Improvements in and relating to Machines for Making Type-bars for Printing.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Making Type-bars
for Printing.
I, FRED EUGENE BRIGHT, of Hollenden Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio, United
States of America, Mechanical 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:--
This invention relates to machines of the kind or class described in the 'Speci-
fications of Letters Patent No. 15060 A.D. 1890 and No. 24288 A.D. 1893 for
Setting type matrices and casting lines of type by the aid of such matrices.
My present invention comprises improvements relating to the mould in which
the line of type is cast, whereby the opening and closing of the ends of the mould
are effected in an improved manner and the changing of the mould to allow of
casting lines of type of different lengths and thicknesses is facilitated.
The present invention also provides means for drawing the assembled matrix
bars into proper aligument before the casting of the line of type is effected.
The said invention also provides an improvement relating to the construction of
the matrix bars, improved means for facilitating the removal and replacement of
said bars from and on the suspension wires, and means for firmly locking the
assembled matrix bars before casting the line of type.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure is a plan of a portion of a machine constructed according to my
invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same looking from the left in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation on a larger scale and as seen from the front of the
machine, of the mould, its supporting arm, the device for drawing down the
matrix bars into proper alignment, and the means for opening and closing
the mould.
Figure 4 is a similar view of the same parts in another position, the mould
being open.
Figure 5 is a top view, and
Figure 6 is an end view of the mould on a still larger scale.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of two matrix bars on the supporting wire and
illustrates the mode of removing the bars from said wire.
Figure 8 is a view on a larger scale of a portion of a matrix bar and of a device
for stamping the matrix and for forming a datum notch in the bar as hereinafter
described.
Figure 9 is a front elevation of the device for firmly locking the matrix bars just
prior to casting the line of type.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several figures.
The mould A is furnished at its ends with loose sliding plates A', A' that serve
to close the ends of the opening in the mould while the casting is being effected,
the said sliding plates being moved to uncover the ends of the said opening when
the cast line of type is to be ejected. The sliding plates are pressed against the
ends of the mould and retained in position by springs B, B. Each plate is
constructed with an arm furnished with teeth and constituting a rack a which gears
with along toothed pinion C journalled in bearings in the oscillatory arm D that
carries the mould. With the pinion C is geared a segment pinion C¹ which is
suitably journalled in the arm D and is integral with or is secured to an arm E

page_text: that carries a pin E. The arm D that carries the mould is secured to an
oscillatory shaft D' and is moved up to the matrices as shown in Figure 3 when
the casting is to be effected and- is then turned down to the position shown in
Figure 4 to allow of the ejection of the cast line of type.
In moving to the position shown in Figure 4 the pin E' slides down the groove
of a stationary fork F which is so shaped that in the downward movement of the
arm D the arm E is thereby turned about its axis and is thus caused to move the
plates A', A' and uncover the ends of the mould whereupon the siiding ejector G
Figure 1 can pass into the mould, and push out the line of cast type. During the
upward movement of the arm D the arm E is caused by the fork to turn in the
opposite direction and so to move back the plates A', A and close the ends of
the mould ready for the next casting. Preferably the pin E is furnished with a
loose roller to minimise the friction between the pin and the fork. When it is
desired to produce a line of type having a different length or thickness a new
.mould of the proper size is substituted for the one on the arm D. The moulds are
conveniently secured on the arm by screws. The pinion C extends the full length
of the longest mould that will be used on the arm D and it is therefore always
adapted to gear with the toothed racks of the sliding plates at the ends of any of
the moulds and hence there is no difficulty experienced in changing the length of
the line of type to be produced. The toothed segment C may if desired be
dispensed with and the arm E be connected directly to the pinion C.
For drawing down the matrix bars to their proper position prior to the casting
of the line of type and so ensuring the proper alignment of the letters and signs in
the cast line of type I construct each matrix bar II with a hook shaped lower
extremity and provide a wide hook J, pivoted by the trunnions J to the arm D,
for engaging with the hooked ends of all the matrix bars. The said hook J is
controlled by springs K which allow the hook to yield when it is brought against
the matrix bars during the upward movement of the arm D whereby unnecessary
pressure of the hook on the matrix bars is avoi led while at the same time the said
springs ensure the proper engagement of the hook J with the said bars. The
springs K are secured to the arm D and bear on pins K' projecting laterally from
the tail end of the hook J. As the arm D ascends, the hook J is first pressed
against the matrix hars with a yielding pressure and then during the continuation
of the upward movement of the arm D and the consequent turning movement of
the pivots J'about the axis D' the hook J is gradually drawn downward and caused
to pull down the matrix bars, by acting on their looked extremities & thereby
ensuring that the lower ends of the said bars shall firmly rest upon the supporting
bar K in which position the matrices will be in proper alignment.
The matrix bars H are formed with loops H at their upper ends to hook on the
suspension bars or wires L (Figure 7). I make the opening H2 in the loop H
smaller than the diameter of the suspension wire so that the matrix bar cannot be
taken off except at one place L' where the wire is made thinner by a flattened or
grooved portion being formed on or in it. The said flattened or grooved portion is
formed in such a position that the matrix bars must be raised as indicated by the
left bar in Figure 7 before it can be removed. Any one of the matrix bars H on
the wire L can be removed and replaced instantly at the place L' without
disturbing the other bars on the same wire, and it is practically impossible for the
matrix bars to become accidentally unhooked.
It will be understood that the lower ends of the matrix bars should be accurately
formed in order that when the hook J takes hold of them and draws them down
tightly on the bar K the letters and signs may be in exaet alignment. In order to
ensure the required accuracy in the formation of the bars I proceed as follows,
that is to say, I stamp in the face of the bar at the same time that the matrix is
formed therein a notch M Figure 8 by means of a device N which contains a die P
for forming the matrix in the matrix bar and a elisel shaped tool O for forming
the notch M. It is obvious that the die P and chisel O may be formed in one
piece if desired. The distance between the die P and the chisel point O is constant.

page_text: In some instances the notch M is formed first and then is used as a means for
determining the relative position of the matrix, but I prefer to for.n the notch and
the letter or sign at the same time and in one operation.. The notch M serves as
the datum mark from which the distances to the upper and lower faces of the
hooked part h of the matrix bar are measured, and by the aid of a template or
gauge applied to this datum mark the relative position and shape of the lower end
of the matrix bar can be accurately tested. When the ends of the matrix bars are
shaped in a milling machine the uotch M serves as a datum mark for use in setting
the bars.
For increasing the lateral pressure on the assembled matrix bars after the
spacing discs have accomplished their work and just prior to the completion of the
upward movement of the arm D I provide a wedge Q having a very slight taper.
The said wedge bears at one side against a fixed abutment and at its opposite side
against a loose plate R which forms an abutment for the matrix bars. The wedge
is actuated by a spring or weight at the proper moment to tighten up the matrix
bars. In the construction shown in the drawing the wedge is furnished with a
pin Qworking loosely in a hole S' of a plate S which is controlled by a spring V
acting through an arm V₁ that maintains an antifriction roller S2 on a pin carried
by the plate pressed against a cam T on the shaft D¹ of the arm D. This cam has
in it a depression T¹ which just as the arm D is completing its upward movement
arrives under the roller Saud allows the plate S to be drawn down by the
controlling spring whereupon the wedge is actuated through the pin Q' and the
matrix bars are tightened. On the return or downward movement of the arm D
the cam operates to push back the plate S and so raises the wedge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A detachable casting mould carried by an oscillatory arm and furnished with
sliding end plates geared to a long toothed pinion which is actuated by means of an
arm and a stationary fork, substantially as, aud for the purpose, specified.
2. A spring-controlled hook pivoted to the oscillatory arm carrying the casting
mould and adapted to engage with the hooked ends of the assembled matrix bars,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
3. Means for facilitating the removal of the matrix bars from the suspension
wires or their replacement on said wires, substantially as described.
4. A matrix bar provided with a datum notch substantially as, and for the
purpose, specified.
5. The wedge device for firmly compressing the assembled matrix bars just prior
to the moulding operation, substantially as described.
6. A machine for making type bars for printing having incorporated therein one
or more of the improvements substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 27th day of July 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.