Patent GB-266755-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to type-composing machines
IPC: B41B11/18
Filed: 1927-02-28
Abstract: 266,755. Martin, P. Feb. 27, 1926, [Convention date]. Type-bar-making machines; assembling, clamping, aligning, and justifying matrices; escapements; keyboards; spacers. - In a type-barmaking machine employing detached circulating matrices, and having the assembling, justifying, casting, and distributing stations arranged in a straight line in a single channel, the matrices are forwarded by an assembly cam or star-wheel, and supported by a pivoted spring-pressed tongue, which are both retracted to permit the entry of the vice jaws into the channel. (1) The matrices are released from a magazine by escapements B, Fig. 3, of known kind each of which is formed in a single piece, having two pawls 1, 2, and provided with guide-slots b engaged by stops b<1>. The escapements are operated against the force of springs g by rods e connected directly to keylevers. (2) The wedge-spacers are formed in three parts, a member 1. Fig. 5, sliding in a slotted member 2, in which it is retained by a plate 3 riveted to the member 2. The member 1 has at one side a guide lug h, and at the other a hook f for engagement by the distributing device. (3) The assembling-channel is formed by two spaced bars B, Fig. 7, having ledges a, a<1> and rails b, c to support roman and italic matrices respectively, the rails b, c and a second pair of rails d, e serving to hold down the matrices during justification. A groove g is adapted to receive the lugs h of the spacers. The rail b extends as far as the mould, and is retracted after the casting, to permit of levelling of the matrices and spacers prior to distribution. The matrices are forwarded in the assembling-channel by a cam or star-wheel 9, Fig. 13, and the advancing line is supported by a spring-pressed: pivoted tongue 6. Springs on each side of the cam prevent the matrices from leaving the channel. The front bar of the channel is cut away to form a window K for inspection of the line, and is provided with a pivoted gate A to permit of corrections being made. A movable bridge 10 enables italic matrices to be assembled at a higher level. (4) The justifying-vice is adapted to enter the assembling-channel and to convey the line to the justifying and casting positions, and then back to a distribution position, after which the vice returns to the assembling position. The vice B, Fig. 14, comprises a jaw F, which remains always in the assembling-channel, and two rocking jaws E, E', which are adapted to embrace the line. The jaw E<1> is adjustable in accordance with the length of the line, and the jaw F, which is free to slide, is pressed against it by a spring. As the jaws enter and leave the channel, a cam on the jaw E<1> acts on the jaw F to cause it to clamp or release the line. The machine is put into operation by means of a clutch-lever, which causes the entry of the vice into the channel, the tongue 6 and the cam 9 having been previously retracted. Upon the movement of the vice into the justifying position, the tongue 6 and cam 9 are released, and return to initial position. The spacers are driven up, in order to justify the line, bv a hammer, which makes two successive blows. Distributing matrices.-(1) After the casting of the line, the italic matrices and the slides of the spacers are pushed down, and the matrices and spacers are removed from the channel by grabbers operated by pivoted arms. The spacergrabber has a pin on to which the spacers are threaded by their hooks f, Fig. 5, and the matrixgrabber has a toothed bar, which engages the distributing-teeth of the matrices. The grabbers are so connected that the matrix-grabber is seated after the spacer-grabber, and moves away before it, so that the matrices and spacers are separated, and reach their distributing positions at the same time. The matrix-grabber is controlled by a. guide, which causes it to remain vertical during the ascent. (2) The matrices of the elevated line are delivered one by one to the distributor-screws by a. reciprocating lifter J, Fig. 36. The screws D are formed with a thread, which is inclined over one-half of the circumference of the screw, and is vertical over the other half. The matrices are delivered to, and released from, the vertical portions of the thread, so as to ensure their maintaining a vertical position. (3) The screws are driven through an automatic disengaging device comprising a loose rotating pulley C, Fig. 42, and a disc D on a shaft A', which is geared to the screws. The disc D carries a pawl G, Fig. 41, which is normally held in position by a spring dog E, and carries a pin h through which the disc is driven by a pin c on the pulley C. Excessive force causes the pawl G to escape from the dog E, and to remove the pin h from the path of the pin c. Re-engagement is effected by means of a disc B, Fig. 42, which is movable along its shaft by means of a fork, and has a pin c<1> adapted to be moved into the path of the pin h, so as to force back the pawl B. (4) The distributor-bar is of the known kind having repeating series of combinations on one side, Fig. 52, for distribution of the matrices to their respective channels, and guide-ribs on the other side, Fig. 49, for carrying the matrices to the appropriate series of combinations. The bar is, however, provided with series of combinations on both sides and is engaged by equal numbers of teeth on both sides of the matrices. The bar has, preferably, four ribs on each side, and a rib C, Fig. 46, which serves to centre the matrices by engaging corresponding notches therein. Moulds; ejecting and trimming type-bars.- The mould B, Fig. 31, slides in a pivoted support A and, after casting, moves in front of an ejector S, by which the type-bar is pushed through a knife-block D into a galley E. The foot of the type-bar is trimmed during the sliding of the mould. The casting-mechanism may be dispensed with, and a photographic or printed impression obtained from matrices in relief, the impression being used in the production of a printing-plate.