Improvements relating to the Production of Stereotype Matrices.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Production of Stereotype Matrices.
I, AGUSTIN ALFARO of Claudio Coello's Street 97 Madrid in the Kingdom of
Spain, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
n what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:―
.
Up to the present time, for the purpose of printing books or newspapers from
stereotype-plates, the matter had first to be set up in type, either by hand or by
machinery; then an impression or matrix of the whole form had to be taken in a bed
of generally sodden or pulpy paper or papier mache; and lastly the stereotype plate
or block was cast or moulded in that matrix.
.
The object of this machine is to simplify the process of forming the matrix by
dispensing with the slow, and therefore expensive, operation of setting up the
type, one by one; instead of which each successive letter of the text to be printed
is here directly impressed in the pulpy paper or other plastic bed suitably fed to
the machine for the purpose. The pulp is then allowed to harden and the stereotype
may be moulded.
This machine consists of three parts, viz.
The lower part in which the plastic bed is placed; the upper part by which the
impression of the successive characters in the plastic bed is effected; and the central
portion, the object of which is to change the lines at given intervals, in accordance
with the requirements of the work.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan of the upper portion of the machine;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the complete machine;
Figure 3 is a plan of the lowermost portion and
Figure 4 a plan of the central or intermediate portion thereof.
The lowermost portion Figures 2 and 3 consists of two parallel bars o preferably
of wood, connected by two cross-bars g of the same or other material. Upon
these bars are placed steel (or other) rails and racks c also preferably of
steel. Between the two bars is arranged a sliding plastic bed receptacle or
carriage K.
The central or intermediate part Figs. 2 and 4 consists of a metal frame the
sides B of which form rails for the top part of the machine to work upon; the said
rails being joined by preferably metal rods b. The rollers e support the frame and
run upon the rails & of the lower portion.
The upper and essential part of the machine Figs. 1 and 2 comprises the main
operative parts, all of which are mounted on a metal frame B supported by
preferably four rollers r.
Toothed wheels R' and R of equal diameter are respectively and permanently
connected with the large wheel T, carrying the characters to be imprinted in the
plastic bed and with the stationary or non-rotating disc D which is perforated
at its centre, and slotted at the upper edge of its upturned rim. An arm L
pivotted at one end in the central opening of D extends horizontally and terminates
at its other end in a guide p in which slides the bar hinged to the key
lever M.
This key lever is adapted both to turn horizontally over the disc D and be
moved vertically in the guiding slots of the upturned rim of the disc D and to
facilitate its insertion into these slots it tapers towards or is reduced at the end
as shown. The bar y is connected to the key lever M by a pin traversing the
disc D and adapted to depress and push into the plastic bed below, the letter which
happens, at any given time, to be underneath the striking point of the pin, the

page_text: corresponding advance movement taking place for each successive letter, in the
upper part of the machine.
This movement is transmitted to the pawl e by an arm i secured to g engaging
a lever arm secured on shaft bon which is also secured a lever arm / to
which is pivotted the upper end of the pawl e' which engages with the rack d
Fig. 4.
The operation is as follows:-When the paper or other pulp or other plastic bed
is introduced into the receptacle K, the upper and central portions of the machine
are moved upon their rails to the starting point of their respective racks. Then
the key lever M is placed in the particular slot of D which corresponds to the
character it is desired to imprint in the plastic bed, and the knob or button m
is depressed, thus producing the required impression. To pass from this letter
to the next the key lever M is raised, turned to the letter which is to
follow, and the same operation is repeated as in the case of the preceding
letter.
When a word is completed the handle is brought up against a slot especially
provided for the purpose in D and corresponding to no letter, but forming the
spaces between the words.
When one line is completed, the central portion of the machine is moved forward
the distance of one tooth of the rack, whereupon the pawls of the upper part are
raised and a fresh line is started.
The details of the before described apparatus may be varied to suit practical
requirements without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is
1. The process of imprinting or impressing successive letters directly in the
pulp or plastic bed employed for making stereotype matrices substantially as
described.
2. The machine for imprinting successive letters directly in the pulp or plastic
bed employed for making stereotype matrices substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a typographic machine the combination with a fixed disc bearing a
representation of the printing characters of a movable key lever pivotted concentri-
cally with the disc aud adapted to be turned to the respective character, the said
key lever being connected by two equal toothed wheels with a wheel bearing the
type in such a manner that as the key lever is turned the type wheel is also turned
so that whatever character the key lever is stopped at is presented by the type
wheel underneath the said key lever in such manner that it may be depressed by
the said key lever substantially as described.
4. In a typographical machine a type "wheel such as T carrying the depressible
types substantially as described.
5. In a typographical machine the combination with a type wheel such as T of
spring controlled types such as L substantially as described and illustrated in 'the
accompanying drawings.
་
6. In a typographical machine the combination with a key lever such as M of a
crank arm two spur wheels and a type wheel such as T substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of January 1892
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.