IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PRINTING TYPES, SPACES, AND QUADRATS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Richard and John Richard, both of Edin-
burgh, Type Founders, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF PRINTING TYPES, SPACES, AND QUADRATS."
Sealed the 31st October 1862, and dated the 6th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Richard and
John Richard at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 6th May 1862.
We. WALTER RICHARD and JOHN RICHARD, both of Edinburgh, Type
Founders, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PRINTING TYPES, SPACES, AND QUADRATS," to be
as follows:-
are
The improvements relate to adaptations or combinations of parts or means
for effecting the operations technically called "rubbing," "putting up," pre-
paratory to "dressing," and "dressing."
'dressing." The types to be "rubbed "
placed on their sides upon slips of brass or other suitable material of equal
thickness, and having a ledging upon the one edge raised above one of the
sides rather less than the thickness of the type to be rubbed; these slips are
placed in a groove formed upon a rail, along the bottom of which groove
travels a carrying belt, chain, or band. Upon the outside of this belt, and at

page_text: more.
distances corresponding to the length of the slips, are fastened pieces of
metal or other suitable material, which come behind the slips and serve to
carry them onward against and under the pressure and action of a rubbing
roller or block, supported with elastic pressure or otherwise, and of a belt.
This pressure is exerted downwards by a roller or rollers, having their working
bearing in springs, or this pressure may be given by a flat piece which is rigid,
or has its pressure downwards from springs, the extent of pressure being in
any case capable of adjustment by screws to the thickness of the type to be
rubbed. The roller or block and belt are covered with emery, Turkey dust,
or other suitable matter. Above the groove and extending from the rubbing
block is placed a guide which, by its weight lying upon the types, prevents
them being deranged during their passage to the block and rubbing belt.
The machine being put in action the carrying belt conveys the types to the
rubbing block, which is "set" or adjusted to take off the "taper," but nothing
This block and likewise the rubbing belt move in a direction at au
angle to the motion of the carrying belt, and thereby the types are rubbed in
the direction of their length. In passing from this rubbing block the types
pass under the rubbing belt, which is "set" so as to take a very slight "clean"
or rub off the whole length of the type. Slips containing types are placed
upon the carrying belt with a small space between them, so that when the
machine is in motion there will be a continuous supply of types passing under
the rubbing belt. The second slip pushes out the first from under the block
and rubbing belt, and the third the second, and so on continuously. The
types having thus been rubbed on one side, the slips carrying them are
removed, and those types are then placed upon another slip with their other
sides uppermost, and they are then placed on the carrying belt and are again
passed under the, rubbing block and belt. The types having thus been
rubbed on both sides are then transferred to a "stick," having a ledging
raised along its sides, so as to form a groove a little wider than the length
of the type, so that when filled the types lying across the "stick" may move
freely along or down it. Above this groove is placed a guide attached to the
stick," with capability for adjustment to the thickness of the types, which
are placed on that "stick" to be " put up." This "stick" is held vertically
or slightly at an angle from the perpendicular. There is a groove in which
works a thin pusher actuated by an eccentric or other suitable means, by
which it has given to it reciprocrating motion, during which, in passing under
the bottom end of the "stick," it pushes the lowermost type a little in advance
of the front of the "stick," and in returning allows another type to fall into
the place of the type previously removed, and again coming forward pushes
*6

page_text: out this second type, and so on continuously. The types when in the "stick"
as stated rest "body ways" upon each other, and when ejected from the
lower end of this "stick" by the pusher are "put up" on the "back" or
"nick" side on another "stick," lying horizontally and extending from the
foot or bottom end of such "stick" in a groove prepared for its reception on
the table, upon which the "stick" is placed. When the types are "put up"
on this horizontally placed "stick," they are then transferred by the attendant
on the same "stick" to a machine similarly arranged to the rubbing machine,
and by means of a carrying belt, emery, or other suitably prepared block and
rubbing belt, they are dressed or finished on the "back" and "nick" sides."
In place of a rubbing roller or block and belt, two or more rubbing rollers
or blocks may be used supported stationary or by élastic pressure, the other
or others traversing; or two belts may be used. Spaces and quadrats are
operated in like manner to types, but as there is not any "taper" on spaces
or quadrats, we only use the rubbing belt without the "block" in "rubbing"
and "dressing" them.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Walter Richard and John Richard in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WALTER
RICHARD and JOHN RICHARD, both of Edinburgh, Type Founders, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand cight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Walter Richard and John Richard, Ier special licence that we, the
said Walter Richard and John Richard, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Walter Richard and John Richard,
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 THE MANUFACTURE
OF PRINTING TYPES, SPACES, AND QUADEATS," upon the condition (amongst otliers)

page_text: that we, the said Walter Richard and John Ricbard, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and
scals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Walter Richard and John Richard, 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 :-
The improvements relate to adaptations or combinations of parts or means
for effecting the operations technically called "rubbing," "putting up," pre-
paratory to "
dressing," and "dressing." The types to be "rubbed " are
placed on their sides upon slips of brass or other suitable material of equal
thickness, and having a ledging upon the one edge raised above one of the
sides rather less than the thickness of the type to be rubbed. These slips
are placed in a groove formed upon a rail, along the bottom of which
groove travels a carrying belt, chain, or band. Upon the outside of this
belt, and at distances corresponding to the length of the slips, are fastened
pieces of metal or other suitable material, which come behind the slips, and
serve to carry them onward against and under the pressure and action of a
rubbing roller or block, supported with elastic pressure or otherwise, and of a
belt. The pressure upon the belt is exerted downwards by a roller or rollers,
having their working bearings in springs; or this pressure may be given by a
flat piece which is rigid, or has its pressure downwards from springs, the
extent of pressure being in any case capable of adjustment by screws to the
thickness of the type to be rubbed. The roller or block and belt are covered
with emery, Turkey dust, or other suitable matter. Above the groove and
extending from the rubbing block is placed a guide which, by its weight
lying upon the types, prevents them from becoming deranged during their.
passage to the block and rubbing belt. The machine being put in action, the
carrying belt conveys the types to the rubbing block, which is "set" or
adjusted to take off the "taper," but nothing more. This block and. likewise
the rubbing belt move in a direction at an angle to the motion of the carrying
belt, and thereby the types are rubbed in the direction of their length. In
passing from this rubbing block the types pass under the rubbing belt, which
is "set" so as to "clean off," "rub," or reduce the types as required. Slips
containing types are placed upon the carrying belt with a small space between

page_text: them, so that when the machine is in motion there may be continuous supplies
of types passing under the rubbing surfaces. The second slip pushes out the
first from under the block and rubbing belt, and the third the second, and so
on continuously. The types having thus been rubbed on one side, the slips
carrying them are removed, and those types are then placed upon another slip
with their other sides uppermost, and they are then placed on the carrying
belt and are again passed under the rubbing block and belt. The types
having thus been rubbed on both sides are then transferred to a "stick,"
having a ledging raised along its sides, so as to form a groove a little wider
than the length of the type, so that when filled the types lying across the
"stick" may move freely along or down it. Above this groove is' placed
a guide attached to the "stick," with capability for adjustment to the
thickness of the types, which are placed on that "stick" to be "put up."
This "stick" is held vertically or slightly at an angle from the perpen-
dicular. There is a groove or recess in the lower end of each "stick," in
which works a thin pusher actuated by an eccentric or other suitable
means, by which it has given to it reciprocating motion, during which, in
passing under the bottom end of the "stick," it pushes the lowermost type
a little in advance of the front of the "stick," and in returning allows
another type to fall into the place of the type previously removed, and
again coming forward pushes out this second type, and so on continuously.
The types when in the "stick" as stated rest "body-ways" upon each
other, and when ejected from the lower end of the "stick" by the pusher
are "put up" on the "back" or "nick" side on another "stick" lying hori-
zontally, and extending from the foot or bottom end of such "stick" in a
groove prepared for its reception on the table, upon which the "stick is
placed. When the types are "put up" on this horizontally placed "stick"
they are then transferred by the attendant on
the same ." stick " to a
machine similarly arranged to the rubbing machine, and by means of a
carrying belt, emery, or other suitably prepared block and rubbing belt, they
are dressed or finished on the "back" and "nick" sides. In place of a
rubbing roller or block and belt, two or more rubbing rollers or blocks may be
used, or two belts may be used. "Spaces" and "quadrats" are operated in
like manner to types, but as there is not any "taper on spaces or
"quadrats," we only use the rubbing belt, without the "block" in "rubbing "
and "dressing" them.
E
"
66
"
But that the improvements may be better understood, we will by the aid of
the accompanying Drawings proceed to describe means which we find to
answer in carrying the same into effect.

page_text: Figure 1 is a plan, Figure 2 a longitudinal section, and Figures 3 and 4
cross sections of apparatus arranged according to our Invention for "rubbing "
types. In each of these views the same letters are employed to indicate
corresponding parts wherever they occur.
a, a, is the main framing; b, the main or driving axis, which is supported
in suitable bearings carried by the main framing, and has motion given to it
from a steam engine or other suitable power, by means of a strap or band
acting on the drum or pulley b', affixed on that axis b; 2 is a loose pulley.
Upon the shaft or axis b is also affixed the toothed wheel or pinion c, which
by means of the intermediate wheel c' gives motion to the toothed wheel c²,
affixed on the axis or shaft c³, upon which is also affixed a screw or worm c',
which takes into and drives the worm wheel c', affixed upon the axis c, upon
which is also affixed the pulley e, which in its rotation gives motion to the
band d, passing partly around and supported by that pulley c, acting in con-
junction with the pulley . The object of this band d is to give motion to
the types, so as to bring them progressively under the operation of the rubbing
surfaces; e, e, represents the positions of the types under operation. They
are supported on metallic slips or plates f, one of which is shown separately at
Figures 5, 6, and 7, by which it will be seen that these plates fare provided
on one side with a projecting ledge f¹, adapted to prevent the types being
drawn off therefrom by the action of the rubbing surfaces, and with a projec-
tion f, somewhat thinner than the types, and yet sufficient to act upon them
to carry them forwards with the slip or plate f; and in order that the band d
may in its motion give a positive motion to the plates f, it is provided with
projections d' to act against the ends of the plates f placed thereon, and
carry them forward. By these means the types are moved forwards to be
acted upon by the roller or block g and belt h. The bars a', a², forming parts
of the main framing, are at their upper surfaces provided with projecting ledges
a³, a³, forming thereby a sort of trough; that to the bar 'a', serves to support
the band between the pulleys e, c. and to prevent the slips f from slipping off
therefrom sideways; whilst that to the bar a² is simply to receive the slips f
after the types thereon have been acted upon by the rubbing surfaces. jis
a bár, which at one end is supported upon a stud adjustable in the fixed
standard a', whilst the under surface of it rests on the types in their passage to
the rubbing surfaces, and serves to keep them from rising out of position, until
they have passed such rubbing surfaces. The rubbing surface or periphery of
the roller g is covered with emery, Turkey dust, or other suitable substance

page_text: adapted to operate, first, in reducing the side surfaces or the "taper" of
the types, as also the flushing "taper " of head and tail letters, which
project beyond the body of the types presented to it. This roller g is affixed
to a spindle or shaft g', which is supported upon the points of adjusting
screws 9, carried by the adjustable brackets 9³, g³, by which whilst the
roller g is capable of freely revolving in its bearings the depth of cut effected
by it may be regulated to the thickness of type under operation, and if
desired, the ends of the axis of the roller or block g may be supported in
bearings acted upon by spring pressure, with adjusting screws to regulate the
amount of elasticity employed. The rotary motion to this roller g is obtained
from the main axis b by means of a pulley g' affixed thereon, acting by a band
or strap g on the pulley 96, affixed on the spindle or shaft g'. h is an endless
belt passing over the two pulleys h', h2, one of which h' is affixed on the shaft
or axis 6, and is the means of giving motion to the belt h, the surface of which
is coated with emery, Turkey dust, or other suitable matter.
Elastic pressure
is applied to that part of the belt h which for the time is over the type by
means of a block i affixed to one end of the lever ', the other end of which
turns upon the adjustable pin, there being a rod acting on the outer end of
the lever ¹, and passing down through a hole formed for it in the projection i³,
with a spring and set screw to regulate the amount of elastic pressure exerted
by the block i, whilst there is a set screw acting as a stop to prevent the
lever from pressing that part of the belt too low when there may be no types
under it.
.
It will thus be understood that the types to be operated upon will be placed
on slips or plates f, side by side from the projection f, towards the farther eud
thereof, and the machine being set in motion, such slips or plates with the
types thereon will in succession be placed on the band d, so that each of them
may be carried forward by resting with one end thereof against a projection d'
on the band d; and it will be seen that each of the slips or plates f has its
projection f a short distance from that end thereof acted upon by the projec-
tions of the band d. The object of this is, that the band d may not leave
the slip or plate f in passing round the roller until all the types thereon have
been acted upon by and passed from under the rubbing surfaces, and then that
slip or plate f is further pushed into the trough formed on the upper surface
of the bar a2 by the coming forward of the next slip or plate f, the one end of
one slip or plate f acting against the opposite end of the other.
By these
means the types will be passed under the action of the rubbing surfaces at the
uniform rate of speed of the belt d, and all the types carried by each slip f
will only remain the same time under and be uniformly acted upon by the

page_text: rubbing surfaces. When one side or surface of the types has been thus acted
upon, they will then be turned, so that the opposite or other surface may in
like manner be acted upon as required.
We would here remark, that although we have shewn a rubbing roller and
a rubbing belt acting in succession upon the types, which is the arrangement
we prefer, yet either may be used separately if desired, or in place of a rubbing
roller or block and belt, two or more revolving surfaces or blocks or two or
more belts may be used.. The types having thus been "rubbed" on both
sides are next transferred to apparatus, such as we will now describe to be
set up" or "put up."
Figure 8 shews a plan, Figure 9 a side view, and Figure 10 a sectional side
view, and Figure 11 a front view, of parts of apparatus arranged according to
our Invention for "setting up" or "putting up" type. The types to be "set
up" or "put up" are placed in "sticks" k, a section of one of which is shewn
separately, full size, at Figure 12. The types are laid edge to edge, i.e., on their
sides, with the "nick" of one type towards the back of the next on the bottom or
bed of a "stick", as indicated by the red lines, and are prevented slipping
out therefrom by means of the projecting ledges or plates, ³, and the bar k¹.
The plate is moveable by sliding within the plates k, to facilitate the placing
of the types under the bar k', and of being set by screws 8. The bar k' is
supported by means of the bracket 15, aided by set screws,, with capa-
bility of adjustment to the thickness of the types under operation. A "stick"
thus arranged and filled with type to be "set" or "put up" is then placed as
shown in a bracket l, and there held by means of a set screw / or other suit-
able means, when the type which is for the time the lowermost will rest on the
table m, and in position to be acted upon and moved forwards from the rest of
the type by means of one end of the sliding plate n, the opposite end of which
is acted upon through the connecting rod n¹ by an eccentric n² on the end of
the axis ³, which is capable of turning freely in bearings o', carried by the
main framing o, and has affixed upon it the drum or pulley n', to be driven by
a band or strap from a steam engine or other suitable power, by which a to-
and-fro motion will be given to this plate to cause it to recede from under type
in a "stick "k, and then to push one out therefrom, and then recede again,
and so on. The bracket and the lower part of the "stick" as held are
formed to admit of the passage of this sliding plate n. is a screw stop adjust-
able to regulate the depth of the "stick" in the bracket to the thickness
of type under operation. The type is pushed from the "stick" to another
"stick" or receiver p, placed in the groove o, forined for it in the frame o,
with their "back" or their "nick" sides, as the case may be, on that "stick,'
"

page_text: and they are then in these "sticks" transferred to a machine similar to that
described in respect of Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, in order that their
"back" and "nick" sides may successively be thereby dressed or finished.
"Spaces" and "quadrats "may be operated in like manner to types, but as
there is no "taper" on "spaces" or "quadrats," we only use the rubbing belt
without the "block" in "rubbing" and "dressing" them.
Having thus described our said lnvention and means which we find to
answer in carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we
do not confine ourselves to the precise details shewn and described, as these
may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of the improve-
ments, nor do we claim the various mechanical parts separately considered;
but what we do claim is, the adaptation or combination of means as applied to
the manufacture of printing types, "spaces," and "quadrats," in manner sub-
stantially as explained.
In witness whereof, we, the said Walter Richard and John Richard, have
hereunto set our hands and scals, this First day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
WALIEK KICHARD. (L.S.)
JOHN RICHARD.
(L.S.)
WALIEK KICHARD. (L.S.)
JOHN RICHARD.
(L.S.)