A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR FORMING THE IMPRESSIONS FROM WHICH TO PRINT, AND ALSO FOR PRINTING AND ENGRAVING ON PAPER OR ANY OTHER MATERIAL."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to José Arnaldo Márquez, of Lima, Perú (South America),
for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR FORMING THE
IMPRESSIONS FROM WHICH TO PRINT, AND ALSO FOR PRINTING AND ENGRAVING
ON PAPER OR ANY OTHER MATERIAL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said José Arnaldo Márquez at.
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th November 1881.
JOSÉ ARNALDO MARQUEZ, of Lima, Peru, South America. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
MACHINE FOR FORMING THE IMPRESSIONS FROM WHICH TO PRINT, AND ALSO FOR
PRINTING AND ENGRAVING ON PAPER OR ANY OTHER MATERIAL."
The object of this machine is to obtain with a minimum expenditure of capital
and labour a simultaneous impression from several matrices, either of the same size,
as for instance the striking off a number of copies of newspapers, or of various
sizes, such as the editions of educational works, classical authors, sacred books, &c.,
whereof several editions are frequently required.
For the working of the machine a very small quantity of printing type is
needed, so small indeed that it may be held together in the palm of the hand.
The usual type may be used when printing upon soft matrices which are to be
Bubsequently electrotyped. When printing or engraving upon metal plates, steel,
bronze, aluminium, or any other very hard metal types must be employed, and in
which the letters or designs are hollowed out so as to produce an impression in
relief on the matrice.
Under the new system the apprenticeship is reduced to a very few days, the
distribution of the letters or types is entirely done away with, the probability of
making typographical errors becomes infinitesimal, and a safe guide is obtained
for the adjustment or measurement of the lines, words, &c., which was previously
wanting.
Not only can printing be effected letter by letter according to the old system,
but also by syllables, words, and phrases. The process will save a third of the
labor of the compositor, that is to say, by suppressing the distribution of the type,

page_text: and printing by means of several letters at once an economy of 50% can be
obtained over the old method. After a few weeks' practice one may succeed in
turning out double the amount of work which a compositor could do with three or
four years' apprenticeship.
The Invention is equally applicable for the transmission of telegraphic messages,
lithography, and engraving. The machine is also capable of producing clichés or
metal plates for the printing of stuffs, music, and the names upon maps, plans, &c.
Every one knows that on account of these names being always scattered and
unsymmetrical, the printing of plans and maps cannot be effected by the old
typographical system, and that recourse must be had to lithography or engraving.
The new machine obviates all this difficulty, provided that steel, lead, and antimony
or vulcanized rubber-types be employed according to circumstances, and that
certain pieces of the mechanism be slightly altered.
A two section machine can of itself furnish a proof of the impression of the
cliché. In order to obtain from three to six matrices, a machine will suffice, the
bed of which has a superficies of one metre or forty inches square. The machine
must have as many sections as printing matrices, required.
By setting type of different sizes in one or more sections any variety of stylo
and shape can be obtained. In order to get several clichés froin a single mould
all the types must be of equal size.
The machine is noiseless, it soils neither the clothes nor the hands, and may
eavily he worked han
The type is placed in the cavity a (Plate 1, Fig. 1) of the type-holder, the side
walls of which are pierced with little holes through which the needles b, b, are
made to pass.
These fill the empty spaces or cylindrical depressions which are
found in the shank of the type. The type being of a uniform height and resting
upon a perfectly level surface in the box of the type holder, the level of the type
itself is necessarily perfect, and remains unalterable on account of the pressure of
the needles which prevents any shifting. A small metal plate c may also be used
whereof one end turns round the upper needle as upon a pivot, and the other is
fixed by the lower needle. A very thin piece of india rubber placed between this
plate and the type makes it impossible for the latter to move.
Round the cylindrical shank of the type-holder is placed a spiral d of steel wire,
the lower part of which leans upon the side of the box, and the upper part is
confined by a little ring e over which the needle which runs through the shank
passes.
The dimensions of the box, its width only excepted, as well as the length and
diameter of the shanks must be always the same. The width is variable in order
to admit of signs, isolated letters, and syllables, or longer or shorter words and
phrases without too great a sacrifice of space. It would be useless to employ a
box of 0.002 for a letter which would only require 0.001.
The sides of the box of the typeholder must be perforated in a good many places
so as to be able to exchange the types for others of a smaller size. Thin plates of
inetal can likewise be laid at the bottom of the box so as to raise the level of the
smaller types and enable them to reach the height of the perforations.
In order that the impression of the types in the matrice may be everywhere of
the same depth, and the lines of the page perfectly clean and correct, it is absolutely
necessary that the sides of the type holders should be of equal thickness, the
surfaces perfectly levelled, and the angles mathematically square. Any neglect of
a single one of these points would entail an imperfection of the impression on the
matrice, and consequently the printed pages would turn out defective.
The letters of the syllables, words, and phrases must be kept separate by the
thinnest possible spacing, that is to say, by the thinnest which is to he found in
the compositor's box. This separation is necessary for the uniformity of the print,

page_text: as the words cannot be impressed in the same way upon the matrice, letter super
letter, as when the whole word is done at once. This difference arises from the
displacement of the plastic matter produced by the impression of the letters. By
separating the letters of the type holders from each other the same distance is
maintained between them as would be kept on account of the displacement if they
were impressed one after each other; the uniformity of the impression is thus
secured throughout.
The disks A, A, A, Plate 2, Fig. are vertical cylinders 0.06 to 0.07 in height by
0.25 to 0.30 in diameter, and the sides of which are 0-005 to 0.006 in thickness.
They are composed of a steel ring "g" (Pl. 1, Fig. 4), and parallel plates h, i,
i, j, of bronze, the whole supported by a vertical pivot k (Plate 2, Fig. )
The inner surface of the ring is provided with supports whereon to fix the
plates; these are parallelopipeds 1, 7, (Pl. 1, Fig. 4), the base of which is about one
centimetre square, and the height from 0·05 to 006, and screwed to the ring. The
edges of the latter are on a level with the upper and lower plates.
The thickness of the upper plate h (Pl. 1, Fig. 2), is 0.006 to 0.007, it contains
from 7 to 10 concentric circumferences m, m, m, with a space of 0.01 between
them. Each circumference has a series of similar and equidistant perforations, but
the distance between each of these varies from one circumference to another.
This is greater in the exterior circumferences, or those furthest removed from the
centre, intended, as they are, to receive the type holders which contain phrases and
polysyllables, and gradually diminishes in the other circumferences in passing on
to dissyllables, monosyllables, letters, numbers, orthographic signs, &c.
All the perforations of this plate are in the upper part of the shape of a reversed
cone to a depth of 0.003, and in the lower part are cylindrical.
The two middle plates i, i, are 0·005 in thickness, and contain the same number
of perforations as the upper plate, and placed at the same distance from each other,
Bo that the centres of the holes correspond exactly. A vertical line passing through
the centre of any perforation must consequently pass through the centres of the
two others. The perforations of the two middle plates are cylindrical, and are of
the same diameter as those of the lower part of the upper plate.
The lower plate j differs from the others, in that the holes, instead of being
conical or cylindrical, are rectangular (Pl. 1, Fig. 3). The centre of each corresponds
with that of the holes above, and the sides of the hole are precisely of the same
length and breadth as the box of the type holder which it has to receive; con-
sequently there must be as many circumferences of rectangular perforations, large,
middling, or small, as there are type holders to be placed of corresponding
dimensions, that is to say, if two circumferences be' required occupied by phrases,
two by words, three by syllables, and three by alphabets, the lower plate must be
furnished with two circumferences of large holes, two of middling, three of small,
and three of sinaller holes still.
The shank of the type holder is passed through the perforation of the lower
plate and through those of the two middle plates until the box on reaching the
plate cannot be raised any higher, the upper end of the shank will then be found
in the cylindrical hole of the upper plate precisely at the point where the conical
part of the perforation commences. The spiral which surrounds the shank, and the
ring and needle which retain it, are placed between the 2nd and 3rd plates
(Pl. 1, Fig. 4).
It is absolutely necessary for the vertical motion of the type holders to experience
no deviation whatsoever, and therefore the adjusting should be very perfect all
along the shank and in the surfaces of the box which are in contact with the sides
of the rectangular perforation. Any lateral or oscillatory movement of the type
holder when lowering it across the plates would produce in the row of the words
an irregularity which would spoil the neatness of the impression; the greatest care

page_text: therefore must be taken in respect of the dimensions of all the pieces, and in their
adjustment.
The axis of the disk passes through the four plates. Its lower part is provided
with a spiral, the thread of which is 0.001 traversed from top to bottom by a little
groove, into which is introduced a piece which connects the axis with the upper
plate. This piece prevents the disk from turning otherwise than with the axis,
that is to say, it makes a single body of the axis and disk. The upper part of the
axis has also a spiral with a thread of 0·003 and a groove or channel similar to that
at the lower extremity.
The axis passes through the bridge B, B, (Pl. 3 Fig. ) and the horizontal
wheel C, C, and terminates in a knob or button D, D, which turns round the
spiral. The motion of this knob causes the axis and disk to mount or descend
together.
This motion allows the operator to regulate the height of the disk so as to
produce a deeper or shallower impression upon the matrix beneath. The little
piece which connects the axis with the disk inay also be removed and thus allow
the latter to turn in order to mount or descend. As each revolution causes it to
advance by one 0·001, a half or a quarter revolution will suffice to enable the
types to rise or descend upon the inatrice to the extent of one half or quarter
millimetre. The depth of the impression can therefore be regulated exactly.
.
The wheel C, on which the knob D is placed rests upon a hollow cylinder
through which passes the axis . This cylinder is supported by the bridge B,
through the central-hole-of-which-the-axis-also-passes.-In-order_to_allow_of_the_
employment of axes of different diameters to support disks of a larger or smaller
size, there are hollow cylinders which are placed in the perforation of the bridge,
whose sides are of a thickness proportioned to the empty space to be filled.
The horizontal wheel is connected with the axis by means of a piece similar to
that which unites the axis and the disk, so that the motion of the wheel causes the
axis and disk to turn simultaneously in the same direction. This wheel forms a
gearing at right angles with the wheel F, through the centre of which passes the
horizontal axis G. This axis traverses the three gearings, and is firmly fixed to
them so as to make all the disks turn at once. At its forward end it has a
wheel H placed in front of the machine and which forms a gearing with the wheel I,
whereon is fixed the indicator or guide for the composition.
THE INDICATOR.
The indicator is a circle of precisely the same diameter as the disk of the type
bolder. Upon its surface must be written the same circumferences with the same
phrases, words, syllables, letters, &c., which are in the type holders and arranged in
the same order, that is to say, alphabetically. Above or below each phrase, word,
&c., must be written the number of millimetres or typographic points the surface
occupies, being careful to secure the correctness of this number by means of a very
exact scale upon which the letters of the typeholders are measured before mounting
the disks.
In order to render the operator's labor as rapid and complete as possible it is
advisable to get together the elements of the language it is intended to print, and
classify them clearly. For instance, the signs of orthography and the numbers
inust be placed in the outset in the circumference that is nearest the centre. Then
will follow the alphabets in a single circumference, after these come syllables,
monosyllables, the most usual terminations, the compositive parts (affixes, &c.),
words which are most frequently repeated, and finally, phrases of two or three
words. Great part of the success depends upon a judicious selection of these
elements and the proper distribution thereof. After a few days practice the
operator will know by heart the whole of the contents of his disc, and will have
no hesitation in finding the word he has to print or the syllables, &c., which
compose it.

page_text: In turning the indicator to the right or to the left the whole of the disks will at
once turn in the same direction, the transmission of motion being offected through
the gearing I, H, F, G, &c., fixed to the axis G.
In order to be able to make use of a single indicator, in cases where the types
or letters of the disks have to be altered, it is advisable to use for the indicator a
porcelain or ground glass plate similar to those employed at schools, and which
will allow of the writing being easily effaced. This plate must be fixed in a
circular frame, a bronze ring l furnished with several stops so as to make it turn
more easily. These stops will serve as pegs to enable the operator to seize it
rapidly, and the general aspect of the indicator will be that of a steering wheel on
board a vessel.
The circles as well as the centres of the holes in the circumferences must be
correctly marked upon the indicator and not be effaced under any circumstances.
The bed plate of the machine sustains two bridges J, J¹ (Pl. ) which cross it at
right angles to the frontal line. These bridges are perfectly alike and parallel to
each other, and are placed in such a way that they divide the front and surface of
the bed in three equal parts; that is to say, if the bed is one metre in width the
centres of the fore and hind surfaces of each bridge will be at 0033 from the end
of the bed. A third bridge may be added at the left end of the bed, which would
allow of double the number of disks being placed. The length of these bridges is
therefore the same length as that of the bed; the height is from 25 to 30
centimetres, and the span is 0.80 or 0-85, with a height of 0.15 or 0.20, the
thickness of the sides or walls is 001 or 005.
Along the upper surface of these bridges slide small transverse bridges m, m³, m",
and two for each disk. The one in front supports the cylinder across which passes
the vertical axis, the gearing which is above, and the whole weight of the disk, and
serves to carry the mechanism towards the front or towards the back part of the
machine. The one at back, which is lighter, allows of the passage through its
centre hole o, o', o", of a small vertical lever p, p, p, the lower end of which is
at a few millimeters above the disk. It is this lever which causes the descent of
the type holders for the printing of the letters. The bridge of each disk and that
of its vertical lever are connected at their extremities by two horizontal
pieces 9, 9, 9', q', q", q", which allow the first to have a motion independent of the
other within a distance exactly equal to that which in the disks separates the outer
from the inner circumference; that is to say, if the circumference of the phrases is
separated by 01 from that of the orthographic signs, the plates which connect the
two bridges of each disk will not allow the first bridge a greater free motion
than 001. When the latter reaches that point it will carry the other bridge with
it on account of the shape of the pieces that connects them.
The forward and backward motion is given to all these bridges by means
of two large screws L, L', (Pl. ) connected together by three similar gearing
wheels M, M', M". The motion is therefore necessarily simultaneous and uniform
for all the bridges of the disks as well as for those of the levers when the other
have accomplished a free distance of 0.01.
To turn the screws recourse is had to the crank. N, the shank of which (or the
prolongation of the screw L) is furnished with a needle r, which turns round the
graduated circumference 8, and serves to measure the motion of the bridges. Thus
supposing that the thread of the screw is 0.01 per revolution, the needle will have
to describe the entire circumference in each revolution. If on the other hand it is
desired that the motion of the bridges should be not 0.01, but one half or one third,
or 0.001 mm., all that is necessary will be to cause the needle to turn until it has
marked one half, or one third, or one tenth part of the circumference.
The same motion is transmitted by the small gearing t, t', to the vertical

page_text: holder disks. It will suffice in such case to change the diameter of the little wheel
which is in contact with the vertical rack, the circumference whereof is always
proportionate to the distance passed over by the needle of the indicator. Where
the indicator is larger than the disks, it is easier to give to each circumference and
to all the letters, words, &c., which they contain that separation and clearness that
are necessary to enable the eye to make no error in reading them.
THE MATRICES.
The matrices are placed upon a bronze or iron bed or plate, the length of which
varies from 0.16 to 0.36, with an invariable width of 0.30. The medium thickness
_ must be from 0.012 to 0.015. The beds upon which the matrices are placed sling
along two grooves, one on each side hollowed-in-the-middle-of-the-pieces-w, W.-
which traverse the whole free distance under the spans of the bridges J, J', that is
to say, if the bed of the machine is one metre square and the base of the bridges
is 01 at each end, the free space will be 0.80. This is the space intended for the
movement of the matrices. The screw N placed under the beds of the matrices
and furnished with as many sections of a different thread as there are disks or
sizes to be printed, causes these beds to advance or retire simultaneously, and
enables the operator to pass from one line to another of the page or column that is
being printed. When the matrices have traversed the whole distance, starting
from the front of the machine, the beds touch and form an even surface. As the
velocities are different for the different sections, great care must be taken in
calculating the distances to be kept between the beds at the starting point, so that
they may meet when they arrive at the opposite extremity.
The surface of each bed is divided into sections which may be changed at pleasure
so as to insert larger or smaller pages or columns. After the second matrice each
bed is set in two racks, which go from left to right and pass over the pieces, the
groove of which serves as a guide to the forward and backward inovement of the
beds. They pass also to the end on the right under the cog wheels x, x1, x¹¹, fixed
to the axis o. The rotation of this axis enables cach wheel to communicate to its
rack a motion whose velocity is proportioned to the diameter of the wheel. In
this way is obtained the proportion of the length of the lines according to the
dimensions of the letters and sizes employed.
The two wheels at the extremities of the axis O correspond to two racks to which
are solidly fixed the side pieces which frame the beds and retain them in the
grooves. Thus the motion of these wheels causes the beds to advance simultaneously
from right to left, and vice versa, with the same speed as if they formed but one
single body, and at the same time the motion of the intermediate wheels makes
each matrice advance on its bed in the same direction with a velocity proportioned
to the diameter of its wheel, that is to say, the matrices move more or less from
right to left, or vice versa, so that at the end of the line which is printed each
matrice will be at a greater or less distance from the end of its bed.
In such case
In printing clichés that are alike, it will suffice to remove the intermediate
wheels. The distance then run will be the same for all the matrices.
only one screw with a single thread must be used.

page_text: Each bed carries a small horizontal needle that slides upon a scale along the
side piece of the frame, and which serves to mark the number of millimetres
travelled over and the number of lines printed. The revolution of the screw N is
graduated like that of the screws L, L', by means of a graduated circle and a
needle.
The intermediate wheels of the axis O rest upon small solid cylinders which turn
in order to facilitate the passage of the racks. These cylinders must be changed
when the wheels are changed for others of a different diameter, so that there may
always be a support for the racks at their right extremity.
The left extremity of the front rack has a vertical shank which terminates in a
needle that traverses the graduated scale y in the upper part of the frame P to the
left of the front of the machine. It is only necessary to observe the point of the
scale where this needle happens to be, in order to know exactly the space which
the principal racks have run over. The wheel placed at the right extremity of the
front rack transmits its motion to the needle of the graduated circle s by means
of a small gearing. The diameters of these wheels are so calculated that the
needle shall traverse 3, 4, or 5 millimetres for each millimetre traversed
by the needle of the frame P. In this way any errors of sight are avoided
where measuring short distances or fractions of a millimetre ; at the same time
the two needles are used to rectify both.
The frames and racks are furnished with holes which serve to fix, by means of
screws, those pieces which mark a separation between the matrices of each bed.
One bed may be taken up by a single matrice, or by two, three, &c. In these
latter cases one or two separation pieces must be fixed, crossing the surface of the
bed in the direction of its length, that is to say, from the front to the back of the
machine.
In order to prevent any deviation in the motion of the racks, they are made to
pass under little bridges with a rectangular span. These are only a few millimetres
higher than the rouba
Upon each disk is placed a vertical lever p, p', p", which passes through the
hole o, o, o The lower end of the lever is of conical shape, and its diameter
allows of its penetrating the holes of the upper plate of the disk. The object of
this conical shape is to force the disk to take exactly the required position, that is
to say, the centre of the base of the lever in case of the operator having turned the
disk a little more or a little less than he should have done. The lever will thus
exercise its pressure over the centre of the shank of the type holder without being
able to touch it at any other point, and the impression will be found correctly
placed. The upper end of the lever after passing through the hole of a small
horizontal piece r, r, r, terminates in a screw, which allows it to be raised or
lowered at will. In this way the depth of the impression may be increased or
diminished, and the levers cannot go lower than the point fixed beforehand. The
pieces through which the upper end of the levers passes slide along two
parallels R, R', which start from the point S at back of the front part of the machine,
and stop at the hind part of the latter. The shank T, which forms the back
end of the parallels, receives an upward and downward motion by means of the
lever U, which is put in motion by a pedal. A small sliding piece V serves to fix
the point where the lever U is to stop, and consequently the parallels R, R', and
the levers p, p, p, will follow this regulator.

page_text: These two
The left side of the frame P is formed of a vertical scale similar to that of the
upper part.
increase by the needle which traverses the graduated circumference 8.
motions are joint.
Upon this vertical scale is reckoned the number of lines or the number of each
line of the matrix placed in the frame for the corrections, and upon the horizontal
scale is reckoned the number of millimetres or typographic points of each line.
For instance, the vertical scale says that the line to be corrected is number 7 on
the scale, and the horizontal scale says that the first letter where an error occurs
corresponds to No. 15 of the scale. The matrice is then replaced in its bed, the crank
of the screw N is turned until the needle of the bed marks upon its scale No. 7;
the crank of the axis o is then turned until the needle z marks upon the circum-
ference No. 15, and the matrice will then be found so situated that the first letter
to be corrected will be exactly under the centre of the printing lever.
Before replacing the matrice in its bed the letters or words which are badly
printed must be effaced. This is done by passing a hot needle over the defective
part of the plastic cliché. The metal matrices may be effaced by any means which
restores the line to its former condition.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the. said José Arnoldo Márquez
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th May 1882.
JOSÉ ARNALDO MARQUEZ, of Lima, Peru, South America. "A NEW OR
IMPROVED MACHINE FOR FORMING THE IMPRESSIONS FROM WHICH TO PRINT,
AND ALSO FOR PRINTING AND ENGRAVING ON PAPER OR ANY OTHER
MATERIAL."
The object of this machine is to obtain with a minimum expenditure of capital
and labor a simultaneous impression from several matrices either of the same size,
as for instance the striking off a number of copies of newspapers, or of various
sizes, such as the editions of educational works, classical authors, sacred books, &c.,
whereof several editions are frequently required.
For the working of the machine a very small quantity of printing type is
needed, so small indeed that it may be held together in the palm of the hand.
The usual type may be used when printing upon soft matrices which are to be
subsequently electrotyped. When printing or engraving upon metal plates, steel,
bronze, aluminium, or any other very hard metal types must be employed, and in
which the letters or designs are hollowed out so as to produce an impression in
relief on the matrice.
Under the new system the apprenticeship is reduced to a very few days, the
distribution of the letters or types is entirely done away with, the probability of
making typographical errors becomes infinitesimal, and a safe guide is obtained for
the adjustment or measurement of the lines, words, &c., which was previously
wanting.
°
Not only can printing be effected letter by letter according to the old system,
but also by syllables, words, and phrases. The process will save a third of the
labor of the compositor, that is to say, by suppressing the distribution of the type,
and printing by means of several letters at once an economy of 50% can be
obtained over the old method. After a few weeks practice one may succeed in
turning out double the amount of work which a compositor could do with three or
four years apprenticeship.
The Invention is equally applicable for lithography and engraving. The
machine is also capable of producing clichés or metal plates for the printing of
stuffs, music, and the names upon maps, plans, &c. Everyone knows that on
account of these names being always scattered and unsymmetrical, the printing
of plans and maps cannot be effected by the old typographical system, and that
recourse must be had to lithography or engraving. The new machine obviates all
this difficulty provided that steel, lead, and antimony or vulcanized rubber types
be employed, according to circumstances, and that certain pieces of the mechanism
be slightly altered.
A two section machine can of itself furnish a proof of the impression of the
cliché. In order to obtain from three to six matrices, a machine will suffice the
bed of which has a superficies of one metre, or 40 inches square. The machine
must have as many sections as printing matrices required.
By setting type of different sizes in one or more sections any variety of style
and shape can be obtained. In order to get several clichés from a single mould all
the types must be of equal size.
The machine is noiseless; it soils neither the clothes nor the hands, and may
easily be worked by a young girl.

page_text: EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.-THE TYPE-HOLDERS.
The type is placed in the cavity a (Plate 1, Fig. 1) of the type holder, the side
walls of which are pierced with little holes through which the needles b, b, are
made to pass. These fill the empty spaces or cylindrical depressions which are
found in the shank of the type. The type being of an uniform height and resting
upon a perfectly level surface in the box of the type holder, the level of the type
itself is necessarily perfect, and remains unalterable on account of the pressure
of the needles, which prevents any shifting. A small metal plate c may also be
used, whereof one end turns round the upper needle as upon a pivot, and the other
is fixed by the lower needle. A very thin piece of india rubber placed between
this plate and the type makes it impossible for the latter to move.
Round the cylindrical shank of the type holder is placed a spiral d of steel wire,
the lower part of which leans upon the side of the box, and the upper part is
confined by a little ring e over which the needle which runs through the shank
passes.
The dimensions of the box, its width only excepted, as well as the length and
diameter of the shanks, must be always the same. The width is variable, in order
to admit of signs, isolated letters and syllables, or longer or shorter words and
phrases, without too great a sacrifice of space. It would be useless to employ a box
of 0.002 for a letter which would only require 0.001.
The sides of the box_of_the_typeholder-must-be-perforated-in-a-good-many
places, so as to be able to exchange the type for others of a smaller size. Then
plates of metal can likewise be laid at the bottom of the box, so as to raise the
level of the smaller types, and enable them to reach the height of the perforations.
In order that the impression of the types in the matrice may be everywhere of
the same depth, and the lines of the page perfectly clean and correct, it is absolutely
necessary that the sides of the typeholders should be of equal thickness, the
surfaces perfectly levelled, and the angles mathematically square. Any neglect of a
single one of these points would entail an imperfection of the impression on the
matrice, and consequently the printed pages would turn out defective.
The letters of the syllables, words, and phrases must be kept separate by the
thinnest possible spacing, that is to say, by the thinnest which is to be found in
the compositor's box. This separation is necessary for the uniformity of the print,
as the words cannot be impressed in the same way upon the matrice, letter super
letter as when the whole word is done at once. This difference arises from the
displacement of the plastic matter produced by the impression of the letters. By
separating the letters of the type holders from each other the same distance is
maintained between them as would be kept on account of the displacement if they
were impressed one after each other. The uniformity of the impression is thus
secured throughout.
THE DISKS.
,
The disks A, A, A, Plate 2, Fig. are vertical cylinders 0:00 to 0.07 in height
by 0-25 to 0.30 in diameter, and the sides of which are 0.005 to 0-006 in thickness.
They are composed of a steel ring "g" (Pl. 1, Fig. 4) and 4 parallel plates h, i, i¹, j,"
of bronze, the whole supported by a vertical pivot k (Plate 2, Fig. ).
The inner surface of the ring is provided with supports whereon to fix the plates.

page_text: they are to receive the type holders which contain phrases and polysyllables, and
gradually diminishes in the other circumferences in passing on to dissyllables,
monosyllables, letters, numbers, orthographic signs, &c.
All the perforations of this plate are, in the upper part, of the shape of a reversed
cone to a depth of 0.003, and in the lower part are cylindrical.
The two middle plates i, i, are 0.005 in thickness, and contain the same number
of perforations as the upper plate, and placed at the same distance from each other,
so that the centres of the holes correspond exactly. A vertical line passing through
the centre of my perforation must consequently pass through the centres of the two
others. The perforations of the two middle plates are cylindrical, and are of the
same diameter as those of the lower part of the upper plate.
The lower plate j differs from the others in that the holes instead of being conical
or cylindrical are rectangular (Pl. 1, Fig. 3). The centre of each corresponds with
that of the holes above, and the sides of the hole are precisely of the same length
and breadth as the box of the type holder which it has to receive; consequently
there must be as many circumferences of rectangular perforations, large, middling,
or small, as there are type holders to be placed of corresponding dimensions, that is
to say, if two circumferences be required occupied by phrases, two by words, three
by syllables, and three by alphabets, the lower plate must be furnished with two
circumferences of large holes, two of middling, three of small, and three of smaller
holes still.
The shank of the type holder is passed through the perforation of the lower plate
and through those of the two middle plates until the box on reaching the plate
cannot be raised any higher. The upper end of the shank will then be found in
the cylindrical hole of the upper plate precisely at the point where the conical part
of the perforation commences. The spiral which surrounds the shank, and the ring
and needle which retain it, are placed between the 2nd and 3rd plates (Pl. 1,
Fig. 4).
It is absolutely necessary for the vertical motion of the type holders to experience
no deviation whatsoever, and therefore the adjusting should be very perfect all
along the shank and in the surfaces of the box which are in contact with the sides
of the rectangular perforation. Any lateral or oscillatory movement of the type
holder when lowering it across the plates would produce in the row of the words
an irregularity which would spoil the neatness of the impression. The greatest care
therefore must be taken in respect of the dimensions of all the pieces, and in their
adjustment.
The axis of the disk passes through the four plates. Its lower part is provided
with a spiral, the thread of which is 0·001 traversed from top to bottom by a
little groove into which is introduced a piece which connects the axis with the
upper plate. This piece prevents the disk from turning otherwise than with the
axis; that is to say, it makes a single body of the axis and disk. The upper part
of the axis has also a spiral with a thread of 0.003 and a groove or channel similar
to that at the lower extremity.
The axis passes through the bridge B, B, (Pl. 3, Fig. ) and the horizontal
wheel C, C, and terminates in a knob or button D, D, which turns round the
spiral. The motion of this knob causes the axis and disk to mount or descend
together.
This motion allows the operator to regulate the height of the disk so as to
produce a deeper or shallower impression upon the matrix beneath. The little
piece which connects the axis with the disk may also be removed and thus allow
the latter to turn in order to mount or descend. As each revolution causes it to
advance by one 0·001 a half or a quarter revolution will suffice to enable the types
to rise or descend upon the matrice to the extent of one half or quarter millimeter.
The depth of the impression can therefore be regulated exactly.
The wheel C, on which the knob D is placed, rests upon a hollow cylinder
through which passes the axis k. This cylinder is supported by the bridge B,
through the central hole of which the axis also passes. In order to allow of the

page_text: the axis and disk to turn simultaneously in the same direction. This wheel forms
a gearing at right angles with the wheel F, through the centre of which passes the
horizontal axis G. This axis traverses the three gearings and is firmly fixed to
them so as to make all the disks turn at once. All its forward end it has a wheel H
placed in front of the machine and which forms a gearing with the wheel I, whereon
is fixed the indicator or guide for the composition.
THE INDICATOR.
The indicator is a circle of precisely the same diameter as the disk of the type
holder. Upon its surface must be written the same circumferences with the saine
phrases, words, syllables, letters, &c., which are in the type holders and arranged in
the same order, that is to say, alphabetically. Above or below each phrase, words,
&c., must be written the number of millimetres or typographic points the surface
cccupies, being careful to secure the correctness of this number by means of a
very exact scale, upon which the letters of the typeholders are measured before
mounting the disks.
In order to render_the_operator's-labor-as-rapid-and-complete-as-possible.it.is.
advisable to get together the elements of the language it is intended to print and
classify them clearly. For instance the signs of orthography and the numbers
must be placed at the outset in the circumference that is nearest the centre. Then
will follow the alphabets in a single circumference; after these come syllables,
monosyllables, the most usual terminations, the compositive parts (affixes, &c.),
words which are most frequently repeated, and finally phrases of two or three
words. Great part of the success depends upon a judicious selection of these
elements and the proper distribution thereof. After a few days practice the
operator will know by heart the whole of the contents of his disk and will have
no hesitation in finding the word he has to print or the syllables &c., which
coinpose it.
In turning the indicator to the right or to the left the whole of the disks will
at once turn in the same direction, the transmission of motion being effected through
the gearing I, H, F, G, &c., fixed to the axis G.
In order to be able to make use of a single indicator in cases where the types
or letters of the disks have to be altered, it is advisable to use for the indicator
a porcelain or ground glass plate similar to those employed at schools, and which
will allow of the writing being easily effaced. This plate must be fixed in a
circular frame, a bronze ring furnished with several stops so as to make it turn
more easily. These stops will serve as pegs to enable the operator to seize it
rapidly, and the general aspect of the indicator will be that of a steering wheel
on board a vessel.
The circles as well as the centres of the holes in the circumferences must be
correctly marked upon the indicator and not be effaced under any circumstances.
THE BRIDGES.
The bed plate of the machine sustains two bridges J, J¹ (Pl. ) which cross it at
right angles to the frontal line. These bridges are perfectly alike and parallel to
each other and are placed in such a way that they divide the front and surface
of the bed into three equal parts; that is to say, if the bed is one metre in width
the centres of the fore and hind surfaces of each bridge will be at 0 033 from the
end of the bed. A third bridge may be added at the left end of the bed, which
.would allow of double the number of disks being placed. The length of these

page_text: bridges is therefore the same length as that of the bed; the height is from 25 to
30 centimeters, and the span is 0 80 or 85 with a height of 015 or 0.20, the
thickness of the sides or walls is 004 or 0 05.
Along the upper surface of these bridges slide small transverse bridges m, m³, m¹¹,
and two for each disk. The one in front supports the cylinder across which
passes the vertical axis, the gearing which is above, and the whole weight of the
disk, and serves to carry the mechanisin towards the front or towards the back part
of the machine. The one at back, which is lighter, allows of the passage through
its centre hole o, o¹, o¹¹, of a small vertical lever p, p', p", the lower end of which
is at a few millimeters above the disk. It is this lever which causes the descent of
the type holders for the printing of the letters. The bridge of each disk and
that of its vertical lever are connected at their extremities by two horizontal
pieces q, q, q', q, q, q, which allow the first to have a motion independent of
the other within a distance exactly equal to that which in the disk separates the
outer from the inner circumference; that is to say, if the circumference of the
phrases is separated by 01 from that of the orthographic signs, the plates which
connect the two bridges of each disk will not allow the first bridge a greater
free motion than 0.01. When the latter reaches that point it will carry the other
bridge with it on account of the shape of the pieces that connects them.
The forward and backward motion is given to all these bridges by means of
two large screws L, L' (Pl. connected together by three similar gearing
wheels M, M, M". The motion is therefore necessarily simultaneous and uniform
for all the bridges of the disks as well as for those of the levers when the others
have accomplished a free distance of 0 01.
To turn the screws recourse is had to the crank N, the shank of which (or the
prolongation of the screw L) is furnished with a needle r, which turns round the
graduated circumference 8, and serves to measure the motion of the bridges. Thus
supposing that the thread of the screw is 0.01 per revolution, the needle will have
to describe the entire circumference in each revolution. If on the other hand it is
desired that the motion of the bridges should be not 0.01 but one half or one third
or 0-001 m, m, all that is necessary will be to cause the needle to turn until it has
marked one half, or one third, or one tenth part of the circumference.
The same motion is transmitted by the small gearing t, t', to the vertical
rack u, u, (Pl. ), which causes the needle V, V, to rise and fall on the front of
the indicator disk, exactly the same distance that is traversed by the bridges.
Thus when the crank of the screw L has been turned until the needle V, V,
has passed from one circumference to another, the bridges and the disks of the type
holders with them will have traversed precisely the same distance, that is to say,
that the same circumferences will have passed under the printing levers.
It will consequently be sufficient to place any word, sign, or number, &c., of the
indicator under the end of the needles v, v, to enable the types which express the
same word, sign, number, &c., to be brought instantaneously exactly under the
printing levers. There is no possible error in these movements.
The indicator disk may have a diameter equal to that of the largest of the type
holder disks. It will suffice in such case to change the diameter of the little wheel
which is in contact with the vertical rack, the circumference whereof is always
proportionate to the distance passed over by the needle of the indicator. Where
the indicator is larger than the disks, it is easier to give to each circumference and
to all the letters, words, &c., which they contain that separation and clearness that
are necessary to enable the eye to make no error in reading them.
The matrices are placed upon a bronze or iron bed or plate, the length of which
varies from 0.16 to 0.36 which are invariable width of 0 30. The medium thickness
must be from 0.012 to 0.015. The beds upon which the matrices are placed sling
along two grooves, one on each side, hollowed in the middle of the pieces w, w,

page_text: which traverse the whole free distance under the spans of the bridges J, J', that is
to say, if the bed of the machine is one metre square, and the base of the bridges
is 01 at each end the free space will be 0 80. This is the span intended for the
movement of the matrices. The screw N placed under the beds of the matrices
and furnished with as many sections of a different thread as there are disks or sizes
to be printed, causes three beds to advance or retire simultaneously, and enables
the operator to pass from one line to another on the page or column that is being
printed. When the matrices have traversed the whole distance, starting from the
front of the machine, the beds touch and form an even surface. As the velocities
are different for the different sections, great care must be taken in calculating the
distances to be kept between the beds at the starting point, so that they may meet
when they arrive at the opposite extremity.
The surface of each bed is divided into sections, which may be changed at
pleasure, so as to insert larger or smaller pages or columns. After the second
matrice each bed is set in two racks which go from left to right, and pass over the
pieces, the groove of which serves as a guide to the forward and backward
movement of the beds. They pass along to the end on the right under the cog
wheels x, x, xl, fixed to the axis o. The rotation of this axis enables each wheel
to communicate to its rack a motion whose velocity is proportioned to the diameter
of the wheel. In this way is obtained the proportion of the length of the lines,
according to the dimensions of the letters and sizes employed.
The two wheels at the extremities of the axis O correspond to two racks, to
which are solidly fixed-the-side-pieces which-frame-the-beds, and retain them in
the grooves.
Thus the motion of these wheels causes the beds to advance
simultaneously from right to left, and vice versa, with the same speed as if they
formed but one single body, and at the same time the motion of the intermediate
wheels makes each matrice advance on its bed in the same direction with a velocity
proportioned to the diameter of its wheel, that is to say, the matrices move more or
less from right to left, or vice versa, so that at the end of the line which is printed
each matrice will be at a greater or less distance from the end of its bed.
In printing clichés that are alike, it will suffice to remove the intermediate
wheels. The distance then run will be the same for all the matrices. In such case
only one screw with a single thread must be used.
Each bed carries a small horizontal needle that slides upon a scale along the side
piece of the frame, and which serves to mark the number of millimetres travelled
over, and the number of lines printed. The revolution of the screw N is graduated
like that of the screws L, L', by means of a graduated circle and a needle.
The intermediate wheels of the axis O rest upon small solid cylinders, which turn
in order to facilitate the passage of the racks. These cylinders must be changed
when the wheels are changed for others of a different diameter, so that there may
always be a support for the racks at their right extremity.
The left extremity of the front rack has a vertical shank which terminates in a
needle that traverses the graduated scale y in the upper part of the frame P to the
left of the front of the machine. It is only necessary to observe the point of the
scale where this needle happens to be, in order to know exactly the space which
the principal racks have run over. The wheel placed at the right extremity of the
front rack transmits its motion to the needle of the graduated circle S by means
of a small gearing. The diameters of these wheels are so calculated that the
needle shall traverse 3.4 or 5 millimetres for each millimetre traversed by the
needle of the frame P. In this way any errors of sight are avoided where
measuring short distances or fractions of a millimetre, at the same time the two
needles are used to rectify both.
The frames and racks are furnished with holes which serve to fix by means of
screws those pieces that mark a separation between the matrices of each bed. One
bed may be taken up by a single matrice, or by two, three, &c. In these latter
cases one or two separation pieces must be fixed, crossing the surface of the bed in
the direction of its length, that is to say, from the front to the back of the machine,

page_text: Upon the front of the machine, and at its left extremity is placed the correction
frame P, whereof the upper part is formed by the scale y. It is known that the
movement of the needle which traverses this scale is reproduced with a certain
increase by the needle r which traverses the graduated circumference 8. These two
motions are joint.
The left side of the frame P is formed of a vertical scale, similar to that of the
upper part.
Upon this vertical scale is reckoned the number of lines, or the number of each
line of the matrix placed in the frame for the corrections, and upon the horizontal
scale is reckoned the number of millimetres or typographic points of each line.
For instance, the vertical scale says that the line to be corrected is number 7 on
the scale; and the horizontal scale says that the first letter where an error occurs
corresponds to No. 15 of the scale. The matrice is then replaced in its bed, the
crank of the screw N is turned until the needle of the bed marks upon its scale
No. 7; the crank of the axis o is then turned until the needle marks upon the
circumference No. 15, and the matrice will then be found so situated that the first
letter to be corrected will be exactly under the centre of the printing lever.
Before replacing the matrice in its bed, the letters or words which are badly
printed must be effaced. This is done by passing a hot needle over the defective
part of the plastic cliché. The metal matrices may be effaced by any means
which restores the line to its former condition.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twelfth day
of May, One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.