MENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF LETTER-PRESS PRINTING SURFACES, AND SURFACES USED IN REPRODUCING ORNAMENTAL. PATTERNS OR DEVICES BY PRINTING OR OTHERWISE, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Cunningham, of Paisley, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Card Perforator, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF LETTER-PRESS PRINTING SURFACES, AND SURFACES
USED IN REPRODUCING ORNAMENTAL. PATTERNS OR DEVICES BY PRINTING OR
OTHERWISE, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 28th January 1859, and dated the 3rd August 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Cunningham at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd. August 1858.
I, ROBERT CUNNINGHAM, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Card Perforator; do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION, OF LETTER PRESS PRINTING SURFACES, AND
SURFACES USED: IN REPRODUCING ORNAMENTAL PATTERNS OR DEVICES BY PRINTING OR.
OTHERWISE, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows,
that is to say-
The improvements comprehended in the present Invention are more or less
applicable, under one or other of their various modifications, in various arts
and inanufactures in which the ultimate effect is or can be contributed to by
the 'use of either raised or indented surfaces, and their object is chiefly to
lessen the time and expense involved in the production of such surfaces.
The improvements, as carried out under some ofthe mostimportant of their
inodification's, are especially applicable to apparatus for composing and distri-
buting types used in letter-press printing. In an arrangement of apparatus
for composing types, the tyes are contained in'a series of narrow grooves or
channels, all the types in any one groove being of the same name. These

page_text: grooves are arranged as closely together as possible; their sides and bottoms
being formed of polished material, offering very little friction to the movement
of the types. The type grooves are combined so as to form what may be termed
the composing case, which isarranged horizontally, in which direction also the
files of types move towards the front of the machine. A channel or race runs
horizontally in front of and at right angles to the type grooves, the top of such
channel nearly coinciding with the bottoms of the type grooves, whilst its left-
hand end opens upon the composing plate or table (corresponding to what is
usually termed the "composing stick."). The surface of the composing plate
or table is horizontal, and the types as they are selected are depressed into the
race, and are moved along it to their proper position on the composing table,
having the same upright position in the case, grooves, and race, and on the
composing table. The types may be placed in any position, provided the
various arrangements are modified accordingly, but the upright position is
preferred; they may also be arranged to enter the race in any direction or
directions that may be found suitable. Whilst the composing operation is
going on, the types are successively selected by means of depressers formed
with finger-pieces, which are arranged in two or more rows and in such a way
as to bring the entire set into as small a compass as convenient or possible.
Each depresser on being acted upon pushes down the lowest or front individual
of the corresponding file of types into the race, the depresser being raised by a
spring on the removal of the finger from it. The lowest or front individuals of
the several files of types are always over the race ready to be depressed, being
prevented from slipping into it by pressure, which the depressers overcome
when acting. The pressure necessary for holding up the types may be
obtained in various ways; thus weights or springs may be applied at the
back ends of the springs files. When a type is depressed, it is moved along
the race to the composing plate or table by means of a species of piston or
picker worked by a treadle movement or otherwise. The normal position
of this picker is at the right-hand end of the race; and when there is a
type in the race, it is moved to the left-hand end and back again, taking the
type to the composing plate or table, and leaving it there. The race is
fronted with glass, so that if anything goes wrong the operator can at once see
what it is. At the commencement of a page or column the types are pushed
by the picker between head and foot line guides on the composing plate or
table, and up against a frictional or other brake or stop, which is close to the
mouth of the race at the commencement of a line, but which gradually
recedes therefrom as the types accumulate in the formation of a line. On the
completion of the line a contrivance is actuated to remove the head line guide,

page_text: and to shift forward the foot line guide, the latter carrying the line of types
with it. The foot line guide then recedes to its former position, and the head
line guide is reintroduced, the brake or stop at the same time moving up to
the mouth of the race, when another line of types is composed as before; the
movement of the head and foot line guides being repeated on the completion
of each line of types. A contrivance may used in connection with the com-
posing table for indicating at every instant the space still to be filled to com-
plete the line. This indicating mechanism should actuate a pointer or index
moving over an enlarged scale in front of the operator, who will be informed
by it when each line is completed, or his attention may be called thereto by a
bell or alarm movement set in action on the completion of each line. In the
mechanism, the general features of which have been just described, a variety
of minor contrivances may be adopted to provide against the types getting
wrongly placed, or other accidents.
In an arrangement of apparatus constructed for distributing types accord-
ing to the present Invention, the types to be distributed are placed in a frame
situated at the left-hand side of a table, before which the operator is seated;
the bottom of the column of types being towards the front edge of the table.
In or on a guide extending along the table from right to left, and at the top
end of the column of types, there is a slide or carriage formed with a groove
to hold a row of the types to be distributed. This slide is moved to and fro
along the guide by the hand or foot, and being placed opposite the column of
types, one or more lines of these are transferred to it in a continuous row.
The slide carries the types in front of a number of grooves or long cells
arranged at right angles to the guide to receive the types, each groove
receiving types of one name only. The types are singly transferred to their
respective cells through an opening or gate in the inside of the slide or carriage,
being successively brought up to this gate by a spring acting at the rear of
the line of types. The operator ascertains the name of each type as it has to
be transferred to its cell from an impression of the types placed in a convenient
position before him, and by means of stop keys causes the slide or carriage to
stop in such a position that the type about to pushed out of the slide or carriage
will enter its proper cell. A contrivance is employed which, just before the
slide or carriage is stopped, adjusts the size of the gate or opening to the parti-
cular kind of type, so that only one can be pushed through at one stroke.
The types are pushed out of the slide or carriage into their respective cells
by a piston or picker acted on by hand or otherwise. When a type cell or
groove is empty, a small blocking piece must be placed in it, to prevent
the first type introduced from falling over.

page_text: The herein-before described modifications of apparatus are designed for use
in the production of flat printing surfaces; it is, however, obvious that very
slight modifications of the various parts will render them suitable for use in the
production of cylindrical printing surfaces, when such surfaces are obtained
by the combination or building up of types, pins, or similar elements.
In another arrangement of apparatus comprehended in the present Inven-
tion, a set of dies, one for each type, is used, each die as it is wanted being
brought to a particular position by means of depressers, and contrivances
connected therewith, analogous to those hereiu-before described. When in
the proper position, each die is impressed on a plate or cylinder of metal
or other suitable material, such plate or cylinder being moved by suitable
mechanism between each impression, in order that each die may be impressed
in its proper situation. The plate or cylinder so impressed or indented may
be used either for direct intaglio printing, or casts may be taken from it, to
be used in relievo or surface printing.
Herein-before only letter-press types have been mentioned, but the herein-
before described apparatus or modifications thereof may be used in composing
or distributing types, pins, or similar elements used, or which can be used in
producing composite surfaces for printing, or otherwise reproducing orna-
mental patterns or devices. In such applications the pattern or device may
be brought out by means of solid headed types, pius, or similar elements
of unequal lengths; or again the types, pins, or similar elements may have
different devices on their printing or acting surfaces.
It may also be
mentioned that an ornamental effect may be produced in various arts, such
as weaving for example, by means of built up sets or masses of types, pins,
or similar elements, and the improvements comprehended in the present
Invention are in most cases applicable to the production of such built up
sets or masses of types, pins, or similar elements.
<:
.
It now remains to describe certain contrivances designed to assist the
operator in composing or distributing types, pius, or similar elements. The
copy," impression, or design by means of which he composes or distributes
is arranged before him at a convenient level upon a roller or frame, and a
straight edge is adjusted at a line which is at the time being composed or
distributed. A simple contrivance is employed, by which, as each line is
completed, a fresh line is brought up to the proper level; and the necessary
adjustment may be brought about by the manual application, or by au
automatic movement, if the nature of the copy, impression, or design
admits of it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Cunningham in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd February 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
CUNNINGHAM, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Card
Perforator, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight,in the twenty-second year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Robert Cunningham, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Cunningham,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Cunningham,myexecutors,administrators,andassigns,should at anytime agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED
WITH THE PRODUCTION OF LETTER-PRESS PRINTING SURFACES, AND SURFACES USED
IN REPRODUCING ORNAMENTAL PATTERNS OR DEVICES BY PRINTING OR OTHERWISE,
AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Robert Cunningham, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was, to be perforined, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Cunningham, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-—
My said Invention comprehends improvements which are more or less
applicable, under one or other of their various modifications, in various arts
and mauufactures, in which the ultimate effect is or can be contributed to by
the use of either raised or indented surfaces; and their object is chiefly to
lessen the time and expence involved in the production of such surfaces.
The improvements, as carried out under some of the most important of
their modifications, are especially applicable to apparatus for composing and
distributing types used in letter-press printing.

page_text: A composing machine embodying modifications of some of my improve-
ments is represented upon Sheets 1 and 2 of the explanatory Drawings
hereunto appended, Figure 1 being a front elevation, Figure 2 a plan, and
Figure 3 a side elevation, of the machine. The same reference letters and
numerals mark the same or like parts in all the Figures.
The apparatus is represented as carried by a massive four-legged wooden
table A, but it may, if preferred, be mounted upon a cast iron or other frame.
The types, coloured blue in the Figures, are contained in a series of narrow
grooves or channels B,all the types in any one groove being of the same name.
As long as the types are in the machine they stand upright, with their printing
surfaces directed upwards, and with the heads of their devices directed
towards the front of the machine, so as to be read by the operator as inverted.
The type grooves are combined so as to form what may be termed the type
"case "B, which is disposed horizontally on the table A, and which may be
constructed in various ways. The walls or partitions, the spaces between
which constitute the grooves, may consist of strips of metal, such as iron,
made as smooth as possible, and arranged upon a horizontal metal plate, the
surface of which is rendered plane and smooth, the partition strips being fixed,
in position by means of projections at the ends fitting sockets formed in the
horizontal plate; or the case may be built up of strips of metal, the bottoms
of the grooves being formed by strips of small height alternated between the
partition strips; or again, each partition strip may be shaped with a rib to
form the bottom of one of the grooves, the case being built up of such ribbed
partition strips. The several types being of different thicknesses, as measured
along a line when "set up," the grooves B must be of different widths to
correspond; it is, however, desirable that the centre lines of the grooves should
be equidistant from each other, and to this end the differences in the widths
of the grooves are obtained by making the partition strips of different thick-
nesses. The files of types move horizontally along the grooves B, towards
the front of the machine, as they are used, being pressed forward by type
pressers C, coloured brown in the Figures, and consisting of wires or thin
metal bars. These type pressers project back more or less beyond the type
grooves B.according to the quantities of types in such grooves, and their back
ends are supported and guided by a grooved bed D,carried by brackets E,fixed
to the back of the table A. The type pressers C are actuated by cords F,which
pass over pulleys G, situated between the table A and the guide bed D, to
weights H. These weights consist of thin plates arranged to occupy small
spaces in width, and they may be prevented from interfering with each other
by a grating consisting of a series of vertical wires, in each interstice of which

page_text: a weight has one side confined. Caoutchouc or other springs may be
substituted for the weights H. A channel or race I runs horizontally in front
of and at right angles to the type grooves B, the top of such race coinciding
or nearly coinciding with the bottoms of the type grooves. This race I, with
some adjacent parts, is shown as enlarged in transverse vertical section in
Figure 4, Sheet 1 of the Drawings. The back and frout of the race I
consist of glass plates, coloured light green in the Figures; the back plate
reaching as high only as the bottoms of the type grooves B, whilst the front
plate reaches a little higher than the types in the grooves B. It is up to the
back of this front race plate that the files of types in the grooves Bare
pressed in the manner already described, the horizontal pressure preventing
the front individual of each file of types from falling into the race of itself.
The bottom of the race I'may consist of a polished piece of glass or metal.
In composing or "setting up" types, they are in succession depressed into the
race or passage I, and they are conveyed along this race to the composing
plate or table J, upon which the left-hand end of the race opens. This
composing plate J corresponds to what is usually termed the "composing
stick;" its surface is horizontal, and on a level with the bottom of the race I.
The types are successively selected by means of direct depressers K,coloured
red in the Figures, and consisting of vertical wires working through two
horizontal guide plates L, mounted upon short standards M, so as to be
directly above the race I. Enlarged finger-pieces are formed upon the upper
ends of the depressers K, which are alternately long and short, so as to throw
the finger-pieces into two horizontal rows, for the convenience of size and
selection. If preferred, the depressers may be made of more than two
different lengths, with the view of still further separating them. The
depressers K are arranged as closely together as possible, as are also the
type grooves B, to reduce the length of the race I to a minimum, and to
facilitate the fingering of the depressers. Each depresser K is encompassed
between the guide plates L by a helical spring,coloured yellow in the Figures,
and abutting against the lower plate L, and against a pin passed through the
depresser, which pin also serves to prevent the depresser from turning, being
made to work in an interstice of a series of vertical wires extending between
the guide plates L, and coloured black in the Figures. Any depresser Kbeing
acted upon pushes down the front individual of the corresponding file of types
into the race I, as shown at k¹ in Figure 1, and the depresser is again raised
by its spring on the removal of the finger from it, whilst the file of types is
moved forward by the action of the corresponding weight H, so as to bring
another individual over the race I, ready to be depressed thereinto. When a

page_text: depresser rises after being pushed down, the rising along with it of the next
type in the file (which is being pressed forward ready to move under the
depresser) is prevented by a bar 22 (Figure 5) at the back of the depressers.
A bar a, for the operator to rest his hands upon, is fixed to the upper guide
plate L; it is shown in Figures 2 and 3 only.
fa
When a type is depressed into the race 1, it is moved along therein to the
composing plate J by means of a species of piston or "picker" N, worked by
a treadle movement or otherwise. The position of this picker when at rest is
at the extreme right-hand end of the race I, and when it is, actuated it is
moved to the left-hand end and back again, reaching exactly as far as the edge
of the composing plate J, and consequently pushing quite on that plate and
clear of the race any type or types it may have encountered in its passage
along the race. The details for working the picker N consist of a pair of
treadles O, conveniently situated for the feet of the operator, who is seated,in
front of the machine, from which treadle straps pass up to a drum, upon a
horizontal shaft P, running from front to back beneath the table A, and
having fixed at its back end a pair of diametrically opposite arms Q. From
eyes adjustable on these arms Q, cords R pass round guide pulleys to a drum
S, fast on the back end of a horizontal shaft T, running from back to front at
the right-hand side of the machine, and carried by standards U, fixed down
On the front end of the last-mentioned shaft T there is
upon the table A.
fixed a pulley V, to the periphery of which are attached two cords, passing one
to each end of the picker N, the top edge of which is just below the bottom of
the pulley V. The parts just described are so proportioned that something
less than a turn of the pulley V moves the picker N through its entire traverse
in either direction. The treadles O being depressed alternately, the arms Q
are thereby caused to vibrate and produce a limited rotation of the shaft Tand
pulley V in alternate directions. The rotation of the shaft T is limited by a
stop wiper W, fixed upon it in such a position as to come in contact with an
adjustable stop consisting ofa pin screwed into a standard X, fixed upon the
table A, the concussion to which the picker Nis subject is thus prevented from
being more than what may arise from its own momentum. With a similar
object,stops may also be applied to the treadles O and to the vibrating arms Q.
By communicating the motion to the picker N, by means of the arms or
cranks Q, that motion is made to increase from the commencement to the
middle, and decrease from the middle to the end of each stroke each way.
One object of this arrangement is to prevent the picker from throwing a type
further than to be just within the edge of the composing plate J. The picker
N consists of a thin bar of iron, and is supported when out of the race on a

page_text: metal guide bed Y, forming a continuation of the bottom of the race, and
provided with guiding projections Z between which the picker moves.
These guides Z also act as a stop, an enlargement on the end of the
picker N coming up to them when the picker moves towards the composing
plate J. On moving back again, the picker comes up against a stop 21,
fixed on the right-hand end of the guide bed Y.
At the commencement of a page or column, or when the composing plate J
is without types, the types are pushed by the picker N between head and foot
line guides'b, c, on the composing plate, and up against a moveable stop d,
which is at the right-hand edge of the composing plate J, and close to the
mouth of the race 1, at the commencement of a line, but which is gradually
pushed away therefrom by the types as they accumulate in the formation of
the line. A line is shown as nearly completed in Figure 2. On the com-
pletion of the line, a'contrivance is actuated to remove the head line guide b,
and to shift forward the foot line guide c, the latter carrying the line of types
with it. The foot line guide c then recedes to its former position, and the
head' line'guide is reintroduced behind the line of types just pushed forward,
the stop'd at the same time moving up to the mouth of the race; the com-
posing of another line then proceeds as before, the moving of the head and
foot line guides b,c,and of the stop being repeated'on the completion of each
line of types. A moveable block 20 is placed in front of the first line of types
to prevent its falling forward, this block being pushed forward by the lines of
types as they accumulate behind. The composing plate J is formed with
raised side pieces e, which confine the ends of the lines of types. The foot
line guide c works like a piston between these side pieces e, whilst the right-
hand side piece e is cut through to receive the mouth of the race I, the left-
hand side piece e being cut through for the passage of the head line guide b
and the moveable stop d, which are, however, kept down in their places by a
bridge piecef, covering the passage cut through the side piece e. The head
line guide band the moveable stop d'project some distance to the left, and
pass between a pair of guides g, between which and the bridge f there is fixed
to the side of the head line guide b a piece h, the ends of which serve to limit
the movement in each direction. A lever i, centred towards the back end of
the table A, lies on the top of the head line guide b, and serves to move it by
means of a spring and a pink. The spring is shown as fixed on the top of
the lever, its point carrying a pin which projects down through a slot in the
lever; the fixed pink also projects downwards, and the two pins lie between
lugs m.,
formed on the piece h. The spring is made strong enough to move
the head'line guide b; which it does on the lever i being moved to the left by

page_text: the hand or otherwise. On this guide 6 reaching its limit, a continued
movement of the lever i compresses the spring j, this additional movement
of the lever i serving to push forward the foot line guide c.
For this pur-
pose the lever i has fast on its under surface an inclined piece, indicated by
dotted lines at n in Figure 2, which acts on a bent lever o, centred on a
small bracket, the other end of this lever acting on the foot line guide c.
This guide chas fixed to it a rod p, working in guides and encompassed by a
helical spring, which takes back the guide c after each forward movement.
As already mentioned, the moveable stop d returns back to the mouth of
the race I after each completed line of types is pushed forward out of the
way this return movement of the stop d is effected by the return of the
lever i, the stop d carrying upon a pin on its back side a peculiarly shaped
tumbler q.
These details are shown enlarged in back elevation in Figure 5,
Sheet 1, of the Drawings. The tumbler q is formed with a catch r, which
is turned up by the action of the lever i on the tails of the tumbler when
the lever i moves in the direction of the arrow; in consequence of this, the
lever i on returning encounters the catch r, and moves the stop d up to the
mouth of the race. The tumbler q has a couple of pins t projecting from it
behind, which are pressed upwards by a blade spring u as the stop d moves
inwards; and on the stop reaching the end of its inward movement, the
pint nearest the catch" slips off the end of the spring u, leaving the latter
acting on the other pin t; this latter pin t being near the tail 8, the tail is
pressed up, and the catch ris turned down clear of the lever i.
It has been stated that the lever i, which may be termed the "line shifter,"
may be actuated by hand or otherwise. A combination of self-acting con-
trivances for actuating it are shown in the Drawings, consisting of a
crank v, connected by a link w to a pin carried by the line shifter i, each
movement of which is effected by a single revolution of the crank v. This
crank vis fixed on the top end of a vertical spindle a, carried by a bracket y,
fixed to the side of the table A. The lower end of the spindle a has loose on
it a barrel z, to which a handle 1 is attached, the barrel being connected to
the spindle by a ratchet wheel and catch 2; a cord 3, passing over a pulley
to a weight 4, is fixed to the barrel 2, and when the cord is wound up by
means of the handle 1, it imparts a constant tendency to turn iu the direction
of the arrow to the spindle x; a stop arm 5 near the top end of the spindle x,
prevents the spindle from turning except at the proper periods by encountering
the turned up end of a stop lever 6, the other end 7 of which is pressed up by
a spring against the under side of the moveable line stop d. A notch is formed
in the under side of this line stop d in such a position that it comes over the

page_text: d
end 7 of the stop lever 6 on the completion of a line of types. The parts
are represented in the several positions they occupy just before the comple-
tion of a line; the notch in the line stop & being, in fact, half over the end 7
of the stop lever 6, so that on the line stop d moving a little farther out,
the end 7 of the stop lever would enter the notch. The movement of the
stop lever 6 would release the stop arm 5 on the spindle x, and this spindle
would commence revolving in obediance to the action of the weight 4; a
half turn of the spindle x puts over the line shifter i in the direction of the
arrow, and in doing so at the same time shifts out the head line guide b; this
head line guide 6 has an incline 8 formed on its under side, aud this incline
coming upon a corresponding incline formed on one side of the point 7 of
the stop lever 6, causes the latter to return to its original position. So far
the spindle x will only have made half a turn, and on completing the entire
turn its stop arm 5 will encounter the end of the stop lever 6, and it will
consequently remain stationary until the stop arm 5 is again released.
A contrivance is used in connection with the composing plate J, and the
details appertaining to it, for indicating at every instant the space still to be
filled to complete the line. A small drum 9 is mounted upon a horizontal
spindle directly over the moveable line stop d,and a couple of fine cords wound
round this drum in opposite directions are attached to the line stop d or to
pins 10 fixed to the stop, so that the movement of the line stop d causes the
drum 9 to rotate. Fast to the drum 9 there is a pulley 11, of, in this case, six
times the diameter of the drum 9, so that the motion of a fine cord 12 passed
round the pulley 11 is six times as great as that of the line stop d; the cord 12,
from the large pulley 11, is passed over a pulley 13, carried by a standard 14,
along in front of a bar 15, between the standard 14 and another 16 towards
the other side of the machine, and round a pulley 17 on this second standard
16, whence it returns and passes once round the pulley 13, and finally back to
the pulley 11. The bar 15 is placed at a convenient height for the operator's
eye, and a scale is marked upon it; an index 18, attached to the cords 12,
passing over the scale, and showing the extent to which the line is at any
instant filled, the scale being of course enlarged to six times the length of the
actual line, and showing divisions corresponding to the different widths of type.
When the operator nearly reaches the end of a line and finds he has not space
in that line for the next syllable of the "copy," he throws in a sufficient
number of blank space" types (such types and also "stop" and other types
being included in the case B, as well as "letter "types). He afterwards
distributes these "blank space" types over the line by hand in the ordinary way.
A desk board 19 is fixed to the scale bar 15, upon which the operator places

page_text: his copy; a small reflector may be adjusted over the composing plate J in
such a position that the operator can see in it the types which have been
composed or set up, and he will be able to read them in the reflector precisely
as from an impression of them on paper. The operator's attention may be
called to the completion of a line by a bell or alarm movement, set in action
in a manner similar to that in which the movement for actuating the line
shifter i is released, and this may take place either at the actual completion
of a line or.a little before it.
To render the preceding description complete, it remains to mention that
the depressers K being round wires, and thicker than some of the types, are
thinned down, such of them as require it, to the thicknesses of the respective
types. It is proposed to point the lower ends of the depressers with some soft
metal, such as tin, to prevent them from injuring the types. The type
pressers C are made with their front ends as high as or slightly higher than
the types, so that on a file of types being exhausted, the front of the presser
coming under the corresponding depresser K, will prevent its being depressed,
and the operator will be thereby informed that the file is exhausted. Instead
of weighted cords F, H, weighted bell-crank levers may be used for actuating
the type pressers C, the weights being adjustable on the levers to suit the
different weights of the types. The back plate of the race I has been
represented and described as of glass, but it may be of metal, care being
taken to make it as smooth and as nearly plane as possible.
The composing machine represented in the Drawings is constructed for a
"fount" of the types known to printers as "heavy-faced bourgeois," provision
being made for two alphabets, one of "capitals," and one of small or "lower
case "letters also for the ten "nuinerals," and for "point," "space," and other
types. Of some types, which are required very frequently.in composing, two
files are provided, one towards each side.of the machine, so that any one
of these can be depressed with any of the middle types to be read either
before or after it, and both be conveyed to the composing plate. J by one
stroke of the picker N.
A distributing machine embodying,modifications-of-some of my improve-
.ments is represented upon Sheets 2 and 3 of the explanatory Drawings
hereunto appended. Figure 6, Sheet 2, being a side elevation, Figure 7,
Sheet 3, a front elevation, and Figure 8, Sheet 3, a plan of the machine.
Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, Sheet 2, are enlarged views of the distributing
carriage. The same reference letters and numerals mark the same or like
parts on all these Figures.
The apparatus is represented as carried by a massive four-legged wooden

page_text: table a, but, if preferred, it may be mounted upon a cast-irou or other frame.
The types to be distributed or decomposed are placed upon the decomposing
plate or table A, at the left-hand side of the machine, the bottom of the page
or column of types being towards the front of the machine. The decomposing
plate or table A is a smooth metal plate, with a raised back E and sides C, the
width between which last is equal to the width of the page or column of types
to be distributed. The types are coloured blue in the Figures wherever seen.
A piston D is fitted easily between the sides C of the decomposing plate to
draw the types backwards, the rod E of this piston passing backwards over the
types and betwee:: guides F, and having attached to its back end a cord
passing over a pulley to a weight G. Close to the back B, the sides C of the
decomposing plate are cut through to the width of a line of types, the opening
Hon the right-hand side being for the egress of the types, whilst the opening
on the left-hand side is for a slide I, by which each line of typesisin succession
pushed through the opening H. The slide I is worked by a hand lever J,
centred towards the back of the table a, and on its being moved to the left,
the action of the weight G causes the page or column of types to move back,
the slide I pushing out a line of types on its next movement to the right. In
a line with the egress opening H of the decomposing plate A there is a guide
groove K, formed in a metal bar L, extending across the front of the table a.
The groove is provided with an adjustable side piece fixed by screws M,
arranged in couples, one of each couple pressing the side piece inwards, and
the other drawing it outwards. This groove K is provided to receive a slide
or carriage N, which is formed with a groove (), to receive from the opening H
a row consisting of one or more lines of types (the carriage N shown in the
Drawings being of a size suited for two lines of the types upon the decomposing
plate A). In distributing the types this carriage N is moved to and fro along
the groove K, its motion to the right being produced by a spring barrel P
(like that of a clock), a cord from which is attached to the front of it, whilst
its motion to the left is produced by the foot of the operator. A pair of
treadles Q are connected by straps to a drum upon a horizontal shaft R,
carried by brackets beneath the table. This shaft R has at its back end a
pulley S, cords fast upon which pass to a drum upon a second horizontal
shaft T, carried by brackets at the left-hand side of the table a; and this
second shaft T has fast on its front end a pulley U, a cord fast to which passes
over a guide pulley V to the carriage N, semicylindrical grooves being formed
on the bottom of the carriage and in the bottom of the groove K for the cord
to lie in. These details form a multiplying train by which a slight movement

page_text: of the foot is made to impart the requisite traverse to the carriage N. The
distributing carriage N is represented as enlarged in Figures 9, 10, 11, and
12, Sheet 2 of the Drawings, Figure 9 being a front elevation with a portion
removed, Figure 10 a transverse vertical section, looking towards the left, and
taken immediately to the right of the fork which pushes the types out of the
carriage, Figure 11 a longitudinal vertical section through the groove O, and
Figure 12a plan. The carriage N carries the types in front of a number of
grooves W, arranged at right angles to the groove K to receive the types from
the carriage, each groove receiving types of one name only. The types are
singly transferred to their respective grooves W through a gate X in the side
of the carriage N, being successively brought up to this gate by a presser Y
acting at the rear of a row of types in the groove O. This presser Y is fixed
to a wire Z passing over the types and through a guide, and drawn to the
right by a cord actuated by a spring barrel b, mounted upon a bracket c,
projecting to the right from the carriage N. When the carriage N has to be
supplied with types, it is drawn close up to the decomposing plate A, the
presser Y being drawn back by hand and pushed into a recess or notch in the
side of the groove O, where it is held by catching in a catch at the side of
the opening H whilst the types are being pushed into the groove O. The
carriage N is formed with a pin d (which will herein-after be termed the
' carriage stop"), projecting back from it, and the gate piece X is also formed
with a stop piece e projecting back from it. The actual gate opening is to the
right of the gate piece X, the left-hand side of which is formed with a tongues,
which works in a recess in the back side of the groove (, and prevents the
types from falling out at that point. The gate piece X is part of a peculiarly
shaped piece g, h, j, the part h being a small slide working horizontally from
right to left in a groove upon the front of the carriage N, a spring i being
applied to it to give it a tendency to keep the gate piece X closed, whilst the
part is formed with a transverse groove to receive the stem k of the ejecting
fork m, to which a spring, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 12, is applied to
draw it forward after each backward movement. Between the points of the
forks m there is a transverse stop n, forming a solid or fixed part of the
carriage, and it is up to this stop that the presser Y forces the types, which
last issue successively backwards between this stop and the gate piece X. In
Figure 10 a type is shown as pressed partly out by the fork m. A small
T-headed rod
p is shown as inserted in the stop n. When the types in the
groove are all distributed, a recessed catch in the right-hand side of the
presser Y is drawn under it by the continued action of the spring barrel b, and

page_text: on the presser Y being drawn to the left, it draws the rod p with it. On
fresh types being pushed into the groove O, they push the rod p before
them, and it prevents the front types of the row from falling forward.
오
A series of compound finger stops q, r, coloured red in the Figures, are used
for stopping the carriage in the proper positions for transferring the types into
their respective grooves W. These compound stops consist of vertical wires g,
working in holes formed in three horizontal guide plates or bars s, t, u,
mounted on short standards v directly over the ends of the type grooves W;
and these wires gare each connected by a cross pin to a second wire r, also
working in holes in the bars s, t, u. The upper ends of the wires q have finger
pieces fixed upon them, and they are made alternately long and short, so as to
throw the finger pieces into two horizontal rows, and they may, if desired,
be made of more than two lengths, to throw the finger pieces into more
than two rows. Any stop is acted upon by depressing it, and after the
removal of the finger it is raised by a spring coloured yellow in the Figures.
These compound finger stops q, act upon the distributing carriage N by
encountering the carriage stop d and gate stop e, already mentioned in
describing the carriage. The carriage stop d is made so as to move between
the bars t, u, but it only projects back far enough to encounter the front wires
9 of the compound finger stops. When not depressed these wires q do not
reach below the middle bar t, and they never reach below the lowest bar u.
The gate stop e projects backward beneath this lowest bar u,so as to encounter
the back wirer of any compound finger stop that is depressed, the back wires
being made of such a length as to project below the lowest bar u when
depressed. The distributing carriage N must always be drawn by means of
the foot to the left-hand side of the finger stop q, r, about to be depressed.
The stop being then depressed the carriage is allowed to move to the right, in
doing which the gate stop e will encounter the back wire r of the finger stop
a little before the carriage stop d encounters the corresponding front wire q.
This has the effect of, as it were, moving the gate piece X to the left, and open-
ing the gatespace to an extent depending on the relative positions of the wires
q, r, of that particular finger stop. It will now be readily understood that
whilst the front wires q are severally situated so as to stop the distributing
carriage at each type groove W, the back wires r are severally situated in
such positions relatively with the front wires q as will cause the gate piece X
to be opened to the exact extent required in each case. The wires q,, are
made of hardened steel, as are also the stops d, e, to prevent their being
injured by the concussions to which they are subjected.
When the distributing carriage N is in position the transfer of the type to

page_text: its groove W is effected by a backward movement of the fork m; this back-
ward movement being imparted to the stem k of the fork by a rod w lying in
front of the machine, such rod being carried by arms on a horizontal spindle
y, working in brackets fixed to the table a. The spindle y has fast on it a
short lever, by means of which it is actuated by the bent arm of a bell-crank
lever 1, the other arm of which lever 1 is acted upon by short lever 2, fast on
the shaft which is actuated by the treadles Q. When a type groove W is
empty, a small blocking piece must be placed in it to prevent the first type
from falling over. When any type groove W is filled the file of types may be
removed from it by means of a grooved rule contrived to clip them on each
side, and the file may in this manner be transferred to the "case
grooves
of the composing machine. It may be mentioned that the composing and
distributing machines in the accompanying Drawings are made for the same
"fount" of types, and the movements of the distributing machine are contrived
to leave the types arranged for use in the composing machine. When a page
or column of types is being distributed the operator ascertains the name of
each type as it comes up to be thrust into its groove from an impression of
the types, which he places on the desk board 3 mounted upon the standards 4.
If preferred the lines of types may be put into the distributing carriage by
hand, and the carriage may have a handle attached to it, by means of which it
may be actuated by hand instead of by the foot.
In my Provisional Specification lodged on making application for the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, I mentioned that a modification
of my apparatus could be made capable of producing cylindrical printing
surfaces. I also in the said Provisional Specification described another branch
of my Invention as relating to a mode of producing printing surfaces by means
of dies. I have not, however, as yet been able to work out these portions of
my Invention to a useful result, and I therefore make no claim in connection
with them under the present Patent.
Herein-before only letter-press types have been mentioned, but the herein-
before described apparatus or modifications thereof may be used in composing
or distributing types, pins, or similar elements used or which can be used in
producing composite surfaces for printing or otherwise reproducing ornamental
patterns or devices. In such applications the pattern or device may be brought
out by means of solid headed types, pins, or similar elements of unequal
lengths; or again, the types, pins, or similar elements may have different
devices on their printing or acting surfaces. It may also be mentioned that
an ornamental effect may be produced in various arts, such as weaving for
example, by means of built-up sets or masses of types, pins, or similar

page_text: elements, and the improvements comprehended in the present Invention are
in most cases applicable to the production of such built-up sets or masses
of types, pins, or similar elements. It may be mentioned that the appli-
cation to weaving of such a built-up mass of types is described in the
Specification of British Letters Patent granted to Robert Crawford, under
date 18th August 1855 (No. 1875).
It now remains to describe certain contrivances designed to assist the
operator in composing or distributing types, pins, or similar elements. The
"copy," impression, or design by means of which he composes or distributes, is
arranged before him at a convenient level upon a roller or frame, and a
straight edge is adjusted at the line which is at the time being composed or
distributed. A simple contrivance is employed by which as each line is
completed a fresh line is brought up to the proper level, and the necessary
adjustment may be brought about by a manual application, or by an automatic
movement, if the nature of the copy, impression, or design admits of it.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I have to state
that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described or
delineated, and that I do not claim to have invented every separate detail
herein described and delineated; but that what I consider to be novel and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of the type composing and
type distributing machines, taken each as a whole, as herein-before described.
Second, the application and use in composing machines of direct acting
"depressers," such as are herein-before described, and the arranging and
constructing the parts serving to support and guide the "depressers," as
herein-before described.
Third, the application and use in composing machines of a "picker," con-
trived to convey the types from their grooves to and completely upon the
"composing plate," in such a manner as is herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of driving the "picker" by means of treadles
actuated by the operator's foot, as herein-before' described, and the herein-
before described combination of parts for communicating the motion of the
treadle to-the" picker."
Fifth, the application and use of glass in the construction of the "race" in
composing machines, as herein-before described.
Sixth, the application and use in composing machines of a "line shifter"
or lever, and details connected therewith, such as are herein-before described,

page_text: for effecting by the movement of a single lever all the movements ensuing
on the completion of a line of types on the "composing plate" preparatory
to the commencement of a new line.
Seventh, the application and use in composing machines of self-acting
mechanism or contrivances, such as are herein-before described, for actuating
the "line shifter."
Eighth, the application and use in composing machines of indicating
contrivances, such as are herein-before described and delineated.
Ninth, the application and use in connection with the "composing plates"
of composing machines of a "head line guide" placed between the line of
types being set up and previously composed lines, and arranged to withdraw
when necessary through the side (instead of the bottom) of the composing
plate.
Tenth, the application and use in type distributing machines of a "dis-
tributing carriage" and its actuating details, such as are herein-before
described.
Eleventh, the application and use in distributing machines of direct acting
finger stops" for arresting the "distributing carriage," and at the same time
adjusting the "gate opening," such as are herein-before described, and the
arranging and constructing the parts serving to support and guide the "finger
stops," in such a manner as is herein-before described.
Twelfth, the application and use in distributing machines of arrangements
and contrivances, such as are herein-before described, for singly transferring
the lines of types into the distributing carriage.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Cunningham, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT, Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square,
Glasgow.
ROBERT CUNNINGHAM. (L.S.)

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