Improvements in Apparatus for Stamping Type Matrices.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stamping Type Matrices.
I, ARTHUR HERBERT ALEXANDER, of 55, Radnor Street, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in the machine described in the
Specification No. 1260 of 1882 so that it can be driven by power and be worked
by one hand only of the operator, quickly and with very little effort.
Hitherto this machine has been worked entirely by manual labor.
The power
required to do this is so great that it reduces the speed of operation to such an
extent as to render the machine practically useless.
The following has hitherto been the modus operandi. The operator rotated the
hand lever C of the drawings to the above mentioned specification until it stood over
the required character as marked on the dial, he then depressed the lever some
4 or 5 inches, thereby actuating the entire machine through one half of the
distance required for the selected character and at the same time storing sufficient
energy in a counterweight to complete the required movement and raise the
lever C to its normal position. In addition to this it was necessary to push
over the handle n¹ with the left hand, to make the impression in the paper or
other material, used for the mould, for every character separately; also at the
end of each line the carriage A had to be returned to its starting place by
repeated revolution of a handle b¹.
With the present improvements, after turning the hand lever C¹ to the char-
acter selected, it is only necessary to press it very lightly thereby causing a
catch to be released, when the driving-power causes the machine to make the
complete cycle of movements necessary to obtain one impression and return
hand-lever C to its original position ready for another character to be selected.
When the line is completed the operator turns a small knob with his left
hand and the carriage A returns automatically and stops itself at any pre-
determined place ready to commence a new line.
The means employed for applying power may be divided into the following
3 heads.
1. Applying power to depress the hand lever A.
2. Applying power to 'impress character and advance carriage of machine
the distance necessary for proper spacing.
3. Applying power to return carriage to any desired place ready for com-
mencing a new line.
1. The following modifications in the construction described in the Specifica-
tion No. 126082 are necessary.
The piece Co is permanently connected to the spindle C5 by a universal joint.
The weight Q is replaced by a spring whose tendency is to pull the lever F in an
upward direction. A bent double-armed lever having a projecting lip at one
end and a pin at its other end is pivotted on a stud screwed into the framing
CD 077

page_text: of the machine the pin fits into and works in a groove turned in the collar C
which collar is fixed rigidly to the spindle C5, at the same time being free to
slide a short distance on the hollow spindle C. The double armed lever is
pivotted in such a manner that the vertical movement of the collar C7 causes
the lip to be inserted and withdrawn from underneath the lever F.
A hook-piece rigidly attached to lever F works in the groove, a certain amount
of "play" being allowed in the fitting.
The action of these parts is as follows:-C₁ being slightly depressed by hand
the lip is withdrawn from under the lever F and the action of the spring
immediately turns the lever F upwards, bringing with it the hook-piece, collar C,
spindle C, and lever C2 until this last is stopped by contact with the dial-plate d.
It will be seen that the "play" provided between groove and hook-piece makes
it possible to depress C¹ enough to release the lip without pulling against the
.spring.
As soon as the spring has pulled the hand-lever C₁ right down, it is returned
to its former position by a cam and other mechanism described.
2. The motive power to advance the carriage A is applied by means of a con-
stantly running pulley revolving freely on a shaft.
This pulley contains within it and elastically connected to it a circular rack-
a flange plate keyed on the shaft enters the open side of the pulley and carries
a lever and catch whose tendency is to engage with the rack by reason of the
pressure of a spring. A rod carried in bearings on the frame of the machine
has on it a spring tending to draw it away from the plate. The opposite end
of the rod is engaged by a cam fixed to a vertical slide.
The shaft is connected by gearing to a second cam whilst a third cam keyed
on the shaft impinges on a roller carried on a stud fixed to the vertical slide and
when the shaft is revolved this cam depresses the vertical slide and compresses
the spring.
The action is as follows:-When the operator by touching the hand-lever C¹
liberates the spring, and causes the vertical slide to rise, the first cam rising with
it allows the rod to be withdrawn from contact with the lever by the action of
its spring and allows the catch to engage with the rack. Immediately the motion
is imparted to the shaft which makes one complete revolution, as also do the
second and third cams. When the lever comes round and again engages with
the rod the catch is thereby disengaged from rack, and the machine comes to
rest in the normal position. The third cam has during its revolution depressed
the vertical slide sufficiently to allow the catch to be inserted under the lever F
ready for the next character to be selected. The second cam during its revolu-
tion has impressed the previously selected character.
3. The mechanism for automatically returning the carriage A to any desired
point is as follows. A knob is placed in a convenient position at the front of
machine and fixed on a rod which runs through the framing of machine to the
back. On the end of this rod is a pin and near it also fixed on the rod is a cam.
By rotating the rod the cam is made to insert two wedge pieces under two feed
pawls raising them from their ratchet-wheels thereby leaving the feed screw
free to rotate in either direction. After the cam has accomplished the with-
drawal of the pawls, further rotation of the rod causes a pin on it to engage a
lever pivotted at its centre and having its lower end engaging with a groove
between two flanges on a shaft mounted in suitable bearings on the frame of
machine and carrying on its opposite end a constantly moving pulley free to
revolve on it. This pulley has a series of teeth cut on the face of its boss whilst
the shaft is free to move slightly endways and has on it a spur wheel also having
teeth on its boss capable of engaging with those on the pulley. This wheel is
also loose on the shaft and gears into a smaller wheel keyed on the feed screw
On the shaft is a loose collar capable of being fixed by means of a screw.
lug projects from carriage A of machine and is adapted to come into contac
with the collar at any point at which the latter may be set for that purpose.
A

page_text: The action of the parts is as follows:--The operator turns the knob on the
rod which first withdraws the pawls from their corresponding ratchet wheels
then (on being turned further) operates the lever and draws the shaft and pulley
along in the bearings until the teeth on the boss of the pulley engage those on the
boss of the gear wheel when the latter is driven round by the constantly revolving
pulley and the carriage A is made to travel back until the lug comes into con-
tact with the collar on the shaft and automatically throws the shaft back towards
the pulley and allows the spring contained in the clutch to disengage the two
halves of the same thereby arresting the movement of screw and carriage A.
Dated this 31st day of August 1897.
I, ARTHUR HERBERT ALEXANDER, of 55, Radnor Street, in the City of London,
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 follow-
ing statement:
-
This invention relates to improvements in the machine described in the
Specification No. 1260 of 1882 so that it can be driven by power and be worked
by one hand only of the operator, quickly and with very little effort.
Hitherto this machine has been worked entirely by manual labor. The power
equired to do this is so great that it reduces the speed of operation to such an
extent as to render the machine practically useless.
Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 a front elevation of the machine. Figure 3
is a local section on the line 3-3 Figure 1 and Figure 4 is a rear elevation. The
various parts of the machine so far as they correspond to those of the machine
described in the former specification bear the same letters.
The following has hitherto been the modus operandi. The operator rotated the
hand lever c¹ until it stood over the required character as marked on the dial, he then
depressed the lever some 4 or 5 inches, thereby actuating the entire machine
through one half of the distance required for the selected character and at the
same time storing sufficient energy in a counterweight to complete the required
movement and raise the lever to its normal position. In addition to this it
was necessary to push over the handle (which is dispensed with in the present
machine) with the left hand, to make the impression in the paper or other
material, used for the mould, for every character separately: also at the end
of each line the carriage A had to be returned to its starting place by repeated
revolution of a handle (also dispensed with).
With the present improvements, after turning the hand lever c¹ to the char-
acter selected, it is only necessary to press it very lightly thereby causing a
catch to be released, when the driving power causes the machine to make the
complete cycle of movements necessary to obtain one impression and return
hand lever e to its original position ready for another character to be selected.
When the line is completed the operator turns a small knob with his left hand
and the carriage A returns automatically and stops itself at any predetermined
place ready to commence a new line.

page_text: The means employed for applying power may be divided into the following
3 heads.
1. Applying power to depress the lever c².
2. Applying power to impress character and advance carriage of machine the
distance necessary for proper spacing.
3. Applying power to return carriage to any desired place ready for com-
mencing a new line.
1. The following modifications in the construction described in the Specifica-
tion No. 126083 are necessary.
The piece is permanently connected to the spindle by a universal joint.
The weight Q is replaced by a spring whose tendency is to pull the lever F in
an upward direction. A bent double armed lever having a projecting lip x¹
at one end and a pin 2 at its other end is pivotted at 3 on a stud screwed into
the framing of the machine the pin 2 fits into and works in a groove 20 turned
in the collar c' which collar is fixed rigidly to the spindle cat the same time
being free to slide a short distance on the hollow spindle c. The double armed
lever is pivotted at in such a manner that the vertical movement of the
collar c causes the lip ¹ to be inserted and withdrawn from underneath the
lever F.
A hook piece 2 rigidly attached to lever F works in the groove 20 a certain
amount of“ play" being allowed in the fitting.
The action of these parts is as follows:- being slightly depressed by hand
the lia is withdrawn from under the lever F and the action of the spring Q
immediately turns the lever F upwards, bringing with it the hook piece,
collar c, spindle c, and lever c² until this last is stopped by contact with the
dial plate d.
It will be seen that the "play" provided between groove and hook picce 2
makes it possible to depress c enough to release the lip ¹ without pulling against
the spring Q.
As soon as the spring Q has pulled the hand lever c¹ right down, it is returned to
its former position by a cam and other mechanism hereinafter described.
2. The motive power to advance the carriage A is applied by means of a con-
stantly running pulley P revolving freely on a shaft S.
nis pulley contains within it and elastically connected to it a circular rack R
―a flange plate E having a boss E6 keyed on the shaft S enters the open side
of the pulley P and carries a lever E¹ pivotted at E3 and catch E2 whose tendency
is to engage with the rack R by reason of the pressure of a spring E. A rod T
carried in bearings on the frame of the machine has on it a spring T tending
to draw it away from the plate E.. The opposite end of the rod T is engaged by
a cam fixed to a vertical slide V.
The shaft S is connected by gearing Z to a second cam V2 whilst a third cam V3
keyed on the shaft S impinges on a roller 1 carried on a stud fixed to the vertical
slide V and when the shaft S is revolved this cam depresses the vertical slide
and compresses the spring Q.
The action is as follows:-When the operator by touching the hand lever c¹
liberates the spring Q and causes the vertical slide V to rise the first cam Vi
rising with it allows the rod T to be withdrawn from contact with the lever E
by the action of its spring T1 and allows the catch E2 to engage with the rack R.
Immediately the motion of P is imparted to the shaft S which makes one com-
plete revolution, as also do the second and third cams V2 V3. When the lever E¹
comes round and again engages with the rod T the catch E2 is thereby disengaged
from rack R and the machine comes to rest in the normal position. The third
cam V3 has during its revolution depressed the vertical slide V sufficiently to
allow the catch a to be inserted under the lever F ready for the next character
to be selected. The second cam V2 during its revolution has impressed the
previously selected character.

page_text: The descent of the slide V as in the former specification by means of the
rack g turns the sector 2 mounted loose on the shaft k and carrying the driving
pawl g³ which turns the ratchet wheel h and shaft k, the latter through the gear-
ing revolving the feed screw b.
3. The mechanism for automatically returning the carriage A to any desired
point is as follows. A knob H is placed in a convenient position at the front
of machine and fixed on a rod H which runs through the framing of machine
to the back. On the end of this rod is a pin H2 and near it also fixed on the rod
is a cam G. By rotating the rod H₁ the cam G is made to insert two wedge
pieces X X under two feed pawls g³g raising them from their ratchet wheels
thereby leaving the feed screw 6 free to rotate in either direction. After the
cam G has accomplished the withdrawal of_the_pawls gg-further rotation of
the rod D causes a pin H2 on it to engage a lever W pivotted at its centre and
having its lower end engaging with a groove J between two flanges on a shaft K
mounted in suitable bearings on the frame of machine and carrying on its
opposite end a constantly moving pulley P¹ free to revolve on it. This pulley
has a series of teeth cut on the face of its boss whilst the shaft K is free to move
slightly endways and has on it a spur wheel M also having teeth on its boss
capable of engaging with those on the pulley P. This wheel is also loose on
the shaft and gears into a smaller wheel keyed on the feed screw b. On the
shaft K is a loose collar O capable of being fixed by means of a screw O¹ A
lug P projects from carriage A of machine and is adapted to come into contact
with the collar O at any point at which the latter may be set for that purpose.
The action of the parts is as follows:-The operator turns the knob H on the
rod H which first withdraws the pawls g3 g6 from their corresponding ratchet
wheels then (on being turned further) operates the lever W and draws the shaft
and pulley along in the bearings until the teeth on the boss of the pulley engage
those on the boss of the gear wheel when the latter is driven round by the con-
stantly revolving pulley P¹ and the carriage A is made to travel back until the
lug P comes into contact with the collar O on the shaft K and automatically
throws the shaft back towards the pulley P¹ and allows the spring contained in
the clutch to disengage the two halves of the same thereby arresting the move-
ment of screw b and carriage A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained 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 combination with the spindle c* of means tending to force it downwards
and a catch operated by the lever c normally retaining it in a raised position.
2. The combination of the spindle the lever F the inner end of which loosely
engages with the spindle, a spring tending to raise the outer end of the lever and
the double armed lever one end of which engages with the spindle and the
other comes beneath the lever F.
3. The combination of the shaft S, the constantly running pulley P and means
operated by the lever c whereby the pulley is connected to the shaft and then
after one revolution again disconnected from it.
4. The combination of the cam V₁, rod T, catch lever E¹ and rack R.
5. The combination of the constantly running pulley P¹, the shaft K connected
by gearing with the feed screw b and means for simultaneously disconnecting
the screw from its feed mechanism and for connecting the pulley P¹ and
shaft K.
6. The combination with the subject matter of the preceding claim of the
cam G, pin H, and lever W.
7. Means applying power to depress the lever substantially as described
and shown in the drawings.
8. Means for applying power to impress the characters and advance the
carriage substantially as described and shown in the drawings.

page_text: 9. Means for applying power to return the carriage substantially as described
and shown in the drawings.
10. Apparatus for stamping type matrices substantially as described and shown
in the drawings.