Improvements in and relating to Justifying Mechanism for Matrix Assembling or Type Setting and like Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr, 1898-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1898
[Communicated from abroad by the ELECTRIC COMPOSITOR COMPANY, of Wheeling,
West Virginia, in the United States of America.]
Improvements in and relating to Justifying Mechanism for Matrix
Assembling or Type Setting and like Machines.
I, CHARLES JUNGE, of Lincoln Chambers, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
-
The principal object of the invention is to provide novel mechanism, adapted
to be used in connection with matrix assembling or type setting machines, by
means of which the proper number of spacers of the proper size may be mechanic-
ally selected and inserted at the proper places in an assembled line of matrices or
type, whereby said line of matrices or type will be justified, or, in other words,
made of exactly the desired length.
Another object of the invention is to automatically sort the different sized
spacers and distribute them to their proper magazines, whereby they are in readi-
ness to be again mechanically selected and inserted into the line of matrices or
type.
The mechanism embodying the invention for effecting these objects will be
part of a machine for assembling matrices or type,-but it is believed that it
may be adapted to use with any machine of this character.
The justification of the matrix line by means of the invention herein described,
is effected after all of the matrices or type are assembled, by introducing, between
the words, spacers of such thickness that they, together with the matrices or
type, will make the line of exactly the proper length. As the matrices or type
are being assembled, spacer assembling tubes are introduced into the line in lieu
of spacers; and when the line contains matrices or spacers making up as many
complete words or syllables as the line may hold, proper spacers are automatically
selected and released and dropped into the line through said tubes,—the tubes
being thereafter removed.
In order that the line may be properly justified under all possible conditions
which will arise in practice, it is proposed to use nine different kinds of spacers
which differ from each other only in thickness. The matrices and spacers are
constructed on the point system, that is to say, the thickness of each matrix
or spacer is equal to some unit or some multiple of that unit. The thickest spacer
which it is proper to use will be one point or one unit thick, the next size two
units thick, and so on, the thickest spacer being nine units thick. It is proposed
to provide for use eight spacers of each of the three thinnest sizes, six of the
next size, five of the next size, four of the next size, and three of each of the three
largest sizes; but the number of each size which should be employed are matters
of judgment which depend to some extent upon the size and style of the characters
on the matrices. Any variation from the described construction in the particulars

page_text: named is permissible without departing from the invention. It is believed, how-
ever, that by the use of the different kinds of spacers described, and of the number
of each kind, as above stated, every possible combination of matrices or type in
any line of common newspaper work may be exactly justified.
Each spacer may be provided in its top edge with a dove-tail notch, and in
its bottom with a notch which is not dove-tail; but except for these notches the
spacers are rectangular pieces of metal of substantially the same size as the matrices
employed, and of equal thickness from top to bottom. The notches described are
useful in co-operation with certain mechanism which may be employed for separ-
ating the matrices from the spacers, but they have no function relating to the
selection or assemblage of the spacers. It is not thought necessary to describe
any mechanism for assembling the matrices or type, or for casting type bars from
an assembled matrix line, because such assembling mechanism is no part of the
present invention, that is to say, it has nothing to do with the justified mechanism
per se, The dove-tail notches in the top of the spacers are also useful in that
they have means whereby said matrices may be suspended on a dove-tail tongue,
and thereby moved from place to place or held or guided into the mouth of the
sorter.
The spacers when not in use are stored in magazines, and there are as many
of these magazines as there are kinds of spacers. These magazines are arranged
one behind another. Because of the construction of the device for sorting the
spacers and delivering each size into its proper magazine,--which device will
be presently explained, the magazine for the smallest spacers are placed in front;
that for the next smallest is just behind it, and so on, the magazine for the thickest
spacers being in the rear. The mouths of these magazines are sufficiently large
for the spacers to pass into them freely, and these mouths are arranged in line,
one behind the other, below the delivery end of the sorter.
Each magazine is divided at and near its lower end into as many vertical channels
as there are spacers of the size which it is intended to contain, and each channel
is intended to contain one spacer only. The channels in the several magazines
are arranged in rows extending from front to back, that is to say, each row is
made up of spacer channels which contain all sizes of spacers.
The series of magazines in the construction which is preferred, is formed of
a plurality of plates, of which all except the front and back plates are cut away
on both faces; wherefore, when they are secured together as shown, the recesses
which constitute the magazines are formed between said plates. The front plate
is in like manner cut away on its rear face, and the back plate on its front face.
Either the right or left wall of each magazine recess, preferably the left wall,-
is substantially vertical and in line with the corresponding side of the mouth of
said magazine. The right wall curves away from the left wall near the upper
end of the magazine, until said, walls are sufficiently separated, and they extend
in a substantially vertical direction downward. This gives the proper wilth
to the several magazines for the desired number of spacer channels and for the
ribs which separate the channels and for the automatic mechanism for distributing
the spacers to the several channels. The channels in the several magazines are
formed by vertical ribs on the front and back walls of the magazine plates,
which ribs extend approximately one-thirty-second of an inch from said walls;
the proximate faces of said ribs are therefore, sufficiently far apart to permit the
lower ends of the distributing levers to operate between them; the sides of
these ribs at their upper ends are beveled toward each other, for the purpose,
principally, of enlarging the channels and thereby facilitating the entrance of
the spacers thereto. At the top of each pair of ribs is pivoted a switch lever
which projects above and below its horizontal pivot, the upper end being the
longer and heavier. The upper ends of all of these levers are more or less curved,
as shown, and they fall by gravity against the vertical walls of the magazines,
entering notches therein, and when in this position their lower ends extend
diagonally across the spacer channels. Each of these switch levers is very thin

page_text: and light, wherefore the weight of the spacer upon its lower end automatically
swings said lever into a more or less vertical position,-in passing to which
position the upper end of the lever moves away from the vertical wall of the maga-
zine a distance sufficient to permit a spacer to fall through the space between said
end and vertical wall. The center of gravity of said levers, however, never pass
over their pivots, wherefore, when the spacers are discharged from the channel,
the switch levers fall by gravity against the vertical left wall. Each of these
spacer channels is provided with an independent escapement or releasing mechan-
ism, which escapements are adapted to be operated by certain combination rods,
which will be presently explained. Of course any suitable escapement may be
used, but it is preferred to use escapement mechanisms having substantially the
construction as follows: In the front or back wall of each magazine, preferably
the back wall, there are as many horizontal grooves as there are spacer channels
in said magazine. In each groove is a slide which is no thicker than the groove
is deep at the point where said groove crosses the channels, whereby the body
of said slide does not project into said channels. On each slide is a finger which
does project into one of the channels; the finger on the upper slide projects into
the right hand channel; the finger on the next lower slide projects into the next
channel, and so on through the series. The spacers in the several channels rest
upon these fingers. When any slide is drawn to the left, its finger is withdrawn
from beneath the spacer which it supports and said spacer falls; thus, by moving
any slide in any magazine, or any combination of slides, the corresponding spacers
are released. All of these slides are placed at different elevations. Each slide
is moved by a bell crank lever, the several levers being pivoted on horizontal
pins and lying in recesses at the left of the magazines. The depending vertical
arm of each lever enters a notch in the associated slide. The horizontal arm of
each lever is in engagement with a rocker plate, the edge of said rocker plato
entering a notch in the end of said lever arm. There are as many of these rocker
plates as there are bell crank levers, and they lie in approximately horizontal
planes one above another, and are pivoted to a fixed support on horizontal pivots
which engage with their left edges. Six slots, extending from near their right
edges toward their pivots, are formed in each of these plates, the corresponding
slots in all of the plates being in the same vertical plane. Through these slots
pass six rows of vertically movable combination rods; these rods are guided at.
their upper and lower ends,-the lower ends passing entirely through the fixed
lower guide plate. On each of these rods are from three to eight laterally pro-
jecting fingers which lie beneath and engage with different rocker plates. It
is obvious, therefore, that any one of these rods is moved upward, from three
to eight of the rocker plates are rocked upward, thereby causing the rocking
of the corresponding bell crank levers and the consequent movement of the associ-
ated escapement slides, whereby the corresponding spacers are released from
their channels. It is proposed to use 135 of these combination rods. The rods
in the front row, extending from right to left, are provided each with three fingers
only; those in the next row behind have four fingers only; the next row five
fingers; the next row six fingers; the next row seven fingers, and in the next
row eight fingers. When one of the rods in the front row is moved upward,
three escapement mechanisms will be operated and three spacers released; when
any rod in the next row is so moved, four spacers will be released, and so on.
is believed that all of the different combinations of spacers which it will ever
be needed to use to justify any matrix line which can be formed by any combina-
tion of matrices, may be released by means of the 135 combination rods referred
to. The left rods in the several rows are in the same vertical plane, extending
from front to back.
It
Any one of these rods may be moved upward to cause the operation of the corre-
sponding combination of rocker plates for the purpose of effecting the release of
the desired spacers, by means of a push rod. This push rod is supported by a
universal joint on the end of a pivoted arm, which may be pivoted on a fixed

page_text: bracket, and may be connected by a link with the armature of an electro-magnet.
Under normal conditions this arm and push rod fall by gravity until they are
stopped, but when the circuit of the magnet is completed, the arm is moved upward
and the upper end of the push rod engages with whichsoever of said combination
rods it chances to be beneath. The upper end of the push rod may be slightly
cupped, so that it may directly engage with the lower ends of said combination
rods. Mechanism is provided which will be presently explained, whereby the
push rod is moved as the matrix line is being assembled, so that the upper end
of said push rod will always be beneath that one of the combination rods which,
when raised, will release the proper number of spacers of the proper thickness
and from the proper channels in order to justify the line. Before describing
this mechanism, it is perhaps advisable to explain the theory upon which the
mechanism operates.
In constructing a justifying mechanism, it has been assumed
that it will never be necessary to introduce into a line of matrices to complete it,
more than eight spacers, whatever be their width. It has not been thought
necessary to construct the mechanism so as to adapt it to introduce into the line
of matrices less than three spacers; if the line is too short to be justified by three
of the largest spacers, blank matrices may be introduced into the line by the
matrix assembling mechanism. In these particulars, however, the mechanism
may be varied at pleasure.
The normal length of a newspaper line in the United States is 216 inches.
The longest single syllable in the English language is believed to be the word
"wrought" which in the style of type which is most used in newspaper work
fills 3751 inches in said line. The shortest line of composition which must ever
be justified with the mechanism herein described is therefore one point longer
than the distance between the normal line and the length of the longest single
syllable in the language for which the machine is adapted.
In order that the push rod may be moved so that it can be beneath any of the
combination rods, it must have two motions, namely, backward and forward
from one line of combination rods to another so that the proper number of spacers
can be released, and from left to right, so that the spacers so released shall be
of the proper thickness. The universal joint by which the push rod is connected
with the arm which supports it, permits these two motions.
It is evident from the foregoing statement of the plan of operation that no
movement of the push rod need take place until at least three words are assembled
in line, and until the matrices assembled shall occupy a space as great as the short
line just described. When three words and two spacer tubes have been assembled,
then for every additional spacer which the line requires, the push rod must be moved
backward. Before the push rod is moved at all, its upper end lies in the left
front corner of a recess in the under side of the plate which guides the lower end
of the combination rods,-being there held by a spring or weight. When the
third spacer assembling tube is added to the matrix line, the upper end of the
push rod is moved back into the plane of the front line of combination rods; and
as each additional spacer tube is added to the line, the upper end of said
push rod is moved back the distance between two adjacent rows of combination
rods. The push rod does not begin to move to the right until the matrices alone
in the assembled line fill a space equal to the short line before described. There-
after, for each addition of a matrix to the line, the upper end of said push rod
moves to the right a distance proportionate to such addition.
Before explaining in what manner the push rod receives these two movements,
the construction will be explained whereby the spacers when released are intro-
duced at the proper points in the matrix line. As before stated, the spacer channels
in the several magazines are arranged in rows extending from front to back.
The three left hand rows of spacer channels include one channel for every size
of spacer, that is to say, one channel in each magazine; the fourth row from the
left contains spacer channels which hold only the six smallest sized spacers, that
is to say, channels of the six front magazines; the next row contains channels

page_text: holding the five smallest kinds of spacers; the next row contains four channels
holding the four smallest kinds of spacers; and the last two rows on the right
contain channels which hold only three kinds of spacers. Suspended below
these several rows of spacer channels are spacer assembling tubes which are shaped
substantially as follows: They are narrow, about one-fourth of an inch in width,
viewed from front to back; the upper end, which is open, extends beneath all of
the magazines, so that a spacer released from the corresponding channel in any
magazine will drop into said tube. The front wall of this tube curves backward
and downward toward the rear wall; these tubes may be somewhat loosely described
as funnel-shaped; there are eight of these tubes provided. The left hand tube
has its open mouth directly beneath the left row of magazine channels; the next
tube has its open mouth below the next row of magazine channels, and so on
through the series. These tubes are supported at their upper ends by means
which permit the lower ends of the tubes to swing backward into the trough in
which the matrices are assembled, and which likewise permit the lower ends of
said tubes to swing to the right and left. Suitable means are provided for
normally holding the lower ends of all of said tubes to the right of the point at
which the matrices drop into the assembling trough; and means are likewise
provided for withdrawing the tubes from the assembling trough after the spacers
have been released and for returning said tubes to their normal position, as
described. On the lower end of each spacer assembling tube is a supplemental
tube which is open at its rear side, and is connected with the spacer assembling
tubes in such manner that it will occupy a substantially vertical position, although
the spacer assembling tubes themselves are inclined either to the right or left
of a vertical plane.
The spacer assembling tubes are released singly by the operation of what may
be called a spacer key, and when released, their lower ends swing rearward, and
the supplemental tubes enter the trough in which the matrices are being assembled.
In each machine with which this justifying mechanism is used, there must be
some means provided whereby every matrix which is added to the line being as-
sembled is pushed to the left a distance equal to its own width; preferably it will be
pushed to the left until it passes certain retaining pawls which prevent it from
moving toward the right. The mechanism thus provided for this purpose may
be a plunger, and this plunger acts upon the spacer assembling tubes when they are
introduced into the assembling trough and moves them to the left a distance exactly
equal to the width of the supplemental tubes, viz., one-fourth of an inch, or there-
abouts. The spacer tubes are of course introduced into the line between the words,
and when they have been so introduced, it is evident that a spacer dropped into
the upper end of said tubes will be delivered into the assembling trough, where
it will be left when the assembling tubes are withdrawn from said trough.
The mechanism for producing the two movements herein before described of
the push rod will now be described. This movement results from the action upon
the lower end of said push rod of two plates which are secured respectively upon
two slides located one above the other, and independently movable from right
to left. Each slide is provided with a spring to move it to the right, and these
springs do actually move both slides to the right as far as they are intended to
go, when permitted to so act. Upon one of these slides is secured a plate, the
operative or left face of which is vertical, but is set obliquely to the direction in
which the slide travels. The operative face of this plate engages with a slight
projection on the push rod, and the inclination of this face is such that when
a slide is moved to the left a distance equal to the width of one of the spacer
assembling tubes, the lower end of the push rod is moved forward, and conse-
quently the upper end is moved backward, this backward movement being
equal to the distance between any two adjacent rows of push rods. An arm
5 which is secured to the slide carrying this oblique plate projects rearward into the
path of a detent. This detent enters the assembling trough and is pushed to
the left in front of the assembling matrix line, the distance of the successive

page_text: •
movements of the detent being equal to the width of the successive additions to
the matrix line. This detent does not contact with the arm on the slide
until the assembling line, including both the matrices and spacer tubes, is equal
to the short line before referred to. The other slide referred to has secured to
its upper face and projecting upward through a slot in the first slide referred to,
a plate, the operative left face of which is vertical and in a plane at right angles
to the path of the slide. This plate lies above the oblique plate, wherefore said
oblique plate may pass under it. A projection or contact piece on the push
rod also engages with the operative face of this plate, and the lower end of the
push rod will always be in contact with the operative faces of both plates described,
lying in the angle made by the intersection of the planes of their operative faces.
On the under side of the upper slide is a rib having ratchet teeth on its lower
edge, which ratchet teeth are distant from each other a distance exactly equal
to the width of each spacer assembling tube. A pallet lever is pivoted to the
under side and engages with these ratchet teeth. As before stated, a spring
exerts its force constantly to draw the lower slide to the right, but the engagement
of said pallet lever with the ratchet teeth prevents said slide from moving to
the right independently of the upper slide.
The space key before referred to, when depressed, operates this pallet lever,
temporarily releasing it from engagement with the ratchet teeth; wherefore, the
lower slide, influenced by its spring, moves backward a distance equal to the
distance between two adjacent ratchet teeth.
The operation of these slides and associated parts as described, in so far as
they have to do with the movement of the push rod, is as follows: When the upper
slide is engaged by the detent, both slides move to the right under the influence
of their springs, until they reach their normal position, so-to-speak.
As the matrices are being assembled, the line is moved to the right, moving the
detent before it, after each addition to the line, a distance equal to such addition.
After each word one of the assembling tubes is released, and the supplemental
tube on its lower end enters the assembling trough; this result being effected
by the operation of the space key. After each tube is introduced, the entire line,
including the assembling trough, is moved to the left one-fourth of an inch,
which is exactly the thickness of said tube.
Whenever the space key is operated it operates the pallet lever, whereupon
the lower slide is released and is moved backward by its spring relative to the
upper slide a distance between two ratchet teeth, that is to say, one-fourth of an
inch. When the line, including the spacer tube, is as long as the short line,
the detent engages with an arm on the upper slide, and thereafter, for each addition
to the line, the detent moves the upper slide to the left with it. The lower slide
partakes of this movement whenever a matrix is added. When this movement
of the upper slide begins, the lower slide has been moved to the right of its normal
position as many quarter inches as there are spacer tubes in the line, because
the pallet lever has been operated that many times. When enough matrices
have been assembled in line to fill a short line, the lower slide will have returned
to its normal position, and the operative faces of the two plates carried by said
two slides will be in contact with the lower part of the push rod. The oblique
plate is so placed that if at this time three spacer tubes have been added to the
line, the upper end of the push rod will have been pushed into the plane of the
front row of combination rods by the action of said oblique plate upon the lower
end of said push rod. When both slides move together, as they do when matrices
are added to the line, the upper end of the push rod is not moved backward, but
is only moved to the right by the action upon its lower end of a plate carried by
the lower slide. For each matrix which is added to the line, after a short line
of matrices are assembled, the upper end of the push rod is moved to the right
a distance proportionate to the width of said matrix.
.
If four words fill the line, the upper end of the push rod will be beneath
some combination rod in the front row of such rods, because the line then contains

page_text: three spacer tubes. Which rod will be under depends upon the amount of space
in the line which the matrices alone fill. If now the push rod be moved upward,
it will lift said combination rod; the three fingers thereon will operate the three
rocker plates, which will cause the release of three spacers of the proper thickness
to justify the line. These spacers drop into the three spacer tubes, whereby they
are conveyed into the assembling trough.
If, however, four words do not fill the line, another assembling tube is released
and it enters the trough. The operation of the space key for this purpose, operates
the pallet lever, temporarily releasing the engagement between the two slides.
The lower slide moves to the right one-quarter of an inch independently of the
upper slide. Then the matter in the trough is moved to the left a quarter of
an inch, whereby both slides move to the left one-quarter of an inch. This
returns the lower slide to the position from which it has just been moved, while
the upper slide is to the left of its previous position one-quarter of an inch. The
result of these movements is substantially as if the lower slide did not move at
all when the spacer tube is added to the line, while the upper slide did move to
the left a distance equal to the width of such tube. This movement of the upper
slide relative to the lower slide causes the push rod to be moved backward under
a second row of combination rods, but said push rod is not moved to the right
at all. The addition of more matrices to the line causes the push rod to move a
proportionate distance to the right, under this row of combination rods.
These operations are repeated until another syllable cannot be added to the line:
The operator then completes the circuit of the magnet by which the push rod
is operated. This causes the push rod to move up against that combination rod
which is above it, which rod is thereby raised, with the result of releasing the proper
spacers. Three, four, five, six, seven or eight spacers are released, depending
upon the row of combination rods under which the push rod stands. The width
of the several spacers depends upon the position in said row in which the push
rod stands. The fingers upon said combination rods are arranged to operate the
proper rocker plates and the proper number of rocker plates. To effect this result,
when three spacers are released, one of said spacers is released from each of the
first three rows of magazine channels on the left. The fourth spacer released from
the fourth row on the left, and so on. In every case the line is completely justified
when the spacers have been added and the spacer assembling tubes have been
withdrawn from the line.
After the assembled line of matrices or type has been used, the spacers are
separated from the matrices or type, and are delivered one at a time into the
mouth of the sorter for sorting out the different sizes and delivering them into
the proper magazines. Prior to the delivery of the spacers into the mouth of
the sorter, they may be suspended by their dove-tail notches on a dove-tail tongue,
and they may be pushed one by one into the mouth of the sorter by hand, or other
suitable mechanism.
This sorter includes a plate having in one face as many grooves as there are
magazines, in the present case eight. The plate is secured to the top of the plates
which form the magazines. The said grooves at their lower ends are separated
by ribs from each other, and each is directly above and in communication with
the mouth of the corresponding magazine. The grooves extend upward and
forward; converging and being merged together at the mouth of the sorter.
While all of these grooves are inclined to a vertical plane, those nearest the
front are most nearly vertical. These grooves are of different depths to conform
to the thicknesses of the spacers, the shallowest groove being in front, and
are progressively deeper from front to back. Across the grooved front of this plate,
a smooth plate, preferably of glass is secured. The upper end of the sorter is
inclined to the left, so that a spacer in any of the grooves will slide down upon
this smooth plate. The spacers are introduced singly into the mouth of the sorter:
as they enter the mouth they will slide down by gravity upon the smooth front
plate, and since they tend to fall in as nearly a vertical path as possible, they

page_text: will find their way into the groove which will receive them which is nearest to
the front; in other words, they will fall down into the particular groove in which
they fit; the thinnest spacer will slide down in the front groove, the next thinnest
in the next groove, and so on; and the spacers will consequently be delivered into
the mouths of their corresponding magazines.
The mechanism herein described is only of practical value when used with a
matrix assembling or type setting machine,--but it may be used with any machine
of that character.
Improvements in and relating to Justifying Mechanism for Matrix
Assembling or Type Setting and like Machines.
I, CHARLES JUNGE, of Lincoln Chambers, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Consulting 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: —
The principal object of the invention is to provide novel mechanism adapted to
be used in connection with matrix assembling and type setting machines, by
means of which the proper number of spacers of the proper size may be mechanic-
ally inserted at the proper places in an assembled line of matrices or type, whereby
said line of matrices or type will be accurately justified.
Another object of the invention is to sort the different sized spacers and distri-
bute them to their proper magazines, whereby they are in readiness to be again
mechanically selected and inserted into the line of matrices and type.
The mechanism embodying the invention for effecting these objects, as shown,
is part of a machine of which the ultimate object is to produce type bars having
on their printing edges any desired combination of characters. The particular
machine, of which the drawing shows as much as is necessary to the understanding
of the present invention. is substantially the same as that which is fully described
in an application for a Patent thereon, No. 18033 of 1897.
There is, however, no intention to limit the invention to use with that particular
machine. On the contrary, we know of no reason why the mechanism hereinafter
described may not be used in connection with any type setting or matrix assemb-
ling machine.
The invention herein described consists in the construction and combination
of magazines as described in the construction, and combinations, and sub-combina-
tions of parts contained in and constituting the mechanism, whereby the proper
number of spacers of the proper thickness may be released from their magazines,
and inserted at the proper places in a line of matrices or type to justify said line:
and to the mechanism for sorting the different kinds of spacers and distributing
them to the proper magazines and the channels therein:-all of which are illus-
trated in the drawing and hereinafter described and definitely pointed out in the
claims..
In the drawing. Figure 1 is a front elevation of the justifying mechanism,
and so much of a matrix assembling machine like that shown in the prior appli-
cation referred to, as will show the proper position of the justifying mechanism
relative thereto. As shown in this figure, a matrix line is partially assembled.
Figure 2 is a left side elevation of the same mechanism before any of the matrix
line is assembled. Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the spacer assembling

page_text: tubes. Figure 4 is a rear view of said tube. Figure 5 is a detached plan view
of the supplemental tube. Figure 6 is a left end view of the magazines and their
escapement operating mechanism as said parts will appear when seen through
the glass plate which constitutes the left end of the enclosing casing or box.
Figure 7 is a sectional front view on the line 0° of Figure 8. Figure 8 is a sec-
tional plan view of the same parts on the linex of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a
front elevation of that plate 60t which lies just behind the line 0-8 of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a sectional right side view of the rear magazine on line y-y of
Figure 24; Figure 11 is a sectional view of the sorter on line z-z of Figure 2;
Figure 12 is a sectional view of the sorter on line W-W of Figure 2; Figures 13,
14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are front elevations of the plate 60t which lie respectively
behind the lines 03, 03, 04, 05, 07 and 01; Figure 19 is a rear elevation of the front
plate 60; Figure 20 is a side elevation of the plate 60t which is shown in Figure 18,
viewed from the right of said figure; Figure 21 is a side view of the plate which
is shown in Figure 19, viewed from the left of said figure; Figure 22 is a sectional
plan view on line S S of that plate 60t which is shown in Figure 18; Figure 23
is a plan view of the plate 60t which is shown in Figure 19; Figure 24 is a front
elevation of the rear plate 60°; Figure 25 is a perspective view of one of the
spacers; Figure 26 is a sectional plan view on line q q of Figure 1, the spacer
assembling tubes being removed; Figure 27 is a sectional front elevation of
the parts shown in Figure 26 on line of Figure 26; Figure 28 is a left end
elevation of the parts shown in Figure 26; Figure 29 is a view showing the con-
struction of all the combination rods which are arranged in the row 66° of said
rods, as shown in Figure 8; Figures 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 represent respectively
the combination rods forming the rows 66b, 66, 60, 66° and 66'.
The justification of the matrix line is effected, after all of the matrices (or type)
are assembled, by introducing, between the words, spacers of such thickness that
they, together with the matrices (or type) will make the line of exactly the proper
length. As the matrices or type are being assembled, spacer assembling tubes
are introduced into the line in lieu of spacers, and when the line contains as
many matrices or type as it will hold, the proper spacers are automatically selected
and released and dropped into the line through said tubes.
In order that the fine may be properly justified under all possible conditions
which will arise in practice, it is proposed to use nine different kinds of spacers 61,
which differ from each other only in thickness. The matrices and the spacers
are constructed on the "unit" system. The thinnest spacer which it is proposed to
use will be one unit thick, the next size two units thick, and so on;-the thickest
spacer being nine units thick. It is proposed to provide for use eight spacers
of each of the three thinnest sizes, six of the next size, five of the next size, four
of the next size, and three of each of the three largest sizes. The thickness of
the spacers, the number of different kinds, and the number of each kind which
should be employed arc matters of judgment which depend to some extent upon
the size and style of the characters on the type or matrices. Any variation from
the described construction, in the particulars named, is permissible without de-*
parting from the invention. After carefully considering the problem, however,
it is believed that by the use of the different kinds of spacers, and the number of
each kind as above stated, one can justify lines for ordinary newspaper work
made up of every possible combination of matrices, or type of the common news-
paper style.
Each spacer is provided in its top edge with a dove-tailed notch 61, and in its
bottom with a notch 61b, which is not dove-tailed; but except for these notches,
the spacers are rectangular pieces of metal, of substantially the same size as the
matrices employed, and of equal thickness from top to bottom. These
notches 61, 61b are useful in co-operation with certain mechanism, which is not
shown, for separating the spacers from the matrices, but they have no function
relating to their selection and assemblage. The mechanism for separating the
B

page_text: matrices and spacers is not shown or described in this case, because it involves
mechanisms having to do with the casting of type bars from the assembled matrix
lines, and which have nothing to do with the justifying mechanism. The dove-
tail notches 61° are also useful, in that they afford means whereby said matrices
may be suspended on a dove-tail tongue 77 and thereby moved from place to
place or held in front of the mouth of the sorter, as shown in dotted lines in
Figures 1 and 2.
The spacers when not in use are stored in magazines; and there are as many
of these magazines as there are kinds of spacers. Said magazines, which are
indicated by the reference characters 60°, 60°, 60°, 60°, 60°, 60°, 60, 60, 60, are
arranged one behind another. Because of the construction of the device for
sorting the different sized spacers and delivering them into proper magazines,―
which device will be presently explained, the magazine for the smallest spacers
is in front, that for the next smallest is just behind it, and so on,--the magazine
for the thickest spacers being in the rear. The mouths 60 of these magazines
are sufficiently large for the spacers to pass into them freely, and these moutha
are arranged in line, one behind the other, below the delivery end of the sorter,
as shown in Figure 2.
Each magazine is divided at and near its lower end into as many vertical
channels 60 as there are spacers of the size which it is intended to contain. The
channels in the several magazines are arranged in rows extending from front
to back, as shown in Figure 8, and indicated by the arrows a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h.
The series of magazines in the construction shown is formed of a series of plates 60°,
of which all, except the front and back plates, are cut away on both faces, where-
fore, when they are secured together, as shown, the recesses which constitute
the magazines are formed between said plates. The front plate (Figure 19) is
in like manner cut away on its rear face, and the back plate (Figure 24) is cut
away on its front face. Either the right or left wall of each magazine recess,-
in the present case, the left wall 60*,-is substantially vertical and in line with
the coresponding side of the mouth 60. The right wall curves away from the
left wall until they are sufficiently separated, and then extends in a substantially
vertical direction downward. This gives the proper width to the several magazines
for the desired number of spacer channels 60, the ribs 60" which separate the
channels and the automatic mechanism for distributing the spacers to the several
channels. The channels 60 are formed by vertical ribs 60° on the front and
back walls of the magazine, which ribs extend approximately 1 of an inch from
the said walls; wherefore their proximate faces are sufficiently far apart to permit
the lower ends of the switch levers 62 to operate between them. The sides of
these ribs at their upper ends are bevelled toward each other, as shown, for the
purpose principally of enlarging the channels 60, and thereby facilitating the
entrance of the spacers thereto.
At the tops of each pair of ribs 60" is pivoted a switch lever 62 which projects
above and below its horizontal pivot, the upper end being the longer and heavier.
The switch lever 62 serves to so guide the spacers delivered into the mouths
of the several magazines that one spacer shall be returned to each of the empty
channels in said magazine, because when one spacer is discharged from a maga-
zine, it is discharged from the left channel, the second spacer is discharged from
the next channel, and so on. The release of the first spacer does not cause any
movement in the switch lever 62, said lever remaining in the position in which
it is shown in full lines in Figure 7. Therefore, when a spacer is delivered into
the mouth of this magazine it falls directly into the left channel, when a second
spacer is released from the second channel to the left, as above stated. The
associated switch lever 62 falls into the position indicated by the dotted lines
in Fig. 7. In this case, the first spacer delivered into the mouth of the maga
zine falls upon this switch lever, and it is by it guided into the second channel.
In entering this channel the spacer engages with the lower end of the switch
lever and throws it into the position shown by full lines in Fig. 7, wherefore the

page_text: If
second spacer delivered into this magazine falls into the left hand channel.
three spacers have been released from any magazine, the two left hand switch
levers fall into the position indicated by dotted lines, wherefore the first spacer
returned to the magazine is guided by the second switch lever 62 into the third
channel, thereby moving said lever out of the way and thereafter the other spacers
delivered into the magazine are successively guided into the second and first
channels in the manner before explained.
The upper ends of these levers, which are more or less curved as shown, fall
by gravity against the vertical walls 60% of the magazines, entering the notches 60º
therein, their lower ends extending diagonally across the channels 60m. Each
of these switch levers is very thin and light, wherefore the weight of a spacer
upon its lower end automatically swings said lever to the position substantially.
as indicated in Figure 7, in which position the lower end of the switch lever passes
and lies between the two ribs 60", to which it is pivoted. The center of gravity
of said levers 62 never pass over the pivot, wherefore when the spacer is discharged
from the channel, the switch levers fall by gravity against the vertical left wall,
as shown in Figures 13-17.
In either the front or back wall of each magazine, in the present case, the
back wall, there are as many horizontal grooves 60 as there are spacer chan-
nels 60 in said magazine. In each groove is a slide 63, which is no thicker than
the groove is deep at its shallowest part, to wit, where it crosses the channels 60™,
whereby it does not project into said channels. Projecting from the opposite
wall of the magazine are the ribs 60" which bear against the slides and hold them
in said grooves. On each slide is a finger 63 which projects into one of the
channels. The finger on the upper slide projects into the right hand channel 60™,
the finger on the next lower slide projects into the next channel, and so on
through the series. The spacers in the several channels rest upon these fingers.
When any slide is drawn to the left, its finger is withdrawn from beneath the
spacer which it supports and said spacer falls; thus, by moving any slide in any
magazine, or any combination of slides, the corresponding spacers are released.
These slides constitute the escapement mechanism for the spacer channels.
By referring to Figures 7, 9, 13-17, and 24 it will be noticed that these hori-
zontal grooves 60 in all of the magazines are at different elevations. Each of
the slides is moved by a bell crank lever 64, the several levers being pivoted
on pins 60' in recesses 60 in the plates 60t at the left of the magazine with which
said levers are associated. The depending vertical arm 64* of each lever enters
a notch 63 in one of the slides. The horizontal arm 64° of each lever lies in
engagement with a rocker plate 65,-the edge of said plate entering a notch 64°
in said lever arm. There are as many of these rocker plates as there are bell crank
levers; and they lie in approximately horizontal planes one above another, and
are pivoted to a fixed support on horizontal pivots which engage with their left
hand edges. Six slots 65 extending from near their right edges toward their
pivots, are formed in each of these plates,-the corresponding slots in all of the
plates being in the same vertical plane; through these slots pass six rows of
vertically movable combination rods 66. These rods are guided at their upper
and lower ends,--the lower ends passing through the fixed lower guide plate 67.
On each of these rods are from three to eight laterally projecting fingers 66 which
lie beneath and engage with different rocker plates. It is obvious, therefore,
that when any one of these rods is moved upward, from three to eight of the
rocker plates are rocked upward, thereby causing the rocking of the corresponding
levers 64, and the consequent movement of the associated slides 63, whereby the
corresponding spacers are released. In Figures 29-34 are shown in detail the
construction of all of these rods, of which, as will be seen, there are one hundred
and thirty-five. The rods shown in Figure 29 are the rods which constitute the
front row 66 of rods which pass up through the front slots 65 in the rocker
plates, as shown in Figure 8, their order of arrangement from left to right being
the same in both figures. But their position relative to each other is changed,
because each rod is here shown as if turned one quarter of a revolution on its

page_text: vertical axis, for the purpose of showing the fingers 66. Figure 30 in like manner
shows the rods constituting the second row (66b) from the front; Figure 31
shows the rods constituting the third row 66°; Figure 32 shows the rods consti-
tuting the fourth row 66d; Figure 33 shows the rods constituting the fifth row 66°;
and Figure 34 shows the rods constituting the sixth row, 66. The horizontal
dotted lines in said figures indicate the position of the several rocker plates 65
relative to said fingers.. By the use of these one hundred and thirty-five vertically
movable rods for operating the rockers, it is believed that all of the different
combinations of spacers which it will ever be necessary to use to justify any matrix
line which can be formed by any combination of the matrices, may be released.
One hundred and thirty-five different combinations of spacers may be released,
one combination at a time, and inserted in the matrix line.
Any one of these rods may be moved upward to cause the operation of the
corresponding combination of rockers, by a push rod 69. This push rod is sup-
ported by a universal joint on the end of the pivoted arm 70. This arm is
pivoted on a fixed bracket 70 b and is connected by a link 70" with the arma-
ture 71 of a fixed electro-magnet 71. The downward movement of this arma-
ture is limited by the engagement of the nut 70d with the top of the magnet.
This nut is secured to the end of a rod 70° which slides freely through the core
of the magnet, and is connected at its lower end with the armature. The arm 70
is moved upward to operate the push rod when the circuit of the magnet is com-
pleted. The upper end of the push rod is slightly cupped, so that it may effect-
ually engage with the lower ends of the combination rods. The push rod is
moved, as the matrix line is assembled, so as to bring it beneath that one of the
rods 66 which, when raised, will release the proper number of spacers of the
proper thickness, and from the proper channels, to complete the line, by mechanism
which will be presently described. Before describing this mechanism it is perhaps
advisable to explain the theory upon which the mechanism operates.
It has been assumed that it will never be necessary to introduce into a line
to complete it more than eight spacers, whatever be their width. The mechan-
ism is constructed so that it is not adapted to introduce into the line less than
three spacers. In this respect, the mechanism may be varied at pleasure. Short
lines of matter must be approximately completed by blank matrices which are
assembled in the line in precisely the same manner that the matrices bearing
the characters are assembled. All of the rods 66 which are in the front row 66°
have three and only three fingers 66. The rods in the next row 66b have each
four fingers; the rods in the next row 66° have five fingers; in the next row 66d,
six; in the next row 66°, seven; and in the next row 66', eight.
The expression "short line"; as used in this description, means a line the
length of which is equal to the difference between the length of a normal line
and the length of the longest single word or syllable in the language to which
the machine is adapted.
In the United States the length of the normal newspaper line is 216 inches.
The longest word in the English language is "wrought," which is 3751 inches
long in nonpareil type. The mechanism shown having been originally contrived
for use in the United States, is adapted to mechanically justify a line whose
length is one unit greater than the difference between 2.16 inches and 3751 inches,
or any line longer than that. It may, however, be adapted to justify shorter
lines if necessary.
In order that the push rod 69 may be moved so that it can be beneath any one
of the combination rods 66, it must have two motions, to wit, backward and forward
from one line of combination rods to another, so that the proper number of spacers
can be released, and left and right, so that the spacers so released shall be of
the proper thickness. The universal joint by which the push rod is connected
with the arm 70 permits these two movements.
It is evident from the foregoing statement of the plan of operation, that no
movement of the push rod 69 need take place until at least three words are
assembled in a line, and until the matrices assembled shall occupy a space as

page_text: great as the short line just described. When three words and the two spacer tubes
have been assembled, then for every additional spacer which the line requires,
the push rod must be moved backward. Before the push rod is moved at all,
its upper end lies in the left corner of a recess 67* in the under side of the
plate 67, being held there by the weight 69* or spring. When the third spacer
assembling tube is added to the line, the push rod is moved back into the plane
of the front line 66 of combination rods; and as each additional spacer tube is
added to the line, said push rod is moved back the distance between two adjacent
rows of combination rods. The push rod does not begin to move to the right
until the matrices alone in the assembled line fill a space equal to the "short
line." Thereafter for each addition of a matrix to the line, the said push rod
moves to the right a distance proportionate to such addition.
-
Before explaining in what manner the push rod receives these two movements,
the construction will be explained whereby the spacers, when released, are intro-
duced at the proper points in the matrix line. By examining Figure 8, it will
be seen that the spacer channels 60" in the several magazines are arranged in
rows, indicated by arrows a-h, one channel behind another. The three left hand
rows a, b, c, of spacer channels include one channel for every size of spacer;
that is to say, one channel in each magazine; the fourth row d from the left
contains spacer channels which hold only the six smallest size spacers, that
is to say, channels of the six front magazines; the next row e contains channels
holding the five smallest kinds of spacers; the next row f contains four channels
holding the four smallest kinds of spacers; and the last two rows g, h, on the
right contain channels which hold only the three smallest kinds of spacers. Sus-
pended below these several rows of spacer channels are spacer assembling tubes 72,
which are shaped substantially as shown in Figure 3; that is to say, they are
narrow, about one-fourth of an inch wide,-viewed from the front or back.
The upper end, which is open, extends beneath all of the magazines, so that a
spacer released from the corresponding channel in any magazine will drop into
said tube. The front wall of this tube curves backward and downward toward
the rear wall. These tubes may be somewhat loosely described as funnel shape.
There are eight of these tubes provided. The left hand tube has its open mouth
directly beneath the left hand row a of magazine channels. The next tube to
the right has its open mouth below the next row. b of magazine channels, and so
on through the series. On the rear edge of each of these tubes is a substantially
vertical lip 72" in which is formed a hole which receives a loose fitting horizontal
pin 72b which projects rearward from the rear face of the rear plate 60, whereby the
the rear end of the tube is supported and permitted to move, as hereinafter
described. At the upper front edge of each tube is a horizontal lip 72, which
extends over a bar 73; and a vertical slot 72h in the front wall of each tube receives
a pin 73 projecting rearward from this bar 73. Each of the tubes is constructed
as above described, and the bar 73 lies beneath the front lips 72% of all of them.
This bar is the lower member of a rectangular frame, the upper member 73 of
which is connected by a link 73° with a lever 74h, which is pivoted to the lower
end of a swinging link 74. This lever is pivotally connected with the arma-
ture 74 of an electro-magnet 74. This armature is connected to the lower end
of a rod 74b which passes through the core of the electro-magnet 74, and a nut 74°
is secured to the upper end of said rod, whereby the movement of the armature
from the magnet is limited and the said rectangular frame is supported.
ear 720
On the lower end of each tube are two depending ears 72°, 72, of which the
rear car 72 is provided with a vertical slot 72°. A supplemental tube 72', which
open on its rear side, has secured to its front side a cylindrical rod 72k which
passes through the said slot and enters a hole in which it fits loosely in the front
An annular groove 72 is formed in said rod into which a pin 72"
projects. This construction permits the supplemental tube to be moved up and
down slightly upon the connection between the rod 72 and the front ear 72d
as the pivot. This rod may also turn upon its axis, wherefore the supplemental
tube may maintain a vertical position, even when the tube itself is inclined.

page_text: As soon
The assembling trough 8 into which the matrices fall as they are released
from their magazines, is provided with a notch 8 in its front wall just in front
of the assembling spout, which notch is sufficiently deep to permit the supple-
mentary tubes 72 to pass into the assembling trough, when released by the
retaining escapement. A longitudinal groove 8h is cut in the front edge of the
assembling trough. Under normal conditions, the spacer assembling tubes are
swung to the right, and are prevented from swinging to the left by a pawl 78°,
which is pivoted to the block 78 and engages with the front car 72d on the left
assembling tube, which tube is directly in front of said notch 88 in the assembling
trough; and the lower rear edges of the supplemental tubes are supported in
the groove 8h in the front upper edge of the assembling trough. Said tubes
are released one by one by escapement mechanism, which will be presently ex-
plained. These tubes when released fall by gravity rearward, the supplemental
tubes 72 entering the assembling trough through said notch 8. One of these
assembling tubes is released and permitted to enter the said assembling trough
in the manner just described whenever a space is required in the line.
as a tube is in the trough, it is moved to the left, past the retaining pawls 8*,
à distance equal to its width, viz., one quarter of an inch, and as more matrices
are added to the line; the line, including the tubes is moved to the left in the same
manner, and a distance equal to each addition. The line may be thus moved
by a plunger 9 working in the trough, substantially like the plunger described
in said prior application, or by any appropriate mechanism. It is evident, there-
fore, that when all of the matrices are assembled in said line, the spacers may bo
added thereto by dropping them from their magazine channels into said tubes,
through which they will fall by gravity into the assembling trough. . When the
spacers have been so introduced, the circuit of the magnet 74 is completed,
whereupon the bar 73 is drawn upward, thereby lifting the front edge of said
tubes 72 and withdrawing the supplemental tubes 72 from the assembling
trough, the bevelled lower front edge of said supplemental tubes facilitating
this withdrawal. Because the rear side of the supplemental tubes are open,
the spacers remain in the trough. The tubes 72 are then swung to the right
to the position first described, where the left tube is engaged by the pawl 78*,
by the following mechanism.
79 represents a rack bar mounted in suitable bearings in block 78, and movable
longitudinally to the right and left. The rack on this bar engages with the
pinion 13, which may be revolved through any suitable connection with the
motive power; wherefore, when said pinion is revolved, it moves the rack bar 79
to the right. On this bar is a finger 79* which engages with the left supplemental
tube 72, and as this bar moves to the right, it pushes all of said tubes before it,
swinging them upon their supports, until the left hand tube passes over the
pawl 78 which is carried up by the weight of its right end, until its tooth 78k
engages with the ear 72d on said left assembling tube. This rack bar 79 is hollow
for a greater part of its distance, and it telescopes over a fixed rod 79d which
enters said bar from the right hand end thereof. A long coil spring 79° is con-
tained in this hollow rack bar, and it is compressed as said bar is moved to the
right.
When the power to revolve the pinion 13* is withdrawn, the rack bar is moved
to the left by its spring 79° just described, the said pinion 13" revolving loosely
during these movements, until said rack bar 79 returns to its normal position,
as shown in Figure 26.
The mechanism shown for imparting to the push rod 69 the two movements
herein before referred to, will now be explained.
The described movements of the upper end of the push rod, result from the
action upon the lower end of said push rod of two plates 75, 76, which are
secured respectively upon two slides 75 and 76. These plates and slides are
constructed and operated as follows. The slide 75 is mounted in suitable ways 78b
in the block 78 which is secured upon the bed plate; and it is movable in a
horizontal path to right and left. A contractile spring 75° exerts its force to

page_text: draw said slide to the right to the end of its path. The plate 75° is secured on
said slide near the left end thereof. The operative front face of this plate is
vertical, but is set inclined to the path of the slide. An arm 75b which projects
rearward from the slide lies in the path of an arm 10° which projects forward
from the detent 10 when it is in the assembling trough. This detent is in the
upturned end of an arm 10b which is rigid with a longitudinally movable rod 10°,
which is under spring pressure tending to draw it to the right. This detent enters
a slot 8° in the bottom of the assembling trough, and it bears against the left
matrix in the line, and is consequently moved to the left as the line is assembled.
This detent is a feature of the machine described in said prior application. These
two arms 75 and 10° are relatively so placed that the arm 10° is moved into con-
tact with arm 756 when the assembling line (matrices and spacer tubes) in the
trough is as long as the short line. The slide 76 lies below the slide 75 and is
movable in grooves in the ribs 75° which extend downward from the slide 75,
near the front and rear edges thereof, or in any other suitable guide grooves.
The plate 76, the left operative face of which is vertical and in a plane at right
angles to the path of said slide, is secured to the slide by means of a foot 76,
which passes through a longitudinal slot 758 in the slide 75. The plate 70* lies
above the inclined plate 75, wherefore said inclined plate may pass under it. On
the lower part of the push rod 69 are two V-shaped contact pieces 69° 69d, with
which said plates 75" 76* will engage as hereinafter set forth.
On the under side of this slide 75 is a rib 75h having ratchet teeth 75* on its
lower edge. A pallet lever 80 is pivoted to the slide 76 in a longitudinal slot 76d
therein. The left end of the pallet lever is heavier than the right end, wherefore
said right end is normally held up in engagement with the said ratchet teeth 75k.
The distance between these ratchet teeth is equal to the thickness of the supple-
mental tubes, in the present case, one quarter of an inch. A contractile coil
spring 76 exerts its force constantly to draw the slide 76 to the right, but the
engagement of the said pallet lever 80 with said ratchet prevents the said slide
from moving to the right independently of slide 75. Two curved arms 81" pass
under the slides 75, 76, and their rear ends are rigidly secured to a rock shaft 81
which is mounted in the said block 78. A plate 81b extends between and is con-
nected with the front ends of said arms. These arms and plate constitute the
space key, which is held up in the position shown in Figures 1, 2, 28 by a spring
actuated pin 81 which is movable in a vertical socket 78 in front of the block 78,
and engages with the under side of the space key bar 81b. An arm 80 is rigid
with the pallet lever 80, and it carries a horizontal pin -80b. A rod 81 which is
secured to the two arms S1, lies just over and in contact with said pin 80b.
An
Pivoted to the block 78 underneath the slides is a pawl 78d which is normally
held in the path of a tooth 76° which projects downward from the slide 76.
arm 78° which is connected with this pawl, lies below the left arm 81% of the
space key, whereby when said space key is depressed, the pawl 78d is withdrawn
from its engagement with said tooth 76°, wherefore the slide is permitted to move
to the right, and is so moved by its spring, provided the slide 75 is also released,
or the pallet lever 80 is disengaged from the teeth 75*.
The operation of the slides and associated parts, in so far as they have to do
with the movement of the push rod 69, is as follows. When the slide 75 is released
by the detent 10, both slides move to the right under the influence of their springs.
The slide 75 moves as far as possible against the ends of the ways 78b, and the
slide 76 moves until the tooth 76° engages with the pawl 78d, which is not, as
we shall presently see, the limit of its possible movement to the right.
The matrices are assembled in the trough and the line is moved to the right,—
moving the detent 10 before it, after each addition to the line a distance equal
to such addition, by suitable means, as for example, the means for the purpose
which is shown in Figures 26, 27, and 28, and fully explained in the prior applica-
tion referred to. After each word, one of the assembling tubes is released and
the supplemental tube enters the trough. The construction of these tubes has

page_text: been explained and the means for releasing them will be presently explained.
It is sufficient for the present to say that this result is effected by the depression
of the space key 81b. After each tube is introduced, the entire line is moved to
the left one quarter of an inch, which is exactly the thickness of said tubes.
The first time the space key is operated, it moves the pawl 78d and disengages
the tooth 76 on the slide 76. It also operates the pallet lever 80, whereupon
the said slide 76 is released and is moved by its spring backward relative to the
slide 75 the distance between two ratchet teeth, to wit, one quarter of an inch.
Every other time the space key is operated, it operates the pallet lever with the
result above stated.
When the line including the spacer tubes is as long as the "short line,"
the detent arm 10° engages with the arm 75b, and thereafter for each addition
to the line the detent moves the slide 75 to the left with it; and the slide 76
partakes of this movement whenever a matrix is added. When this movement
of the slide 75 begins, the slide 76 has been moved to the right of its normal
position as many quarter inches as there are spacer tubes in the line, because
the pallet lever 80 has been operated that many times. When enough matrices
have been assembled in the line to fill a 66 short line" the slide 76 will have been
returned to its normal position; and both of the plates 75° 76° on the slides will
then be in contact with the contact pieces 69 69° on the lower part of the push
rod. The inclined plate 75ª is so placed that if at this time three spacer tubes
have been added to the line, the upper end of the push rod will have been moved
into the plane of the front row 66% of combination rods by the action of said
plate 75 upon the lower end of said push rod. The inclination of the plate 75*
is such that when the slide 75 moves to the right one quarter of an inch inde-
pendently of the slide 76, the upper end of the said push rod will be moved
backward the distance between two rows of combination rods. When both slides
move together, as they do when matrices are added to the line, the upper end of
the push rod is not moved backward, but is only moved to the right. And for
each matrix when it is added to the line, after a "short line" of matrices are
assembled, .the upper end of the push rod is moved to the right a distance pro-
portionate to the width of said matrix, by the action of the plate 76* against its
lower end.
If four words fill the line, the upper end of the push rod will be beneath some
combination rod in the front row of such rods, because the line then contains
three spacer tubes. Which rod in said row the push rod will be under depends
upon the amount of space in the line which the matrices alone fill. If now the push
rod is moved upward, by the arm 70, or any other suitable mechanism, it will
lift the said combination rod, and the three fingers thereon will operate the
three rocker plates which will cause the release of three spacers of the proper
thickness to justify the line. These spacers drop into the three spacer tubes,
whereby they are conveyed into the assembling trough.
If, however, four words do not fill the line, another assembling tube is released
and enters the trough 8. The operation of the space key for this purpose operates
the pallet lever 80, temporarily releasing the engagement between the two slides.
The slide 76 moves to the right one quarter of an inch independently of slide 75.
Then the matter in the trough is moved to the left a quarter of an inch whereby
both slides move to the left one quarter of an inch; and this returns the slide 76
to the position from which it had just been moved, while the slide 75 is to the
left of its previous position one quarter of an inch. The result of these movements
is substantially as if the slide 76 did not move at all when a spacer tube is added
to the line, while the slide 75 did move to the left a distance equal to the width
of such tube. This movement of said slide 75 relative to the slide 76. causes
the push rod to be moved backward under the second row 66b of combination
rods 66, but said push rod is not moved to the right or left at all. The addition
of more matrices to the line causes the push rod to move a proportionate distance,
to the right under said row of combination rods,

page_text: These operations are repeated until another syllable cannot be added to the
line. The operator then completes the circuit of the magnet 71, which may be
done by a suitable switch indicated at 85. This operates the lever arm 70 and
causes the push rod to move up against the rod 66 above it, which rod is thereby
raised, with the result of releasing the proper spacers. Three, four, five, six,
seven or eight spacers are released, depending upon the row of combination rods
under which the push rod stands. The width of said spacers depends upon the
position in said row in which it stands. The fingers upon said combination rod
are arranged to operate the proper rocker plates 65 and the proper number of such
plates to effect this result. When three spacers are released, one of said spacers is
released from each of the first three rows, a, b, c, of magazine channels on the
left. The fourth spacer is released from the fourth row d, and so on. When
this result has taken place, the circuit of the magnet 71 is opened,, by the opera-
tion of the switch, and the lever arm 70 falls, carrying with it the push rod 69.
When the spacers have been delivered into the trough 8, the circuit of the
magnet 74 is completed by any suitable switch indicated at 86, whereupon the
bar 73 is drawn upward. This raises the front ends of the assembling tubes and
withdraws the supplemental tubes from the assembling trough. Following this
result, the detent 10 is withdrawn from the trough, and the pinion 13 is set in
motion, the result of this latter action being that the assembled line is moved
by push rod 12ª to the left, substantially as described in said prior application,
out of the trough 8 and on to whatever support is provided to receive it. In a
machine for casting a type bar it would be moved toward the casting mechanism.
At the same time, the assembling tubes are moved to the right by the bar 79,
until the left tube passes the pawl 78°. The circuit of the magnet 74 is then
opened by its switch.
The escapement for releasing the assembling tubes consists of an escapement
arm 81 secured to the right end of the rock shaft 81. Secured to the front end
of this arm is a vertical finger 81% which normally lies behind the front ear 72ª
of the left tube 72, between it and the notch 88 in the assembling trough, and
prevents the supplemental tube from entering the assembling trough through
said notch. Another finger 81, at the right of the finger 81, is formed on the
arm 814, and the front edge of this finger is sharpened so that it may pass between
the ears 72d, on the left tube 72, and that one next to the right of it.
When the space key is depressed, it rocks the rock shaft 81, and this draws
the finger 81 downward, and releases the left tube 72, which tube thereupon
swings backward by gravity, its supplemental tube 72 entering the assembling
trough through the said notch 88. Before this tube is released, the finger 81h
enters between it and the next tube, and prevents this second tube from moving
to the left, until the finger 818 has returned to a position which will prevent the
passage through the notch 8h of the said second tube. When the finger 81b is with-
drawn, the remaining tubes fall by gravity to the left until the left hand tube
is stopped by the pawl 78". This action is repeated every time the space key
is depressed.
After the assembled line of matrices or type has been used, the spacers are
separated from the matrices or type, and are delivered one at a time into the
mouth 82b of the sorter 82 for sorting out the different sizes and delivering them
into the proper magazines. Prior to delivering the spacers into the mouth of
the sorter, they may be suspended by means of their notches 61", on a dove tail
tongue 77, and they may be pushed one by one into the mouth of the sorter by
hand or by suitable mechanism.
This sorter includes a plate 82 having in one face as many grooves 82° as there
are magazines. in the present case 8. The plate is secured on top of the plates 60t
which form the magazines. The said grooves at their lower ends are separated
by ribs 82d from each other, and each is directly above the mouth of the corre-
sponding magazine. The grooves extend upward and forward; converging and
being merged together at the mouth of the sorter. While all of these grooves

page_text: are inclined to a vertical plane, the nearer the front, the more nearly vertical they
are. These grooves are of different depth to conform to the thickness of the
spacers, the shallowest groove being in front, and are progressively deeper from
front to back. Across the grooved face of this plate, a smooth plate 82°, preferably
of glass, is secured. The upper end of the sorter is inclined toward the left, so
that a spacer in any of the grooves will slide against this smooth plate. The
spacers may be introduced one by one into the mouth of the sorter by any suitable
means. Preferably they are suspended by the dove tail notch 61% from a dove
tail tongue 77, from which they are pushed by hand, or any suitable mechanism,
into the mouth of the sorter. As they enter the sorter, they slide down by
gravity upon the plate 82º, and, since they tend to fall in as nearly a vertical
path as possible, they will find their way into the groove 82° nearest the front,
which will receive them;-in other words, they will fall down into the particular
groove in which they fit. The thinnest spacer will slide down in the front groove,
the next thinnest in the next groove, and so on. The spacers will consequently
be delivered into the mouths of their corresponding magazines.
The means for withdrawing the detent from the trough nor for setting the
pinion 13 in operation are not shown. The means contemplated are substantially
the same as shown in the prior application. But so far as the present invention
is concerned, the operator might withdraw the detent by hand, and the pinion
might be revolved by any suitable mechanism.
Neither is there shown in detail the switches for completing the circuits of
the electro-magnets 71 and 74. They are merely indicated. Any form of switches
may be used. In fact, any suitable means may be substituted for the electro-
magnets to perform their functions. The operator might even move the lever
arm 70 and the bar 73 by hand, if he so desired.
The mechanism herein described is of practical value only when used with a
typo setting or matrix assembling machine, but I see no reason why it may
not be used with any machine of that character. The particular mechanism
which will be employed for lifting the tubes 72 out of the trough, and for
returning the tubes 72 to their normal position, for moving the push rod 69
upward, for withdrawing the detent, and for accomplishing certain other inci-
dental but necessary results, will be adapted to the machine with which the present
invention may be used. The present, invention relates to the described mechanism
whereby the proper number of spacers of the proper width may be inserted at
the proper places in a line of matrices or type, whereby said line is justified; and
to the construction whereby the spacers may be sorted and distributed to their
proper magazines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:-
1. The combination of a plurality of spacer magazines containing spacers of
different thicknesses, independent escapement mechanisms for severally releasing
the said spacers, assembling tubes adapted to receive the released spacers, and
mechanism for severally introducing the discharge end of said tubes into the
assembling line of matrices, and mechanism for simultaneously operating suitable
escapement mechanisms, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination of the spacer magazines containing channels, the flat funnel-
shaped assembling tubes 72 movably suspended. below said magazines, the supple-
mental tubes 72 loosely mounted on the lower ends of said tubes 72, the assembling
trough, and mechanism for releasing said tubes 72 singly and permitting the
supplemental tubes to enter the assembling trough, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
3. The combination of the spacer magazines, containing channels, the flat funnel-
shaped assembling tubes 72 movably suspended below said channels, the supple-
mental tubes 72, the bar 79 for moving said tubes to the right, the pawl 78,
the bar 73 for lifting the front ends of said tubes, the assembling trough, and

page_text: escapement mechanism for releasing said tubes singly, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
4. The combination of the spacer magazines containing channels, flat-funnel-
shaped assembling tubes 72, suspended at their rear upper ends by loose pivots,
and guided at their front upper ends, whereby the contracted lower ends of said
tubes may move both forward and backward and to right and left, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination of the spacer magazines containing channels, flat funnel-
shaped assembling tubes suspended loosely at their rear upper ends beneath said
channels and guided at their front upper ends, mechanism for temporarily pre-
venting the movement of said tubes, and escapement mechanism for releasing
said tubes singly, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination of the flat funnel-shaped assembling tubes, and the supple-
mental tubes open on their rear sides connected to the lower ends of said assembling
tubes, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7. The combination of the slide 75 having ratchet teeth 75k, the slide 76, an
escapement pallet lever 80 pivoted to slide 76 for engagement with the ratchet
teeth, a space key for operating said pallet lever and pawl, and springs for re-
tracting said slides, and means for preventing the concurrent backward movement
of slide 75, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
8. The combination of the slide 75 having ratchet teeth 75, the slide 76 having
a tooth 76°, an escapement pallet lever 80 pivoted to slide 76 for engagement
with the ratchet teeth, a pawl 78d pivoted to a fixed support for engagement with
said tooth 76°, a space key for operating said pallet lever and pawl, and springs
for retracting said slides, a detent adapted to be moved by and in front of an
assembling matrix line, and arms on said detent and slide 75 which engage with
cach other, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
9. The combination of a plurality of spacer magazines adapted to contain spacers
of different thicknesses, and a gravity sorter arranged above and in communication
with the mouths of said magazines, for separating the different sized spacers and
discharging them into their respective magazines, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
10. The combination of a plurality of spacer magazines adapted to contain
spacers of different thicknesses, and arranged behind one another with their
mouths in the same vertical plane, with a gravity sorter having a single inlet
mouth or opening, and a plurality of discharge openings of different sizes, which
openings are respectively connected with the several magazine mouths, substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
11. The combination of an inclined sorter plate, having in its lower face a
plurality of grooves of different depth which begin at a common point at the
mouth of the sorter and diverge therefrom downward, said grooves being all
inclined in the same direction to the vertical, but at different progressively greater
angles, the shallowest groove being least inclined, and a smooth plate secured
across the grooved face of said sorter plate, with a plurality of magazines having
their mouths beneath the lower ends of said grooves, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
12. In a device for sorting spacers of different thicknesses, a plate having in
one face grooves of different depth, which grooves have their origin at a common
point, and diverge therefrom until they are entirely separated, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
13. The combination of a plurality of magazines having their mouths arranged
in a row, with a sorter consisting of a plate having in one side inclined grooves
of different depth which discharge into the mouths of the magazines, which
grooves converge and are merged together at their upper ends, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
14. The combination of a sorter having a mouth at its upper end and inclined
grooves of different depth arranged progressively as to depth one behind another,

page_text: which grooves begin at the mouth of the sorter and diverge from said point down-
ward, the shallowest grooves being the least inclined, with magazines, the mouths
of which are arranged beneath the lower ends of said sorter grooves, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
15. The combination of a plurality of magazines arranged one behind another
each divided into vertical channels, the channels in the several magazines being
arranged in rows, with assembling tubes having wide mouths arranged severally
beneath the rows of channels, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
16. The combination of a plurality of spacer channels, their escapement mechan-
isms and spacers, with independent devices for actuating said escapements, and
mechanism for operating any desired combination of said devices, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
17. The combination of a plurality of spacer channels, their escapement mechan-
isms, and spacers, with independent escapement operating devices, a plurality
of different combination rods adapted to operate any desired combination of said
escapement operating device, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
con-
18. The combination of a plurality of spacer channels, escapement mechanism
for each channel, an equal number of slotted rocker plates, and mechanism
necting said rocker plates and escapement mechanisms, with movable combination
rods which pass through slots in all of the plates and are arranged in rows coincident
with said slots, all of the rods having laterally projecting fingers for engagement
with said plates, the fingers on all of the rods in any row being the same as to
number but different as to arrangement, the number of fingers on different rods
being different, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
19. The combination of a plurality of spacer channels, and independent escape-
ment for each channel, an equal number of rocker plates, and connecting mechan-
isms, and a plurality of movable combination rods each having a different com-
bination of fingers for engagement with said rockers, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
20. The combination of a plurality of spacer channels, escapements for said
channels, a plurality of movable combination rods each having a different com-
bination of laterally projecting fingers, and independent escapement operating
mechanisms, adapted to be actuated by said fingers, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
21. The combination of a plurality of spacer channels, escapements for said
channels, an equal number of escapement operating mechanisms, and a plurality
of movable combination rods having laterally projecting fingers which engage
with said escapement operating mechanisms, said rods being arranged in rows,
the rods in each row having the same number of fingers, which fingers are differ-
ently arranged upon different rods, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
22. The combination of a plurality of spacer channels, independent escapement
mechanism for said channels, and a plurality of movable combination rods having
different combinations of fingers for operating said escapement mechanisms, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
23. The combination of a plurality of spacer magazines, each of which contains
a plurality of channels, which magazines are grouped one behind another with
their channels arranged in rows, each row containing a plurality of channels,
but only one in any one magazine, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
24. The combination of a plurality of spacer magazines grouped one behind
another, each magazine being divided into channels which are arranged in rows
including channels in different magazines, an independent escapement for each
channel and assembling tubes supported severally beneath said rows of channels,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
25. The combination of a spacer magazine having a single mouth, ribs which
divide the magazine into channels, and a switch adapted to be operated by the
entry of a spacer into one channel whereby the next spacer which enters the mouth

page_text: of the magazine must enter a different channel, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
26. The combination of a spacer magazine having a contracted mouth, ribs
which divide the magazine into spacer channels, and an automatic switch lever
having its upper end normally in the path of a spacer falling through said mouth,
and its lower end extended diagonally across a spacer channel, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
27. The combination of a spacer magazine having a contracted mouth, one
approximately vertical wall, and one wall which diverges therefrom at its upper
end, and ribs which divide the lower part of the magazine into a plurality of
spacer channels, with automatic switch levers pivoted in said magazines having
long upper arms, which fall by gravity into contact with said vertical wall, and
short arms which extend diagonally across said channels, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
28. The combination of a spacer magazine divided into a plurality of channels,
an equal number of horizontally movable slides which lie in grooves in the wall
of said magazine, each slide having a finger which projects into one of the channels,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
29. The combination of a plurality of spacer magazines, each of which is divided
into vertical channels, an independent escapement slide for each channel, corre-
sponding bell crank levers for operating said escapement slides, corresponding
rocker plates for operating said bell crank levers, which rocker plates are arranged
one above another and are provided with slots extending toward their pivots,
with a plurality of movable combination rods extending through said slots and
having different combinations of fingers adapted to engage with said rocker.
plates, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
30. The combination of a series of rocker plates arranged one above another,
having a plurality of slots arranged in common vertical planes at right angles
to their pivots, and escapement mechanisms operated by said several rocker plates,
with a plurality of combination rods which extends through said slots and are
arranged in rows co-incident with said slots, rods having laterally projecting
fingers adapted to engage with and operate said rocker plates, all of the rods in
the first row having the same number of fingers but differently arranged, and each
succeeding row having one more finger than the one next in front of it, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
31. The combination of a plurality of combination rods having laterally pro-
jecting fingers, which rods are arranged in rows, each rod in any row having the
characteristic number of fingers of said row, which fingers on the different rows
are differently arranged, in combination with the push rod adapted to be moved
from one row to another and along any of the rows, and mechanism for moving
said push rod up to operate the combination rod above it, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
32. The combination of the spacer channels and independent escapement
mechanisms for said channels, and the combination rods 66 arranged substantially
as described, with a push rod mounted on a universal joint on a vertically movable
arm, two slides 75, 76, and two plates 75 76" secured respectively to said slides
and adapted to engage with and operate the lower end of said push rod, the spacer
assembling tubes which are adapted to be introduced into a line of type or matrices
as it is being assembled, mechanism for advancing the slide 75 alone, whenever
a spacer tube is added to the line, a distance equal to the width of such tube,
and mechanism for advancing both slides when matrices or type are added to the
ine a distance equal to such addition, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
33. A spacer having parallel sides, and having, in its upper end, a dove-tailed
hotch, and, in its lower end a notch which is not dove-tailed, substantially as and
or the purpose specified.
34. The combination of a plurality of spacer assembling tubes suspended from
heir upper ends a adapted to swing forward and backward and to right and

page_text: left, a pawl engaging with the left tube, thereby preventing them from swinging
to the left, and a movable arm engaging behind the left tube, thereby preventing
its rearward movement, a space key for moving this arm, and an assembling
trough having a slot in its front wall behind the left trough, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
35. A spacer assembling tube having a contracted lower end and an open wide
upper end, and the ear 72 which is vertically slotted, and the ear 72, both ears
being connected with the front side of the lower end of said tube, combined
with a supplemental tube having a rod 72k which passes through the slotted
car 72 and is loosely attached to the ear 720, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.