US1565289A - Typographical distributing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec 15, 1925- L. E. MORRISON TYPOGRAPIQICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Feb. '11, 1925 BY A ORNEYS.

LUTHER E. IHORRISON, Q1 NEW 'YGRK, N.

Y ASSZGIFIGR TQ I'IERGENTI-IALER LING- IYPE CGIH'EFANY, A CQRE'URA'EION NE -Ff YORK.

TYPQGRAEI-II 'AL DISTREBUTENG EEACI-IIIQ'EJ.

Application filed February 11,

To all who 122 it may concern:

.Be it known. that l, LUTHER l6. Morrison, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of its State of New Your, have invents new and useful Improvements in Typo graphical Distributing hilachines, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to typos;raphical d cer n machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to (l. hier genthaler, No. 436,532, wherein circulating; matrices are released from a magazine in the or pier in which tributor which first sorts the matrices according to font, and a plurality of main dis tributors which thereafter sort the matrices of the iDCliVlCdlZtl fonts according to char,- actor and restore them to their proper channels in the magazines. With this type of distributing mechanism, the matrices, after font separation, pass down chutes or tubes and enter so-called lower distributor boxes, wherein they are guided upon inclined rails into engagement with reciprocating pawls or escapements, which feed them one at a time to the main distributors lin order that these pawls or escapenients may cooperate properly with the matrices, the latter are provided in their bottom edges wi h central notches, which necessarily vary in shape and depth according to the thickness of the individual matrices. Besides adding to the cost of production, such notches in the matrices necessarily limit the s ace ordinarily re quired for the regular: font notches and, moreover, seriously weaken the matrices, especially when the latter are formed with other necessary cuts or notches. Earthen w York,

Serial 1%. 3,363.

more, matrices comprising fonts used on other machines, such as those of the single distributor class, are excluded from use on machines of the multiple distributor class described, since they do not have the required central notches.

Primarily, the present invention is intended to obviate the foregoing difficulties ant contemplates certain improvements whereby the distributing mechanism may receive and handle matrices of all fonts whether they have or have not the objectionable central notches referred to. To this end, each of the lower distributor boxes is provided with shoulders arranged to engage the matrices by their projecting cars and arrest them in the path of a vertically reciprocating finger, which lifts them successively above the shoulders so that they may escape, one at a time, into position to be picked up by the distributor screws. In the embodiment illustrated, the matrix arresting shoulders are formed on horizontally reciprocating sections of the box guide rails, which latter are also formed with inclined guiding surfaces leading downwardly from the shoulders to the pick-up position of the screws. In the operation of the parts, as each matrix is raised by the lifting finger, the rail sections are shifted rearwardly or retracted to bring the inclined surfaces beneath the upper projecting ears of the lifted matrix, which then, as the lifting finger recedes, slides down the inclined surfaces into direct engagement with the distributor screws. The screws are preferably recessed or cut away at points adjacent their receiving ends to present suitable banking surfaces to the matrices as they enter the threats.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely in preferred form and by way of example and as ap plied to the specific type of distributing mechanism indicated. However, many changes and variations may be made therein and in its mode of ap plieation, which will still be com prised within its spirit. It is to be under stood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations are specihed in the claims,

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the improved distributor box;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation, similar to a portion of Fig. 1, showing the parts in a different position; and

Fig. 4c is a detail plan view, showing the connections between the rail sections and the actuating cam.

The matrices X are released by the pri mary distributor (not shown) and dropped into the tubes or chutes A, arranged in communication with the lower distributor boxes B, through which they are guided and sustained in upright position by the engagement of their projecting ears X with the upper and lower inclined rails B B. Each distributor box is associated with a main distributor, which comprises, as usual, the longitudinally ribbed or permuted bar C and the set of matrix conveying screws C, the latter being arranged to pick up matrices as they emerge from the box and advance them across the horizontal rail extensions B B into engagement with the bar C and thence along the same until finally released above their proper magazine channels. The foregoing parts and their mode of operation, except as hereinafter pointed out, are or may be of any approved construction or as embodied in the commercial model 9 linotype.

According to the present invention, each of the distributor boxes B is provided with upper and lower pairs of shoulders B B, arranged to arrest a gravitating matrix by its projecting ears before it reaches the pick-up position of the conveying screws. The shoulders B of the lower pair are fixed, being formed on the lower guide rails B while, for reasons which will presently appear, the shoulders B of the upper pair are formed on horizontally reciprocating sections B of the upper guide rails B. These rail sections B are also formed with short inclined surfaces B leading downwardly from the shoulders B and adapted to guide the escaping matrices into position to be picked up by the leading ends C of the conveying screws. A yoke member B", slidably mounted in the box casing (see Figs. 1 and at), supports the rail sections B and is actuated back and forth by a grooved cam C secured to one of the constantly rotating screws C A stud B protruding from the cross-piece B of the yoke member and having a pin B arranged to engage in the groove C of said cam serves as the necessary operating connection. The release of the arrested matrices is effected by the employment of the ordinary lifting finger D, pivotally connected to the free end of a yielding lever D and guided in its vertical movements by a transverse pin B against which it is held under the tension of a light helical spring B The lever D is pivoted at D and is operated from one of the screws C through an adjustable link D connected to a pin D eccentrically fastened into the face of the grooved cam C.

From the foregoing arrangement, it will be seen that after an arrested matrix is raised above the shoulders B B by the lifting finger I), the rail sections B are moved rearwardly by the cam C to bring the inclined surfaces B beneath the upper projecting ears of said matrix (see Fig. 3), which then, as the lifting finger recedes, 50 slides down the inclined surfaces and reaches pick-up position in time to be engaged by the leading ends C of the screw threads. In this connection, it may be noted that the cam groove C is concentrically w formed in two planes to cause the rail sections B to dwell in both their fore and aft positions, thus allowing ample time for a matrix first to be lifted above the arresting shoulders and then to escape down the inclined surfaces B to the screw pick-up position.

The matrix conveyii g screws C are preferably of the general type shown in the Guest application, Serial No. ($55,166; that is to say, the following side faces of the screw-threads, as distinguished from the leading side faces thereof, and at points adjacent their receiving ends, are cut away or recessed to present vertical circumferential surfaces C extending about halfway around the first convolution. These surfaces C afford desirable banking surfaces for the matrices, and, as a matter of fact, constitute steps which, under normal. conditions, are presented to the projecting ears of the matrices as they escape, one after another, from the box. The matrices are thus squarely arrested in the pick-up zone, but inasmuch as the might have a tendency to recoil or rebound because of their impact with said bank 15; surfaces and stop the distributor, the axe lower gi'iide rails B and the retractible rail sections B are respectively provided with shoulders or abutments B and B, which serve to restrain the matrices a;,; ainst abnormal rez-irward dis-placeinent when tl reach the pick-up position. it will be no that when the rail sections B are d rawn beneath the projecting ears of a lifted matrix. the shoulders B are disposed in tl e same vertical plane as the shoulders B. room and time are thus afforded an i .5 matrix to reach the pick-up posit being carried away by the screws.

It is also proposed, in the p cs struction, to provide the be): nary separator blade E, which serves vent more than one matrix being lifte the blade E.

lVhile, in the present embodiment, the inclined surfaces which direct the matrices to the screw piclrup position are formed on sections forming part of the box guide rails, this is not aosonitely essential, as the surfaces could be formed on other parts independent of the box rails. Nor is it essential that the matrix arres ing shoulders be firmed on the same part, that have the inclined surfaces. The arrangement 'llustritcd, however, is very simple and is prefr 1 Having thus described. my invention, its construction and modof operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of guide means along which the matrices pass by gravity, means for arresting the gra *itating matrices at a point in advance of the conveying screws, means for releasing the arrested matrices, one at a time, to permit their escape into position to be picked up by the screws, and inclined surfaces movable into engaging relation to the released matrices for directing them to the pick-up position.

2. In a typograhical distributing mechanism compi' -ng a distributor bar and set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of guide means along which the matrices pa. by gravity, shoulders for arresting the grant-sting matrices at a point in advance of the conveying screws, a reciprocating linger for lifting the matrices successively above the shoulders, and inclined surfaces momble beneath the projecting ea '5; of the lifted matrices for directing them. into posilion to be picked up by the screws.

3. In a l' ypo raphical distributing mechanism comprising a distrilnitor bar and a set of matrix convey ng screws, the combination of guide means along which the matrices pass by gravity, shoulders for arresting the gmvitating matrices at a point in advance of the conveying sc means for lifting the matrices successively above the shoulders, and means for retracting said shoulders to permit the escape of the lifted matrices into position to be picked up by the conveying screws.

4;. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of guide. means along which the matrices pass by gravity, areciprocating matrix lifting finger, means for arresting the gravitating matrices in the path of the finger, inclined surfaces for guiding the matrices into position to be picked up by the conveying screws, and means for moving said surfaces beneath the projecting ears ofthe lifted matrices so as to direct them to the pick-up position.

5. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, guide rails arranged therein and having movable sections formed with shoulders against which the matrices are arrested, a reciprocating linger forhfting the arrested matrices sue-- cessively above said shoulders, and means for retracting the rail sections to permit the escape of the lifted matrices into position to be picked up by the conveying screws.

6. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, guide rails ar ranged therein and having movable sec-- tions formed with shoulders against which the matrices are arrested and formed further with inclined surfaces leading downwardly from said shoulders, a reciprocating finger for lifting the arrested matrices successively above the shoulders, and means for retracting the rail sections to bring the inclined surfaces beneath the projecting ears of the lifted matrices, for the purpose described.

7 In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, upper and lower guide rails arranged therein, matrix arresting shoulders formed on the lower rails, movable sections forming part of the upper rails and having arresting shoulders corresponding to those of the lower rails, a reciprocating finger for lifting the arrested matrices successively above said shoulders, and means for retracting the movable rail sections to permit the escape of the lifted matrices into position to be picked up by the conveying screws.

8. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, upper and lower guide rails arranged therein, the upper rails having horizontally reciprocating sec-l tions formed with matrix arresting shoulders and with inclined surfaces leading downwardly from said shoulders, a reciproosting finger for lifting the arrested mat rices successively above the shoulders, and means for operating the lifting finger and the movable rail sections in proper synchronism, so as to effect the release of the arrested matrices and permit their escape, one at a time, down said inclined surfaces into position to be picked up by the conveying screws.

9. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of guide means along which matrices pass by gravity, means for arresting the matrices at a point in advance of the conveying screws, means for releasing the arrested matrices, one at a time, and movable inclined surfaces down which the re- -leased matrices escape into position to be picked up by the screws, the said screws at their receiving ends being recessed or cut away so as to present vertical circumferential banking surfaces to the escaping matrices.

10. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and. a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, guide rails ar ranged therein and having movable sections formed with matrix arresting shoulders and with inclined surfaces leading downwardly from said shoulders, a matrix lifting finger, and means for operating the lifting finger and the movable rail sections in feeding the matrices to the conveying screws, the said screws being formed with vertical circumferential matrix banking surfaces, and the rail sections presenting shoulders to restrain the matrices against rearward displacement when they are arrested by the screw banking surfaces.

11. In a typographical distributing mech anism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, shoulders for arresting the matrices within the box, a reciprocating finger for lifting the arrested matrices successively above the shoulders, a separator blade to prevent more than one matrix being lifted at a time, and means for displacing the arresting shoulders to permit the escape of the lifted matrices into position to be picked up by the con veying screws.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature hereto.

LUTHER E. MORRISON.

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