Improvements in and connected with Linotype Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 17th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Linotype Machines.
2
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Sole Proprietors of, and Sole Licensors, Manufacturers, and Vendors
under, the Linotype" Patents, and CHARLES HOLLIWELL, of No. 11, Hulme
Street, Oxford Road, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in and connected with linotype
machines. The several parts of it have been devised with special reference to
the well known Mergenthaler linotype machine; and for that reason, their nature
will be best understood by a description of them in connection therewith.
The first part of the invention relates to improvements in and connected with
the substitution of one matrix magazine for another, or, as it is known in the
trade, quick change of magazine. In the machine in question, this magazine
occupies an oblique position upon the top of the machine frame. The magazine
consists of a pair of parallel plates and transverse distance webs between them.
The matrices are arranged in grooves, all the grooves being parallel with the
said distance webs. Along the front side of the magazine, stand the mouths
through which the matrices pass out under the action of the composing mechanism.
The matrices, as they escape from the said mouths, drop down vertical channels,
on their way to the part, known as the assembling block, where they together
with a complement of space bars, are composed into a line. The said vertical
channels are formed by thin ridges projecting from the front face of a plate,
known as the guide plate, and which extends across the machine front for about
the same width as the magazine itself. A glass plate provides a front cover for
the channels. The fit between the top portion of the guide plate and the front
of the magazine is such that the removal of a magazine from the machine frame
is impracticable so long as the said portion remains in its normal position. It is,
therefore, separate from the lower portion and is supported upon suitable pivots
so as to be capable of a slight rocking motion to and from the magazine mouths.
The glass plate too, is hung from arms projecting from the respective ends of
the guide plate. One of the levers of the mechanism connected with the dis-
tribution of the matrices and space bars, stands normally in front of one of the
arms from which the glass plate is suspended. Consequently, it has heretofore
been necessary to reverse the driving mechanism of the machine sufficiently to
move the particular lever above mentioned away from before the arm in question,
before a magazine could be taken off the machine. According to the present
invention, the arm is cranked or bent so as to clear the said lever, the positions
of its two ends remaining as heretofore. There is also provided, a catch adapted
to hold the said top portion and glass plate in their forward position. It con-
sists of an arm pivotted on the end of the guide plate and notched at the opposite
end to engage on a stud projecting laterally from the respective spring arm upon
which that side of the guide plate rests as upon a pivot.

page_text: This
There
It is of great importance that the channel ridges shall register exactly with
the respective distance webs. Heretofore, each of the two arms which project
from the respective ends of the guide plate, have been fitted with set screws
adapted to bear against the sides of the magazine in such a way as to make lateral
adjustment possible. According to the present invention, a set pin having a
tapered or concave nose, projects from the top portion of the guide plate in the
direction of the magazine front, such pin being fast to the said portion. The
magazine front is provided with a socket into which the said pin enters.
socket is, preferably, furnished by a hard metal plate mounted in the said front,
flush with its surface so as to be adjustable longitudinally along the same.
may be a pin and socket at each end of the guide plate and magazine front.
A Mergenthaler linotype machine matrix magazine escapement consists of a
lever having a central fulcrum in the bottom plate of the said magazine and a
pin projecting from each end of it up through the said bottom plate. A spring
holds one pin up in front of the front matrix, and the other pin down flush with
the internal face of the said bottom plate. All the escapements must be locked
in their normal positions, before a magazine is taken off the machine frame, to
prevent the matrices dropping out. Heretofore, the locking has been effected
by passing a rod between the bottom plate of the magazine and a shoulder upon
each of the above mentioned down pins of the escapements. Frequently the rod
could not be found when it was wanted or it has been spoilt for its special purpose
by having been used for something else. According to the present invention,
there is provided a bar extending across the outer face of the magazine bottom
plate above mentioned, and adapted to slide in guides into and out of the spaces
above described as standing between the said plate and escapement shoulders.
The bar is slid to and fro by the operator to whom it presents a suitable grip out-
side each magazine side.
It is also necessary that the connecting rods from the finger keys to the escape-
ments, shall all be held up at their maximum height before a change of magazine
can be effected. It has hitherto been the practice to hold them up by pushing
a bar under the ends of all of them. According to the present invention, each rod
is notched, all the notches being at the same height. A rod semi-circular in
cross section, is supported in suitable bearings in the main frame of the machine,
or otherwise, with its flat side opposite and near to the row of notches. One end
of the rod is continued through the main frame where it is furnished with a
lever handle by which it can be turned through about a quarter of a circle. Such
turning makes it engage in all the notches and lifts the series of rods. There
are combined with the semi-circular rod, a spring actuated pawl detent adapted
to engage in either of two notches in or near the outer end of the said rod and to
lock it in the corresponding position, as well as a spring to return the rod as
soon as the detent is disengaged therefrom. The rod in question may be replaced
by a series of fingers or by a cam or cams of a proper shape for discharging the
same function.
The second part of the invention relates to improvements in and connected
with the trimming mechanism of a linotype machine, and has more especial refer-
ence to knives for trimming 2-line cap. linotypes.
Those who are familiar with the machine production of linotypes, are aware
that there is a certain amount of trimming to be done to both their sides. A
2-line capital has the lower half of it projecting beyond the adjacent side of the
linotype. Such projection, therefore, renders the trimming of the sides of such
linotype, by its being passed between a pair of parallel trimming knives as long
as itself, impracticable, for the reason that such passage would result in the lower
half or projection of the capital, as many as there might be, being shorn off. To
prevent such shearing off, it has been proposed to perfect the mechanism for trim-
ming a 2-line cap. linotype, by providing for the automatic withdrawal of the
knife on that side of it, in the direction of its edge; for the introduction into
the space so vacated, of the projection of the 2-line capital; for the return of

page_text: the knife along its line of withdrawal; for the projection acting as a stop to it
'by standing as an abutment against the end of the knife; for the restoration of
the knife to its normal position; and for the disconnection of the withdrawing
mechanism when the following linotype is an ordinary one. But experience in
the working out and practical application of the proposed perfecting mechanism,
has demonstrated that it is incapable of withdrawing the moveable knife for more
than a limited distance. As that distance is much less than the length of an
ordinary newspaper linotype, it is evident that the mechanism in question fails
to meet the requirements of linotypes having 2-line capitals anywhere along their
lengths. One of the objects of this part of the invention, is to provide for the
moveable knife being moved out of the path of the linotype instead of out of the
path of only a portion of it. Accordingly, a lever is mounted upon a fulcrum
situated at the back of the machine, near the ground. The front end of it stands
under the moveable knife to which it is connected by a suitable detachable link.
The lever is depressed by a suitably shaped cam which constantly rotates above
it, and engages once during each revolution with a small antifriction roller held
at a suitable height above the said lever and in the path of the cam, by an arm
fast to the lever. Obviously, it is preferable that the cam, arm, and lever, should
align with the centre of the knife. At the moment when the cam passes the
roller, the pull of a spring of a suitable strength, on the lever, effects the return
or upward motion of the knife. If the pull of the spring were unimpeded, it
would most likely make the rising knife damage or knock off the first 2-line cap.
projection with which it came into contact. To prevent that risk, there is com-
bined with the cam a brake surface over which the spring must pull the roller.
The surface in question is or may be straight, and makes a suitable angle with
the radius of the cam for regulating the return motion of the knife by impeding
it as much as may be required.
Other objects of this second part are to make the knife easily detachable from
the knife block and to provide for taking up wear. The knife in question is
held fast to a slide which slides up and down an angle made by the junction
with the rear face of the knife block, of a second and narrower block. The rear
face of the slide has an angular ridge along that side which abuts upon the
narrower block. A plate having one side edge bent to the angle of the angular
ridge, is held by screws to the rear face of the said narrower block, in such a way
as to form with the latter and the knife block, an undercut groove in which the knife
can slide freely and from which it can be withdrawn entirely.
The trimmed linotype passes out through a port one side of which is a spring
supported plate. Hitherto, this plate has been held to the knife block by three
gudgeons projecting from its top and bottom, and entering vertical sockets in
the knife block. These sockets are parallel with the respective face of the knife
block, and their formation involves the top and bottom portions of the knife
block, or that end of it being loose after the manner of cap plates, half of each
socket being in the knife block and half in the cap plate. According to the
present invention the cap plates are made in one piece with the knife block, and
the spring supported plate is loosely held in the same block by screws passed
through it thereinto, a spring being inserted between the block and the plate
near to each side of the latter. The rear side edge is boldly convex, to facilitate the
entrance of a linotype into the port.
Dated this 17th day of May 1897.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Linotype Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Sole Proprietors of, and Sole Licensors, Manufacturers, and Vendors
under, the Linotype" Patents, and CHARLES HOLLIWELL, of No. 11, Hulme
Street, Oxford Road, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per- 5
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The present invention relates to improvements in and connected with linotype
machines. The several parts of it have been devised with special reference to the
well known Mergenthaler linotype machine described in the Specification of 1
Letters Patent 14582 of 1890 and for that reason, and especially because that
mechine is the only linotype machine in use in this country the nature of the
improvements will be best understood by a description of them in connection
therewith.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of this 1
specification and read therewith,
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation from the right side of the machine, of
the bottom of the matrix magazine, the top portion of the guide plate, and
the matrix selecting mechanism:
Figure 2 a front elevation, partly in section, of the registering device between 2
the top portion of the guide plate and the front of the magazine:
Figure 3, a detached front elevation of a socket of the said device:
Figure 4, a sectional side elevation of the said top portion and one magazine
channel, shewing the former out of engagement with the latter;
Figure 5, a plan of one modification of the cam mechanism for lifting the :
escapement rods;
Figure 6, a transverse section of the cam rod thereof:
Figure 7, a plan of a second modification of the said cam mechanism;
Figure 8, a transverse section of the cam rod thereof:
Figure 9, a perspective view of the matrix magazine, the matrix channels and
the glass channel cover:
Figure 10, a side elevation of the improved enlarged capital knife mechanism:
Figure 11, an elevation of the knife block and moveable knife from the right
of the machine:
Figure 12, a rear elevation of the same:
Figure 13, an elevation of the right side of the linotype port; and
Figure 14, a sectional plan taken along the line 14-14 of Figure 11 and
including a part of the knife actuating mechanism.
A, A are parts of the main frame of the machine: a the gear wheel that
actuates the linotype ejector; a, the cam shaft of the machine; B, the matrix
magazine; 6ª, 63 matrix grooves; D, D, finger keys of the matrix selecting
mechanism; d, d their pivots; E, E escapement rods; E101, an escapement rod
returning springs; E¹, E, e7, levers, cams and rollers, co-operating with the
escapement rods E; f, an escapement lever; f¹, f³, its pallets; f³ its returning
spring; G, G matrix channels from the magazine downwards; g, g channel
separating ribs fast on the guide plate g¹; g³ a glass matrix channel cover hang-
ing from a rod 99 supported by arms G³, G³ projecting from the guide plate gl;
G, an arm fast to, and projecting to the front from each side of, the guide
plate gl G, an arm fast to the machine frame A and projecting to the front on
each side of the glass plate 92; G6, G6 studs projecting laterally from the outside

page_text: faces of the arms G5, and upon which the plate ga pivots; H, the inclined matrix-
delivery belt passing round its top pulley; No, the moveable knife; N108, the
spring supported plate of the linotype port; P¹, the knife block; u, the space bar
distributing hook; and s7, its operating lever. All the above mentioned parts are
as heretofore.
The first part of the invention relates to improvements in and connected with
the substitution of one matrix magazine for another, or quick change of magazine,
as linotype operators term it. It is illustrated in Figures 1 to 9. The top front
portion of the lever s stands normally in front of the left arm G-Figure 9.
Consequently, it has heretofore been necessary to reverse the driving mechanism
of the machine sufficiently to move the lever $7 above mentioned away from before
that arm G³, before a magazine B could be taken off the machine. According to
the present invention that arm is cranked or bent as shewn so as to clear the lever s
when the top portion of the guide plate g¹ is pulled forward on its pivots Go, the
relative positions of its two ends remaining as heretofore. There is also provided
a catch adapted to hold the top portion of the guide plate g' and the glass plate g²
in their forward position. That catch-Figure 1-consists of an arm G7 pivotted
on the side of the guide plate g¹ and having a notch G8 adapted to engage on a
stud G projecting laterally from the respective arm G³.
It is of great importance that the channels G shall register exactly with the
respective matrix grooves 63. Heretofore each of the two arms G3 has been fitted
with set screws adapted to bear against the sides of the magazine B in such a
way as to make lateral adjustment of it possible. According to the present inven-
tion, a set pin G-Figures 1 to 4 having a tapered or concave nose, projects
from the top portion of the guide plate g¹ in the direction of the magazine front,
such pin being fast to the said portion. The magazine front is provided with a
socket G into which the said pin enters. This socket is, preferably, furnished
by a hard metal plate G12 mounted in the said front, flush with its surface, so as
to be adjustable longitudinally along the same. There may be a pin and socket
at each end of the guide plate and magazine front. G13, G13 are tongues aligned
with the pins G10, and adapted to engage in slots G, G₁ in the magazine front,
so as to co-operate with the pin and socket device just described.
The escapement of a Mergenthaler linotype matrix magazine, consists of a
lever having a central fulcrum in or near the bottom plate 6 of the magazine B,
and pallets, ff, projecting from the respective ends of it up through the said
bottom plate. An escapement rod E holds the front pallet f¹ in front of the front
matrix Y, and the other pallet down flush with the internal face of the bottom
plate b. All the escapements must be locked in their normal positions, before
a magazine B is taken off the machine frame A, to prevent the matrices Y
dropping out. Heretofore the locking has been effected by passing a rod between
the bottom plate b and the rear ends of the levers f behind the pallets f. But
it frequently happened that the rod could not be found when it was wanted, or
it had been spoilt for its special purpose by having been used for something else.
According to the present invention, there is provided a bar F16-Figures 1 and 9—
extending across the outer face of the bottom plate b, and adapted to slide into
and out of the spaces between the plate b and the row of escapement shoulders.
The bar F16 is slid up and down from the position illustrated by the dotted lines
in Figure 1 to that illustrated by the full lines in the same figure by the operator,
to whom it presents a suitable grip outside each magazine side. Guides suitable
for the motion of the said bar are provided. They may be of any suitable type.
The combination of the bolts F17 by which the bar F16 is held to the plate b and
slots F18 is a satisfactory one.
It is necessary that the top portions of all the connecting rods E from the finger
keys D to the escapements f shall be held up in their highest position before a
change of magazine can be effected. It has hitherto been the practice to hold
them up by pushing a bar under the bottom ends of all of them. According to
the present invention, each rod E has a notch E-Figure 1-in one edge of it,

page_text: all the notches being at the same height and in the same edge, preferably the
front one.
A cam rod E-Figures 1 and 5-8 is supported in suitable bear-
ings in the main frame A or otherwise, with its edge standing opposite to or
just within the row of notches E27. One end of the rod E28 is continued through
the main frame A where it is furnished with a lever handle E by which its rear
edge can be turned upwards through about a quarter of a circle. Such turning
makes it engage with all the notches E27 and lift the series of rods E. There are
combined with the cam rod E2, a spring actuated pawl detent 130 adapted to
engage in either of two notches E31 in or near the outer end of the said rod and to
lock it in the corresponding position, as well as a spring E to return the rod E28
as soon as the detent E is disengaged therefrom. The notches E³ are, prefer-
ably, in the rounded end of the lever E29, E is a spring to keep the detent E30 in
contact with that end, and E is a knob for disengaging the detent.
The cam rod E28 may be replaced by a series of fingers or cams of a proper
shape for discharging the same function, the members of the series being separated
by discs . The lever handle E29, pawl detent E30 and springs E, E, may
be on either side of the machine.
The second part of the invention relates to improvements in an connecting with
the trimming mechanism of a linotype machine. It is illustrated in Figures 10
to 14.
66.
'W”
at the head of
Those who are familiar with the machine production of linotypes are aware that
there is a certain amount of trimming to be done to both their sides. This is
effected by the ejector pushing them edge on between two parallel and vertical
knives. Linotypes that have enlarged capitals such as the
a. "Wanted" advertisement, cannot be trimmed in that way, because the pro-
jections of the enlarged capitals overhang one side, and would be shorn off by the
knife on that side. Various mechanisms, some manual and some automatic, have been
invented, for moving the said knife out of the way, so as to clear the projection or pro-
jections, as many as there might be, and of returning it to its normal position
ready for trimming ordinary linotypes. In some of them, the presence of the
projection has been relied on to stop the return motion of the knife, in order that
it should act only on as much of the linotype side as had no projection in front
of it. For trimming a linotype having one or more projections, the present inven-
tion provides improved automatic mechanism to move the knife on the projection
side, entirely out of the path of the linotype instead of out of the path of only
a portion of one, and improved automatic mechanism to impede or break its
return motion. Accordingly a lever -Figures 10 and 11-is mounted upon a
fulcrum situated at the back of the machine, near the ground. The front
end of it stands under the movable knife No, to which it is connected by a suitable
detachable link n. The lever is depressed by a suitably shaped cam 67
which constantly rotates above it, and engages once during each revolution with
a small anti-friction roller n held at a suitable height above the said lever and in
the path of the cam 67 by an arm n69 fast to the lever n64. Such engagement
suffices to pull the knife No into a position below the path of the linotype and
therefore entirely out of its path. Obviously it is preferable that the cam, arm,
and lever just described, should align with the centre of the said knife. At the
moment when the cam n67 passes the roller n68, the pull of a spring 70 of a suit-
able strength on the lever nº4 effects the return or upward motion of the knife No.
The spring no pulls from some convenient fixed point. If the pull of the spring
were unimpeded, it would most likely make the rising knife No damage or knock
off the first projection with which it came into contact. To prevent that, there
is combined with the cam n67, a brake surface n over which the spring no must
pull the roller 168. The surface n is or may be straight, and makes a suitable
angle with the radius of the cam for regulating the return motion of the knife N6
by impeding it as much as may be required. The engagement of the cam n67
with the antifriction roller n and the return of the knife No are both effected
before the trimming of the linotype begins.

page_text: The bottom end of the link 266 is held to the front end of the lever n4 by
having an eye formed in it and then being engaged on a stud n7 projecting later-
ally from the front end of that lever. The object of this detachability is to pro-
vide for the knife No being held in its normal trimming position and which holding
is effected by detaching the link n from the bar no and passing its eye over a
stud 3 projecting from the main frame A, the top end of the link n66 being
pivotally connected to the knife. That position is illustrated in Figure 10 in
dotted lines. n is a fixed guide for the link 166.
A further object of this second part of the invention is to make the knife No
easily detachable from the knife block Pl, and to provide for taking up wear
between them. Accordingly the knife is held fast to a slide n75-Figures 11, 12
and 14-having an angular ridge on its side. This slide moves in a vertical under-
cut groove on the rear face of the knife block P¹, formed by a detachable plate n76
having an angular ridge on it, and which plate is held to the said block P¹ by
being made fast to an intermediate block n" which is itself held to the knife block by
screws The angular ridge on the plate 6 stands to the left of the block ni
and faces the knife block P¹, thereby giving the groove for the slide n75 its under-
cut character. The slide n75 and the block n77 are of the same width and the
inclined faces of the two angular ridges being at the same angle, fit up to each
other. Removing the plate n6 from the block n detaches the knife No from
the knife block P¹, while wear between the knife No and the said block is taken
up by removing the plate 76 and block n77, planing the latter down over its rear
face and replacing it and the plate 6.
The trimmed linotype passes away from the trimming mechanism through a
port, one side of which is a plate, N106, loosely held to the knife block P¹ and
pressed towards the opposite side of that port by a spring. The linotype pass-
ing into and through the port above mentioned, engages the plate N108 along its
convex edge and forces it to one side as far as its own thickness requires, to make
the port wide enough for it to pass through. The device by which the plate N108
has hitherto been held to the knife block 11, consists of three gudgeons project-
ing from its top and bottom and entering vertical sockets in that block. These
sockets are parallel with the respective face of the knife block, and their forma-
tion involves the top and bottom portions N of that side of the knife block,
being loose after the manner of cap plates, half of each socket being in the knife
block P¹ and half in the respective portion N. According to the present inven-
tion, the portions N are made in one piece with the knife block P¹, and headed
screws N2 are passed through specially shaped holes in the block P¹, and screwed
into the plate 108 N113, N113, are a pair of springs inserted between the block P¹
and the plate N108 to force the latter towards the opposite side of the port as hereto-
fore, while the capacity for lateral motion necessary to the screws N118 under the
circumstances, is provided by the extra depth of those portions of the bolt holes
in which the heads of the bolts N112 fit, whereby they can move laterally with the
plate N108 as may be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In a linotype machine, the combination with the magazine and top portion
of the guide plate, of the cranked or bent arm, the catch adapted to hold the said
top portion and the glass matrix channel cover; and the registering device; as
set forth and illustrated.
2. In a linotype machine, the combination with the magazine and its escape-
ments, of a bar capable of being moved between the escapements and the
magazine and withdrawn therefrom, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a linotype machine, the combination with the series of escapement rods,
of a cam rod or a series of cams capable of lifting the said rods into their highest

page_text: position; means by which the said escapement rod can be engaged by the said
cam rod or series of cams; and means for actuating the latter; as set forth.
4. In a linotype machine, the combination with the magazine and escapements,
of a bar capable of being moved up between the escapements and the magazine
and withdrawn therefrom; a cam rod or a series of cams capable of lifting the
escapement rods into their highest position; means by which the said rods can
be engaged by the said cam rod or cams; and means for actuating the latter;
as set forth.
5. In a linotype machine, the combination of the mechanisms described with
reference to Figures 1 to 9.
6. In a linotype machine, the hereinbefore described combination of a move-
able knife; lever; link connecting the said knife and lever; cam adapted to
move the knife out of the path of the linotype to be trimmed; spring to return
the knife; and brake surface moving with the cam and adapted to regulate the
return motion of the knife; as set forth with reference to Figure 10.
7. In a linotype machine, the hereinbefore described combination of move-
able knife; lever; link connecting the said knife and lever, and detachable from
the latter; stud to hold the said link and knife rigidly in a firm position; cam
adapted to move the knife out of the path of the linotype to be trimmed; spring
to return the knife; and brake surface moving with the cam and adapted to
regulate the return motion of the knife; as set forth with reference to Figure 10.
8. In a linotype machine, the combination of detachable knife fast to a slide
having an angular ridge; knife block; detachable side plate having an angular
ridge and held to the said block so as to form an undercut groove adapted to
receive the angular ridge on the said slide; and the spring supported plate and
improved device for holding it loosely to the said block; as hereinbefore particu-
larly described with reference to Figures 11 to 14.
1000
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.