Patent GB-191418687-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Production of Curved Stereotype Plates.
Inventor: WHITEHEAD THOMAS LAING
IPC: B41D1/00
Filed: 1914-08-14
Granted: 1915-07-08
Abstract: 18,687. Whitehead, T. L., [Annand, R. C.]. Aug. 14. Stereotype; printing- surfaces. - In a sterotype casting - apparatus of the kind in which the core and casting shell are arranged vertically or substantially so, the shell is fixed and the core is carried by pivoted arms so as to be swung horizontally into and out of casting position in the shell. The core is rotated during its swing so as to carry the plate past rotary cutters to sever the tail and bevel the ends of the plate. Spring-controlled stops and claws to remove the finished plate from the core are provided. The shell 1 is fixed to the bed-plate 2 and the core 3 is mounted in bearings 4 carried by arms 5 pivoted on trunnions 6 on a pillar frame comprising a base 7 and upper and lower plates 8<a>, 8 connected by rods 9. The arms 5 are operated to swing the core 3 into and out of the shell 1 by a pair of rods 16 connected to crank-pins 15<a> on disks 15 which are oscillated or rotated by a hand-lever 18 through skew gearing 19, 20. During the outward swing of the core 3, a mutilated pinion 39 on the axle 3<a> of the core 3 engages a stationary toothed segment 38 and rotates the core to carry the plate past rotary saws or cutters 23 which sever the tail of the plate and bevel its curved edges. The cutters 23 are preferably mounted on a shaft 21 carried by the arms 5 and rotated by a motor 25 through a belt 24 passing round a pulley 28 on one of the rods 9 and a pulley 29 on an arm 31 mounted on another of the rods 9. To keep the belt 24 constantly taut the arm 31 is constantly pressed by a coiled spring having its ends bearing against stops carried by the arm 31 and by the rod 9. When the core approaches the end of its outward swing, the leading edges of the finished plate and tail engage spring- mounted stops 46 carried by a pillar 10, and are thereby moved away from the core. Claws 47, 47<a>, 47<b> actuated by a spring 51 then engage the following edges of the plate and tail and hold them during the return swing of the core. The upper claw 47 is provided with a curved face 52<a>, which is engaged by the tail of the plate during the latter part of the outward swing of the core to hold the lower claws 47<a>, 47<b> clear of the printing-surface. The plate and tail are supported, after removal from the core, on platforms 44, 43 pivoted on the pillar 10 and forced under the bottom edges of the plate and tail by springs 45. The matrix clamps each comprise two jaws 53', 54<1>, Fig. 7, the jaw 53<1> being pivoted to a bracket 53<a> on the shell 1 and the jaw 54<1> being slidably mounted on the jaw 53<1>. The jaws are opened and closed to release or grip the matrix by eccentrics engaging slots in the jaws 54<1>, The matrix is held clear of the back of the shell 1 when the core is out of casting position by springs 56<a> acting on the clamps but is moved back into casting position by arms 61 on the core engaging the clamps. The clamps may be temporarily held in casting position when the core is swung out by handles 67 held by spring stops 68; but stops 69 on the clamps are arranged in the path of the arms 61 to prevent the core from moving into the shell until the matrix is in the position away from the back of the shell. The stripping of the matrix from the cast plate is effected by preventing the rotation of the core on its axis during the first part of its outward swing. This is effected by means of a guide-piece 40 on the pinion 39 engaging a guide 41 on the shell 1 The plate is cooled while on the core by water which is passed through the hollow upper end of the core spindle 3<a> and out through orifices on to an horizontal tray from which it falls in a continuous film down the surface of the core. Water-escape orifices are provided in the hollow lower end of the spindle 3<a>.