Improvements in and relating to Machines for Producing Type Surfaces for Letter Press Printing.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Producing Type
Surfaces for Letter Press Printing.
A communication from abroad by PHILIP TELL DODGE, of Washington, D.C.,
United States of America, Attorney.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Man-
chester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer 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:-
This invention relates more particularly to what are now known in the art as
Linotype Machines, in which a series of matrices representing individual
characters and suitable spaces are arranged temporarily across the open front of a
mould in order to produce the type characters in relief on the bar or linotype cast
in the mould, as shown, for example, in English Letters Patent dated Sep-
tember 16, 1890, No. 14582.
As the machines are now constructed, they cast at each operation a single bar or
linotype. In practice, it is frequently desirable, particularly in offices where the
linotypes are used directly upon the press, to cast them in duplicate, and it is the
aim of this invention to adapt the machine to produce at one operation bars in
duplicate or triplicate. To this end cach of the matrices is provided with two or
more characters or matrices proper, and the mould with a corresponding number of
mould cells so that when a matrice is presented to the mould, its several characters
will stand in front of the respective mould cells, thus allowing two or more linotypes
to be cast at one time in the distinct mould cells against the one series of
matrices.
In the drawings the improvements are represented as applicable to what are
commonly known as the Mergenthaler machines. As the only channels required
are in the matrices, the mould and the ejector, the drawings are limited thereto.
In all other respects the machine may be constructed and operated in precisely the
same manner as that represented in the aforesaid English Patent.
In the accompanying drawings
:-
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the improved matrix with the duplicate
characters therein.
Figure 2 is a vertical section through the mould wheel with the matrices pre-
sented thereto.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section through one edge of the mould wheel, showing
the duplicate ejector in the act of removing the linotypes.
Figure 4 is a face view of the mould wheel.
Figure 5 is a cross section of the mouth of the melting pot and the adjacent
mould showing the means for casting one bar at a time when demanded.
Figure 6 is a side view of a type having duplicate cameo characters instead of
intaglio or matrix characters shown in the other figures.
In order that the operation of the parts may be the more readily understood, the
same letters are given to them in the drawings by which they are designated in the
English Patent aforesaid.
represents one of the matrices consisting of a flat metal sheet shouldered at its
This matrix is identical
edges and provided in the top with distributing teeth y².
in all respects with those shown in the English Patent referred to, except that
instead of being provided with the single character or matrix y in one edge it is
provided in the same edge with a duplicate character or matrix. This matrix with

page_text: the ordinary spaces will be assembled side by side in line and presented to the
mould as in the Patent aforesaid.
O represents the mould in the form of a disc or wheel. Instead of having a
single mould cell or slot o, therethrough as in the Patent before mentioned, it is now
provided with a duplicate cell o¹. These two cells or moulds lie parallel with each
other and in such position that when the matrices are presented to the mould,
as shown in Figure 5, the upper characters will align with the others as plainly
represented in Figure 2.
V represents the melting pot in which a constant supply of molten metal is
maintained. The pot is provided with forcing mechanism such as a pump v¹ and
with a delivery mouth which is adapted to close against the rear side of the
mould wheel so as to cover and close both cells. There is a delivery opening from
the pot into each of the two cells independently. When, therefore, the pump is
actuated, the molten metal will be delivered into two cells or moulds and two bars
or linotypes formed simultaneously, one having its type characters formed by the
lower characters of the matrices.
After the casting operation, the mould is moved to carry the cells and bars away
from the matrices and melting pot, and the delivery of the linotypes is then effected
by a reciprocating ejector X, which may be constructed and operated in the same
manner as that in the above mentioned Patent, except that its forward end instead
of being in the form of a single blade is divided into two blades adapted to enter
the respective moulds in order to remove the two linotypes simultaneously, as shown
in Figure 3.
While the improvement is described as applied to a machine of the Mergenthaler
type it is to be distinctly understood that it includes any construction in which the
matrices are each provided with two or more characters adapted to co-operate with
two or more moulds, or with equivalent means by which the two characters are
made available at one time to produce distinct characters or impressions.
It will be obvious to the skilled mechanic that the form of the matrices and the
construction and arrangement of the composing, clamping, casting and distributing
mechanism are all foreign to the substance of the invention, except as to the
particulars above recited, and that they may be varied in construction and operation
at will, provided only the matrices with duplicate characters thereon are adapted to
answer the purposes described.
While this invention is intended more particularly for use with matrices it is to
be understood that it may also be applied with types or dies having the letters or
characters in relief thereon, as shown in Figure 6. Dies of this character may be
set up in line and used to impress at one operation two matrix lines in papier maché
or equivalent material.
In some cases it may be desired to print the same matter in type of different
styles or of different sizes, or as it is technically termed, with different faces. In
such cases, the two characters on the one matrix or type body, may be different
from each other in form or size so that although the resulting linotype will bear the
same letters, or, in other words, be adapted to print the same matter, they will
differ in their style or appearance.
The generic term 'type' is used as including both the matrices with intaglio
characters and the dies with cameo characters, and the claims are to be read with
this understanding.
As it will in some cases be desirable to use the machine adapted for casting two
bars at a time, to cast a single bar at a time, it is proposed to provide for closing
one of the delivery mouths of the melting-pot at will. This may be accomplished,
as shown in cross-section in Figure 5, by introducing a filling piece, v into one of
the delivery mouths so as to completely fill and close the same. When this piece
is applied, the delivery of metal to one of the mould cells will be prevented,
although its delivery to the other cell for the production of a single bar will
continue as before.
It is obvious that the same could be obtained by filling one of the mould cells

page_text: with a metal plate, but this is not considered advisable under ordinary circum-
stances, as there would be danger of leakage from the unused mouth of the pot.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
1. A type, having in one face two duplicate characters disassociated or separated
from each other that they may be independently used.
2. A type matrix, having in one edge, two or more impressions or matrices
proper of the same letter or character.
3. In combination with a line of matrices, each having two characters, a casting
mechanism having two cells or moulds to align with the respective characters,
substantially as described.
4. A series of matrices, each having two characters or matrices on one edge, in
combination with a mould having two cells to align with the respective characters
and means for supplying the two cells with molten metal.
5. The mould having two cells, in combination with the matrices, having each
two characters, and the melting-pot provided with the two delivery mouths.
6. In a linotype machine, and in combination with two mould cells, a mechanism
provided with two mouths for delivering metal to said cells, and means for closing
one of said mouths at will; whereby the casting of a single bar at a time
is secured.
Dated this 6th day of April 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.