Patent GB-190111476-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Composing and Type Casting Machines.
Inventor: BOULT ALFRED JULIUS
Filed: 1901-06-04
Granted: 1901-11-09
Abstract: 11,476. Boult, A. J., [Lanston Monotype Machine Co.]. June 4. Monotype and like machines.-Relates to type casting and composing machines, such as the Lanston monotype and similar machines. The strip-perforating and the casting machines are combined, the perforated strip passing directly from the one to the other, and the justifying- perforations for each line are made at the beginning instead of at the end of the line. Fig. 2 shows a plan of the machine, the casting-mechanism 1, 2, 3 being shown diagrammatically, and Fig. 26 shows a vertical section through the feeding and punching mechanisms. The casting- mechanism is the same as is described in Specification No. 8633, A.D. 1899, and is represented by the bed-plate 1, air tubes or connections 2, and strip-feed 3. The feed-mechanism 3 may be actuated by the lever 5 connected by a rod 17 to a piston in a cylinder 13 connected by air tubes 12 to a valve 7 operated by the main feed-lever 4. Or the lever 5 may be actuated from the lever 4 by mechanical connections. The composing or keyboard mechanism, which is of the pneumatic type described in Specification No. 18,638, A.D. 1899. comprises the keyboard 31, the line and justification indicators 33, 34, and the strip punching and feeding mechanisms. The keyboard 31 includes the valved finger keys 30, with an air-pressure chamber beneath, which operate to open and close transverse and longitudinal ducts in the top plate 31 communicating with air tubes leading to the punching and indicating &c. mechanisms. In rear of the keys is the movable line indicator 33 for showing the amount of space occupied and to be filled in, the rotary justification chart 34, the pointer 35 of which is moved according to the number of spaces in the line, and the units mechanism for controlling the line indicator and chart. The indicators are moved by air cylinders or, motors and racks &c., their movement being limited by one of a series of stops projected at the operation of the keys 30, a stop being provided for a row or column of keys. They are returned to zero by a resetting- motor to which compressed air is admitted on operating the resetting key, at the completion of each line. When this key is depressed, the pressure is also cut off from the motors, which move the indicators forward. The pointer 35 is moved up by a rack in gear with a wheel on a shaft driven intermittently by ratchet mechanism actuated by a rod moved by an air cylinder each time the space key is depressed. Rebound or displacement of the justification chart is prevented by a locking-pin, which prevents movement of the supplemental motor-rack, which drives the chart, until the pin is withdrawn by a piston and cylinder to which pressure is admitted, at the proper time, from the motor for moving the indicators. Cushioning-springs are placed at each end of the supplemental motor rack to prevent hammering. The indicators are operated by a separate set of levers and motor cylinders, another set of levers 180, Fig. 26, and cylinders being employed for the character punches 181. Above the levers 180 is a rocking frame 182, operated by each of the levers, for controlling the motor for operating the strip feed mechanism. A second set of punches is provided for making the justifying- perforations, the bars 201 of which connect with a set of levers 202 operated by. motor cylinders controlled by a separate series of keys. A pivoted frame on the shaft 207 is arranged over the levers 202, and is connected to the frame 182 by rods 208, so that the feed is operated by both sets of levers 180 and 202. The paper strip passes from a reel 216 through a tension device 217 round the character punch bar concentric with the shaft 210, thence across under a bar 222 to the justification punch bar concentric with the shaft 220, and through an adjustable guide 223, whence it passes, in a loop, directly to the feedmechanism 3 of the casting-machine. At the ends of the shaft 210 are discs carrying radial punches 212, which co-operate with perforations in a drum 213, to punch the marginal feed-perforations in the strip and also to carry the strip past the character punches 181. On the ends of the shaft 220 are pin-wheels 221, which engage the marginal perforations in the strip for feeding it forward. The shaft 210 of the character feed is actuated by ratchet mechanism similar to that described in Specification No. 18,638, A.D. 1899. The justification feed-shaft 220 is actuated by a similar feedmechanism provided with means for withdrawing the stop pawl, and with a locking-mechanism for arresting the feed movement. The feed-mechanisms of the two shafts 210, 220 are operated simultaneously through a predetermined number of feed movements which suffice to feed the beginning or head of the line being formed from the character punch bar to the justifying punch bar into position to receive the justifying-perforations. The feed-mechanism of the shaft 220 is then locked, while the remaining character perforations are made and until the justifying-keys are . operated. After the justifying-perforations are made, any slack that may remain between the two punch bars is taken up by a takeup arrangement operating the shaft 220. The locking - arrangement comprises a sliding bar which is moved into engagement with a toothed wheel on the shaft 220. This bar moves, until it engages the locking-wheel, with a rack moved by ratchet mechanism similar to and operated from the ratchet feed of the shaft 210. The gear-wheel which operates this rack is provided with a pin engaging a slot in a disc loose on the shaft 220 and provided with a pawl engaging a ratchetwheel fast on the shaft 220. As the rack is fed a distance corresponding to the total number of feed movements of the character feed, and the length of the slot in the disc is proportional to the number of feed movements effected before the shaft 220 is locked, the rack in its return movement operates through the pin and slotted disc &c. to feed the shaft 220 forward to take up the slack. The return of the rack is assisted by a motor cylinder and piston. The pawls of the rack feed and justification feed are tripped to permit of the return of the rack and of the take-up movement by rods operated by arms on a shaft 280. The shaft 280 is rocked by a motor cylinder in communication with the motor of the indicator resetting-mechanism. The justification lock bar is withdrawn, to permit of the justification feed movements, when the justification punches are operated, by an arm 283 on the shaft 207 engaging a lever which moves the locking-bar out of engagement. Means are provided for slowing or stopping the casting-machine in case it should feed the strip faster than it is supplied by the perforating-mechanism. This is effected by a roller 314, engaging in the loop of the strip between the perforating and the casting mechanisms, which, if the strip tightens, operates to vary the speed of the motor. The motor 310, shown in Fig. 2, is an electric motor connected with a rheostat 311, 312, for varying the resistance of the circuit. The switch arm 312 of this device is operated by an arm 320 on a shaft 319 having an arm connected by a link 318 to an arm 317 of the shaft 316 to which the arms carrying the roller 314 are attached. An arm 321 on the shaft 319 is connected with a dash-pot 322.