Patent GB-191311870-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Typographic Composing and Casting Machines.
Inventor: DRUITT PERCY WALTER
IPC: B41B7/16
Filed: 1913-05-21
Granted: 1914-06-23
Abstract: 11,870. Druitt, P. W., and Gilpin, W. R. May 21. Single-type composing and casting machines; matrices; magazines; assembling and distributing matrices.-Relates to machines of the kind described in Specifications 1903/00, 15,468/06, and 25,664/10 in which matrices are assembled in line and a justified line of separate types is cast from them. (1) Matrices of uniform thickness are employed irrespective of the set-values of the characters represented by them. The magazines are formed with parallel slots of uniform width and pitch, the pitch being that of the key-levers. (2) The assembled line of matrices is transferred to an intermediate or waiting position while the previous line is being cast, so that the operations of the casting- shaft may be practically continuous. The matrices are assembled in a vertically-movable assembly-box 42, Fig. 11, which is raised by means of a hand-lever to place the line between a transfer-finger 45 and a supporting-abutment 46. The line is moved by the finger 45 into the waiting position 51, where it remains until the separation and casting of the previous line 52 are completed. A second transfer-finger 53 then moves the waiting line into the separating position. During the second transfer, the line is supported at the front end by the finger 46, which is afterwards raised and permitted to return to normal position. The raising of the assembler starts a cam shaft which operates the transfer-finger 45. This shaft automatically starts a second cam shaft which operates the finger 53 and, in turn, starts the cast-ing-shaft. While the casting-shaft is in operation, the transfer of the waiting line is delayed until the casting of the previous line is completed. The stoppage of the casting-shaft by a jammed matrix or similar cause is prevented from causing the transfer of the waiting line. (3) Means are provided for raising small quantities of matrices to the distributor at regular intervals, independently of the length of the line. For this purpose, the elevator, which slides on a rectangular guide-bar, is raised by an endless chain and a cam geared to the casting-shaft. The re-assembly plunger is normally prevented by a stop from making its full stroke and delivers the matrices one by one to a race-way adjacent to the elevator. When the elevator descends, the stop is removed so that the reassembly plunger makes a full stroke and delivers the matrices to the elevator. Means are provided for stopping the casting-shaft should the elevator jam in either the upper or the lower position. (4) A single horizontal reciprocating bar is employed to stop the casting-shaft in the event of improper action of parts of the mechanism, such as the separation plunger, the type-pusher, and the elevator. Justifying type.-Justification is effected by means of a units-recording mechanism operated by the keys, and a proportional divider is employed to divide the shortage of the line by the number of spaces, and to adjust the mould to cast spaces of the proper size to justify the line. The key-rods 2, Fig. 8, which release the matrices, have lugs 5, 6 which act through levers 7, 8, bails 14, and power mechanism 18 on the measuring stops 16 of a known type of units-counting mechanism. The levers 7, 8 correspond to two magazines which may contain matrices of different set-value, the proper set of levers being brought into use by means connected with the magazine-changing device. The levers have variable pivots so that the setvalue of any key may be changed. The proportional divider consists of a series of verticallymovable inclined plates or wedges 19, Fig. 5, one of which is selected by the space-counting mechanism and is raised by a frame 20. One of a series of horizontally-sliding plates 26 is thereby moved into contact with the end of the units-rack 17. The plates 26 may be pressed towards the plates 19 by separate springs the strength of which is proportional to the angles of the plates 19, but they are preferably secured together in groups operated by springs of different strength. The mould is adjusted to cast the spaces by a wedge, as described in Specification 25,664/10, which is locked in its adjusted position during the casting of a line. The movement of the slide 20 is transferred to the wedge by a lever which is locked after being set, so as to record the justification of the waiting line. The slide 20 then returns to zero in readiness to justify a new line. When the casting of a line is completed, the wedge is moved into contact with the locked lever so as to receive the setting for the following line. Galley mechanism.-This mechanism, which is identical with that described in Specification 13,938/14, comprises (1) means for conveying the assembled line to the galley and (2) means for delivering the line into the galley. (1) The types are delivered from the mould 164, Fig. 22, to a raceway 165 by a pusher 167 under a spring-pressed clamp 166, the advance of the types being resisted by a frictionallyheld abutment 169. The completed line is moved opposite to the galley by hooked fingers 153 pivoted to a sliding carriage 172. After the line has entered the galley, the abutment 169 is returned to initial position by a slide 154, Fig. 23, operated by a lever and a cam. The slide is then partly retracted to permit the abutment to be advanced by the types of the next line. The hooked fingers 153 are operated by pins 154<b>, 154<c> on the slide 154, which engage an arm 178 pivoted on the carriage 172. (2) The line rests upon a sliding floor which is retracted to permit the line to enter the galley, its descent being aided by a spring-pressed pusher. The type is supported in the galley by a block 182 which is automatically lowered by a screw 185 and ratchet mechanism as each line enters the galley. Means are provided for varying the amount by which the block 182 descends.