Improvements in and connected with the Trimming Mechanism of Linotype Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Trimming Mechanism of
Linotype Machines.
66
"
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Sole Manufacturers, Licensors and Vendors under the Linotype
Patents, and FERDINAND JOHN WICH, of No. 11, Hulme Street, Oxford Road,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in and connected with the trimming
mechanism of linotype machines.
The special object of it is to provide a trimming mechanism capable of dealing
with ordinary linotypes as well as with linotypes which have 2 line or larger capitals
at either end, or some of the same distributed here and there along their length,
or which consist of such enlarged letters throughout their lengths; without the
operator being called upon to stop the machine, or to make any adjustment or
alteration.
A linotype without any 2 line or larger capitals (hereinafter referred to as
enlarged letters), is trimmed by being pushed, edge-on, between a pair of parallel
knives. When there is an enlarged letter at one end of it, as the W at the head of
a Wanted advertisement, the base (sometimes called apron or projection) of the
enlargement, projects beyond the respective side of the body of the linotype; and
the knife for trimming that side, must be shortened, or moved out of the way of
the said apron or projection to prevent the latter being shorn off.
The presence
of these enlarged letters anywhere between the two ends of a linotype still further
complicates the trimming.
According to the present invention the knife on the apron or projection side of
the linotype is automatically moved out of the path of the linotype and then
returned to its normal position. This capacity for being moved out of the path
of the linotype, may be imparted to the said knife either by pivotting it upon a
vertical axis which may be somewhere in the knife block, or by making it to slide
to and fro. There must be combined with an either pivotted or reciprocating knife,
a suitable mechanism for ensuring the removal of it for a sufficient distance, so as
to require only a slight or initial push from the apron; and a further mechanism
for returning the said knife to its normal position. We propose to pivot a trigger
upon the rear face of the knife, the nose of it standing in the path of the projection
at a point between the latter and the edge of the knife. The latter is always
under the pull of a removing spring; but is supported in its working position
against such pull, by a pivotted strut which is linked to the trigger above mentioned
on the opposite side of its fulcrum. The initial push on the nose of the trigger
makes the latter pull the strut away and leaves the knife at the mercy of the
removing spring. Any suitably positioned reciprocating organ of the machine is
made, by means of a suitable link or lever or equivalent device, capable of return-
ing the knife to its normal or cutting position. The strut is next returned to its
normal position by a suitable spring or otherwise.

page_text: To meet the more complicated cases of enlarged letters either occurring at
different points in the linotype, or of occupying the entire length of it, the pre-
sent invention makes the whole knife on that side of the said linotype, in sections
or layers of a suitable thickness, none being thicker, preferably, than the width of
an apron. All these sections, if pivotted, may be pivotted on a common axis. If
they are made to slide, each has its own guide. Each section must have its own
proper removing mechanism. The returning mechanism may be a single one
capable of dealing with all the removed portions..
Dated. this 19th day of. February 1897.
Improvements in and connected with the Trimming Mechanism of
Linotype Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Sole Proprietors of, and Sole Manufacturers, Licensors and Vendors
under the "Linotype" Patents, and FERDINAND. JOHN WICH, of No. 11, Hulme
Street Oxford Road, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be 'per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
'
The present invention relates to improvements in and connected with the trim-
ming mechanism of linotype machines...
The majority of linotypes have both sides of their printing edges parallel with
each other, and are trimmed by being pushed, edge on, between two knives parallel
and practically co-terminous with each other and separated by a distance equal to
the standard thickness of linotype.
66
There are other linotypes, technically known as 2-line cap. linotypes, the sides
of whose printing edges are not parallel by reason of at least one. capital letter
being twice as long from top to bottom as a normal capital of the respective fount.
A familiar instance of a 2-line capital in a printed line, is the W at the head of a
WANTED" advertisement. Such a capital is, generally speaking, twice as long
from top to bottom as the other five letters of the word. It may, of course, be
longer than that, but they are generally only twice as long, occupying the initial
positions in two lines, hence their name. Whether they are 2-line caps., or longer
than that, they are to be understood, for the purpose of this specification, as
included under the term enlarged letters, hereafter used to designate them. The
enlargement of the letter, that is, the portion of it beyond the normal size, is
supported by a bracket piece. This enlargement and bracket piece, are commonly
described as the projection. It projects from the top of the linotype, and over-
hangs the respective side of the latter accordingly.
The presence of 2-line capitals is not restricted to the head of the printed line,
although they occur there oftener than elsewhere along it. The display lines of
commercial advertisements frequently have them as the initial letters of every word
in the line.
It is obvious that the pressure of even one projection on a linotype, will make the
trimming of the latter, by the two coterminous knives above mentioned, impractic-
able, for the reason that the projection would be shorn off.
Considerable attention has been given by different inventors, the inventor in

page_text: the present case among the number-to the subject of trimming knives adapted to
deal with a linotype having enlarged characters somewhere along their length.
The first in the field in that respect, was Matthew H. Whittaker with the inven-
tion described in the Specification of Letters Patent 8258 of 1894. The invention
in that case makes a short portion of the knife on the projection side of the lino-
type, separate from the other and major portion of the knife, and pivots it upon
the knife block-the base to which both knives are made fast in such a way that
the turning of a handle through an angle of 450, turns the pivotted portion of the
knife through the same, arc and leaves a gap between the two portions, through
which the projection may safely pass without fear of being shorn off.
It has also been proposed to provide for the establishment of the gap above
described, by making a portion of the knife capable of being moved out of the 'path
of the projection by being slid away transversely, that is in a line at right angles
with the edge of the knife.
But it is obvious that the fixity of the position of the gap limits the trimming
capacity of the respective knife, to linotypes whose projections occupy positions
exactly corresponding with that of the said gap.
It has also been proposed to provide for the whole knife on the projection side of
the linotype, being moved out of the path of the projection and returned into its
normal position, both motions being in the direction of the edge of the knife.
The necessity of working the knives just described by hand, constitutes a dimi-
nution of the utility of each, for the reason that, if the operator does not turn the
handle at the right moment, the projection will be shorn off, and if he does not turn
it back in time, the next linotype without a projection, will be imperfectly trimmed.
To meet this double requisition, it has been proposed to make the knife automatic
in respect of both its inotions, and consequently independent of the operator.
According to such proposition, the projection engages a trigger, as it is pushed
towards the trimming knives, thereby releasing a spring which pulls the knife out
of the path of the projection, the knife being returned to its normal position by
some nioving member of the machine. Full particulars are given in the Specifica-
tion of Letters Patent 1389 of 1895.
But it is obvious that the motion of the knife in the direction of its edge, must
in any case, unless the enlarged character be an initial one, leave untrimmed as
much of the side of the linotype, as the knife has, by reason of its having been
moved away, ceased to stand in front of. The following illustrations of different
instances, will make this point quite clear. In the line:-
66 BARGAIN: banjo; 7 strings, brass mounts; cost £6;"
there is only one enlarged letter and that is at the head of the line. Consequently
the movement of the knife which suffices to clear the projection in this instance,
leaves knife edge standing in front of all the rest of the respective linotype. .
It is not often that a line occurs with a single enlarged letter or group of enlarged
letters along its length intermediate of its two ends, such as the following:-
"DIAMOND TUDIILE PLAYING CARDS;"

page_text: of being automatically moved out of the path of the projection or of the projections,
as many of the latter as there may be, and further of being returned into its or
their normal position, before the next linotype is pushed forward to the trimming
position.
This capacity for being moved out of the path of the linotype, may be imparted
to the said knife either by pivotting it upon a vertical axis which may be some-
where in the knife block, or by making it to slide to and fro transversely of the edge
of the knife. There must be combined with either a pivotted or a sliding
knife, a suitable mechanism adapted to ensure the removal of it for a sufficient
distance, so as to require only a slight or initial push from the projection;
and a further mechanism adapted to return the said knife to its
position.
normal
The present invention does not limit us as to the exact details of the mechanisms
for ensuring the removal of the knife and for returning it, for provided that the
respective functions are properly secured, such details may be varied to any
extent.
We propose to pivot a trigger upon the rear face of the knife, the nose of it
standing in the path of the projection at a point between the latter and the edge
of the knife. The latter is always under the pull of a removing spring;
but is supported in its working position against such pull, by a pivotted strut
which is linked to the trigger above mentioned on the opposite side of its fulcrum.
The initial push on the nose of the trigger, makes the latter pull the strut. away
and leaves the knife at the mercy of the removing spring. Any suitably positioned
reciprocating organ of the machine is made by means of a suitable link or lever
or equivalent device, capable of returning the knife to its normal position.
The strut is next returned to its normal position by a suitable spring or
otherwise.
The present invention has been developed for use on the Mergenthaler Linotype
machine, a machine which is described in the Specification of Letters Patent 14582
of 1890. For that reason, the special forms which it is proposed to give it, when
made for that, have been chosen for illustration.
Figure 1, is a rear elevation of the knife block and the trimming mechanism.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 2, including
the mould wheel, a linotype, and the stud on the mould wheel slide.
Figure 3 is a side elevation from the right hand of the machine.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the pivotted knife and its pivot, detached from the
knife block.
Figure 5 is a rear elevation of a seven section pivotted knife.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the same knife and its pivot, detached from the
knife block.
Figure 7 is a rear elevation of one of the trip levers of Figure 5.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, C is a newly cast linotype standing in the mould
cavity in which it has just been cast. The cavity is in a detachable block o
which is made fast to the front face of a mould wheel O. This latter receives
through its gear teeth, a regulated rotary motion to enable it to present the mould
cavity, first to the casting mechanism, and afterwards to the trimming mechanism.
It has also a to and fro motion relatively to the stationary front of the machine.
8 is one of a set of sockets on the front face of the said wheel 0, and 27 is one of
a pair of studs projecting inwardly from the rear face of the stationary front above
mentioned, two sockets fitting over the pair of studs in each forward position of the
mould wheel O to prevent it moving on its axis accidentally.
P is the knife block. It is a part of the stationary frame above mentioned, and
has the two trimming knives bolted to it-hence its name.
N5, No, are the two knives in question. One of them, N5, is always fast to the
knife block. The other of them No, being the one on the projection side of the
linotype, is the one concerned by the present invention.

page_text: 318 is the projection on the linotype. According to the construction and working
of the Mergenthaler Linotype machine, the projection is always on the right hand
side (looking from the front of the machine) of the linotype when the latter is in
the trimming position, and that is the reason why it is the right knife that is
affected by the present invention.
The exact position along the linotype C, of the projection y18 illustrated in Figure 1,
is not defined in the drawings, for the reason that the construction of the knife N6,
and its mechanism is independent of such position, the construction being
such that the said knife can be released either by a projection or projections in any
position along the linotype, or by a row of projections extending through the length
of the line, indifferently.
The alternativeness of a pivotal and a sliding motion of the knife No has already
been pointed out. We have chosen the former for illustration. The knife is
wide enough to reach to the front of the knife block P. The latter is suitably
shaped to accommodate the altered size and shape of the knife in question, as
well as to receive the attendant devices and to make room for their operation.
N49 is a plate fast to the front of the knife N and projecting therefrom to the
right hand in front of the knife block P¹ for a purpose which will appear later on.
N50 is a pivot upon which the knife N6 turns. It is shewn as a pin having its
bearings in the top and bottom of the knife block P¹.
N51 is the trigger. It is a bar as long as the linotype C, in order that even only
a single projection y18 may engage it, no matter whereabouts along the said lino-
type that projection may be. It is pivotted upon an axis on the rear face of the
knife block P¹. This axis is parallel with the axis of the knife. It is shewn as
provided by two studs N58, N, projecting from the rear face of the knife
block P¹, slots N in the trigger N into which the studs N5 are respectively
entered and pins N54 passed through the said trigger and the heads of the respective
stud. The position of the trigger axis with reference to the trigger nose is such
that the latter shall stand in the forward path of the projection or projections y18,
as the case may be, until it shall have been turned on its axis far enough to
release the knife N6. N55 is a spring, or one of a pair of springs pulling from a
fixed point or points on the right hand side of the knife block P₁, on the knife N6
somewhere between the edge and the axis of it. The function of this spring is to
remove the knife No out of the path of the projection or projections 18 by pulling
it into the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1. The said knife is,
however, supported in its working position-the one indicated by the full lines in
the figure by a strut. This is shewn as consisting of a pair of short bars N56, N56
Each of these bars stands normally between a projection N on the right side of
the knife Ne and a set screw N58 in the opposite portion of the knife block P¹,
the base of it against the said screw and its nose against the said projection. It
is preferred that there should be a set screw instead of a solid portion of knife
block for such base to bear upon, in order that the position of the nose may be
adjusted. Each bar №56 is connected with the adjacent end of the trigger N5 by
a link N, the point of connection between the said link N59 and the trigger Ni
being on the opposite side of the trigger axis to that on which stands the edge of
the knife No. No is a returning spring pulling from a fixed point on the knife
block on the right hand side of the knife block, on the nose of each bar N56. The
pull of the link-N59 on the one side of the bar and that of the returning spring on
the other, rock the bar first in one direction and then in the other. The journal
for each bar is provided by a recess No in the knife block P¹, the boss of the bar
being suitably rounded to facilitate its rocking motion.
The axis on which the wheel O is mounted, projects from a part known as the
mould wheel slide and this latter is the part of the machine which has been chosen
to act as the suitably positioned reciprocating organ above mentioned, by means of
a pin which is fast to it and projects from the right side of it for a suitable
distance. The mould wheel slide is not included in the drawings so that it must

page_text: be borne in mind that the pin just described shares the to and fro motion of the
inould wheel. O.
Ne is a link detachable from the pin n28 and pivotted by its opposite end to the
adjacent arm of a bell crank lever N3, having its fulcrum N4 on the right side
of the knife block P¹. The opposite arm-the one nearest to the front of the
machine is pivotted upon the side of a vertical bar. №5. The latter is kept in a
vertical position by a link N which is symmetrical in all respects with the front
arm of the bell crank lever N. The length of the last mentioned arm and the
position of the fulcrum are such that the bar, N5 is nearly always in touch with
the plate N1º.
The action of the invention is as follows. The mould wheel O has
an intermittent. to and fro motion. Figures. 1 and 3 shew it in. its front
Fosition. As the link N2 moves with it into that position, the bar NG
is.. moved into the position. illustrated by the dotted lines in Figure 3.
If the linotype. C. be an ordinary one, .e., with both the sides of its
printing edge parallel, the knife No will remain in its normal position-the one
indicated by the full lines of Figure 1. The presence of the projection or pro-
jections y contemplated by the present invention, is indicated by the dotted lines
in the said figure. As the wheel O is advancing to its front position, the trigger N³
will obviously be tripped into the position illustrated by the dash and dot line,
and the two bars N56 be pulled away until they clear the projections N57, whereupon
the removing spring N55 pulls the knife No and the attendant parts into the
positions indicated by the respective dotted lines:
As the mould wheel O is moved backwards away from the knife block P¹, the
bar N is pulled by the link N63 and the bell crank lever N63 downwards and back-
wards so as to pull the plate N up to the front of the knife block P¹, thereby
returning the knife No into its normal position.
The foregoing construction just described makes the knife No on the projection
side of the linotype C capable of being automatically moved out of the path. of the
projection or of the projections y18, as many of the latter as there may be, in its
entirety, and of being returned into its normal position. Thus it is applicable
to any of the three instances detailed above, but it does not include any provision
for trimming those portions of the printing edge c from which projections are
absent.
.
The object of the construction next described, extends the same capacity only to
that particular portion of the same knife which stands in front of an advancing
projection, so that those portions of the linotype C which do not carry projec-
tions 18 are sure of finding corresponding portions of trimming knife in position
to deal with them, whereby the linotype itself, by virtue of the position of its
projection or projections 18, along its length, enjoys and exercises a faculty of
selection as to the position of the respective gap or gaps to be established in the
knife. This faculty of selection is of the essence of the invention.
Figures 5, 6 and 7, illustrate the same pivotal motion for the portions of the
knife No as compared with a sliding motion, as is illustrated in the preceding
figures. It must be understood that a sliding one is to be regarded as an alterna-
tive. included within the present invention. The knife on the projection side of
the linotype is divided into sections or layers N. The figures shew the knife
consisting of seven sections and all of the same thickness. Whether there are more
or less than this number or whether they differ in thickness, is a matter of detail
to be decided according to the circumstances of each particular case. It is desir-
able that there should be as many as practicable, all of the same thickness, in
order that as small a proportion as possible of trimming edge not opposite to a pro-
jection, should be moved out of the way, and that all the sections should be
pivotted upon a common axis.
Each section N67 must have its own removing mechanism which is a replica of
that described' with reference to the preceding figures, .e., trigger N1, spring N55,

page_text: bar N, projection N5, set screw N№58, recess №61, link №59, and spring No, each
returning mechanism being restricted to the space immediately in front of the
respective section.
The mechanism for returning as many sections as have been moved; out
of the way, is a replica of the one already described with reference to the
Figures 1 to 4.
...
It is obvious that a sliding motion is," under the circumstances of the present
invention, a mechanical equivalent of the pivotal one illustrated.
"
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 combination of knife capable, by being pivotted, of being moved out of
the path of the projection or projections on that side of the linotype; automatic
mechanism adapted to ensure the removal of the knife out of the said
path; and automatic mechanism adapted to return the knife to its normal
position.
2. The combination of knife capable, by being pivotted, of being moved out of
the path of the projection or projections on that side of the linotype; automatic
mechanism adapted to be freed by a push from the linotype, for ensuring the
removal of the knife out of the said path; and automatic mechanism for returning
the knife to its normal position.
3. The combination of knife capable, by having a sliding motion, of being moved
out of the path of the projection or projections on that side of the linotype; auto-
matic mechanism adapted to ensure the removal of the knife out of the said
path; and automatic mechanism adapted to return the knife to its normal
position.
4. The combination of knife capable, by having a sliding motion, of being moved
out of the path of the projection or projections on that side of the linotype; auto-
matic mechanism adapted to be freed by a push from the linotype, for ensuring the
removal of the knife out of the said path; and automatic mechanism adapted to
return the knife to its normal position.
5. The combination of a series of knife sections or layers constituting, when
standing in their normal positions, one entire knife, and each one capable, by being
pivotted, of being moved out of the path of the projection on that side of the lino-
type opposite to it; automatic mechanism adapted to ensure the removal of that
section out of the said path; and automatic mechanism adapted to return the said
section to its normal position.
6. The combination of a series of knife sections or layers constituting, when
standing in their normal positions, one entire knife, and each one capable by being
pivotted of being moved out of the path of the projection opposite to it on that
side of the linotype; automatic mechanism adapted to be freed by a push from the
respective projection for ensuring the removal of the knife section opposite to it
out of the said path; and automatic mechanism for returning the said knife section
to its normal position.
7. The combination of a series of knife sections or layers constituting, when
standing in their normal positions, one entire knife, and each one capable, by
having a sliding motion, of being moved out of the path of the projection on that
side of the linotype opposite to it; automatic mechanism adapted to ensure the
removal of that section out of the said path; and automatic mechanism adapted to
return the said section to its normal position.
8. The combination of a series of knife sections or layers constituting, when
standing in their normal positions, one entire knife, and each one capable, by
having a sliding motion, of being moved out of the path of the projection opposite
to it on that side of the linotype; automatic mechanism adapted to be freed by a
push from the respective projection for ensuring the removal of the knife section

page_text: opposite to it out of the said path; and automatic mechanism for returning the
said knife section to its normal position.
Dated the 19th day of November 1897.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.