Improvements in Mechanism for Inserting and Distributing Sorts Matrices Used in Linotype Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1896
”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by PHILIP TELL DODGE, of Tribune Building,
Nassau Street, New York City, U.S.A., Engineer.]
Improvements in Mechanism for Inserting and Distributing Sorts
Matrices Used in Linotype Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 6 Serjeants Inn, 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:-
There are now known in the art various machines in which a finger key
mechanism serves to select and assemble temporarily in line type type dies or type
matrices and intervening spaces, for the purpose of producing a line of type
characters in relief, or a line matrix in suitable material from which to cast
type bars or lines.
In this class of machines as ordinarily constructed, the number of characters
represented by the keyboard is necessarily limited. It is frequently desirable to
make use of additional characters or sorts, which are commonly set into the
machine by hand. In the use of the Mergenthaler linotype machine, the
construction of which will be readily understood on reference to Letters Patent
No. 14582 of 1890, it has been the practice to set extra or sorts matrices into the
composed line by hand, allowing them to be operated in the machine in connection
with and in the same manner as the other matrices, after which they were
automatically withdrawn, distributed and all delivered into a common box or
receptacle located near the top of the machine and out of reach of the operator.
This practice necessitated the employment of a large number of extra matrices, or
frequent recourse to the box into which they were discharged and from which they
required to be moved and assorted by hand, preparatory to further use.
Now our invention is intended to overcome this difficulty, by providing for the
automatic return of the sorts matrices to a position in front of the operator and
their alignment or assemblage in such manner that the operator may readily select
those which are required for use and insert them into the line by hand. By thus
providing for the automatic circulation of the sorts matrices and their automatic
return to a point from which they can be instantly selected for use, without
requiring the operator to leave his position, we are able to save much time and
labor, and to greatly. facilitate the production of matter in which unusual
characters are to appear.
.
To this end named, we propose to provide the machine with a distributor or
equivalent mechanism of any suitable form, by which the sorts matrices are
separated from the others and delivered into a tube, conductor or conveyor, by
which they are guided to a position in front of the operator, and automatically
assembled in line.
The sorts matrices are held in a special magazine from which they are
discharged, by means of finger keys, together with suitable spaces, into the
assembling block. From this block, the lines are transferred to the mold or
casting mechanism, from which they are elevated to the top of the machine and
introduced to the distributing mechanism which serves to restore the ordinary
matrices representing characters in the keyboard to the respective channels of the

page_text: magazine, while the extra or sorts matrices are carried entirely across the top of
the machine, and all delivered at the extreme end.
All of the foregoing parts may be constructed' and arranged to operate in the
manner described in the Mergenthaler Patent above referred to. In applying the
present improvement, we provide a tube or equivalent guide and fix the same in
position on the frame of the machine, ranging its upper end in position to receive
the sorts matrices as they are delivered, one after another, from the distributor,
and extending its lower end downward, forward and to the left in an inclined
position in front of the operator. The only requirement in this regard is that the
lower end in which the sorts matrices are received and retained should be in
suitable relation to the keyboard of the machine to admit of the operator in his
ordinary position, readily inspecting the-sorts matrices, so that he may select
those bearing the required characters and insert them into the assembling block
or into the composing mechanism for delivering them to the said block. The
lower end of the tube is given such inclination and made of such form internally
that the second matrices will slide downward and range themselves side by side in
a line.
It may be varied in form and details of construction at will, provided only it is
adapted to assemble the matrices in a line and permit of their ready inspection and
removal by the operator. The matrices are made of the same form as those
commonly used in the Mergenthaler machine. The matrix proper is in one edge
and the corresponding character in the opposite edge where it will be exposed to
the view of the operator to guide him in selecting the required matrices. We
commonly make the lower end of the tube of froth like form in cross section and
with longitudinal ribs or shoulders along its side to receive the sustaining shoulders
at the upper ends of the matrices, so that as the latter slide downward side by
side, they are prevented from tipping or falling over it, i.e., are caused to stand up
side by side. As the descending matrices encounter the lower end of the received,
their motion is slightly checked at the instant that they begin to travel sidewise.
It is this fact that causes their upper ends or ears to override the sustaining
shoulders.
In order to admit of the required matrices being lifted out of the line at any
point in its length the sustaining shoulders should be adapted to yield in order that
the lower shoulders of the matrices may pass them. This may be accomplished in
any suitable manner. Thus the shoulders may be formed by the upper edges of
spring plate secured at their lower edges by a rivet or otherwise, thus allowing
the matrices to be drawn out at the top. Any other yielding or sustaining
device may be employed. The spring plate is provided with a longitudinal slot
or opening through which the characters on the matrices are exposed to view.
While it is preferred to have the magazine deliver the sorts matrices at the rear
or right hand side, it is obvious that they may deliver them at the front or left
hand side, in which case the tube will be brought downward from the receiving
point and turned to the right instead of the left. The sorts matrices may, if
preferred, be discharged at any other point after leaving the casting mechanism,
the only requirement being that the sorts matrices, which are distinguished from
the others by their special arrangement of distributor teeth at the top, or other-
wise, should be delivered to the guide, or its equivalent, assembling them in front
of the operator.
While we have described our invention as applied to machines for setting up
matrices or female type characters, it is understood that it is applicable in like
manner to machines for setting up type dies or male type for producing matrix
impressions in papier maché or other material.
Dated this 28th day of May 1895.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Mechanism for Inserting and Distributing Sorts
Matrices Used in Linotype Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED late of No. 6 Serjeants Inn, Fleet.
Street, but now 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 and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
There are
now known in the art various machines in which a finger key
mechanism serves to select and assemble temporarily in line, type dies or type
matrices and intervening spaces, for the purpose of producing a line of type
characters in relief, or a line matrix in suitable material from which to cast
type bars or lines.
In this class of machines as ordinarily constructed, the number of characters.
represented by the keyboard is necessarily limited. It is frequently desirable to
make use of additional characters of "sorts," which are commonly set into the
machine by hand. In the use of the Mergenthaler linotype machine, the
construction of which will be readily understood on reference to the Specification.
of Letters Patent No. 14582 of 1890, it has been the practice to set extra or
"sorts" matrices into the composed line by hand, allowing them to be operated in
the machine in connection with and in the same manner as the other niatrices,
after which they were automatically withdrawn, distributed and all delivered into
a common box or receptacle located near the top of the machine and out of reach
of the operator. This practice necessitated the employment of a large number of
extra matrices, or frequent recourse to the box into which they were discharged
and from which they required to be moved and assorted by hand, preparatory to
further use.
Now our invention is intended to overcome the drawbacks incidental to the
practice above described, by providing for the automatic return of the sorts
matrices to a position in front of the operator and their alignment or assemblage
in such manner that the operator may readily select those which are required for
use and insert them into the line by hand. By thus providing for the automatie
circulation of the sorts matrices and their automatic return to a point from which
they can be instantly selected for use, without requiring the operator to leave his
position, we are able to save much time and labour, and to greatly facilitate the
production of matter in which unusual characters are to appear.
To this end named, we propose to provide the machine with a distributor or
equivalent mechanism of any suitable form, by which the sorts matrices are
separated from the others and delivered into a tube, conductor or conveyor, by
which they are guided to a position in front of the operator, and automatically
assembled in line.
The ordinary matrices are held in a special magazine from which they are
discharged by means of finger keys, together with suitable space bars, into the
assembling block. From this block, the lines are transferred to the mould or
casting mechanism, from which they are elevated to the top of the machine and
introduced to the distributing mechanism which serves to restore the ordinary
matrices representing characters on the keyboard, to the respective channels of
the magazine, while the extra or sorts matrices are carried entirely across the top
of the machine, and all delivered at the extreme end.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the above mentioned Mergenthaler linotype
machine provided with the present invention.
Figure 2 is an end elevation corresponding therewith.

page_text: Figure 3 is a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the sorts receiver.
Figure 4 is a transverse section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the sorts matrices.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the front spring plate.
Referring to the drawings:-
B is the magazine in which the assorted matrices Y are contained, and from
which they are discharged by finger keys D together with suitable space bars into
the assembling block I. From this block, a composed line of matrices and space
bars is transferred by a pair of arms L, L', through a stationary guide block M to
a vertically moveable yoke N by which the said line is first lowered to stand in
front of the mould wheel O, and then lifted to within reach of the distributing
mechanism at the top of the machine, by which the matrices and space bars are
returned, the former to their respective channels in the magazine B and the latter
to their receptacle K. While the line is being held in front of the mould
wheel O, a pump is caused to inject a supply of molten type metal into the mould,
so producing a linotype or printing bar bearing on its edge all the characters in the
line of matrices.
All the foregoing parts may be constructed and arranged to operate in the
manner described in the Specification of the Mergenthaler linotype machine
above referred to.
In carrying the present invention into effect, there is provided a tube F or
equivalent guide. It is fixed to the frame of the machine, so as to range its upper
end in position to receive the sorts matrices as they are delivered from the
distributor, and also to extend its lower end downwards, forwards, and to the left.
The only requirement in this regard is that the receiver in which the sorts matrices
are received and retained, should be in suitable relation to the key board of the
machine, to admit of the operator in his ordinary position, readily inspecting
them, so that he may select those bearing the required characters and insert them
in the assembling block 1. F¹ is the receiver above mentioned. It is a con-
tinuation of the tube F and has such inclination and form internally, that the
descending sorts matrices will slide downwards and range themselves, side by side,
in a line, as represented in Figures 3 and 5. It may be varied in form and details
of construction at will, provided only it is adapted to assemble the matrices in a
line and to permit of their ready inspection and removal by the operator. The
matrices are of the same form as those commonly used in the Mergenthaler
machine and are so represented in Figure 6 with the matrix proper y in the rear
edge, the shoulders y, the distinctive arrangement of distributing teeth 2 and
the index character y in the front edge where it is exposed to the eye of the
operator through a slot hereafter more particularly described, to guide him in
selecting the required matrices. The receiver F1 is commonly made of trough-
like form in cross section and with longitudinal ribs or shoulders f, f, along its
side for the sustaining shoulders y' at the top corners of the matrices to rest on
so as to prevent them from tipping over as they slide down it. In other words,
these ribs compel the matrices to stand up side by side. As the descending
matrices encounter the end of the receiver F1, their motion is slightly checked at
the moment they begin to travel laterally. It is this fact that causes their upper
ends to engage on the sustaining shoulders f, f.
To admit of the required matrices being lifted out of the receiver F at any
point in its length, the shoulders f, 1, should be adapted to yield, in order that
the lower shoulders of the matrices may pass them. This may be accomplished
in any suitable manner. Reference to Figure 4 shews that the shoulders in
question are formed by the upper edges of spring plates secured at their lower
edges by rivets f¹, f', or otherwise. Any other equivalent device for providing
for the above mentioned lifting out of the matrices, may be made use of.
f is a longitudinal slot in the front spring plate, behind a second slot f'in the
front of the receiver F¹.

page_text: While it is preferred that the distributor should deliver the sorts matrices on
the right of the operator, it is obvious that this delivery may be made on the left
hand. In the latter case, the tube F and the receiver F will occupy the position
indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1.
The sorts matrices may, if preferred, be discharged at any other point after
leaving the casting mechanism, the only requirement being that they should be
delivered to the tube, or its equivalent, provided to conduct them to the
receiver F¹. Further, they are distinguished from all the other matrices of the
machine equipment, by a distinctive arrangement of distributing teeth.
The invention has been described above as applied to machines for composing
matrices. It is, however, to be distinctly understood that it is applicable in the
same manner to machines for composing dies adapted to indent papier mache or
other soft material. For that reason, the word "type" in the following claims is
used in a generic sense as including both matrices and dies.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
--
"
1. The combination with type composing and distributing mechanism operated
by means of finger keys and adapted to permit the insertion of extra or "sorts
type in the line in course of composition and the subsequent distribution of such
type to a common receptacle, of means for automatically assembling such type in
line, after distribution, in a position adjacent to the keyboard and so as to be
visible to and easily removable by the operator for the purposes described.
"sorts
2. The combination with type composing and distributing mechanism as afore-
said of a tube adapted to receive the extra or
type from the distributor
and to deliver them to the receiver, and a receiver located adjacent to the keyboard
and adapted to receive the said type from the tube and to present them assembled
in line in front of and visible to the operator, and within his reach, substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a type composing and distributing machine as aforesaid a receiver for
sorts type provided with spring shoulders as and for the purposes
extra or
described.
"
4. In a type composing and distributing machine as aforesaid the combination
of a receiver trough having a longitudinal slot on the side facing the operator and
type having index characters formed in their front edges as and for the purposes
described.
Dated this 28th day of February 1896.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.