IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, FOR SETTING UP AND DISTRIBUTING PRINTING TYPES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Pierre Kniaghininsky,
Pierre Galahoff, and Nicolas Ossipoff at the Office of the Commissioners
1
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 24th August 1867.
1.
We, PIERRE KNIAGHININSKY, of Saint Petersburgh, PIERRE GALAHOFF, of
Saint Petersburgh, and NICOLAS OSSIPOFF, of Kozloff, in the Empire of Russia,
Gentlemen; all now residing at No. 20; Rue Saint George, Avenue de Clichy,
in the City of Paris, in the Empire of. France, do, hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, FOR SETTING UP
AND DISTRIBUTING PRINTING TYPES," to be as follows:
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for setting up,
and distributing printing types.
1.
We arrange the types to be set up in two cases or trays having longitudinal,
grooves in them: The:types are placed in these grooves, each letter or sort of
type in its own groove. The trays are inclined so that the types slip down to
the front ends of their grooves, where they are retained by pincers or lips at
the mouths of the grooves. Extending along the front of these cases or trays is

page_text: a
plate which receives a rapid oscillating movement to and from the cases or
trays. Along this plate an instrument which we call the "collector" is able
to slide; it has a nut upon it with which a screw of rapid pitch works. By
turning the screw one way or the other the collector can be traversed in
either direction along the oscillating plate, and so it may be brought in front
of any type groove from which it is desired to take a type. The collector has
a projecting beak, and when the collector is brought forward up to the type
cases or trays by the oscillation of the plate which carries it this beak siezes
a type in the groove opposite to it and removes it as the collector recedes.
When the screw is next turned the collector is brought opposite the composing
stick. The composing stick is double or has two grooves in it to take alternate
lines of type, each is fitted at its mouth with pincers somewhat different from
those at the ends of the type cases or trays; they are so formed that when the
beak of the collector moves up to them they take from it the type it carries.
The composing stick is between the two type cases or trays. By the repetition
of these movements the types are rapidly taken from the cases or trays in the
order required and are deposited in the composing stick. The screw is driven
by means of two electro-magnetic coils, one at each end of it, which by driving
bands are kept constantly rotating in opposite directions, there are armatures on
the ends of the screw, and when electricity is passing in either of the revolving
coils it siezes the screw and carries it round with it, so by connecting one or
other of the coils with a battery the screw may be driven either way, and it
remains stationary when no current is passing in either coil. The due regula-
tion of the electricity to these coils will thus cause the types to be collected
and arranged in the order required; "this regulation is effected by means of a
perforated band of paper which we call the "dispatch," each row of holes in
which corresponds with a desired position of the collecter on its oscillating
plate, or in other words. the dispatch represents the matter to-be printed.
The dispatch is passed over a roller with a metallic surface made in two rings
or parts insulated the one from the other, and connected' the one with the
positive the other with the negative pole of a battery. The dispatch is moved
forward step by step as the work goes on. A number of metallic feelers press
on the dispatch where it is supported by the roller and such of them descend
through it and make contact with the roller at each step as the arrangement
of the perforations admits. We have eight feelers working over one of
the rings of the contact roller and making contact with it from time to time,
anu we have two feelers working over the other ring. At each step three of
the eight feelers make contact with one ring, and one of the two feelers with
the other ring. The two latter feelers are connected respectively with. the

page_text: two electro-magnetic coils, and the current will pass through one or other
coil according as one or other feeler is in contact, thus these two feelers
govern the direction in which the collector travels. The other feelers
serve to maintain the current until the collector is brought to the position
required and then to cause it to cease. For this purpose these feelers are
connected by eight insulated wires with another set of feelers which moves
with the collector and is carried by it over a metallic plate on which are
spots of enamel or other insulating material arranged on the same system
as that on which the dispatch is perforated, that is to say, when the set of
feelers carried by the collector comes to a position on the plate where there
are spots of enamel under each of its three feelers which are connected with
the feelers which the dispatch is at the time allowing to make contact with the
roller then the collector has come to the position required, and there it stops
because the enamel is shutting all the channels by which the electricity
previously passed to the electro-magnetic coil, and the coil in consequence
ceases to have the power to carry the screw round with it as it revolves.
In order that the collector may stop instantly that the electricity ceases to flow
in the driving coil electric brakes are employed. They consist of electro-
magnets, the keepers of which are caused to bear on the screw when the
magnets are excited. The magnets are double coiled, and electric currents
flow through the coils in opposite directions and then they neutralize each
other. One of the currents is that which causes the screw to be driven; when
it ceases the remaining current at once applies the brakes and stops the screw
instantly. The same machine is capable of distributing the types, that is to
say, of taking the set-up matter from the composing stick and replacing the
types in the grooves of the type cases or trays. The pincers are changed when
the machine is so used, delivering pincers being applied to the composing stick
and receiving pincers to the type grooves.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
30 by the said Pierre Kniaghininsky, Pierre Galahoff, and Nicolás
Ossipoff in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, PIERRE
"KNIAGHININSKY, of Saint Petersburgh, PIERRE GALAHOFF, of Saint Petersburgh,
and NICOLAS OSSIPOFF, of Kozloff; in the Empire of Russia, Gentlemen,
35, all now residing at. 20, Rue Saint George, Avenue de Clichy, in the City of
Paris, in the Empire, of France, send greeting..

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Pierre Kniaghininsky, Pierre Galahoff, and Nicolas Ossipoff, Her special
licence that we, the said Pierre Kninghininsky, Pierre Galahoff, and Nicolas
Ossipoff, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said Pierre Kniaghininsky, Pierre Galahoff,, and Nicolas Ossipoff,
our 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 MACHINERY
FOR SETTING UP AND DISTRIBUTING PRINTING TYPES," upon the condition
(amongst others), that we, the said Pierre. Kniagbininsky, Pierre Galahoff,
.and Nicolas: Ossipoff, our executors or administrators, by an. instrument in
.writing under our or their hands and seals, or under, the hand and seal of, one
of us or them 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.
7.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Pierre Kniaghininsky, on behalf of
myself and the said Pierre Galaboff and Nicolas Ossipoff, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement-thereof, that is to say
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for setting up.
and distributing printing types.
We arrange the types to be set up in two cases or trays having longitudinal
grooves in them. The types are placed in these grooves, each letter or sort
of type in its own groove. The trays are inclined so that the types slip down
to the front ends of their grooves; where they are retained by pincers or lips
at the mouths of the grooves. Extending along the front of these cases or
trays is a plate which receives a rapid oscillating movement to and from the
cases or trays. Along this plate an instrument which we call the "collector"
is able to slide; it has a nut upon it with which a screw of rapid pitch. works.
By turning the screw one way or the other: the collector can be traversed in
either direction along the oscillating, plate, and so it.may be brought in front

page_text: of any type groove from which it is desired to take a type. The collector has
a projecting beak, and when the collector is brought forward up to the type
cases or trays by the oscillation of the plate which carries it this beak seizes
at type in the groove opposite to it and removes it as the collector recedes;
When the screw is next turned the collector is brought opposite the composing
stick The composing stick is double and has two grooves in it to take
alternate lines of type. Each is fitted at its mouth with pincers somewhat
different from those at the ends of the type cases or trays; they are so formed
that when the beak of the collector moves up to them they take from it the
type it carries. The composing stick is between the two type cases or trays;
By the repetition of these movements the types are rapidly taken from the
cases or trays in the order required, and are deposited in the composing stick.
The screw is driven by means of two electro-magnetic coils, one at each end of
it, which by driving bands are kept constantly rotating, in opposite directions.
There are armatures on the ends of the screw, and when electricity is passing
in either of the revolving coils it seizes the screw and carries it round with it.
so by connecting one or other of the coils with a battery, the screw may be
driven either way, and it remains stationary when no current is passing in
either coil: The due regulation of the electricity to these coils will thus cause
the types to be collected and arranged in the order required; this regulation
is effected by means of a perforated, band of paper which we call; the
dispatch; each row of holes in which corresponds with a desired position
of the collector on its oscillating plate, or in other words the dispatch repre-
sents the matter to be printed. The dispatch is passed over a roller with a.
metallic surface made in two rings; or parts insulated the one from the other,
and connected the one with the positive the other with the negative pole
of a battery. The dispatch is moved forward step by step as the work goes
on. A number of metallic feelers press on the dispatch where it is supported
by the-roller, and such of them descend through it and make contact with
the roller, at each step as the arrangement of the perforations admits. We
have eight feelers, working over one of the rings of the contact ruller, and
making contact, with it from time to time, and we have two feelers working
over, the other ring. At each step, three of the eight, feelers make. contact with
one ring, and one of the two feelers with the other ring; the two latter feelers
are connected respectively with the two electro-magnetic coils, and the
current will pass through one or other coil according as one or other, feeler is
in contact; thus these two-feelers govern the direction. in which-the-collector
travels. The other feelers serve to maintain the current until the collector is,
brought to the position required, and then to cause it to cease. For this

page_text: purpose these feelers are connected by-eight-insulated wires with another, set.
of feelers which inoves with the collector, and is carried by it over a metallic.
plate on which are spots of enamel. or other insulating material arranged on
the same system as that on which the dispatch is perforated, that is to say,
when the set of feelers carried by the collector comes to a position on the
plate where there are spots of enamel under each of its three feelers which are
connected with the feelers which the dispatch is at the time allowing to make
contact with the roller, then the collector has come to the position required,
and there it stops, because the enamel is shutting all the channels by which
the electricity previously passed to the electro-magnetic coil, and the coil in
consequence ceases to have the power to carry the screw round with it as it
revolves. In order that the collector may stop instantly that the electricity
ceases to flow in the driving coil electric brakes are employed; they consist
of electro-magnets, the keepers of which are caused to bear on the screw
when the magnets are excited. The magnets are double-coiled, and electric
currents flow through the coils in opposite directions, and then they neutralise
each other. One of the currents is that which causes the screw. to be driven;
when it ceases the remaining current at-once applies the breaks and stops the
screw instantly. The same machine is capable of distributing the types, that
is to say, of taking the set up matter from the composing. stick and replacing
the types in the grooves of the type cases or trays. The pincers are changed
when the machine is so used, delivering-pincers being applied to the composing
stick and receiving pincers to the type grooves...
<
The mechanical combination in which our Invention is realized is clearly
represented in the annexed Drawings; it is composed of a number of. parts
which we will describe in succession.
Sheet. 1 represents what we call the electrical feeler. The letters are
represented in the alphabetic order, and the punctuations, signs, and figures in
the order commonly adopted in typography upon a metal plate A, A, Figure 1.;
this plate is ruled so as to present eight parallel spaces running from end to
end of it, and the characters are represented upon this form each by three
engraved squares arranged according to the denominal formula of Newton;
each of these little engraved squares is covered over with enamel. Figure 2
represents a dispatch prepared to be worked off by the machine; this dispatch
B, B, consists of a band of gummed paper ruled in the same manner as the
plate A, and along which there are cut out either by hand or by the aid of a
small additional machine, small squares representing each letter conformably
to the alphabet on the metal plate A, Figure 1. Each letter is thus repre-
sented in the band B by a number of vertical holes corresponding to the

page_text: squares
of the plate A, but in succession, necessary to produce words. When
the machine is put to work the band B is placed upon the metallic frame C, C,
Figure 1, the cross pieces of which serve to keep it in. place. The plate As
by a conductor put into communication with the negative pole of the battery. D,
of which the positive pole communicates with the frame C, passing by the
electro-maguet E, round which the conducting wire is wound; this.electro-
magnet is furnished with an armature e, which is caused to move by the
passage or the interruption of the current around the electro-magnet E.
G; G, Figure 3, are two feelers, each formed of eight small cones of metal
set in a row upon a mounting of bone or other insulating material and
communicating the one with the other by insulated conducting wires coupling
the two cones of the same number upon the two feelers; these feelers serve to
establish between the plate A and the frame.C the communication necessary
to open and close the circuit according to the position of the cones of each
feeler. If we suppose the feeler G in relation with the eight ruled spaces of
the plate A and the feeler G¹ in relation with the eight. corresponding spaces
of the band B mounted in the frame C, it will be understood that electricity
will pass whenever the two feelers are not upon corresponding signs, but at the
instant that they come upon corresponding signs the circuit is broken, which
will make itself evident by the fall of the armature e. The enamel upon, the
plate A serves as an insulator, whilst the holes pierced in the band B.always
maintain at least by one point a communication with the metal conductor..of
the plate so long as the contacts: produced by the boles pierced across the
band are not all coupled with the enamel squares of the metal plate so as to
cut off the electric current by every route; this coincidence results from the
coincidence of the characters upon the band with those upon the plate and..it
determines the fall of the armature. This principle explained, it will readily
be understood that by moving the feelers upon the plate and upon. tlie :band
with the dispatch upon it there will at each coincidence be an interruption of
the current, of which use may be made to point out the letter or the sign and
cause it to be submitted to subsequent operations. It is easy to see that a
rapidity and an exactitude very superior to that of hand work are thus given
to the composition, and that the composing bands serve in lieu of stereotype.
plates, as the composition may be preserved upon them in a form which is very
compact, and has no intrinsic value. By putting these bands again upon the
machine the typographic composition may in a.very short time be re-obtained.
correct and complete.
-ד་
. Having thus described the principle of the part of our Invention which
we call the electric feeler we will now proceed to describe the machine by

page_text: -means-of which we apply it to typographic_composition, and which takes the
characters to put them into the composing stick. This machine is represented
upon the Sheets 2, 3, 4, and 5.
:
Sheet 2, Figure 1, H, H, is a moveable platform mounted on a tripod upon
which it is adjusted at a suitable inclination. This platform carries two
wooden cases I, I, containing recesses to receive the characters; the recesses
take the form of longitudinal grooves, in which the characters are ranged and
pushed towards the opening at the lower end by weights. The cases
terminate in front in metal prolongations J, J, containing the grooves and
which are terminated by nipping.springs to prevent the characters falling out
when they are not required. A collector K running the whole length of
the alphabet plate represented here by the letters A, A, Figure 1, and of
which a vertical and longitudinal section is seen at Figure 2, runs along, the
front of the gutters of the platform H and collects successively the several.
characters required seizing, and carrying. them to; the composing.stick placed
between the two type cases. The platform is of cast-iron, the two cases I, I,,of
wood,. the grooves i, i, i, iare formed by wooden divisions of the same height
as the types. The grooves of the metalic prolongation of the cases are
formed, by metal divisions j, j, carrying at their ends pincers, j', j. The
composing stick placed between the two cases consists of a box L terminated
by hooks somewhat. different from those which, terminate, the gutters in the
cases... Two bolts M, M, support from the front of the platform the metal plate A,
upon the surface of which is engraved the alphabetic series as, in Sheet 1,,
Figure 1, of, which each series of squares forming a letter or a sign is placed.
just in front of, the gutter in which the corresponding, character is found.
The collector K sliding along the plate A in two angular guide grooves is
moved by a screw N, N, of very rapid pitch turning in a nut fixed or formed
in the interior of the collector, as is seen in Figure 2, the feeler with eight
points: G shewn on Sheetal is placed underneath the collector K; its points
are continually in contact with the eight spaces of the alphabet plate. The
feeler is provided as it is shewn in the Drawing with, a bundle of conducting
wires, putting it into connection with the other feeler. The screw, N is of
steel, its axes n. turning in bearings. O, are. of bronze, and the upper caps of
the bearings are of soft iron; these caps serve as will be presently seen as
armatures of two electro-magnetic brakes which by putting on, friction
instantaneously stop the screw. The bronze ends of the screw are reduced
upon coming out of the bearings, and their prolongations carry iron armatures
consisting of moveable washers of iron ³ placed against the faces of the
bronze trunnions. These washers which serve as armatures can be approached

page_text: to the electro-magnetic bobbins P, P', by means of screw nuts n', n₁; between
the washers ns and the screw nuts n' are placed washers of gutta percha nn
and between the washers'n' and 'the poles of the electro-magnetic bobbins
P, P, are placed thin discs of parchment in The electro-magnétic
bobbins P, P, are formed of tubes of soft iron carrying at their two ends
iron rings p, p, intended to increase the surface of contact with the armatures!
The bronze trunnions of tlie screw-pass through the bobbins without touching
them. Bone washers. p, p, are screwed upon the trunnions; their circum-
ference is entirely covered with a sheet of platinum. The space-between 'tlie
bone washers forming the reel of the bobbin is occupied by the conducting
wire covered with silk, which after having been sufficiently lapped around the
bobbin is attached to the platinum surfaces. The axes of the bobbins turn in
bronze bearings p, p, in which they move freely; the bobbins are put in
motion by an endless cord which embraces the pulleys p, p, passing through
A, A, and over my m¹, Slieet 4, Figure 1. The bobbins always turn in'
contrary directions and consequently, they drive the collector opposite ways.
Sheet 3 is an under side view of the platform H with its two cases I, I, and
its alphabet plate A, A. As will be seen underneath the middle of the frame
the driving gear of the machine is mounted, namely: The fly wheel-Qa
bevilled wheel R with a bevilled pinion and an eccentric q' turning in the
frame ; this frame moves to and fro in 'suitable guides in a frame q³. From
this.frame there passes from one side a bar S which is fixed to the plate A,
and from the other side a steel spring S passing over a pulley S¹: A metal"
band St, S³, covers the bar and the spring and contributes to the solidity of
the frame. The eccentric is mounted upon the axis of the fly wheel: Q-so'asi
to receive the movement of the 'fly wheel, and to impart in consequence-a to
and-fro movement to the plate A along the bolts M; this oscillatory movement
is very short and should-be very rapid, say about twenty complete oscillations
in the second. The pinion qis mounted upon the axis of the fly wheel Q
and the bevelled wheel R'upon the axis R¹ of the crank R.. This axis R¹
is supported at one end in a step r, where it is centred by means of a screw'
and at the other end it turns in a bearing 2 The eccentric pulley.q* placed
over the spokes of the fly wheel carries the endless. (cord, which passes to the
bobbins in the manner represented in the Drawing; this cord passing-through
the openings á encircles the pulleys p³, p³, of the electro-magnetic bobbins P,..
PSheet 2,being led over a number of pulleys as is seen in Sheet 3. *
the middle of the plate A, A, is a screw a', by turning which one way or-the
other the pulley a2 may be caused to traverse, so as to adjust the tension of the
endless cord. It will be understood that the movement produced by the rotation-

page_text: of the crank axis is transformed into a to-and-fro motion to the plate A by
means of the eccentric, and that the movement of the.eccentric pulley around
which the endless cord passes, keeps the bobbins in a state of constant
rotation which is not affected by the oscillatory movement of the blade.
Sheet 4 is a front view of the apparatus, and Sheet 5 an end view. A', A',
are the two front legs of the machine, and A2 the binder leg: The platform
rests upon the two front legs by two trunnions a³, a³, upon which it pivots,
being raised at the back by a screw rod a screwing into a nut a³ with
bandles upon it mounted upon the top of the hinder leg A2, and which is
turned one way or the other to raise or lower the supporting rod a', and to
regulate the inclination of the platform. Upon the lower cross bars of the frame
between the two front legs are placed two galvanic batteries T, T, each with
six elements. Small springs t, t, press upon the washers pl, pl, of the electro-
magnetic bobbins P, P. These springs are held by binding screws t¹, t',
fixed in the plate, A; the two outer binding screws are insulated by bone
sockets. Conducting wires are. fixed to these two outer binding screws; the,
electricity from the negative pole of the battery is transmitted by these
conducting wires, whilst the electricity from the positive pole is led to the two
bobbins across the plate A, and the two inner binding screws. The bundle
of insulated wires. 9 coming from the eight-pointed feeler G which forms a
part of the collector descends at the front of the machine, to be connected up
with the other feeler G which works a connection with the. dispatch paper.
U is the electric break, composed of two series, each of four bobbins u, u, u, u¹.;
The upper bobbins are separated from the lower by large rings of copper to
prevent induction; the upper bobbins excite the electro-magnets by the effect
of one of the two batteries, and the lower bobbins by the effect of the other
battery, so that they act in opposite ways, and the magnet is not excited when
the current is passing at the same time between the two pair of bobbins, the
two contrary currents, neutralizing each other. But when the electricity is
transmitted only to one of the pairs of bobbins the electro-magnets become
strongly magnetic; the electro-magnets are fixed to the plate A by their two
limbs (Sheet 5) by bolts which extend to the lower part of the bearings of the
screw N, N; the lower part of these bearings is of bronze. The screw N, N,
is thus held between the two parts O, O¹, of which the upper (which is of
soft iron) is over the limbs of the electro-magnet without touching them, and
serves as an armature. When the electro-magnet is excited the armature.
is attracted by it and the screw N. is bound by it as in-a vice, so that the
instant that this phenomenon is produced the screw which was in movement
has a break applied to it and is stopped instantaneously. A counterpoise S³,

page_text: is placed under the machine at the .extremity of the spring S which passes
over the pulley S. (Sheet 13), so as to balance as far as possible the effort
produced.by the parts on the other side of the eccentric, and so facilitate the
rapid movement. of the crank.
.Having, thus described the principal, arrangements of the machine we pass
to the.description of its action.
.
The types are of two sorts, the minúscules: (or small letters), spaces, signs
of punctuation, and figures,, and the majuscules (or capitals), which are
double the size of the other type... They all have for the same space bodies
of the same dimensions, each surrounded by, a belt or shallow coat with
rounded edges. The body of the majuscules has, like, the type, double.the
width of the other bodies. All these types are distributed as we have already
said in the two cases I, I, of the platform H, H, Sheet 2, 'Figure 1. The
case I on the left receives the minuscules, the spaces, and, the signs of punc-
tuation; the case. I. on. the right receives the, majuscules and the figures.
Each type has its groove in which it is placed head upwards and along
which it travels, pushed: towards the pincers j', j, by the weight which slides
behind them along the groove; thus arranged the machine is ready to work.
We pass to the description of the despatch; thus we call the band the passage
of which through the machine provokes the series of phenomena terminating
in the completion of the chases of type for printing. The despatch is formed
of a band of paper, of which the length depends upon the voluine on manu-
script to be printed; this band is ruled longitudinally and transversely, as we
have said in describing Figure. 2, Sheet 1, but it also carries two longitudinal
spaces. added immediately below. the eight spaces forming the scale, as it is
seen at Figure 4. There is also a thick transverse stroke which conies, at
equal intervals depending on the width of the page to separate the different
lines. Figure 5 represents the complete despatch pierced with all the holes
necessary for working. The eight .intervals forming the scale to receive the
square signs corresponding to each type are separated from the two lower
spaces by a thick. longitudinal line. The. round. holes placed between the
characters in the eight intervals of the scale serve to indicate the composing
stick which is to receive the line. The holes pierced in the two additional
spaces serve for the transmission of the negative electricity, which is to pass to'
one or other of the electro-magnetic bobbins. The hole corresponding to the
type is square, that corresponding with the composing stick is round. For
the minuscules and the signs of punctuation a square is pierced in- the ninth
space for the majuscules and the figures in the tenth space. The round liolè

page_text: after the minuscules and the signs of punctuation is pierced in the tenth
space, and after the majuscules and the figures in the ninth space.
A, A, Figure 1, Sheet 2, indicates the double interpretation given to the
alphabet according as the dispatch is pierced in the ninth or tenth space.
The holes made in the tenth space give the interpretation on the right, and
those made on the ninth space give the interpretation upon the left. The
apparatus which receives the despatch is composed of three small cylinders
V, v, v, and of the electro-magnet V₁, Sheets 4 and 6. . The despatch is made
to pass over the middle cylinder. V, the two others only serving as guides. A
fork v', Sheet 6, Figures 3 and 4, with a bent arm oscillating upon a small
horizontal pivot is connected by the other end of its arm to the armature of
the electro-magnet. The fork embraces, as is shewn, the periphery.of.a.small
wheel furnished around its edge with conical points placed perpendicularly
around its circumference upon its. two faces. By the effect of the attraction
.and the release of the armature the fork is caused alternately to enter first on
one side and then on the other between the points upon the wheel. v, and in
.consequence. of the conical form of the points the fork as it approaches either
.way pushes, the wheel 2 forward, and so a step-by-step' movement is.given to
the wheel; this wheel v² is mounted upon the axis of the cylinder V, so that as
the wheel turns the cylinder moves with it. The cylinder. V is of bone, its axis
is. of metal. The bone cylinder is surrounded by two platinum rings v³. and v³,
of which is larger than the other; these two rings are separated; so that
the electricity from the positive pole arriving at the larger ring v³, and that
from the negative pole at the narrower ring. v, the circuit is not closed. The
.feeler for the despatch consists here of a series of eight hooks g', 9, 9³, I', I³,
ggg-insulated-the-one-from the other by means of bone washers; they
are fixed upon a bone centre pin or hinge, and their points are in continual
contact with the despatch which passes over the cylinder V, Sheet 6, Figures
5 and 4. Each of these hooks of the feeler G is attached to that one of the
bundle of conducting wires of which the other end is fixed to the same
number of the feeler G of the collector. Two books 9, 91, corresponding
to the spaces 9 and 10 of the despatch, are intended to. transmit the electricity.
from the negative pole of the battery to the bobbins of the electro-magnet;
these two hooks work upon the part of the cylinder V where is the narrow
platinum ring. The two conducting wires of these hooks are connected as
follows: That of No. 9 with the left-hand bobbin, and that of No. 10 with
the right-hand bobbin. As we have said above the composition of the
typographic forms is effected by means of thecollect or K, which, in consequence

page_text: اوا
of the oscillatory movement of the plate A, is continually brought in contact
with the pincers of the grooves which carry the type, and in consequence of
the rotation of the screw N it is brought successively in front of each of the
type which it ought to take, and then in front of the composing stick where
it ought to deliver them... The rotation of the screw, N. results from the mag-
netization of the bobbins P, P¹.. When the bobbin Pis magnetized it attracts
and holds the two armatures n³, ns, and causes them to move with it, which
turns the screw and drives the collector to the left. When on the contrary P
is demagnetized, and Pis magnetized the armatures of the first are set free,
whilst those of the second are carried with the screw in the other direction,
driving the collector to the right. The stoppage of the collector in front of
type, to be taken results from.. the action of the feelers. When, the feeler
of the alphabet, which accompanies the collector arrives in its course opposite
the type required, corresponding to that upon which the despatch feeler, is
standing,, the circuit is broken in the bobbin Por P, the liberated armature.
stops instantly, and the screw with it, so that the collector is found just in front
of the required letter. The suddenness of the stoppage depends upon the
electric breaks U, U, which receiving, the magnetization cut off from the
bobbins, attract the upper bearing of the screw, with such force that the
momentum of the screw, the collector, and; parts connected, therewith; is
immediately absorbed; the collector, then being, brought forward by the
oscillatory niovement of the plate against the platform presses against the
pincers J¹, J; opens them and takes from, them a type which it seizes in its
beak, then it draws back, the pincers 'closing behind it to retain the succeeding
types. The collector when again put in motion. along the screw.Ninconse-
quence of the advance of the despatch upon its cylinder is carried, in front of
that one of the composing sticks corresponding with the system of holes, which,
follows immediately the letter which has been taken by the collector, in front
of which it is stopped by the interruption of the current in the bobbins; the
type is then inserted by the beak of the collector into the pincers; of; the com-
posing stick which retain it: The different form of the pincers of the
composing stick will not allow of the type introduced into them being taken
out again by the beak of the collector as it recedes. The effect thus produced
by the successive systems of, squares and holes pierced in, the despatch band
will be readily understood: The signs which determine the choice of the
composing stick, where all the type are alined, alter for each new line...It
is necessary. now to take account of the distribution of electricity from the two
.batteries.
Sheet 6, represents the progress of the currents which are distinguished by

page_text: the numbers 1 and 2, and of which the direction is indicated by the arrows.
The positive pole of battery No. I communicates with the lower bobbin of
the right-hand break, and the negative pole with the lower bobbin of the left-
hand break. The two poles of the battery No. 2 communicate with tlie
distributor X. The distributor X is intended to distribute the electricity to
the electro-magnetic bobbins, to 'the electro-magnet which moves forward the
despatch, and to the break electro-magnets; it consists of a disc of bone, in
the surface of which are embedded three metal rings X, X, X³. The centre
portions of the rings X1, X2, are complete circles, but they have both of them
on the outside a circular segment of the circle, and on the inside another
circular segment of 22, and the centre line of the cut-out portion is coincident
with the centre line of the exterior segment. The ring X is the same size
throughout, but it wants a segment of corresponding exactly to the vacancy
in the interior circles of the two other rings. The distributor is mounted on
the axis of the fly wheel, as it is seen at Sheet 3, Figure 1, and Sheet '6,
Figure 2. Eight contact pieces bear upon the surface of the distributor;
'they are represented upon a larger scale: at Sheet 6, Figure. 2; these contact
pièces are marked y', y, y',.y', 'y', yo, y', ys; they are in connection with the
*segments of the metallic circles of the distributor in the following manner :-
The wire from the positive pole of the battery No. 2 is 'connected to the
contact piece y which works upon the central circle of the ring. X, whilst the
wire from the negative pole communicates with the contact piece y¹ of the
central circle of the ring: X. The contact piece: y³, of which the wire com-
municates with the lower bobbin of the left hand break, and the contact
piece y of which the wire communicates with the lower bobbin of the right-
hand break, both bear upon the ring X³ of the distributor. The contact
pieces y', yo, communicate by their respective wires with the cylinder which
carries the despatch passing around the upper-bobbins-of-the-breaks; that is-to-
say, the contact] piece with the large platinum ring v³, Fig. 4, Sheet 6,
which receives electricity. from the positive pole, and the contact piece y³. with'
the narrow ring v* which receives. the electricity from the negative pole. The
contact piece y³ bears upon the interior segment of the ring.X, and the
.contact piece y upon the interior segment of the ring. X. Lastly, the contact
pieces y', y³, communicate by their respective wires with the electro-magnet
which regulates the movement of the despatch, being each connected to one
end of the bobbins of the electro-magnet; the contact piece y' bears upon the
exterior segment of the ring X, and the contact piece y upon the exterior
segment of the ring X. It will be understood upon examining the arrange-
ment of the contact pieces and the form of the rings X1, X2, that the positive

page_text: and negative electricity of the battery. No. 2 is transmitted alternately to the
despatch cylinder and to its electro-magnet.," The current goes to the despatch
cylinder at the instant when the collector has just taken or deposited a type';
it goes to the electro-magnet at the 'instant when its passage through the
collector is intercepted during the taking and the depositing of a type-In
consequence of the form of the ring X³ the current from the battery No. I
passing by the contact pieces y³, y, and by the lower bobbins of the breaks is
interrupted the instant when the collector presents itself before the pincers of
the type cases, being remade, as soon as it has seized a type; the action is the
same: for the composing stick." 1.
It is easy.now to understand the action of the machine. Before commencing
to: work the collector is placed before the first or the second.composing stick!
The despatch rolled upon the drum V is passed over the cylinder V. (Sheet 4,
Figure 1, and 'Sheet 6, Figures 3, 4, and 5.) under the points of the feeler G
so that it requires a number of the strokes of the armature of the electro-
magnet to advance the despatch sufficiently to bring the feeler upon the first
sign of the despatch: The machine is then put in motion by means of à
crank handle R, and the automatic composition commences as soon as the
feeler. arrives at the first sign of the despatch. It is the distributor X which
régulates: the movement of the despatch until the first sign. is arrived at, and
tlien. to the signs following. In transmitting the current to the electro-magnet
of the despatch while it is passing over a part of its revolution it causes the
despatch to advance; then the current is interrupted, so that the electro-magnet
is excited once only during each complete revolution of the distributor. It
follows that, the fork giving two blows on the conical teeth of the
mounted.tupon; the axis, of the cylinder which carries the despatch, this is
caused to advance one sign for each revolution of the disc of the distributor.
The movement of the collector along the screw commences "as soon as the
plate A is drawn back, so that the collector can pass in front of the pincers,j,
without touching them... The current of the battery, No. 2 is then transinitted
by, the distributer, to the despatch cylinder. The positive electricity of the
battery passes by, the hooks of the feeler G² of the despatch to the points of
the feeler G of the alphabet placed under the collector, and from thence by
the plate A to the bobbin P or P. The current is directed to P', when the
despatch-feeler-encounters the sign of a majuscule of a figure of the sign of the
composing stick coming after a miniscule; it is directed to P, when the
despatch feeler encounters the sign of a miniscule or of a punctuation or the
sign of the composing stick coming after a majuscule. The direction of
the current to one or other bobbin depends upon the passage by the ninth or
wheel vs

page_text: tenth point of the negative electricity transmitted to the despatch cylinder.
The choice of the point depends upon the holes in the despatch, which govern
consequently the passage of the current through the bobbins P or P,. so that
when the despatch feeler encounters the sign of a majuscule or a figure the
left-hand bobbin P' is excited and drives the collector to the right, and when
it encounters the sign of a miniscule or a punctuation the right-hand hobbin P
is excited, and drives the collector to the left. When the collector has taken
the type required and has to go in front of the composing stick the negative
electricity passes to the bobbins by the hooks 9 and 10, so that if it bas bad to
go to the right to take the type it returns to the left to deliver the type to the
composing stick. The rapidity of the action of the collector depends upon the
rapidity of the fly wheel; if it turns twenty times in, a second the collector
will make in the same time ten journeys each way, that is to say, it will take
and deliver ten types, which will permit the setting up of 36,000 types per
hour.
The distribution of the types is effected as well as the setting. up by means
of this machine. For this purpose it is only necessary to reverse the move-
ment that the collector may take the types in the composing stick and deliver
them into the type cases. The pincers also require to be changed, so that the
type grooves may now have receiving pincers and the composing sticks
delivering pincers. The same despatch is used which has served for the
composition. The change of the pincers of the type cases is readily effected
by changing the prolongations ; J³
.
Having thus described our system of electric feeler and its application to
typographic composition, it should be well understood that we do not limit
ourselves. to the precise details of the description, which may be varied
without departing from our Invention; but what we claim is, the arranging
machinery for setting up and distributing printing types, substantially in the
manner herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre' Kniaghininsky, have 'hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight..
PIERRE KNIAGHININSKY. (L.S.)