Improvements in the Star Wheels of the Linotype and analogous Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left 2nd Mar 1:07 Accented 3rd Ane
1907
Date of Application, 14th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left 2nd Mar 1:07 Accepted, 3rd Apr, 1907
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Star Wheels of the Linotype and analogous
Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, Sole Proprietors of, and
Manufacturers, Vendors and Licensors under, the "Linotype" Patents, and
JOHN PLACE, Engineer, both of No. 188 Fleet Street, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in the star wheels of the linotype
and analogous machines.
In the Mergenthaler linotype machine described in the Specification of Letters
Patent 14582 1800, one organ of the mechanism for delivering the selected
matrices into the assembling block, is a rotary wheel of a polygonal form. The
matrices slide down an incline, one after the other, on to the sides of the wheel
and are at once up-ended on to their feet by its angles. In machines of more recent
manufacture, the polygonal form above mentioned has been replaced by one having
the outline somewhat of a four pointed star. The matrices are of brass and the
up-ending must be done quickly. A quick blow is therefore necessary. But if
the material of the wheel is hard, a quick blow from it damages the matrix
especially near the margins of its side face. A softer material than brass, has
hitherto been made use of. This has given satisfactory results as far as up-ending
the matrices without damaging them, but it has not been hard enough to bear the
wear which the hard material of the matrices has subjected its projections to.
The object of the present invention is to produce a wheel hard enough to up-
end the matrices without being prematurely incapacitated by them, and soft enough
to strike the margins of their side face without injuring them.
It consists, therefore, in the combination in the stars or teeth of the star wheel
of a linotype or analogous machine, of two materials presenting the same striking
surface as at present in use. These two materials differ from each other in respect
of natural hardness. One of them is hard enough to up-end the matrices without
being prematurely worn down by them. The other is soft enough to up-end them
without denting them. The softer material occupies the outsides of the stars or
teeth, in order that the margins of the side faces of the matrices may be struck
only by it. The harder material is intermediate between the softer outsides of the
wheel, in order that the real work of up-ending may be done upon the central
portions of the side faces of the matrices, where denting does not amount to
damage practically.
The surfaces of the two materials are finished off flush with each other, the
central hard one supporting or rather ensuring the permanence of the two outside
and softer surfaces.
One method of carrying the invention into effect consists in letting metal studs
radially into the teeth of the star wheel made as it is the present practice
to make them, and finishing their outer ends off flush with the ends of the teeth.
But the method by which the incorporation of the two materials is effected may
be varied to any extent.
Dated this 14th day of May 1896
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Star Wheels of the Linotype and analogous
Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, Sole Proprietors of, and Sole
Manufacturers, Vendors and Licensors under, the "Linotype Patents, and
JOHN PLACE, Engineer, both of No. 188 Fleet Street, in the City of London, 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 :-
The present invention relates to improvements in the star wheels of the linotype
and analogous machines.
The machine herein referred to as "the linotype machine" is the Mergenthaler
linotype machine described in the Specification of Letters Patent 14582 1890
The present invention is applicable to all linotype machines in which the selected
matrices are assembled or composed in a row one by one, as they come down from
the selecting mechanism. It has been conceived and developed with special
reference to the Mergenthaler linotype machine above mentioned; and for that
reason as well as because that machine is the only one in practical use in this
country, its application thereto has been selected for illustration and detailed
description.
In that machine, the matrices are separate metal plates not connected with each
other nor permanently so with any organ of the machine. They are released from
their respective magazine tubes by the selecting mechanism, and are delivered in
an oblique stream, bottom edge on, into the place of assemblage. The latter is
a horizontal slot in a piece known as the "assembling block." The matrices are
required to assume vertical positions in this block, side by side and close together.
The necessary change of position from oblique to vertical, is effected by a
triangular wheel. This is mounted upon a horizontal axis standing transversely
of the oblique path of the matrices and revolving in the vertical plane. The axis
is below the said path and occupies such a position that, at one moment, a part of
the periphery of the wheel is, practically, part of the path; and at the next (a
matrix having come down upon it in the interim,) it is turning up into the vertical
position, such change of position sufficing to up-end each matrix in turn, that is,
making it change its oblique position into the vertical one above mentioned.
In the Mergenthaler linotype machines of more recent manufacture than 1890,
the triangular wheel above described, has been replaced by one having the outline
of a four pointed star with concave peripheral surfaces between the teeth.
The matrices are brass and the up-ending above described must be done quickly.
A quick blow on each is, therefore, necessary. But if the material of the wheel
is hard, a quick blow from it damages the matrix, especially near the margins of
its side face. A softer material than brass, has been hitherto been made use of.
This has given satisfactory results as far as up-ending the matrices without
damaging them, but it has not been hard enough to bear the wear which the hard
material of the matrices has subjected its teeth to.
The object of the present invention is to produce a wheel hard enough to up-end
the matrices without being prematurely incapacitated by them, and soft enough to
strike the side margins of their side faces without injuring them.
The invention itself consists in the combination in the teeth of the up-ending
wheel of a linotype or analogous machine, of two materials standing flush with
each other in the striking surfaces of the teeth. These two materials differ from
each other in respect of natural hardness. One of them is hard enough to up-end

page_text: the matrices without being prematurely worn down by them. The other is soft
enough to up-end them without denting them. In actual work, the hard material
supports, or rather ensures the permanence of, the peripheries of soft material.
The matrix of a Mergenthaler linotype machine has two side margins both of
which it is desirable to protect from injury. For that reason in a star wheel inade
according to the present invention for that machine, the softer material stands on
the outside right and left of the harder one, in order that the margins of the side
faces of the matrices may be struck only by it. The harder material is inter-
mediate between the softer outsides of the wheel, in order that the real work of
up-ending may be done upon the central portions of the side faces of the inatrices,
where denting does not amount to damage practically.
We have chosen one of the four pointed star wheels above referred_t for
illustration rather than the triangular wheel of the Specification of Letters
Patent 14582, because the former is superseding the latter. The accompanying
figures are to be taken as part of this specification and read therewith.
Figure 1 is (looking at it from the operator's point of view) a front elevation of
one modification of the present invention made as a four pointed star wheel having
concave peripheral surfaces between the teeth.
Figure 2 is a side elevation corresponding with Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken along the same line but shewing
the different portions of the modification detached from each other.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the same wheel.
Figure 6 is, in the same way as Figure 1, a front elevation of another modifica-
tion of the invention.
Figure 7 is a side elevation corresponding with Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the same wheel.
The modification illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, is characterised by its being built
up of three portions-two outside portions a, a', and one intermediate one, b. That
number may be exceeded, but there may not be less than three-the intermediate
portion and the two outside portions. This appellative "intermediate portion" is
to be understood as including one built up after the manner of the wheel itself, of
several portions of alternately hard and soft material.
Each portion a, a', b. is shewn as being of the same material throughout and it is
so as a matter of convenience, but not of necessity, for the reason that it is only the
nature of the materials of the striking surfaces, in respect of hardness or softness
that the present invention is concerned with. Provided that its requirements in
that respect, are met, the material between the periphery and the axis may be of
any suitable kind.
All the portions in a wheel are counterparts of each other as to cross-section but
they may differ from each other in thickness, excepting that the thickness of an
outside portion, a or a¹, may not be less than the width of the respective side
margin referred to above as the part of the matrix which it is the object of the
present invention to prevent being injured when it is struck.
One means by which several portions constituting, by their aggregation, a
built-up wheel, may be held together, consists of a sleeve a incorporate with the
portion a', projecting from it at right angles with it, having a bore adapted to fit
the axle of the wheel and a length equal to the joint thickness of all the other
portions; a central hole a in each of the latter to fit over the sleeve a³, and
holding screws a passed through them at suitable distances apart and parallel with
the axis of the wheel. Any other suitable means for holding several portions
together, may be adopted.
The peripheral surface of the wheel is finished off smooth and true, the surface
of the soft material being flush with that of the hard material.
The modification illustrated in Figures 6 to 9, is characterised by the hard
material being inserted in the soft material. The whole mass c of the wheel

page_text: consists of soft material with the exception of the intermediate portions of the
teeth.
One means by which intermediate portions of hard material may be incorporated
with the wheel, consists in letting metal studs d radially into the teeth or casting
them therein, and finishing the heads of such studs off flush with the said peripheries.
The studs are not necessarily round in cross section. They may be rectangular for
instance, being even nearly or quite as wide as the peripheries of the teeth and may
extend as far in the direction of the central hole a³ as may be desired. There may
be as many studs between the two soft-material outside portions of the wheel as
may be desired. The appellative "stud" is to be understood as including tube.
Any other method of incorporating an intermediate portion of hard material with
the mass c of the wheel may be made use of.
Further, the invention includes the combination on the same lines as above set
forth, of one outside portion of soft material with a second one of hard material io
cases where it is for any reason necessary to protect both edges of the matrix from
wear.
What shall be the particular substances to serve as the hard and soft materials
respectively, may be settled according to the conveniences of any particular case.
We prefer red vulcanite for the soft material and hard brass for the hard one.
The difference between these two well known substances in respect of softness or
hardness, is a fair index of the difference which will yield the most satisfactory
results, as well as one of a pair of substances eminently suitable to serve as the
hard and soft materials of an improved star wheel.
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 herein before described combination in the matrix up-ending wheel of a
linotype or analogous machine, of hard and soft materials in the periphery of it.
2. The herein before described combination in the matrix up-ending wheel of a
linotype or analogous machine, of two outer portions of soft material and an
intermediate one of hard material.
3. The combination in the matrix up-ending wheel of a linotype or analogous
machine of two outer portions of soft material adapted to up-end the matrices
without indenting their side margins and an intermediate portion of hard material
adapted to up-end the matrices without being worn down by them.
4. The combination in the matrix up-ending wheel of a linotype or analogous
machine and with the two outer portions and the one intermediate portion
constituting the said wheel, of a sleeve incorporated with one outside portion of
soft material, a central hole in the intermediate and the other outside portions
adapted to fit over the said sleeve, and holding screws passing through the three
portions.
5. The combination in the matrix up-ending wheel of a linotype or analogous
machine to provide the two outer portions and the one intermediate portion
constituting the said wheel, of a mass of soft material and intermediate portions of
hard material let into the said mass.
6. The improved up-ending wheel of a linotype or analogous machine herein-
above described.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.