IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank William Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING
TYPE." A communication from abroad by Dexter Reynolds, of the City of
Albany, in the County of Albany, and State of New York, United States of
America
Sealed the 18th December 1877, and dated the 17th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank William Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th July 1877.
FRANK WILLIAM HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR
APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPE." A communication from abroad by Dexter
Reynolds, of the City of Albany, in the County of Albany, and State of New York,
United States of America.
The improved machine or apparatus has two principal members, being horizontal
annular plates, lierein-after termed channel plates, one surrounding the other, and.
either one being provided with an intermittent motion with regard to the other,
both having a series of radiating or divergent channels for holding type, the
channels in each coinciding during the pause between each intermittent movement;
those in one being distributors and those in the other being receivers for distributed
or sorted type passed into them, and the entrances or mouths of the receiving
channels at the place or places of junction (on the dividing line between the
channel plates) being provided with bars or pins in selected varying positions, corre-
sponding with varying nicks or grooves on the body of the type, each character of
which is to have its own distinctive position or combination of positions or nicks
or grooves so as mechanically to effect the intended distribution, separation, and
selection of the several characters.
In practice I find it convenient to employ a bed plate, also of annular form and
suitably supported, on which revolves the inner channel plate, having on its under
side a V shaped ring working in a groove in the bed plate. A ratchet is cut on

page_text: the lower outer edge engaging with a pawl worked by any convenient mechanism,
for communicating a circular intermittent movement to the said channel plate.
Surrounding this plate is the other channel plate, which preferably rests on set
screws to admit of its being raised, lowered, or properly adjusted. The channels in
the channel plates are uniformly spaced, and agree in number with the teeth of
the ratchet to admit of the channels in the inner and outer annular plates properly
coinciding at the pause between each separate movement.
The channels of the outer annular plate may, if desired, be extended by channels
in a further channel plate surrounding and supported by the said "outer" channel
plate.
Each of the above-mentioned distributor channels is furnished with a pusher, for
gently pushing or forcing forward the type therein and passing it one by one into
one or other of the receiver channels, as and when the proper receiving channel
coincides according to the particular character which is presented for passing. The
several pushers are actuated by weights or suitable equivalents.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Frank William Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
January 1878.
FRANK WILLIAM HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR
APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING TYPE." A communication from abroad by Dexter
Reynolds, of the City of Albany, in the County of Albany, and State of New York,
United States of America.
The nature of this Invention relates to the automatic distribution of type pro-
vided with nicks. The following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters of reference
marked thereon (wherein similar letters represent like parts) making a part of this
Specification:
Figure 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2, a cross sectional view; Fig. 3, a sectional
elevation.
Fig. 4, plan view of frame.
Fig. 5, plan view of brake.
Fig. 6, cross sectional view (full size) showing wheel to depress type and pins
between channels.
Fig. 7, cross sectional view, showing bevel between feeding channels.
Fig. 8, elevation of mouths of receiving channels, showing distributing pins.
On a bed plate A, preferably of iron, of circular form and supported on three
legs, is placed the circular plate B, supported and revolving thereon by its V shaped
ring C in the groove D, a sectional view being shown in Fig. 2. Lubrication is
provided for by holes at one or more points in the plate B over and through the
ring C, the overflow passing into the recess S in the bed plate A, from whence it is
conveyed away by a pipe or pipes introduced thereto at any convenient point.
The plate B has cut on its lower outer edge the ratchet E, into which engages the
pawl F, which, actuated from the pulley Q by suitable intermediate mechanism,

page_text: imparts a circular intermittent movement to such plate B. Also on the bed plate A,
surrounding the plate B, is placed the plate G, preferably resting on set [screws R,
so as to be raised or lowered, and in the plates B and G, extending from 6 to g, are
cut grooves or channels corresponding in width to the width of an em quad. of the
font of type to be distributed, with suitable allowance for its easy movement
therethrough, the centre lines of all the channels radiating from the centre of the
plate B, and the sides thereof being parallel to each other, such channels being also
cut equidistant from each other at like distances from the centre of B, and agreeing
in number with the teeth of the ratchet E, so that the channels in B shall match
and coincide with the channels in G on each separate movement and pause of the
plate B, caused by the action of the pawl F on the ratchet E. At the dividing line
between the plates B and G the depths of the channels are preferably made slightly
less than the lengths of what are known as high spaces, and the bottom thereof
being all on the same horizontal plane, the type a short distance each side of such
line will project above the channels, rendering more easy their placement in the
one and removal from the other, shown in Fig. 2. At the mouth of each channel
in G, at the dividing line between them and those in B, are placed one or more
fixed pins H in different positions on each, for each different character to be dis-
tributed, and according to any plan on which the type to be distributed are nicked,
as shown in Fig. 8. Two pins on each channel in G, by the diversity that can
be given to their positions, will probably be found sufficient for the distribution
of all the characters desired.
The receiving channels in G can be extended to any desired length by cutting
them through the plate M surrounding, supported on, and fastened to G, as shown
in Fig. 1.
The feeding channels in B are preferably about five inches in length, so that
there can be placed in each at one time a full line of type from any ordinary page
or two from columns of ordinary newspaper width. In each is placed a pusher J,
actuated by a weight K attached to a cord L, and each pusher can be shoved back
by the pin J on its head until it is held at rest, and inactive by its hooked end Ji
resting in a notch or depression in the plate B; pins can be passed horizontally
through the pushers near their back ends, at such a point T that when the types
in front of J are all discharged such pins will come in contact with the inner
side of the raised part of the plate B at b, and prevent the pushers advancing
further than with their front ends flush with the face of B at the dividing line
between it and G.
The cords L can be made to run over pulleys if desired before passing down
through holes in the plate B, and the weights K can be kept in position so as not
to interfere with each other by the passage through them of wires N, fastened to
the bottom of B, acting as guides, such pushers, pins, cords, weights, and wires being
shown in Fig. 2.
To facilitate the feeding of the lines of type into the channels in B the space
between each of such channels should be bevelled, so that one side of each channel
will be higher than the other, as shown in Fig. 7, thus forming a ledge on one side
against which the line of type can be brought straight before letting them loose to
drop into such channel. A diameter of about two feet to the plate B will be found
sufficient for the introduction of from eighty to one hundred channels.
Should from carelessness in placing them therein, or any cause, any type in a
channel in B not rest on or get off its feet its return thereto before being presented
to the channels in G is provided for at one or more points on each revolution of B
by the action of an overhanging wheel, having its edge covered with leather or
some other suitable substance, with its asle so supported in a standard on the
plate G that it can be held down by a spring of suitable tension, to depress all type
that are only off their feet and rise up and allow all such to pass under as have
any hard resisting substance beneath, shown full size in Fig. 6. In each channel in G is
placed a moveable slug W, shown in Fig. 2, forming a support against which the
type distributed can bank, so as to keep them on their feet. As the plate B at too

page_text: high a speed might be carried by its momentum so far that its channels might not
always coincide with those in Gas intended, there is provided one or more brakes P
attached to the bed plate A, and acting on the plate B, which by a weight ✗ can
be so adjusted as to entirely remove any danger thereof, shown in Figs. 2 and 5.
To prevent any possibility of the lines of type in B striking as they revolve
those distributed in G, recesses or holes can be sunk on the edge of B between the
channels thereof, in which can be inserted pins Y with their edge bevelled towards
the direction of the movement of B, which, actuated by springs, emerge as they pass
the channels in G and slightly press back the type therein, and are themselves
forced back as the movement of the plate B brings them in contact with the plate
G, shown full size, Fig. 6.
Having described the construction of the machine, I will now explain its
operation: The operator, lifting a line of type from the column or page to be
distributed by the lead between it and the next line (or if the matter be solid, or
when two lines, one from each of two columns placed side by side, when the columns
are not of more than ordinary newspaper width, are desired to be lifted at a time,
by the aid of a rule of the proper length), shoves back the pusher J and places
the matter to be distributed in front thereof, and releases the pusher so as to act
thereon, and repeats the operation until all the channels are filled or as occasion may
require, for as the plate B need not revolve over from eighty to one hundred beats
per minute, its channels can be filled either while in motion or at rest. Motion
being communicated by the pulley Q, the plate B revolves with an intermittent
movement, and as each channel in B comes opposite to a channel in G, each becomes
coincident and for a short period at rest, and the lines of type in B being constantly
pressed forward by the pusher J through the action of the weights K, it follows
that when the nicks in the type at the end of any line in B, or any number of
succeeding type in the same line, correspond to the pins on the connecting coincident
channels in G, there being nothing to resist, they instantly pass over thereto, while
if the nicks and pins do not correspond no action takes place. As the channels in
Gare filled, the type pass on into the channels in M, from which they can be removed
for use to a type-setter or to the ordinary case now used by compositors. The
novelty of this machine consists in its peculiar construction and adjustment, and the
simplicity, durability, and fewness of its parts, whereby results can be had never
before obtained, viz., the distribution from each channel in B on each revolution of
one or more different type, sometimes as high as ten, into their several appropriate
receptacles in G, or a number of different type in a body, as a word in italics or
small caps, or a number of the same characters, as doublets or quads. into the same
channel in G, and thence of five times the number of type at the same speed of any
machine heretofore devised which could receive into and distribute from a channel
but one type at a time. The characters of less frequent use, as capitals, small caps,
italics, etc., constituting much the greater number in variety of the character
occuring in composition, but in the aggregate amount used less than five per cent.
thereof, should preferably be nicked so as to pass out each into a separate line as a
class, and nicked on the other side, corresponding to the lower case letters in the
other channels, so that such lines can from time to time, as occasion may require, by
simply reversing them, be again fed into the machine and be re-distributed and
each character separated by itself into its appropriate place; by this means both
a saving of time and a greater variety of distribution can be effected with a
moderate and less number of channels.
It is evident various modifications might be made in the construction of this
machine; thus, the plates G and M could be made in one piece, although I prefer
the making of them separate, allowing the channels in M to be more easily made
larger than those in G, so as to allow of the removal of the distributed type there-
from, and also allowing intermediate storage channels U to be cut, as shown, Fig.
That instead of channels being cut in the plate M, its upper surface might be
made sufficiently lower and with a smooth surface to allow of channels attachable
to and detachable from the channels in G to be placed thereon. That the channels
1.

page_text: could be cut diagonally instead of radiating from the centre of B, or they might be
made parallel to each other, but with a different provision made for their movement,
in which latter case the type could be transferred in the same channels in which
distributed, in a body or series of them to a type-setter, the places of the channels
removed being taken by a similar gang or gangs of channels previously exhausted
by the setter. That the pins H could be placed on either the moving or stationary
channels, or on either side of such channels; but in a circular machine with channels
radiating to the centre of B, as herein more particularly described, it is preferable to
place the pins on the side of the channel in G, shown in Fig. 8, first slightly bevelling
that edge of those sides of the channel in G. That either series of channels might
be provided with the pushers J with their weights, and either one or the other be
made to receive the matter for distribution or when distributed; and that the plate
B might be made to revolve on a central pin instead of the V herein described, and
still with any or all the above modification the essential principles, character,
features, and operation of the Invention be preserved.
What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, a type-distributing
machine having a series of equi-distant channels provided with pushers J, constructed
and adjusted to have a movement therein equal to the length of a line of type in
any ordinary column or page, actuated by the weights K, or their equivalent, in
combination with a series of equi-distant channels provided with one or more fixed
pins each, either series operated by a ratchet and pawl, or any well-known
mechanism so constructed and adjusted as to give it an intermittent movement and
cause the channels of the one to become seriatem respectively coincident with those
of the other, as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank William Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
1010
F. W. HADDAN. (LS.)