IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMPOSING TYPE
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Nelson Smith, of Wells Strect, in the.
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR COMPOSING TYPE."
Scaled the 27th April 1875, and dated the 28th October 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Nelson Smith
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 28th October 1874.
.
I, WILLIAM NELSON SMITH, of Wells Street, in the County of Middle-
sex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMPOSING TYPE," to be as follows:
-
My Invention relates to apparatus used for composing and arranging
type.
The first part of my Invention has reference more especially to
apparatus in which a revolving horizontal disc wheel or table is used for
the purpose of receiving, conveying, and directing the type, as described.
and claimed in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to Louis:
A
;
:

page_text: Heinemann and Marks Leopold Müller, for "Improvements in Apparatus
for Composing Type," dated September 18th, 1872, and Numbered 2768.
In order to select and direct as required each type upon the revolving
table the type is arranged in columns in vertical reservoirs, as many in
number as there are varieties of type to be used, and the lowest of each
such columns is pushed upon the circumference of the table by a bar or
pusher forced against it by levers worked by a key operated by the
workman or composer.
The first part of my Invention consists of improved apparatus by
which each type is forced forward and delivered upon the table by the
operation of the mechanism itself instead of by the muscular force of
the composer who only has to set in action the mechanism applicable to
the particular type which he selects. For this purpose I prefer to
arrange the vertical reservoirs containing the columns of type in the arc
of a circle immediately above the revolving table and a short distance
within its exterior circumference. The columns are arranged so that the
type lic and are ejected. tangentially, or nearly so, to the circumference
of the table, the part of the reservoir opposite to the lowest type being
open at its ends so that the typo may be forced out. I prefer to make
the reservoirs of strips of sheet brass or other metal, turned down or
thickened at their outer edges, and screwed or fixed at their inner edges
to distance pieces of wood or other material carried by the framework of
the apparatus above the revolving table. These distance pieces are of
such thickness that the columns of type fit loosely between the strips
and descend by their own weight when the lowest type has been ejected.
The fold or extra thickness of the outer edges of the strips prevents the
columns of type from escaping, but at the same time allows them to be
seen and replenished when necessary.
I sometimes arrange similar vertical tangential reservoirs containing
columns of type outside as well as inside the circumference of the
revolving table..
In order to eject when necessary the lowest type in the several
columus I arrange opposite the inner end of each such type a suitable
pusher formed of or upon the end of a flexible wire, and I conduct cach
such wire through a tube in which it fits freely, and the other end of
which can be conducted to any suitable point, and I bring the ends of
all these tubes into a straight horizontal line in front of or near the kevs

page_text: with which the composer operates. The end of each wire is brought
through the end of its tube, and then passes freely through a hole in a
movcable strip of metal or other material which is adjusted opposite the
ends of the tubes, and which is fixed at each end to the upper ends of
levers, the lower ends of which turn upon horizontal centres so that the
strip may be mado to approach to or recede from the ends of the tubes,
and in doing so the wires pass freely through the holes in the strip and
are not themselves moved. The end of cach wire after passing through
the hole in the strip has a button or knob formed upon it, or it is bent
up and back and passes through a hole in a fixed rail, which thus serves
to guide the wire if the latter is pushed backward and forward.
When it is required to eject a type upon the table the perforated strip
described is made to move to and from the ends of the tubes by the
vibration of the levers to which it is fixed, this vibration being effected
by the means herein-after described. Upon a horizontal rod or centre
carried by the vibrating levers a series of small supplementary lovers are
suspended, as many in number as the tubes, wires, and varieties of type;
and each supplementary lever is arranged opposite the end of a wire
which has passed through the perforated strip, but in such a position
that if the lever hangs down naturally it does not touch such wire, but
if it is clevated by any means it presses the end of the wire and carries it
forward with the perforated strip when the latter makes its forward
vibration, whilst on its return the strip brings back the wire with it by
means of the knob upon the latter or its retroverted end.
Under each suspended lever is arranged one end of a lever turning
upon a horizontal centre, the other end of which carries a key which
may be depressed when desired by the finger of the composer. There
arc thus as many keys as there are varieties of type, and when any par-
ticular key is pressed down and the perforated strip is then made to
make a vibration, the corresponding suspended lever is raised, its end
presses forward the end of the corresponding wire, the other end of
which (after passing through its tube) ejects the lowest of the corrc-
sponding column of type upon the revolving wheel.
In order to cause the perforated strip to make a vibration each time
cither of the keys is depressed I arrange upon the horizontal driving
shaft of the apparatus, or upon a revolving shaft connected to the latter
a pulley or drum, the periphery of which is in contact with and drives.
A 2

page_text: by its friction the periphery of a corresponding drum or pulley revolving
freely upon a centre, and on a crank pin or excentric upon the latter a
rod works, the other end of which is connected to one of the levers
which carry the perforated strip above described, so that the latter
makes one double vibration at each revolution of the loose pulley. This
loose pulley has a flat surface formed upon one part of its circumference,
so that when this flat is opposite the driving pulley the latter is not in
contact with the loose pulley and so does not cause its revolution. Upon
the edge of the loose pulley, or of a wheel attached to it, I form a notch
or catch into which a detent upon the end of a lever fits, and is pressed
by a spring when the flat is opposite the driving pulley, and I fix upon
the outer side of the loose pulley a crank pin to which a weight or
spring is connected, the crank pin being adjusted in such a position that
when the detent above described is released the weight or spring
instantly brings round the loose pulley into contact with the driving
pulley, and a complete revolution is thus made until the flat again
comes opposite the driving pulley, and at the same time the detent is
again pressed into its place and holds the loose pulley immoveable,
whilst the driving pulley continues its revolution until the detent is
again released. In order to prevent the detent from. remaining detached
in the event of the key being held down for too long a time, and so
allowing the loose pulley to make more than one revolution, I form a
cam or projection upon the latter which disconnects the detent from the
lever which holds it out of gear when a part of the revolution has been
made and so leaves the detent free to be pressed back into its place
when the revolution is completed.
Under the line of keys operated by the composer, I arrange a hori-
zontal rail or strip of metal or other material, the ends of which arc
fixed to the ends of horizontal lovers turning upon centres, so that when
any one of the keys is depressed, a projection beneath it depresses at the
same time the rail and lovers; and one of the latter is continued
beyond the centre upon which it turns and is provided with a balance-
weight or spring, and also is connected with the detent above described,
by a moveable bar in such manner that when the rail is depressed
the detent is liberated from the loose pulley, and when the key is
released the balance weight raises the rail to its first position, and at the
same time allows the detent to engage with and hold the pulley. Thus
if any one key is depressed the perforated strip instantly makes a

page_text: vibration, and at the same time the corresponding type is ejected upon
the revolving table, which is kept in continuous rotation by means of a
driving shaft.
Another arrangement which I sometimes use for actuating the
wires which discharge the type, instead of that above described, is the
following-To the end of each wire after it leaves the tube which
guides it, I attach a catch piece, the upper part of which is provided
with a hook or catch, and above cach such hook I arrange a vertical lever
turning upon a horizontal centre. Each of these levers is double, con-
sisting of two parts turning upon the same centre, one part being fixed
to the centre and the other turning loose upon it, and the two parts
being pressed together at their lower extremities by a spring, and being
so adjusted that when the hook above described is raised sufficiently it
is caught between their lower ends. The loose pulley already described is
connected by a connecting rod, to the centre upon which the levers are
fixed, so that when the pulley makes a revolution it causes the lower
ends of all the vertical levers to make a vibration backward and forward,
and with them any wire, the catch piece of which has been raised until
its hook has been caught between the lower ends of the levers. A fixed
stop is arranged opposite the loose half of each vertical lever, so that
when the loose pulley is completing its revolution the loose lever comes
in contact with the stop and the lower ends of the levers are thus
forced open, and the hook is released, allowing the catch piece and wire
to become disengaged from the levers. Each catch piece is raised as
required by a projection upon the corresponding key operated by the
composer.
In order to deliver each type in succession from the revolving table,
upon which it has been ejected by the methods above described, an
opening may be made in a fixed rim which surrounds the latter, through
which the type flies by its centrifugal force along a passage, at the end
of which is an opening, through which it falls in its proper position upon
the type which has previously passed, and so in succession until a line
of adjusted and composed type has been delivered through the outer end
of a tube or guide leading from the opening into which the types.
fall.
And in order to effect the movement forward of this adjusted
line of type after each fresh one has been added to it I arrange a move-
able bar or depressor above the hole through which the type falls, as
above described. This depressor is, connected to a bar or guide, which.

page_text: can rise or fall freely vertically, and the lower end of which or of a lever
connected to it (preferably provided with a friction roller) rests upon the
edge of a disc upon the axis of and attached to the loose pulley above
described. This disc has a notch or depression formed in its circum-
ference in such a position that immediately the pulley is set in motion
(by the means already described) the vertical bar, which has a sufficiently
heavy weight attached to it, descends into the notch, and the depressor
upon it thus forces down the last type which has been delivered, whilst
as the pulley continues its revolution the vertical bar is instantly forced
up again out of the notch, and space is left for the next succeeding type
to take the place of that last depressed. A spring may be used under
the depressor or in any other convenient position to retain the type as it
is propelled into its place and prevent its rebound, and the passage into
which it passes from the table may be made to rise, forming an inclined
planc, up which it has to pass, and in this arrangement it is not necessary
that a tangential opening should be made in the fixed rim round the
revolving table, but the rim may be fixed to the table and the edge of
the inclined plane may be made very thin and resting upon the surface
of the revolving table, so that cach type passes upon it, and is propelled
up the inclined plane into the passage already described. Instead of a
spring a revolving brush or friction pulley may be used to prevent the
rebound of the type. The keys upon which the composer operates may
be arranged in one or more tiers.
The second part of my Invention relates to a substitute for the
revolving table described and claimed in the said Specification of Louis
Heinemann and Marks Leopold Müller, and consists of a fixed inclined
planc of sufficient smoothness, upon the upper edge of which the type
are selected and discharged, then falling down it to its lower edge, which
is narrowed and contracted, and forms the entrance to a passage through
which the type are delivered in a way similar to that already described.
I prefer to make the inclined plane of glass, but it may be made of any
other sufficiently hard and smooth material, and in order to propel the
type down it with greater speed than could be obtained by their weight
alone I make one or more revolving cylinders or brushes at the upper
end of the inclined plane immediately adjoining the lower ends of the
reservoirs in which the type are contained. I keep these cylinders or
brushes in constant rapid rotation, and as cach type is discharged from
its reservoir its upper side is caught by the cylinder or brush, and it is.

page_text: forcibly driven down the inclined plane. The velocity may be made so
great that the plane may be flat instead of inclined. I prefer to
select and discharge cach type in succession by means of apparatus
similar to that already described, but the reservoirs of type may be
arranged in a straight or curved line across the broad edge of the
plane, the wires and tubes from the keys being arranged accordingly,
or they may be arranged in sets in lines at slight angles to each other,
so that whilst the centre set propels its type down the centre of the
plane the side sets propel theirs partly across the plane, the type being
then directed into its proper course by guides upon the face of the plane.
In this part of my Invention as the revolving disc or table is not used a
driving shaft will only be required to actuate the driving pulley already
described and the revolving cylinders or bruslics.
Sometimes I use the following novel arrangement instead of a revolving
horizontal disc table for carrying the type:-I take a cylinder of suitable
diameter and length arranged horizontally and made to revolve at a
sufficient speed, and each type (as it is selected by the methods above
described) is discharged upon or near the highest surface of the cylinder,
by which it is carried forward and propelled upon an inclined plane
(with or without the assistance of revolving cylinders or brushes, as
already described), down which it passes to a passage, from which it is
delivered in the manner already described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Nelson Smith in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th April 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NELSON SMITH, of Wells Street, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Nelson. Smith, Her

page_text: special licence, that I, the said William Nelson Smith, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Nelson
Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMPOSING TYPE," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Nelson Smith, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
:
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Nelson Smith, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to
say) :-
My Invention relates to apparatus used for composing and arranging
type.
The first part of my Invention has reference more espeically to
apparatus in which a revolving horizontal disc wheel or table is used for
the purpose of receiving, conveying, and directing the type, as described
and claimed in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to Louis
Heinemann and Marks Leopold Müller, for "Improvements in Appa-
ratus for Composing Type," dated September 18th, 1872, and Numbered
2768.
: In order to select and direct as required cach type upon the revolving
table the types are arranged in columns in vertical reservoirs as many.
in number as there are varieties of type to be used, and the lowest type
of cach such columns is pushed upon the circumference of the table by
a bar or pusher forced against it by levers worked by a key operated by
the workman or composer.
The first part of my Invention consists of improved apparatus by
which each type is forced forward and delivered upon the table by the

page_text: operation of the mechanism itself instead of by muscular force of the
composer, who only has to set in action the mechanism applicable to
the particular type which he selects. For this purpose. I prefer to arrango
the vertical reservoirs containing the columns of type in the arc of a
circle immediately above the revolving table and a short distance within
its exterior circumference. The columns are arranged so that the type
lic and arc ejected tangentially or nearly so to the circumference of the
table, the part of the reservoir opposite to the lowest type being open at
its ends in order that the type may be forced out. I prefer to make tho
reservoirs of strips of sheet brass or other metal turned down or thickened
at their outer edges, and screwed or fixed at their inner edges to distance
pieces of wood or other material carried by the framework of the
apparatus above the revolving table. These distance pieces are of such
thickness that the columns of type fit loosely between the strips and
descend by their own weight when the lowest type has been ejected.
The fold or extra thickness of the outer edges of the strips prevents the
columns of type from escaping, but at the same time allow them to be

page_text: thus serves to guide the wire if the latter is pushed backward and
forward.
When it is required to eject a type upon the table the perforated strip
described is made to move to and from the ends of the tubes by the
vibration of the levers to which it is fixed, this vibration being effected
by the means herein-after described. Upon a horizontal rod or centre
carried by the vibrating levers a séries of small supplementary levers are
suspended, as many in number as the tubes, wires, and varietics of type,
and each supplementary lever is arranged opposite the end of a wire
which has passed through the perforated strip, but in such a position that
if the lever hangs down naturally it does not touch such wire, but if it
is elevated by any means it presses the end of the wire and carries it
forward with the perforated strip when the latter makes its forward
vibration, whilst on its return the strip brings back the wire with it by
means of the knob upon the latter or its retroverted end.
Under each suspended lever is arranged one end of a lever turning
upon a horizontal centre, the other end of which carries a key, which may
be depressed when desired by the finger of the composer. There are,
therefore, as many keys as there are varieties of type, and when any
particular key is pressed down and the perforated strip is then made to
make a vibration the corresponding suspended lever is raised, its end
presses forward the end of the corresponding wire, the other end of which
(after passing through its tube) cjects the lowest of the corresponding
column of type upon the revolving wheel.
In order to cause the perforated strip to make a vibration cach time
either of the keys is depressed, I arrange upon the horizontal driving
shaft of the apparatus or upon a revolving shaft connected to the latter
a pulley or drum, the periphery of which is in contact with and drives
by its friction the periphery of a corresponding drum or pulley revolving
freely upon a centre, and on a crank pin or excentric upon the latter a
rod works, the other end of which is connected to one of the levers
which carry the perforated strip above described, so that the latter makes
one double vibration at each revolution of the loose pulley. This loose
pulley has a flat surface formed upon one part of its circumference, so
that when this flat is opposite the driving pulley, the latter is not in
contact with the loose pulley and so does not cause its revolution.
Upon the edge of the loose pulley or of a wheel attached to it I form a

page_text: notch or catch into which a detent upon the end of a lever fits, and is
pressed by a spring when the flat is opposite the driving pulley, and
I fix upon the outer side of the loose pulley a crank pin to which a
weight or spring is connected, the crank pin being adjusted in such a
position that when the detent above described is released, the weight or
spring instantly brings round the loose pulley into contact with the
driving pulley, and a complete revolution is thus made until the flat
again comes opposite the driving pulley, and at the same time the detent
is again pressed into its place and holds the loose pulley immoveable,
whilst the driving pulley continues its revolution until the detent is
again released. In order to prevent the detent from remaining detached
in the event of the key being held down for too long a time, and so
allowing the loose pulley to make more than one revolution, I form a
cam or projection upon the latter which disconnects the detent from the
lover which holds it out of gear when a part of a revolution has been
made, and so leaves the detent free to be pressed back into its place
when the revolution is completed.
Under the line of keys operated by the composer I arrange a
horizontal rail or strip of metal or other material, the ends of which are
fixed to the ends of horizontal levers turning upon centres, so that when
any one of the keys is depressed a projection beneath it depresses at the
same time the rail and levers, and one of the latter is continued beyond
the centre upon which it turns, and is provided with a balance weight or
spring, and also is connected with the detent above described by a
moveable bar in such manner that when the rail is depressed the
detent is liberated from the loose pulley, and when the key is released
the balance weight raises the rail to its first position, and at the same
time allows the detent to engage with and hold the pulley. Thus, if
any one key is depressed the perforated strip instantly makes a vibration,
and at the same time the corresponding type is ejected upon the
revolving table which is kept in continuous rotation by means of a
driving shaft.
Another arrangement which I sometimes use for actuating the wires
which discharge the type, instead of that above described is the
following-To the end of each wire after it leaves the tube which
guides it, I attach a catch piece, the upper part of which is provided
with a hook or catch, and above each such hook I arrange a vertical
lever turning upon a horizontal centre. Each of these levers is double

page_text: consisting of two parts turning upon the same centre, one part being
fixed to the centre, and the other turning loose upon it, and the two parts
being pressed together at their lower extremities by a spring, and being so
adjusted that when the hook above described is raised sufficiently it is
caught between their lower ends. The loose pulley already described is
connected by a connecting rod to the centre upon which the levers are
fixed, so that when the pulley makes a revolution it causes the lower
ends of all the vertical levers to make a vibration backward and forward,
and with them any wire the catch piece of which has been raised until
its hook has been caught between the lower ends of the levers.
A fixed stop is arranged opposite the loose half of each vertical lever, so
that when the loose pulley is completing its revolution the loose lever
comes in contact with the stop, and the lower ends of the levers are thus
forced open, and the hook is released, allowing the catch piece and wire
to become disengaged from the levers. Each catch piece is raised as
required by a projection upon the corresponding key operated by the
composer.
.
. In order to deliver each type in succession from the revolving table,
upon which it has been ejected by the methods above described, an
opening may be made in a fixed rim which surrounds the latter, through
which the type flies by its centrifugal force along a passage, at the end
of which is an opening, through which it falls in its proper position
upon the type which has previously passed, and so on in succession until
a line of adjusted and composed type has been delivered through the
outer end of a tube or guide leading from the opening into which the
types fall. And in order to effect the movement forward of this adjusted
linc of type after each fresh one has been added to it I arrange a move-
able bar or depressor above the hole through which the type falls, as
above described. This depressor is connected to a bar or guide, which
can rise or fall freely vertically, and the lower end of which or of a
lever connected to it (preferably provided with a friction roller) rests
upon the edge of a disc upon the axis of and attached to the loose pulley
above described. This disc has a notch or depression formed in its
circumference in such a position that immediately the pulley is set in
motion (by the means already described) the vertical bar, which has a
sufficiently heavy weight attached to it, descends into the notch, and the
depressor upon it thus forces down the last type which has been
delivered, whilst as the pulley continues its revolution the vertical bar.

page_text: is instantly forced up again out of the notch, and space is left for the
next succeeding type to take the place of that last depressed. A spring
may be used under the depressor or in other convenient position to
retain the type as it is propelled into its place and prevent its rebound,
and the passage into which it passes from the table may be made to rise,
forming an inclined plane, up which it has to pass, and in this arrange-
ment it is not necessary that a tangential opening should be made in the
fixed rim round the revolving table, but the rim may be fixed to the
table, and the edge of the inclined plane may be made very thin and
resting upon the surface of the revolving table, so that each type passes
upon it, and is propelled up the inclined plane into the passage already
described. Instead of a spring a revolving brush or friction pulley may
be used to prevent the rebound of the type. The keys upon which the
composer operates may be arranged in one or more tiers.
In the accompanying Drawings, in Sheet I., Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 an end view of the apparatus. A is the revolving table driven
by the driving shaft b; and wheels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, &c., &c., are reservoirs
for type formed and arranged in the methods described; and a¹, a³, a³,
a³, a³, aª, &c., &c., are tubes containing flexible wires b¹, b², b³, V, &c.,
&c., the outer ends of which pass through perforations in the vibrating
strip c, which is carried by the levers d, d. Supplementary levers c², c³,
c³, c², c³, c³, &c., &c., are also carried by the levers d, d¹, and are arranged.
so that their ends do not touch the ends of the wires unless they are first
raised by projections upon levers d¹, d³, d³, d³, d³, d³, &c., &c., the other
ends of which are provided with keys A, B, C, D, &c., &c.
Figure 3 shews upon a larger scale
tube a', and having a knob at its end.
the perforated strip c the end of the
shewn at c¹.
the wire b¹ passing through the
After passing through a hole in
corresponding suspended lever is.
Figure 4 shows the wire bent up and back after passing through the-
strip c instead of having a knob formed upon its end.
9
In Figures 1 and 2 (and on a larger scale in Figures 5 and 6) d is a
driving wheel which drives its by friction a loose wheel e turning upon
a centre f; the excentric is connected to the vibrating strip c, and.
causes the vibration of the latter when the wheel e makés a revolution ;"
h is a disc attached to the wheel e, and liaving a notch upon it in which
fits the detent i which holds the wheel c and prevents its revolution.
when a part of its circumference, which is flattened, is opposite the.

page_text: upon
driving wheel d. A rail / attached to levers 7, 1, turning upon centres
m, m', is arranged below the levers d', d³, d³, d', d³, d³, &c., &c., so-as to
be depressed when either of the keys A, B, C, D, &c., &c., is pressed
down, and the rail k is raised to its place again by the balance lever m³,
to which is connected the bar ", which disengages the detent i when the
rail is depressed. A weight or spring is connected to the crank pin o
the loose wheel e, and tends to force the wheel e into contact with
the driving wheel & when the detent i is released. A projection p
(shewn in dotted lines in Figure 5) attached to the wheel e disengages
the barn when the wheel has commenced its revolution and releases the
detent i, allowing it to return to its place and prevent the wheel from
making more than one revolution if cither of the keys is held down for
too long a time. " is a passage into which cach type is propelled by the
revolving table A, the types passing thence into the passage 8, whence
they descend into the shoot t, from which the assorted type are removed
from time to time by the composer. In order to force each type in
succession into the shoot t, and so leave room for the succeeding type, a
depressor z is used attached to the weighted vertical bar v, the lower end
of which is supported upon the disc w attached to the wheel e. This
disc has a notch a formed upon it, so that when the wheel e commences
a revolution the bar descends into the notch, and the depressor u
descending with it forces down the line of adjusted type into the shoot t,
but immediately rises again as the bar v leaves the notch x, thus leaving
room for the succeeding type to enter the passage 8. A light spring
may be arranged above the passage 1, under which spring the type.
passes, and is thus prevented from rebounding.
Figure 7 shews another arrangement for making cach wire as required
move backward and forward through its tubes. The wire b¹ after leaving
the tube a¹ has formed upon it a hook piece m, which is raised when
required by one of the levers and keys already described. 12 is a bar
turning upon bearings o, and caused to take a partial revolution back-
ward and forward by the excentric already described, which is connected
to the lever p (shewn broken off). A series of hooked levers are fixed
to the bar n, one being opposite each wire, and each hooked lever » has
a levers jointed to it, the two levers being held together by springs t.
When the hook piece m is raised (as described) it is caught between the
levers and 8, and is caused to make a vibration with them to and from
the end of the tube a¹. Upon their return stroke the upper end of the

page_text: levers is pressed against the fixed stop wo, and the lower ends of the
levers are thus separated, and the hook piece m is released.
In Sheet II. Figure 11 shews a plan, and Figure 12 a side view of a
modification of my apparatus. a is the disc wheel, operating and actuated
in the same way as that already described. This disc wheel has a
flexible band or belt & passing round it, and also passing round the loose
pulley c. The band 6 travelling at the same speed as the circumference
of the disc a assists in carrying forward the type, which are ejected upon
the latter, and thus avoids the retarding influence upon them of the
fixed rim used in the arrangement first described, and the apparatus can
consequently be worked at a greater speed. A is one of the keys,
operated by the workman or composer; c³ is the vibrating strip, through
which the wires 61, 62, &c., pass freely, and are then conducted through.
the tubes, one of which is shewn at a. The other letters of reference.
relate to the parts of the apparatus shewn by corresponding letters of
reference in the Figures in Slicet I. C shews a spring which allows
the piece c¹ to yield without injuring the apparatus, if from any cause
a wire should become fixed so as not to pass freely through its tube.
The second part of my Invention relates to a substitute for the
revolving table described and claimed in the Specification of Louis
Heinemann and Marks Leopold Müller, dated September 18th 1872,
and Numbered 2768, and consists of a fixed inclined plane of sufficient
smoothness, upon the upper edge of, which the type are selected and
discharged, the falling down it to its lower edge, which is narrowed
and contracted, and forms the entrance to a passage through which the
type are delivered, in a way similar to that already described. I prefer
to make the inclined plane of glass, but it may be made of any other
sufficiently hard and smooth material, and in order to propel the type
down it with greater speed than could be obtained by their weight alone
I make one or more revolving cylinders or brushes at the upper end of
the inclined plane, immediately adjoining the lower ends of the reservoirs
in which the type are contained. I keep these cylinders or brushes in
constant rapid rotation, and as each type is discharged from its reservoir
its upper side is caught by the cylinder or brush, and it is forcibly driven
down the inclined plane. The velocity may be made so great that' the
plane may be flat instead of inclined. I prefer to select and discharge
cach type in succession by means of apparatus similar to that already.
described, but the reservoirs of type may be arranged in a straight or

page_text: curved line across the broad edge of the plane, the wires and tubes from
the keys being arranged accordingly; or they may be arranged in sets in
lines at slight angles to each other, so that whilst the centre set propels
its type down the centre of the plane the side sets propel theirs partly
across the plane, the type being then directed into its proper course by
guides upon the face of the plane. In this part of my Invention, as the
revolving disc or table is not used, a driving shaft will only be required.
to actuate the driving pulley already described, and the revolving
cylinders or brushes.
Sometimes I use the following novel arrangement:-Instead of a
revolving horizontal disc table for carrying the type I take a cylinder of
suitable diameter and length arranged horizontally and made to revolve
at a sufficient, speed, and each type (as it is selected by the methods
above described) is discharged upon or near the highest surface of the
cylinder, by which it is carried forward and propelled upon an inclined
plane (with or without the assistance of revolving cylinders or brushes,
as already described) down which it passes to a passage, from which it is
delivered in the manner already described.
.In Sheet I. Figures 8, 9, and 10 are in illustration of this part of my.
Invention. Figure 8 is a plan illustrating this arrangement. A is an
inclined or. horizontal plate narrowed at its lower edge, which conducts.
to the passages in which a depressor works. Across the upper end of
this plate are arranged type reservoirs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, &c., &c., similar to
those already described. These may be arranged either in one line
across the plate, or in. two or more sections (as in the Drawing, where
three sections are shewn). Each type is selected and forced from its
reservoir upon the edge of the plate by means of wires 62, 63, b³, b¹, bº,
68, &c., &c., passing through tubes a¹, a², a³, a³, a³, a³, &c., &c. (shewn
broken off), and preferably actuated in the same way and by similar
mechanism to that already described and shewn. e, e¹, e³, are cylindrical
rollers.or brushes kept in constant rapid rotation, ono or other of which.
catches each type as it is ejected from its reservoir and propels it forcibly
along the plane A. Guides f, f, may be used to direct the course of the.

page_text: edge of a revolving cylinder B, upon which each type is ejected as
required, and is carried forward by the cylinder until it is propelled
upon the inclined plane A (preferably of glass), similar to that described
and shewn in Figure 8. e is a revolving cylindrical roller or brush,
which may be used to assist in the propulsion of the type along the
plane.
I prefer to use similar mechanism to that already described and shewn
for the purpose of selecting each type in succession, and for carrying
forward and depressing the selected type in the passage and shoot, into
which it is delivered at the lower or narrow end of the plane A.
Having now described my Invention and the manner in which it is to
be performed, I claim,—
The general arrangement of the apparatus, substantially as described
and shewn in the Drawings.
Also the combination with a revolving disc or table of receptacles for
columns of type, such receptacles being arranged within the outer
circumference of the revolving disc or table, so that the types can be
ejected from them tangentially outwards upon the revolving disc or
table, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawings.
Also the methods of selecting and. discharging each type as required
by means of flexible wires or pushers passing through fixed guiding
tubes, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawings.
Also the method of actuating each such flexible wire when required
by means of a vibrating strip, through which the end of the wire passes,
substantially as described and shewn in the Drawings.
Also the method of causing the vibrating strip to make its vibrations
by means of a crank or excentric driven by a loose pulley made to
revolve by contact with a corresponding pulley driven by the driving
shaft of the apparatus, the loose pulley being so constructed that in a
certain position it is not in contact with the driving pulley, substantially
as described and shewn in the Drawings.
Also the method of bringing the loose pulley into contact with the
driving pulley when required by means of a spring or weight, which
comes into operation when a detent which holds the loose pulley is
released, such release being effected by the movement of a balanced
B

page_text: rail, which is actuated whenever either of the keys of the apparatus is
depressed, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawings.
Also the methods of constructing and operating a depressor for forcing
forward the line of selected type, substantially as described and shewn in
-the Drawings.
Also the arrangement of a flexible band passing round the disc wheel
and a corresponding loose pulley for the purpose of enabling the
apparatus to be worked at a greater speed, substantially as described and
、shewn in the Drawing.
Also the methods of propelling type along or down inclined or flåt :
surfaces of glass or other suitable material by means of revolving
cylinders or brushes, substantially as and for the purposes, described and
shown in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Nelson Smith, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-seventh day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-`
five.
WILLIAM NELSON SMITH. (L.S.)