Patent GB-190405797-A (GB)
Title: Improved Mechanism for Casting and Composing Type.
Inventor: WILLIS PERCY RICHARD JULIUS
Filed: 1904-03-09
Granted: 1905-03-09
Abstract: 5797. Willis, P. R. J., [Brooks, B. A.]. March 9. Type; type, setting.-Relates to a type casting and composing machine, Fig. 1, in which, during composition, the type is fed from a magazine B down delivery tubes to a receiver or carrier D in the form of a chain, the magazine being automatically replenished by casting a new type to replace each one withdrawn. Each line of type as set up is measured and a number of equal spaces cast and fed between each two words of the line. The receiver or carrier consists of a number of links D, Fig. 10, pivoted together to form a chain which passes over sprocket-wheels E, E<10>, the former being operated by the spacing-mechanism of the machine. The links D are open on three sides and formed with two longitudinal grooves D<1> for the reception of the points of two switches, by means of which the type is removed from the carrier. The links D are of sufficient length to accommodate the longest word to be used, and when the word is set, a retaining-finger D<6>, sliding in a groove D<2> and operated by a spring D<8>, engages the type to hold it during the spacing operation. The wheel E is secured to a short shaft E' journalled in the frame of the machine, Figs. 3, 4, and 10, and carrying a loose driving-pulley E<4> and a loose disc E<3>. The shaft E<1> carries two concentric bushes, prevented from rotating relatively to one another and to the shaft E<1> by two feathers. The two bushes are provided with flanges, separated by a spring e<2>, which engage respectively with friction surfaces E<6> on the continuously-driven pulley E<4> and the disc E<3>. The inner bush is furnished with a ratchet-wheel E<7>, with which engages an escapement E<8> mounted on a pivot E<9> on the face of the disc E<3>. In operation, the disc E<3> is held while the ratchet-wheel E<7>, and consequently the shaft E', are permitted, by means of the escapement E<8>, to rotate slightly and feed the chain carrier forward one link, thus securing the word feed. After the whole line has been assembled, the disc E<3> is released and given a complete revolution, feeding the carrier forward a number of links equal to the maximum number of words to be employed in a line, in this case twelve. A pin E<20>, carried on a projection of the escapement E<8>, engages a pawl M pivoted on a sliding bar M<2> operated by the spacing-key M<7> of the machine. On the bar M<2> being depressed, the pawl M engages the pin E<20> and releases the upper end of the escapement E<8> from the ratchet-wheel E<7>, and simultaneously a pawl m on the bar M<2> engages a lever e<6> pivoted at e<5>, and raises the roller e<9> on the arm e<8> from the recess E<13> in the disc E<3>. On raising the bar M<2> the upper end of the escapement will be brought into contact with the next tooth of the ratchet-wheel, the carrier having been thus advanced a distance of one link, and the roller e<9> falls again into the recess E<13>. During the operation of this word-feed mechanism, the disc E<3> is prevented from rotating by a catch O<4>. A complete revolution is given to the disc E<3> to feed forward each complete line by means of a bar O<3>, depressed by a lever O<11> on the keyboard of the machine, which raises the roller e<9> from the disc by means of the arm E'‹ and throws the pawl M clear of the escapement E<8> by means of a bar O. The disc thus released is driven by friction contact between the flanges on the bushes and the faces E<6> on the pulley E<4> and disc E<3>. The shaft e<11> carrying the arm e<8> also supports a second arm d<11> operating a spring plunger d<7> which in its normal position engages a projection D<7> on the back of the retaining-finger D‹ of the operative link D and retains it until the word is completed. On depression of the spacing-key M<7>, the arm d<11> is raised, thus releasing the finger D<6>. The type B' is contained in reservoirs B having an aperture at the rear through which passes a rod b for ejecting the type, a separate reservoir and ejecting and casting mechanisms being provided for each character. The rod b is normally retained in its withdrawn position by a spring b<1> and is connected by a link b<2 >and bell-crank lever a<5> with a rod a<2> operated by the corresponding key of the keyboard. On depressing the key, the rod b is forced forward, ejecting a type b<3>, which strikes on a roller C<1> and falls down a delivery tube C. The tubes C from the reservoirs converge to a common tube C<2> which delivers the type to the operative link D of the carrier. One side of the type delivery tube C<2> is formed of a flexible spring C<3>, pressed inward by a bell crank C', pivoted on a standard C<6> and engaging a projection F<2> on a slide F, Fig. 10. The slide F is connected by a link f with a bell crank lever f pivoted on a standard A<3>, which is operated by a cam disc f<2> rotated from a shaft J, Fig. 20, by a belt f<3> each time a key is depressed. On operation of a key the slide F is reciprocated, and the lever C<4> being disengaged by the projection F<2> moves away from the tube C' under the action of a spring C<5> and permits the discharge of a type. Mounted to slide on longitudinal guides on the machine frame is a block d provided with a transverse slot, in which slides a second block d<2>, formed with a slot d<3> which registers with a circular hole d<5> in the block d. The block d<2> is provided with two pins d' which project into the grooves D<1> in the carriers D, and a vertical pin d<6> projecting into a diagonal groove in the slide F. A spring-controlled washer carried by a rod secured to a projection F<4> on the slide F, is adapted to engage the sides of the transverse slot d<3> in the block d<2>. As each type is deposited in the carrier D, the slide F is reciprocated, the diagonal slot therein projecting the block d<2> forward and causing the pins d' to enter the grooves D<1>. The block d is then moved to the left under the action of the spring F<6>, the rod F<7> passing through the slot d<3> into the circular hole d<5>. The type is thus carried to the left-hand end of the carrier, the spring F‹ accommodating itself as type accumulates, and the pins d<4> being withdrawn as the slide F returns to its normal position. As the type is set up it is automatically measured by means of a device U, shown in Figs. 8 and 24. Two plates u, U slide on guides A<6> on the machine frame, and are connected by four springs u<3>, secured between lugs u<2>, U<5> on the plates u, U respectively, tending to close them together. The two ends of the plate U are connected by two rods U<2> on which are placed blocks V closed together by springs U<4>. The blocks V are formed with central interlocking portions v<5>, and interlocking projections v<2> at the inner end, between which and the adjacent block spaces t of required size are cast. The back of the space mould consists of a small block v<1>, connected by two rods U<7> encircled by springs u<8> with short bars v<4>, which serves as an ejector for the cast spaces. Between the central interlocking projections and the adjacent block V is placed a slotted wedge w<2> connected to a vertical sliding bar w sliding in a guide in the block V. The bar W is preferably slotted to form a spring member for firmly holding the bar. A screw Y prevented from rotating and projected forwards by means of a nut rotated by a pinion R<6>, is provided in the end of the plate U, its extremity bearing against the block U<3>. At the commencement of the setting operation, the space between the block U<3> and the extremity of the screw Y is equal to the full measure of the line of type. As the type accumulates, the screw Y is fed forward and, when the line is nearly completed, a number of the wedges w<1> (one less than the number of words in the line) are raised to separate the blocks V, and the spaces t are cast in the intermediate recesses. The type is made on the "point" system having bodies of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 units width respectively. As the keys are depressed, an electric circuit is completed through one of the solenoids N' &c., Fig. 8, depending on the width of the type, causing the core thereof to be raised. The circuit through the magnet M is simultaneously completed, drawing the armature p downward and moving forward, by means of a bell-crank lever p<2>, and link p<6>, a bar p<7> provided with a rack R<12> gearing with a segment R<3> secured to a shaft R<2>. The shaft R<2> carries a spur-wheel R<1> gearing with the pinion R<6>, and a ratchet-wheel R. The segment R<3> is provided with an arm R<4>, which carries a pawl R<5> normally held out of gear with the wheel R by a spring R". The forward motion of the bar p<7> is limited by a stop p<8> coming in contact with the core N of one of the solenoids N' &c. This completes the circuit of a magnet M', depresses the bar S', moves the pawl R<5> into engagement with the wheel R, and breaks the circuit of the magnet M. A projection S<2> on the bar S' disengages a pawl S<4>, mounted on the frame of the machine, from the ratchet-wheel R, and the wheels R, R<1> thus released are rotated by the driving-motor until the stop p<12> makes contact with the frame, thus rotating the nut R<6> and advancing the screw Y a distance corresponding to the width of the type set. The movement of the screw Y is communicated by means of bevel gearing to an indicator 22 placed above the keyboard. As the spacing-key is depressed, to advance the carrier link by link, a bar W, Fig. 1, carried by a vertically-sliding block W<1> is advanced beneath the wedges w, step by step, by means of a rod 26, and a bell-crank lever 23 engaging a rack on the underside of the bar. On operating the line-feeding mechanism, the bar W is raised, forcing the wedges w<2> upward between the blocks V to justify the line, the variation in lift for different widths of spaces being allowed for by a spring. The device is then moved beneath a reservoir t<2> of molten type metal and the spaces cast. On