IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH TYPE COMPOSING MACHINERY OR Apparatus
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Winder, of Bolton, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH
TYPE COMPOSING MACHINERY OR Apparatus.”
Sealed the 29th January 1875, and dated the 14th September 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Winder at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th September 1874.
I, ROBERT WINDER, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
CONNECTED WITH TYPE COMPOSING MACHINERY OR APPARATUS," to be as
follows
My Invention-relates to novel devices and combination of parts to
be wholly or in part employed in a type composing machine, such parts
or devices being actuated by any convenient motive power and so con-
trolled by electricity that the operator can liberate type swiftly from its
reservoir and easily collect such type in any desired order in line or
column.
"

page_text: The operation of the machine is reduced to a deliberate and slow rate,
thus rendering unnecessary the nervous tension which now attends the
composing of type.
The facility of controlling, and the extensive number of combinations
capable of being made, give great scope to the capacity of intelligent
and careful workmen.
For convenience, and to facilitate comprehension, I have divided my
Invention into a number of separate parts, describing under each part
some novelty in construction or design.
In a complete type composing machine the whole or part of such
improvements may be combined.
First. As means for controlling the ejection of any desired type from
a type reservoir I make use of an electro-magnet, which, when circuit is
completed or broken, acts direct or through an armature and lever or
levers, or ceases to act on an ejector bar, and moves or allows such
ejector bar to be moved into position to be carried forward by a constantly
reciprocating beam. The reciprocating beam, after carrying the ejector
bar forward to eject a type, returns the said ejector bar to its original
position, where it remains until again acted upon or left free by its con-
trolling clectro-magnet. The ejector bar and apparatus is used for each
type character. One reciprocating beam serves to actuate all the ejector
bars. It will be obvious that if circuit is rapidly completed or broken
between several electro-magnets any desired number of type ejector bars
can be brought into position to be acted upon at the same time by the
reciprocating beam. More than one electro-magnet may be used to
actuate each ejector bar, and each electro-magnet may actuate more
than one armature.
Second. As means for causing the reciprocating beam to act upon the
ejector bars, in the manner mentioned under the above first head I make
use of a cam or guide piece and connecting rod to give the said recipro-
cating beam the following motions:-First, an onward motion, so as to
clear the notches or projections in or on the ejector bars which have
not been displaced by the electro-magnets; second, a descending or
ascending motion, so as to catch into the notches or projections in the
displaced ejector bars; third, a continued onward motion, gradually
decreasing in speed towards the end of the stroke to carry forward the

page_text: said displaced ejector bars to eject from the reservoir quietly and
orderly the desired types; fourth, a quick return motion to bring back
the ejector bars to their position before being displaced by the action or
non-action of the electro-magnets; and, fifth, a rising or descending
motion, so as finally to be clear of the said ejector bars. The recipro-
cating beam may in some cases be caused to act on only one ejector bar.
Third. As means for facilitating the orderly reception of ejected type
on the travelling collector I arrest the motion of the said travelling
collector during the time the type is being deposited thereon. A friction
or other disengaging clutch acting on the pulley driving the travelling
collector is employed for that purpose. Intermittent gearing may be
employed, or where a leather strap is used a friction retainer acts on the
said strap.
-
Fourth. As means for transferring type laid on their side from a
travelling collector regularly and at uniform speed to mechanism devised
to place such type on edge I make use of a push piece having an inter-
mittent or continuous motion to propel the types forward, such push piece
having also a disengaging, a backward, and a re-engaging motion to get
in rear of a second batch of type brought forward by the travelling
collector. The said push piece acts over a stationary platform, on to
which the travelling collector delivers the type. The compound motion
of the push piece, above described, may be given either by an involute
cam of continuous or faced surface and a spring, by an eccentric or
crank and connecting rod and spring, or by a screw and piece for dis-
engaging the push piece at the end of its stroke, and a spring or a
second screw for causing the return of the said piece. Two push pieces
may be used.
-
Fifth. As means for placing on edge the type on side pushed forward
in the manner above described, or by other suitable mechanism, I
provide a platform, which forms a continuation, but at a lower level, of
the stationary platform mentioned under the above fourth head. Each
type on its side, when puslied over the precipitous edge of the upper
platform, falls in a slanting position on its edge, partly supported by the
lower platform and partly by the vertical or angular connection between
the upper and lower platforms. A vibrating piece or pieces uprights or
places on edge and pushes forward the type, so as to leave room for the
next type: Instead of the vibrating piece or pieces the lower platform
inay be caused to vibrate.

page_text: Sixth. As further means for placing type on edge each type as it
leaves the stationary platform, described under the above fourth head, is
received on its side in a groove or notches in a wheel or discs and
· carried round a quarter revolution to a second platform, on which it is
deposited direct or by means of an inclined plane or planes, or by
lifters.
Seventh. As means for arranging type in column I employ in com-
bination with the mechanism described under the above fifth and sixth
heads a collecting box, compositor's stick, or its equivalent, so actuated
by screw or equivalent mechanism that it shall descend the depth of a
type on the completion of each line.
Eighth. As means for increasing the number of types which may be
ejected from the reservoir at once in any desired order I make use of a
large number of containers in the reservoir, so that any desired type or
character shall be in several containers of the reservoir. I furthermore
bring the wires of the electro-magnets actuating the ejector bars so
close together, and so arrange them alphabetically and in words, that
contact with the electro-magnets representing any desired combination of
characters can be made or broken with extreme rapidity, and a word
or sentence ejected complete from the reservoir on to the travelling
collector.
Ninth. As means for enabling an operator to compose type from one
or more machines at a distance, say, in different towns, I provide each
machine with a dial, around which the wires of the electro-magnets
actuating the ejector bars are connected. The same alphabetical order
is used on all the dials. Each dial is provided with a finger caused to
rotate by clockwork. When in use the finger on each dial is placed at
zero, the operator sends a current along a main wire, such current
withdraws by means of an electro-magnet a small stop piece on each
dial; the fingers actuated by the clockwork then commence to travel
simultaneously and synchronously over the face of the dials; the
operator now commences to actuate the ejector bar electro-magnets of
the machine at which he is stationed, each of which electro-magnets not
only acts on the ejector bar of the machine to which it is attached but
also throws out a connection piece on its own dial. When the revolving
finger comes round to the piece thrown out it completes circuit with the
next finger which has been carried by the clockwork to the same position

page_text: on its dial; the current then by means of the finger on the second
dial actuates an ejector bar electro-magnet corresponding to the ejector
bar magnet actuated by the operator of the first machine.
It will be obvious that the current could be passed from the second to
the third machine, and so on; also that one or more machines could
be operated from a dial instead of from a machine, as above described.
The constantly moving parts of each machine should be started at the
same time, and should move at the same or equivalent speeds.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Winder in the Great Seal Patent_Office
on the 18th March 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WINDER, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of September, 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 Robert Winder, Her special
licence that I, the said Robert Winder, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Winder, 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 AND CONNECTED WITH TYPE COMPOSING MACHINERY," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Robert Winder, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Winder, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheets of Drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say:
My Invention relates to novel devices and combinations of parts to be
wholly or in part employed in a type composing machine, such parts or
devices being actuated by any convenient motive power, and so con-
trolled by electricity that the operator can liberate type swiftly from
their containers, singly or collectively, and easily collect such type in
any desired order in line or column.
Under my Invention electricity is employed as an agent for trans-
mitting the will of the operator to mechanism, which mechanism shall
liberate type and collect them in proper order, the said mechanism being
so arranged that type can be liberated at one operation in the form of
whole or parts of words, unlike as at present by single letters only.
The liberating and collecting mechanism may be combined in one
machine with the electric communicators, or they may be placed at a
distance apart, that is, the operator may work the machine by electrical
connection, either by several wires or one wire, although at a considerable
distance.
The operating of the machine is conducted at a deliberate and slow
rate, so as to render unnecessary that strained nervous tension which
now attends the composing of type.
The facility of operation renders the working of the machine a pleasure
rather than a task, whilst the extensive number of combinations which
are capable of being made on the composing table gives great scope for
the capacity of intelligent and careful workmen.
For convenience and to facilitate comprehension I have divided my
Invention into a number of separate parts describing under each part
some novelty in construction or design.
In a complete type composing machine the whole or part of such
improvements may be combined.
First. As means for controlling the ejection of any desired type from
a type reservoir I make use of an electro-magnet which, when circuit is

page_text: completed or broken, acts direct or through an armature and lever or
levers, or ceases to act on an ejector bar, and moves or allows such
ejector bar to be moved into position to be carried forward by a con-
stantly reciprocating beam. The reciprocating beam, after carrying the
ejector bar forward to eject a type, returns the said ejector bar to its
original position where it remains until again acted upon or left free by
its controlling electro-magnet. An ejector bar and apparatus is used for
each type character. One reciprocating beam serves to actuate all the
ejector bars. It will be obvious that if circuit is rapidly completed or
broken between several electro-magnets any desired number of type
ejector bars can be brought into position to be acted upon at the same
time by the reciprocating beam. More than one electro-magnet may be
used to actuate each ejector bar, and each electro-magnet may actuate
more than one armature.
Second. As means for causing the reciprocating beam to act upon the
ejector bars in the manner mentioned under the above first head I make
use of a cam or guide piece and connecting rod to give the said
reciprocating beam the following motions:-First, an onward motion so
as to clear the notches or projections in or on the ejector bars, which
have not been displaced by the electro-magnets; second, a descending or
ascending motion so as to catch into the notches or projections in the
displaced ejector bars; thrd, a continued onward motion gradually
decreasing in speed towards the end of the stroke to carry forward the said
displaced ejector.bars to eject from the reservoir quietly and orderly the
desired types; fourth, a quick return motion to bring back the ejector
bars to their position before being displaced by the action or non-action
of the electro-magnets; fifth, a rising or descending motion so as
finally to be clear of the said ejector bars. The reciprocating beam may
in some cases be caused to act on only one ejector bar.
Third. As means for facilitating the orderly reception of ejected type
on the travelling collector I arrest the motion of the said travelling
collector during the time the type is being deposited thereon. A friction
or other disengaging clutch, acting on the pulley driving the travelling
collector, is employed for that purpose. Intermittent gearing may be
employed, or where a leather strap is used a friction retainer acts on the
said strap.
Fourth. As means for transferring type laid on their side from a
chanism dominat

page_text: to place such type on edge, I make use of a push piece, having an inter-
_mittent or continuous motion to propel the type forward, such push
piece having also a disengaging and a re-engaging motion to get in rear
of a second batch of type brought forward by the travelling collector.
The said push piece acts over a stationary platform, on to which the
travelling collector delivers the type. The compound motion of the
push piece above described may be given either by an involute cam of
continuous or faced surface and a spring, or by a couple of wheels as rack
and pinion, with part of the circumference of the wheels toothless, or by
a screw and piece for disengaging the push piece at the end of its stroke,
and a spring or a second screw for causing the return of the said piece.
Two push pieces may be used.
Fifth. As means for placing on edge the type on side pushed forward
in the manner above described, or by other suitable mechanism, I pro-
vide a platform which forms a continuation, but at a lower level of the
stationary platform mentioned under the above fourth head. Each type
on its side when pushed over the precipitous edge of the upper platform
falls in a slanting position on its edge, partly supported by the lower
platform and partly by the vertical or angular connection between
the upper and lower platforms. A vibrating piece or pieces uprights or
places on edge and pushes forward the type so as to leave room for the
next type. Instead of the vibrating piece or pieces the lower platform
may be caused to vibrate.
Sixth. As further means for placing type on edge each type as it
leaves the stationary platform described under the above fourth head is
received on its side in a groove or notches in a wheel or discs, and carried
round a quarter revolution to a second platform, on which it is deposited
direct or by means of an inclined plane or planes by lifters.
Seventh. As means for arranging type in column I employ in com-
bination with the mechanism described under the above fifth and sixth
heads, a collecting box, compositor's stick, or its equivalent, so actuated
by screw or equivalent mechanism that it shall descend the depth of a
type on the completion of each line.
Eighth. As means for increasing the number of types which may be
ejected from the reservoir at once in any desired order I make use of a
large number of containers in the reservoir, so that any desired type or
character shall be in several containers of the reservoir. I furthermore

page_text: bring the wires of the electro-magnets actuating the ejector bars so
close together and so arrange them alphabetically and in words on a
composing table that contact with the electro-magnets representing.any
desired combination of characters can be made or broken with extreme
rapidity, and a word or sentence ejected complete from the reservoir on
to the travelling collector.
-
Ninth. As means for enabling an operator to compose type from one
or more machines at a distance, say in different towns, I provide each
machine with a dial, around which. the wires of the electro-magnets
actuating the ejector bars are connected. The same alphabetical order
is used on all the dials. Each dial is provided with a finger caused to
rotate by clockwork. When in use the finger on each dial is placed at
zero; the operator first sends a current along a main wire, such current
withdraws by means of an electro-magnet a small stop piece on each
dial; the fingers actuated by the clockwork then commence to travel
simultaneously and synchronuously over the face of the dials. The
operator commences immediately after the first current is sent to
actuate small magnets around the dial at the sending station by means
of making connection with the particular letter on the composing table,
which protrudes a small piece in front of that particular letter on the
dial, in order that the finger on the dial of the sending station in going
round shall touch same and at the moment send a current to the
receiving station, where the finger on the dial having likewise arrived
at a corresponding part of the dial makes communication with a notch
or plate, which in its turn makes communication with its own electro-
magnet in the machine. In like manner the operator at the sending
station may first send the current through his own composing machine,
of which the electro-magnets not only act on the ejector bar of the
machine to which it is attached, but also throws out a connection piece
on its own dial. When the revolving finger comes round to the piece
thrown out it completes circuit with the next finger, which has been
carried by-the clockwork to the same position on its dial. The current
then by means of the finger on the second dial actuates an ejector bar
electro-magnet corresponding to the ejector bar magnet actuated by the
operator of the first machine.
It will be obvious that the current could be passed, and that one or

page_text: The constantly moving parts of each machine should be started at
the same time, and should move at the same or equivalent speeds.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1, Sheet I., is a plan view; Fig. 2, Sheet II., a front view showing
the composing table; Fig. 3, Sheet III., a side elevation; Figs. 4 and 5,
Sheet I., Figs. 6 and 7, Sheet II., Fig. 8, Sheet III., and Fig. 9,
Sheet IV., detail Drawings, all of a composing machine constructed
under my Invention, and illustrative of the first seven heads thereof.
Under the first head, see Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8, Sheet III., 1 is a horse-
shoe electro-magnet connected to a battery return wire, and to the
desired contact pieces of the composing table; there is one of these
magnets for each type container of the reservoir; 2 is the armature
working on the pivot 3 so as to give a sliding motion to the type ejector
bar 4, and thus move such bar forward into position to be acted upon by
the reciprocating beam 5.
Various modifications of the above apparatus can be made under my
Invention.
Under the second head, see Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8, 6 are cams for
actuating the beam 5. The said cams are driven by the pulley 7 and
wheels 8, and give a rapid forward and backward motion, and also a
period of rest to the beam 5 through the groove 9 and piece 10. The
beam 5 works on pivots 11 and rests on the piece 12 so as to be held out
of contact with the bars 4 unless such bars have been acted upon by
the electro-magnet armatures. The catches 13 carry the ejector bars
backward and forward by means of the pieces 14; 15, bell caused to
sound at the commencement of the period of rest of the beam 5 to
signify that the electro-magnets may be actuated from the composing
table.
Under the third head, see Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the type 17 when ejected
from the reservoir 18 are received on the belt 19, the motion of such
belt being arrested by the clutch 20 actuated by the cams 6 during the
ejection of the types.
Under the fourth head, see Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 21 is a push piece
actuated intermittently by the step cam 22. The piece 21 pushes the
type from the belt 19 along the platform 23 and over the precipice 24.

page_text: When the push piece 21 has reached the edge of 24 it allows the ramp 25
to fall at the same time the cam 22 ceases to act, and the spring 26
rapidly draws back the push piece up the ramp 25 into position
to carry forward a fresh batch of type. The push piece is provided
with a projection 27 to raise the ramp 25 whilst moving towards the
precipice.
Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet I., show a modification of apparatus under the
above fourth head. Here there are two push pieces a, a, attached to
racks b, b¹, and actuated by pinions c, c². The pinions c, c¹; have part
of their teeth removed, so that when the racks have been driven forward
a sufficient distance such racks and with them the push pieces will be
rapidly withdrawn by the weights d, d. Springs might be used instead
of the weights; &, e¹, falling ramps. The racks are driven alternately.
Under the fifth head, see Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 28 is a lower platform on
to which the type on 28 are pushed by the piece 21. In falling over 24
the type are partly turned from their flat to their edge, such placing on
edge is completed by the vibrating pieces 29 actuated by the cam and
lever 80.
Under the sixth head, see Figs. 6 and 7, Sheet II., the type are
received on their flat from the platform fon to the steps g of the wheel 7.
The wheel as it revolves carries such type to the platform i and there
deposits them on their edge:
Under the seventh head, see Fig. 9, Sheet IV., 31 is the compositor's
stick or collecting box actuated by the gearing and handle 32 arranged
to work in combination with the improvements herein described. As
each column is completed, the platform 88 is lowered by turning the
handle 82.
Under the eighth head, see Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the reservoir 18 is
furnished with a large number of type containers. 84, preferably having
the type therein in the following order :—y, w, a, b, 1, v, p, f, c, g, r, o,
q, j, u, i, e, a, u, s, t, h, d, c, o, m, k, ff, fl, ffi, ff, p, 1, o, r, u, i, e, a, x, s,
g, t, w, f, b, o, c, e, r, m, a, o, i, n, p, u, t, h, r, 1, p, m, e, l, a, c, s, t, i, o,
u, z, v, w, r, e, n, g, k, s, t, c, h, l, o, d, y, s. The wires that make
contact between the composing table 35 and the electro-magnets con-
.

page_text: trolling the ejection of the type being so arranged that type can be
ejected from each of the type containers from several points of the
composing table, thus allowing words and endings of words to be
arranged to be operated at once, the whole of the type required for a
word being ejected simultaneously from the reservoir. This will be
understood on examining the order of the letters in the reservoir as
given above, when it will be seen that all the types of the words
abstreactive, generally, commandment, understood, shown on the com-
posing table can be ejected at once and in proper order on to the carrying
belt 19. Various arrangements of type in the reservoir and electro-
magnet connections can be used without departing from the leading
feature of this part of my Invention, namely, providing means whereby
several letters to form a word or a sentence can be ejected simultaneously
from the reservoir. The apparatus above described is driven by any
suitable motive power, and the arrangement of the gearing, framework,
and electric connections are susceptable of many modifications.
Under the ninth head, see Fig. 10, Sheet IV., 36, 37, are dials
having fingers 38, 39, which are caused to travel by clockwork
synchronuously or nearly so. To commence operations a current is sent
through the wire 40 to release the fingers 38, 39. These then commence
to travel. If now currents are sent through, say, the magnets AT at
London, small pieces which can be put in electrical connection with the
pieces AT at Bolton are caused to project in such manner that the
finger 38 will as it revolves make contact with such pieces. A current
from each of the pieces AT is thereupon sent through 39, 41, and
finger 38 to the pieces AT, say, at Bolton, and thence to the electro-
magnets of the machine. The fingers on account of their synchronuous
or nearly synchronuous motion are in contact with corresponding pieces
at the same time.
It will be obvious that as many of the magnets and points may be
used as desired, and I employ as many as there are different sets of
letters in the reservoir.
Several machines may be simultaneously worked from one centre by
employing relay batteries.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention so that others :

page_text: The arrangement and combination of parts, substantially as described
and illustrated under Fig. 10, for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Winder, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Eleventh day of March, in the year of our 5
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Winder, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Eleventh day of March, in the year of our 5
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.