AN IMPROVED TYPE-SETTING MACHINE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED TYPE-SETTING MACHINE."-A com-
munication from abroad by James William Paige, of Rochester,
Machinist, and Dexter Reynolds, of Albany, both in the State of
New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th March 1872.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
5 Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED TYPE-SETTING MACHINE,” a
communication, to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to provide a simple and cheap "type-
41

page_text: accuracy, and with no liability of failure in the movement of the parts
in performing their functions. It consists mainly in an inclined type
case provided with laterally adjustable division strips whereby a machine
of a given capacity is greatly reduced in size and increased in effective-
ness; in a type race arranged at the foot of the case at right angles
with the type cells or channels and in such a manner as to receive the
type from any channel in the case; in a continuously reciprocating type.
driver having its backward throw somewhat increased beyond that side
of the type case to permit a type from any cell or channel in the case
to be delivered into the race without stopping the movement of the
driver for that purpose; in type ejecting fingers, operated by power
separately from the selecting keys, both in delivering a type and in re-
turning to their normal position; in an automatically acting time lock
to the selecting keys, whereby an even and uniform impulse is given to
all the keys; and in an adjusting guard for the ejecting fingers which
has also an automatic action; and also in a cut-off gate which is actuated
automatically and prevents the type which may have been ejected into
the race from effecting any injury to or coming in contact with those
in the lower ends of the type channels while the former are being moved
by the type driver into the composition.
The type case in my machine consists of a sole plate, side walls, and
division strips. The sole plate is grooved in the upper and lower edges
to receive an overhanging tongue of the division strips which are
applied by being slid on from one side or the other. These division
strips are placed at such distances apart as may be necessary to receive
the type intended for each respective chamber or channel, where they
are secured at the upper end by a clamping plate and packing, the
lower ends being kept in place by the type. It is desirable to have
these strips very thin in order to occupy as little space as possible width-
wise of the case, therefore it might be preferable to place strips of metal
or wood between the strips to govern the width of the spaces and press
them altogether firmly by clamping screws at the sides of the case
against the side walls to prevent any possibility of the strips springing
while the channels are being filled with type. The case is fixed to the
supporting walls by bolts or otherwise. The angle plate is bolted to
the lower edge of the case, leaving a space between its adjacent face and
the lower edge of the case sufficient to permit a free movement of the
upper end of the ejecting fingers between them. The angle plates are

page_text: attached to the foundation plate of the race, the three plates constituting
the type race into which the type from any channel in the case may be
delivered. The upper plate is divided laterally, the sections being
adjustable to permit the race to be made wider or narrower. The length
of the race may be increased at the left of the case to any desired extent
for, convenience in justifying, but on the right it must be so constructed
and arranged as to allow the driver to either move beyond the extreme
right of the case a short distance or be permitted to rest at that edge of.
the case for an instant to admit of the delivery of the type from any cell.
in the case into the race. A reciprocating cut-off gate is provided at
the bottom of the race, upon which the lower end of the types rest as
they are moved forward by the type driver after being ejected from the
channels into the race. The rock shaft is hung in boxes and is moved
by the pitman connected to a crank wrist on the end of the carrier
plate shaft. The cut-off gate has a movement of only about one-six-
teenth to one-eighth of an inch according to the size of type being used
in the machine, and it has slots in it long enough to allow the arms to
only produce that amount of change. The type driver is attached to
the reciprocating plate of the connecting bar, which is attached to a
pitman, and the latter to a wheel hung on the main driving shaft."
Ejecting fingers are sustained at the upper end by resting loosely
between the aforesaid angle plate and the lower edge of the type case,
and their lower ends are sustained between ways composed of bars and
suitable division plates extending from the division strips of the type
channels down considerably below the said bars, and should be of a
corresponding thickness to the strips. Heads on the division plates act
as guides for the selecting keys, and also in connection with shoulders
retain the plates in position longitudinally between the said ejecting
fingers. The latter should each be of a thickness corresponding to the
width of their respective channels and the type contained in them. The
bars are fixed to the supporting walls. The ejecting fingers are pro-
vided with projecting lugs. I place the type. carrier shaft above the
ejecting fingers and the carrier plate shaft below them. These shafts
are arranged parallel to the axial shaft of the selecting keys, and they
are provided with heads. These heads are made with a square boss on
their adjacent sides to which are attached bars. The carrier plates are
attached to these bars in such a manner as to be set further out or in as
may be necessary. The type carrier shaft is driven from a transverse
shaft by mitre gear wheels, and the carrier plate shaft is driven from the

page_text: type carrier snart by spur gear wheels. The suans arе So arranged mat
the plates as they revolve will clear the body of the ejecting fingers, but
will catch the lugs when an ejecting finger is in the proper position.
One carrier plate carries the ejecting fingers up to deliver the type and
the other plate returns it.
To thoroughly guard against accidents to the ejecting fingers in case
of an incomplete or partial movement of the selecting keys I have pro-
vided a rock shaft, to the arms of which is hung a guard plate. This
plate is moved by a roller acting upon the cam-shaped periphery of one
of the heads, and a toe acting upon the other head on the opposite end
of the shaft.
When a selecting key is touched in order to secure a full and complete
movement of their parts, and at the proper time to have the type
delivered into the composition, I provide an automatic time lock with
bolts which have their bearings in the walls and are so arranged as to
lock the arms of the return bar. The said bolts are held in lock with
the arms by springs. The heads have an enlargement on one side, which
as they revolve press upon points and force the arms and return bar
together with any keys that may have been previously moved by the
operator to their normal position, where they are eventually locked by
the aforesaid bolts. A full movement of a selecting key is secured by
pressing it down for only an instant, since the shaft is run with such
speed as to secure this result. It will be seen that the return bar is
released at each revolution of the heads. That side of these heads
toward the walls is bevelled; this bevelled face acts as a cam against
the end of the bolts and forces them back, thus releasing the arms and
permitting them to rise once during each revolution of the carrier plate
shaft if a selecting key is touched at the proper time, or rather is pressed
down for an instant. The arms are only unlocked while the points of
the heads are passing across the end of the bolts, at any other time they
are securely locked down.
The bank of selecting keys being exceedingly condensed in my
machine I find it necessary to separate them by fixed washers to pre-
vent the movement of one key causing the movement of an adjacent
This I accomplish by either flattening the axial shaft or splining
it and fitting the washers to it. The selecting keys are counterweighted
to rest with their rear ends upon the banking plate.
one.

page_text: The arrangement of the keyboard is somewhat peculiar. The keys
are of various lengths outside of the fulcrum, and the finger plates are
placed upon their outer ends in rows in two directions, whereby the
length of the keyboard is greatly reduced, being brought nearly within
the range of one hand of the operator. In connection with this arrange-
ment of keys the type is arranged in the case in such a manner that
those combinations of letters occurring most frequently in the com-
position may all be set at the same instant by a simultaneous movement
of the several keys. Thus many of the prefixes and terminals may by a
certain arrangement of the type in the case corresponding to the order
in which they are required in the line of composition be set at a single
stroke of the type driver, being all ejected into the race by one motion
of the hand upon the selecting keys.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th September 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that
I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my 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 "AN IMPROVED TYPE-
SETTING MACHINE," a communication to me from abroad by James William
Paige, of Rochester, Machinist, and Dexter Reynolds, of Albany, both
in the State of New York, United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or

page_text: administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, 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 Scal Patent Office
within six. calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:
:-
The object of this Invention is to provide a simple and cheap "type-
setting machine" which may be operated with great rapidity and
accuracy and with no liability to failure in the movement of the parts
in performing their functions. It consists mainly in an inclined type
case provided with laterally adjustable division strips, whereby a machine
of a given capacity is greatly reduced in size and increased in effective-
ness; in a type race arranged at the foot of the case at right angles
with the type cells or channels, and in such a manner as to receive the
type from any channel in the case; in a continuously reciprocating type
driver having its backward throw somewhat increased beyond that side
of the type case to permit a type from any cell or channel in the case
to be delivered into the race without stopping the movement of the
driver for that purpose; in type ejecting fingers operated by power
separately from the selecting keys both in delivering a type and in
returning to their normal position; in an automatically acting time
lock to the selecting keys, whereby an even and uniform impulse is
given to all the keys; and in an adjusting guard for the ejecting fingers
which has also an automatic action; and also in a cut-off gate which is
actuated automatically and prevents the type which may have been a
ejected into the race from causing any injury to or coming in contact
with those in the lower end of the type channels while the former are.
being moved by the type driver into the composition.

page_text: Figure 20 is a sectional elevation of a spring attachment for the
selecting keys.
Figures 8 and 9 are drawn to an enlarged scale. Like letters indicate
the same parts throughout the Drawings.
A represents the sole plate of the machine; A¹, A", are the end
supports of the type case C and those portions of the machine below it;
B, B, are the supporting. columns of the reciprocating extension or
connection bar Q of the type driver D; B' represents similar supports
for the transverse shaft S of the driving wheel W, and B" is the support
at that end of the revolving type-carrier shaft T upon which the mitre
gear wheel G is hung; D is the type driver; E is the carrier plate
shaft; F indicates the selecting keys; H, H³, H", are the
gear wheels
through which the lower shaft E is driven; I, I', are the two plates
constituting the upper side of the race R, and K is the lower wall of
the same; L is the foundation plate of the race and the abutment for
the type to rest upon at the lower edge of the case; P is the pitman
which operates the connecting bar Q of the type driver D; R is the
type race; N is the return bar of the selecting keys; M indicates the
driving pulleys; Y the division strips of the type case; and Y' the two
side walls of the same.
The type case in this machine consists of a sole plate C constructed
as seen in Figures 1 and 16, the side walls Y', and the division strips Y.
A detached side view of the latter is shewn in Figure 18.. The side
walls Y are the same in construction, except that they are considerably
thicker, as seen in Figure 1. The sole plate C is grooved in the
upper and lower edges to receive the overhanging tongue v, Figures 15,
16, and 18 of the division strips; the latter are applied by sliding on
from one side or the other. These division strips are placed at such
distances apart as may be necessary to receive the type intended for
each respective chamber or channel where they are secured at the upper
end by the clamping plate and packing p, the lower ends being kept
in place by the type. It is desirable to have these strips very thin in
order to occupy as little space as possible widthwise of the case, there-
fore it might be preferable to place strips of metal or wood between the
strips Y to govern the width of the spaces and press them all together
firmly by clamping screws at the sides of the case against the side
walls to prevent any possibility of the strips springing while the
channels are being filled with type. The case is fixed to the supporting.

page_text: boxes r¹ and
walls A¹ and A" by bolts or otherwise, preferably at about the angle
shown in the Drawings. The angle plate L is bolted to the lower edge
of the case, leaving a space between its adjacent face and the lower
edge of the case sufficient to permit a free movement of the upper end
of the ejecting fingers between them. The angle plates I, I, and K
are attached to plate L, as seen in Figures 1, 15, and 16, the three.
plates constituting the type race R into which the type from any
channel in the case may be delivered. The upper plate is divided
laterally, as shown in Figures 1 and 19, the sections I and I' being
adjustable to permit the race to be made wider or narrower. The
length of the race may be increased at the left of the case to any desired
extent for convenience in justifying and otherwise, but on the right it.
must be so constructed and arranged as to allow the driver D to move
beyond the extreme right of the case a short distance, as shown in
Figure 1, or must be permitted to rest at that edge of the case for.
an instant to allow of the delivery of the type from any cell in the
case into the race. A reciprocating cut-off gate u is provided at the
bottom of the race upon which the lower end of the types rest as
they are moved forward by the type driver after being ejected from
the channels into the race. The rock shaft is hung in
is moved by the pitman w³ connected to the crank wrist on the end
of the shaft E. The cut-off gate has a movement of only about
one-sixteenth to one-eighth of an inch, according to the size of type
being used in the machine, and the slots are long enough to
allow the arms to produce that amount of change. The type driver D
is attached to the reciprocating plate of the bar Q, which is secured
to the pitman P and the latter to the wheel W hung on the main
driving shaft S. The ejecting fingers a are sustained at the upper end
by resting loosely between the angle plate L and the lower edge of
the type case; and their lower ends are sustained between ways composed
of bars and suitable division plates j, Figure 9, extending down from
the division strips Y of the type channels considerably below the bars h,
and they should have a thickness corresponding with that of the strips
Y. The heads ¹ on the plates j act as guides for that end of the
selecting keys and also in connection with the shoulders c to retain the
plates in position longitudinally between the ejecting fingers a. The
latter should each be of a thickness corresponding to the width of their
respective channels and the type contained in them. The bars are
fixed to the supporting walls A', A". The ejecting fingers a are provided,

page_text: with projecting lugs e and i, Figure 8. I place a shaft T above the
ejecting fingers and a shaft E below them. These shafts are arranged.
parallel to the axial shaft V of the selecting keys F, and they are provided
with heads b, d, and b¹, d¹. These heads are made with a square boss on
their adjacent sides, to which are attached bars g and g¹. The carrier
plates f, f, are attached to these bars in such a manner as to be set
further out or in as may be necessary. The shaft T is driven from-the-
shaft S by suitable mitre gear wheels G, and the shaft E is driven from
the shaft T by spur gear wheels H, H, H; H' is an intermediate wheel
for causing the other two wheels to revolve in the same direction as
indicated by the arrows. The shafts are so arranged that the plates f
and as they revolve will clear the body of the ejecting fingers, but
will catch the lugs e or i when an ejecting finger is in the position
shown in Figure 16 by dotted lines. The plate ƒ carries the ejecting
finger up to deliver the type and the plate f¹ returns it. These plates
are hung upon their supporting shafts, and the latter are so set that
their position with relation to each other shall be such that just as
the edge of the plate f leaves the lug e of an ejecting finger plate f¹
strikes the lug i and returns the finger to its normal position.
To thoroughly guard against accidents to the ejecting fingers in case
of an incomplete or partial movement of the selecting keys F, I have
provided the rock shaft ; to the arms h³ of this shaft is hung the guard
plate n. This plate is moved by the roller j³ acting upon the cam-
shaped periphery of 6 and the toe o, Figures 14 and 15, acting upon
that of d on the opposite end of the shaft. It will be seen that the
toe o hangs below the shaft while the arm of j¹ projects above it, hence
the heads b, d, are made reversely to each other, that is to say, when the
toe is forced out by a projection or fullness on the edge of d, j¹ must be
allowed to recede. By this means when the carrier plate fi is returning
an ejecting finger a, the guard n is above the line of travel of the lug e
of such ejecting finger and remains in that position until the edge of the
carrier plate arrives at the point just to the rear of that shown in full
lines in Figure 16; then the guard n is swung backward striking the lug
e of any ejecting fingers that may have received a partial or incomplete
movement and returns such fingers to their normal position; but in case
a full movement of a selecting key is made, the ejecting finger is thrown
so far forward as to cause the lug e to clear the edge of the guard n in
its backward throw, and also to secure the forward movement of the
ejecting fingers by the carrier f and the delivery of a type from the case.

page_text: The carriers fƒ³, have each one revolution and the guard n one vibration
each way to each reciprocation of the type driver D.
When a selecting key is touched in order to secure a full and complete
movement of the parts and at the proper time to have the type delivered
into the composition, I provide an automatic time lock the bolts m of
which are seen in Figures 1, 2, 3, 14, 15, and 16; the said bolts have
their bearings in the walls A', A", and they are arranged to lock the
arms J of the return bar N.. The said bolts m are held in lock with
the arms by springs 8. The heads b', d, have an enlargement on one
side from t to t¹, Figures 3, 7, and 16, which as they revolve press upon
the joints and force the arms and return bar N together with any
keys that may have been previously moved by the operator to their
normal position, where they are eventually locked by the bolts m. A
full movement of a selecting key is secured by pressing it down for only
an instant. It will be seen that the return bar N is released at each
revolution of the heads b¹ and d¹. The side of these heads toward the
walls A¹, A", is bevelled from " to t¹, as seen in w, Figures 3 and 7.
This bevelled face acts as a cam against the end of the bolts m and
forces them back, thus releasing the arms and permitting them to rise
once during each revolution of the shaft E if a selecting key is touched
at the proper time or rather is pressed down for an instant. The arms
are only unlocked while the points of the heads b', d', are passing
across the end of the bolts m, at any other time they are securely locked
down..
The bank of selecting keys being exceedingly condensed in this
machine it is necessary to separate them by fixed washers w¹¹, Figure 13,
to prevent the movement of one key by the movement of an adjacent
one. This object is accomplished by either flattening the axial shaft V,
or splining it and fitting the washers to it. The selecting keys F are
counterweighted to rest with their rear ends upon the banking plate F¹.
The arrangement of the keyboard is somewhat peculiar, that portion
representing the "lower case" being shown in Figure 2. The keys F:
are of various lengths outside of the fulcrum, and the finger plates are
placed upon their outer ends so as to lie in rows in two directions,
whereby the length of the keyboard, is greatly reduced, being brought
nearly within the range of one hand of the operator. In connection
with this arrangement of keys the type is placed in the case in such a
manner that those combinations of letters occurring most frequently.

page_text: in the composition may all be set at the same instant by a simultaneous
movement of the several keys. Thus many of the prefixes and terminals
may by a certain arrangement of the type in the case corresponding to
the order in which they are required in the line of composition be set
at a single stroke of the type driver D, being all ejected into the race R
by one motion of the hand upon the selecting keys. This arrangement
effects a great saving of time compared with the operation in other type-
setting machines in which only one type can be set at once. Any word
or syllable in which the successive letters constituting it follow each
other in the same order in the case from left to right may be set by the
operator by one movement of the hand, and a reciprocation of the type
driver if he can touch all the keys representing such characters or
letters.
The operation of this improved machine is as follows:-The types are
placed all of one kind in their respective cells or channels with their
lettered end outward and the nicked side up, which position they retain
while being ejected into the race and conveyed into the line of com-
position. Those types which are most in request should be placed
nearest the left hand side of the case to have the least distance to travel
in the race.
The selecting key representing the type desired to be set
is pressed down and the ejecting finger thereby started up to within
reach of the revolving carrier plate f, by which it is forced forward, and
it delivers the type corresponding thereto into the race R; immediately
after this action the cut-off gate is thrown up behind it and it is moved
into the line of composition by the type driver D. As the plate f¹ com-
pletes its revolution the ejecting finger is returned to its former position
and the full portion of the heads from t to t forces the arms J of the
return bar N and any key or keys that may have been previously moved
down to their normal position, where they are all eventually locked by
the bolts m until the same or any other key is moved by the operator.
Then the cams " and force the bolts back unlocking the arms J, and
the operation may be repeated. Any number of selecting keys can be
touched at the same time and the corresponding type will all be acted
upon at the same time and in the same manner, and the operation be
repeated as above described. If desired, the keys may be provided with
spring caps, as shown in Figure 20, which will effectually remove any
disagreeable sensation produced by their manipulation. The tubular
caps Crest upon the enclosed springs &¹, the latter resting upon the end

page_text: of the selecting keys. The caps C₁ are retained in position by the
keyboard D". They act as "feelers" for the time of unlocking the
selecting keys.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
-
First. A type-setting machine, embracing in its. construction the
selecting keys F, return bar N, and type driver D, for the purposes set
forth.
Second. A type-setting machine, embracing in its construction the
ejecting fingers a, type race R, and cut-off gate u, for the purposes set
forth.
Third. The combination of the type case C, type race R, and a con-
tinuously reciprocating type driver D.
Fourth. A type case provided with laterally adjustable division
strips Y, for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. The guard n arranged to operate automatically in returning
any part or parts of the machine that may have received a partial or
incomplete movement by the operator.
Sixth. In combination with the ejecting fingers a, the carriers ƒ, ƒ¹,
arranged to operate conjointly for the purposes set forth..
Seventh. In combination with the heads b', d, or equivalent devices
the time lock m, 8, for the purposes set forth.
Eighth. The continuously reciprocating type driver D having a back-
ward stroke greater than the entire width across the type case, whereby
a type may be delivered from any channel in the case into the race
while the said driver shall be moving from the side wall of the case to
the extremity of its backward throw and returning thereto, for the pur-
poses set forth.
:
Ninth. The return bar N or equivalent contrivance in combination
with the selecting keys F, for the purposes set forth.
Tenth. A type-setting machine embracing in its construction a time
lock m, s, for the purposes set forth.
Eleventh. A type-setting machine embracing in its construction a
type case, ejecting fingers, keys to select such fingers, and a revolving

page_text: carrier operated by power separately from the keys to move such
fingers forward when they are selected to discharge type from the case
into the race, for the purposes set forth.
Twelfth. In combination with the primary revolving carrier for
moving the ejecting fingers forward, the return carrier also having a
positive movement and arranged to operate substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Thirteenth. The arrangement of the characters in the type case in
relation to their respective selecting keys and to the direction of the
movement of the type driver D in the act of setting, substantially as 1
described and for the purposes set forth.
Fourteenth. In combination with the selecting keys F the spring
cap C¹ for the purposes set forth.
Fifteenth. Embraced in a type-setting machine, a type case, a type
race, a type driver, ejecting fingers, keys to select said fingers, and a 1
rotary or a reciprocating carrier or carriers to move the said fingers
when selected, so constructed and arranged in relation to each other that
the movement of an ejecting finger shall eject a type from the case
directly into the race in such a manner as to present its "side" to the
action of the type driver, and be moved thereby directly into the line of 2
composition.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two..
Witness,
CHAS. J. GOOCH.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)