Improvements in the Wiper Mechanism of Linotype Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 24th Jan., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Wiper Mechanism of Linotype Machines.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LOCK, Manager and Secretary of The Linotype Company,
Limited, PHILIP CHARLES LAWLESS, Engineer, both of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, and ROBERT CHAMBERS, of No. 25, Barrett Street, Bury, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in the wiper mechanism of
linotype machines. It is more particularly applicable to the Mergenthaler linotype
machine, for which it has been developed.
In that machine, the line of matrices and space bars is composed in a part of the
machine known as an assembling block. This latter is raised vertically through a
definite aud fixed distance and the line is taken from it by the shifter, whereupon
the block is returned to the composing position. The mould in which the linotype
is cast, is a slot in a wheel. The trimming mechanism consists of a pair of parallel
and vertical knives. At a time when the mould is opposite to the space between
the knives, the ejecting mechanism pushes the linotype through that space, the
two knives trimming the sides of it as it is pushed through. It is necessary to
wipe the face of the mould and both the knives after each cast and act of trimming,
and to do so, a special wiper was provided. This was carried by the assembling
block above described, to which it was connected rigidly, and, for that reason its
travel was always of the same length as the travel of the block. So long as the
length of the mould did not exceed the length of that travel, the latter sufficed to
work the wiper. But subsequent developments of the manufacture of the machine,
have reached a length of linotype in excess of the length of the travel of the
assembling block, so that it bas now become necessary to devise a means for
extending the motion of the wiper beyond the travel of the assembling block.
The present invention consists in the combination with the assembling block on
the one hand and the wiper on the other, of a mechanism capable of increasing the
distance which the wiper is moved pro rata with the travel of the assembling block,
and with that capacity for increasing the said distance, there is advantageously
combined a provision for that motion being vertical.
The mechanisms which we prefer are of either the parallel motion or the lazy
tongs type.
According to a parallel motion modification, the wiper is carried on the end of a
lever which has its fulcrum upon a stud fast on the machine frame on the opposite
side of the assembling block. This stud stands in a slot in the lever lengthwise of
it. A short link is pivotted by one end on the bottom of the assembling block.
That pivot may be slotted. It is pivotted by the other end to the lever at a point
intermediate of its two ends but, preferably, nearer to the slotted end than to the
wiper end. To the last mentioned point, or near it on the said lever, there is
pivotted a second link or radius arm, the opposite end of which is pivotted on the
machine frame at a point between the assembling block and the wiper. The last
mentioned pivot may be replaced by a stud and slot device, The wiper is,

page_text: At the end of the upward travel of the block I, the said line is taken out of the
block I by an organ known as the shifter (not included in the figures), whereupon
the block I is returned to the composing position-the one illustrated in
Figure 1.
The mould in which the linotypes are cast one after the other, is a slot or mould
cavity o in a mould block o fast to a so-called mould wheel O. The trimming
mechanism consists of a pair of parallel and vertical knives N5, No. At a time
when the mould cavity o with the freshly cast linotype in it, is opposite to the
space between the two knives, that being the position illustrated, the ejecting
mechanism pushes the linotype through that space, the two knives N5, No, trimming
it on the respeceive sides as it is being so pushed through.
It is necessary to wipe the front face of the mould block on and both the
knives N, No, after each cast and act of trimming; and to do so, there has been
used a special wiper which was carried by the block 1. As it was connected rigidly
to that block, its motion was always of the same length as the travel of the said
block. So long as the length of the mould cavity o did not exceed the length of
that travel, the latter sufficed to work the wiper. But machines are now made to
make linotypes larger than the travel of the block I, so that it has become necessary
to devise a means for making the wiper travel for a longer distance than that
block.
The present invention consists in the combination with the assembling block I
on the one hand and the wiper on the other, of a mechanism capable of increasing
the distance which that wiper is moved in proportion to the travel of the said
assembling block. There is preferably combined there with, a device for making
the motion of the wiper vertical.
There are two types of mechanisms which we prefer to make use of-the parallel
motion or the lazy tongs type.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the application of a mechanism of the parallel motion
type. g3 is the wiper. It should be explained here that, as far as the present
invention is concerned, the wiper may be of any convenient or suitable construction.
The two figures under description shew that wiper as consisting of a slotted pad of
felt or equivalent soft material. This is, preferably held on a carrying and stiffening
plate g¹ by the engagement of the serrated top and bottom edges of the latter in the
respective edges of the slot in the pad g³. The wiper plate is connected to the
end of a lever g³ by a pivot gls. When such a plate is used, that connection is
through it. The lever 75 has its fulcrum in a stud g held fast by any suitable
means, such as a depending bar g', to the machine frame A on the opposite side of
the assembling block I to the wiper. The stud 70 projects through a slot g³
standing lengthwise of the said lever and extending for a suitable distance from the
respective end of it. The slot gs may be replaced by a link of a suitable length
pivotted by one end of the stud go and by its opposite end to the respective end of
the lever g³.
The connection between the assembling block I and the lever 95 is by means of a
link device which is variable in detail as explained further on. The figures show
this device as consisting of a pair of parallel links 90, 99, and a triangular plate glo,
the links being pivotted by their top ends to the assembling block I by pivots gl, g",
and by their bottom ends to the top of the plate g10 by pivots g12, 12, the plate glo
being pivotted by its opposite end to the lever gs by the pivot 913. The two
links gº, 9º, and their respective pivotal connections gl, gl, g12, 12, with the block I
and the plate g10, are symmetrical with reference to the position of the pivot g¹³.
The latter is shewn as halfway between the two ends of the lever g³, but its position
between those ends, may be varied. g is a link or radius arm. One end of it is
pivotted by the pivot g13 to the lever g5 and the other on a pivot 915 situated between
the block I and the wiper, and illustrated as carried by an arm g¹ fast to and
projecting suitably from the machine frame A.
An examination of the construction just described shows that the axis of the
pivot g18 is the only point within the length of the lever g³ to travel in a truly

page_text: 2. The combination of wiper; assembling block; and parallel motion mechanisin
capable of moving the wiper over the trimming knives and the face of the mould
block for a longer distance than the travel of the assembling block; as set
forth.
3. The combination of wiper; assembling block; and mechanism capable of
moving the wiper over the trimming knives and the face of the mould block for
a longer distance than the travel of the assembling block, and at the same time
parallel with it; as set forth.
4. The hereinbefore described combination of wiper; assembling block; lever
having slotted end or its equivalent; fulcrum for it fast to or on the machine
frame; link device connecting the said lever to the assembling block; and radius
arm.
5. The herein before described combination of wiper; assembling block; lever
having slotted end or its equivalent; fulcrum for it fast to or on the machine
frame;
link device connecting the said lever to the assembling block; radius arm;
and link from the said link device to the wiper plate..
6. The combination of wiper; assembling block; and lazy tongs mechanism
capable of moving the wiper over the trimming knives and the face of the mould
block for a longer distance than the travel of the assembling block; as set
fortb.
7. The combination of wiper; assembling block; lazy tongs fast by its top end
to the wiper, by its bottom end to a fixed point, and connected to the said block at
an intermediate point; and an arm adapted to effect such connection; as set
forth.
8. The combination of wiper; assembling block; lazy tongs fast by its top
end to the wiper, by its bottom end to a fixed point, and connected to the said
block at an intermediate point; an arm adapted to effect such connection; a
vertical guide bar for the wiper; and a clip fast to the latter to engage the said
guide bar, as set forth.
1000
CHAS. S. WOODROFFE,
188, Fleet Street, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.