Stereotype Matrices.
Year: 1884

page_text: Stereotype Matrices.
I BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of
23 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESSES AND
APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEREOTYPE MATRICES a communication to me from
abroad by Marie Armand Paul Oudio, of Poitiers, France, Printer; Hilaire Marie
Jules Oudin of Paris, France, Bookseller and Ernesto Codignola of Milan, Italy
to be as follows:-
The invention constituting the subject of the present application consists of a
new process by which is obtained a perfect and regular stereotype of typographic
productions, of music and also of writings by means of type (without previous
composition of moveable characters,) by means of a special apparatus applying
directly and successively the letters or characters, the combination of which con-
stitutes the work upon the paper, the sheets, and the plastic pastes for stereotype,
caoutchouc or in a word any material capable of receiving impressions.
There are prepared plastic pastes either of stereotype paper, or of other suitable
material malleable to different degrees according to the character of the typo-
graphical works, or even metallic plates.
One or other of these preparations is placed upon a layer of pitch or other
resinous material or even upon cloth.
By the aid of the present apparatus I print automatically upon these different
kinds of preparations the letters or other characters and I obtain a perfect mould
for the casting of the stereotype. It is this result which suppresses the previous
typographical composition.
In order to give a clear description of the present system, I have represented
one form of apparatus by means of which the invention is realized in the accom-
panying drawings but only by way of example.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the machine and Figure 2 is a plan of
the same partly in section.

page_text: The stereographotypic machine comprises a keyboard H having the desired
number of keys upon which are the letters of the alphabet (Capitals and small
letters) the figures, the typographical signs and the blanks.
The compositor by pressing successively the keys which correspond to. the
letters necessary for composing the word, raises the ends of the levers G of
the keys, which by communicating with the arms of the hammers depresses them
horizontally.
The hammers being placed in a semi-circle and radiating as represented at B
Figure 1; when they are put in motion by the keys all fall to the centre of the
semi-circle and by passing through an opening O having the form of a perforated
anvil, they penetrate it and in consequence of their projections or wings can only
strike to a perfectly uniform depth into the paste carried by the carriage K.
At the same time as when pressing a key the corresponding hammer is caused
to fall, an axis with appendage J is turned which communicates with the escape-
ment mechanism I in such manner that the latter mechanism worked by the motive
weight L produces by means of differential wheels P, the advance of the carriage K
by a number of typographical points proportional to the thickness of the letter
which has just been printed.
The carriage K carrying the paste works transversely by another carriage Q,
which has a longitudinal motion.
With the carriage K which has a transverse motion; an advance is made in the
direction of the line and with the carriage Q which has a longitudinal motion
communicated to it by a handle N and quadrant of typographical points, liues can
be made one under the other at the desired distance.
Another handle M effects the return of the carriage K to its starting point in order
to enable the following line to be commenced: two turns of this handle suffice to effect
this return motion of the carriage upon its entire length and at the same time, by
means of the transmission by the gearing S, S¹ to wind up the motive weight L.
.The handle T serves to work the carriage K in the case where before com-
mencing a line, in the midst of this line important blanks would be required.
The handle also serves for the quotations amongst the text for the inscription, for
corrections and for other purposes.
Each of the hammers D carries four (or more or less) moveable letters (Roman,
italics, Norman and small capitals) or even a certain number of bodies at choice.
These letters are fixed at the head C of the hammer by means of a screw.
The head of the hammer is circular with four screw appendages pierced with
rectangular holes into which the tails of the letters enter. A pedal causes the
heads of all the hammers to turn together a quarter of a turn at a time. These
heads are fixed to the upper extremities of the arms of the hammers with a pivot
and they can present at the opening O the kind of character which it is wished to
use among those which are previously mounted.
It therefore results that with this new system of stereographotypy a single
alphabet is only required for each kind of character. By not receiving any
pressure this latter is always maintained intact. With regard to the composition,
as it takes place with great rapidity, a compositor can do with this machine the
work of eight compositors in the same space of time.
When the mould is obtained the same process is followed as in ordinary stereo-
typing, to make the stereotype.
One thing of the greatest importance is that by my process all the lines attain
the same length; by this means is solved the problem of the justification of the
lines, a result which up to the present in spite of all attempts had never yet been
obtained. Besides I would here remark that the principle itself upon which this
new system is based forms an essential part of the present Invention because it
has been found that in basing the characters upon the typographic point, for the
thickness as well as for the breadth (for hitherto they are only pointed in relation
to breadth) the number of letters can be known which can enter into a line,
whatever may be its length.

page_text: The characters which ought to be used for my machine with regard to the
thickness, are of full thickness, three quarter, half and a quarter.
As for example
Before making the mould the compositor effects a preliminary work which serves
to obtain the lines of the same length in the composition of the mould and for the
most important corrections.
In this manner is obtained a printed proof before making the mould. For this
purpose there is placed in the apparatus in place of the paste a sheet of special
paper, that is to say this sheet marks the limit of the lines by six or even more
longitudinal lines. After having placed in the centre of the hammers a pad
saturated with ink, the compositor proceeds in the same manner as for making the
mould only he makes the lines approximately of the desired length but when
the proof is obtained by this process in consequence of the letters being divided
into four proportions, the compositor on seeing the lines notes in their midst the
limit of the length occupied or not by the letters; he can then easily ascertain in
composing the mould how many blanks it will be necessary to put in or leave out
between the words.
I reserve to myself the right to communicate the movement of the keys to the
hammers by any other method of transmission either mechanical or electrical than
that above described as also the key board could if needed be replaced by a Bréguet
or other dial and the heads of the haminers which receive the characters signs or
type to be printed can be replaced by a wheel upon which these same characters
would be engraved or adapted at will.
The processes and the apparatus above described are evidently applicable to all
kinds of typographical work as also to stenography, reserving the right to modify
the different details of construction according to the various applications which can
be made of them.
E. Diaphragm or guide for the hammers.
F. A counter weight acting as an equilibrium to the hammers.
G. Lever of the key communicating the movement to each hammer.
H. Keys with their proportional projections H¹ causing the haminers to work.
I. Escapement Mechanism in four proportions put in motion by the weight L
in order to draw the carriage K, along a space equal to the letter printed by each
of the hammers.
J. Axis with appendages placed under the keyboard and upon which the keys
strike causing them to turn at an angle proportional to the letter carried by the
key which gives motion to the escapement mechanism.
K. Carriage carrying the paste and having a transverse movement, this carriage
is carried by another carriage Q which has a longitudinal movement.
L. Motive weight of the escapement mechanism.
M. Handle causing the return of the carriage which carries the paste to its
starting point to commence the following line and to cause the motive weight L
to be wound up.
N. Handle and quadrant of typographical points communicating with the screw
which causes the carriage to move longitudinally.

page_text: O. Anvil or point of falling upon which all the hammers fit to strike into the
paste to the same depth.
P. Toothed wheels proportional to the body of the characters.
Q. Carriage with longitudinal movement.
S. Bevel wheels put in motion by the handle M to cause the carriage K to
return to its starting point.
S¹. Gearing in connection with the handle M, with which the weight L is wound
up and at the same time by means of the handle, the carriage carrying the paste is
caused to return to its starting point.
T. Handle and quadrant of typographical points to cause the carriage K. to work
transversely at will.
V. Left hand longitudinal guide of the carriage Q.
✗. Transverse guides carried by the carriage Q and upon which runs the
carriage K which is superposed.
Y. Screw causing the carriage Q to work in a longitudinal direction at will.
Z. Moveable bevel wheels working longitudinally with the carriage Q to give
motion to the carriage K carrying the paste.
BJ. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Agents.

page_text: Stereotype Matrices.
I BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of
23 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESSES AND
APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEREOTYPE MATRICES a communication to me from
abroad by Marie Armand Paul Oudin, of Poitiers, France, Printer, Hilaire Marie
Jules Oudin of Paris, France, Bookseller, and Ernesto Codignola of Milan, Italy,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The invention constituting the subject of the present application consists of a
new process by which is obtained a perfect and regular stereotype of typographic
productions, of music and also of writings by means of type (without previous
composition of moveable characters) and by means of a special apparatus applying
directly and successively the letters or characters, the combination of which
constitutes the work upon the paper, the sheets, and the plastic pastes employed
for stereotyping, caoutchouc or in a word any material capable of receiving
impressions.
There are prepared plastic pastes either of stereotype paper, or of other suitable
material malleable to different degrees according to the character of the typo-
graphical works, or even metallic plates.
One or other of these preparations is placed upon a layer of pitch or other
resinous material or even upon cloth. By the aid of the present apparatus I print
automatically upon these different kinds of preparations the letters or other
characters and I obtain a perfect mould for the casting of the stereotype. It is
this result which suppresses the previous typographical composition.
In order to give a clear description of the present system I have represented in
the accompanying drawings but only by way of example one form of apparatus
by incans of which the invention is realized.
Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the machine and Figure 2
is a plan of the same partly in section.
Figure 3 represents a vertical transverse section of the machine.
Figures 4 and 5 show, in elevation and in section drawn to a larger scale the
details of the hammer carrying the characters.
Figure 6 represents a detail in section of the fixed part which receives and prints
the characters.
In all the figures similar letters of reference indicate like parts.
The stereographotypic machine comprises a keyboard U, having any desired
number of keys upon which are the letters of the alphabet (capitals and small
letters) the figures, the typographical signs and the blanks.
The compositor by pressing successively the keys which correspond to the
letters necessary for composing the word, raises the ends of the lovers G of the

page_text: keys, which by communicating with the arms of the hammers (as will be hercin-
after described) depresses them horizontally.
The hammers being placed in a circle and radiating as represented at B Figure 2
when they are put in motion by the keys all fall to the centre of the circle and
pass through an opening o having the form of a perforated anvil, (see Figure 6).-
The carriage K carrying the paste or paper for the mould is moved transversely by
another carriage Q which has a longitudinal motion.
With the carriage K which has a transverse motion, an advance is made in the
direction of the line and with the carriage Q which has a longitudinal motion
communicated to it by a landle N and quadrant of typographical points, lines can
be made one under the other at the desired distance.
This handle is returned to zero at each operation by means of a click
arrangement.
To obtain a more direct and rapid driving the handle N can be placed on the
axis N¹.
Another handle placed at M effects the return of the carriage K to its starting
point in order to enable the following line to be commenced.
Each of the hammers a (Figures 4 and 5) carries four (or more or less) moveable
letters Roman, Italics, Norman, and small capitals or even a certain number of
bodies at choice.
These letters are fixed in a box a¹ which is itself held in the head of the
hammer by means of a screw a².
The head of the hammer is circular with four screw appendages pierced with
holes into which the tail of the box a¹ enters.
A pedal or an arrangement of toothed wheels causes the heads of all the
hammers to turn together a quarter of a turn at a time. These heads are fixed to
the upper extremities of the arms of the hammers with a pivot, and they can
present at the opening o the kind of character which it is wished to use amongst
those which are previously mounted.
-
It therefore results that with this new system of stereographotypy a single
alphabet is only required for each kind of character.
The lever b on the axis b which operates each hammer a is not operated
directly by the keys of the key board U, but by the medium of a shaft d
supported at each end of the machine by an arm f, and which serves, by oscillating
this lever b to raise the hammers a. The two arms fare themselves carried by a
longitudinal shaft d¹ whose oscillating motion is produced by an eccentric or cam X,
mounted on a shaft Y and which acts upon the arms f by the medium of an arm X'.
The levers bare connected to the bars a³ by means of links 11 and universal
joints 5.
The cam X is rotated by the shaft Y, upon which it is keyed; this shaft rotates
in a continuous manner because it is operated by the driving gear L of the machine
(see Figure 2.) The keys have no effect upon the working of this cam.
The shaft Y further carries :
1. A cam g operating the fork h which by its forward motion bears upon the
shoulder of the letter to be printed and presses it upon the mould.
2. The cams 1 and 2 which operate the two parts 1 and 2ª of the anvil which
enclose the letter whilst the pressure of the fork is effected, these two parts
working in contrary directions in order to approach each other at the desired time,
by the action of the bars or connecting rods 3, 4, and by the medium of the arms i
jointed at a fixed point 22 and connected with the cams by a connecting rod 23.
The falling of any particular hammer can only take place when the cam X has
raised the fallen hammer or hammers; it is the shaft & which produces this re-eleva-
tion and it is operated itself by the arms X' fixed at f¹ with the arms f which
support it, these arms X¹ (one at each end corresponding with each arm f) carry a
small pulley 8 working in the cam X which is formed in such manner that in one
half of its rotation it acts to raise the shaft d.and in the second half it allows this

page_text: shaft to fall, it is during this second half only that a hammer can be lowered, and
the means for working the two parts of the anvil 1 and 2 being operated from
the same shaft Y which carries the cam X, it therefore follows that their action can
only be effected during the time when there is a hammer lowered.
According to the thickness or pointing of the letter to be printed, each key is
furnished with an appendage u¹, inore or less long, and pressing upon the longi-
tudinal shaft p when this key is depressed.
The shaft p like the shaft d is carried by two arms p¹ mounted upon an axis
which carries a double arm q.
The longer arm q is terminated by a toothed segment and gears with a pinion
acting upon the driving apparatus s of the carriage by suitable connections and
consequently producing its advancement according to the proportion of each
character printed, because the extent of oscillation of the toothed segment will
depend upon the length of the appendage u¹.
The shorter arm q' is terminated by a pulley tin contact with the exterior of
the cam X, it serves to return the toothed segment, and it is this return movement
which produces that of the carriage, the pinion r acting upon the transmission
gearing only in one direction.
The pinion is in connection by any suitable gearing with the driving
apparatus V which acts upon the mechanism for moving the carriages (Figure 2.)
The wheel x transmits the movement of the driving apparatus V to the shaft T
and, consequently to the toothed gearing's which moves the carriages; this wheel x
is mounted upon a sleeve D, moveable upon the shaft A, in such manner that it
can be caused to gear at will with one or other of the toothed wheels carried
by the shaft I, and that so as to give a movement to the carriages proportional
to the characters employed.
The relation of the pinion with the driving gear is shown at Figure 2.
This pinion is mounted upon an axis shown by dotted lines in this drawing,
and which traverses the shaft which operates the bevel wheels V. The axis of
the pinion is terminated by a click 9, which it carries with it when in consequence
of the lowering of a key the toothed segment q rocks to an extent proportioned
to the pointing or width of the letter to be printed: It has been herein before
shown that this proportion is determined by the greater or less length of the
appendage of the key which bears upon the longitudinal shaft p.
This shaft p is carried at each end by arms p¹ keyed upon the shaft z carrying
the toothed segment q which is formed on a second arm terminated by the
pulley t.
When therefore the toothed segment g has caused the pinion to turn and
consequently the click 9 which in this direction does not give motion to the ratchet
wheel 10, this click again falls into the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and the cam X
whose periphery is formed for this purpose, serves thus to press against the
pulley t thus giving motion to the toothed segment in contrary direction, and
consequently the pinion r the click 9, the ratchet wheel 10 and consequently the
gearing V of the carriages.
According therefore to the proportions of these characters, the wheel x is geared
by one or the other of the seven toothed wheels mounted upon the shaft I¹, this
wheel being held in gear by tightening the nut, D₁ upon the bearing of the neck
of the sleeve D.
It will be seen by the drawing, that each lever b operating a hammer is retained
by means of the appendage m which has a notch or claw provided for this purpose
in order to hook or secure the free end of this lever. In this position the hammer a
is held raised and can only fall again by the operator pressing upon the key which
will thus disengage the lever b and will permit it to allow the hammer to fall by
its own weight.
By not receiving any pressure the letters are always maintained intact, that
is to say the characters are pressed only lightly and progressively by a surface
relatively soft, and that without shock, which therefore causes no appreciable wear-

page_text: With regard to the composition, as it takes place with great rapidity, a com-
positor can do with this machine the work of eight compositors in the same space
of time.
When the mould is obtained the same process is followed as in ordinary stereo-
typing to make the stereotype.
One thing of the greatest importance is that by my process all the lines attain
the same length; by this means is solved the problem of the justification of the
lines, a result which up to the present in spite of all attempts had never yet been
obtained.
Besides I would remark that the principle itself upon which this new system is
based, forms an essential part of the present invention, because it has been found
that in basing the characters upon the typographic point for the thickness, as well
as for the breadth (for hitherto they are only pointed in relation to breadth) the
number of letters can be known which can enter into a line, whatever may be its
length.
The characters which ought to be used for my machine with regard to the
thickness are of full thickness, three quarter, half and a quarter thickness. As for
example.
Before making the mould, the compositor effects a preliminary work which
serves to obtain the lines of the same length in the composition of the mould and
for the most important corrections.
In this manner is obtained a printed proof before making the mould. For this
purpose there is placed in the apparatus in place of the paste a sheet of special
paper, that is to say this sheet marks the limit of the lines by six or even more
longitudinal lines.
After having placed in the centre of the hammers a pad saturated with ink,
the compositor proceeds in the same manner as for making the mould, only he
makes lines approximately of the desired length but when the proof is obtained
by this process, in consequence of the letters being divided into 4 proportions, the
compositor on seeing the lines, notes in their midst the limit of the length occupied
or not by the letters; he can then easily ascertain in composing the mould, how
many blanks, it will be necessary to put in or leave out between the words.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a machine for forming typographic matrices or moulds, the combination of
hammers a, carrying the characters, levers b one for each hammer, a notched arm m
and keys of the keyboard U with an oscillating shaft & carrying a second shaft d'
supported by the arms f, to bring back the end of the levers b upon the notch m
as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. In a machine for making typographic matrices or moulds, the arrangement of
the hammers a having a head with appendages which receive a box a¹, in which
each character is fixed, these heads being capable of receiving a simultaneous
movement of rotation in order to bring characters of the same description into
position for printing upon the mould.
3. In a machine for making typographic matrices or moulds; the combination
of the carriages K and Q having respectively a transverse motion and a longitudinal
motion, the advancement of the carriage K, being effected according to the
proportions of the characters by the transmission resulting from the action of the
double arm q, which acts by its toothed sector upon a pinion r and thence upon
the driving gear V and the toothed wheels x, I, J, and S as described and for the
purpose specified.

page_text: 4. In a machine for making typographic matrices or moulds, the arrangement of
the keys of the keyboard U, each having an appendage u¹ of length proportional
to the width of the letter to be printed, in combination with the longitudinal bar p,
the arms p¹ mounted upon an axis Z, and the double arm q formed with a toothed
sector and keyed upon the said axis h, as herein described and for the purpose
specified.
5. In combination with the hammers a, falling by their own weight when the
lever bis released from the stop m by the action of the key, a fork h bearing
upon the shoulder of the letter, and the two parts 1 and 2 moveable in reverse
directions and enclosing the said letter during its impression upon the mould, as
described and for the purpose specified.
6. In a machine for preparing typographic matrices or moulds, the arrangement
of the driving mechanism of the carriage, which carries the mould, such arrangement
being composed of wheels I of different diameters mounted upon an axis I' aud
capable of gearing with a pinion x moveable upon a shaft A parallel to the axis l'
in such manner as to produce an advancement of the carriage varying according
to the proportion of the characters to be printed as herein shown and described.
7. In combination with the system of machine for printing typographic matrices
or moulds above described, the process of justifying the lines, which is effected by
the application of the division of the characters into proportional points, by means
of a preparatory composition and by the drawing of vertical lines; as described in
principle and for the purpose specified.
B. J. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Agents.