Patent GB-719374-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to means for controlling character width or spacing in apparatus for composing or reproducing typographical and like matter
IPC: B41B7/04
Filed: 1950-06-13
Abstract: 719,374. Type-making machines. CLOWES & SONS, Ltd., W., and CROUCHER, H. G. June 7, 1951 [June 13, 1950], No. 14748/50. Class 100 (3). Single - type composing and casting -machines; justifying type.-In or for apparatus for reproducing typographical matter by successive character and space-forming operations and comprising a periodically movable member the travel of which determines the width and spacing of the characters and spaces in the line of typographical matter, there is provided a displaceable control wedge device for interposition in the path of the movable member to limit the periodic travel thereof to variable amounts. The control wedge device comprises a plurality of elements pivotally or oscillatably arranged and each formed to determine the position of a limit-controlling face, the faces constituting a unit or like series, desired variation in set size widths being obtained by controllably varying the inclination of the elements. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the wedge is provided with the axial shank 1, a positioning rack 2, and a lug 3 for setting by the matrix jaws of a known machine, e.g. as described in Specification 8633/99, [Class 100]. The wedge accommodates four sets of bar elements located between side plates 5. The four sets of bars are pivoted at 8, 8b, and 8c, each pivotpoint being 0.2 inch away from the next. The bars are provided with cam surfaces which are held against the inclined surfaces 18 of a longitudinally slidable wedge 19 which bears against the inside surface of a cover-plate 6 and can be actuated by a control bar 20 slidable in a groove in the rack body and wedge back. The wedge 19 carries a pin 21 slidable in grooves 22 in the plates 5. Movement of the wedge 19 causes the cam faces of the bars to move in or out transversely of the wedge axis so that variation is provided in set sizes with the same unit arrangement. In a modification (Fig. 10) the invention is shown applied to a transfer wedge arrangement of known kind. Interposed between the existing transfer wedges 34, 35 and the bar 33 is a floating wedge member 37 attached to a spring- steel bar 38. The member 37 has a facing surface against which the ends of the pivoted bars abut. An adjusting wedge 41 is interposed between the wedge 37 and the transfer wedges 34, 35 and is actuated by a control bar 42. In a further modification (Figs. 12 and 13) the adjusting wedge is disposed outside the main wedge structure and the required simultaneous adjustment of the bars is obtained by opening or closing a pair of pivoted members 50, 51. Movement of the adjusting wedge 58 causes movement of block 63 to move a sliding carrier 64. Since the carrier 64 embraces a member 52, pivoted to 51, relative movement between members 50 and 51 is achieved. In a further arrangement the bars are not formed with integral striking faces but are plain or parallel bars and the striking faces are provided by separately insertable or adjustable elements. In a still further modification (Fig. 16) normal adjustment is effected by a transfer wedge 77, racks 79, 88, 84 in a bed 80 being displaced simultaneously so that no relative movement takes place between parts 78, 86 and 87. Movement of an adjusting wedge 81, however, acting on an inclined surface 82, displaces laterally the rack 88, against springs 90. The member 87 connected to the rack 88 effects the required adjustment to the bars 86. The adjusting wedge may be actuated as shown in Figs. 17, 18. The adjusting wedge 94 is actuated by a sliding rod 96 connected by a lever 98 to a member 104 co-operating with a wedge 103 having a stud 102 thereon which co-operates with a controlplate 100. Vertical movement of wedge 103 causes horizontal movement of wedge 94. Adjustments of the normal control wedge 92 do not affect the adjusting wedge 94 since the stud 102 slides on the top of the wedge 103. Fig. 1 shows a manually-operable control device for displacing the adjusting wedge within the main wedge body. A bracket 106 attached to the existing machine frame 106a carries an adjustable extension 107, upon which a frame 108 is tiltably carried on pivots 109. A head 110 slidable in the frame 108 engages a lug 111 on the adjusting wedge control bar 20 and is connected by a rod 112 to a setting micrometer head 113 having a locking ring 114. A spring- loaded pin 116 is adapted to enter holes in frame 108 to secure the latter in the position shown or in its raised tilted position. A clamping wedge (not shown) is adapted to drive the wedge control bar 20 against the body of the wedge rack extension 1a when the slotted head of a screw 122 is rotated by means of a shoulder 129 of a shaft rotated by a knob 126. The arrangement is such that until the knob 126 has been rotated sufficiently to cause the shoulder 129 to abut a bracket 130, no loosening of the locking ring 114 can be effected. Also the arrangement is such that until the clamping wedge is secured in position pin 116 cannot be withdrawn to allow the frame 108 to be tilted upwardly for normal operation of the machine, Figs. 19, 20, 21 (not shown). The adjustments to the control wedge may be effected by automatic mechanism, Fig. 22 (not shown), as described with reference to Fig. 15 of Specification 719,371. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with a typographical composing machine of the kind described in Specification 8633/99, [Class 100], or a machine for controlling the spacing of reproduced characters, as described in Specification 706,312. Specifications 17199/08, [Class 100], and 719,372 also are referred to.