Patent GB-190004967-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Type or like Distributing Machines.
Inventor: BOULT ALFRED JULIUS
Filed: 1900-03-15
Granted: 1901-01-12
Abstract: 4967. Boult, A. J., [Bates, A. H.]. March 15. T y p e , distributing; linotype machines.-Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of a type-distributing machine, Figs. 9 and 10 show a sectional elevation and plan, respectively, of the means for distributing or ejecting the types from the line carriers in to the proper distributing- channels, and Fig. 14 shows a sectional plan of a type-carrier c containing a line of types c<16>. The type-carriers each consist of a rectangular plate c having a rectangular opening into which the line of types c<16> is placed on end, a follower c<1> keeping them on their feet. The carriers travel continuously and successively along an upper track p, in which the distributing operation takes place, and return, for refilling, along a lower track p', Fig. 9. In Fig. 1 the upper portions of some of the carriers (c<5>, c<6>, c<7>, c<8>, c<9>) are seen in the upper track, with the types c<16> therein. The supply of types is contained in a galley g, along which they are pushed by an adjustable follower g<6> sliding on a rod g<2> and operated by a cord g<3> and weight, and when a carrier reaches the end of its return movement a line of types is fed into it by means of a vertically-sliding plate j<18> having a rectangular opening into which the front line of types is pushed by the follower g<6>. This plate j<18> lifts the line to the level of the opening in the carrier, into which it is pushed laterally by a spring-pressed block j<23>, j<28> pivoted at j<24>. The filled carrier is then raised to the upper track by a sliding plate operated by the left-hand end of a lever h<3> pivoted at h<4> and operated by an arm h<6>, rod h<7>, and cam on the shaft n. The raised carrier c<5>, Fig. 1, is then engaged by a pusher which feeds it, and the carriers in front of it, to the right, thus bringing the last carrier into position to be pushed down to the lower track by a plunger l<3>, and making room for another carrier at the lefthand end of the upper track. The pusher or feeder is moved by a half-nut put into engagement with a rotating screw by the carrier engaging an arm k<6> as it is lifted to the level of the upper track. The feeder is released from the screw at the end of its movement, and is returned by a cord and weight to its initial position. A carrier is pushed down into the lower track, simultaneously with the one lifted, by the plunger l<3> on a vertical slide operated by the right-hand end of the lever h<3>. When in the upper track, the carriers move between the rails e<7>, e<8>, of the framing and the plates or blocks d formed with distributing-slots d', Figs. 9 and 10. The blocks d are held in place by screw nuts and studs d<3>. The types are provided with selecting or distributing nicks with which projections or wards e" on the ends of the ejectors e are adapted to engage when the nicks and wards correspond. Each ejector consists of a plate e having the wards e" and a piece e<1> pivoted to the plate e at e<4>. The plates e are guided loosely in slots in the rails e<10> and e<7>, e<8>. The pieces e<1> are formed with a curved rear end e<5> having ratchet teeth adapted to engage with a rotating toothed cylinder f, as described in Specification No. 4963, A.D. 1900. The front ends e<2> of the pieces e normally rest under the lower ends of the partitions e<13> between the slots e<12> in the bar e<7>, so that their rear ends are held up out of engagement with the cylinder f. The ejectors are pressed forward by light springs e<9> so as to press against the types at the points where they are supported by the partitions between the channels d', Fig. 10. When the wards on an ejector correspond with the nicks in a type, they enter the nicks and the ejector moves forward a short distance. The wards are then engaged by the next type, as the carriers are moved onward, and the front end of the ejector is moved laterally until the end e' clears its supporting-rib e<13>, when the rear end e<5> drops into engagement with the cylinder f, by which it is quickly moved forward to eject the type and returned. The ejected types pass down guides d', which make a half turn, and are packed by a rotating packer into the channels of receivers m. When two or .more types of the same character are next to each other in a line, only the second or last one of them is ejected, so that some type may remain in the carriers after they have passed the ejectors. When the number remaining is small, a fresh line is added to them in the carrier, but, when more than a predetermined number remain, a fresh line is prevented from being placed in the carrier, and the carrier carries the remaining types again past the distributers. As the carriers reach the filling position, a pawl enters the notch c<3>, Fig. 14, and draws the remaining types and the follower c<1> to the right-hand end of the carrier, making room for a new line. If the types remaining are too many, the block on which the pawl is pivoted is moved into engagement with mechanism which moves a pin j<12>, Fig 1, which stops the operation of the line lifting-plate j<18>. The plate j<18> has a pin j<17> engaging a slot j<27> in a yoke j<14> operated by a cam j<16> on the shaft n which is driven from a shaft s through a complete revolution by a clutch set in operation by the feed-pusher each time it returns to normal position. When the pin j<12> is moved as previously described, the yoke j<14> reciprocates idly, and the plate j<18> remains stationary. When, however, the pin j<12> remains in its normal position, it engages an incline j<13> on the yoke and moves the yoke so that the side slot j<22> engages the pin j<17> and the plater j<18> moves with the yoke. The carriers are moved to the left along the lower track by a slide l<9> moving in guides l<11> and reciprocated by a lever l<13>, rod l<15>, and cam l<18> on the shaft n. The feed-screw, the ratchet roller f, and the packer shaft are driven continuously by pulleys and belts from the driving- shaft s.