Improvements in Linotype Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Linotype Machines.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LOCK, Manager and Secretary of The Linotype Company
Limited, of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City of London, and FERDINAND JOHN
WICH, of The Linotype Works, Broadheath, in the County of Chester, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
The present invention relates to improvements in the linotype machines
described in the Specification of Letters Patent 14582 of 1890, and the object
of it is principally to equip that machine with an improved multiple fount
magazine. In carrying it into effect, the different magazines are braced together
and mounted in the frame of the machine so as to slide therein to-and-fro hori-
zontally past the mouth piece into which the matrices drop from the distributor,
and above the mouths of the channels into which the matrices drop on their
way to the assembling belt, the said mouth piece is carried by pins fast to the
machine frame, in such a way that it can be lifted off them vertically, or angularly,
or slid backwards off them. A flat plate to close the mouths of the different
magazines, is combined with the mouth piece. It projects to both the front
and the rear far enough to cover the mouths of all the magazines not in register
with the mouth piece, and has a slot in it through which the matrices can
drop from the distributor into the magazine and register with the mouth piece.
The ways or guides in which the multiple magazine slides, is fitted with anti-
friction rollers or ball bearings, and the device for so sliding it consists of a lever
of the same general design as the well known signal box lever with its notched
quadrant and locking detent. This lever is fixed within convenient reach of the
operator, and is connected to the multiple magazine by suitable links.
The tops of the escapement rods stand in a row as heretofore, but they are not
connected to the respective escapements. The latter are pivotted on the respective
magazines. Each rod actuates its escapement by pushing upwards on a lever
engaging therewith to rock the front pin of it down to release the leading matrix,
and the back pin up to stop the next one. The weight of an escapement and its
lever is so distributed as to nearly suffice to return them when the escapement rod
clears the said lever, that weight being supplemented by a light spring.
The above mentioned tops of the escapement rods stand between a pair of hori-
zontal rods carried by two uprights, one on each side of the keyboard frame, Go
that the said frame and all that it carries can be taken off the machine frame
without it being necessary to lock any part of the escapement mechanism, or
without having any of the matrices elsewhere than in the respective magazine.
The locking referred to is unnecessary because each escapement stands normally
in front of the leading matrix, and all the matrices must be in their respective
magazine, because there is no provision for them being elsewhere, whenever it
would be desirable to detach the escapement mechanism and the keyboard frame,

page_text: as a whole, from the machine; or to change fount. Consequently, each magazine
is full size and can hold a full equipment of matrices.
Dated this 10th day of Anect 1900
CHAS. S. WOODROFFE,
Chartered Patent Agent.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LOCK, Manager and Secretary of The Linotype Company
Limited, of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City of London, and FERDINAND JOHN
Wicit, of The Linotype Works, Broadheath, in the County of Chester, 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:—
The present invention relates to improvements in the magazine equipment and
escapement mechanism of linotype machines and is more particularly applicable
to the linotype machine described in the Specification of Letters Patent 14582
of 1890 and now well known as the Mergenthaler linotype machine.
The magazine of a linotype machine is the reservoir in which are stored the.
matrices sorted therein in separate compartments according to their respective
characters, and from which the necessary matrices are abstracted and composed
into a line to constitute or to make the mould of the printing edge of the lino-
type. The magazine of the Mergenthaler linotype machine consists of a pair
of plates held at a definite distance apart and grooved down their opposite faces
to receive the matrices, each pair of opposite grooves constituting one of the
separate compartments above mentioned. It is supported by the machine frame
in an oblique position, the matrices travelling through it by gravity from the
magazine entrance through which they drop from the distributor, down to the
mouths through which they drop on their way to the assembly box. The
Specification of Letters Patent 23940 of 1893 describes a method of equipping
a Mergenthaler linotype machine with a series of magazines super-imposed one
upon the other and braced together, each magazine of the series containing a
different fount of matrices, the series being capable of a vertical motion in
either direction to make the magazine containing the desiderated fount register
with the magazine entrance and row of mouths, both entrance and row of mouths
being fixed. According to the way in which the said method is to be carried into
effect, there are cut off from the magazine, a portion across its top, which
portion is incorporated with the magazine entrance, and a portion across the
bottom, which latter portion constitutes the fixed row of mouths above men-
tioned. This double cutting-off has obviously the effect of limiting the capacity
of the magazine and is a serious drawback to the usefulness of the method
of equipment.
One object of the present invention is to equip a Mergenthaler linotype machine
with a series of magazines each of which shall be of the normal capacity and
to combine with that series, a mechanism for moving it horizontally in either
direction to make the magazine containing the desiderated fount register with
the magazine entrance and the paths of the matrices to the assembly box.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of this
specification and read therewith:-
Figure 1 is a front elevation:
Figure 2, a side elevation of Figure 1 from the right hand:

page_text: Figure 5, a side elevation of an escapement:
Figure 4, a sectional plan corresponding with Figures 1 and 2; and
Figure 5, a detail side elevation.
A, A, is the frame of the linotype machine. B, B, B,. are three magazines.
This number may be varied as may be desired, but whatever may be the number
of magazines, that number constitutes the series above mentioned. They are
all carried on a magazine carriage consisting of side frames 1, 1, tied together by
cross bars 1 a, 1a, and a tie rod 2. They are parallel with each other and stand
at the same angle with the horizon as hertofore.
The magazine carriage is capable of a horizontal motion to and from the
front of the machine and under the control of the operator to make the particular
magazine B which contains the required fount of matrices, register with the
magazine entrance or shoot through which the matrices drop from the well-
known distributor screws 8, 10 as well as with the well-known series of channels G.
Figure 2 shews the middle magazine B so registering. Each side frame 1 of
the magazine carriage therefore rests upon a set of antifriction rollers. 3 carried
on horizontal axes 4 turning in brackets 5 fast to each magazine supporting
bracket A¹ 6 is a horizontal strip fast to the inside face of each bracket. A¹
of the machine and 7 is a rearward extension of each bracket A to serve as a
guide for the motion of the magazine carriage. This carriage is locked in the
desired registering position by the engagement of catches 8-one on each side
of the machine-in the respective one of a series of notches 9 (one for each
magazine B in the series) in the top eage of each strip 6. Each catch 8 is
pivotted at 10 on the respective side frame 1 of the magazine carriage and has
its own actuating spring 22. 23 is a rod extending from the rear end of one
catch 8 to the rear end of the other catch, to make them work together.
For the reason that the registering motion of the magazine carriage is hori
zontal, the mouths of the magazine through which the matrices drop from the
magazine entrance already mentioned, are horizontal too and all stand in the
same plane as shewn in Figure 1. 50 is a flat plate carried by two transverse
bars 51, one connected to each side frame A of the machine. 52 is a horizontal
slot in the plate registering with the magazine entrance and of the same area
to pass the matrices into the magazine B then registering with it. As far as
the function of the plate 50 is concerned it is stationary and the horizontal mouths
of the magazines B touch it, but to provide for an exact adjustment of the slot 52
with the registering position of the magazine as well as with the magazine
entrance, it is preferred that the connection between it and the bracket A' should
be by means of eccentric screws 53 or screw and slot devices capable of allowing
the plate 50 to be moved a little to either front or rear, or to allow of its front
edge to be lifted a little to give access to a matrix which may accidentally
have stuck between the said plate 50 and the magazine. The presence of the
plate 50 necessitates the following modifications in the two plates which form the
magazine entrance-see Figure 2. The back plate 610 has heretofore been
hinged by its bottom edge, to the rear edge of the bottom plate of the magazine
as shewn in Figure 57 of the Specification of the above mentioned Patent 14582
of 1890. According to the present invention, the said back plate 610 has at each
end of it a bracket 55 pivotted on the bottom end of a link 56 which is in its turn
pivotted by its top end to the respective bracket A¹. 58 is a plate fast on each
end of the plate 60 and long enough to enter the slot 52, fitting therein close up
to the inner face of the respective bar 51 to hold the plate 10 steady in its work-
ing position. The front plate 59 is pivotted by its front edge on a horizontal
pivot 60 extending across the plate 50 and is held in working position by a
catch 61 pivotted on each of the plates 58 above mentioned and caused by a
spring 62 to engage in a catch 63 suitably positioned for such holding on the
plate 59..
The front mouths 64 of all the magazines B in the series are at the same angle
with the horizontal as heretofore, and are on the same horizontal level as shewn

page_text: 13
in Figure 2. 11 is the usual guide from the mouths 64 of the magazine in work
to the usual vertical channels G. For the purpose of the present invention it
is pivotted by its bottom edge along the top of the plate g by a pivot 12.
is a lip along the guide 11 to engage behind the front edge of the bottom
plate of the magazine in register and 14 is a spring working from a base 15
on the back of the plate g¹, to keep the said lip 13 in engagement, and the
pivotted guide 11 in working position. 17 is a rocking arm fast by its bottom
end to the horizontal shaft 18 turning in bearings 19, 19, carried by the side
frames A, A, of the machine. 20 is a link from the top end of the arm 17 to a
rod 21 extending from one side frame 1 to the other of, the magazine carriage.
24 is a lever fast to the shaft 18 from which it projects to the front to present a
grip 25 within reach of the operator. 26 is a bell crank lever fulcrummed at 27
on the lever 24, its front arm extending to the front under the grip 25 but
standing normally at a working-distance below it, and its rear arm 26 projecting
downwards as shewn in Figure 2. 28 is a wire extending from the arm 26 a
to one arm of a bell crank lever 29 fulcrummed at 30 on a collar 31 fast on the
shaft 18. 32 is a wire from the opposite arm of the bell crank lever 29 to one
arm of a bell crank lever 33 fulcrummed at 34 on a second collar 35 likewise fast
on the shaft 18. 36 is a pull rod from the opposite arm of the bell crank lever 33
to the rod 23 already described. 37 is a second wire from the same arm of
the bell crank lever 29 as the wire 32. Its opposite end is connected to one
arm of a bell crank lever 38 fulcrummed at 39 on the collar 35 already mentioned,
and having its opposite arm connected to the bottom end of a pull rod 16, the
top end of which is pivotally connected to the back of the guide 11.
A second object of the present invention is to improve the escapement mechanism
whereby the whole of it together with the key-board can be taken off the
machine.
F is the usual escapement to each matrix compartment in a magazine, and E
the escapement rod to each escapement. Heretofore-see Letters Patent 24605
of 1894 each escapement rod has been hooked to its escapement and has pushed
up to actuate it, the escapement being fitted with a returning spring the action
of which would if unchecked by the hooked connection between it and the
respective escapement rod let the front matrix in the respective compartment,
escape down the guide 11. According to the present invention, the top of an
escapement rod E rocks the respective escapement F to let the front matrix
escape down the guide 11 by pushing on the respective one of a series of levers 40
fulcrummed on a rod 41 supported by the bottom plate of a magazine B. The
rear end of a lever 40 engages loosely with the respective escapement, by
entering a slot in the bottom edge of it. 42 is the returning spring for an escape-
ment F and lever 40. It is a light one, the weight of an escapement and its
lever being so distributed as to nearly suffice to return them to their normal
position after the return to the respective escapement rod E to its normal
position, but its action makes the respective escapement keep the leading matrix
in the respective compartment. This obviates the use of the usual pokers and
sliding bar to respectively lock the escapement so as to keep the leading matrices
in and disengage the hooked escapement rods from the escapements, which have
hitherto been necessary whenever it has been desirable to take the escapement
and key board mechanism off the machine or to change fount. The tops of the
series of escapement rods stand up through slots in a horizontal bar 70 as
described in the last mentioned patent.
According to the present invention, the bar is separate from the machine
frame A and is connected to the key board (not shewn in the figures) by having
its ends made fast to the tops of two uprights 71, 71 the bottom end of each is
made fast to the key board base. To steady the combination of bar 70 and two
uprights 71, there is a bracket 72 on each magazine bracket A¹ presenting a
slot 73, to the respective upright 71 which fits therein and fills it, it being locked
therein by a latch 74 pivotted upon the front of the bracket 72.

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:-
1. The hereinbefore described combination of a series of magazines; magazine
carriage; and bearing surfaces for it to move on.
2. The hereinbefore described combination of a series of magazines capable of
a horizontal motion to effect change of fount and register; flat plate to close
the top mouths of the series; and slot therein to establish communication between
the magazine entrance and the magazine in register.
3. The herein before described combination of series of magazines capable of a
horizontal motion to effect change of fount and register; flat plate to close
the top mouths of the series; slot therein to establish communication between
the magazine entrance and the magazine in register; and the improved front and
back plates of the said magazine entrance.
4. The herein before described combination of a series of magazines capable of
a horizontal motion to effect change of fount and register; pivotted guide to
engage with the mouths of the magazine in register; hand lever and connections
by which the operator can place any magazine in the series in register; means
for rocking the said guide out of the way in time and for returning it; and
means for automatically locking the series in the selected position.
5. The hereinoefore described combination of a series of magazines capable
of a horizontal motion to effect change of fount and register; pivotted guide to
engage with the mouths of the magazine in register; hand lever and connections
by which the operator can place any magazine in the series in register; means for
rocking the said guide out of the way in time and for returning it; means for
automatically locking the series in the selected position; flat plate to close the
top mouths of the matrices; slot therein to establish communication between the
magazine entrance and the magazine in register; and the improved front and
back plates of the said magazine entrance.
6. The hereinbefore described combination of escapements; escapement springs
and levers; escapement rods; slotted horizontal bar through which they pass;
and keyboard.
CHAS. S. WOODROFFE,
Chartered Patent Agent.