Patent GB-190223699-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Stereotype Matrix Machines.
Inventor: WACHTERHAUSER JEAN
Filed: 1902-10-30
Granted: 1903-01-08
Abstract: 23,699. Wõchtershõuser, J. Oct. 30. Stereotype-matrix machines. -In the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the types are carried on the ends of radial plungers 14, which are spring - tensioned inwards with respect to the typewheel 2. The type-wheel is built up of hoops and separating-strips. Each circumferential row of types comprises a complete fount, the type-wheel being shifted on its shaft 1 by means of a rod 8 to charge the fount. The type-wheel is supported on the sleeve 2<a> by means of spokes 3 at one end only, so as to provide for the strikioghammer 17, which effects the impression by forcing the selected type downwards into the matrix material supported on the drum 43. A disc 4 on the shaft 1 drives the typewheel by means of an arm 5. The shaft 1 is rotated to bring the proper type to the impression point by means of a hand-lever 10 and bevel gearing 9. When a key 26 is depressed, the lower end of its stem forms a stop in the path of the lever 10, and thus determines the type selected when the lever is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The hammer 17 is pivoted at 17<a>, and is actuated by a treadle 21 and twoarmed lever 18 pivoted at 19. Letter-spacing or axial movement of the drum 43 is effected as follows :-Each key stem bears a lateral projection adapted, when the key is depressed, to depress a curved bar 23, which forms part of a frame 30, 31, 33 pivoted at the rear of the machine. The projections on the key stems are at varying heights, so that the depression of the bar 23 is greater for wide characters than for narrow ones. The movement of the bar 23 is communicated by the bar or bail 30 to a stirrup-shaped frame 34 pivoted on the shaft 36 of a ratchet-wheel 37. The frame 34 bears three pivoted pawls 38 engaging with the wheel 37, the multiple pawls being employed to ensure the turning of the ratchet-wheel when the bar 23 is only slightly depressed. The shaft 36 is journalled in depending members of a frame 42 which slides on the stays 42<a>. The frame 42 is connected with the drum 43 by means of a downwardly-bent bar 49, which engages between the drum and a disc 48 attached thereto. The shaft 36 bears a pinion 40 engaging with a fixed rack 41, which passes through the drum 43. The rotation of the shaft 36, therefore, effects the traversing of the shaft itself, the frame 42, and the drum 43 along the fixed rack 41, and thus effects the letterspacing. At the end of a line the pawls 38 are released from the ratchet-wheel 37, and the shaft 36 is rotated in the opposite direction by means of a handle 39. Line-spacing or circumferential movement of the drum 43 is effected by means of a ratchet-wheel 44, which is turned by a pawlcarrying hand-lever 46, and actuates the drum by means of a rod 45 which passes through it. In a modification of the machine, shown in Fig. 10, the axis of the type-wheel b is vertical, and the hammer h strikes upwards. The matrix material is held face downwards on a table i, and the types strike upwards through an opening i<2>, As soon as a line is completed, the sheet of matrix material can be bent up at the edge of the bar u so as to expose the printed line. Two or more concentric rows of types are employed, and change of fount is effected by traversing the type-wheel relatively to the hammer by means of a screw f and crank f<1>. The hammer is actuated by releasing the treadle l and allowing the weight w to lift the hammer against the type. Keys are not provided as in the machine previously described, but the hand-lever d is moved until it is over the proper character on the index dial, and a spring pin q centres it by snapping into a conical recess in the plate i. For change of " case" in the same fount, the arm d can be locked to a disc r on the type-wheel shaft in either of three positions, and capitals, small letters, or figures and punctuation marks, &c. are thus brought into use. Line-spacing is effected by turning the corrugated rollers t, which surround rubber rollers on a rod journalled in a laterally-sliding block x, and press on the upper surface of the matrix sheet. Letter-spacing is effected by traversing the block x by means of a nut on a screw-threaded spindle 2. This spindle bears a ratchet-wheel 3, which is actuated by a pawl 5 on a lever 4. The lever 4 is depressed after each character has been impressed, and four keys 7 of different strokes are provided for this purpose, so that the space can be varied to suit the character impressed.