Patent GB-559104-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to typographical slug casting machines
IPC: B41B11/52
Filed: 1942-10-07
Abstract: 559,104. Printers' composing-machines. TURNER, H. K. (Mergenthaler Linotype Co.). Oct. 7, 1942, No. 14066. [Class 100 (iii)] Type-bar,making machines; assembling, clamping, and aligning matrices.-A machine for casting from matrix lines composed in a hand-stick is provided with a horizontally reciprocable mould, which moves between the casting and ejecting positions and comes to rest at the end of the machine cycle in an intermediate position. The handstick is placed in a support which is movable fore and aft of the machine by toggle-mechanism to carry the line to and from casting position and to sustain it against the lock-up pressure of the mould. The matrices X, Figs. 19 and 20, are similar to those described in Specifications 387,118 and 396,045 ,and are assembled in a handstick comprising upper and lower members Y<SP>1</SP>, Y<SP>2</SP> connected by end-members Y<SP>3</SP>, Y<SP>4</SP>. A rib Y<SP>6</SP> engages in notches in the lower edges of the matrices, and the upper side-member Y<SP>1</SP> contains a spring- raised aligning-bar Y<SP>5</SP>, which is adapted to be pushed downwards into engagement with notches in the upper edges of the matrices. The line is clamped endwise between sliding abutments Y<SP>7</SP>, Y<SP>8</SP> by means of a thumb-screw Y<SP>9</SP>. The abutment Y<SP>8</SP> is supported by a spring and must be forced into contact with the end wall Y<SP>4</SP> of the stick before casting can take place. The hand-stick is pushed endwise into a receptacle A, Fig. 10, and into contact with a stop, which can be raised to permit the use of an elongated "streamer" hand-stick, in which the line is cast in sections. The receptacle A is vertically adjustable in a support B by means of a micrometer-screw A<SP>8</SP> in accordance with the point size of the matrices in use. The support B is moved rearwardly to present the line in casting position by toggle-links and a rock-shaft E, which is operated by cams on the main shaft of the machine. The hand-stick is sustained in upright position on the support B by a vertically movable slide C, Fig. 20, having a depending lip c, which engages notches x<SP>3</SP> in the matrices and effects their facial alignment. The slide C, which also operates the aligning-bar Y<SP>5</SP>, is actuated by a rock-shaft C<SP>2</SP>, Fig. 10, connected to the rock-shaft E. A stud on the slide C enters a recess in the hand-stick, in order to prevent its withdrawal. After the hand-stick support B has been moved into casting position by the toggle-mechanism, it is locked by a detent against any forward movement. The support B is locked in the forward position by a detent, which is only withdrawn if the hand-stick is pushed into position against its arresting stop and the line is tightly clamped in the stick with the abutment Y<SP>8</SP> in contact with the end wall Y<SP>4</SP>. Moulds; trimming type-bars.-The mould slides horizontally in guides between the casting and ejecting positions, and is operated by rack-mechanism and a bevel-gear, which is engaged alternately by two oppositely facing gear-segments carried by the main shaft. As the mould moves to the ejecting position, the foot of the slug is trimmed by an adjustable backknife. After the trimming, the rear face of the mould is cleaned by an adjustable wiper secured adjacent to the knife. After the ejection of the slug, the front face of the mould is cleared of metal particles by a wiper, which is carried in a pivoted holder and is forced into active position by the mould as it leaves the ejecting position. The mould comes to rest in an intermediate position between the ejecting and casting stations, where it is cooled by a current of air from a blower. Ejecting type-bars; galley-mechanism.-The ejection of the slug by the ejector-blade N, Fig. 14, is opposed by a sliding spring-buffer N<SP>5</SP>. At the end of its movement, the buffer is held by a latch n<SP>6</SP>, and, as the ejector retires, the slug falls on to a shelf O<SP>18</SP>, from which it is drawn into a trough or galley O<SP>23</SP> by a transfer-member R operated from the ejectorslide N<SP>1</SP>. The ejector-blade N is secured to the slide by studs engaging holes in the blade, which is retained by a hinged member N<SP>2</SP>, so as to be readily detachable. Metal pots and pumps.-The metal-pot J, Fig. 13, is supported on rollers so as to be movable horizontally, and is advanced to clamp the mould H against the matrix-line support by toggle-levers J<SP>2</SP>, J<SP>3</SP>, which are straightened by a link J' and a cam. The movement of the toggle-levers is cushioned by a spring J<SP>5</SP>. The pump-plunger J<SP>1</SP> is operated by a spring under the control of a bell-crank lever J<SP>10</SP> J<SP>12</SP> and a cam P<SP>11</SP>. The tension of the spring is adjustable by means of a lever engaging a notched plate. A quick drop of the plunger can be effected, when required, by means of a rod J<SP>17</SP> which is slidably mounted on the lever-arm J<SP>12</SP> and can be lowered by means of toggle-links j<SP>10</SP> into the path of a shoe P<SP>12</SP> fixed to the cam P<SP>11</SP>. The pump-lever is locked by a spring- prdssee stop-lever until the matrix-line is moved into contact with the front of the mould and the pot mouthpiece into contact with the rear of the mould. The stop-lever is withdrawn by a lever L<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 34, carrying a rocker L<SP>2</SP>, which is tilted by the movement of the hand-stick support B, so as to bring a pin l<SP>2</SP> thereon into the path of a projection j<SP>13</SP> on the metal-pot J. The pot mouthpiece is cleaned by a wiper K<SP>3</SP>, Fig. 13, which is moved vertically on guides K<SP>4</SP> by a cam-operated lever K<SP>5</SP>. Driving-mechanism.-The machine is driven through a friction clutch comprising shoes U<SP>2</SP>, Fig. 24, which are expanded into engagement with the interior of a driving-pulley U<SP>1</SP> by levers U<SP>4</SP> and a sliding rod U<SP>3</SP> operated by a spring u. At the end of the cycle, the machine is stopped by a radial stop-arm T<SP>13</SP>, Fig. 29, which can turn on the shaft T<SP>10</SP> of a driven gear T‹, and is normally held against a stop-pin t<SP>2</SP> by a spring plunger T<SP>14</SP>. A bevel t<SP>3</SP>, Fig. 25, on the stoparm T<SP>13</SP> acts through a pivoted plate U<SP>5</SP> to depress the rod U<SP>3</SP> and open the clutch. The arm T<SP>13</SP> then encounters a stop u<SP>2</SP> on the plate U<SP>5</SP>, which arrests the driven gear T<SP>9</SP> and the cam-shaft of the machine. The machine is re-started by operation of a handlever, which causes one arm v<SP>1</SP> of a V-shaped rocker V<SP>2</SP> to depress farther the plate U<SP>5</SP> and withdraw the stop u<SP>2</SP> from the path of the stop-arm T<SP>13</SP>, which then springs forwards past the stop. Upon release of the hand-lever, the expansion of the spring u restores the rocker V<SP>2</SP> to initial position and closes the clutch. The machine can be stopped at any point in the cycle by movement of the hand-lever in the opposite direction. The second arm v<SP>2</SP> of the rocker V<SP>2</SP>, which has a squared end, thereupon depresses the plate U<SP>5</SP> and holds the clutch open. To enable the machine to run continuously, the stop u<SP>2</SP>is slidably mounted in the plate U<SP>5</SP>, so that it may be withdrawn by operation of a push-button from the path of the stop-arm T<SP>13</SP>.