Improvements in Machinery for Forming and Composing Type..
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for Forming and Composing Type..
I, ERNESTO CODIGNOLA, of 9 Rue de l'Université, Paris, France, Printer, do
hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR FORMING AND COMPOSING TYPE," to be as follows:-
The present Invention relates to improved machinery having for its object to
compose or set type for printing with the utmost rapidity, at the same time casting
or forming the same, and dispensing with, the distribution of the same. By the
use of this Invention the casting of letters is dispensed with as well as the finishing
thereof and the manual labor of the compositor.
With this machine for which two workmen are sufficient (one operating the
keyboard and the other for adjusting the lines) about 150,000 letters can be
composed and cast in ten hours, thus representing the joint output of teu hauds
by the usual method.
Various important improvements in the art of printing result from the use of
this improved method, the printing work being better effected, and at a saving of
about 50% in the present price, and besides attaining the double object of rapidity in
composing and casting type simultaneously, the stock-in-trade required for printing
will be much diminished, without altering the usual system, and the type will be
movable for correction, interlineation, "breaking up" and other analogous necessary
purposes.
On the front of the improved machine is a keyboard of 81 keys (or more), there
being 40 upper ones and 41 lower ones. Each key corresponds with a capital or
small letter of the alphabet, or other printers' sign, such as punctuation marks,
spaces, and figures.
Each key has at its end an extension, the series of which serve as stops for an
equal number of levers, there being a separate lever to every key. The levers are
centred in a crosspiece, and are each separately jointed to separate pistons working
in separate hollow nozzles leading out of a common melting pot or reservoir
containing the lead or alloy from which the type is to be cast, and which is
maintained in a state of fusion by means of a series of conveniently disposed gas
flames. The nozzles terminate in upper jets above the melting pot or reservoir
which is or can be raised or lowered by means of a conveniently disposed hand
wheel.

page_text: Underneath and transversely of the said levers there is a bar having an
alternating vertical motion which it receives from two arms of a shaft parallel
with the bar and operated by an excentric or an upper excentric shaft.
When
this bar is in its lower position, and the said keys are depressed, the corresponding
levers are disengaged and by means of spiral springs (one attached to each lever)
set free and raise the corresponding pistons. When the bar rises it replaces the
disengaged levers and causes the jets of lead or alloy to be expelled from the
reservoir and said nozzles and jets for forming the letters as will hereinafter
appear,
As the said levers are entirely independent of one another, it follows that all
the keys may be simultaneously touched, and consequently the bar in rising would
raise all the disengaged levers together, and the several letters, or even as many as
there are keys, may be cast simultaneously.
Above the jets terminating the said nozzles there is a plate carrying a dove-
tailed plate holes formed in which correspond with the said jets, and in relation to
which it is so placed as to retain the liquid metal.
Over the holes of the perforated plate there are an equal number of horizontal
bars or rods which are adapted to slide in suitable guides. A cross bar connects
these bars or rods and is actuated by two arms on a shaft, operated by an
excentric imparting to the bars or rods an alternating horizontal motion. Each
such bar or rod has at one part a hole, and at another part a small knife or plane.
The hole allows of the liquid metal or alloy passing from the jet at the moment
when the jet of metal is expelled, being then in coincidence with one of the holes
of the said dovetailed plate and with the corresponding nozzle-jet, and the knife
or plane serves to trim the tail of the type as soon as they are cast.
I
There are two upper pieces which serve to guide two bars, the one of which is
fixed on its guide by three screws in such a manner as that its position may be
altered when required, and the other of which has an alternating horizontal motion
imparted to it by a shaft operated by an excentric.
These latter mentioned bars form the front and back of the type mould. The
sides of the moulds for each separate letter or type are formed by extensions
provided on the ends of the matrices.
All the matrices have their seats in opposite pieces, and are singly fixed therein
by two opposite screws, and by an upper adjustable cone.
The said opposite pieces are carried by a square bar on each of the four faces of
which a complete set of matrices may be mounted, and these may be used
alternately or as desired as the bar can be raised and turned on its centre in such
a manner as that it will present one or the other set of matrices to the jet of alloy.
The turning of the bar is effected by three pedals, two of which communicate with
two upper projection pins or teeth in such a manner as that on operating one or
the other of the said pedals the said square bar is turned to the right or to the
left; but in order to cause the said teeth or striking pins to act when one of the
said two pedals has been depressed, the third pedal also requires to be depressed
so as to actuate arms fixed on a shaft and whereby the whole system carrying the
matrices is raised, causing a wheel with four teeth at one end of the said square
bar to be engaged with the said upper or raised tooth or striking pin, and thus
causing the said bar or matrix-carrier to make a quarter rotation. When this
movement has taken place, the striking pin descends automatically and allows of
the matrix-carrier to again descend without meeting any obstacle.
The matrix-carrier is maintained in its new position by a wheel on its other
end, and which has four deep recesses into which the conical or wedge shaped end
of a spring enters.
The raising of the arms last mentioned is effected by depressing the third pedal.
and by means of the following mechanism.
A shaft carries a sleeve and an excentric which by the pedal and a rod connected
therewith is caused to engage with a toothed wheel loose on the shaft and which
is continuously in motion, and thus rotation of the excentric is caused, the latter

page_text: by a shaft above referred to and depending arms raising the said arms and which
consequently raise the matrix-carrier. When the excentric now, referred to has
inade one rotation it is stopped automatically by means of extensions on it and
which automatically throw the said sleeve out of gear with the said toothed wheel
and thus stop the excentric.
Other arms projecting from an upper shaft are continuously operated by an
excentric on the excentric shaft, and impart an alternating vertical motion to the
matrix-carrier, which serves to lower the matrices between the said bars which
form the front and back of the type mould, at the precise moment when the
casting is to take place, and to raise the same forthwith when the metal has been
expelled from the nozzle and jet, so as to allow a double chain to pass, and which
is actuated by two end wheels and is controlled in its lower path by two recesses
in the said two upper pieces which serve to guide the bars forming the front and
back of the type mould. The chain has two extensions placed at even distances
apart, and one or the other of which passes between the two pieces forming the
front and back of the type mould as soon as the type is cast, and then pushes the
letters or type into the composing arrangement which is or may be arranged at
the left side of the machine, the said wheel at which end only carries the chain,
the corresponding wheel at the other end being the driving wheel.
The whole system previously described is operated by the excentrics referred to,
and which are keyed on a common shaft, which, by a toothed wheel, receives
motion from the driving shaft, and transmits motion to the shaft of the chain
driving wheel. Between two of the said excentrics on the excentric shaft, there is
a toothed wheel which operates the above mentioned toothed wheel between the
said sleeve and excentric.
In order that the nature of this Invention may be completely understood, I will
now describe the operation of the machine as a whole during a complete rotation
of the excentric-shaft, and the successive operations of each system.
When one or more keys are depressed, and at the precise moment when the
alloy is propelled forward by the means stated, the matrices are pushed down by
upper spiral springs, and are enclosed between the two pieces forming the front
and back of the type mould, and the said rods have their holes in coincidence with
those of the plate beneath and with the nozzle jets, and at this moment each
matrix forms a complete mould. Thus the matrices corresponding with the keys¨
that have been struck are filled by jets of the molten lead or alloy.
Immediately afterwards the matrices are raised, but the letters which have been
cast adhere to the said bars forming the front and back of the mould, and are
supported by their heads on the upper face of such bars by reason of the holes in
the said rods. Immediately after, the roda break off first the conical tails which
have compelled the type to leave the matrices, and they next trim the lower ends
of the type. The parts of the said bar formed with the said holes and knife
then pass beyond the plate carrying the said dovetailed plate, and under two
brushes, one having an alternating vertical motion and pushing the conical tail
(broken off the type) out of the hole, the other having a rotary motion (on its own
axis) and stripping the shavings off the knife.
Whilst the cleaning of the rods takes place, one of the said extensions on the
chain slips between the said pieces forming the front and back of the type mould,
and pushes the type into the composing arrangement. The said rods then return,
and at the same time the piece forming the front of the type mould moves aside
to a distance sufficient to allow of the matrices again passing, and the latter at this
moment again descend. After this, the said piece in conjunction with the said
upper spiral springs again closes the extensions of the matrices by pressing the
same against the opposite side. If, during this time, other keys have been
depressed, the said bar under and transversely of the levers will in raising the
disengaged levers cause the next casting to proceed.
-
The letters cast with this machine have a part projecting on the front side of
their face and on the rear side thereof. These projections cause a difference in

page_text: the width of the head and of the stem, of two typographic "points" for the
"bodies" 5, 6, 7, and of four points for the other "bodies." Now in setting up,
this difference is compensated for by "spaces" of one or two points thickness as
the case may be which are placed between the lines. This affords the advantage
that there are always "leads" between the types even if the type is to be set up
without spacing. This system facilitates correction, "breaking up," and diminishes
the liability "to make pie."
As already explained, the type as soon as cast is gathered up on a galley or
composing stick adapted for the body of any kind of type. At its mouth this
stick has two lateral files which remove the beard from the letters. The composing
stick is in communication with a forme consisting of movable pieces, upon which
the operator, furnished with a supply of spaces, adjusts the lines in the usual way,
and makes the forme ready in the usual way.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Forming and Composing Type.
I, ERNESTO CODIGNOLA, formerly of 9 Rue de l'Universite, Paris, France, but at
present of 6 Via Chiaravalle, Milan, Italy, Printer, 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 :-
This Invention relates to improved machinery having for its object to compose
or set up type for printing with the utmost rapidity, at the same time casting or
forming the same, and dispensing with the distribution of the same. By the use
of this Invention the casting of letters is dispensed with as well as the finishing
thereof and the manual labor of the compositor.
With this improved machinery, for the operation of which two workmen are
sufficient (one operating the keyboard and the other for adjusting the lines) about
150,000 letters can be composed and cast in ten hours, thus representing the joint
output of ten hands by the usual method.
Various important improvements in the art of printing result from the use of
this improved method, the printing work being better effected, and at a saving of
about 50% in the present price, and besides attaining the double object of rapidity
in composing and casting type simultaneously, the stock-in-trade required for
printing will be much diminished without altering the usual system, and the type
will be movable for correction, interlineation; "breaking up," and other analogous
necessary purposes.
The improved machinery is illustrated on the accompanying drawings; in which
Fig. 1, represents the same in elevation: Fig. 2, is a transverse section:-Fig. 3, an
end view, and Figs. 4, to, 8, detail views: Figs. 1, to, 4, are drawn to a scale of th
the full size, and Figs. 5, to, 8, are drawn full size.
On the front of the improved machine is a keyboard of eighty one or more
keys, 1, there being in the construction represented on the annexed drawings, forty
upper keys and forty one lower keys. Each of such keys corresponds with a capital
or small letter of the alphabet, or other printers' sign, such as punctuation marks,
spaces and figures.
Ench of such keys has at its end an extension, 2, the series of which serve as
stops for an equal number of levers, 3, there being a separate lever, 3, to every key, 1.
These levers are centred at, 4, in a crosspiece, 5, and are each separately jointed to
separate pistons, 6, working in separate hollow nozzles, 7, leading out of a common
melting pot or reservoir, 8, containing the lead or alloy from which the type is to
be cast, and which is maintained in a state of fusion by means of a series of con-
veniently disposed gas flames, 9, the nozzles terminating in upper jets, 10. The
melting pot or reservoir, 8, is supported by a casing, 11, and can be raised or
lowered by means of a conveniently disposed hand wheel, 12, and of the con-
nections, 13, shown in Figs. 1, to, 3.
Underneath and transversely of the said levers, 3, there is a bar, 14, to which a
reciprocating vertical motion is imparted by two arms, 15, fast on a shaft, 16,
running parallel with the bar, 14, and operated by an excentric; 17; on an upper

page_text: excentric shaft, 18, vide Fig. 3. When the bar, 14, is in its lower position, and the
keys, 1, are depressed, the correspondings levers, 3, are disengaged therefrom and
by means of spiral springs, 19, (one attached to each of such levers, vide Figs. 1,
&, 2,) set free and raise the corresponding pistons, 6. When the bar, 14, rises it
replaces the disengaged levers, 3, and causes the jets of lead or alloy to be expelled
from the reservoir, 8, and said nozzles, 7, and jets, 10, for forming the letters as
hereinafter described.
As the levers, 3, are entirely independent of one another, it follows that all the
keys, 1, may be simultaneously actuated, and consequently the bar, 14, in rising
would raise all the disengaged levers, 3, together and the several letters or even as
many as there are keys may be cast simultaneously.
Above the jets, 10, terminating the nozzles, 7, there is a plate, 20, carrying a
dovetailed plate, 21, vide Fig. 8, holes, 22, formed in which correspond in position
with the said jets and in relation to which the plate, 21, is so placed as to receive
the liquid metal ejected from the latter.
Over the holes, 22, of the plate, 21, there is disposed an equal number of hori-
zontal bars or rods, 23, vide Figs. 2, 6, 7, & 8, which are adapted to slide in suitable
guides, 24. A cross-bar, 25, connects the bars or rods, 23, and is actuated by two
arms, 26, on a shaft, 27, operated by an excentric, 28, imparting to the bars or rods
an alternating horizontal motion. Each bar or rod, 23, has at one part a hole, 29,
and at another part a small knife or plane, 30. The hole, 29, allows of the liquid
metal or alloy passing from the jet, 10, at the moment when the jet of metal is
expelled, being then in coincidence with one of the holes, 22, of the said dovetailed
plate, 21, and with the corresponding nozzle jet, 10, and the knife or plane, 30,
serves to trim the tails of the type as soon as they are cast.
There are two upper pieces, 31, 32, (vide Figs. 2, &, 8,) which respectively serve
to guide two bars, 33, 34, the latter of which is screwed or otherwise suitably fixed
on or to its guide in such a manner as that its position may be altered when
required, and the other of which bars (the bar, 33,) has an alternating_horizontal
motion imparted to it by a shaft, 35, operated by an excentric, 36, vide Fig. 3.
The bars, 33, 34, form exactly the front and back of the type moulds. The sides
of the mould for each. separate letter or type are formed by extensions, 37, 38,
provided on the ends of the matrices 39 vide Figs. 7, &, 8.
All the matrices have their seats in opposite pieces, 40, 41, and are singly fixed
therein by two opposite screws, 42, 43, and by an upper adjustable cone, 44.
The opposite pieces, 40, 41, are carried by a square bar, 45, (vide Figs. 2 & 8) on
each of the four faces of which a complete set of matrices may be mounted (vide
Fig. 2,) and these may be used alternately or as desired, as the bar can be raised
and turned about its centre in such a manner as that it will present one or the
other set of matrices to the jet of alloy. The turning of the bar, 45, is effected by
three pedals, 46, 47, 48, (vide. Fig. 1,) of which the former two respectively com-
municate with two upper centred projecting striking pins or teeth, 49, 50, in such
a manner as that on operating one or the other of the said pedals the bar, 45, is
turned by the said connected pin or tooth to the right or to the left as desired, but
in order to cause the said teeth or striking pins to act when one of the said two
pedals has been depressed the third pedal, 48, also requires to be depressed so as to
actuate arms, 51, fixed on a shaft, 52, and whereby the whole system carrying the
matrices is raised, causing a wheel, 53, with four teeth, at one end of the bar, 45,
(vide Figs. 1, &, 3,) to be engaged with the said upper or raised tooth or striking
pin, and thus causing the bar or matrix-carrier, 45, to make a quarter rotation.
When this movement has taken place, the striking pin descends automatically and
allows of the matrix-carrier again descending without meeting any obstacle.
The matrix-carrier, 45, is maintained in its new position by a wheel, 54, on its
other end, (vide Fig. 1,) and which has four deep recesses into which the conical or
wedge shaped end of a pawl or spring enters.
The raising of the arms, 51, is effected by depressing the pedal, 48, and by means
of the following mechanism.
,

page_text: A shaft, 55, (vide Figs. 3 & 4) carries a sleeve, 56, and an excentric, 57, the
former of which by the pedal, 48, and a rod, 58, connected therewith is caused to
engage with a continuously revolving toothed wheel, 59, loose on the shaft, 55, and
thus rotation of the excentric, 57, is caused, the latter by the shaft, 52, above
referred to and depending arm, 60, engaging in the excentric groove, 61, and
raising the said arms, 51, which as aforesaid raise the matrix-carrier. When the
excentric, 57, has made one rotation it is stopped automatically by means of
extensions, 62, on it (vide Figs. 3 & 4) and which automatically throw the
sleeve, 56, out of gear with the toothed wheel, 59, and thus stop the said
excentric.
Other arms, 63, projecting from an upper shaft, 64, (vide Figs. 2 & 3) are
continuously operated by an excentric, 65, on the excentric shaft, 18, and impart
an alternating. vertical motion to the matrix-carrier, 45, which serves to lower the
matrices between or onto the said bars, 33, 34, which form the front and back of
the type mould, at the precise moment when the casting is to take place, and to
raise the same forth with when the metal has been expelled from the nozzle, 7, and
jet, 10, so as to allow a double chain, 66, to pass, and which is actuated by two end
wheels, 67, 68, (vide Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, &, 8,) and is controlled in its lower path
by two recesses in the said two upper pieces, 31, 32, which serve to guide the
bars, 33, 34, vide Fig. 8. The chain has two extensions, 69, 70, placed at even
distances apart (vide Figs. 1, 5, &, 7, and one or the other of which passes between
the two pieces, 33, 34, as soon as the type is cast, and then pushes the letters or
type into the composing arrangement which is or may be arranged at the left side
of the machine, the said wheel, 67, at which end only carries the chain, 66, the
corresponding wheel, 68, at the other end being the driving wheel.
The whole system hereinbefore described is operated by the said excentrics, 36,
17, 65, 28, which are keyed on a common shaft, 18, (vide Fig. 3,) which by toothed
gearing, 71, receives motion from the driving shaft, 72, and transmits motion to
the shaft, 73, of the chain driving wheel, 68. Between the excentrics, 28, 65, on
the shaft, 18, there is a toothed wheel, 74, which operates the above mentioned
toothed wheel, 59, between the said sleeve, 56, and excentric, 57.
In order that the nature of this Invention may be completely understood, I will
now describe the operation of the machine as a whole during a complete rotation
of the excentric-shaft, 18, and the successive operations of each system of parts
herein before described.
When one or more of the keys, 1, are depressed, and at the precise moment when
the alloy is projected from the jets, 10, by the means described, the matrices are
pushed down by upper spiral springs, 75, (vide Figa 1, &, 2,) and are enclosed
between the two pieces, 33, 34, and the said rods, 23, have their holes, 29, in
coincidence with those, 22, of the plate, 21, beneath, and with the nozzle jets, 10,
and at this moment each matrix forms a complete mould vide Fig. 8. Thus the
matrices corresponding with the keys that have been struck are filled by jets of
the molten lead or alloy.
Immediately afterwards, the matrices are raised, but the letters which have been
cast adhere to the bars, 33, 34, and are supported by their heads on the upper face
of such bars.
Immediately afterwards the rods, 23, break off first the conical tails which have
compelled the type to leave the matrices, and they next trim the lower ends of the
type. The parts of the bars, 23, formed with the said holes, 29, and knives, 30,
then pass beyond the plate, 20, and under brushes, 76, 77, the latter having an
alternating vertical motion and pushing the conical tails (broken off the type) out
of the holes, 29, and the former having a rotary motion (on their own axis) and
stripping the shavings off the knives, 30.
Whilst the cleaning of the rods, 23, takes place, one of the said extensions, 69, 70,
on the chain, 66, slips between the said pieces, 33, 34, and pushes the type into the
composing arrangement, 79. The said rods then return, and at the same time the
piece, 33, forming the front of the type mould moves aside a distance sufficient to

page_text: allow of the matrices again passing and the latter at this moment again descend.
After this, the said piece, 33, in conjunction with the springs, 78, again closes the
extensions of the matrices by pressing the same against the opposite side. If
during this time, other keys have been depressed, the said bar, 14, under and
transversely of the levers, 3, will in raising the disengaged levers cause the next
casting to proceed.
The letters cast with this machine have parts projecting on the front side of
their face and on the rear side thereof. These projections cause a difference in
the width of the head and of the stem of two typographic "points" for the
"bodies," 5, 6, 7, and of four "points" for the other "bodies." Now in setting up,
this difference is compensated for by "spaces" of one or two "points" thickness, as
the case may be, which are placed between the lines. This affords the advantage
that there are always "leads" between the rows of type even if the type is to be
set up without "spacing." This system facilitates correction, "breaking up," and
diminishes the liability "to make pie."
As already explained, the type as soon as cast is gathered up on a galley or
composing stick adapted for the body of any kind of type. At its mouth this
stick has two lateral files which remove the beard from the letters. The composing
stick is in communication with a forme consisting of movable pieces, 80, upon
which the operator, furnished with a supply of " spaces," adjusts the lines in the
usual way, and makes the forme ready in the usual way.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is;-
1. The general arrangement and combination of machinery for casting or forming
and for composing or setting up type for printing constructed and operating
substantially as herein before described.
2. The combination of the parts herein before described and numbered from, 1,
to, 22, or of their respective equivalents.
3. The combination of the parts herein before described and numbered from, 23,
to, 78, or of their respective equivalents.
:
4. The combination of the parts herein before described and numbered from, 1,
to, 78, or of their respective equivalents.
5. The improved construction, arrangement and combination of the parts herein-
before described and numbered from, 6, to, 11.
6. The combination of the parts hereinbefore described and numbered, 23, to, 25,
29, to, 34, 37, to, 45, 51, 66, 69, 70, 75, and, 77.
7. The combination of the parts referred to in Claim, 6, with the parts herein-
before described and numbered, 49, 50, 53, and 54.
8. The application of the said several improvements hereinbefore specified
separately or in any useful combination to machinery for casting or forming type
for the purposes respectively specified.
Dated thie lat day of May 1886
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Agents for the Applicant.