US360355A - augustus low - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

A. A. LOW.

TYPE CONTAINING CHANNEL.

No. 360,355. Patented Mar. 29, 1887.

PETERS. Phaw-Lmhomphgr, Wahington. D. C.

llNrTED STATES PATENT FFIQE.

A. AUGUSTUS LOW', OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO THE ALDEN "YPE MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

TYPE-CONTAINING CHANNEL.

EPEGIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,355, dated March 29, 1887.

Application filed February 19, 1886.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l', A. AUGUSTUS Low, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type Containing Channels, of which thefollowing is a specifica tion.

My improvements relate to type-channels in which the types are arranged in lines in a prescribed position, and are designed more especially for use in conjunction wit-h the class of type setting and distributing apparatus set forth in Patents Nos. 230, 784, 254,019, 263, 707, 264,084, 264, 085, 268,409, 271,711, 275,664, 279,168, and 282,988.

In the method of handling types to which my invention appertains the types are deposited successively into the ends of the type containing channels,while the latter rest with their backs or spines upon the table or bed of the distributing apparatus. The types descend heel first into their respective containing-channels, and are forwarded therein by a reciprocating pusher.

The nature and causes of the backlash are fully set forth in application No. 156,604, February 14, 1885, to which reference may be had in this connection as illustrating the means heretofore employed for counteracting or preventing this objectionable feature in the handling of type. In the case referred to offsets or deviations in the course of the channels, as well as a roughened metallic surface, are utilized to hold and sustain the types against retractile movement or sliding in the channel.

In the present case a feature of my invention consists in providing a section of one or both sides of the typecontaining channels with aresisting-surfaee composed of a continuous strip of a comparatively soft semi-elastic substance of fibrous, textile, or other suitable material, which bears continuously upon the opposed types, fills or takes up the play or difference between the width of the channel and that of the types at such point, and creates sufiicient lateral pressure upon the types engaged therewith to counteract any back-pressure in the column of types beyond.

Serial No. 192,403. (No model.)

This improved means of holding and sustaining the types in position is important from its simplicity and cheapness, and also for the reason that it prevents all injury or jar to the types. This device also prevents the spilling or displacement of the types while the channels are being raised and removed from position in the distributer preparatory to transfer to the setter, or to the locking of the types in the channels by the means hereinafter set forth. 7

I am aware that brushes have been used for a somewhat similar purpose at the receiving end of a type race or way, as in the patent to Richards, No. 212,504; but such brushes are not the equivalent of my continuous surface of fibrous, textile, or other suitable soft ma terial. Neither are they designed to counteract backlash, as in my channel. race or way in Richards case, referred to, forms a permanent part of a typesetting apparatus, whereas my type-containing channels are removable and separate from either setting or distributing apparatus, although used in both. The side walls of the channels in theRichards apparatus are cut awayorslotted to allow the ends of the bristles to protrude into the channel, and the bristles are bent backward by the advancing types, and there fore have a tendency to exert their elasticity to return or throw back the later types received when the latter are unsupported by a type-column behind, whereas in my construe tion a continuous strip of fibrous, textile, or other soft material is applied directly to the inner surface or side wall of the channel without weakening the latter, and by its softness gives way immediately to the types as soon as they encounter it, and exerts its supporting and sustaining pressure squarely in a transverse direction. The soft semi-elastic material thus acting upon the types at right angles to their longitudinal axes does not turn thetypes upon such axes, as is the tendency in the case of the bristles, which latter may be likened to a series of springs projecting into the path of the types, the outer ends of which springs are bent backward by the advancing edge of a type in such manner that the elasticity of the springs will cause the type to turn-upon their The type longitudinal axes unless supported in the rear by a sufficient number of other succeeding types. Thus the least looseness or play in the line of type at that point renders the use of the bristles not only ineffective, but also detrimental.

I am also aware that curved metallic springs have been used in connection with atype-raceway to exert pressure upon passing types. The outer ends of such springs also have a tendency to force the types backward before they reach the center of the curve or point of direct lateral pressure. However, I do not seek to cover, broadly, an elastic or yielding surface in a type-passage, but limit myself to a type bearing surface in a type receiving and containing channel, when such surface is composed, of a continuous strip or section of a soft yielding semi-elastic snbstancesuch as fibrous, textile, or other equivalent materialapplied directly in the interior of the channel.

In order to afford a positive means for look ing the types in the containing-channel during storage or transfer, and also for the purpose of subdividing the channel into two or more divisions or compartments when desirable, I provide myimproved type-containing channel with division-pieces or partitions, which engage positively with the channel in such mannor that they are held against movement in the direction of the length of the channel.

Owing to the comparatively small numbers of types of certain denominations which occur in ordinary matter, and consequently in setting and distribution, some of the channels, which are preferably all made of an average uniform length, will be capable of containing I a far greater number of types than they are ever called upon to accommodate in practice. By subdividing the channel into two or more compartments or divisions I am therefore enabled to utilize valuable space, which would otherwise be practically useless, for the reception and storage of two or more denominations of types. For such purpose the division or partition pieces may be either movable or sta stationary and permanent. \Vhen stationary and permanent, the partition is preferably situated at or near the center of the channel, and since either end of the channel may be used as the receiving end the channel so formed may be designated as a reversible channel. In connection with the permanent division or partition, movable divisions or partitions may be used for locking the types in either compartment or end of the channel. The same result may be attained by the use of one or more movable or adjustable partitions or division-pieces; but where the latter are used exclusively there will be no necessity for reversing the channel, since, as soon as the desired number of a given denomination of type have been distributed into the channel at one end, they may be slid to the rearor other extremity of the channel and locked between two of the movable partitions 0r division-pieces,

when types of another denomination may be distributed into the first or receiving end without interference with the typ'espreviously distributed therein. In this manner two, three, or more denominations of type may be accommodated in a single channel in convenient form for storage and use, since when one denomination of type is exhausted in the setter from for the double purpose of facilitating the align= ment of the types and of affording a concavity underneath the channel, which allows of the protrusion through the bottom of means for holding the division-pieces in position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved ty iie-containing channel, a portion of one side wall being broken away to show the semielastic friction-surface, and illustrating the 1 locking of two columns of types of different denominations by means of movable partitions or division-pieces. edge View of my improved type-containing channel empty and formed with av permanent partition or division-piece at its center. Fig. 3 is a central. longitudinal piece through the channel, representing a line of type of one denomination locked in position'upon one side of a permanent central partition or divisionpiece, while a line of type of another denomination is represented as having just been fed into. the other extremity of the channel. Fig. 4 is a view of the spine or under side of the type-containing channel. Fig. 5 is an end view of the channel, illustrating a method of applying the semi-elastic type-resisting surface; Fig. 6, a transverse section of the ohannel and a movable partition or division-piece,

showing means for positively securing thelatter in position. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the type-channel near one extremity, illustrating the action of the semi-elastic type resisting or holding section.

Fig. 2 is a top or-' Fig. 8 is a trans.

ICO

verse section of the type-containing channel,

showing a movable partition 0r division-piece provided with a stud or projection, which enters any one of a series of holes formed in the spine or bottom of the,'channel. Fig. 9 is a similar View showing a movable partition or division-piece, formed with a laterally-projeeting shoulder for engagement with notches formed in the upper edge of one of the side walls of the type-channel. Figs. 10, 11, and

12 are detail views,.taken at right angles to each other, of a movable partition or divisionpiece formed with the lateral projection or shoulder.

The channels 0 are preferably made from sheet-metal blanks, which are struck up into IZO the required shape. The side walls may be of equal width or height in certain cases; but I prefer to make one side wall, 0, less in width than the other, e, to afford access to the types in the channel. The side walls are parallel, or nearly so, and are inclined with relation to the spine or base S in such manner that when the spine of the channel rests square upon a support the side walls will be slightly out of the perpendicular.

The spines are preferably, though not necessarily, curved inward, so as to form a concavity, 8, under or at the rear of the channel, while affording a convex bottom, 0, in the interior thereof. The convexity of the bottom tends to maintain the types in contact with the lower inclined wall, 0, while the concavity s affords accommodation for the heads of the screws or for the protuberance of the projections or studs by which the partitions or division-pieces are held in position in the channel. This will be understood by reference to Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 8, in which it will be seen that the spine or bottom S is formed with perforations or slots 8 s at suitable distances apart.

\Vhere the channel is designed exclusively for use as a reversible channel, into the opposite ends of which types of different denominations are to be distributed, a permanent partition or division-piece, D, is formed midway in the channel, although the same effect may be produced by substituting for the stationary partition D one of the movable partitions or division -pieces D. The latter are formed so that they are adapted to engage at certain positions with the channel in such manner as to prevent their movement longitudinally thereinthat is to say, provision is made for temporarily holding them stationary in position at certain points in the channel. It is obvious that this may be accomplished in various ways without affecting the principleinvolved. Forinstance,thedivision-pieces D may be formed with the lateral shoulders or projections d, which may be made to engage with any of a series of notches or offsets, (1, formed in the upper edge of one of the side walls of the channel, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 9, 10, and 11; or the under side of the divisionpieces D maybe formed with studs or projections e 0, adapted to engage with any of the series of holes 5 In place of the studs 6 6 screws ff may be substituted, passing through any of the holes 8 s and screwing into the bottom of a division-piece, as shown in Fig.6. This latter form of attachment is desirable when used in conjunction with the longitudinal holes or slots 8 in the spine S, since by such means the division-pieces can be adjusted longitudinally in the channel to a slight extent, sufficient to take up and compensate for any play or looseness in a line of type which it is designed to lock up otherwise, where the prescribed positions of the division-pieces D prevent their gripping theopposite ends of a line of types, the looseness is taken up by the insertion of one or more spaces, as is customary in setting up ordinary printing-matter.

One or both extremities of the channel are provided with sexnielastic friction-surfaces or type-holders T,attached to or held in position against the side wall of the channel in any convenient or desirable manner. These typeholders T may be formed ofany suitable fibrous or textile material, and they are applied to the channel in such manner that they bear against the sides of the types as they pass and force them against the opposite side wall of the channel with sufficient pressure to hold them stationary and in position, except when the types are being forcibly forwarded in the channel by hand or by the forwarding mechanism in the distributer. Some kinds of ordinary string or cord answer the requirements of such frictional surfaces T very well, and afford a cheap and convenient construction. An illustration of such use is shown upon the lefthand extremity of the channel in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, in which a knotted string, t, is first passed through a hole, 8', in the spine S, until the knot rests against the latter, and then passed in through the perforations t and out through the perforation L in the side wall of the channel, thus exposing a section, T, in the path of the type. The free end, after being passed through the second perforation i in the side wall of the channel, may be secured by knotting or in any other suitable manner, if desired; but I prefer to use a cord of sufficient length to allow such free end to project loosely beyond the outer side wall of the channel, for the reason set forth in my application No. 195,866, filed March 19, 1886; or a band or loop ofstring or other textile orfibrous material may be slipped down into position over a section of the side wall, 0, by the provision of open slots t i in the latter, as indicated upon the right-hand extremity of the channel. In either case new semi elastic material may conveniently be substituted for old.

I do not, however, confine myself to any special form of applying the semi-elastic frictioirsuri'ace T, since it may be cemented, riveted, or otherwise attached to the side wall of the channel in any way which may be found expedient.

By forming the notches din the edge of the higher side walls, a, of the channel, and making the division-pieces D of corresponding height, the latter may be used as slugs by reversing them in position, so that their shoulders d project above the lower side wall of the channel.

Having thus described the essential features of my invention, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A type'containing channel substantially such as designated,provided with a transverse partition or partitions which divide it into two or more compartments, substantially in the manner and for thepurpose described.

2. The combination, with a type-containing 4. A type-containing channel substantially channel substantially such as designated, of such as designated, provided with an interior one or more movable division-pieces formed type bearing and sustaining surface formed of with projections adapted to engage with 0012- a continuous strip of soft semi'elastic material 15 responding recesses formed in the said chanof the character designated, for the purpose nel substantially in the manner and for the and'substantially in the manner described. purpose described.

3. A type-containing channel formed with I AUGUSTUS a spine or bottom which is curved inward,substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

Vitnesses:

WM. GARDNER, \VM. A. POLLOCK.

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