Improvements in the Separable Matrices of Logotype, Linotype, and similar Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1892
Complète Specification Left, 15th July, 1892-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SIRUITIATION.
Improvements in the Separable Matrices of Logotype, Linotype,
and similar Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, Licensors and Vendors under the
Linotype Patents, and JOHN PLACE, Engineer, both of No. 6, Serjeants Iun,
Fleet Street, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The invention relates to improvements in the loose or separable matrices of
machines adapted for the casting of logotypes, linotypes, or other portions
of printing surfaces.
Experience has shown that in the act of assembling the matrices, each following
matrix delivers a blow upon the side of its predecessor, and in time the matrix sides
become indented. The result is that they no longer present a solid front to the
mould. The metal runs into the indentations and the resulting humps and fins
prevent proper alignment in the forme.
The present invention obviates the damage to the preceding matrices, by
providing for the following ones to strike those already assembled centrally, or at
any rate not on the edges along or near their faces.
In carrying the invention into effect, a convex projection is formed on the foot of
each matrix and within the plane of the latter. This projection is the leading
member of the matrix as it approaches the place of assembly, consequently it is the
one which strikes the preceding matrix, but as the projection is preferably central,
the blow is not delivered upon the edge of the said matrix.
The projection may be in one piece with the matrix or separate. and fixed to it in
any suitable way.
Dated this 14th day of June 1892.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Separable Matrices of Logotype, Linotype,
and similar Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, Licensors and Vendors under the
Linotype Patents, and JOHN PLACE, Engineer, both of No. 6, Serjeants Inn,
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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in the matrices and spacers of linotype,
logotype and similar machines, and the object of it is to prevent the damage to
which matrices as at present made are subjected during the time in which they are
being assembled in line, and by such prevention, to increase their durability.
Letters Patent of the United States, Nos. 378798 Feby. 28th, 1888; 425140,
April 8th, 1890; and 436532, September 16th, 1890, granted to Ottmar Mergen-
thaler describe matrices, and No. 470619, Mar. 8th, 1892, to Joseph C. Fowler,
describes spacers, to which the present invention is applicable. During the process
of assembling them in line as described in the said Patents, the matrices are sent to
the place of assemblage in an oblique direction with their feet foremost and as they
reach the said place, they are turned up into a vertical position. The foot of each
following matrix or spacer therefore strikes the side of the matrix last turned up
1

page_text: into the vertical with the result that a shallow groove is in time forined across that
side, in a line with the intaglio character in the front edge of the matrix. Now it
is indispensable to the production of a perfect Mergenthaler linotype that the
assembled matrices shall present a solid front to the mold, and for this reason they
are made with their sides parallel with each other so that when they are assembled
and clamped together the face which the assembled line presents to the mold is a
plune surface free from any indentation. But experience with Mergenthaler
matrices assembled in the way described above shews. that the succession of blows
delivered in their sides by the feet of the following matrices indents each matrix to
such an extent that, when they are clamped together, the front next to the mold
has a line of indentations which are represented in the face of the linotype by a
series of projections. According then to the number of blows that a matrix receives
from its fellows or the Fowler spacers assembled with it will be the height of the
projection cast on the face of the linotype. So that in a linotype cast from matrices
which have been in use for some time, the projections will be prominent enough to
take ink and yield imprints between the letters in the printed line. In the second
of the two Patents quoted above, it is proposed to recess each matrix on one or
both sides, leaving a vertical margin along each side edge of the matrix. The
object of this recess is to prevent the presence of foreign substances between the
assembled matrices standing in the way of their being clamped closely together. So
far, the formation of the recess is adapted to effect the object it was devised to
effect. But the recessed matrix has only the two vertical margins to oppose to the
blow of the following matrix or spacer as the case may be, so that a recessed matrix
is indented to the extent of being spoilt for practicable linotype casting more
quickly than one without a recess.
In carrying our invention into effect, we form a central extension upon the foot
of the matrix or the spacer, such extension being a continuation of the body of the
matrix, or of the foot of the spacer, in the plane of it. During the process of
assembling in line, the last matrix set up receives the blow of the following one or
spacer in the middle only of its side, the margins thereof being untouched. For
that reason, they cannot be indented.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of this
Specification,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a matrix with a convex extension, looking at it from
the unrecessed side.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a matrix with a rectangular extension, looking at it
from the recessed side.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a matrix and a convex extension shewing how the
present invention can be applied to an old matrix or to an old spacer.
Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of the former figure after the extension
has been applied to the matrix.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a matrix and a rectangular extension also shewing
how the present invention can be applied to an old matrix or to an old spacer.
Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the matrix last turned up into the vertical at the
place of assembling and the following matrix striking its side, both matrices being
made according to the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a plan corresponding therewith.
It
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of three matrices made according to our invention.
shows how the latter in no way interferes with their standing as closely to each
other as heretofore in the magazine.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a Fowler spacer with a convex extension.
Fig. 10 is an edge view corresponding with Fig. 9.
a is the matrix, and b, the recess in the front edge in which is formed the intaglio
character. is the vertical recess, and d, d, the vertical margins, one on each side
thereof. d¹ is the spacer. These form no part of the present invention.
e is a convex extension of the matrix or the spacer foot, and in the plane of the
latter.

page_text: f is a rectangular extension of the foot of the matrix likewise in the plane of the
latter.
For the purpose of our invention, the extension may be either convex as
illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, or rectangular as illustrated in Figs. 2
and 5, but it is always, as to position on the foot of either matrix or spacer, central
or as nearly so as will prevent it striking the side margins of the preceding matrix.
For the same reason, it is also narrower than the body of matrix or spacer by the
width of the two vertical margins on a matrix.
The matrices illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8 and the spacer illustrated in
Figs. 9 and 10 are made, in the first place, according to our invention, that is to
say, the extensions are, respectively, in one piece with the matrices, and with the
plates of the spacer.
The invention is applied to existing matrices and spacers as follows.
Referring to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the extension is made with a tongue g. The tip g'
of the tongue is wider than the latter. The tongue and tip together constitute a
tenon. is a mortice in the foot of the matrix or of the spacer, as the case may be.
It is of the same shape and size as the tongue and its tip. When the latter are
pressed laterally into the mortice, the extension is incorporated with the matrix or
the spacer. To prevent the extension shaking loose and to keep it in the plane of
the matrix or spacer foot, the tip g¹ may be expanded against the sides of the hole
in the foot by the application of a centre punch, as indicated in Fig. 4.
It is to be understood that the old Fowler spacers can have our invention applied
to them in exactly the same way as described with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5.
The function of the tongue and tip device being only to hold the extension to
the matrix or spacer body in the plane of the latter, it must be borne in mind that
our invention does not limit us to the exact contour of tenon and mortice illustrated,
inasmuch as any mortice and tenon device, the former in the old matrix or spacer
to which it is desired to apply our invention and the latter on the extension, inay
be adopted.
In applying the present invention to existing matrices or spacers, the mortice is
necessarily in the latter, and in making matrices or spacers according to the said
invention, the extension is preferably made in one piece with the body of the
matrix or spacer, but the invention covers the combination effected by any means
of separate extension and body.
In some existing matrices there is a notch in the foot formed there for some
error-preventing purpose such as preventing a matrix of a wrong fount being intro-
duced into the machine. The presence of such a notch may render it necessary to
abbreviate the extension so as to prevent the latter covering the former. This
presence and its influence are illustrated in Fig. 3, where the extension is shown as
shortened on the left hand so that when it is incorporated with the matrix, the end
of the extension will be aligned with the right side of the notch.
Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, it is clear that whether convex or rectangular
extensions are used, the vertical margins cannot be struck by the following matrices
or spacers, and will therefore be free from indentations.
Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the extensions of the largest area which
our invention can require will, when the matrices and spacers are in the magazine,
stand within the recesses j heretofore present in all Mergenthaler matrices and
Fowler spacers.
We wish to point out that we make no claim to a separate matrix, nor to matrices
adapted to be assembled in line and then clamped, such clamping to be followed by
casting in a mould, one face of which is the adjacent face of the assembled matrices,
nor to elastic spacers the external shape of which is similar to that of such
matrices.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is

page_text: 2. The combination of matrix and extension effected by any mortice and tenon
.device.
3. The combination of matrix having a mortice in the foot of it adapted to
receive a tenon on the foot of an extension, and an extension having a tenon
adapted to engage in the mortice in the foot of the matrix, as set forth.
4. A spacer having an extension of its foot in the plane of the body of it.
5. The combination of spacer and extension effected by any mortice and tenon
.device.
6. The combination of spacer having a mortice in the foot of it adapted to receive
a tenon on the foot of an extension, and an extension having a tenon adapted to
engage in the mortice in the foot of the spacer as set forth.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.