US2212225A - Typographical distributing apparatus for slug casting machines - Google Patents

Description

J. F. BETTIN 2,212,225 GAL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS FOR SLUG CASTING MACHINES Aug. 20, 1940.

TYPOGRAPHI Filed June 3, 1940 l lllllIllllll llI ll ll-lldllllLflll lljrllilil l ljl L I. LLIIIJIIII Patented Aug. 20, 1949 stars TYEQGRAPHECAL DES'XREBEJTING AiZIllRl-iw TUS Filth. SLUG CASTING WEAUHENES Claims.

My invention relates to typographical distributing apparatus for slug casting machines, such as Linotype machines, Intertype machines, etc.

An important object of the invention is to pro-.

vide a pi-matrices stacker device, which will receive and hold the sorts-matrices, against stacking or displacement and which will permit of the ready release of the pressure upon the column oi sorts-matrices so that a selected sortsmatrix may be removed without removing adja cent sorts-matrices by contact therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide yielding means to advance the resistantblock' toward the sorts-matrices for porperly holding them within the pi-rnatrices stacker and to automatically shift the resistant-block forwardly toward the star-wheel when sorts-matrix or sorts-matrices are removed whereby the group of sorts-matrices are properly held, when the length of the group increases or decreases.

A further object of the invention is to provide releasable latch means to hold the resistantblock against movement toward the star-wheel, whereby pressure may be removed from the group of sorts-matrices, when it is desired to remove a selected sorts-matrix.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part i of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts through out the same,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my pi-matrices stacker device, showing the same applied to a Linotype machine,

Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical longi tudinal section through the sorts-matrices return tube and associated elements, parts being shown in elevation,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the pi-matrices stacker device, separated from the tube,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 4- 1 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3, 1

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on line EB. of

Figure 3, and,

Figure 7 is an end elevation of a slightly modified form of latch-bar.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention A; designates the ordinary magazine of a Linotype machine, in which is stored the usual complement of matrices, and B is a return tube for the sorts-matrices. G is a pulley appliedto one of the ordinary shafts of the Linotype machine and this pulley drives a belt F. The foregoing description is that of the 5 ordinary Linotype machine as shown in Letters Patent 630,112, issued to J. R. Rogers, under date of August 1, 1899. While the invention is shown as applied to one type of slug casting machine,

such as a Linotype machine, it is not restricted 10 to this application, as it may be applied to any type of slug casting machine.

The numeral Iii designates the pi-matrices stacker as a whole, which is suitably secured to a stationary arm H and to a throat 12, formed upon the lower end of the tube 13. The pimatrices stacker may'be supported by any suitable means and is preferably arranged at the front of the machine, in proximity to the keyboard, so that the sorts-matrices may be removed from the pi-matrices stacker by hand and delivered to the composing devices of the Linotype machine.

The pi-matrices stacker comprises a shelf or ledge 13 and a back 14. The numeral I5 is the pi-matrix stop which is adjustably mounted upon the ledge l3 within the throat [Zand is clamped in the selected adjusted position by a set screw [6 engaging within a slot 17. One end of the group or row of the sorts-matrices is pressed against the pi-matrix stop l5. Arranged within the throat l 2 is a rotary star-wheel i8, mounted upon a rotary shaft 19 driven by a pulley 23, in turn driven by the belt F. The star-wheel I3 is shown as having four points and each point is adapted-to project radially slightly beyond the leading edge of the pi-matrix stop E5. The invention is not restricted to the use of a starwheel having four points as a star-wheel having two points may be used, as shown in Patent 1,886,099, issued to J. H. Hilpman, November 1, 1932.

That side of the throat i2 and tube B toward the leading end of the pi-matrices stacker is formed open so that the sorts-matrices falling down the return tube B will engage with the star-wheel i8 and be fed thereby into the pimatrices stacker in an upright position to produce an assembled row.

I provide a combined guide and brake device, comprising a gate 2!, pivoted at 22 upon a stationary bracket 23. This gate has a weight 24 which swings the lower end of the gate into the bore of the tube B. The gate 21 serves to retain the thin sorts-matrices in the upright posi- I3. The latch-bar is supported to turn upon tion when traveling through the tube and to somewhat break the fall of the thicker and heavier sorts-matrices.

The numeral 25 designates a self-acting resistant-block, having a horizontal base 25 provided with a longitudinal groove 27, .passing through its bottom. This groove receives the vertical arm 28 of a guide 29 having a lower horizontal arm 38. The vertical arm 28 operates within an elongated slot 3! while the horizontal arm 31? operates within a lower recess 32. The vertical arm of the guide is heldwithin the slot 2? by a transverse pin 33. It is thus seen that the resistant-block or element 25 is mounted to move longitudinally of the ledge i3 and is guided in such movement.

The vertical arm 28 is provided with a longitudinal opening or port St, to' receive one end of. a flexible element, wire or cable 35, preferably having its free end knotted. This flexible element passes over a grooved pulley 38 carried by a shaft 31, arranged adjacent to the pi matrix stop 15, as shown. The opposite end of the flexible element 35 passes over a guide-pulley 38, and is wound upon a drum 39 and has its opposite end attached to this drum. This drum 3%, Figure 6, has a hub it) and this hub is rigidly mounted upon a horizontal shaft ll. The shaft M is rotatable within openings 42 formed in plates G3 rigidly secured to the ledge l3 and depending therefrom. The space between the plates 53 is covered by a housing element 44, this element and the plates constituting a housing. The numeral 45 designates a spring-holding housing having openings or slots 66 within which the hub 50 is rotatably mounted. The housing 455 is held in place by a screw ll. Arranged within the housing 45 is a spring 48, one end of which is attached to the hub All and the opposite end of which is anchored to the housing 45, as shown at 49. The spring is tensioned to turn the hub 50 clockwise, in Figure 4. This clockwise movement of the drum 36 will cause the flexible element to wind upon the drum and hence shift the resistant-block or element 25 tothe left, Figure 4.

Extending longitudinally of the ledge l3, adjacent to its free edge is a horizontal latch-bar 5|, provided at its ends with trunnions or pivots 52 which are pivotally mounted in brackets 53 and 54, which are rigidly attached to the ledge its longitudinal axis and the trunnions 52 are nearer the inner edge of. the latch-bar. The latch-bar is provided near its longitudinal center with ratchet teeth 55 which face toward the leading edge of the pi-matrices stacker or to the right, Figure 3. The latch-bar 5| is held in its normal transverse horizontal position by leafsprings 56, engaging beneath the same and these leaf-springs are fixed to the ledge I3. The downward movement or the outer edge of the latchbar 5| is limited by stops 51.

The invention is not limited to the use of leaf.- springs for returning the latch-bar to the normal transverse horizontal position. In Figure '7, I have shown the latch-bar provided at its inner longitudinal edge with a weight 58 which returns I the latch-bar to the normal transverse horizontal position. I may use either the spring or the weight.

A dog or pawl 59 extends transversely of the resistant-block and is arranged within a transverse slot 68 therein and is pivotally mounted to the base 26 as shown at 62. This .dog is gravity operated and is provided at its free end with a is depressed, the ratchet tooth 55 is moved out of, engagement with the jaw 63, and the spring will then shift the resistant-block or element 25 to the left, Figure 3.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

After the casting of the type, the ordinary matrices are returned through the distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started. The sorts-matrices are also returned through the distributing mechanism and are returned through the tube B to the pi-matrices stacker device. As the matrix gravitates' down the tube B it assumes a position in advance of. the star-wheel l8 and when the star-wheel is turned the sorts-matrix is lowered and shifted to the right, Figure 2, moving the resistant-block or element 25 to the right in opposition to the spring 48. The operation is repeated until all sorts-matrices are returned to the ledge l3. When the operator desires to use a selected sortsmatrix, he first shifts the resistant-block or element 25 to the right, for one or more teeth 55 and the dog 59 and the coacting tooth 55 will now hold the resistant-block or element out of contact with the end of the group of sorts-matrices. This will relieve the pressure between the several sorts-matrices and the selected sorts-matrix may then be removed, and after this the operator may depress the outer edge of. the latch-bar 55, conveniently adjacent to the point of removal of the sorts-matrix and this will release the resistantblock 25 and the spring will then automatically shift it tothe left so that it will again engage the end of the group of sorts-matrices for holding the sorts-matrices in the group in the upright position. As the star-wheel l8 continues to rotate, it will feed the sorts-matrices in succession into the pi-matrices stacker thus increasing the length of the group and shifting the resistantblock 25 to the right.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a typographical distributing apparatus, a pi-matrices stacker having a ledge, means to feed sorts-matrices to the ledge so that the sortsmatrices will be supported on end by the ledge, a resistant element to apply pressure to the group of sorts-matrices, means to move the resistant element toward the group of sorts-matrices to apply the pressure thereto, and releasable latch means to hold the resistant element against the action of the yielding means and including a member having a group of teeth extending longitudinally of the ledge and a coacting dog, the member and dog being relatively movable for effecting a disengagement betweenthe same.

2. In a typographical distributing apparatus, a pi-matrices stacker having a ledge, means to feed sorts-matrices to the ledge to form a group thereon, a resistant element movable longitudinally of the ledge, yielding means to move the resistant element to apply pressure to the sortsmatrices, a member having a group of teeth extending longitudinally of the ledge, and a dog connected with the resistant element for engaging the teeth.

3. In a typographical distributing apparatus, a pi-matrices stacker having a ledge, means to feed sorts-matrices to the ledge to form a group thereon, a resistant element movable longitudinally of the ledge, yielding means to move the resistant element to apply pressure to the sorts-matrices, a group of teeth extending longitudinally of the pi-matrices stacker, a dog connected with the resistant element for engaging the teeth, the dog and group of teeth being relatively movable for efiecting a disengagement between the same.

4. In a typographical distributing apparatus, a pi-matrices stacker having a ledge, means to feed sorts-matrices to the ledge to form a group thereon, a resistant element movable longitudinally of the ledge, yielding means to move the resistant element in one direction to apply pres- I sure to the sorts-matrices, a latch-bar extending longitudinally of the pi-matrices stacker and pivotally supported to turn upon its longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal group of teeth, and a dog carried by the resistant element and arranged to engage the teeth.

In a typographical distributing apparatus, a pi-matrices stacker having a ledge, means to feed sorts-matrices to the ledge to form a group thereon, a resistant element movable longitudinally of the ledge, yielding means to automatically move the resistant element in one direction to apply pressure to the sorts-matrices, a latchbar extending longitudonally of the pi-matrices stacker and pivotally supported to turn upon its longitudinal axis, said latch-bar having a group of teeth upon its upper surface, a dog movably mounted. upon the resistant element to engage the teeth, said dog having a limited downward movement, the teeth disengaging the dog when the outer edge of the latch-bar is depressed, and means to return the latch-bar to the normal position after it is depressed and released.

6. In a typographical distributing aparatus, a p-i-matrices stacker having a ledge, said ledge having a stop, means to feed sorts-matrices to the ledge in advance of the stop to form a group of the same upon the ledge, a resistant element mounted upon the ledge to move longitudinally thereof, a pulley, a flexible element secured to the resistant element and passed about the pulley,

a rotary drum having the flexible element secured thereto and upon which the flexible element is wound, a spring to turn the drum in one direction, and releasable latch means for holding the resistantelement against movement in opposition to the action of the spring.

JULIUS F. BETTIN.

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