The motion of the type sector, here described, is accomplished by the
action of the snail upon the lever already mentioned. In the case where
the number calculated is that expressed in fig. 1, the process would be
as follows:--The snail of the wheel F^1, acting upon the lever, would
throw the type sector into such an attitude, that the punch bearing the
character 0 would come under the bent lever. The next turn of the moving
axis would cause the bent lever to press on the tail of the punch, and
the character 0 would be impressed upon the copper. The bent lever being
again drawn up, the punch would recoil from the copper by the action of
a spring; the next turn of the moving axis would shift the copper
through the interval between two figures, so as to bring the point
destined to be impressed with the next figure under the bent lever. At
the same time, the snail of the wheel E would cause the type sector to
be thrown into the same attitude as before, and the punch would be
brought under the bent lever; the next turn would impress the figure
beside the former one, as before described. The snail upon the wheel D
would now come into action, and throw the type sector into that position
in which the punch bearing the character 7 would come under the bent
lever, and at the same time the copper would be shifted through the
interval between two figures; the straightening of the lever would next
follow, and the character 7 would be engraved. In the same manner, the
wheels C, B, and A would successively act by means of their snails; and
the copper being shifted, and the lever allowed to act, the number
007776 would be finally engraved upon the copper: this being
accomplished, the calculating machinery would next be called into
action, and another calculation would be made, producing the next number
of the Table exhibited in fig. 5. During this process the machinery
would be engaged in shifting the copper both in the direction of its
length and its breadth, with a view to commence the printing of another
line; and this change of position would be accomplished at the moment
when the next calculation would be completed: the printing of the next
number would go on like the former, and the operation of the machine
would proceed in the same manner, calculating and printing alternately.
It is not, however, at all necessary--though we have here supposed it,
for the sake of simplifying the explanation--that the calculating part
of the mechanism should have its action suspended while the printing
part is in operation, or _vice versa_; it is not intended, in fact, to be
so suspended in the actual machinery. The same turn of the axis by which
one number is printed, executes a part of the movements necessary for
the succeeding calculation; so that the whole mechanism will be
simultaneously and continuously in action.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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