provements in the Trimming Mechanism of Linotype Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification loft 27th Oct 1808 Accented 27th Jan
1839
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in 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, do hereby declare the nature of this invention―
a communication from abroad by The National Typographic Company, a company
organized under the laws of the State of West Virginia, and having its principal
places of business at Washington, DC., and New York City, United States of
America-to be as follows:-
-
The present invention relates to improvements in the trimming mechanism of
linotype machines. The exact nature of it will be best understood from a des-
cription of it as applied to the Mergenthaler linotype machine described in the
Specification of Letters Patent 14582 1890.
In that machine, the linotype is cast in a mould situated in a vertical wheel.
The mould cavity is a slot parallel with a diameter of the wheel and nearer to
the periphery of it than to the centre. The cast takes place at a time when the
mould wheel is standing with the mould cavity in a horizontal position. It is
then turned until the mould is in a vertical position. The two trimming knives
are stationary and their edges are straight, vertical, and parallel. The distance
separating them is rather less than the thickness of the linotype. When the
mould cavity is in the vertical position just mentioned, the linotype is opposite
the edges of the trimming knives and the space between them. The trimming
consists in shaving the two sides of the linotype as much as may be required.
It is effected by the forward motion of a so-called ejector blade pushing the lino-
type before it out of the mould cavity, between the knives, and through the port
between them into a galley in the front of the machine.
The present invention consists principally in improved means for adjusting
the distance between the moveable and the fixed knives to adapt them for
trimming linotypes of different thicknesses. It includes an improved connec-
tion between the spring. plate which form one side of the galley port and the
moveable knife.
In carrying it into effect, the moveable knife is held to the knife block by
This
any, suitable device which permits of its motion to and from the fixed one.
device may take the form of enlarged holes in the knife block for the shanks
of the holding screws. There is formed upon the right hand or outer side of
the knife block, an inclined surface facing the same side of the moveable knife.
A bar having a corresponding decline upon one face of it, stands between the in-
clined surface and the said side of the moveable knife, with its decline in contact
with the inclined surface above mentioned after the manner of the two tapered
faces of, a double wedge. A bar or other suitable type of spring is provided to
keep the moveable knife pushed away from the fixed one. If a bar spring
is used, it is convenient to fix it by its middle to the side of the knife block,

page_text: its ends bearing upon the opposite sides of the shanks of the above mentioned
holding screws.
The distinguishing feature of this part of the invention, is the combination
of the fixed inclined surface on the knife block with the corresponding decline
on a bar separate from both the moveable knife and the block and moveable
between them in the direction of the length of the knife as described further
on. That being so, the said invention does not limit us to the number of in-
clined surfaces with their corresponding declines on the separate bar. We
propose that there shall be two on each near the ends of the moveable knife.
As it may be difficult to get at the inclined surfaces to machine them, a separate
one consisting conveniently of the ground end of a screw working through the
block at right angles with the plane of such surface, is provided.
There is combined with the said bar, a suitable device for moving its decline
or declines over the respective inclined surface or surfaces. It consists preferably
of a hand lever pivotted upon the knife block, its rear end, slotted for the purpose,
engaging a stud projecting from the plate.
The locking device for locking the bar in any desired position, consists of a
rack on the bar and a holt working in a groove in the knife block in a line at
right angles to the said rack and having its end suitably enlarged for the purpose,
racked to fit the rack on the bar. A protruding spring stands in the groove
between the blind end of the latter and the bolt. A thumb piece or knob, made
fast to the bolt, projects through a slot in the knife block, to enable the operator
to disengage the bolt from the plate. There is a suitable scale of thicknesses of
linotype upon the outer side of the separate bar above described, reading with
an index on the knife block or the bolt.
The cutting edges of both knives are inclined from end to end in the same
direction.
The spring plate above mentioned as forming one side of the port through
which the trimmed knives are pushed into the galley, is held loosely to the knife
block and supported on a spring which, by pushing it out into the port, serves
to keep it up to the path of the linotypes undergoing ejection According to
the present invention, the plate carries lugs on its rear edge which engage in
a wider slot in the moveable knife.
Dated this 27th day of January 1898.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in 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 Licensors and Manufacturers under the
"Linotype" l'atents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention-a com-
munication to us from abroad by The National Typographic Company, organized
under the laws of the State of West Virginia, and having its principal places
of business at Washington, D.C., and New York City, United States of America
and in what manner it is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement.
The present invention relates to improvements in the trimming mechanism of
linotype machines. The exact nature of it will be best understood from a des-

page_text: cription of it as applied to the Mergenthaler linotype machine described in the
Specification of Letters Patent 14582 of 1890.
In that machine, the linotype is cast in a mould situated in a vertical wheel.
The mould cavity is a slot parallel with a diameter of the wheel and nearer to
the periphery of it than to the centre. The cast takes place at a time when the
mould wheel is standing with the mould cavity in a horizontal position. It is
then turned until the mould is in a vertical position. The two trimming knives
are stationary and their edges are straight, vertical, and parallel. The distance
separating them is rather less than the thickness of the linotype. When the
mould cavity is in the vertical position just mentioned, the linotype is opposite
the edges of the trimming knives and the space between them. The trimming
consists in shaving the two sides of the linotype as much as may be required.
It is effected by the forward motion of a so-called ejector blade pushing the lino-
type before it out of the mould cavity, between the knives, and through the port
between them into a galley in the front of the machine.
The first part of the invention relates to improved means for adjusting the dis-
tance between the moveable and the fixed knives, to adapt them for trimming
linotypes of different thicknesses. The second part of it consists of an improved
connection between the spring plate which forms one side of the galley port
and the moveable knife.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of
this specification and read therewith:-
Figure is a side elevation from the right hand side of the machine.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation shewing the movable knife away from the fixed
one.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation shewing the movable knife in its nearest position
to the fixed knife.
Figures 4 and 5 are, respectively, detail side and rear elevations of the bar
spring.
Figure 6. is a rear elevation of the locking bolt and its retracting knob.
Figures 7 and 8 are, respectively, detail side and rear elevations of the locking
mechanism.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of Figure 10 looking at it in the direction of the
arrow in the latter; and Figure 10, a plan partly in section, of the improved
knife and spring plate.
No, N", are the fixed and moveable knives, respectively. The moveable one, No,
is held to the knife block P' by screws P, P". Their shanks are passed through
holes P1, P2, in the said block, and those holes are sufficiently larger than the
said shanks to allow of the knife N being moved up to and away from the
fixed one N the screw threaded ends of the shanks being screwed into the said
knife No, as heretofore. The cutting edges of both knives are inclined from the
vertical. throughout their length and in the same direction.
According to the first part of the invention, there are one or more inclined
surfaces P fast on the knife block P, facing the right side (looking at the
machine from the front), of the knife N6. If there are more than one such. sur-
faces, they are counterparts of each other. Two, the number illustrated, one
opposite the top and the other opposite the bottom portion of the right side of
the knife, answer well. Between the surfaces 13 and the said right side of
the knife, No, there is a loose wedge. P. It is shorter than that knife because
it must move up and down between the respective levels of the top and bottom
thereof. The left side of it is flat and vertical to fit up to and slide smoothly
over the adjacent side of the knife. Its right side carries declines P15 to fit up
to and slide smoothly over the respective inclines P13. There is a bar or other
suitable spring capable of keeping the moveable knife No away from the fixed
one No. The figures shew a bar spring P16 held to the right side of the knife
block P by a headed screw P17 passed through it midway of its length and having
its nose screwed into a piece P18 fast to the said block to receive it. Its ends

page_text: bear upon the opposite sides of the screws I'll already described, they being bent
to partially embrace the said screws, as shown. Figure 2 shews the spring P16
in its normal position, holding the moveable knife №6 at its maximum distance
from the fixed knife P. Figure 3 shews the spring in tension by reason of the
knife No having been forced towards the fixed one No.
Referring again to the inclines P13, their position combined with the fact that
each one is integral with the knife block P¹ makes it difficult to get at them to
machine them. For that reason, the operative surface of each is conveniently
provided by the ground end of a screw P19 screwed through the block P¹ from
the right hand. Each screw is held in its proper position by a locking nut P20
Figures 2 and 3 distinctly shew the ground noses of both screws projecting to
the left. beyond the incline P There is combined with the wedge P suitable
mechanism for moving it over the inclines P13 or, as the case may be, over the
noses of the screws 119, and also for locking it in the desired position. That
mechanism consists of a hand lever P20, having its fulcrum in a stud Pal screwed
into the right side of the knife block P', and its rear end notched to embrace
a stud P fast to and projecting laterally from the right side of the wedge P¹;
a bolt P33 working in a horizontal blind socket Pot on the right side of the knife
block P, from which it is protruded by an internal spring P25 and in which t
can be retracted by a knob P; and a rack P27 in the front side of the wedge P,
the nose of the bolt P being suitably shaped to engage in the indentations
between the teeth thereof. The wedge P is marked with suitable readings P
against the teeth of its rack P7, to indicate the value in thickness of linotype
of each indentation.
The second part of the invention is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. N108 is
the plate forming the right side of the port in the front of the machine and
through which the trimmed linotypes are pushed by the ejector into the galley.
It is held somewhat loosely to the left side of the knife block P¹ by gudgeons
standing in sockets in the said block, and is pushed out therefrom by a spring
(or springs) N113, as described in detail in the Specification of Letters Patent 12213
of 1897. According to this second part, the spring plate N108 carries lugs N114.
The latter are fast to it and engage in notches is in the front face of the
knife No. These notches N115 are as much larger than the lugs N114 as may be
necessary to provide for the above described adjustment of the knife No and for
the lateral motion of the spring plate N108. Such extra size of the said notches
is clearly shewn by dotted lines in Figure 9 and by full lines in Figure 10.
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 herein before described combination with knife block and movable knife,
of inclined surface or surfaces on the former; wedge working between the said
surface or surfaces on the one side and the knife on the other; and mechanisms
for moving the wedge into position and locking it there.
2. The hereinbefore described combination with knife block and movable knife,
of inclined surface or surfaces on the former wedge working between the said
surface or surfaces on the one side and the knife on the other; spring capable
of keeping the movable knife away from the fixed one; and mechanisms for
moving the wedge into position and locking it there.
3. The hereinbefore described combination with knife block and movable knife,
of inclined surface or surfaces on the former, each having its operative surface
provided by a screw capable of being locked in position; wedge working.
between the said surface or surfaces on the one side and the knife on the other;"
and mechanisms for moving the wedge into position and locking it there.
4. The hereinbefore described combination with knife block and movable knife,
of inclined surface or surfaces on the former; wedge working between the said
surface or surfaces on the one side and the knife on the other; spring capable

page_text: of keeping the movable knife away from the fixed one; and the specified mechan-
isms for moving the wedge into position and locking it there.
5. The hereinbefore described combination of spring plate; movable knife;
lugs on the former; and notches in the latter for the said lugs to respectively
engage in.
6. The hereinhefore described combination of knife block; movable knife;
inclined surface or surfaces on the said block; wedge between it and the said
knife; spring for moving the movable knife towards the fixed one; mechanisms
for moving the wedge into position and holding it there; spring plate having
lugs thereon; and notches in the movable knife for the lugs to respectively
engage in.
Dated this 97th day of October 1898
CHAS. S. WOODROFFE
188, Fleet Street, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.