Improvements in Key Mechanism for Type Setting and Linotype Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 7th Nov 1800
Complete Specification Left, 7:h. Nov., 1399-Accepted, 31st Mar., 1900
Complete Specification Left, 7:h. Nɔv., 1399—Accepted, 31st Mar., 1900
Improvements in Key Mechanism for Type Setting and Linotype
Machines.
1, FRANK MCCLINTOCK, of 203, Broadway, New York City, in the State of New
York, United States of America, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in the key-board and mechanism con-
nected therewith of type setting and linotype machines.
In such machines, as usually constructed beretofore, it has been usual to
provide suitable means whereby the types or matrices may be ejected or released
from their containing channels by power, the depression of the key by the
operator serving only to connect the type ejecting element or elements tem-
porarily with a continuously rotating shaft or roller, by means of ratchet wheels,
friction rollers, or some similar mechanism. Such constructions are generally
more or less complicated, noisy in operation and subject to rapid wear and fre-
quent breakage. Furthermore, unless the key is promptly released, the mech-
anism will repeat" or cause the ejection of one or more additional types from
the compartment in addition to the one intended.
The objects of my improvement are to provide a simple type ejecting mechanism
which may be operated by air or other gas under pressure, and a suitable valve
of simple construction so connected to a key lever that the depression of the key
will simultaneously, or nearly so, open the inlet and close the outlet to the
cylinder in which the operative piston moves; and to provide means whereby
the pressure of the valve against its seat may be readily adjusted so that it may
be moved by a light touch on the key. Also to provide a simple locking device
whereby the key. will remain depressed whenever from any cause the ejecting
mechanism fails to eject or release a type, thus at once indicating such fact to
the operator.
The invention may be best understood by reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings, which show it applied to that class of type setting machines it
which a vertical case is used, containing the types in channels, from which they
are removed singly by means of type ejectors, which are adapted to force the
lowermost type in the channel forward out of the channel whereupon it may bo
Die A27

page_text: carried to the point of assemblage by any suitable means. Only a single key
lever and its connections and type ejector is shown and described, but it will
be obvious that the complete machine will require as many sets as there are type
letters and characters.
Fig. 1 is a sectional view through the reservoir, a valve, cylinder, and type
channel of the preferred construction;
Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view after the key has been depressed, thus open-
ing the valve and allowing the compressed air to force the type ejector forward:
and Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of a construction wherein another form of
inlet valve is used.
Similar reference figures refer to similar parts in each of the views.
1 is the type channel, in which a supply of types are placed, having an open-
ing 2 in front through which the lowermost type may be ejected. A type
ejector rod 3 is arranged so that its front end may be forced into and through
the type channel against the foot of the lowest type therein, thus pushing it out.
A piston 4 on the rear end of the ejector rod 3 fits in a cylinder 5. A spring 6.
which is preferably coiled around the ejector rod 3, serves to return the rod 3
to its normal position after having ejected a type. The cylinder 5 is preferably
bored in a block 5 which extends either continuously or in sections longitudinally
the entire width of the whole number of type channels and the individual
cylinders are so spaced that each one will be directly in line with its corre-
sponding type channel. The reservoir 7, extending longitudinally along the
block 6* may be filled, and replenished as used, with air or other gas under
pressure, through the pipe 8 by any suitable means, such as
a force pump
operated by hand or power. A hole 9 is bored directly in line with the axis of
the cylinder 5 and to the rear of it. The lower portion of this hole is somewhat
larger than the upper end which opens into the reservoir 7. The valve 10,
which is preferably formed of a cylindrical rod, is fitted to slide longitudinally
in the hole 9. A spring 11 serves to force the upper end of the valve rod 10
against its seat, formed by the shoulder where the smaller opening to the reser-
voir 7 joins the valve cylinder 9, thus closing the valve against the pressure of
the air or other gas in said reservoir. A screw 12 is provided whereby the
tension of the spring 11 may be varied in order to increase or decrease the
pressure required on the key to open the valve. An annular washer 9b, of leather
or other suitable material, is placed in the upper end of the valve cylinder 9,
or a leather cap on the upper end of the valve rod 10 may be used, for the
purpose of reducing the noise caused by the closing of the valve and making a
more perfect air tight joint between the valve and its seat.
An inlet 13 is bored from the upper rear end of the cylinder 5 to connect
with the valve hole 9 a short distance below the valve seat, while an outlet 14
is bored from the lower rear end of the cylinder 5 directly through the valve
rod 10 to the open air. A rod or wire 15 connects the valve 1od 10 to the usual
key lever 16 as shown so that a depression of the key lever, as shown in
Figure 2, will draw down the valve rod 10 against the tension of the spring 11
which simultaneously closes the outlet 14 and opens the inlet 9 and 13, allowing
the compressed air or other gas to enter the cylinder 5 and force the piston 4
and type ejector rod 3 forward, which ejects the lowermost type in the channel.
Immediately on releasing the key 16 the spring 11 returns the valve rod 10 to
its normal position, shown in Fig. 1, closing the inlet 9 and 13 and at the same
time opening the outlet 14 whereupon the compressed air back of the piston 4
escapes and the spring 6 forces the piston and the ejector rod 3 back to the
normal position.
Since the pressure of the confined air or other gas is exerted directly on the
upper end of the valve rod 10 thus tending to force it down, it is evident that by
properly adjusting the tension of the spring 11 by means of the screw 12 the
pressure or touch" on the key required to open the valve may be considerably
varied, and this touch may be made very light whatever may be the pressure of

page_text: the air or other gas in the reservoir, since only the difference between the upward
pressure of the spring 11 and the downward pressure of the confined air or other
gas on the valve rod 10 is to be overcome in depressing the key 16.
It is desirable that means should be provided for indicating at once and clearly
to the operator whenever from any cause the ejector 3 is prevented from
advancing a sufficient distance to eject a type, and for this purpose a locking
pin 17 is provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This pin, by means of the
spring 18, is drawn toward the valve rod 10 with which its inner end is con-
stantly in contact. When the valve rod 10 is drawn down by the depression of
the key 16, as shown in Fig. 2 the outlet opening 14 through said rod is brought
directly opposite the end of the locking pin 17, which by means of the spring 18
is caused to enter therein and thus retain the valve rod 10 and key 16 in their
lower position. In order that the locking pin 17 may be automatically with-
drawn or prevented from locking the valve rod 10 in its lower position when the
piston makes its complete operative movement, the arm 17* extends through a
slot into the cylinder 5 in such a position that it will be engaged by the piston 4
whenever it is forced out a sufficient distance to cause the ejector rod 3 in force
out a type. In the practical operation of the device the forward movement of
the piston 4, when not meeting any obstacle, is so nearly simultaneous with the
depression of the key 16 that the locking pin 17 does not enter the hole 14
before the arm 17 has been engaged by the piston 4, so that it never operates
to hold the valve rod 10 and the key 16 in the depressed position except when
the complete forward movement of the piston 4 and ejector rod 3 is prevented.
In order to indicate to the operator when the type channel is empty it is only
necessary that a follower block 19 be placed within the channel on the top
of types contained therein. This follower block is too large to be ejected
through the opening 2 and therefore when all of the types have been ejected it
will rest on the bottom of the channel, and prevent the forward movement of
the ejector rod 3 and piston 4, thus causing the blocking pin 17 to act as above
described.
In the alternative construction, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the valve rod 10
extends up into the reservoir 7 through an air tight packing 20. The inlet
valve 21 is secured to the short arm of the lever 22, which is pivoted at the
point 23. An arm or pin 24 on the rod 10 is adapted to engage the long arm of
the lever 22 when said rod is drawn down by the depression of the key which
may be connected thereto in the same manner as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The
valve 21 is adapted to close the inlet 13 to the cylinder 5, the pressure of the
confined air or gas forcing it tightly against its seat.
The outlet 14* passes
through the valve rod 10, and is therefore closed by a longitudinal movement
of said rod. Upon drawing down the valve rod 10, by a key or other suitable
means. the pin 24 engages the lever 22 which raises the valve 21 from its seat.
admits the compressed air or other gas to the cylinder 5 and forces the piston 4
forward as shown in Fig. 4.
It is evident that the locking pin, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may also be used in
the alternative construction of Figs. 3 and 4, and also that other forms of valve
may be used other than the pivoted lever valve shown, adapted to be opened by
either an unward or a downward movement of the valve rod.
It is evident that my invention is not limited in its application to the simple
and direct acting ejecting rod shown and described but that any mechanism
usually used for releasing or ejecting types from their channels may be connected
to and operated by said piston.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a key mechanism for type setting and linotype machines the combination
with suitablo means for eiecting or releasing types from their containing chan-

page_text: nels or cases, of a piston adapted to be moved longitudinally within a cylinder
and operatively connected to said type ejecting mechanism, a reservoir or other
means for supplying compressed gas to the cylinder. a valve or valves adapted
to alternately admit and release compressed gas to and from said cylinder, and
means for causing the proper movement of said valve or valves.
2. In a key mechanism for type setting and linotype machines, the com-
bination with suitable means for ejecting or releasing types from their con-
taining channels or cases, of a piston adapted to be moved longitudinally within
a cylinder and operatively connected to said type ejecting mechanism, a reservoir
or other means for supplying compressed gas to the cylinder, a valve or valves
adapted to alternately admit und release compressed gas to and from said
cylinder, and an operating key connected to the valve or valves.
3. In combination with means for ejecting or releasing types from their con-
taining channels. a cylinder having a piston fitted therein which is connected to
suid type-ejecting mechanism, a reservoir containing compressed gas, a suitable
valve or valves adapted to alternately admit and release compressed gas to and
from said cylinder, a key or other suitable means for properly operating said
valves, and means for locking the key in its depressed position whenever the
piston is prevented from making a complete operative movement.
4. In combination with means for ejecting or releasing types from their
containing channels, a cylinder having a piston fitted therein which is connected
to said type-ejecting mechanism, a reservoir containing compressed gas, an inlet
from said reservoir to the cylinder, a longitudinally movable valve rod adapted to
open and close said inlet, a spring adapted to hold the valve rod normally in
such position that the inlet will be closed, an outlet from the cylinder passing
directly through the valve rod when in its normal position, and means for
causing the required longitudinal movement of said valve rod.
5. In combination with means for ejecting or releasing types from their con-
taining channels, a cylinder having a piston fitted therein which is connected
to said type ejecting mechanismu, a reservoir containing compressed gas, an inlet
from said reservoir to the cylinder, a longitudinal movable valve rod having one
end adapted to close the inlet, means for normally holding the valve rod in
position to close the inlet against the pressure of the confined gas, an outlet from
the cylinder passing directly through the valve rod when in its normal position,
and a key so connected to the valve rod that its depression will cause the
necessary longitudinal movement of said valve rod.
6. In combination with means for ejecting or releasing types from their cou-
taining channels, a cylinder having a piston fitted therein which is connected
to said type ejecting mechanism, a reservoir containing compressed gas, an inlet
from said reservoir to the cylinder, a longitudinally movable valve 1od having
one end adapted to close the inlet, a spring for normally holding the valve rol
in position to close the inlet against the pressure of the confined gas, means for
readily changing the tension of said spring, an outlet from the cylinder passing
directly through the valve rod when in its normal position, and a key so con-
nected to the valve rod that its depression will cause the necessary longitudinal
movement of said valve rod.
7. In combination with a type ejecting rod adapted to be forced directly into
and through a type channel and having a spring adapted to return the ejecting
rod back to its normal position after ejecting a type, a cylinder having a piston
fitted therein which is attached to said ejecting rod, a reservoir containing
compressed gas, a suitable valve or valves adapted to alternately admit and
release compressed gas to and from said cylinder and a key or other suitable
means for properly operating said valves.
8. In combination with a type ejecting rod adapted to be forced directly into
and through a type channel and having a spring adapted to return the ejecting
rod back to its normal position after ejecting a type, a cylinder having a piston
fitted therein which is attached to said ejecting rod, a reservoir containing

page_text: compressed gas, a suitable valve or valves, adapted to alternately admit and
release compressed gas to and from said cylinder, a key suitably connected to
operate said valves, means for locking the key in its dopressed position whenever
the piston and ejecting rod are prevented from making a complete operative
movement, and a follower block on the types contamed in the channel.
9. The combination with mechanism for ejecting or releasing types from
their containing channels by compressed gas or other equivalent means, of a suit-
able operating key and a locking pin adapted to retain the operating key in a
depressed position whenever the ejecting mechanism fails to complote its
necessary normal movement to eject or release a type.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.