Improvements in Apparatus for Distributing or Composing Type.
Year: 1890

page_text: te of Application, 6th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Distributing or Composing Type.
We, JULES GUSTAVE RETAUX. of S4 Chaussée Marcade, Abbeville, France, and
JOSEPH AGNATIUS MEDAWAR, of Suffolk House, Laurence Pountney Hill, Cannon
Street, E.C., Insurance and Advertising Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
lescribed and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the operations of type-distributing
and type-composing and will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus with the composing stick and portion of
the stand removed;
Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of Fig. 1 with the composing stick in position ;
Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 1 without the type distributor ;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a detached portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1
2 and 3;
Figs. 5 6 and 7 are respectively a plan, side elevation and front elevation of the
type distributor;
Figs. 8 and 9 are elevations of opposite sides of the composing stick and a portion
of one of the shoots E.
Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9 looking in the direction
of the arrow
and
Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 8.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is the framing by which the operative parts of the apparatus are supported and
which may be long enough to directly support it at a suitable height from the floor or
shorter to admit of the said apparatus being supported on a table or other stand, or
the said framing may be telescopic so as to admit of its height being adjusted. Bare
type shoots corresponding in number to the different letters, numerals, punctuation
marks, and other character or symbols and spaces, quads and the like comprised in
the complete font which it is intended to assort in the apparatus; these in different
apparatus may be constructed to suit different requirements. Each of these shoots
being devised for receiving a special letter or character they are not made all of the
same width for example that for receiving the letter "i" would be narrower than that
for receiving the letter
w,"
At their upper or receiving ends the shoots B all
terminate in the same horizontal plane but as represented in Fig. 3 not in the same
vertical plane they being at this part disposed in a curved line concentric with the
centre Cabout which is partially rotated the type distributor as hereinafter explained.
When a rectilineally operating distributor is used instead of the pivoted one shown in
the accompanying drawings then the upper ends of the shoots B may all terminate in
the same horizontal and vertical planes.
The lower ends of the shoots B terminate all in the same horizontal and vertical
planes and near their lower ends are each provided with preferably two "retarders" B¹
one below the other and each consisting of a small bar or flap pivoted on a
wire B2 common to all the other "retarders" in the same tier as shown in Fig. 1
and on an enlarged scale at Fig. 4, where only five of the shoots B and their adjuncts
are shown.
Dare inclined troughs supported on angle iron bearers A¹ Fig. 2 or in other
convenient manner and in each of which is provided a weight D' which tends always
to push the type contained in the trough D) down towards the lower or front end
thereof at which part cach said trough joins a vertical shoot E the lower end of which
is normally closed by a spring controlled door E' as shown clearly in Figs. 8 and 9.

page_text: Each of these doors may consist of an angle plate the normally horizontal member of
which constitutes the door proper and the other or downwardly depending member E²
has fixed to it one end of the spring E3 (which also fulfils the function of a hinge)
and the other end of which is secured to the shoot E, and the member E² also
serves as a lever for opening the door; this door however if desired may be differently
constructed.
Fis a horizontal shaft mounted so that it may rotate in bearings A in the frames A
and is a pulley for receiving the band or equivalent by which motion is transmitted
to the shaft F from any suitable imotor; if desired however this shaft may be arranged
either with or without gearing so that it may be rotated by hand or foot power. On
shaft F are secured a number of wheels or discs F one for each of the troughs D and
preferably formed with carved recesses F3 and projections F.
The vertical shoots E are closed in at the front by transparent glass and in order to
indicate the particular type character contained in each shoot there is provided
preferably near its lower end a plate E bearing immediately in front of each shoot a
representation of the said type character.
The distributor G as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 consists of a plate G' pivoted at (
Figs. 2 and 3 to the framing. A as herein-before mentioned and supported at its forward
or free end on one or more but preferably two rollers H which are capable of traversing
the partly circular race or path A3 formed on the framing A. On the plate are
provided two fixed vertical plates G2 G3 and an adjustable one G₁ for supporting on
their ends the type to be assorted. G5 is a handle by which the distributor may he
moved for introducing the types into the upper ends of the various shoots B. G is
a groove in the plate G and of which groove the plate G constitutes one vertical
wall or side: In the groove G and against the plate G2 slides the driver I which is
actuated by the spring which tends always to push the driver towards the front of
the distributor. The driver I is provided with a knob or handle K to enable it to he
moved back by hand and with a projection K Fig. 6 to enable it to be retained in an
inactive position by means of a spring catch K. G7 is an opening in the plate G¹
through which the types are pressed by the plunger L which is mounted so that it may
move vertically up and down in the guide L when operated by the rod L² to which
it is connected by the arm L³. The rod 12 is guided in the tube L wherein it is
prevented from rotating by a screw L working in a slot. L Fig. 7 and at its upper
end is provided by a head 17 between the underside of which or of the arm 13 and the
guide tube a spring 18 tends always to move the rod L2 and plunger L to the
elevated position in which they are represented in the accompanying drawings.
The lower end of the rod 1 is furnished with a pin M which by entering the holes M
in the stationary plate or quadrant M2 (Fig. 3) for the time being locks the distri-
butor G in position to enable the type which is being pressed down by the plunger L
to fall into the proper one of the shoots B. M³ is a guard plate depending from the
lower side of the plate G¹ and so arranged that it will be close in front of the upper
ends of the shoots B so as to guide the types into them. N is an index secured on
the distributor G for pointing to type and other characters M' marked on the
quadrant M² to indicate the position to which the distributor must be moved in order
that the types may be put each into its proper shoot, the characters on the quadrant
consequently being representations of the types to be dealt with in the apparatus.
O is a spring or tongue for preventing the types from falling from the distributor
until after they have been pressed past it by the plunger L. P are the winged
nuts by loosening which on their bolts the supporting plate G4 may be adjusted
and which when tightened secure the said plate in position as will be well
understood.
The composing stick Q, Figs. 2, 8, 9 and 10, mounted so that a part of it may
be moved beneath the lower onds of the shoots E and for this purpose it is provided
with a sleeve Q which is capable of sliding on the rod A secured to the framing A
and with the claw Q2 for guiding it on the rail A5 which is also carried by the framing A.
The stick proper is composed of a metal channel or trough Q³ of the cross section
shown in Fig. 11 and this stick although shown horizontal in Fig. 2 would preferably

page_text: though not necessarily have a downward inclination towards the front end which may
be closed. At one side of the stick is a bent lever R R adapted to be moved on its
pivot R2 in the direction indicated by the arrow by the finger of the operator applied
to the end R of said lever and in the opposite direction by the spring R³. The end R
of lever R R is that by, which the beforementioned doors E are opened and the
said lever is so formed as to provide a cain surface R₁ for operating in one direction
the lever S, the extended end S' of the pivot of which constitutes a stop for preventing
the finger lever R R being moved too far by the operator as indicated in dotted lines
in Fig. 9. A spring S² secured at one end to a pin S3 and at the other end to the
upper end of the lever S causes the pin S1 in the lower end of said lever to always
remain in contact with the cam surface R. T is a lever pivoted at T which may be
co-axial with the pivot R2 of lever R R and the lower end of which is provided with
a plate T2 against which operates the lower end of lever S to move T from its normal
position (shown in fuil lines in Figs. 8 and 9) to that indicated in dotted lines in
Fig. 9; a spring T3 tends always to move the lever T back to or retain it in its normal
position. At its upper end the lever T carries a resilient finger U which is pointed
at its end and adapted to enter an uncovered or unglazed portion of the -hoots D just
below the indicating tablet E and press against the lowest but one of the types in the
shoot so as to arrest the descent of said type and that of the types above it. Q is a
screw for clamping the sleeve Q' to the stick Q³ and by loosening which the position
of the operative parts of the stick may be adjusted in relation to the shoots E and
doors E thereof. V are
two curved or inclined plates or cars for directing
the types falling from E into the stick Q3 and W. Fig. 9, is a block loose
in the stick Q3 for supporting the types so that their faces may always be
uppermost.
Assuming to commence with that there are no types in the apparatus its
operation will be as follows;-
The winged nuts P on the distributor are first slackened so as to release the
adjustable supporting plate G' and the form or square of type to be assorted and
distributed, each character into its proper receptacle, is placed upon the plate G
between the supporting plates G³ and G with the printing faces upwards. The
adjustable plate G is then moved up against the types, not so as to clamp them but
only so as to prevent them from toppling over, the said plate G being then secured in
this position by tightening the wing nuts P on their bolts. The pusher is then
drawn back against the pressure of the spring J and if necessary temporarily retained
in its withdrawn position by means of the projection and spring catch K1 K2 the types
are then pushed by hand or by means of a brush, rod or in other suitable manner so
that the first line thereof will fall into the groove G and he supported by the plate G².
The catch K is now released from the driver I which is pressed by its spring J
against the first line of type and presses the first letter of said line against the plate G³
immediately below the plunger L. The shaft F if not already revolving is now rotated
in the direction of the arrow y in Fig. 2 at preferably about one hundred revolutions
a minute though this speed may be increased or decreased if desired. The operator
then having noted what letter is beneath the plunger L, say for example the letter "S."
moves the distributor on its pivot. Cuntil the index N points to the letter "S"
marked on the quadrant M and presses with his finger on the head 17 which first
inserts the pin M in one of the holes M' so as temporarily to lock the distributor in
position and then by its further depression forces the plunger L on to the "S" type
and presses it down, through the opening G7 in the plate G past the spring O and
into the upper end of the "S" shoot B down which it falls and in which its momentum
is checked by the retarders B' which prevent it from pitching forwards out of the
shoot B. It now falls on to the wheel F revolving at the bottom of the shoot and
this directs its lower end into the "S" shoot E down which it falls until stopped by
the door E'.
As soon as the last type in the preceding example the "S" type, has been pressed
by the plunger L past the lower end of the type next it in the distributor, say a
"W" type, the spring-actuated driver 1 presses the said type against the side of the

page_text: plunger L and when the plunger is next raised to its normal position by the spring La
the driver I forces the "W" type immediately beneath the plunger and against the
plate G³ with sufficient force to prevent it by its own weight falling through the
hole G'. The distributor then again being free the operator moves it until the index
points to the letter "W" on the quadrant M2 and repeats the beforedescribed
operation and so on until all the type in the first line of the distributor are disposed
The driver is then again drawn back against the spring J and secured if
required by the catch K² the next line of type in the form pushed up into the position
previously occupied by the first line the driver I again pressed against it by the
spring J and these operations repeated until the whole of the type in the distributor
has been distributed or the troughs filled up.
of.
As soon as one of the shoots E say that for containing the "S" types is filled, the
types all standing end upon end therein, the next descending "S" type will be pushed
by one of the projections of the appropriate wheel into the lower end of the
"S" trough D against the descending influence of the weight D' contained therein
the type still being vertical or approximately so and with the printing face uppermost.
This may be continued until one or more of the troughs D are full at which juncture
the rotation of the shaft F and the operation of the distributor G can be stopped the
apparatus is then ready for use for composing purposes.
Assuming that the compositor desires to set up the word "Retaux" be first slides
the stick along the machine until the finger U is immediately beneath the letter "R"
marked on the tablet E, then with one of his fingers he draws the upper end R of
the lever R R in the direction of the arrow Figs. 8 and 9. This operation will
move the cam surface R' so as to allow the lower end of the lever S under the
influence of the spring S2 to be drawn against the plate T of lever T and move this
lever against the influence of its spring T3 (which is weaker than the spring S²) so
that the pointed end of the finger U will enter the "R" shoot D and press upon the
lowest but one type therein as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, so as to support it and
those above it when the door E' is opened which is effected almost simultaneously
therewith by the end R' pressing against the member E2 of the door and moving it
towards the operator. When the door E¹ is thus opened the lowest type which is the
only one left unsupported falls out of the shoot E and is directed by the plates V into
the trough on stick Q³, the printing face being still uppermost.
As soon as the operator releases the lever R R its spring R³ which is stronger than
the spring S2 returns it to its normal position (shown in full lines in Fig. 9) and
removes the end of arm R' from the door E' which is instantly closed by its spring E³
and by the movement of the cam surface R' this operation also causes the upper end
of lever S which is inside the trough or stick Q³ to push the "R" type along so as to
leave room for the next type which will be allowed to fall by the next operation of the
lever R R¹, the "R" type being supported in a vertical or nearly vertical position by
the block W which is gradually moved towards the outer or open end of the stick as
the types accumulate in it. When the lower end of the lever $ is disengaged from the
lower end of the lever T the spring T3 will return lever T to its normal position and in
so doing withdraw the pointed end of the resilient finger U from the shoot E and
allow the types contained in said shoot to descend to the extent of one type's length
the lowest one being stopped by the door E which as already explained is now
closed. The shoots E are always kept full by the types pressed into them from the
troughs D.
To obtain the next type letter "E" the composing stick is moved along the bar A*
until the finger U is immediately beneath the letter "E" on the tablet E' and the
lever R R is operated as before so that one of the "E" types will fall into the
composing stick and be pushed up against the "R" type already there and so on with
all the letters until the word is completed, when if a stop or certain space be required
the composing stick is moved along the bar A until the finger U is beneath the
representation on the tablet of the stop or required width of space as the case
may be.
It will be understood that a distributor travelling in or on straight or curved rails

page_text: would equally well fulfil all the functions of the pivoted one, but preference is given
to the pivoted distributor because it is considered to be somewhat easier of
manipulation.
•
If desired the apparatus may be simultaneously used for the purposes of type
distribution and composing one operator manipulating the distributor G and another
the composing stick Q.
The beforedescribed apparatus may in many ways be varied in its constructional
details without departing from the spirit of the invention and moreover as will be
readily understood the distributor G and composing stick Qare respectively applicable
for use on a machine or apparatus to be employed for either distributing or composing
purposes instead of on combined distributing and composing apparatus such as is
herein described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. In type distributing or composing apparatus the combination with a type shoot
or channel of one or more "retarders" such as B' so pivoted that by their own weight
a portion of each will project into the shoot and. present a surmountable obstacle to the
descent of the types in the shoot substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 2
and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
2. In type distributing or composing apparatus the combination with a type trough
such as D of a wheel or disc such as having recesses F³ and projections F₁ for
charging the types into the said trough substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
3. In type distributing or composing apparatus the combination with shoots such
as B and E and a trough such as D of a wheel such as F substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In type distributing apparatus the combination with a plunger L mounted on a
movable plate such as GT through which it is adapted to press the types of a groove
such as G and spring actuated driver such as I substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In type distributing apparatus the combination with a plunger L grooved plate
such as GG and spring-actuated driver such as I of two stationary and one
adjustable type-supporting plates such as G2 G3 and G₁ substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In type distributing apparatus the combination with a distributor from which the
types are discharged by a plunger of a pin such as M working simultaneously with said
plunger Land a perforated plate such as M² for receiving the pin M substantially as
and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the completo "distributor"
substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
8. In composing apparatus the combination with a shoot such as E of a spring-
controlled door such as E' E' substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
9. In composing apparatus the combination with a shoot such as E having a spring-
controlled door such as E E of a composing stick carrying a lever such as R R¹ for
opening said door substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
10. In composing apparatus the combination with a shoot and composing stick such
as EQ³ of a finger such as U for supporting the superposed type while the lowest one
is being removed substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
11. In composing apparatus the combination with a composing stick such as Q3 of
levers such as R R and S substantially as described and illustrated in the accom
panying drawings.

page_text: 12. In composing apparatus the combination with a composing stick such as Q3 of
levers such as R R S and T substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
**
13. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
composing stick" substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. S to 11 of the
accompanying drawings.
14. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete type
distributing and composing machine substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
J. G. RETAUX.
J. A. MEDAWAR.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.