Patent GB-190109899-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Type Justifying Machines or Mechanisms.
Inventor: BOULT ALFRED JULIUS
Filed: 1901-05-13
Granted: 1902-04-24
Abstract: 9899. Boult, A. J., [Converse, F. B.]. May 13. Type, setting; linotype and like machines.-Relates to machines for justifying types or matrices. Figs. 5 and 6 show sectional side elevations of a type-justifying machine from opposite sides of the machine, and Fig. 18 shows a word separator or temporary space composed between the words in the lines to be justified. Line assembling and transfer mechanisms. The types are received from the composing-machine in one of a series (as shown, three) of radial channels b<1> of a rotary line carrier b on a shaft B. As the types are composed, word separators M, Fig. 18, are inserted in each space between the words, the thickness of each separator being preferably equal to the thickness of the thinnest space used in the machine. When a line is completed in a channel b<1>, a line key or lever is operated, and the carrier b is rotated to move this channel from its receiving position into a horizontal position, Fig. 5, with the types Y lying on their sides and with the notches m in the separators M downwards. Another channel b<1> is, by the rotary movement, brought into the receiving position. The operation of the line key engages a clutch through which a line shaft F is driven one complete revolution. A cam on the shaft F operates a rack b<5>, which oscillates segments b<6>, b<3> and a wheel b<2>. The wheel b<2> drives the carrier b through ratchet mechanism. Space-recording mechanism. The space key of the composing-mechanism, which inserts the separators M, also operates a pawl d<6> engaging ratchet teeth on a block d<8> sliding on a fixed guide. The block d<8> is fed one tooth against the pull of a spring d<15> for each operation of the space key, and is held from returning by a detent pawl. When the line shaft F turns, a cam j and link j<2> move a slide J, and this slide is returned by a cord j<3> and weight until stopped by the operation of a spring pawl d<13> on the block d<8>. The slide J is thus set in a position correspording to that of the block d<8>, and the latter is then returned to normal position, so that it may be set for the next line, by a pin d<18> operating a lever d<16> which releases the pawls from its ratchet teeth. On the slide J is a vertically-sliding rack L, adapted to gear with one of a series of toothed wheels N of various sizes. Line-measuring mechanism. The line is measured by a wedge K, the inclined side of which slides in a fixed guide k<9>. The wedge K has a slot k<12> engaging a pin k<11> on a rack bar k<5> gearing with a wheel k<6> on a shaft having a pinion k<7> in gear with a rod k<2> operated by a cam k. When the cam k permits, the rack bar k<5> is moved up by a cord k<3> and weight, and moves up the wedge K so that it wedges the line Y and follower C in the carrier against an adjustable stop I. The bar k<8>, fixed on the wedge K, engages a pin on the rack bar L, moving it up and rotating the wheel N with which the rack L is in gear. The wheels N are arranged in successively-increasing diameters, and their shaft n is moved longitudinally, after the setting of the line J, until one of the wheels N engages the rack L, the next larger wheel stopping the longitudinal movement of the shaft n. Space-selecting mechanism. The gears n are in number equal to the number of different sizes of space, the smallest gear having a diameter of two units for a two-space line, the next gear a diameter of three units for a three-space line, and so on. The upward movement of the rack L being proportional to the shortage of length of line, and the gear N in mesh with it being of a diameter proportional to the number of spaces in the line, the amount of rotary movement given to the shaft n by the rack L is proportional to these two factors combined. The gears N are returned to a zero position by a spring n<11> and drum n<9>. When rotated by the rack L, a stepped disc on the shaft n is also rotated, and the proper step is moved into position to locate the required size of space into the line of an ejecting-plunger. The space case has a number of vertical compartments, the successive compartments containing spaces of increasing size. The space case is pivoted at its upper end, and after each justification of a line is moved to its extreme position by a cam, the cam then permitting the space case to be swung back by a spring until a plunger connected with the parts which move the case engages the stepped disc to stop the case when the proper size of space is in the ejecting-line. The lower end of the space case is engaged and moved by a bar q<3> and mechanism connected with, and positioned by, the stepped disc. Line-advancing mechanism. After the setting of the parts for the selection of the proper size of space is completed, the line is advanced into the line channel Z<4> by a slide block S on a guide-bar S<1>. The block S has an arm which engages a notch in the end of the follower C. A cord s<3> connects the block S with a spring drum s<4>, the shaft s<5> of which is journalled in a frame s<6> pivoted on a frame s<7> pivoted to the frame. A lug 8<8> on the shaft 85 normally engages a lug on an arm s<9>, the lugs being held in engagement by springs s<13> and s'<l>. A cam on the shaft F operates, through a link s<15>, the arm s<9> to free the lug s<8>, and the frame s<6> is swung down by a spring s<14> until the lug s<8> stands opposite the lug on the arm s<9>. The arm s<9> is now released by the cam, and presses the frame s<6> until a gear-wheel on the shaft s<5> meshes with a constantly-driven gear loose on the shaft T, whereupon the drum s<4> is rotated to advance the block S and the line until a word trip U engages in the notch m of the separator M. The line is there stopped by the trip U, with the first space in line with the selected space channel and the ejector. The trip U, when it engages, operates through the levers u<6> u<7> and rod u<11> to release a pawl u<13>, and permit it to engage a constantly-rotating toothed disc t. The pawl u<13> is on the face of a cam o<2> fixed on the word shaft T, and this shaft is thus caused to rotate. Space-substituting and subsequent advancement of the line. A cam on the word shaft T first operates to cause the ejection of a space from the positioned compartment of the case, into a rotatable spaceturner R, which is then rotated through 90‹ to turn the space from its side on to its edge. This turner R is in the form of a barrel having a slot for the space and a spring-pressed piece for holding the space in the slot, and is rotated by a sliding rack r<7> engaged by a lever r<3>, r<4> operated by a rod r<1> and cam r. A gap is formed in the line by a pivoted dog which engages the notch m in the line separator and which presses forward the part of the line in front of the separator. The dog is operated by a spring-pressed arm r<9> controlled by a pin r<11> on the rack r<7>, and the movement of the arm r<9> is limited by a stop on the slide q<3>, which moves the space-carrier, so that the size of the gap is regulated according to the size of space being ejected. The ejector next moves further forward to eject the space from the turner R into the gap in the line, the space pushing out the line separator in front of it. The line separators are pushed up by a plunger into a receiving-channel O, in which they are retained by a pair of spring- pressed dogs o<7>, and at the end of a line the plunger is moved up sufficiently to return the separators from the receiving-channel into their case in the composing-mechanism. A pin s<11> on the cam o<2> engages a bar s<12>, and operates the arm s<9>, causing a further advance of the line until the next separator is engird, and further rotation of the shaft T. These operations are repeated until the last space is inserted, when the line is advanced for delivery into a galley or to be otherwise dealt with. The block S is returned for a fresh line by a cord and weight, a pivoted-dog bearing on the guide-rail S<1> preventing its return until after the line has passed the justifying- mechanism. Fractional-spacing mechanism. In case the amount shortage of the line to be justified is not an exact multiple of the thickness of one of the series of spaces used in the machine, that line cannot be properly justified by one size of space, and it is necessary to employ two sizes. Now the movement of the stepped disc, by which the space case is positioned for any line, varies with the amount of shortage and the number of spaces. The length of the steps on the disc is such that, when the shortage is an exact multiple of one size of space, the plunger for positioning the case engages the extreme end of a step, but, when it is not a multiple, it engages an intermediate point between the ends of a step. A cam on the word shaft T permits a pawl carrying slide to move and rotate the stepped disc backwards at each insertion of a space. There are a series of pawls side by side, slightly stepped, and they engage fine ratchet teeth on the disc. The movement of this pawl slide is limited by a stepped block moved into position according to the number of spaces in the line, the steps of the block being so arranged in depth that the stepped disc is moved back through a total distance equal to the length of one of its steps during the justification of each line. That is to say, the movement of the disc for each space inserted in any line is equal to the length of a step divided by the number of spaces. When the plunger is in engagement with the end of a step, it engages this step throughout the justification of the line, but, when it engages a point between the ends of a step, that step is moved from under it after a certain proportion of spaces have been inserted. The plunger then drops on to the next step, and the space case is moved to bring the next smaller-sized space into the ejecting and spaceinserting line, so that the remainder of the spaces inserted are of this smaller size.