transfer device without dis-
engaging the pin 30 therefrom. As the key levers are of different lengths according
to their position on the key-board and all have the same stroke, and the levers 30
operating the type levers 25 all have the same stroke but occupying different positions
upon the key-levers 17 according to the position of the type levers 25 with which
they are engaged, it follows that there is a difference in the stroke of the key levers 17
at the point where the levers 30 enter the slots 30" and this difference is compensated
for by slotting the rod 51 so that the key-levers 17 may travel downward far enough
to allow the type-levers 25 to deliver the type upon the block 56 before operating the
transfer device.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a type setting machine, the combination with a type box or compartment
from which the type are removed one at a time, an operating key having a spring to
return it to its normal position, a type carrying lever pivoted at its lower end and
provided with type.grasping jaws at its opposite end, an arm seated on the key lever
and normally supporting the carrying lever in a position to grasp the type, and a
spring for actuating the type carrying lever to deliver the type at the line way,
substantially as described.
2. In a type setting machine, the combination with a type holding compartment
from which the type are removed singly, a key lever, a type carrying lever adapted
to engage the type, a pendent arin pivoted to the type carrying lever and loosely
bearing on the key lever, a spring to sustain the key lever and through said arm the
type carrying lever in a position to normally engage the type and a spring to depress
the type carrying lever when the key lever is depressed, said loose connection per-
mitting the type to be delivered opposite a line way and there remain during the
continuation of the movement of the key lever, substantially as described.
3. In a type setting machine, the combination with a type holding compartment

page_text: and means for carrying the type therefrom to a common point opposite a line way, a
composing table having the line way thereon and a pivoted and horizontally movable
transfer lever and means for turning said transfer lever on its pivot to engage the
type and for moving the lever with the engaged type, said means being actuated
by the key lever whereby to draw the type into the line way, substantially as
described.
4. In a type setting machine, the combination with a composing table having a line
way formed thereon opposite which the type are delivered singly, a pivoted transfer
lever adapted when turned on its pivot to be brought to engage the type, said
transfer lever being mounted in a sliding frame and connections between said lever
and frame and the key lever whereby the movement of the key lever is made to,
first, turn the transfer lever to engage the type and then move the same to draw the
type into the line way, substantially as described.
5. In a type setting machine, the combination with a type compartment from
which the type are removed one at a time, an operating key, a carrying lever for the
type actuated by said key, a composing table having a line way thereon opposite
which the type are delivered, a pivoted and horizontally movable transfer lever
operated by the key lever to draw the type into said line way and a follower in said
line way against which the line is formed, substantially as described.
6. In a type setting machine, the combination with a composing table having a line
way thereon into the end of which the type are introduced, of a follower against
which the line of type is formed, and a lazy-tongs loosely connected at one end to the
follower and secured against end wise movement at the end opposite the follower,
substantially as described.
7. In a type setting machine, the combination with means for delivering the type
at a common point opposite a line way, of a transfer device comprising a lever
pivoted in a sliding frame, a sliding rod adapted to turn said lever on its pivot to
cause it to engage the type and a lever connected with said rod and actuated by the
key lever to withdraw the type into the line way, substantially as described.
Dated this 5th doveofM000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.