Improvements in Type Distributing Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: ate of Application, 7th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type Distributing Apparatus.
I, JOHN BYRON ODELL, of 143 Pine Street Chicago, in the County of Cook,
State of Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Figure 1 is a view in central vertical section through the case of the apparatus
embodying my invention parts being shown in section, and parts in side elevation.
Fig. 2 is a plan view.
Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation of one of the wards or guards for the
mouths of the type channels.
Fig. 4 is a front view of said ward or guard.
Fig. 5 is a side view of a type adapted to enter the ward or guard shown in
Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the alignment wheel.
Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section through the counter-shaft at a point imme-
diately above the ratchet feed-wheel.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view through the inner end of the main drive shaft,
showing the cam and cam-bar that co-operate with the alignment wheel.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation of that portion of the main
drive-shaft whereon the cam is held.
A designates the main casing of the machine, the lower portion of which is.
preferably expanded as at a, to form a base, and the upper portion of which is
expanded to form a table or support A', from which rise the division walls or
plates B forming the channels or receivers b, wherein the type will be received
as they are distributed. The table A¹ may be of any suitable character or
extent to permit the type to be distributed in rows of any desired length. The
mouth or induction end of each of the channels or receivers will be provided with
a suitable ward or keeper C (see Figs. 3 and 4) these wards or keepers C being
preferably of the construction shown, that is to say with vertical bars separated a
suitable distance to permit the passage of the type D. By preference, also, each
of the wards C will be furnished at its upper end with a cross plate c, having
suitable holes to receive the screws c¹ whereby the wards will be bolted to the side
walls B of the channels, and each of the wards C will be provided with projec-
tions, the arrangement and number of these projections corresponding to the
individual type, and serving to determine the character of the type that will be
allowed to pass into each of the channels b. If desired, also, the side bars of the
wards C may be united at their base by a bar for greater security. The
individual lines of type to be distributed are held within the channels or holders e,
preferably formed by the walls E that rise from the face of the rotary bed F that
is mounted upon the upper end of the counter-shaft G; this bed being shown as
attached to the reduced upper end of the shaft by means of a set-screw 9 whereby
the exact position of the bed upon the shaft, and with respect to the table A' can
be determined. The bed or support F is shown as setting within an annular groove
or recess a formed within the table A¹, so as to bring the face of the bed F
upon a plane with the table A. In the bed F beneath each of the type-
channels e is formed the long slot el adapted to receive a pusher H, each of these
pushers being preferably of spring metal pivotally mounted, as at 5, within
brackets 6 that rise from the flanged collar I fixed to the shaft G. Each of the
pushers H has its lower end extending outwardly and pivotally connected by a
Link 7 to the bracket 8 that projects from the rim of the annular sleeve K that is
provided with a slot k through which extend a pin 9, that keys the sleeve to the
shaft G, whilst permitting it to be moved vertically thereon. The purpose of the

page_text: pushers H is to cause the lines of type within the channels e of the bed F to bear
at the proper time against the wards or guards C of the receiving channels b. The
bed F has a step by step motion imparted thereto in order to bring the channels e
successively opposite the different receiving channels of the table A', this step by
step motion being imparted to the bed F through the medium of the shaft G, to
the lower end of which is keyed a ratchet wheel L with which engages a feed
pawl I held normally in engagement with the ratchet-wheel L by means of a
spring 1, this pawl being carried by an arm M, the yoke-shaped ends m of which
encircle the shaft G at a point above and below the ratchet wheel L. A back-and-
forth movement is preferably imparted to the pawl L' by means of a crank
wheel 10, the pin 11 of which is connected to the free end of the arm M by means
of a suitable link 12. This link 12 is shown as formed of separate parts hinged
together as at 13, to permit a straight back and forth movement to be imparted to
the arm M from the crank wheel 10. The crank wheel 10 whereby motion is given
to the pawl L' is carried at the end of the main drive-shaft N, that receives
rotation from any suitable source of power, and from the construction as thus far
defined, it will be seen that when movement is imparted to this shaft, its rotation
will cause a back-and-forth movement of the arm M, thereby forcing the pawl L'
to impart a step-by-step rotation to the ratchet-wheel L, and through the medium
of this ratchet-wheel and the shaft G, to the bed F, and the lines of type carried
in the channels e of this bed.
The extent of movement imparted to the ratchet wheel L by each forward
movement of the feed-pawl L will be just sufficient to rotate the bed F such
distance as to move the channels e successively opposite each of the type-receiving
channels of the table A¹. And in order to arrest the bed F with its channels e
exactly coincident with the channels of the table A¹, and hold the channels thus
coincident, to permit the pushers H to force from the channels e into the channels b,
such type as may present notches d corresponding in number and location with the
projections of the wards at the mouths of the channels, I provide the mechanism
next to be described. Upon the shaft G above the bottom plate A2 of the main
casing, is keyed the alignment wheel O, this wheel having its periphery formed
with a series of notches or seats o adapted to receive the end p of the alignment
arm P, this end p being bevelled to enable it to enter the notches o of the align-
ment wheel and bring this wheel to an exact position. The alignment bar Pis
attached to the upper armr of the cam bar R, this bar being preferably provided
with the expanded arms and that encircle the cam S that is mounted upon the
main drive shaft N. By preference the arm of the cam bar R is formed as a
separate part attached to the bar R to permit the bar to be conveniently fitted
about the cam. In order to provide means whereby the exact adjustment of the
cam S upon the main shaft N can be readily effected, I prefer to form this cam
with a hub or extension S¹, through which will pass a set screws, whereby the
cam will be keyed to the shaft, this hub S₁ being milled upon its periphery to
enable the easy movement of the cam to the desired extent. To the upper end of
the arm of the cam-bar. R is pivotally connected as at 15, the shifting bar J one end
of this bar J being pivotally connected as at 16, to a bracket 17 that rises from
the base plate A2, while the inner end of this shifting bar is yoke-shaped to straddle
the reduced portion of the sliding sleeve K between the annular ribs or shoulders k¹
and of this sleeve, Between the shoulder of the sleeve K, and the alignment
wheel O, is preferably placed a coiled spring W, which serves to hold the sleeve K
in its normally raised position, and consequently hold the pushers H normally out
of action. From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatus,
will be seen to be as follows:
The type to be distributed are placed in lines within the channels or holders e of
the rotary bed or support F, and by preference, the channels e, are provided at
their inner ends with lateral seats or notches e, into which the pushers H can be
moved in order to permit the lines of type to be readily inserted into the inner
ends of the channels e. When the channels e of the bed F have been filled,

page_text: motion will be imparted to the main drive shaft M, and from this shaft, by the feed-
pawl L ratchet wheel L and shaft G, a step-by-step motion will be transmitted to
the bed F, thereby moving the channels e successively opposite the channels or
receivers into which the type are to be distributed. As the sliding sleeve K is
held normally in raised position, it is plain that the pushers H will remain normally
out of action, but as soon as the pawl L' has completed its forward stroke, the
cam S will begin to bear upon the lower portion of the cam bar R causing the
depression of this bar and thereby causing the bevelled end p of the alignment
bar P to pass within one of the seats or notches of the alignment wheel O, and
bring the notch of this wheel exactly opposite the end of the bar P. As the
bed F is set upon the shaft G with respect to the alignment wheel O, and
also with respect to the table A', it is plain that when the alignment bar P
arrests this wheel O and consequently the shaft G, and bed F, it will hold the
bed F in such position that its channel b will be exactly coincident with the
receiving channel b of the table A'. As the cam S continues to revolve and moves
downward the cam-bar R, the downward movement of this bar R will carry with
it the shifting bar J thereby causing the downward movement of the sliding
sleeve K against the force of the coiled spring W. As the sleeve K is thus drawn
downward, the link 7 projecting from the brackets 8 that are affixed to the sleeve
will draw downward the shorter arms of the pushers H, thereby causing the upper
ends of the pushers to bear forcibly against the lines of type within the channels e
of the bed F, and force the type against the wards C opposite the mouths of the
receiving channels b of the table A. It is obvious that when the outermost type
of either of the lines of type carried by the bed F has notches corresponding
in number and location with the projections of the ward C, against which
said type is forced, the pressure of the pusher H will cause the type to pass
through the ward C, and into the corresponding receiving channel b. As the
main drive shaft N continues to revolve, the sliding sleeve K will be raised in
such manner as to relieve the pressure of the pushers H from the lines of type,
and to again cause the feed pawl L' to engage with the ratchet-wheel L, to rotate
the bed F another step in order to bring the lines of type in front of the next
succeeding receiving channel b. In this way, as the bed F continues to rotate
with step by step movement, the type within the channels of this bed are presented
to the different wards at the mouths of the receiving channels until all the type
have found corresponding wards which permit them to pass into their appropriate
receiving channels. By making the pushers H of spring metal as I prefer to do,
these pushers will exert a yielding pressure upon the lines of type, so that all
danger of breaking or marring the type or the wards, will be avoided, when the
type do not happen to come opposite the corresponding wards, as must frequently
be the case.
If desired the type may be held within the channel in suitable
individual tubes or galleys and may also be received in detachable tubes or galleys
within the channels b, and it will be readily understood that in order to hold the
type in vertical position as they are received into the channels b, suitable " slugs'
should be placed in these channels.
"
It is obvious that the details of construction above set out may be varied without
departing from the spirit of my invention, and that features of my invention may
be employed without its adoption as an entirety. Thus, for example, I do not
wish the broad scope of the invention to be understood as restricted to a construc-
tion in which the channels or holders for the undistributed type are rotated, as,
obviously, my invention might be embodied in a machine in which the channels
for the undistributed type were stationary and the receiving channels for the type
were caused to move.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-*
tion, and in what manner the case is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:

page_text: provided with type channels or holders, a table or support provided with type
channels or receivers, suitable means for imparting a step-by-step movement to
one of said supports, a series of pushers for forcing the type into the receivers,
and intermittently-actuating retracting mechanism which serves to retract said
pushers to relieve the pressure from the lines of type, substantially as described.
2. In a type-distributing machine, the combination of á horizontal bed or
support having type channels or holders, a table or support provided with type
channels or receivers, suitable means for imparting a step-by-step rotation to one
of said supports, a series of pushers for forcing the type into the type-receivers,
and a suitable movable intermittently-operative device adapted to engage with and
positively retract aid pushers to relieve the pressure from the lines of type,
substantially as described.
3.-In a type-distributing machine, the combination of a bed or support provided
with type channels or holders, a table or support provided with type-channels or
receivers, suitable means for imparting a step-by-step movement to one of Baid
supports, a series of pushers consisting of spring-arms, and suitable intermittently-
operating mechanism for forcing said arms forward, whereby an intermittent pressure
upon the lines of type is secured, substantially as described.
4.-In a
type-distributing machine, the combination of a bed-or support pro-
vided with type-holders, a table or support provided with type-receivers, means for
intermittently moving one of said supports, suitable pushers for forcing the type into
type-receivers, and suitable means operating intermittently for forcing said pushers
backward and forward, whereby an intermittent pressure upon the lines of type is
secured, substantially as described.
5. In a type-distributing machine, the combination of a horizontal bed or
support provided with type channels or holders, a table or support provided with
type-channels or receivers, one of said supports having a step-by-step rotation
imparted thereto, and a series of pushers consisting of pivoted arms movable about
their pivots in order to produce an intermittent pressure upon the lines of type,
substantially as described.
6. In a type-distributing machine, the combination of a bed or support pro-
vided with type channels or holders, a table or support provided with type channels
or receivers, suitable means for imparting a step-by-step movement to one of said
supports, a series of pushers extending through the type-carrying table, and a
movable and intermittently-actuated device connected to said pushers and adapted
to shift the same back and forth, substantially as described.
7.In a type-distributing machine, the combination of a horizontal bed or
support provided with type-channels or holders, a horizontal table or support
provided with type-channels or receivers, suitable means for imparting a step-by-
step rotation to one of said supports, a series of pushers connected to said support
to be rotated, and extending below said supports and adapted to force the type into
the receivers, and a movable and intermittently actuated device arranged to engage
the pushers at a point below the horizontal bed or support, and throw said pushers
into and out of action, substantially as described.
8. In a type-distributing machine, the combination of a horizontal table or
support provided with type-channels or holders, à horizontal bed or support
provided with type-channels or receivers, a closed casing connected with and
sustaining said last-named support, a shaft located within said casing for imparting
movement to the table or support that sustains the type to be distributed,
a ratchet-wheel mounted upon said shaft within said casing, a pawl for actuating
said ratchet-wheel, also located within said casing, and suitable means within
said casing for imparting a back-and-forth motion to said pawl, substantially as
described.
9. In a type-distributing machine, the combination of a table or support
provided with type-channels, a bed or support provided with type-channels,. a
shaft for imparting movement to said bed, a ratchet-wheel separate from said
bed and mounted upon said shaft, a pawl for actuating said ratchet-wheel, and

page_text: suitable means for imparting a back-and-forth motion to said pawl, substantially as
described.
10. In a type-distributing machine, the combination of a table or support pro-
vided with type-channels, a bed or support provided with type-charnels, a shaft for
rotating one of said supports, a ratchet-wheel affixed to said shaft, a pawl for
engagement with said ratchet-wheel an arm for sustaining said pawl, a main drive-
shaft provided with a crank, and a two-part link uniting said crank to said
pawl-carrying arm, substantially as described.
11. In a type-distributing machine, the combination of a rotary bed or support
provided with a series of channels for undistributed type, a series of pushers for
forcing the type from said channels, said pushers consisting of metal bars provided
with angular lower ends a fixed collar for sustaining said pushers, and a movable
sleeve connected with the angular ends of the pushers, and suitable means for
reciprocating said sleeve to actuate the pushers, substantially as described.
12. In a type-distributing machine, the combination of a bed F, a table A', a
shaft G, a series of pushers H having arms h, a sliding sleeve K sustained upon the
shaft G and connected to the arm of the pushers, a shifting-bar T for actuating
the sliding sleeve, a cam-bar connected with said shifting-bar T, a main drive-shaft,
and a cam upon the main drive-shaft for imparting movement to the shifting-bar,
substantially as described.
13. In a type-distributing machine, the combination of a table or support pro-
vided with type-channels, a bed or support provided with type-channels, a shaft
for rotating said hed, a series of pushers carried by said shaft, a sliding sleeve
connected to said pushers, a shifting-bar connected to said sleeve, and means for
intermittently operating said shifting-bar, substantially as described.
14. In a type-distributing machine, the combination with a table or support
provided with the receiving-channels, of individual wards C having cross-bars at
their tops and having two side bars, one at least of which is furnished with
lateral projections, substantially as described.
Dated this 95th of November AD 1891
JOHN BYRON ODELL.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.