Patent GB-552184-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to keyboard-controlled typographic composing machines
IPC: B41B7/04
Filed: 1941-12-02
Abstract: 552,184. Type-making machines. MONOTYPE CORPORATION, Ltd. (Lanston Monotype Machine Co.). Dec. 2, 1941, No. 15494. [Class 100 (iii)] Strip-perforating machines; keyboards; justifying type.-In machines of the kind described in Specification 17199/08 [Class 100], the thirty-one punches hitherto employed are divided into three main groups, two of which serve for positioning and one for dimensioning, and each signal may comprise perforations made by two or more punches in each positioning-group, and one punch in the dimensioning- group. The valve-actuating bars, which control the punch-motors, are provided with pivoted tappets, which, when the valve-bars advanced by the keys, are rocked by a single-impulse motor in order to operate the valves. A quadding-scale is provided to facilitate the justification of quadded or centred lines, which are filled out by the action of quadding or repeat keys. (1) The keys A, Fig. 3, operate sliding key-bars B, which act through rocking bails B<SP>2</SP> on sliding valve-bars C, as theretofore. Each valve-bar carries a pivoted tappet C<SP>1</SP> in theform of a bell-crank, which tilts, when the valve-bar is advanced, so that its horizontal arm is engaged by a driving-bar F, Fig. 4, operated by an air-motor G. The selected tappets are thereby turned in the reverse direction, so that their vertical arms operate the valves D. The motor G has separate inlet and exhaust valves G<SP>10</SP>, which are of piston form and are operated by links G<SP>3</SP> from the bails B<SP>2</SP>, in order to give a quick action of the motor. (2) The unitscounting, and justification-indicating mechanisms are as heretofore, but the re-setting of these mechanisms is effected by a relay-valve of piston form, which admits air from a constant supply to the re-setting motors. At the end of the line a special key, which is depressed simultaneously with the justification keys, operates one of the valves D, which is not connected to a punch-motor but serves to shift the relay-valve and effect the re-setting. (3) The quadding-scale is in the form of a drum N, Fig. 7, which, like the justification-indicating drum J<SP>45</SP>, is driven by gearing from the line-measuring mechanism. Quadding is effected by three special keys X, Y, Z (not shown), two X. Y. of which designate one and four ems respectively, whilst the third Z doubles the value of either of the other two. Either of the first two may be depressed a number of times in succesion, and causes a corresponding number of cycles in the casting-machine. The line-scale J<SP>46</SP>, Fig. 16, is divided into zones, which are marked with indications of the number of depressions of the keys X. Y, Z required for the quadding of a line composed to any given length. For example, if the composed line is 58 ems short, it falls within a zone of the linescale indicating that 32 ems are to be added by the quadding-keys. The remainder of the line, viz. 26 ems, is filled by justification of the quads, and the proper justification keys to be depressed are indicated on the quadding-drum N. For centering a short line, the key Z is depressed before the line is composed, and the keys X, Y at the end of the line. (4) The inter-word space-key, which raises the vertical rackbar carrying the justification-pointer one step at each depression, normally operates the four-unit punch, but after eighteen spaces have been recorded, a pin on the rack-bar operates a diverting-valve, by which the key is caused to operate the six-unit punch. To prevent both punches from being operated during the change, owing to air entering both of their motors, a pin on the four-unit punch-bar, as it rises, rocks a pivoted member on the six-unit punch-bar beneath a fixed stop. (5) A number of additional keys are provided, which advance valve-bars but do not operate the punch-valve motor. These keys admit air to diverting valves, and, when operated in conjunction with other keys, produce signals for controlling additional functions. One of these keys; when operated with the inter-word space-key, produces a low-space signal. Another adds two units to each character-signal with which it is associated. This key energises a motor which shifts a spring- pressed cradle H<SP>13</SP>, Fig. 7, supporting the unit-stops H<SP>4</SP>, until it abuts against a fixed stop H<SP>20</SP>. Another special key, when struck simultaneously with a character-key, produces a signal which designates a low quad of the set-size of the character struck. Keys for deletion and-correction are also provided. Specification 548,688 also is referred to.