IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING SURFACES AND APPLIANCES FOR CASTING THE SAME
Year: 1885

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, London, in the County of
Middlesex, England, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING SURFACES AND APPLIANCES FOR CASTING THE SAME,
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 to appliances to be used in connection with a previously
prepared matrix-sheet, having the characters arranged therein in parallel lines for
the purpose of producing therefrom a number of separate printing bars each bearing
a single line of characters.
It further relates to the improved form or printing surface composed of a series
of printing bars such as above described arranged parallel with each other each bar
printing a complete line in a page or column.
For some purposes it will answer to make the cast for the entire page in a single
plate but for the purpose in view it is proposed to cast simultaneously a series
of independent type-bars each bar bearing on its edge the letters or characters
corresponding with one line of the matrix sheet. These bars will be made of the
height of ordinary type, or of other suitable height with flat faces or other suitable
faces, adapted to permit them to be locked together in series after the manner of
ordinary type the series of parallel bars constituting jointly a solid "form" which
may be used in the same manner as the ordinary form composed of movable type.
To secure the simultaneous production of the independent bars there is provided
a mold frame and appliances such as represented in Figs 1 to 7 The drawings
represent a mold frame adapted for casting from two matrix sheets simultaneously
but the frame may be made to cast in a single sheet if preferred.
The mold consists of an external frame or band a² provided with a handle b²
and of a series of internal removable bars c² arranged side by side and clamped
within the frame by means of wedges d' or equivalent fastening devices Each
bar is provided with shoulders or offsets at the middle and at the two ends as
A
-

page_text: represented in Fig. 3 so that when they are assembled in series they will present
a number of intermediate slots or openings each adapted for the formation of a
printing bar representing a single line. The slots or openings are of a size and
arrangement corresponding with the lines on the matrix sheet so that when the
frame is placed thereon one line of characters will be presented beneath each slot
or opening in the frame. In order that the molten metal may be delivered to the
series of slots or openings simultaneously the mold is provided with a groove or
channel e leading inward from one end and communicating with the inner ends of
all the slots.
To facilitate the proper adjustment of the mold upon the matrix sheet there is
provided a bed plate B² having thereon ribs or flanges k² to bear against the edges
of the matrix-sheets and retain them in position. The mold frame is provided at
one end with a pin o² and at the opposite end with an arm p³ while the bed-plate
is provided with corresponding notched arms q2 into which the pin and arm of the
mold frame may be inserted so as to maintain the same in position against lateral
motion. In order to provide for a longitudinal adjustment of the mold to secure
an exact alignment between its openings and the lines of the matrix adjusting
screws are fixed in bearings on the bed plate to act against the end of the
frame. Swinging arms m² may also be provided on the bed plate to bear upon
and hold the matrix-sheets. Owing to the expansion of the mold frame when
heated by the introduction of the molten metal its slots or openings may be thrown
out of alignment with the matrix strips.
To avoid difficulty in this regard it is proposed to make use of an intermediate
sheet or plate C2 such as shown in Fig 4, slotted to correspond with the openings
in the mold frame and with the lines of the matrix sheet. This slotted sheet is
employed between the mold and the matrix-sheet, being placed on the latter
previous to the application of the mold.
If made of pasteboard or similar non-conducting material it will retain
substantially its original dimensions notwithstanding the heat to which it is
subjected.
The expansion of the mold takes place above the sheet leaving the latter in its
original position with respect to the matrix lines. The result is that on taking the
cast although the body of the bars may be offset or thrown slightly to one side of
the upper surface the characters. will be formed on the upper surface in perfect
condition, which would not be the case were the mold frame to expand when in
direct contact with the matrix. The manner in which the offset is formed at the
top of the bars is represented in Fig 5. In practice this offset offers little or no
objection since the bars will overlap cach other as represented in the drawings.
Certain advantages attend the use of a perforated sheet such as described when
made of metal but for most purposes it is preferred to construct it of non-conducting
material. The employment of the slotted intermediate sheet although advantageous
is not in all cases necessary, and it may if necessary be omitted.
In preparing to take a cast, the mold and the matrix sheets adjusted on the bed
plate are used in the ordinary stereotyping machine or other suitable apparatus
adapted to close the top of the openings in the mold as represented for example in
Fig 2.
After the introduction of the metal and the formation of the separate printing
bars the keys or other fastening devices are released so as to permit the separation
of the bars forming the mold and the release of the castings therein The result of
the operation is a series of printing bars such as before described and as represented
in Fig 6.
To complete the printing surface it only remains to assemble these bars side by
side as represented in Fig 7 and confine them firmly together. In the event of its
being necessary to effect a change in the adjustment or arrangement of the matter,
bars may be removed therefrom or added to the series at will and in individual
cases the severance of a bar may take place in order to permit the removal or
insertion of matter as required.

page_text: Under ordinary circumstances however each bar will remain complete and
unbroken presenting on its edge a number of words properly spaced and justified.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The improved mold for casting printing bars consisting of a frame and of a
series of separable bars adapted as described to produce intermediate slots or
openings.
2 In a mold or casting frame the combination of the external frame the internal
shouldered bars, and the wedges or locking devices as shown and described.
3. In combination with the slotted mold the base plate provided with devices to
retain the mold in position and the guides to retain the matrix sheet.
4. As a means of producing independent relief bars the combination of a matrix
sheet having the matter arranged in line form therein and the mold frame provided
with slots corresponding with the lines of the matrix and adapted to bear on the
blank edges of the matrix-strip as described.
5. The new product, a printing bar bearing on one edge the characters to print a
series of words properly spaced and justified as described.
6. The new form of printing surface consisting of a series of parallel independent
bars, each bar bearing on its edge a single line of characters properly spaced and
justified.