Improvements in Apparatus for Type Founding.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Type Founding.
We, The WICKS ROTARY TYPE-CASTING CO. LIMITED, of 167, Strand, London,
W.C., Type Founders, and FREDERICK WICKS, of Halfway Lodge, Esher, in the
County of Surrey, Author, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
In the Specifications No. 1462 of 1881, No. 12,784 of 1884, No. 4986 of 1894
and No. 17469 of 1897, apparatus are described for casting type by injecting
metal into moulds constructed in a rotating disc. In these specifications a pump
is described as the means by which the metal is projected into the moulds. In
order to ensure a more even flow of metal we according to the present invention
apply compressed air either to regulate the flow of the metal when it is pumped
or as the force for projecting the metal.
When compressed air is applied as a regulator the metal pump is placed in the
melting pot or reservoir of molten metal. The discharge passage from this pump
communicates with a secondary reservoir, partly immersed in the molten metal
and from this reservoir a channel leads to the nozzle through which the molten
metal is projected to the moulds. Air or gas is forced into the upper portion of
the secondary reservoir so as to ensure a constant pressure on the surface of the
molten metal thus regulating its flow to the moulds.
For projecting the metal by the force of compressed air without a metal pump
several reservoirs are placed in the molten metal each having an inlet provided
with a valve, which, when open allows metal to flow into the reservoir. This
valve being then closed, a valve in the upper part of the reservoir is opened
admitting compressed air or gas by which metal is forced to the nozzle. The
air or gas valve being then closed an air discharge valve and also the metal valve
is opened and the action is repeated.
Each of the reservoirs operating in rotation, the flow of metal is approximately
constant.
In the Specification No. 17,469 of 1897 a revolving helical semi-circular blade
is described as means of placing the types in position after being ejected from
the mould disc. For this blade we provide according to the present invention, a
pawl under which the types pass as they are delivered so that they remain upright
being prevented from falling over by types in front of them and by the pawl
behind them.
In Specification No. 17,469 of 1897 an arrangement is described for adjusting
the matrices so as to cast types of exact length by a screw in the heel of the jacket
which encloses the matrix plunger. According to the present invention this
adjustment is effected by a pair of vertical taper screws inserted between shoulders
of a jacket and an upwardly projecting part of the matrix plunger which is held

page_text: between these shoulders and can be moved a little backwards or forwards by
loosening the one and tightening the other of the two screws.
The mould grooves in the disc are according to the present invention made
between the edges of sector shaped plates which are screwed down on a disc having
radial grooves to receive ribs projecting down from the undersides of those plates.
The mould grooves are covered by a pair of rings presenting between them an
annular space into which projects at the point of casting a segment fitting a
groove of the disc so as to form the nicks of the types. The rings above mentioned
may have cells for circulation of cooling water.
Dated this 6th day of April 1898
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
.
We, The WICKS ROTARY TYPE-CASTING CO., LIMITED, of 167, Strand, London,
W.C., Type Founders, and FREDERICK WICKS, of Halfway Lodge, Esher, in the
County of Surrey, Author, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
In the Specifications No. 1462 of 1881, No. 12,784 of 1884, No. 4986 of 1894
and No. 17469 of 1897, apparatus are described for casting type by injecting
metal into moulds constructed in a rotating disc. In these specifications a pump
is described as the means by which the metal is projected into the moulds. In
order to ensure a more even flow of metal we according to the present invention
apply compressed air either to regulate the flow of the metal when it is pumped
or as the force for projecting the metal.
When compressed air is applied as a regulator the metal pump instead of dis-
charging directly into the tube leading to the jet nozzle discharges into an air
vessel placed in the melting pot so as to be kept heated, and from this vessel the
molten metal is projected to the moulds. Air or gas is forced into the upper
portion of the secondary reservoir so as to ensure a constant pressure on the surface
of the molten metal thus regulating its flow to the moulds.
For projecting the metal by the force of compressed air without a metal pump
several reservoirs are placed in the molten metal each constructed as shewn in
vertical section in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
It consists of a vessel a having on each side a slide valve c and d linked to a
lever e caused to reciprocate by a cam f. At the top and bottom of the vessel are
ports governed by corresponding passages through the slide valves. The ports
communicate by a pipe with a reservoir of compressed air or gas; the ports h
with a vessel in which a partial vacuum is maintained by the pump which com-
presses the air or gas; the ports i open to the molten metal in the pot and the
ports lead to a longitudinal channel k which extends along the row of vessels a
and communicates with the pipe leading to the nozzle n.
As the slide valve reciprocates, opening the ports g and h alternately the metal
in a is forced by the ports into the channel and thence to the nozzle, and
fresh metal is drawn in by the ports i. As there are two or more vessels a, the
cams which work their valves may be so set on the shaft relatively to one another.
that the flow of metal to the nozzle is kept constant.

page_text: In the Specification No. 17469 of 1897 a revolving helical semi-circular blade H¹
shewn in Figs. 1, and 5 of the drawings is described as means of placing the
types in position after being ejected from the mould disc and advanced by a chain.
For this blade we provide according to the present invention, a pawl under
which the types pass as they are delivered so that they remain upright being
prevented from falling over by types in front of them and by the pawl behind
them.
Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings shews this pawl in elevation. As in the
previous specification I is part of the chain conveying the types t to the table T
on which they are successively lodged: On a bracket projecting from the
table T we pivot a pawl having its underside sloped and provided with an
adjusting screw the end of which rests on a stop m. As each type t is carried
forward under the pawl 7 it slightly raises the pawl, and then when the type has
just passed the end of the slope, the pawl drops and prevents the type that has
passed its slope from tumbling over backwards.
In the same Specification No. 17,469 of 1897 an arrangement B1 B2 B3 shewn
in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings is described for adjusting the matrices so as to
cast types of exact length by a screw in the heel of the jacket which encloses the
matrix plunger. According to the present invention this adjustment is effected
as shewn in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, Fig. 3 being a side
view, Fig. 4 a plan and Fig. 5 an end view of one of the matrix plungers B pro-
vided with means of longitudinal adjustment according to the present invention.
On the enlarged part of the plunger is screwed a piece p and between the ends of
this piece and the bent ends of a yoke o are inserted tapered setting screws by
screwing back the one and screwing forward the other of which the position of
the front or character end of the matrix relatively to the rear end of the yoke o
which bears on the cam can be delicately adjusted, thus determining the depth
of the type mould.
The mould grooves in the disc are according to the present invention made
between the edges of sector shaped plates which are screwed down on a disc
having radial grooves to receive ribs projecting down from the undersides of
those plates.
Figs. 6 and 7are sections on planes at right angles to each other and Fig. 8
is a plan of part of the mould wheel, the mould grooves s of which are according
to the present invention formed by the space between sector pieces that are
screwed on the wheel wc, each of these sectors having on its under side a rib fitting
in a groove formed in the wheel. By this mode of forming the moulds s the
angles at their bottoms are made quite sharp which they cannot easily be made
when the grooves are cut out by planing or milling.
According to the present invention as shewn in section in Fig. 9 and in elevation
in Fig. 10 the mould grooves s are covered by a pair of rings screwed to the
wheel w these rings presenting between them a groove to receive a segment
which near the point of casting and for some distance on each side projects down
between them its lower edge forming the nick of the type. The segment is held
between end guides y and is pressed down by a spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim
in respect of rotary type founding apparatus is:-
1. Forcing the molten metal to the jet nozzle by the pressure of air or gas by
means of apparatus constructed and operating substantially as described with
reference to Fig. 1.
2. In combination with the type delivery chain an inclined pawl arranged and
operating substantially as described with reference to Fig. 2.
3. For effecting adjustment of mould depth the yoke and conical screws applied
to the matrix plunger, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

page_text: 4. Making the mould grooves as spaces between sector pieces screwed on the
mould wheel substantially as described with reference to Figs. 6, 7 and 8.
5. In combination with the mould wheel a pair of cover rings fixed thereon and
a nick forming segment, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 9 and 10.
Dated this 5th day of January 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.