US1869360A - Typographical composing machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 2, 1932. A. w. F. GUEST 69, 0

TYPOGRAPHI CAL COMPOS ING MACHINE Filed July 3.1950" 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 z 71% 2 fiws Aug 2, 1932,

A. W. F. GUEST TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR Patented Aug; 2, 1932 UNITED FSTATES PATENT oFFICE ALFRED w. F. GUEST, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'ro ERe-ENTHAL R LINOTYPE COMPANY, a CORPORATION on NEW YORK I TYPOGRAPHICAL ,GOMPOSING MACHIN Application filed .Tuly 3, 1930 Serial No. 465,518.

This invention relates to typographical composing machines, such as lmotype mawhich produce the type characters thereon,

and the matrices thereafter returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started. 1

In these machines, the matrices, as they are released from the magazine, descend by gravity through achanneled raceway and fall onto the upper stretch of an inclined conveyor belt which delivers them, one after another, to a chute or throat wherebythey are directed into'the assembler or assembling elevator; As the matrices enter the assembler, they are stacked side by side in line, under the influence of a rapidly rotatingv star wheel, against an upstanding finger or line resistant secured to one end of the yielding assembler slide. v

To insure the proper composition of the matrices, it is important'that they be maintained under positive control as they enter the assembler. For this reason, the lower end of the chutespring, which constitutes the upper wall of the assembler chute, is arranged to prevent upward displacement of the mat rices as they enter the assembler, and the opposite side walls of the assembler are spaced apart at a distance corresponding to. the width of the matrices so as to prevent their edgewise displacement after theyv enter the assembler, the latter also being provided with means to hold the matrices upright therein and from falling back against the star wheel or into the path of succeeding matrices. However, the arrangement of the parts is such that each matrix enters the assembler foot-first at an inclination and, unless interrupted by the star wheel, strikes with considerable force against the exposed side face of the matrix last composed in the zone which contains the matrix cavities or characters.-

As a result of this impact, which is particularly severe inthe case of the thicker heavier matrices, the thin side walls of the matrix characters are frequently crushed or damaged after a relatively short period of use, and the matrices thus mutilated have to.

be discarded.

The present invention is mtended to ob viate this and other difiicultiesand in a manner which involves littleor no change in the general structure of the assembler or other. parts of the assembling mechanism. To this end, specifically, it is proposed to displace or offset the assembler bodily rearward at its receiving end with respect to the line of clelivery of the matrices, so that the character side walls of matrices already composed in line will stand out of the path of matrices that follow, and to provide means at the entrance'of the assembler for deflecting the in-f divid'ual' matrices edgewise rearwardly as they are delivered thereto so as to direct them into the straight parallel-sided composing channel.

In the accompanyingdrawings, the invention has been shown merely in preferred form and by way of example, but obviously many changes and variations maybe made therein and in its mode of application which will stillbe. comprised within its spirit. It should, therefore, be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

' Figure 1 is a front elevation of the as sembling mechanism, having the present improvements embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly 1n section, of theparts shown in Fig. 1; l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of' the receiving'end of the improved assembler; and

Fig. 4 is an edge view of an ordinary twoletter linotype" matrix v i lhe matricesX, when released from their storage magazine (not shown), pass down: wardly through a. channeled raceway and onto a constantly driven inclined belt A (Fig.

, 1) which latterdischargesthem one after anto follow the fixed lower curved side wall 7 B by the yielding upper wall or chute spring B The assemblerC is slidably mounted for vertical movement in fixed guides or gibs O secured to the front plate and ar ranged to engage tongues 0 formed at the rear side of the assembler C and at-the oppos'ite'ends thereof. After composition of the line, the assembler-is raised to carry the line up between the depending fingers (not shown) of a line delivery slide, which thereupon shifts the line horizontally from the assembler through the intermediate channel to the casting mechanism. 7

The assembled C, as will be noted (Fig. 2) presents a straight, parallel-sided channel C wherein the matrices are composed in line and which is constituted generally by the front and rear side wallsC C respectively,

and the longitudinally extending rails C upon which the matrices are supported by their lower projecting ears m Matrices in the course ofcomposition undergo considerable agitation by the action of thestar wheel E as. they pass from the chute B, and in order to cope with this condition, the lower end of thefchute spring B is provided with horizontal deflecting surfaces B adapted to prevent the matrices from being thrown upwardly'and. outwardly over theline. Th'e parallel side walls C C ofthe-assembler channel G overlap the star wheel E and hence guide the matrices by their oppoiste' edges and support them in uprightposition after they enter the line. The tendency of the matrix last assembled to fall back toward the star wheel, where it would likely inter fere with the next succeeding'matrix,is over come by the use of pawls C C resiliently mounted at the receiving end of the channel C upon the opposite side walls C C .These pawls cooperate with the individual matrices in the customaryway andare in tended to snap in behind the upper projecting ears 00 thereof as the matrices are'pushed ahead by the star wheel E. f V

So far as described, thepartatheirconstruction and mode of operation, except'as hereinafter pointed out, are or'maybethe same as those embodied in the commercial linotype machine, and in themselvesconsti tute no part of the present invention.

Ordinarily, the assembler C is mounted in the gibs O 0 so that the center line of In passing projectingears m of the matrices.-

intermediate channel F In carrying out the present invention, however, the assembler channel C as will also be noted from Fig.-

2, is displaced rearwardly with respect to the center line aa so as to locate the rear side wall Ciat the receiving. end of the channel in offset relation to the rear wall of the chute B. This offset relation of the parts is accomplished by recessing or reducing the height ofthe finished surface 0 of the front plate 0 to which'the right guide or gib O -(Figs.v l and 2) is secured, the other gib 0 being preferably undisturbed so that the customary relation between the opposite end or exit of the channel C and the intermediate channel F may be'retained. The assembler C will thus stand at a slight rearward inclination to the front plate 0, and the matrices supported in the channel C =1thereof will in consequence have the thin side walls of their characters 00' disposed out of the path of succeeding matrices entering. the

channel (seeFig. 2); The engaging face cl of the line resistant finger D is also inclined orslanted sons to stand in a plane perpendicular to the opposite walls of the .assem- ,bler C and thus to present a square banking surface to the leading matrix of the composed line. V

7 To compensate for the offset relation 'of' the assembl-erchannel C to the chute B,

means are provided-for.deflecting the indi vidual matrices edgewise -rearwardly so as .to direct them into said channel as they are.

delivered-thereto. i In the preferred embodiment illustrated, such means'co'mprise beveled surfaces (1 ,0 formed on the front wall C of'the assembler Qhlthough they might be otherwiseformed or located; The'beveled surface (1 (seeFig. .3) is formed on the front retaining pawl C and is adapted to cooper-f atewith the upper projecting ears 00 of the matrices, while the beveled surface C is formed'directly on the front side wall C immediately below the deflecting surface C and is'adaptedto cooperatewith the lower The arran ement-of these beveled surfaces I a I y u C", 6 ,18 such that, as the individual matrices pass endwise from the chute B, their lower projectingears x first engage the -lower bev 'el'ed surface C and then,as the matrices are pushed ahead by the star wheel E and held downwardly by the horizontal surfaceB of the chute spring'B -their' upper projecting cars a are-caused to engage the'upperbeveled surface'C 0f the pawl C Both beveled surfaces C C act substantially 'conjointly in'defiectirig the individual matrices edgewise rearwardly as they are advanced by the star-wheel. E, which thus not only furnishes. the-motive power for deflecting the matrices but which also shoves them forward into the matrix.

cate side walls of matrix characters is thus 7 assembler channel after their deflection or along with it. c As the matrices are stacked successively in line, the retaining pawls C", C snap behind their upper projecting ears and prevent them from falling out.

It will now be seen that, by reason of the peculiar form and arrangement of the parts, the thin character side walls of the matrices previously composed in the assembler channel C are fully protected from the damage ordinarily caused by the impact of the following matrices, and thisin a way which will allow the matrices to follow one another into I the line with consistent regularity and with little danger of clogging the assembling mechanism. In other words, the blow from a thick or heavy matrix descending through the chute B (see Figs. 1 and 2), is absorbed by the preceding matrix as usual but it is struck-at a point forwardly of the thin side walls of the characters 00. The same is true of all the matrices, but the relatively light blow of the thinner ones will be broken and almost completely absorbed alone by the bev-' eled surfaces C C To be more explicit, since the projecting ears of all matrices throughout a font, as is well-known, are generally located at that side uponwhich the matrices lie during their travel to the assembler, the bodies of the thicker matrices, as they enter the assembler channel C footfirst, will strike the preceding matrix of the line before their lower projecting ears engage the deflecting surfaces C C but due to the offset relation of the said channel to the line i of delivery, the striking point will be for ward'and clear of the character side Walls of the-last assembled matrix, so that no-damage can resul While it is these thicker matrices that in practice cause the greatest damage because of their excessive weight and the momentum they possess at the time they enter the assembler, the character side walls of assembled matrices are also protected from the impact of the thinner matrices, since the lower projecting ears of the latter matrices will engage the deflectingsurit'aces C C, before their body portions (on account of being so thin) strike the last assembled The desired protection of the delicarried out to the maximum degree and irrespective of the thicknesses of the matrices handled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: r

1. In a matrix composing machine, the combination of an assembler presenting a channel wherein the matrices are composed in line, said channel thruout its length having straight parallel sides, means for d-eliver- I ing the matrices successively to the assembler channel, said channel being displaced with respect to the line of delivery of the matrices, and means for deflecting the individual are delivered thereto;

3. In 7 a matrix composing machine, the combination of an assembler having straight parallel front'and rear-side walls and longi tudinally cxtending'matrix supporting rails, a chute for delivering the matrices successively to the assembler, said assembler and chute having their center lines offset with relation to each other so as to position the rear wall of the chute forwardly of the straight rear wall" of the assembler,andaneansfor deflecting the matrices edgewise' rearwardly 'tofdirect them from the chute into the assembler.

4. I n a matrix composing machine, the

combination of an assembler whereinthe matrices are com osed in lineand resentin inner side walls straight andparallel thru out, a chute for deliveringzthe matrices sue- 'cessively to the assembler, a channel into which the'composed line is transferred from the assembler as a whole, said assembler be; ing inclinedwith respectto a center line common to both the chute and channel such that the receiving end of the assembler is:

positioned in offset relationto the discharge endoi the chute, and mean s for deflecting.

its

the individual matrices .edgewise'to direct:

them into the thereto.

5. In a matrix composing machine, the rm,

combination of an a'ssembler having front and rear side walls straight and parallel assembler as they are delivered thruout and longitudinally extending matrix supporting rails, a chute for delivering the matrices successively to the assembler, a channel into which a composed line of matrices is transferred from the assembler as a whole, said assembler beinginclined rearwardly with respect to a centerline, common to both chute and channelsuch that the rear.

wall of the assembler at the receiving end thereof is positioned rearwardly of the rear wall of" the chute, andm'eans for deflecting. the individual matrices edgewise rearwardly to direct them into the assembler as they are delivered thereto. I

6. A combination as specified in claim 5,

characterized by the fact that the deflecting. means therein referred to are constitutedby beveled surfaces located on the front sidewall of the assembler at the receiving end there- 7. In a" matriX composing machine, the combination of an assembler having straight parallel front and rear side walls and longi tudinally extending matrix supporting rails, meansfor delivering the matrices successive ly to the assembler, said assembler being placed'with respect to the line of delivery of the matrices, and two beveled surfaces located on the front wall of the assembler and ar-.

rangedto cooperate respectively with the upper and lower projecting ears of theindividto. deflect them edgewisev into the assembler as they are delivered ual matrices so as thereto.

8. A combination as specified in claim 7,

characterized by the factthat the assembler is provided with a matrix retaining pawl'resiliently mounted on the front side wall thereof, and that one of the beveled surfaces therein referred to is formed on said pawl and adapted to cooperate with the upper proecting ears of the individual matrices, while the other'beveledsurface is formeddirectly on said Wall and adapted to .cooperatewith i the lower proj ecting'ears of the matrices;

ing innerside walls straight and parallel I thruout,-means for delivering'the matrices successively tothe assembler as a whole,said '85 assembler being displaced laterally with re- 9. In a matrix composing machine, the combination ofzan assembler wherein the matrices are composed n line and presentspect tothe'li'nei of delivery of the matrices,

and deflecting members arrangedto c'ooper-f ate respectively with the upper and lower V projecting ears of the individual'matrices so as to direct them edgewise intothe assembler as they are delivered thereto.

1 10. A combination as specified'in claiml), characterized by the fact that the assembler therein recited. is inclined rearwardly in. a

. horizontal direction'so as to displace its receiving end with respectto the said line of delivery of the matrices, for the purpose de 7 scribed.

' 11. In a matrix composing machine, the 'combinationof an assembling elevator wherein the matrices are composed in line and pre- .-'senting inner side walls straight andparallei thruout, a chute for delivering matrices to said elevator, and a pair of fixed Vertical guideways wherein the elevator is slidably mounted, said gnidewa-ys being arranged respectively at the opposite ends of'the elevatorand positioned in differentvertical planes so as to locate the receiving end of the as 'sembling elevator inoifset relation to the discharge end of the chute, for the purpose de-' scribedJ r V r 12. In a matrix composing machine, the combination of an assembler having'front and rear side walls, a chute "for delivering the matrices to the assembler,'said- -a'ssem' bler and chute being ofi'set with relation to each other so as to position the rear wall of the chute forwardly'of the rear wall of the V assembler, a yieldingline resistant finger asof the assembler therein recited are straight and parallel but inclined rearwardly toward the receiving end of the assembler, and that the matrix sustaining face of the said line resistant finger is perpendicular to the side walls of the assembler.

14. In a matrix composing machine, the combination of an assembler wherein the matrices are composed inline, means for delivering the matrices successively to the assembl'er, said-assembler being displaced with respect to the line of delivery of the matrices,

means for deflecting the individual matrices edgewise to direct them into the assembler as they are delivered thereto, and means for'restrainingthe matrices against forward edge-' wise displacement as they enter theline'.

15. A combination as specified in claim '1,

including a pair of pawls mounted on the rea e-cave straight parallel side walls ofthe assembler channel for preventing the matrices from falling out after they enter the channel. p A combinationas specified in claim 1, including a chute spring for preventing the upward displacement of the matrices as they enter the assembler channel;

' In testimony whereof, this specification'has been duly signedby: 3

ALFRED w. rfennsrq

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