Patent GB-674344-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to individual-type casting and composing machines and tophoto-mechanical typographic composing machines
Inventor: BOOTH JOSEPH BOURDAS SMITH
IPC: B41B27/32
Filed: 1950-01-02
Abstract: 674,344. Photographic type - composing. MONOTYPE CORPORATION, Ltd. Jan. 2, 1950, No. 12/50. Class 98 (i). [Also in Group XVI] In a record-strip controlled photo-mechanical typographic composing machine, wherein all the characters of a particular lay-out or fount are represented as transparent images on an opaque background, or vice-versa, and the characters of one unit value or width are arranged in the same column or row, there is combined with the main character dimensioning mechanism a supplementary dimensioning mechanism variably and selectively operated under control of the record-strip to augment the width or unit value allotted by the main dimensioning mechanism to any character. The mould blade of the composing and casting machine is controlled to dimension the mould according to the width allotted to a character or symbol, through a spring-controlled gauge against which it is drawn in each cycle, by the usual normal wedge 1, Fig. 1, justification wedges 2, 3, type transfer wedge 4 and space transfer wedge 5, the position of which limit the movement of the spring-controlled gauge. The wedges rest against a laterally movable distance piece 6. In order that the machine may be used to cast type from matrices bearing a different body width from that allotted to the column or line in which they are stored it may be necessary to add one, two or three units to the width resulting from the normal dimensioning device. A wedge A is provided, between the distancepiece 6 and a fixed abutment 7, which rests against one of four steps of a setpiece B and thereby augments the width as and if required. During each cycle of operation the wedge A is moved downwards clear of the set-piece by a cam-operated rocking-head C<SP>4</SP>, lever C<SP>3</SP>, rod C and lever A<SP>2</SP>, and is later returned by a spring C<SP>7</SP> into contact with whichever step of the setpiece B is aligned with it. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the width is not augmented. While the wedge A is in its lowest position the set-piece B is set in the required position by a lever D acting on a stud B<SP>6</SP> on a bar B<SP>5</SP>. The lever D is pivoted at a fixed fulcrum d, and a lever D<SP>1</SP> is pivoted at d<SP>1</SP> to a lever D<SP>2</SP> turning on a fixed fulcrum d<SP>2</SP>. The levers D, D<SP>1</SP> are coupled by a link D<SP>3</SP> to which is connected a spring D' anchored at d<SP>3</SP> to the machine frame. During each cycle, the lever D<SP>2</SP> is rocked anticlockwise by a cam-actuated arm D<SP>9</SP>, rod D<SP>8</SP>, bell-crank D<SP>7</SP>, rod D<SP>5</SP> and yielding coupling D<SP>6</SP>, being returned by the spring D'. The lever D, is swung against a stop D<SP>10</SP> and the lever D is urged to the right and moves as far as permitted by a series of pins E, E<SP>1</SP>, E<SP>2</SP>, E<SP>3</SP>, thereby moving the bar B<SP>5</SP>. Normally, the pin E is in the path of the lever and the latter does not move. When one or two units is to be added, the pin E is retracted and the pin El or E<SP>2</SP> projected. For adding three units, the pin E is retracted, leaving only the pin E<SP>3</SP>, which is fixed, in the path of the lever. The pins E, El, E<SP>2</SP>, Figs. 1 and 5, are controlled by a valve F, having inlets F<SP>5</SP>, F<SP>6</SP>, F<SP>7</SP> and, aligned therewith, outlets F<SP>8</SP>, F 9 , F<SP>10</SP> communicating with the pins E, El, E<SP>2</SP>. During each cycle, the valve is moved to the left by means of the rod C and a lever F<SP>11</SP>, thereby bringing three annular passages F2, F<SP>3</SP>, F' into position to make communication between each inlet and its aligned outlet, and returned by a spring F<SP>12</SP>. Supply of air to the inlets F<SP>5</SP>, F<SP>6</SP>, F<SP>7</SP> is controlled by perforations in the record-strip controlling the machine, to supply air, according as one, two, or three units are to be added, to the inlets F<SP>5</SP> and F<SP>6</SP>, F<SP>5</SP> and F<SP>7</SP>, or F<SP>5</SP> only, respectively. Specification 8633/99, [Class 100], is referred to.