IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FORMING MOULDS OR MATRICES FOR STEREOTYPE PLATES be as follows
Year: 1884

page_text: We CHARLES FREDERICK HILDER of 26 Villa Place Newcastle-on-Tyne Printer
and STANLEY JOHN AMBROSE COTTERELL of Somerville House near Rothbury, of
no occupation, both in the County of Northumberland, do hereby declare the
nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FORMING MOULDS
OR MATRICES FOR STEREOTYPE PLATES to be as follows:-
"
Our invention relates to apparatus for forming the moulds or matrices for
stereotype plates.
.
In making stereotype plates the course generally adapted is to set up a quantity
of type (say one side of a newspaper) in the ordinary manner, and then to take
an impression therefrom in papier-mache or other suitable material to form the
matrix.
The object of our invention is to obviate the necessity for handling types, and
to enable the matrix to be prepared almost simultaneously with the composition,
thereby accelerating the speed with which stereotype plates can be prepared, as
compared with methods now generally in use, avoiding the waste of time which
takes place in distributing the type, and obviating the necessity for keeping a large
quantity of type.
:
Our said invention consists essentially in arranging a number of arms, each of
which carries a type letter, or character, in connection with a series of keys, in
such a manner that when the different keys are depressed the corresponding
characters on the type arms are brought into position over a tray containing
papier-maché or similar material, the said tray then being raised into contact
with the said characters to receive the impression thereof. The invention also
comprises various details in the construction, all as hereinafter described.
In carrying our said invention into practice we provide a suitable frame. Upon
this frame are mounted, one above another, a number of horizontal rods-square in
sectional area one for each character or type which it is desired that the apparatus
should be capable of reproducing.
;
On each of these square rods, arms are adapted to slide; the said arms are
L-shaped and each carries at one extremity a letter or character. Each 'square
rod has as many type arms as it is probable that the character carried by the said
arms would be repeated in a line of ordinary length.
:

page_text: "
As all the characters on the type-arms of the different square horizontal rods.
have to come on to the same horizontal line, the arms of the L-shaped levers
carrying the types vary in length, the arms of each rod being longer than the
arms of the rod below it, by the distance between the axis of the bars of the said
two rods.
As each of the horizontal rods is provided with mechanism of the same class we
shall only describe one of them.
One portion of each of the said square rods, hereinafter termed the fixed portion,
is arranged with its sides out of coincidence with the other portion, hereinafter
termed the movable portion, so that the type-arins will be prevented from being
moved from the fixed portion to the movable portion, without the intervention
of a nut.
The fixed portion of the horizontal rod is fixed with its sides at such an angle,
that the type-arms may be moved onto the movable portion of the rod without
interfering with the type-arms of the rods above and below it.
:
The said nut, which has the same section as the horizontal rod, is attached to
the end of a shaft which passes through the fixed portion and. is adapted to be
turned to correspond with first the said fixed portion and then with the movable
portion of the said horizontal rod.
On the fixed portion of the horizontal rod is a sliding sleeve acted upon by a
spring. The said sleeve presses against the type arms and presses one of them
onto the nut which is of the same width at the type arms and the sides of which
normally correspond with those of the fixed portion of the horizontal rod. When
it is desired to transfer a type arm from the fixed portion of the horizontal rod to
the movable portion thereof, the said nut, and the type-arm thereon, are turned by
mechanism, hereinafter described, so that the sides of the nut are caused to coincide
with the sides of the movable portion of the horizontal rod. As soon as this takes
place the spring sleeve pushes a type arm onto the said movable portion. At this
point the said arm is acted upon simultaneously by a number of push-rods, and
pushed into position..
The said push-rods slide in suitable guides, and are operated by depressing
the key to which they are connected, by means of suitable levers and rods.
Surrounding the spring-sleeve is a brake which normally holds the sleeve against
the pressure of its spring, but releases the same for a short period of time to enable
it to push a type arm forward onto the movable portion of the horizontal rod.
For the purpose of partially rotating the said uut its shaft is provided at the end
with a lever having a stud, which lever is adapted to be operated by a rod connected
with the key, a notch being formed in the said rod to engage with the stud, which
is adapted, to slip out of the notch when the key reaches a certain position.
3
On the nut-shaft is an arm, which, when the said shaft is turned, impinges
against an arm on a short shaft, the end of which is flattened and extends between
the ends of the brake on the spring sleeve, so that when the short shaft is par-
tially rotated the brake will release the spring-sleeve and allow it to move
forward. >
:
"
It will be understood that each set of mechanism connected with a horizontal
rod is operated by a separate key the depressing of which performs the whole of
the movements necessary for bringing a type or character into the required position
in the line. We may in some cases find it necessary to employ two keys for
eacli letter, one key performing the first part of the operations and the second the
other portion,
When a line of composition has been set up the type arms are clamped together
by any suitable means; the tray containing the papier maché or the like is then
raised into contact with the types the impression of which is taken.
}
In order to return the type arms to their normal position ready for the next
line, without the necessity of operating the nut to transfer each type arm
separately from the movable portion to the fixed portion of the horizontal rod,
we partially rotate the said movable portion so as to cause its sides to coincide

page_text: with those of the fixed portion and of the nut. For this purpose the said movable
portion carries at its outer end an arm connected by a rod with a hand lever, so
that by moving the said hand-lever a certain distance the movable portion will be
rotated as desired. The type arms can then all be pushed at one time to their
normal position.
To push the said arms to this position a sleeve similar to the spring sleeve is
adapted to slide on the said movable portion by means of suitable rods and arms
operated by a lever.
For forming the spaces between the words in a line I provide a number of tubes
telescoping one within the other. Each tube carries a wing, and the said wings
are arranged in pairs; the wings of each pair are adapted to be moved apart
sufficiently to form a space between two words, but the several pairs have a longer
movement to enable them to be placed in different positions according to the
lengths of the words. The tubes of each pair are adapted to be moved by a
weight so that when a stop in connection with the said tubes is displaced, a pair
of wings will be drawn into place against a word, another word being then placed
against the space. The pairs of wings are not separated until a line of composition
is completed. The separation is effected by means of toggle-arms connected with
the pairs of tubes. By straightening the toggles the wings are forced the desired
distance apart. By using this arrangement the spaces are always regulated so as
to exactly fill the line.
The tray carrying the papier-maché or other material which forms the matrix
is adapted to run on rails fixed to a table. The said tray is placed below the typo
arms and is provided with a rack and pawl or other suitable means whereby it
may be moved forward as each line is impressed therein. Suitable means are
provided for allowing the movement of the tray to be varied to vary the distances
between the lines.
The tray is also provided with a movable partition for adjusting the same to
correspond with the width of the page or column which is being composed.
To raise the tray into contact with the types, we provide a cam which bears
upon the underside of the said table raising the same when turned, and with it
the tray. Suitable guides are provided for preventing the table from moving
laterally.
It is obvious that we may modify the construction of the apparatus without
departing from the nature of our invention, for instance :-Instead. of carrying
the type-arms on square horizontal rods we may use round horizontal rods; in
this case the nuts and parts connected therewith are dispensed with and we
substitute therefor an oscillating segment which moves the type-arms into position
to clear two stops. The said stops are movable to permit the type-arins to be
simultaneously returned to their normal position.
Also, instead of raising the table by a cam, we may use a screw, or a number of
screws operated simultaneously..
2011
1
C T 1
100
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicants.

page_text: We, CHARLES FREDERICK HILDER, of 26 Villa Place, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Printer,
and STANLEY JOHN AMBROSE COTTERELL, of Somerville House, near Rothbury, of
no occupation, both in the County of Northumberland, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FORMING MOULDS OR
MATRICES FOR STEREOTYPE PLATES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
"
Our Invention relates to apparatus for forming moulds or matrices for stereotype
plates.
It has been customary, heretofore, in making stereotype plates, to set up, in
the ordinary manner, a quantity of types (for example the quantity required for
one side or page of a newspaper), and then to take an impression therefrom in
papier-maché or other suitable material to form the mould or matrix.
Our invention is designed to obviate the necessity for employing a large quantity
of types, to avoid handling of the types, and to facilitate and accelerate the prepa-
ration of the said moulds or matrices.
An essential feature of our said invention is the employment of series of arms
carrying types and arranged to be operated by levers or keys in such a manner
that the said types can be set up in a single line over the papier-maché or other
material of which the mould or matrix is to be formed, and, after this material has
been pressed against, and received the impression from; this line of types, the said
types can be simultaneously returned to their original position, ready to be used
for composing another line.
Our invention, moreover, comprises various other improvements as hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying drawings, we have shewn as much of our improved machine
or apparatus as is necessary to illustrate its construction.
Figure 1 is a front elevation."
Figure 2 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 2 is a left-hand end elevation.
Figure 3 is a section on the line x1, x¹, Figure 1."
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on the line y, y, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a plan of part of the said apparatus.
Figures 2a to 5 inclusive are drawn to an enlarged scale.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the base-plate of the machine, B, B are horizontal bars or rods. One of
these bars or rods is required for each letter or character represented by the types
employed in the machine, for instance, twenty-six of them are required when
types representing all the letters of the alphabet are used. C, C are bent or
L-shaped arms each carrying a type at one of its extremities C*. Each of the
horizontal bars or rods B has a series of these type-arins fitted to slide thereon
and provided with types representing the same letter or character; and the number
of type-arms on each rod B should be equal to the number of times this letter or
character is likely to be required in a line of the desired length.
The type-arms C on all the horizontal rods B must be so arranged that they can
be moved into position,side by side, in any required order, with the types in a
horizontal line. To permit this movement of the type-arms, the rods B are arranged
one above another, and the said arins are made to differ in length, the arms on the

page_text: lowermost of the said rods being the shortest, and those on the uppermost of the
said rods being the longest. The said type-arms are, moreover, so arranged that,
when in their normal position, those of each series project outward beyond those
of the series immediately below them, as shewn by dotted lines in Figure 2ª.
The rods B are carried by the parts D, D1, D2 of the frame of the machine.
As similar mechanism is employed for operating. each series of type-arms, it will
only be necessary to describe the mechanism for operating one series thereof, in
order to render the construction of the entire machine intelligible. We will, there-
fore, hereinafter refer more particularly to the mechanism for operating the type-
arms on the second of the horizontal rods B from the bottom. The type-arms C
on this rod are held in their normal position by spring catches a, which are attached
to the part D' of the frame, and are made with taper or wedge-shaped projections a¹,
so that the arms C can be pushed into, or out of, engagement with them. The
following means are provided for moving the said type-arms into position as
required, that is to say-A rack b is arranged to slide to and fro in bearings c
attached to the part 2 of the frame. To one end of this rack are secured the
spring arms d, which are provided with taper or wedge-shaped projections d' to
enable them to engage with the type-arms C. These arms are reduced in thickness,
for this purpose, as shewn at C¹. The spring arms d pass through an aperture e
in the part D' of the frame, in which aperture is fixed a piece f having two inclined
surfaces, as shewn in Figure 4. The extremities of this piece enter slots d³ in the
arms d, and at one end of each of these slots is formed an inclined surface d³ for
the purpose hereinafter explained.
The rack b is geared with a spur-wheel g, on the axle of which is fixed a pinion h
gearing with another rack i. This rack is connected by a link i¹ to a lever or key j
pivotted at j.
k, kare tubes, which are secured to the part D¹, and in which are fitted to slide
the rods . These rods are acted upon by springs m which tend to press them
against the arms C when the latter are in their normal position, so that the outer
arm is pressed against the projections a¹ of the spring catches a.
The piece normally holds the arms d out of engagement with the type-arms C,
but, when the key ; is depressed, the said arms d come together (the inclined
surfaces d sliding on the inclined surfaces of the piece f) so that the projections d'
on the said arins engage with the part C¹ of the outer type-arm C and push this
arm into position for use. When the said key is released, the spring j³ raises it to
its original position and thereby draws back the arms d into position to engage
with another type-arm, the piece f causing them to move apart to pass over the
type-arms, in the return movement.
Each set of mechanism for operating a series of type-arms is actuated by means
of a separate key j, the depression of which effects all the movements necessary for
bringing a type into the required position in the line. These keys are arranged
side by side and may each be marked with the letter or character represented by
the series of types which it is designed to operate. We may, in some cases, find it
necessary to employ two keys for each series of type arms, one key for performing
some of the operations and the other for effecting the remainder thereof.
The arms C are held up, when in their normal position, by flat bars n; the
parts n¹ of these bars are pivotted, so that they can be turned into the position
shewn in Figures 1 and 3, to allow the type-arms, as they are pushed forward, to
fall into their proper position for use. The movable portions of all the bars n
can be simultaneously adjusted by means of the lever o.
The keys jrest upon a rod p¹ fixed in the end of a lever p. This lever is acted
upon by a spring p³, which tends to push it upward. The said lever is connected,
by rack-and-pinion gearing similar to that above described, with the rod p³ carrying
the plate p. Therefore, when either of the keys j is depressed, the lever p is also
depressed and actuates the said rod and plate to assist in pushing forward the
arins C.

page_text: A plate q is fitted to slide upon the rods B, and is connected with a lever or
key by means of rack-and-pinion gearing similar to that above described: After
the inpression has been taken from one line of types, the parts n¹ of the bars n
are raised, and the whole of the type-arms, that have been in use can then be
simultaneously returned to their original positions, by means of the plate q, by
depressing the lever or key q'. The plate q is formed. with suitable apertures
to permit the same to pass over the bars n.
For spacing or justifying the types to form a line of the desired length, we
provide a number of tubes sliding one within another like those of a telescope.
These tubes are arranged within another tube attached to the part D¹ of the
frame, and are prevented from turning by the pin 72, which passes through slots ³
in the said tubes. Each tuber is provided with a wing or projection 1, and the
said tubes are arranged to be moved in pairs by means of the weights 8, which are
connected, by the, cords s¹, one to every alternate tube. The tubes are normally
held in place by the stop t actuated by the lever t¹; and one pair thereof can be
released, when required, by slightly moving the said lever in one direction. This
lever may be provided with a projection to enter one or other of a series of notches
in a quadrant, or it may be otherwise, arranged, to facilitate its operation for this
purpose.
•
The wings or projections of each pair of tubes serve as a space and can be moved
apart, to increase the distance between two words, by means of wedges u, one of
which is carried by one of each of the said pairs of wings and is free to move
longitudinally to and fro thereon. These wedges are made with hooked exten-
sions u¹, so that, when a line of types and spaces has been composed, the hooked
extensions of all the wedges employed engage with the pivotted bar v, which is
provided with a lever v¹ for actuating it. The spacing or justifying is then
effected by turning the bar v, by means of its lever, and thereby pulling the
wedges u more or less between the wings or projections 4, which are thus forced
apart until the line is of the desired length. The length of the line is regulated
or deterinined by adjusting the screw w, the types and spaces to be used being
arranged between this screw and the bracket or lug w
The type-arins C and the wings or projections 74 are each made with a dovetail
notch as shewn in Figure 3, so that a sliding bar w², fitting into a dovetail groove
or channel in the bracket 20³, can be passed through the notches of all the types
and wings or spaces in use, to hold them firmly and prevent their displacement.
The papier-maché or other material, which is to form the mould or matrix, is
placed upon a tray or receptacle E carried by rollers F, so that the said tray can be
moved along beneath the type-arms when arranged for use. A rack G is attached
to the underside of the tray E, and a pawl.His provided for intermittently moving
the said tray forward (after each line has been impressed in the material)
according to the desired distance between the lines. The pawl H is actuated by a
lever I which also actuates a series of cams J for raising the said tray to bring the
material into contact with, and press it against, the types. Suitable guides are,
moreover, provided for preventing lateral movement of the tray.
The tray is usually furnished with a partition which can be adjusted according
to the width of the page or column for which the mould or matrix is required.
The tubes r are returned to their original position, simultaneously with the type-
arms C by means of the key q¹ and plate q.
It is obvious that we may somewhat modify the construction of our apparatus
"and the method of operating the various parts thereof without departing from the
nature of our invention. For instance, we can effect the spacing or justifying by
separating the wings or projections 24 by means of a toggle-joint so connected with
each pair of tubes that, by straightening the said toggle-joint, the tubes will be
forced to move slightly in opposite directions, or we can employ any other suitable
means for effecting the spacing or justifying of the types. We can, moreover, use
mechanism other than that above described for moving forward the type-arms, as
required, by means of the levers or keys.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. In a machine or apparatus for forming moulds or matrices for stereotype
plates, the employment of the series of arms carrying types and arranged to be
operated by levers or keys, as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Second. The combination, with the said arms carrying the types, of the sliding
tubes provided with wings or projections to serve as spaces, substantially as, and
for the purpose, set forth.
Third. The means, comprising the wedges and the pivotted bar operated by the
lever, for spacing or justifying the types, substantially as, and for the purpose, set
forth.
Fourth. The improved machine or apparatus consisting of the parts constructed
and combined substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicants.