Patent GB-502493-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to typographical composing machines
IPC: B41B11/06
Filed: 1937-09-20
Abstract: 502,493. Type-bar-making machines. MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE CO. Sept. 20, 1937, No. 26445. Convention date, March 29. [Class 100 (iii)] Magazines; keyboards.-Machines having three or more magazines are provided with power-driven mechanism for shifting the magazines in both directions, and with means, having a fixed setting for all the magazines and operable automatically, for disconnecting the power mechanism upon the arrival of the selected magazine in operative position. Devices are provided for indicating which magazine is in operative position and for locking the shift-keys when the magazine shift-frame is in its extreme positions. (1) The base-frames of the magazines A are connected by sideplates, so as to form a rigid shift-frame C, which is, in turn, mounted in a supporting- frame D, pivoted at its upper end on a shaft D<1>. The shift-frame is raised and lowered for magazine selection by cams J on a shaft J<1>, which co-operate with rollers J<2> on the shiftframe. The supporting-frame D can be raised by means of toggle-members and a hand-lever K<3>, to permit removal of the magazines. The cam-shaft J<1> is rotated by worm-gearing and a vertical shaft L<2>, which can be connected by clutch mechanism to a countershaft M<1> geared to the constantlyrotating intermediate shaft M. The worm is splined on the shaft L<2>, and the shaft can rock slightly in the vertical plane to permit of movement of the supporting-frame D. The shaft L<2> can be driven in either direction by a bevel-gear L<5>, Fig. 4, which meshes with two bevel-gears M<4>, M<5> loosely mounted on the shaft M'. Either of the gears M<4>, M<5> can be locked to the shaft by means of a sliding clutch-member M<6>, which rotates with the shaft. The shaft L<2> is driven through a friction connection to prevent damage in the event of obstruction. The clutch-member M<6> is shifted by a lever M<9>, Fig. 7, which is rocked in one direction or the other from a neutral position by a lever O and one or the other of two vertical slides P, Q having bevelled ends, which are operated by two shift-keys. After a key has been depressed, in order to engage the clutch, it may be released, but the clutch will remain engaged until the next adjacent magazine has arrived in operative position. This is effected by a locking device comprising a lever S, which is acted on by a spring S<7>, and is connected by a link S<2> a bell-crank lever S<3>, and a link S<6>, to the clutchlever M<9>. Movement of the lover M<9> in either direction shifts the lever S against the force of its spring, and the rotation of a cam J<4> on the cam-shaft J<1> causes a locking-lever S9 to engage behind a roller S<8> on the lever S, and hold it in the shifted position. When the next magazine is in operative position, a high part of the cam J<4> withdraws the locking- lever S<9> and the spring S<7> restores the clutchlever to neutral position. Another key-depression acts in the same way to bring the third magazine into position. The usual feeler-plates between the assembler-throat I, Fig. 1, and the front end of the magazine, and between the magazine-entrance-and the rear end of the magazine, are operated by a vertical rod U<1> and projections on the shiftkey slides P, Q, so that the clutch cannot be engaged if the feeler-plates are obstructed. In order that the main keyboard may be swung outwards to give access to the parts, the frame R, that carries the shift key-levers and the slides P, Q, is also pivotally mounted. (2) An indicator-drum T<1>, Fig. 1, to show which magazine is in operative position is connected by a chain T<3> passing over pulleys to the cam-shaft J<1>, so as to be operated thereby against spring tension. (3) When the magazines are in the extreme upper or lower position, the shift-key, which would tend to move them beyond that position, is automatically locked. This is effected by two dogs Q<11>, Fig. 1, one or the other of which is rocked into the path of an arm on the associated key-lever by connections from the indicator-drum when this is in either of its extreme positions.