Patent GB-486834-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to typographical slug casting machines
IPC: B41B11/38
Filed: 1937-09-04
Abstract: 486,834. Type-bar-making machines. MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE CO. Sept. 4, 1937, No. 24219. Convention date, Dec. 10, 1936. [Class 100 (iii)] Quadding-apparatus; moulds.-Means are provided for centring lines of characters about a line which is offset from the centre-line of the slug, and for periodic automatic setting of the jaws to effect such offset centring, in order to facilitate the printing of return addresses on envelopes. In such addresses, the first line requires to be quadded at the right-hand end, and subsequent lines to be quadded at both ends and also centred with respect to the first line. For this purpose, the right-hand vicejaw is made adjustable relatively to its support. The jaws are moved towards and away from each other by a vertically movable rod H, Fig. 2, and levers E<2>, F<2>, which are connectible to the rod by a rotatable grooved collar H<1>. The collar has two positions of adjustment, in one of which the right-hand jaw only is connected to the rod, and in the other of which both jaws are so connected. The collar is rotated by bevel-gearing and a rack J2 carried by a slide J. The slide is positioned automatically by means comprising a bell-crank lever J<4> and a star-wheel K. The star-wheel is rotated step-by-step by a ratchet-wheel and a pawl carried by a lever K<5>, which is rocked by a pin on the first elevator during its descent. The ratchet-wheel has twelve teeth, and for addresses consisting of one quadded and two centred lines a star-wheel having four teeth is employed. On the descent of the elevator with the first line, the lever J<4> is rocked by a tooth of the star-wheel, and the slide J is moved to the right against spring pressure, so as to condition the mechanism for right-hand quadding. At the next descent of the elevator, the star-wheel is turned so that its tooth escapes from the lever J4, and the mechanism is adjusted for centring. After the casting of two centred lines, the next tooth of the starwheel comes into action to effect the quadding of the first line of a new address. The righthand jaw F, Fig. 17, is movable relatively to its support F<1>, and is normally connected thereto by spring-pressed pawls F<9>, which engage with ratchet-teeth F7 on the jaw, so that the support carries the jaw with it on its inward movement, but can move outwards independently. After the jaw has closed on the first line of an address and the cast has been made, the jaw is locked in position by means comprising rack-teeth F<20> on the jaw, which are engaged by a pinion geared to a spring-controlled ratchet-disc D<5>, Fig. 12, which is engaged by locking-pawls D<8>. The jaw-support therefore returns to its outer position alone, and, owing to the new position of the jaw in relation to its support, the subsequent lines of the address are centred with respect to the first one. The movement of the slide J to the left effects the withdrawal of the pawls D<8>, so that the jaw remains unlocked during the casting of the second and third lines, and is caused by the spring connected to the ratchet-disc D<5> to accompany the jawsupport on its outward movement. The presentation of the next tooth of the star-wheel effects the withdrawal of the pawls F<9>, so that the jaw returns to its normal position in relation to the support. (2) Since the right-hand jaw may be located to the left of its normal position when the elevator descends to present a line between the jaws, the line must be presented to the mould near the left-hand end thereof. For this purpose, the left-hand finger B<2>, Fig. 2, of the line-delivery carriage B is locked to the carriage, and the right-hand finger B<3> is carried by a sliding block B<4>. The operating-lever B<6> is connected to the block B4, so that the finger B<3> first moves the line up to the finger 13<2>, after which the carriage moves as a whole. (3) To enable slugs to be formed with bevelled ends, to facilitate their being secured in a fudge-box or on a printing-cylinder, the ends of the body and cap portions of the mould, and also the intermediate liners, are formed with recesses G<6>, Fig. 21, having bevelled ends G<7>, into which fit blocks of corresponding form, which are secured to the vice-frame and are mounted in recesses in the jaws, which can slide relatively to them.