Patent GB-190110787-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the Trimming Mechanism of Linotype Machines.
Inventor: LOCK WILLIAM HENRY
Filed: 1901-05-25
Granted: 1902-04-10
Abstract: 10,787. Lock, W. H., and Wich, F. J. May 25. Linotype machines.-Relates to improvements in the trimming-mechanism of linotype machines, and is described as applied to the Mergenthaler machine (Specification No. 14,582, A.D. 1890). In this machine the mould-wheel turns through threequarters of a revolution from the casting point, the mould slot o assuming the vertical position as shown in the sectional plan view, Fig. 4. The mould-wheel then advances towards the trimming- knives 1, 2, and the linotype is pushed out of the slot and between the knives into a galley. The improvements consist of means for automatically varying the distance between the knife blades 1, 2 to correspond with the thickness of the mould slot o. The fixed knife 2 is secured to the vice frame P<1>. The adjustable knife 1 is secured to a block 6 movable on screwed studs 24 fixed in the frame P'. The movements of the block are effected by internally screw-threaded pinions 23 engaging with a rack 19 guided in the block 6. The knife 1 is moved away from the knife 2 positively, by the action of the cam 7, slide 9, and levers and links 11, 14, 16. The opposite or closing movement of the knife is produced by a spring after the cam 7 has passed the roller 8. Guided in the vice frame P<1> at a level just below the bottom of the mould slot o is a feeler 27, Figs. 4 or 11, provided with a toothed rack 33 engaging with a pinion 34 on a vertical shaft 35 journalled in the frame P<1>. The shaft 35 carries two larger pinions 39, which engage with racks 38, Figs. 4 and 14, formed on gauge-bars 3, guided in the vice frame at points above and below the top or bottom of the slot o. On the outer faces of the gauge-bars are formed stepped abutments 40. One of the gauge-bars' is tensioned in the direction of the mould-wheel by means of a coiled spring, and both the gauge-bars and the feeler 27 therefore tend to simultaneously assume the rearward position, the movement of the feeler being reduced in amount relatively to the racks by the difference in the size of the gears 34, 39. At the moment that the mould-wheel commences its forward movement towards the knives 1, 2. the cam 7 comes in contact with the roller 8, and causes the knife 1 to move outwards. The gauge-bars are thus released from the clamping action of two pairs of abutment surfaces 43 formed on the block 6, and move rearwards under the spring tension aforesaid. The advancing face of the mouldblock is provided with a recess, which may conveniently be formed in the lower of the two liners or distance-pieces which separate the cap and bottom plates of the mould. The depth of this recess is proportional to the thickness of the mould slot. If the mould slot is of minimum thickness, the recess may be absent, the feeler 27 and gauge-bars 3 being carried forward the maximum distance, so that, when the spring closes the knives together, the surfaces 43 may grip the stepped gauge-bars at their thinnest point, and leave the minimum gap between the knife blades. If the recess is a deep one, the gauge-bars are not moved so far, and the gap between the knife blades is greater. The usual spring-pressed check or friction plate is mounted within the block 6 to produce a yielding resistance to the passage of the linotype as it passes through into the galley. In applying the invention to machines provided with the adjustable mould block described in Specification No. 2721, A.D. 1899, the gauge-bars can be directly actuated by the mould, and the feeler 27 dispensed with. This modification is shown in Fig. 21, where the gauge-bars are provided with stepped extensions 27<a>, which enter the vacant spaces or continuations of the mould slot above and below the cast linotype until their thickness equals that of the slot, when the gauge-bars are carried to the front and set as above described. The gauge-bars in this modification have there fore three sets of similar steps instead of two. The surfaces may be tapered instead of being stepped.