Improvements in and connected with Linotype Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr.,
2000
1898
6th Ann
1900
Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, Oth Jan, 1800 Accepted, 6th Apr.
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Linotype Machines.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LOCK, Manager and Secretary of The Linotype Company,
Limited, of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Sole Proprietors of,
and Sole Manufacturers under, the "Linotype" Patents, ROBERT CHAMBERS,
FRANK CUTTRISS DOLBY, RICHARD CORNELIUS ELLIOTT, WALTER HEAP, CHARLES
HOLLIWELL, WARWICK JAMES LEWIS, HERBERT PEARCE, and MATTHEW HENRY
WHITTAKER, all of The Linotype Works, Broadheath, in the County of Chester,
Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in and connected with linotype
machines. Those improvements are more particularly applicable to the well
known Mergenthaler Linotype machine, that being the one for which they have
been specially devised. That machine is described in detail in the Specification
of Letters Patent 14582 of 1890, of which reference should be made for further
information as to its construction and operation.
The first part of the said invention consists in an improved buffer to relieve
the work of the star wheel of the assembling mechanism. The function of that
wheel is to up-end the matrices one by one as they come down the assembling
belt and to drive them into the assembly block. In being so driven, the wheel
has to overcome the spring that closes the left shifter arm up to the right shifter
arm. According to this part of the invention, the left shifter arm is provided
with a projection. In the path of this projection as it moves towards the right
shifter arm, there is a stop adjustable in respect of its distance from the last
mentioned arm. That adjustability is secured by mounting the stop on a rod
adapted to slide in a socket fast on the machine frame. That socket is provided
with a suitable device for holding the rod in any position, such as a set screw.
The ston is set so as to hold the left shifter arm nearly but not quite the length
of the line from its fellow arm, so that the star wheel will have to overcome
the pull of the spring above mentioned through only the difference between that
length and the distance at which the two arms were standing apart.
The second part of the invention consists in an improvement in the justifica-
tion block, that is the piece that bears against the feet of the space bars during
the act of justification. That block consists of two pieces, the top one of which
has hitherto been held to the lower one by ordinary screws passed upwards
through the latter into the former. This part of the invention facilitates the
removal of the top piece and the fixation of a substitute one by means of a milled
head screw working upwards through the bottom piece and engaging the top
piece by a disc shaped end which stands in the horizontal portion of a T-shaped
slot in that top piece.
The third part of the invention consists in improved mechanism for adjusting
the position of the screw of the vice in which is held the composed line of
matrices and space bars during the acts of justification and casting. That screw
is now provided with a disc fast on it and holding a series of notches in its
periphery and which are parallel with the latter. Further, there is combined

page_text: with it, a spring catch presenting an external thumb bit and adapted by engaging
in the notch opposite it, to hold the screw in the corresponding position. The
spring catch just described is carried by the usual outside cap through which
which the 'unscrewing. or opening motion is transmitted to the vice.
The fourth part of the invention consists in an improved space bar escapement
or delivering device. According to it, the rod that works the notched sectors
that control the delivery of the space bars by engaging the tops thereof, now
carries an arm which presents a finger under the foot of the front space bar to
raise the latter a little at the right moment in order that the top of the bar shall
fall up to the notched sectors so as to be properly engaged by them.
The fifth part of the invention consists in an improved space bar grabber, that
being the device that returns the space bars to their magazine. According to.
it, there is a block and a cushioning device interposed between the lever that
works the grabber-a horizontal bar hooked and shouldered as heretofore--and
the grabber itself. The block is held to the lever by an adjustable screw, while
the grabber is held to the block by pins fast to the former and working vertically
through holes in the latter. A cushioning spring surrounds each pin between
the block and the grabber.
The sixth part of the invention consists in an improved lift for lifting the
matrices up to within reach of the threads of the distributing screws. Accord-
ing to it, a leading matrix of the row of those on their way to the distributing
screws is pushed
the path of the up to the side face of a revolving collar exactly transverse to
row, whereby that matrix is put into and maintained in an
exactly transverse position. A snail on the axis of the collar then engages under
the foot of the matrix and gradually lifts it. At the conclusion of the lift, the
leading matrix is in the grip of the screw threads above mentioned and the zero
of the snail is in front of the then leading matrix of the row, which is forthwith
pushed up to the collar aforesaid to be lifted in its turn. The collar and snail
are driven by a train of gearing from one of the distributor screws. In that
train there is a suitable device for throwing the snail out of gear, and which
device consists, preferably, of one wheel of the train of gearing."
Dated this 23rd day of March 1808
Improvements in and connected with Linotype Machines.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LOCK, Manager and Secretary of The Linotype Company,
Limited, of 188, Fleet Street, in the City of London, ROBERT CHAMBERS, FRANK
CUTTRISS DOLBY, RICHARD CORNELIUS ELLIOTT, WALTER HEAP, CHARLES HOLLI-
WELL, WARWICK JAMES LEWIS, and HERBERT PEARCE, all of the Linotype Works,
Broadheath, in the County of Chester, and MATTHEW HENRY WHITTAKER,
formerly of the last mentioned address but at present residing at 6, Trafford
Road, Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, 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 fellowing statement:-
The present invention relates to improvements in and connected with linotype
machines, which improvements are more particularly applicable to the well-
known Mergenthaler machine, that being the one for which they have been
specially devised. It will be found described in detail in the Specification of
Letters Patent 14582 of 1890.
1

page_text: Referring to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of this
necification and read therewith
Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating the first part of the invention:
Figure 2 is a front elevation illustrating the second part of the invention:
Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a detail section on the same line of the top half of the justifier
late:
T
.
f the hattam half of the inatifion alata.
Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating the first part of the invention:
Figure 2 is a front elevation illustrating the second part of the invention:
Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2:
Figure 4 is a detail section on the same line of the top half of the justifier
plate:
Figure
bottom half of the justifier plate:
Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the said top half:
Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the same half and its holding screw:
Figure 8 is a rear elevation:
Figure 9 is a side elevation, and
Figures 10 and 10 are details illustrating the third part of the invention;
Figure 11 is a front elevation illustrating the fourth and fifth parts of the
invention:
Figure 12 is a plan of the said fifth part:
Figure 13 is a rear elevation illustrating the sixth part of the invention:
Figure 14 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 14-14 of
Figure 13. and from the left of it:
Figure 15 is a detail in rear elevation; and
Figure 16 is a detail in transverse vertical section.
The first part of the invention consists in an improved buffer to relieve the
work of the star wheel of the assembling mechanism. Referring to Figure 1, 93, 93,
are the vertical channels down which the matrices Y have dropped from the
magazine (not shewn in the figure) on to the assembling belt H, the rapid traverse
of which to the left hand has sent them down the inclined fixed plate h¹, over the
revolving star wheel h³, so presenting them to the mouth of the assembling block I.
h³ is the star wheel. Its function is to up-end the matrices one by one and to
drive them into the assembly block I against the yielding resistant j carried by
the sliding assembly bar J. L L are the pair of shifter arms into whose grip,
the composed line of matrices and space bars, is delivered at the proper moment,
by the assembly block. I. For the purpose of each reception, the left hand arm L
is capable of a horizontal sliding motion away from its fellow arm, which motion
has been heretofore imparted to it by the top of the resistant ; engaging its
bottom end, so that in addition to the work of up-ending the matrices Y and
pushing the resistant ; and bar J against the pull of the latter's returning
spring, the star wheel had also to overcome the pull of the spring ", which
is always pulling on that arm to return it to its fellow arm L' after the pair of
them has delivered the composed line to the transporter (not shewn).
According to this first part of the invention, there is an adjustable stop adapted
to engage the arm L during its above described return motion to the arm L',
at nearly but not quite the length of the next line to be composed, from the arm L¹,
the consequence being that the star wheel 3 will have to overcome the pull of
the spring through only the difference between that length and the distance
separating the arms L, L, when the operator begins to compose the said line.
112 is the stop. It is mounted upon a rod 13 which holds it in the path of the
stud 14 fast on the arm L. The rod is capable of sliding in a direction
parallel with the motion of the arm L, through a socket fast to the machine
frame A. That socket 715 is provided with a suitable device for holding the
stop in any position, such as a set screw 16 to pinch the rod 13 in the said
socket.
The second part of the invention consists in an improvement in the justification
block or piece that bears against the feet of the space bars during the act of
justification. Referring to Figures 2 to 7, 28, 29, are the justification rods
capable of sliding up and down through suitable guides in the vice frame P¹
p is the bottom half of the justification block; and 7, the top half. The
rods 28, 29, are pivotally connected to the under side of the bottom piece p. The

page_text: top half p lies on the top of the bottom piece pe with which it engages by
means of a ridge p57 on its under face engaging in a corresponding groove 258 in
the top of the bottom half 7. In addition to the engagement of the ridge p
in the groove ps, screws have hitherto been passed up through the bottom
half into the top half p
It is frequently necessary to change the top half 256 for one of another size,
and the object of this second part of the invention is to facilitate the removal of
the top half in use from off the bottom half p6 and the fixation of the sub-
stitute top. half 256 thereupon. This is accomplished by the combination of a
headed and nutted bolt in the bottom half 26 and a groove in the top half p56 in
which the head of the bolt can engage. p is the shank of the bolt. It fits in
a vertical hole extending through the bottom half. 760 is the head of the
bolt on the top side of the bottom half p6; and 61, the nut on the screw threaded
nose of the shank, on the bottom side. 2, 22, are holes in the nut pel to receive
a pointed wrench to turn the nut with. The groove above mentioned stands
opposite the bolt just described. It extends transversely across the under side
of the top half 256 through both it and the ridge 25. The upper portion p³ of
it, is in the top half 256, and is large enough to receive the bolt head p0, while
the lower portion 24 of it is in the ridge 27, and is only wide enough to pass
the shank 59, so that bolt and groove can engage with each other in the way
illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 7.
The third part of the invention is illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10. P¹ is
the vice frame; 21, 23, the vice jaws; p³, the vice screw engaging in a backing
up block p on the left hand (looking from the front of the machine) of the
vice jaw ; 2, a bridge piece fast on the block P to furnish a bearing for the
right hand end of the screw 28 27 a collar fast to the screw p³; and p, a link
that works the vice screw 23, for which purpose its top end is connected to the
lugs fast to and projecting radially from that collar. The function of the
link is to slacken the grip of the vice on a composed line in it, by turning
the screw p³, thereby withdrawing the block 6 from against the jaw pl for a
short distance, as soon as the linotype has been cast, in order that the composed
line can be lifted out of it. It has always been necessary to provide for the
exact adjustment of the distance at which the vice jaw p₁ should be held from
the jaw 7 at the time the composed line is held fast. Hitherto, there has been
used a combination of bush inside the collar 7,67 and fast on the screw p³; a
square on the outer end of the screw p³ to take a winch p7, or its equivalent;
a series of screw threaded holes in the said bush and a set screw working through
one hole in the collar 7,67 and adapted to engage in any one of the said series of
holes whichever should be brought opposite to it, and thereby holding the back-
ing up block 6 nearer to or farther from the vice jaw p¹. To use that com-
bination, the set screw was taken out of the bush in the collar 267, thereby dis-
connecting the screw 73 from the link 74, the screw 23 turned by its square 2,69
to the right or the left as might be required until the proper screw threaded
hole was opposite the set screw, the screw 3 connected to the link p again by
screwing the set screw into the proper hole.
This third part of the invention consists in a substitute combination for the
one just described. The parts of it are a disc 20 fast on the screw 7,³, a series
of equidistant grooves 71 in and across the periphery of that disc, and a catch p
pivotted on the collar 2,67 at 2273, presenting a thumb bit 27 outside that collar,
and spring whose action is to keep the nose of the catch 772 in close contact
with the periphery of the disc 7,70 and to make that nose engage in one particular
groove 7, as soon as the disc 20 shall have been turned so as to bring that
groove opposite the said nose.
4
The fourth part of the invention is illustrated in Figure 11. It consists in
an improved space bar escapement or delivery device. K is the space bar magazine 5
on the top rails 18 of which the space bars Z hangs by their shoulders z².
Gravity makes them slide down those rails up to the shoulders . The figure

page_text: shews only one top rail, one shoulder 6 and for each space bar only one hanging
shoulder 2. The second one of each pair is immediately in rear of respectively
the one shewn. 12 is a connecting rod to a pair of pivotted sectors 19, the
notches in which receive the shoulders 22 of the leading space bar to lift it
out of the magazine K. is the spring to return the sectors 19. It will be
noticed that the lower portions of the space bars are much heavier than upper
portions of the same vertical length. Further, their feet do not rub over any
surface, as they move towards the right hand side of the magazine K. When
the space bars are larger than a certain limit, the excess weight of those lower
portions carries them to the right hand side of the magazine K much more
quickly than the shoulders can slide down the top rails 18. Under such
circumstances, the shoulders 2 jam, and those of the front space bar cannot
enter the sector notches 20. According to this fourth part of the invention,
the rod ¹² carries an arm preferably adjustable upon that rod, and which
holds a finger 23 under the foot of the leading space bar Z, to lift the latter a
little at the right moment, and consequently its shoulders off the rails 18, 80
that they shall be free to fall into the notches 20. The figure shews the said
space bar lifted and its shoulders 22 properly entered into the said notches.
The fifth part of the invention consists in an improved space bar grabber. It is
illustrated in Figures 11 and 12. U is the space bar grabber; u, its hook;
and the arm that moves it to the left along the top of the machine frame A
to catch hold of the space bars shewn on the left hand of the figure, where they
are waiting for it, and to pull them into the magazine K by its return motion
to the position shewn. 220 is the grabber stop. The parts just described are
substantially the same as heretofore. The connection between the arm s and
the grabber U was by means of a link. According to the present invention,
that connection consists of a bar or block u pivotally connected to the top of
the arms as by a screw u²; a connection between the block and the grabber U
consisting of a pair of pins 3 fast to the latter and standing thereupon symmetri-
cally with reference to the pivot ²; and a cushioning device between the arm. s
and the grabber U. This cushioning device is shewn as a spiral spring u
surrounding each pin u³ and bearing upon the respectively bottom and top faces
of the block u¹ and the grabber U. The pair of pins u³ serve also as a guide
for the block through the motion which it makes to accommodate itself to the
arcual motion of the arms s'.
The sixth part of the invention consists in an improved lift for lifting the
matrices up to within reach of the threads of the distributing screws. It is
illustrated in Figures 13 to 16. Detailed descriptions of lifts differing from that
described in the specification of Letters Patent 14582 of 1890 above mentioned,
will be found in the specifications of Letters Patent 26648 of 1896 and 9569 of
1897:
t is the rail from which the matrices Y of a line hang as they are being carried
up to the lift box T"; and W₁, the pusher by which the matrices are moved off
it into the distributor box T. It is fast to the end of a slide which has a recipro-
cating horizontal motion in a suitable guide. Neither slide nor guide are
included in the figures. The matrices ride on the rails to and t¹, as they pass
through the box T₁, until the leading one reaches the matrix stops t³, up which
they must be lifted so that they can travel forward along the inclines 8 until
they are properly engaged by the threads of the traversing screws, 9, 10 and
the distributor rail a.
According to the said sixth part, the screw 8 has a threadless prolongation 10
of it to the left hand looking from the front of the machine, and which carries
a spur wheel gearing with a second one turning in a bearing 43 and
gearing with a third one a fast on the end of a shaft 45 parallel with the pro-
longation and turning in bearings 46, 46 supported by the lift box T¹. The
right hand end of the shaft 45 carries a fourth wheel which gears with a
fifth wheel 48 suitably mounted. is a disc or collar fast to or at any
י

page_text: rate turning with the last mentioned wheel and turning with its left hand face
in the same vertical plane as the stops above mentioned. 50 is a snail like-
wise fast to or turning with the disc and wheel 8. Its function is to engage
the matrix that is up to the stops and lift it till its top shoulders y¹ are clear
thereof. The shorter radius of that snail keeps its periphery at that point, low
enough for the said leading matrix to clear it as it moves up to the disc 249,
while its longer radius exceeds the shorter one by the height of the lift, which
latter is the height of the stops t³. As only one matrix may be lifted at a time,
the thickness of the snail 50 does not exceed that of the thinnest matrix other-
wise it would overlap the second matrix and jam itself against its foot.
There is also provided, a device for putting the snail out of gear with the
prolongation 40. According to the one illustrated, the axle 1 of the wheel 2,
is prolonged past the bearing 43 on the opposite side for a short distance and
terminates in a collar 23 is a spiral spring surrounding the prolongation
of the axle and bearing upon both the collar and the bearing, so as
to keep the wheel in gear with the respective driver and driven wheel, 241
and The snail 50 is thrown out of gear with the prolongation 40 by press-
ing the collared end of the axle 1 towards the bearing is a spring
catch adapted to hold the wheel in that position, by engaging with the
axle and locking it. The resilience of the spring 3 suffices to pull the
wheel into gear again.
.
As soon as the leading matrix above mentioned has been lifted in the way
described. it is pushed along the inclines up to the threads of the screws a³, a³,
by the pusher W, caught by the spring catch W" and held by it in a proper
position to be engaged by the zeroes of those threads as described in the Specifi-
cation 9569 of 1897 above referred to. It is therefore obvious that the rotations
of the snail 250 and the prolongation to must always have a certain angular
agreement, or a leading matrix would be lifted at the wrong moment. Το
prevent such a mistake, the wheel a carries two distinctive marks close to its
periphery. These two marks differ from each other and are diametrically oppo-
site to each other.
The driver 1 and the third wheel at each carries a mark 55, 56 respectively
corresponding in every sense with the respective marks 257, 58, on the wheel
The angular positions of the prolongation 0 and snail 50 correspond only when
the four marks are respectively opposite each other as indicated by the dotted
lines in Figure 14.
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. In a linotype machine, the hereinbefore described combination of adjust-
able stop stud fast on the shifter arm L; and device for locking the said
stop in any desired position.
2. In a linotype machine the hereinbefore described combination of bottom
half p of the justification block; top half 756 of the same; ridge 257 on the
under face of the said top half 256; groove p58 in the top of the said bottom
half p6 and in which the said ridge can engage; headed and nutted bolt in
the bottom half p; and transverse T-shaped groove in the said top half 256 in
which the head of the said bolt engages.
screw;
3. In a linotype machine the herein before described combination of vice
disc po fast upon it; a series of grooves 271 in the periphery thereof; a
spring catch held in contact with the said periphery and forced into any groove
standing opposite to it by a spring; and a thumb bit p for disengaging the
"said spring catch from the said groove.
4. In a linotype machine, the herein before described combination with the
space bar delivery rod, of an arm holding a finger under the foot of the leading
"

page_text: space bar in the magazine and adapted by lifting the said space bar to dis-
engage the top of the latter from the magazine and leave it free to fall forward.
5. In a linotype machine the hereinbefore described combination with the
grabber and the arms that works it, of a sliding bar or block u pivotally con-
nected to the top of the said arm ; a guide holding it to the grabber and a
cushioning device between the said bar or block u and the grabber.
6. In a linotype machine, the herein before described combination with the
arm that works the space grabber and the said grabber; of a sliding bar or
block u pivotally connected to the top of the said arm s7; pins 3 fast to the
grabber and passing through the said bar or block ¹ and serving as a guide
for the vertical motion of the tatter; and a spiral spring a surrounding each
pin us and bearing upon the opposite faces of the said grabber and bar or
block u¹.
7. In a linotype machine, the herein before described combination with the
distributor; of a collar revolving in the plane of the matrix stop; a snail
revolving with the said collar to engage the foot of the leading matrix of those
to be distributed, to lift it; and a train of gearing driven from one of the dis-
tributor screws to revolve the said collar and snail.
8. In a linotype machine, the hereinbefore described combination with the
distributor; of a collar revolving in the plane of the matrix stop; a snail
revolving with the said collar to engage the foot of the leading matrix of those
to be distributed, to lift it; a train of gearing driven from one of the distributor
screws to revolve the said collar and snail; a device adapted to throw the said
snail out of gear with the said distributor screw and means for re-engaging them
in their proper angular position.
Dated this 2nd day of Tannour 1000
CHAS. S. WOODROFFE,
188, Fleet Street, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.