Patent GB-189713267-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Type Casting and Composing Machines.
Inventor: BOULT ALFRED JULIUS
Filed: 1897-05-28
Granted: 1898-05-28
Abstract: 13,267. Boult, A. J., [Lanston Monotype Machine Co.]. May 28. Monotype machines.-Relates to machines, controlled by perforated strips, for casting and composing single types and setting them up in justified lines and the lines into column form. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the machine. The working-mechanisms are driven from two shafts, one 13 at the left-hand side, and the other at the rear of the machine, geared together by bevel-wheels 14. The matrix case and its actuating-mechanism. The matrices are placed in a case 26 sliding horizontally in a frame 27, mounted to slide horizontally at right-angles to the case 26. The frame 27 is moved by a rod connecting it with a slide connected by a rod 53 to a lever 52 operated by a rod 55, lever 54, and cam. On the slide to which the frame 27 is connected are pivoted stop-arms 60 adapted to engage one of a series of stops 58 and cause a stop pawl 61 attached to the arm to engage one of the ratchet teeth on the blocks 59 to stop the frame 27 when the proper row of characters is in position. A spring connection between the rod 55 and lever 52 permits of the frame 27 being stopped in any position. The matrix case 26 is moved in the frame 27 by a cam-operated lever 70 and rods 71 &c., and is stopped by a similar arrangement of stop-arms and pawls 60, 61 and stops 58. By these movements the required matrix is brought into position over the upper end of the mould, and the matrix frame is then depressed to cause the matrix to close the end of the moul The frame is depressed by means of a plunger 45, the end of which engages a conical hole or recess in the upper end of the positioned matrix, so th it it centres the matrix properly before depressing it. The plunger is operated by a lever 43 and cam. The matrix case is raised after the cast by springs 37. The matrices, which are of square section, are so mounted in the case that they may have a slight relative vertical movement, so that the positioned matrix may be pressed firmly down to close the mould. The mould and its normal adjustments. The mould cavity is formed between two side blocks fixed to a base-plate provided with a passage through which the metal passes from the nozzle of the metal pot to the mould. The front of the mould cavity is closed by the side of a slide, in the lower part of which is formed a passage or gate through which the metal passes into the mould. When this slide moves to open the front of the mould, the gate or jet is severed from the foot of the type and is ejected from the slide and through an opening in the base-plate. The rear of the mould is formed by the end of a sliding plunger, which is moved forward after each cast to eject the type. The plunger is attached to a slide operated by levers and cam &c., and in its rearward movement is stopped in position to adjust the width of the mould to the size of the character. The plunger slide is so stopped by a rod projecting from a slide, adjusted to its positions by a diagonal groove in a slide operated by a rod 56 connected to the lever 52, which operates the frame 27. The plunger is thus set to a different position for each row of matrices in the case. The rod 56 is provided with a screw sleeve 125 with a scale for fine adjustments of the length of the rod and position of the slide. Abnormal adjustments of the mould for justifying. The slide having the diagonal groove by which the plunger is set, is mounted on a sliding support which may be moved to alter the normal sizes of the types or spaces. In this machine the spaces only are increased to justify the line. The sliding support is connected to an arm pivoted at one end, and having a slot for a sliding block. To the latter is pivoted a second block which slides in a slot or way in a second pivoted arm below the first. The lower arm normally lies parallel to the upper one, so that if the compound slide is reciprocated no oscillatory movement of the upper arm takes place, and the sliding support remains stationary. Before the commencement of a line, the lower arm is set to the required angle by the operation of justifying- perforations in the strip, and when the compound slide is caused to reciprocate, which occurs at the casting of each space type, the sliding support is moved so as to increase the thickness of each space type to the required extent above the normal. The lower arm is moved by a segment engaging a worm on a shaft operated by ratchet mechanism from the rod, operated by the lever 70, which moves the matrix case 26. The justifying-arrangement is set when the pump is out of action. The metal pot and pump. The metal pot 167 is hung by its trunnions 168 in bearings 169, movable to and from the nozzle seat to compensate for expansion, and is provided with an adjustable cover 173, 174. An arm or extension of the pot having a passage to the pump ends in a conical nozzle, which may engage a seat or recess in the underside of the mould-supporting plate. This nozzle arm is connected to a lever 192 operated by a rod 194 and cam 195. The pump lever is operated by a rod connected to an arm 188 operated from an arm 197 and cam 198. The shafts of the arms 188 and 197 are provided with arms projecting horizontally side by side, and provided with coincident holes through which a pin may be projected to couple the arms and cause the pump to operate. When this pin does not pass through both arms the pump will not be operated. The pin is on a slide operated by a spring link from a lever which operates the mould plunger, aud normally the slide moves the pin to couple the arms. To prevent the action of the pump, as when setting the justification mechanism, the slide is stopped by a pin projected into its path. Galley mechanism. The type ejected from the mould is received by a sliding carrier, and is carried opposite to the entrance to the line channel, into which it is pushed by a sliding pusher. The types are supported in the line channel by a series of spring dogs pivoted in the blocks forming the sides of the channel. The completed line is engaged by fingers on a slide and carried on against a supporting-slide into position opposite a rule 212 which closes the mouth of the galley 211. The latter is lifted and the line pushed into the galley by a movable head or pusher. The galley is mounted upon a support 235 and its extensions 353, 354. If the line is too long or too short, the end types or their supporting-slide, when the line is moved into the galley, engage and operate a slide which, through an arrangement of levers &c., operates the belt shifter to stop the machine. The belt shipper is moved by an arm of the shaft 299 having an operating-handle 304. When the machine is working, an arm 298 of the shaft 299 is engaged by a lever 295 on a shaft 296. The lever 295 is connected to a lever operated by the stopping-arrangement at the mouth of the galley. The galley mechanisms are operated from a countershaft 273 driven by bevel gears from a transverse shaft operated by a worm 274 on shaft 13. The worm 274 drives a sleeve on the transverse shaft, the sleeve and shaft being connected by a ratchet-and-pawl arrangement. The pawl is disengaged, so that the shaft 273 may be stopped and started at the proper point, by a pivoted dog operated to start the shaft by a sliding trigger arrangement. The controlling-strip and pneumatic controlling system. The perforated strip S is fed in the reverse direction to that in which it was formed, so that the justifying-perforations for each line come into operation before the casting of the types for that line. It passes from a spool 321 over a bar with a rounded upper surface and on to a winding-spool 322. At the ends of the bar are pin-wheels engaging rows of perforations in the edges of the strip. The shaft of the pin-wheels is provided with ratchet mechanism 333, by which the strip is fed forward step by step to bring the successive rows of perforations on to the bar. The ratchet arrangement is operated by a rod 337, lever 338, &c., and cam. In the upper side of the bar is formed a row of holes or ports, from which tubes lead to the various parts of the machine to be controlled. Above the bar is a head 363 which is lifted during the feed movement of the strip and then pressed down on to it. The underside of the head 363 is provided with ports which register with those of the bar beneath, and when a perforation in the strip coincides a free passage is formed from the head 363 to the corresponding port in the bar. The ports in the head 363 all communicate with a transverse passage connected to an air-supply pipe, a valve being provided to admit the compressed air at the required times. The head 363 and valve are operated from a shaft 369 oscillated by a rod 371 connected to the lever 338. The air tubes lead to and cause the operation of the stop-pins for arresting the matrix case, the stop-pins for arresting the action of the pump, the means for setting the justification arrangement, the pin for causing the movement of the compound justifying-slide at the casting of each space, the release pawl which permits the return of the justification arrangement to normal position, and the sliding trigger by which the galley shaft is started. It is stated that parts of the apparatus are applicable to matrix-making and other machines.