Improvements in or relating to Typesetting Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1900-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1900
Improvements in or relating to Typesetting Machines.
A communication from FRANCIS BARTLETT CONVERSE, Junior, of 422, West St.
Catherine Street, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S.A., Machine
Designer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of the present invention is to increase the capacity of type setting
machines, allowing the setting of two fonts of type, as roman and italic, or roman
and head-letter, without materially increasing the size of the machine, or the
number of parts of the keyboard or ejecting mechanism.
The invention consists broadly of two type cases and mechanism for moving
one of said cases relatively to the other to permit a common ejector to eject type
from either case. More specifically, the invention consists of two banks of type
cases suitably supported by the arms of pivoted levers whereby one balances the
other, and mechanism such that when the bank of cases in use is moved away
from the operative position the other bank is by the same movement brought into
this position.
Describing the mechanism more in detail, there is provided a suitably supported
keyboard from the frame of which rise uprights which carry a horizontal frame
The
to which are attached vertical standards which latter carry the type cases.
type are arranged in vertical rows in channels grouped together in a case, and
these cases are supported by suitable frames which latter are movably carried by
the standards just referred to.
The type are ejected from the type cases which are in operative position by
ejector bars which are thrown into action when the finger keys are depressed.
This is accomplished by suitable mechanism as by having the ejector bars pro-
vided with teeth on their upper and lower surfaces, and providing a pair of grooved
rollers one above the bars and one below the bars, which rollers are continuously
revolved in a direction such that when the bars are brought into engagement with
one of the rollers they are fed forward, and when in engagement with the other
they are drawn backward. Thus the depression of a finger key may operate
through a suitable connecting rod and bell-crank lever to raise the corresponding
ejector bar into engagement with the upper roller whereby it is fed forward, but
when it reaches its extreme position a notch on the under side of the bar comes
over the bell-crank lever which allows the bars to drop into engagement with the
lower roller which withdraws it. This forward movement causes the ejector to
enter an orifice in the back of the case which is in position and shoves the lowest
type therefrom out forward onto a ledge, from which it drops by gravity into a
suitable channel which eventually brings it into the assembling position.
There are provided two sets of type cases arranged one in front of the other
and carried by independent frames. Each set consists of several (four or five,
for example) cases, and each case contains a convenient number of channels, sav
20 to 25. Each frame consists of a quadrangular open structure, which extends
along the bottoms and tops of the cases and the outer sides of the two outermost

page_text: cases. The frames are supported near their upper ends at each side by a pair
of links which take onto opposite ends of a lever or walking beam which is keyed
at its center to a rock shaft journalled in the standards. A system of levers and
links provide means for operating this rock shaft conveniently by the hand of
the operator. Such operation lowers one set of cases and elevates the other.
Projecting from the sides of each frame near the upper and lower ends are a
pair of studs which take into openings in the standards which are of the shape
of a vertical letter Y. These openings and the walking beams and links referred
to are so proportioned that when the studs of one frame are at the upper end of
one of the Y-branches, the studs of the other frame are at the junction. Thus
when the operating lever is thrown to one position, the studs of one frame lie in
the junction lines of the Y-grooves, thus holding that set of type cases in the
common operative position, and holding the other set elevated and out of the
way, the studs of this other set being at the upper end of one of the Y-branches,
When the lever is thrown to the other position the frames are moved so that the
studs which were at the junction of the Y-groove are shifted up into the other
Y-branch, and the case which was elevated and out of the way before comes down
into the operative position. There is thus a common operative position for the
two sets of cases. When the rear set is in this common position the front set
is forward and elevated; when the front set is in this operative position the rear
set is backward and elevated.
The weight of the frames and cases in each set being the same and each set of
cases containing generally an average amount of type, the cases approximately
balance each other so that no great force is required to shift them; and thus when
the operator wishes to change the font of type, he simply grasps the operative
lever and gives it the proper movement.
In order to allow the convenient insertion of the type cases into each of the
two frames, the front frame is adapted to have its lower end swung forward out
of the vertical position. This is accomplished by having a slot in each standard
which opens from the front into the front branch of the lower Y-groove, and
thus the studs of the front frame may pass through this slot and the frame be
swung outward.
Suitable hooks are provided which automatically grasp the studs
when they are thus swung outward, thereby supporting the frame. This position
allows more convenient access to the type cases in the front frame for the removal
thereof, the operator's hand being simply inserted through the back of the frame,
and the case lifted out. A suitable shield is carried by the frame for the front of
the case, being pivoted at the upper end and swinging forward when the case is
lifted out. The cases in the rear frame rest at their front sides against a suitable
shield carried by that frame, and are lifted out from the rear by turning suitable
buttons which normally lock them in place.
Dated this 14th day of December 1899.
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Typesetting Machines.
A communication from FRANCIS BARTLETT CONVERSE, Jr., of Louisville, County
of Jefferson, State of Kentucky, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
-
The object of the invention is to increase the capacity of type setting machines,

page_text: allowing the setting of two fonts of type, as roman and italic, or roman and head-
letter, without materially increasing the size of the machine, or number of parts
of the key board or ejection mechanism.
The invention consists broadly of a plurality of type cases, and mechanism for
ejecting type from either of them, combined with mechanism for replacing one
case by another.
More specifically, the invention consists of two banks of type cases suitably sup-
ported by the arms of pivoted levers whereby one balances the other, and
mechanism such that when the bank of cases in use is moved away from the
operative position, the other bank is by the same movement brought into this
position.
The invention may also be summarized as consisting of the combinations of
parts hereinafter specified and definitely enumerated in the claims.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a type setting machine embody-
ing the invention, the supporting parts and the race plate being broken off.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the portion of the setter above the key-board, the
front right hand cases being broken away and the rear cases being partly in
section on a central vertical transverse plane, indicated by the line 2-2 in
Figure 3. Figure 3 is a vertical section from front to rear through the machine:
and Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 looking down-
ward, the ejector bars at the right hand end being partially broken away to show
the toothed roller beneath. The same letters of reference designate the same
part in each figure.
Referring to the parts by letters. A represents a suitable key-board, from the
frame of which rise standards B. These standards carry the horizontal frame B¹
to which are attached the vertical standards B2, the latter carrying frames which
support the type cases.
The type are ejected from the type cases which are in operative position, by
ejector bars C which are thrown into action when the finger keys are depressed.
This is accomplished by a pair of grooved rollers D and D₁ which are continuously
revolved by the belt D2 in the direction shown by the arrow; and by a system
of bell crank levers E located one beneath each ejector bar and connected by
wires F with the finger keys. When a finger key is depressed the wire F is
drawn down, the bell crank lever E raises the ejector bar into engagement with
the roller D. the latter forces the ejector bar forward ejecting the lowest type in
the case designated T in Figure 3), from the case onto a ledge g from which it
drops by gravity, foot foremost, into a suitable channel in the race plate G. As
soon as this ejection is completed. a notch on the under side of the ejector bar
comes over the bell crank lever E and at the same time a notch c¹ comes under
the roller D. and the ejector bar being thus freed from that roller drops by gravity
into engagement with the roller D which withdraws it until the notch comes
over that roller. Each depression of a finger key therefore causes an ejector har
to advance and shove the lowest type from the case in front of it and then return
to its initial position. This much of the construction is old, and no claim is made
on it herein.
The cases containing the type are arranged in two sets H and H¹. In the form
shown in the drawing each set consists of four cases, and each case has 23 channels.
Either set is adapted to be substituted for the other, whereby with one key-board
two fonts of type may be set. This operation will now be described.
Each of the sets of cases H and H is supported in a frame J and J. Each
of these frames consist of a bottom bar j. a top bar j¹, side bars 22. and inter-
mediate vertical bars 3, the front frame having a back plate . These frames
which contain the cases have extended from their sides near their upper ends
the studs and 7. Pivotally surrounding these studs are the links K and K¹
which are pivoted at their upper ends to the levers or walking beams L. These
walking beams are keyed to a shaft M which is journalled in the standards B2.
The studs project beyond the links and carry rollers 15 which stand in a

page_text: suitable guide-way, preferably the slot
in the standard B³. This slot is prefer-
ably formed in the Y-shape shown in the drawing, and so proportioned that when
one stud is at the upper end of one of the branches the other stud must be at the
lower end of the junction. Near the lower end of the frames similar slots b' are
formed in the standards 12 and into these slots take studs on the sides re-
spectively of the frames J and J'.
From the construction described it follows that if the shaft M be turned on its
axis, one frame will be drawn upward and the other allowed to descend, the full
movement putting the upper frame into the position just occupied by the lower.
In Figure 3, the rear frame is shown with its cases in active position. If now
the shaft M is turned in the right hand direction, these cases are drawn upward
and rearward and the front cases moved downward and rearward and the latter
come, at the end of the movement, into the exact position occupied by the rear
cases in the drawing.
The lateral distance between the centers of the upper ends of the Y-slots and
the junction portion thereof are such that when either set of cases is in position
the front of the rear frame is substantially in contact with the rear of the front
frame. When the parts are changing position, however, there is a larger lateral
component to the movement of the links connected with the lower frame, and
thus at the beginning of the movement that frame draws away from the upper,
and the parts are out of contact after the middle of the movement has been
passed, the frames approach and come into contact at the completion of the move-
ment. Thus there is no sliding friction of one frame on the other during the
movement, though they are in contact at either end thereof.
The weight of the frames and cases in each of the banks being the same, and
each set of cases containing generally an average amount of type, the cases
approximately balance each other, whereby no great force is required to turn the
shaft M. This shaft is turned preferably through the following mechanism:
On the end of the shaft is a rocker arm which is connected by a link P with
the bell crank lever Q pivoted at the side of the frame, and having a handle q
within convenient reach of the operator. On the side of this handle is a latch
lever q¹ which carries a pin 92 under spring pressure and adapted to pass at either
extreme position into a hole r in the arc-shaped bar R, secured to a standard B.
Thus when the operator wishes to change the font of type he simply grasps the
handle q and with it the latch lever q¹ and moves the same to the other position.
The type cases each consists of the back plates, the side strips s1, the separating
strips 2, and the bottom 3. The rear cases are put into the frame H¹ from the
rear of the machine, the groove s on the under surface of the bottom registering
with the rib on the upper surface of the cross bar of the frame, and the front
edges of the sides and strips engaging with the cover-plate 12 secured to
the vertical bars of the frame by the ears and the cases being held at their
upper ends by the buttons. The front surface of plate 12 bears against the
back plate of the front frame.
The front cases are put into their frame from the front side. For the convenient
accomplishment of this I provide a pair of loosely depending hooks at the sides
of the machine. When the front frame is elevated, and its lower end swung
forward, as may easily be done by hand, the studs 7 pass out of the slots b¹ by
reason of the opening 3, and engage with the rear edge of these hooks, and a
continuance of the movement elevates the hooks until their ends hook over the
studs and thus hold the frame in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.
In this position, if the operator's fingers are inserted through an opening 10
through the lower end of the back plate the lower end of the type case may
be raised out of the frame, the front plate (which is pivoted to the frame by the
ears 4 simply swinging forward to allow it. Thereupon the type case may be
drawn out of the frame diagonally downward in a direction approximately parallel
with the position of the case.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The method of increasing the capacity of typesetting machines, substantially
as herein set forth.
2. In a typesetting machine, two type cases, mechanism for moving one of said
cases relatively to the other to permit a common ejector to eject type from either
case, in combination with such ejector, substantially as described.
3. The combination of two type cases, mechanism for raising one and lowering
the other to bring either into a common active position and the other out of the
way, and a common ejector adapted to eject type from the case in active position,
substantially as described.
4. The combination of two type cases, mechanism for raising one and lowering
the other to bring either into active position and the other out of the way, a
common ejector adapted to eject type from the case in active position, and a
common raceway into which such ejected type pass immediately upon ejection,
substantially as described.
5. In a typesetting machine, a pair of type cases, one in front of the other, an
opening in the front and an opening in the back of said cases, an ejector adapted
to enter one of said openings of that case which is in active position and shove
a type therein out of the other opening, mechanism for moving one case from
the active position and for bringing the other case into the active position, sub-
stantially as described.
6. The combination of two type cases, mechanism for raising one and lowering
the other to bring either into active position, there being means whereby said
cases are counterbalanced during such movement, substantially as described.
7. The combination of two banks of type cases suitably supported by the arms
of pivoted levers whereby one balances the other, and mechanism for elevating
either and lowering the other so as to change the case which is in active position,
substantially as described.
8. In a typesetting machine, a pair of frames adapted to carry type cases, each
of said frames adapted to occupy two positions one of which is common to the
two frames, means for guiding said frames, and mechanism for simultaneously
moving the frames relative to each other to cause one to move out of the common
position and the other to move into it, substantially as described.
9. In a type setting machine, in combination, a pair of frames one in front of
the other, and one higher than the other, whereby one does not obstruct ejection
from near the end of the other, there being a common position in which either
of said frames may stand, mechanism for moving the lower frame upward and
laterally away from the common position, and mechanism for moving the upper
frame downward and laterally toward the common position, substantially as
described.
10. The combination of a pair of type cases, one in front of the other, studs
carried at the sides of said cases, diagonal guide-ways in which said studs take.
said guide-ways extending to the front and to the rear of the active position of
the case, and means for shifting said cases, said guide-ways and studs guiding
either case into the position which was occupied by the other, and means for
ejecting type from either case when it is brought into the common position,
substantially as described.
11. The means for shifting the type cases, substantially as herein shown and
described.
12. The means for guiding the type cases into proper position when shifted,
substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 29th day of August 1900
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.