Improvements in and connected with the Justification of Composed Lines of Type Matrices, Type Bars, Type Dies, or the like, in a Matrix Making or in a Linotype Machine.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPE
CATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Justification of Composed
Lines of Type Matrices, Type Bars, Type Dies, or the like, in a
Matrix Making or in a Linotype Machine.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188 Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Sole Proprietors of, and Manufacturers, Vendors and Licensors under,
the "Linotype" Patents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in and connected with the
justification of composed lines of type matrices, type bars, type dies, or the like,
in a matrix making or in a linotype machine.
It is applicable indifferently to the separable and independent matrices of the
celebrated Mergenthaler Linotype machine, to those also of linotype machines in
which each matrix is carried on the end of a flexible bar, and to all machines
having independent type dies for indenting stereotype matrix strip or sheet.
The body of each type matrix, type bar, type die, or the like, (hereinafter
referred to as a "type") is of any suitable form or configuration with the exception
of two of its opposite sides. These are indented to the extent of their, instead of
being parallel, consisting, each of two declines starting from the top and foot,
respectively, of the type and meeting in a line transverse of the said side, which
line is, preferably, central. When the types are composed into a word, each pair
of declines stands opposite the pair on the next type.
A spacing device consists of two wedges standing one behind the other, both
having their noses pointing in the same direction. Both stand with their noses
in the same plane and their sides in respectively, parallel ones. They are con-
nected by a short web having parallel sides and being, preferably, as long as the
horizontal length of one of the declines on the type. A web starts from the base
of the front wedge and has its opposite end incorporated with the nose of the rear
one.
The mechanisms necessary for composing the types into line and for placing
them in position for justification, as well as for dealing with them afterwards,
may be of any suitable kind. The process of composition above mentioned, includes
the insertion of the necessary spacing or justifying devices into the line, and pro-
ceeds gradually in regular order, composing all the types for a word, and then
a space, and so on to the end of the line.
The composed and spaced but unjustified line of types and spacing devices is
next placed, or then finds itself, (according to the construction of the machine)
between two fixed jaws or abutments standing at a distance apart equal to the
length of the required line of print. It is next justified, that is, the spacing devices
are pushed farther between the words they, respectively adjoin, until the line is
tightly jammed up to and between the said abutments,

page_text: As the length of the web which connects the two wedges is equal to the horizontal
length of a decline, or thereabouts, it is obvious that a front wedge begins to
ride up the front declines (or inclines as they now appear to be) at the moment,
or just about the time, that the rear, wedge begins to force its way between the
tops of the rear declines.
If preferred, the rear wedges may be dispensed with and the front ones relied
on for both spacing and justifying.
Dated this 8th day of December 1896.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in and connected with the Justification of Composed
Lines of Type Matrices, Type Bars, Type Dies, or the like, in a
Matrix Making or in a Linotype Machine.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188 Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Sole Proprietors of, and Sole Manufacturers, Vendors and Licensors under,
the "Linotype" Patents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention-as com-
municated to us by Benjamin L. Fairchild of the City, County and State of New
York, United States of America, and the manner in which the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement;-
The present invention relates to improvements in and connected with the
justification of composed lines of type matrices, type bars, type dies, or the like,
in a matrix making or in a linotype machine, as the case may be.
It is applicable indifferently to the separable and independent matrices of the
celebrated Mergenthaler Linotype machine, to those also of linotype machines in
which each matrix is carried on the end of a flexible bar, and to all machines
having independent type dies for indenting stereotype matrix strip or sheet.
In the Mergenthaler Linotype machine for instance, the matrices are flat plates.
The composed line is spaced out during composition by the insertion of a so-called
"space bar" at the end of each word. The composed line of matrices and space
bars is then shifted to between two abutments which are practically fixed at a
distance apart equal to the length of the printed line. Then comes the operation
supplementary of the spacing viz:-that of justification, the object of which is to
increase the thickness of each space bar enough to make them jointly fill out or
extend the line until its length is equal to the distance above mentioned. The way
in which this filling out or extension is effected, is fully described in the Specifica-
tions of Letters Patent 84571885 and 145821890
The reader is requested to bear in mind that the act of spacing precedes that of
justification, that justification is supplemental to spacing, and that in machines
of the classes enumerated above, it is the custom to incorporate the two functions
of spacing and justification in one and the same device.
Referring to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of this
specification and read therewith,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved type die suitable for indenting
stereotype matrix strip:
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an improved justifier;

page_text: Figure 3 is a sectional plan or a sectional elevation of a composed line of type
dies, spaced by the improved justifiers and held in position in the machine, but
not yet justified by them; and
Figure 4 is a sectional plan or a sectional elevation of the same composed line
justified, and, therefore, ready to indent.
According to the present invention, the body of each type matrix, type bar, type
die, or the like (hereinafter referred to as a "type") is of any suitable form or
configuration with the exception of two of its opposite sides. These are indented
to the extent of their, instead of being parallel, consisting, each, of two
declines 15, 16, starting from the top and the foot, respectively, of the type, and
meeting in a line transverse of each side, which line is, preferably, central. When
the types are composed into a word, each two declines stand opposite the two on the
next type.
An improved justifier consists, preferably, of two wedges 17, 18, standing (in
terms of the direction in which the justifier is moved to effect justification) one
behind the other, the noses of both pointing in the same direction. The two
wedges are in one piece; and stand with their noses in the same plane and their
sides in, respectively parallel ones. They are connected by a short web d¹ having
parallel sides, and being, preferably as long as the horizontal length of one of
the declines on the type. A web d19 starts from the base of the front wedge d
and has its opposite end incorporated with the nose of the rear one 18 20
is part of the stem of the justifier by which it is pushed forward and drawn back.
This stem not being an operative part of the justifier as such, but only a connection
between it and the machine, forms no part of the present invention.
The mechanism necessary for composing the types and improved justifiers into
line and for placing them in position for justification, as well as for dealing with
them afterwards, may be of any suitable kind.
An improved justifier is composed into the line at the end of each word, with an
inclined face of its front wedge 17 fitting up to the adjacent decline d on the
terminal type of that word, that being the one of the two declines on that side of
the type, which is next to the type face d. The nose of the second wedge 18
then stands against the foot of the terminal type. The composition is, proceeded
with until there is not room for another syllable in the line, the initial type of
each subsequent word fitting up to the adjacent side of the justifier in the same way
exactly as the terminal type of the preceding word to the opposite side thereof.
The composed and spaced but unjustified line of types and justifiers is, in due
course, placed or finds itself, (according to the construction of the machine) between
the two abutments 23, already mentioned as fixed at a distance apart equal
to the length of the line to be printed. It stands between them somewhat loosely.
That is to say, although there is not room between the said abutments for another
syllable, the line does not fit tightly between them. The looseness is not consider-
able enough to be indicated in Figure 3. Justification is effected by pushing on the
stems 20 in the direction in which the wedges point, so as to force the front
wedges further between the words of types, and the rear wedges 18 between
their feet d, until the line is elongated to the full distance between the abut-
ments 2, 3, and consequently cramped tightly between them as well.
.
During the act of justification, the inclined faces of the front wedges act
against the declines is on the type, and the rear wedges 18 press equally on the
type on each side of them, as indicated in Figure 4. Consequently, the parallel
relation of the type which is essential to the type faces da¹ standing in the same
plane, is maintained.
If preferred, the rear wedges 18 may be omitted, justification being effected by
the front wedges d¹ only.
d is the reciprocating platen on which is laid the strip or sheet to be indented
by the type faces of the composed line.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
The hereinbefore described combination of type having two declines on each of
two opposite sides and justifiers adapted to act between such type.
Dated this 8th day of Sentember 1897
-
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.