Types and Dies, when Assembled or Composed in Lines.
Year: 1885

page_text: Types, and Dies, when Assembled or Composed in Lines.
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323, High Holborn, London in the County of
Middlesex, England, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN " METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR JUSTIFYING MATRICES, TYPES
AND DIES WHEN ASSEMBLED OR COMPOSED IN LINES" and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:—
.
At the present day there are known in the art various machines in which through
the instrumentality of finger keys, matrices, or types bearing letters or characters
may be assembled in line at will so as to permit the casting of type or type bars,
therefrom, or to permit the impression of the types in papier-maché or equivalent
material, to produce a mold from which type-bars or type surfaces may be cast.
In practice it is demanded that for matter to appear in page or column form,
each line shall be justified that is to say the characters or letters in said line
separated or spaced apart so as to give the line the exact length demanded.
In the practical operation of these machines it is impossible to determine in
advance the exact number of characters or spaces which can be embraced in the
space allotted for the line. When therefore the operator having selected or
designated a number of characters, finds it impossible to insert another word
or syllable it becomes necessary to increase the width of the spaces until the
previously designated characters fill the entire space.
The invention relates to the method of and means for thus increasing the spaces
after the selection of the characters.
To this end it consists in a spacing bar composed of two beveled or wedge-shaped
portions which may be inserted between the matrices of type and one of which is
movable longitudinally on the other so as to spread the matrices apart, the device
being constructed and adapted for use as hereinafter explained
19
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page_text: :
The invention further consists in means for effecting the simultaneous operation
and expansion of all the spacing bars which have been placed in the line of
matrices.
It also relates to the method consisting in introducing the line of matrices or
types between two jaws or clamps previously fixed rigidly in position at a distance
apart equal to the predetermined length of the line and subsequently expanding
simultaneously the space bars until the line of dies is expanded and wedged tightly
between the clamps.
Referring to the drawings
Fig. 1 represents a side view of the improved space bar.
Fig. 2 a longitudinal vertical section of the same.
Fig. 3 a cross section of the same on the line y-y.
Fig. 4 a front elevation showing the manner in which the space bars are used in
series.
Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the same.
Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section on the line, x-x.
Fig. 7 a perspective view of one of the matrices.
A represents the space bar consisting of the two parts a and b. The part a
consists of a tapered or wedge like bar of a width corresponding with that of the
dies or matrices with which it is to be used, and of a length greater or less
according to the extent to which the matricos or dies are to be expanded. The
part 6 consists of a plate or wedge tapered in the opposite direction from the body
portion a, and provided at its upper end or otherwise with shoulders c by which it
may be suspended between supporting rails d indicated by dotted in Fig. 1 or
other suitable supports.
The body portion a is provided with a longitudinal groove of dove-tail or other
suitable form and the part b provided with a neck extending therethrough, so that
although the body may be suspended by the head as shown in Fig. 1 it is free to
rise independently of the head when subjected to a moderate pressure. The outer
faces of the two parts stand parallel with each other, so that when introduced
between type or matrices they will permit the latter to remain perpendicular.
By moving the body portion upward the width of the spacing devices between the
type is increased, or in other words the device is expanded so as to force the adjacent
matrices or type apart without destroying their parallelism.
A spring washer may be secured to the part 6 and arranged to bear upon the
part a as represented in the drawings, in order to insure the proper degree of
friction between the two parts and prevent their adjustment from being destroyed
accidentally, but the parts may be otherwise fitted to secure the friction.
The space-bar may be modified in form and in size as circumstances may require;
and it may be placed in position and its parts adjusted after it is in position by
hand or by mechanism of any appropriate character.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown the invention embodied in con-
nection with a series of free or independent matrices, and a casting mechanism or
mold adapted to produce type-bars each bearing on one edge a series of type;
adapted to print a single line of a page or column, in essentially the same manner
as in Letters Patent of this Government granted to me on or about the 12th day of
May, 1885.
Ċ represents the matrices, each provided in one edge with a single intaglio
character or letter, and also provided at the upper end with projecting shoulders by
which they are sustained between the rails d, or other guides.
D D¹ represent two clamps one of which is movable to and from the other by
means of a screw E or other appropriate adjusting device whereby the two parts
may be fixed at a distance apart expanding with the length of the required line.
The matrices from which the characters are to be cast are arranged in line in the
proper order between the clamps and a type-bar inserted between the matrices at
each point where a space is to occur in the line. After the matrices and bars are

page_text: in position as shown in Fig. 4, the entire series of space bars have their body
portions a forced upward, the effect of which is to increase the space at each point
and thus expand the line of matrices until those at the ends of the line bear firmly
against the jaws. This elevation of the bars may be conveniently effected by
5 means of a plate G sliding, in vertical guides H and operated by a lever I or, it may
be effected by means of any other operating device which will act to lift all the
space-bars simultaneously. M represents the mold having interior dimensions
corresponding with those of the required type-bar. It is arranged adjacent to the
line of assembled matrices with its face in close contact therewith and in such
position that the characters of the matrices will fall within the mold chamber.
The rear side of the mold is closed by the mouth of the melting pot J containing
a force pump K by means of which the molten metal is ejected through a slot in
the mouth into a chamber J and against the characters of a type-bar bearing the
line of characters in relief properly spaced or justified. The bars thus produced
will be identical with those represented in the patent before referred to, and are
adapted to be locked up in series so as to constitute a relief surface or form for
printing a page or column of matter in such manner and with the same effect that
ordinary movable type are employed.
In practice. I propose to provide mechanism for assembling the matrices, for
introducing the type bars at the proper points in the line, and for adjusting the bars
end wise to effect the justification. But these mechanisms constitute no part of the
present invention and will be made the subject of separate patents.
It is to be observed that as a peculiarity of this invention, that it permits
a gradual and exact adjustment or justification of the matter and that in this
respect, it is clearly distinguishable from those methods of justification in which
the expansion occurs step by step definite distances and in which intermediate
adjustments cannot be attained.
It is also to be noted that the spacing device is of such character that it presents
a smooth surface at the edge, and a tight body between the matrices so as to close
the face of the mold and prevent the escape of molten metal.
While I have represented intaglio type or matrices it is to be understood that
I may make use of cameo type for producing matrices, in which case an impression
apparatus, for forcing papier maché or other material into contact with the line of
type will be substituted for the casting mechanism herein shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The method of justification substantially as hereindescribed, for female dies or
matrices consisting in introducing and operating simultaneously compound wedges
adapted to close the face of the cooperating mold.
2. The justifying device consisting of two oppositely tapered portions, one
arranged to slide upon the other and one provided with shoulders or sustaining
devices.
3. In a machine for casting type-bars, the combination of the mold means for
supplying the mold with molten metal, a series of matrices, clamps to confine the
matrices and spacing devices substantially as herein described, each consisting of
two tapered portions arranged to slide one upon the other and adapted to close the
mold tightly between the matrices.
4. In combination with a line of matrices or dies, a series of expansible spacing
devices such as shown and mechanism for. operating said devices automatically to
cause their expansion.
5. The combination of a series of matrices or types, clamps to determine the
expansion of the line of matrices the two part expansible spacing devices substan-
tially as herein described and means for operating said devices simultaneously.
6. In combination with a series of matrices and a mold to cooperate therewith,
a spacing device substantially as described, adapted to fill the space between two

page_text: matrices, and also close the mold at that point to prevent the escape of the metal
between the matrices.
7. In a machine for casting type bars etc, the combination of matrices or type
expansible spacing devices substantially such as shown and rails or guides adapted
to sustain both the matrices and spacing devices, and permit the expansion of the
latter in a manner substantially such as described and shown.
8. In combination with a series of matrices or female type and a series of
compound spaces each having one member or wedge longer than the matrices,
sustaining rails adapted and arranged to permit the adjustment of said elongated
member endwise between the matrices.