Improvements in Machines for Composing Type.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Mar., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Composing Type.
I, GEORGES ALPHONSE BOTTON, of 31, Boulevard Henri IV., Paris, in the
Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to type-composing machines and has for object to provide
a machine which shall be very rapid in working whatever may be the number and
kind of type employed, and at the same time be simple, easy of manipulation and
which shall require but little space.
In carrying out any invention I employ an arrangement of levers and rods which
act upon connecting rods and arms adapted to move the various type from inclined
hoppers provided for their reception into inclined shoots which conduct the type
into a receiving channel into and out of which they are forced by means of a
pivoted and weighted bent lever arranged in such a manner that in its normal
state a portion is in the channel; the said lever is actuated by a pivoted bent
lever operated by the keys through their levers. A plate is provided having a
rack which gears with a toothed wheel by moving which the plate can be moved
backwards and forwards; the plate is formed with a transverse opening which
allows some of the rods to pass through it, while the passage of the other rods is
prevented by means of small shutters or flaps interposed between the plates and
the rods. The movement of the key-levers is regulated by means of a pivoted
stop-lever somewhat resembling a sector operated by an inclined plane on the
movable plate.
Dated the 21st day of June 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4. South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Composing Type.
I, GEORGES ALPHONSE BOTTON, of 31, Boulevard Henri IV., Paris, in the
Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to type-composing machines, and has for object to provide
a machine which shall be very rapid in working whatever may be the number and
kind of type employed and at the same time be simple, easy of manipulation, and
which shall require but little space.
In order to enable the invention to be fully understood will describe the same
by reference to the accompanying drawings, which for the sake of clearness
illustrate only a part of a complete machine for printing a book, or newspaper,
videlicet, 24 cases, 12 of which contain the type M A. URYFOEST IN, and
the 12 others the same type in italics. In practice the number of cases may be
increased according to requirements.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the type-composing machine.
A is the frame of iron, cast metal or wood which supports the parts of the
machine, B indicates the cases or receptacles containing the type: C are push-rods
for pushing a type from its case, such rods being connected to rods D (having the
form shewn in Figures 4 and 5) by bent levers a, (Figure 6). E are rods provided
1

page_text: ;
at one of their ends with knobs on which are marked the type to which they corre
spond the other ends of these rods are rivetted to levers F, M on which rest the
rods D; these levers are in two series of six, each arranged one above the other
and each series pivots on axes and s. Springs G are provided for holding the
levers F, M in position and for returning them into position after being depressed.
H is an inclined shoot or concentrating plate into which falls cach type as it is
pushed from its case. I is the receiving channel (forming a continuation of the
inclined shoot) into which the type are pushed by the nose of a bent rod J as they
arrive. The bent rod J is a kind of oscillating or rocking-bar provided with
pivoted bent levers K connected together by cross-bars b, b₁ on which rest
the levers F, M. L is a plate which allows of the type being changed as
required.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the cases for containing the type. These
cases are made of sheets of brass bent into a V-shape, the lower ends being formed
with flanges to prevent the type from falling out of the case. The cases are closed
by V-shaped sliding covers d, which can be withdrawn when required, and which
are so arranged that there always exists a space sufficient for the passage of a type
between the base of the case and the lower end of the cover. Shoulders e formed
on the case come against rods and regulate the size of the opening which must
correspond with the size of the type employed.
On a plate g, of the shape shewn in Figure 1, are soldered a number of cases so
that they may all be removed together, whereby the apparatus is more easily
worked. At the bottom of these cases at the front small openings are formed
into which pass push-rods G which force out the type.
Figure 3 is a view taken on the line X X of Figure 1 of the cases B and the
inclined shoot H. The cases B pass into receptacles i, and are supported in front
by rods and at the back by rods are the grooves of the inclined
shoot H into which the type pass to be delivered at k, at which point is a small
pivoted vertical sheet of metal and just below is a similar sheet of metal but
arranged horizontally, the object of these two pieces of metal being to ensure the
normal descent of the type. Figures 11 and 12 are a front view and a longitudinal
section of part of the inclined shoot I shewing the arrangement of the two metal
plates.
Figures 4 and 5 are side views of the rods D shewing them resting on the
levers F, M.
Figure 7 is a sectional plan of the machine taken on the line Y Y of Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a sectional plan taken on the line Z Z of Figure 1 of the lower part
of the apparatus shewing the operation of the movable plate L. This plate which
can be moved either backwards or forwards is provided with a transverse opening m,
which allows of the passage of two consecutive series of rods D, D. Small
shutters or flaps n, hinged on rods, as shewn in Figures 13, 14 and 15, come
against and support the lower portions of the rods as the plate L is moved to-
and-fro, forming a simple means of raising the rods without there being the
risk of coming against the projection of the opening if the shutters were not
provided.
The rods Dare not operated by any mechanical means but simply follow by
their own weight the course of the levers F, M, so that, when certain of the
shutters are closed, the series of rods opposite such shutters cannot work. By
these means the particular type required may be obtained by depressing the rods
corresponding to such type below the opening in the plate.
Figure 9 is a front view of that part of the apparatus containing the
receptacles, which receive the cases B, and shews how the pushers Center
the cases.
Figure 10 is a sectional view of a case, of a receptacle and of the inclined
shoot.
Figure 11 is a front view of the inclined shoot.
Figure 12 is a sectional view of Figure 11.

page_text: Figure 16 is a perspective view of the entire apparatus.
Figure 17 is a plan of the plate L: and,
Figure 18 is a perspective view of the oscillating or rocking-bar J, shewing in
dotted lines the position it assumes on a key being depressed.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
On a key E being depressed (as shewn in dotted lines at Figures 1 and 18) the
corresponding lever M receives a downward movement which allows the rod D
above the opening m of the plate L to fall by its own weight.
This downward movement of the rod D communicates to the lever a a movement
which brings forward the corresponding push-rod C which, entering the case B,
pushes out the lowermost type into the inclined shoot. The type having slid along
the groovej, comes against the vertical metal plate and arrives in the channel I,
after raising the horizontal metal-tongue. In the channel I the type falls into the
space left free by the nose of the oscillating or rocking-bar J, which is carried
backwards when the key is depressed; the lever M lowers the cross-bar 6' which
carries along in its movement the bent levers K, the rod of which raises at (
the end of the rocking-bar which pivots on a rod P, as shewn in Figures 1
and 18.
The type having fallen and the key being released the lever M is brought back
to its original position by the spring G, thereby raising the rod D which causes the
lever a to withdraw the push-rod C from the case B.
The bent levers K, being no longer pressed down by the lever M, retake
their original position carried along by the oscillating or rocking-bar which,
turning on the axis P by its own weight, pushes forward the type in the
channel I.
The same result is obtained each time a key is depressed and the type will be
arranged in the channel I in a continuous line which, when it has attained the
desired length, can be transferred to the galley.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of levers and rods for effecting the automatic supply of the
type from their cases, substantially as described.
2. The employment of inclined shoots or concentrating plates formed with a
number of grooves which converge to a common point for the purpose of con-
veying type from any of the cases or receptacles to the receiving channel,
substantially as described.
3. The employment of series of cases or receptacles for different kinds of type,
substantially as described.
4. The employment of a movable plate to allow of a particular rod being
operated, the other rods of the same lever being rendered immovable substantially
as described.
5. The arrangement of apparatus for supplying the type to the receiving channel,
substantially as described.
6.
The method of superposing the levers in order to reduce the size of the
machine, substantially as described.
7. The combination of parts forming the improved machine for composing type
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 23rd day of March 1891.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.