IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND COMPOSING TYPE
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Julius Dittrich and Prosper Ganty
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th August 1880.
JULIUS DITTRICH and PROSPER GANTY, of the Firm of Dittrich, Ganty,
and Co., of Ravenscroft Works, Ravenscroft Street, Hackney Road, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND
COMPOSING TYPE"
This Invention has for object improvements in apparatus for distributing and
composing type. In apparatus of the kind to which the present improvements
relate, there is an inclined distributing table with grooves or channels for the type,
and a bar opposite the lower end of such table to arrest the type, and formed with
or connected to this distributing table there is a vertical or approximately vertical
plate with grooves or channels corresponding in number, size, in cross section, and
Crosswise position with those of the distributing table, thus forming at right angles
or approximately so to the said table continuations of its grooves or channels. To
facilitate placing the type in the grooves or channels of the distributing table, there
are arranged crosswise of the table a series of inclinod plates with recesses wide at
top and gradually decreasing to a width corresponding with that of the top
respective groove or channel in the table. Above the distributing table is a
transverse bar to which are attached a series of bent arms or levers, the number of
which corresponds to that of the grooves or channels, the bent ends of of such arins
or levers being situated above the space over which the lower ends of the type
project beyond the end of the table. Over the said arms or levers is a plate with a
number of perforations, one over each arm or lever. By depressing an arm or lever,
its bent end is brought in contact with the lowest type in the corresponding groove
or channel of the distributing table, and tilts such type into the corresponding
groove or channel of the composing apparatus, whence the type passes into the case
or stick.
Now the present Invention comprises the following improvements in or pertaining
to this class of apparatus.
1. The application to the recessed inclined plates of gauging guides so arranged
as to arrest the progress of misplaced type too large to enter the grooves or channels
connected with the recesses into which such type have been placed.
2. The application to the bent arms or levers of springs or devices arranged to
arrest the descent of all but the lowermost type until the latter have descended
below the corresponding grooves of the distributing apparatus.

page_text: 3. The application in connection with the walls or divisions between the grooves
or channels of the composing apparatus, of guide pieces or devices hinged, or hung,
or suspended on pins or equivalent means, in such manner as to prevent turning of
the type about their own longitudinal axes on passing from the vertical or
approximately vertical grooves or channels into the inclined groove or channel
communicating with the case or stick.
4. The arrangement in combination with the cam or eccentric, which pushes tho
type along the case or stick, of two plates or slides so arranged as to prevent entry
into the case or stick of more than one type at a time, and to retain each successive
type above the plate or slide that pushes the type along the case or stick, until
space for its reception has been provided by the action of the plate or slide that
acts as a pusher on the row of type in the case or stick.