Year: 1889

page_text: I, PHINEHAS PEARSON CRAVEN, of Park Street West Brunswick, near Melbourne,
in the Colony of Victoria, gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists in the improved type distributing machine hereinafter
described whose purpose is to break up columns of composed type after their
removal from the printing press and place and arrange or distribute them in their
respective compartiments or channels in a type case or cabinet ready for being again
composed or set up in the improved type setting machine for which I have filed
an application for Letters Patent contemporaneously with this application. This
said type distributing machine has motion imparted to it either by a treadle worked
by the operator or by other mechanism and after the column of composed type to be
distributed is placed in what I term the "galley" of the machine all that is required
of the operator is to press down the key which corresponds with the character of
the individual type which is being taken from the line in order to place it in its
proper channel in the type case or cabinet. This galley consists of a horizontal
channel of a width to suit the columns of type to be distributed which are therein
pressed forward by means of coiled springs or weights. One line of type at a time
is automatically taken from this galley and is delivered to a race or channel by a
vertical intermittently reciprocating plunger hereinafter referred to as the line
plunger immediately the whole of the previous line has been worked forward far
enough to leave a clear space for the next line. The type are continuously driven
forward in the said race or channel into a position over a plunger to which a
vertical reciprocating motion is imparted and which is so arranged that at each
upward stroke, it takes with it the end type only. The next adjoining type to the
one which is being raised by this plunger is prevented from ascending with the one
so being raised by a series of thin levers actuated by suitable springs that are strong
enough to cause said levers to bear against the said type with sufficient force to
overcome the side friction of the ascending type. The said ascending type is raised
to another race whose inside is formed of a number of piano wire strings, and whose
outside is formed by an adjustable bar of any suitable material. The type is carried
t
•

page_text: along in this wire race by a sliding carrier of special construction until the said
carrier is thrown out of gear by a stop which projects from under the key which
has been depressed by the operator. The type is now left in the wire race imme-
diately above the channel or column in the type cabinet which corresponds to the key
that has been depressed by the operator. A pushing down device now comes into
action and presses the type down into such channel or column and then another
device is brought into play which forces the type along the said channel or column
so as to clear a space ready to receive the next type pressed down from the wire race
above.
These various instrumentalities are so assembled and arranged as that the above
described motions will be brought into action at the required moment to effect the
necessary change of position during the progress of the type from the galley to their
respective channels or columns in the type cabinet and the whole of the mechanism is
arranged on a suitable metal frame whose front is furnished with the key board or
set of keys which are lettered off or marked to correspond with the characters used
in printing.
Having now generally described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I will proceed to describe it more
particularly by reference to the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation.
Figure 2 a plan, and
Figure 3 an end elevation of a type distributing machine constructed according to
my invention.
Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on line aa Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device herein before mentioned for pushing the
line of type forward to be acted upon by the vertically reciprocating plunger which
raises said type one at a time into the wire race.
Figure 6 is a rear elevation, and
Figure 7 a plan of said device
Figure 8 is a plan of the type carrier, and
Figure 9 is a vertical transverse section on line y y Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a vertical transverse section of a portion of the machine illustrating
the construction and arrangement of the keys.
Figure 11 is a side, and
Figure 12 a front elevation of the thin levers employed to overcome the side
friction of the ascending type against the next one to it.
Figure 13 is a plan of a portion of the galley into which the type to be distributed
is placed.
Figure 14 is an elevation of the inside of a spring used to prevent the front line of
type in the galley from falling into the race beneath until pushed down by the line
plunger.
Figure 15 is a vertical cross section on line zz Figure 13.
Figures 1 to 4 are drawn to a scale of about three inches to the foot. Figures
5, 6, 7, 10, 13 and 14 to about six inches to the foot and Figures 8, 9, 11 and 12
are drawn about full size.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
A represents the frame or table of the machine having treadle B (vide figure 3)
a crank on whose shaft is connected by a rod b with a crank c whose shaft C is
supported in bearings c¹ on the frame or table A. Upon this shaft C are arranged
a fly wheel c³ and a pinion d which gears with a spur wheel d' keyed on a shaft d
carrying a cam D as well as one of a pair of mitre wheels e whereby motion is
imparted to a shaft E upon which are secured the cams ƒƒ and cam wheel g. Upon
the shaft is also secured an excentrich whereby an oscillating movement is
imparted to a bell crank lever ¹ upon whose longer arm is formed a quadrant rack '.
This rack gears with a pinion 3 secured upon the spindle h of a grooved drive
wheel which forms one of a pair of pulleys around which passes an endless
wire band H.

page_text: I represents the galley in which the column of composed type J to be distributed is
placed. One side of this galley is a fixture whilst the other i¹ is made adjustable in
order to suit the varying widths of the columns of type that may be placed therein.
A sliding plate in this galley is arranged to press against the back row of type J.
It has two rearwardly extending rods 33 which pass out through holes in the end
of the galley I and have spiral springs coiled around them so arranged as to
press the type onwards as each line is removed as hereinafter described. K represents
a channel or passage leading to a plunger L which will be hereinafter referred to as
the single type plunger. A spring is employed to press on the sides of the type J
while in the galley I in order to prevent them from dropping into the channel or
passage K until pressed down by the line plunger M which is employed to deliver
each line of type from the galley I to the passage K which leads to the single type
plunger L. This plunger L is supported in a guide bracket attached to the
framing A of the machine and the back of said plunger is connected to the horizontal
arm of a bell crank lever which is pivoted on a stud 1 screwed into the frame A.
The other arm of this lever l¹ carries an antifriction roller 13 which works in a cam
groove in the side of the cam wheel g. N represents a longitudinally sliding bar
to whose end is attached a weighted cord n which passes over a small guide pulley n¹
as shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and serves to always keep the bar N pressing against.
the line of type in the channel or passage K. This longitudinally sliding bar N has
an upwardly projecting finger n² which is designed to draw back a catch O which is
pressed forward by a spring o and whose point engages with a notch o¹ in the line
plunger M. A pawl n³ is pivoted in a slot in the longitudinally sliding bar N and is
arranged to be held in its raised position by a spring n until the bar N has moved
forward far enough to cause said pawl to be brought to a vertical position by con-
tacting with a pin no secured to the frame A. When the pawl n³ is in this vertical
position its lower end will be caught by a notch p cut in the upper face of a bar P
to which a continuously reciprocating motion is imparted by a spring arm pl which is
acted upon by the cam D on the end of the shaft 2. Q represents the wire race to
which the end type of the line which is in the passage K is delivered by the herein-
before described single type plunger L. A series of thin levers R are arranged
beside this plunger and behind the type passage K their purpose being to support
and hold the type in such passage against the end pressure put upon them by the
longitudinally sliding bar N. These levers Rare made up of a number of very thin
plates all arranged on a common pivot secured to the frame of the machine and
their lengths are varied as shewn, in order that they may be attached to independent
springs. The rear ends of these springs are secured to a rigid arm attached to
the frame A, whilst a pusher bar is arranged behind them which is operated at a
certain moment by a projection on the periphery of the cam wheel g. The wire
race along which the type is conveyed one by one from over the single type
plunger I to its proper position above the front end of one of the channels in the
type cabinet has its forward side formed of a metal bar q while its rearward side is
formed of a series of stretched piano wires q'q' secured at one end to a rigid support q
and at the other to tightening pins q³ as shewn. Along this race works in a dovetail
groove sa carrier S to which is pivoted a comb plate s' whose teeth s² pass
between the wires q'q' of the race Q so as to carry the type along said race.
The rear of this comb plate s has two flat faces ss formed on it at about right
angles to each other such faces being acted on by a flat spring so as to retain the
comb plates of the carrier either in a position with its teeth in, or in a position with
its teeth out of the race Q. s is a pin with which the carrier or rather a finger s on
its comb plate contacts at the end of its backward stroke so as to turn its finger and
comb into the race Q whilst s is a pin with which the fingers of the comb plate st
contacts when near the end of its outward stroke to turn said finger and comb clear
of the wire race Q in the event of this not having been done by one of the keys T.
The type carrier S is attached to the endless wire band H whereby a to and fro motion
will be imparted to it by the gearing lettered &c. and hereinbefore described.
One key T is provided for each of the channels or columns u in the type case or

page_text: 12
cabinet U and the finger pieces t of these keys are marked with a letter or character
which corresponds with the type they are to stop in the race opposite its correct
column or channel in the type case or cabinet. These keys T are all centred on a
rod which is suitably supported by the framing A and each key has attached to it
a spiral spring 2 figures 1 and 10 whose upper end is secured to a cross_bar t³ bolted.
to the frame A. A cross bar t is provided over the tops of the keys T to prevent
their rising too high and each key is formed with a downwardly projecting portion (
figure 10 whereby when said key is depressed the projecting fingers of the pivoted
comb piece of the carrier S will contact with said projection whereby the said pivoted
comb and finger s¹ will be turned back thus causing its comb teeth to release the
type which is being carried along. A long presser plate V is provided to which a
vertical reciprocating motion is imparted. It is arranged immediately above the
race so that in its downward stroke it will force the type which has been left in
said race by the carrier S down into its correct channel or column u in the type
cabinet U. This presser plate V is secured at its ends to slides vv working in dovetail
grooves formed in the front of the upright portions a a of the frame of the machine.
Motion is imparted to said slides by a pair of bell crank levers v vl whose lower arms
are arranged to bear each against one of the cams ff on the shaft E. These bell
crank levers v v are held against said cams by spiral springs v² v² which are attached
at their other ends to any convenient part of the frame A. The type cabinet U is
divided off into a number of open ended longitudinal channels u corresponding as
herein before mentioned to the number of keys and the thickness of the type which is
to be distributed into such channels. It is bolted or otherwise held in position on
the frame A with each channel or column in its proper position under its corre-
sponding key. W represents a reciprocating comb shaped pusher bar so arranged as
that its teeth shall pass one into each channel or column of the type case or cabinet U.
This pusher bar W is suitably supported in guides w w vide figures 2 and 4 so as to
be opposite the front end of the cabinet and it has motion imparted to it by
excentrics w¹ w¹ secured on the shaft E.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-
-
The column of type to be distributed is placed in the galley I wherein it will be
pressed forward by the springs and if the machine be driven by suitable power, say
by the operator working the treadle B then the line plunger M will come into operation
and will carry the end line of the type J from the galley I down to the passage K
underneath wherein it will be pressed forward by the pusher bar N until the end
type reaches the single type plunger L which will in its upward movement raise
said end type up into the wire race Q along which it will be carried by the teeth s²
of the carrier S until it is in position opposite its proper channel or column in
the type case or cabinet where (providing its corresponding key T has been depressed)
it will be left by reason of the pivoted portions of said carrier being turned out
of engagement therewith by its arm s' contacting with the downwardly projecting
portion of said key T. The pusher plate V will then descend and will press the
type out of the wire race Q into the top end of its channel in the type case or cabinet U.
Then the horizontal comb shaped pusher bar K will come into operation and will
push said type along its channel so as to leave a clear space ready to receive the
next similar type that is delivered to the type case or cabinet. When the type in
the passage K have been worked out sufficiently to allow of a fresh line being
delivered to it from the galley I the spring pawl n will contact with the stud n
and will thereby be caused to assume a vertical position when it will engage with the
notch p in the sliding bar P on the return movement of said bar. The effect of this
will be to carry back the bar N almost to the full extent of its travel when its arm n
will engage with the catch O so as to draw it back out of engagement with the
notch of in the line plunger M which will thus be released and allowed to descend in
order to push a fresh line of type into the passage K, the type J in the galley I mean-
while being pressed together sideways by the spring . The thin spring levers R
hold the type so as to allow of only the one over the single type plunger L being
raised thereby and they maintain this pressure until the said plunger returns to its
2

page_text: normal position ready for the next stroke when the projection on the cam wheel
will operate to draw back the pusher bar so that said levers may release their hold
of the type. The back of the race F being formed of stretched wires it acts as a
flexible support to hold the type while being carried from the single type plunger E›
into position above their respective channels or columns in the type cabinet U.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
First. In a type distributing machine the employment of a race one or both of
whose sides is or are formed by a number of taut wires such as g' along which the type
may be carried from the single type plunger into position over the channel in the type
case intended to receive same substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Second. The employment, for holding the type in the channel K until the
desired moment, of a series of levers such as R arranged to be pressed against
said type by suitable springs and to be released at certain intervals by any con-
venient means, such for instance as the bell crank lever 3 acted upon by a projection
on a cam wheel such as g substantially as and for the purpose described and as
illustrated in Figures 2, 4, 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
Third. The combination of the various parts constituting the carrier S comprising
a base plate or bar adapted to slide along a groove or race and a comb plate such
as pivoted to said base plate and provided with teeth and with a finger s
whereby said pivoted comb plate may be turned out of engagement with the type in
the wire race all constructed arranged and operating substantially as and for the
purpose specified and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The combination with a carrier such as S of pins such as sand ¸ª
whereby its toothed pivoted finger piece may be respectively turned into and out of
engagement with the type in the type race substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The combination with a carrier such as S of means, comprising the endless
wire band H, grooved pulleys h pinion h³, quadrant rack 2, bell crank lever ', and
excentric whereby said carrier may be caused to travel to and fro along a suitable
race all constructed and arranged substantially as specified and as illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. The combination with a carrier such as S of a series of keys Teach
having a downwardly projecting portion whereby a certain part of said carrier, to
wit, its toothed pivoted finger piece may be operated so as to leave the type being
conveyed thereby directly above the particular channel or column in the type case
or cabinet which corresponds with the key that has been depressed substantially as
herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Seventh. The combination with a channel such as K of a vertical plunger such
as M arranged to be operated at certain intervals by a suitable arrangement of a
bell crank lever, cam and spring and adapted to push a line of type from the
galley I down into said channel substantially as and for the purpose specified and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Eighth. The combination with a race such as Q of a reciprocating vertical plunger
such as L adapted to raise one type at a time from a channel below up into said
race substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Ninth. The combination with a race such as Q of an intermittently reciprocating
pusher bar such as V and a horizontally sliding reciprocating toothed pusher bar such
as W whereby I provide, firstly, for pushing the type in the race Q down into one
of the channels of the type case or cabinet and, secondly for pushing said type along
said channel substantially as and for the purpose specified reference being had to the
accompanying drawings.
Tenth. The combination with a continuously reciprocating bar such as P, having a
notch p or its equivalent, with a bar arranged to press against the end of the type in

page_text: the type channel. This bar having a spring pawl which engages with the notch.
in the reciprocating bar P when the line of type in the channel is exhausted
substantially as and for the purpose specified and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Eleventh. The combination with the sliding bar N having an upwardly projecting
portion n² of a catch such as O whereby 1 provide for releasing the line plunger M
substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Twelfth. The improved type distributing machine consisting of the various parts
hereinbefore referred to all constructed arranged and operating substantially as
specified and as illustrated in the various figures of the accompanying drawings.
. Dated this twenty-first day of March One thousand eight hundred and
eighty-nine.
PHINEHAS PEARSON CRAVEN,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.