Improvements in Machines for Making Stereotype Matrices.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1891-Accepted, 30th May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Stereotype Matrices.
1, THOMAS CLARE HARGRAVE, of Minneapolis, County of Hennepin and State
of Minnesota, United States of America, Mechanical 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:—
This invention relates to that class of matrix-machines whose object is to indent
a sheet, strip or plate of plastic material, such as papier-maché, flong, paste-board,
soft metal, wood and the like by suitable dies representing typographical characters
and located on a die wheel or a shifting die-carrier for the purpose of producing a
matrix from which a stereotype is to be cast.
The object of this invention is mainly to simplify the construction of these
machines aud reduce the number of their parts and at the same time retain all the
advantages arising from more complicated structures.
To this end my invention relates essentially,
1. To a variable spacing device consisting essentially in a pawl-carrying shaft
provided with an arm which is depressed more or less, according as the operating
key or lever is more or less depressed combined with a sleeve carrying a segmental
flange and a forked projection for embracing the key lever, which depresses the
sleeve and is mounted on a hub encircled by said sleeve.
2. To adjusting the degree of said variable spacing to suit the various inter-
changeable die carriers or wheels that may be employed or to produce wider or
closer spacing. This is accomplished by providing the arm referred to above with
an adjustable knife edge or contact piece in combination with a flange on a movable
sleeve actuated by the operating key or lever.
3. The invention relates to an electrical mechanism for indenting or impressing
the matrix sheet or blank consisting essentially in a single strip of metal in con-
nection with the indicator or character-board, in the range of a pin or contact point
on a key lever serving to select the character to be impressed or indented, said
strip of metal being in the circuit of an electro-magnet which on being energized
draws down an armature connected with an indenting plunger. This single strip
greatly simplifies the electrical parts of the structure which as far as I am informed
always necessitated the arrangement of as many contact-parts as there are
characters which rendered this mechanism costly, complicated and liable to get out
of order.
4. The invention relates moreover to a key-lever whose forward end or handle
has, besides the swinging motion, for selecting the proper character two distinct
downward motions, the first being for the purpose of spacing and the second for
the purpose of closing the circuit for indenting the matrix. The first of these
motions is completed entirely before the other takes place, that is before the
yielding handle carrying the contact pin is moved downward to close the
circuit.
5. The invention relates moreover to many details of construction more
specifically pointed out in the claims and whose object is mainly to simplify
the machine reducing the number of its parts to a minimum consistent with the
accuracy, dispatch and finish attained with the more complicated structures now
employed.
In order to explain my invention more fully I will now give a detailed description
of a machine embodying what I consider the best form of carrying the said invention
into effect.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation partly in longitudinal vertical section;

page_text: Fig. 2 a plan of the same;
Figs. 2 and 2B are detail views illustrating the relation of the key lever to the
pointer;
Fig. 3 a vertical transverse section on line æ-x, Fig. 1, looking in the direction
of the arrow a
Fig. 4 a rear elevation partly in section;
Fig. 5 an end view of the matrix-carriage;
Fig. 6 a detail view of the mechanism for adjusting the letter spacing;
Fig. 7 a detail front elevation of the punch- or die-carrier;
Figs. 8, 9, and 10 detail views of the said die-carrier;
Figs. 11, 114, 12, 13, and 14 detail views of the letter spacing device;
Fig. 15 an isometric view of the "die-shifter";
Fig. 16 is a plan of a somewhat modified form of a machine embodying my
invention with the matrix-carriage, key lever, and accessory parts removed, to
expose the mechanism below;
Fig. 17 a partial section on line 2-2, Fig. 16;
Fig. 18 a top plan of the key-lever and the sectional gear carried thereby ;
Fig. 19 a plan of the stripper or lifting-plate viewed from below;
Fig. 20 a rear elevation of the machine, partly in section;
Fig. 21 a vertical section on line 6-6, Figs. 16 & 17;
Fig. 22 a top plan of the rear end of the machine including the carriage;
Fig. 23 a partial vertical section illustrating the adjustable arm for the spacing
device;
Fig. 24 an end view of the matrix carriage;
Fig. 25 a view of the notched spacing flange developed into a plane.
The machine embodying my invention consists broadly of a type or die-selecting
device, a spacing device and an impression or indenting device.
I will now consider them in the order named.
THE DIE SELECTING DEVICE.
The table or bed, A, of the machine is provided with a stud, A', rising therefrom
and encircled by a hub A2, held in place by a headed screw, a, whose head projects
beyond the stud and bears down on the upper edge of the said hub which is
preferably undercut or rabbeted to make the top of the screw head flush with the
upper edge of the hub, as shown. An arm, a', extending horizontally outward
from the hub, A, has hinged to it at a², the horizontally swinging key-lever A³,
extending forward under the flaring or inclined indicator or character-board, A',
and held against the same by a spring, G³, to be referred to below. As shown the
key-lever, A3, is located also above the notched spacing plate, L, preferably in the
form of a compound plate and to be described in detail below.
The hub, A, is arranged to swing on the stud or arbor, A. At the top of this
hub are provided the guides a, a, (Fig. 1) whereby the key-lever A., is
steadied in its vertical swinging motion and also serves to effectually swing the
hub A, and arm a¹ around at the slightest horizontal swinging motion of the said
key lever A³.
This key lever A³, among other things performs an important part in the selecting
operation by causing the selected die in a dic carrier, now to be described, to be
brought opposite the plunger.
The office of the die selecting devices more particularly is to move one of the
dies, c, in the die carrier, C, which preferably contains a number of rows of such
dies or punches into the indenting position, i.e. opposite the plunger (see Figs. 1, 3
and 8).
This die carrier, C, contains a number of die containing channels in the present
case open at top and bottom, as shown, and consists of a number of parallel vertical
plates C, arranged transversely of the bed of the machine. These plates C', 5 in
number, are removably secured to two end blocks, C², C³, by suitable tongues or

page_text: tenons on the plates, C', fitting into mortises in the end blocks, the exterior plates
being held in place by screws or otherwise, all as shown, particularly in Figures 2
and 7.
The plates, C, are provided with the horizontal ribs, c, and the top flanges, c²,
for the purpose of guiding and supporting the dies or punches, c³, provided with
nicks to correspond to the ribs and flanges. One of the outer plates C, is provided
with a dove-tail or other guide, c', (Fig. 8) as shown, whose office is to hold and
guide the die-carrier D, and which is shown in detail in Fig. 15.
which
The die shifter consists of the vertical body, d, having the two arms, d', d',
extend over the top of the die carrier C, each arm having a number of tongues, d³,
corresponding to the number of slots in the die-carrier and extending down from
the same, as shown in Fig. 3, to embrace the line of type in each channel. From
the vertical body, d, extends the bracket, d³, preferably in the shape of a fork, as
shown, and from the arm, a', in the hub, A, extends downwardly the stud, d,
engaging the forked bracket, d, whereby when the key-lever, A³, is swung around
the rows of dies in the slots of the die-carrier are moved transversely.
It will be noted that, by having the die-channels and also the die-shifter open at
top and bottom, as in my preferred construction shown, I gain the important
advantage of permitting the plunger which forces the dies into the matrix blank,
and which will be described further on, to act directly against the ends of the dies,
whereby the great pressure necessary to produce a sufficient indentation, can be
obtained. This result could not be obtained if the die channels and shifter were
not open at both top and bottom.
This arrangement also enables me to place the dies with their indenting faces
downward, whereby I am enabled to provide a very simple arrangement of the
support for the matrix-blank and to keep the die faces free from dust.
For the purpose of making the die-carrier capable of longitudinal or to-and-fro
movement to bring one or the other row of dies into indenting position (which rows
are marked ex, c1, c2, cx³, in the drawing) I provide the end blocks, C2, C2, with
dovetails engaging similar grooves in standards, C³, rising from the bed of the
machine and attach the ends of the prongs, 6, of a forked arm B to these end
blocks.
This forked arm, B, is attached to the lever, B1, B2, pivoted to the table, B
at b, and its upper arm, 132, is made elastic and carries a pin, whose lower end is
made to engage with one or the other of a number of perforations, b, 61, 62, 63,
according as one or the other row of dies is to be brought into line with the
indenting point. This arrangement is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but best in Figs. 16
and 17.
It will be noted that the character-board, A', shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is con-
siderably reduced in size extending over only about one half the width of the
table, B³, the characters being arranged thereon more compactly than is usual, for
example by distributing the letters, numerals and punctuation marks, each over two
rows, as shown, or more if desired." In order to combine sufficient accuracy with
this compact arrangement I have provided an index or pointer, B, connected with
the key lever, A³, and extending entirely across the character-board. The arrange-
ment of this part of my invention is more particularly shown in Figs. 2, 24, and 2B.
By turning to these figures it will be seen that the character-board, A', is
provided at its lower rim with a bead, a¹º, which is engaged or embraced by the
sleeve, o, forming part of the pointer, B10 mounted on the character-board and
which, for the purpose of holding said pointer steady, extends a considerable
distance beyond the same at both sides. Secured to the sleeve, 10, is the fork 6",
extending downwardly and straddling the key-lever, whereby motion is imparted to
the pointer from the latter and the desired character may be readily selected.
The key-lever and pointer are thus loosely connected so that the key lever, while
adapted to carry the pointer over the key-board, may stili be depressed at any
point.
:
Where the character-board is arranged at one side of the machine, I provide

page_text: $
The arrangement of the character-board with the pointer extending across the
same enables me to considerably reduce its size and thereby reduce the extent of
movement of the arm of the operator. The operation of the machine is thus
rendered less tiresome.
This completes the description of the selecting device. To select any one
character in any one row of the die carrier, C, the lever, B2, is first moved and the
pin, ³, caused to engage one or the other of the perforations or counter sinks B
to thereby causing the corresponding row of dies to be brought into indenting
position through the agency of the lever B', B, and the forked arm B, attached
with its prongs, 66, to the longitudinally shifting die-carrier, C.
The operator now knows that the row of dies corresponding to one of the
consecutive double rows of characters on the character-board, A', is in operative
position and he completes the selecting operation by moving the key-lever, A³,
and pointer B opposite the particular character desired. This operation through
the medium of the stud, d', and die-shifter, D, causes the rows of dies, cx, cx, cx, x³,
to be moved transversely until the desired die or punch of the row of dies, carrying
the character-die corresponding to that on the indicator opposite the key lever, is
brought into operative position.
For example, if it is desired to indent the character "s" the lever, B2, is bent
upward sufficiently to clear the pin, 1, from the perforation which it engages and
said arm is then swung around until the pin, &, engages the perforation or counter-
sink, . This brings the row of dies, ex, carrying the small or lower-case letters
into indenting position. By now carrying the key-lever, D, around until the
pointer, B10, comes opposite the letter, S, on the character-board that point of the
row of dies co, carrying the character "s," will be brought into indenting position.
In the same way, any other desired character on any of the rows of dies will be
brought into indenting position.
THE SPACING DEVICE.
This consists broadly of the letter spacing device the line spacing device and
the letter space regulating device.
This
The Letter Spacing Device. This is best shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 11
to 13 16, 17 and 25. The carriage E, shown detached in Figure 5, is provided at
its forward side with a dove-tail tenon or strip, e, which fits into a corresponding
groove in the table A, of the machine as shown in Figure 1, and is thereby guided
in its transverse movements with respect to the frame of the machine.
carriage is moved step by step before each impression by the following mechanism
At its rear end the carriage is provided with a flanged rib, E3, having flanges, es, e,
and embraced by a sliding frictional clutch block, F³, having journaled therein the
dog, F, whose journal is cut away or cam-shaped, as at f, so as to preserve the
continuity of the groove in the clutch-block (see Figures 12 and 14). A spring, F
whose motion is preferably limited by an abutment, 5, tends to force the sliding
block, F, in the direction the arrow 2, and toward an arm, F. This arm, F
(see Figures 2, 4, 11 and 114) is mounted upon a vibratory shaft F, to which
motion is imparted by every depression of the key-lever, A3, in the following
manner:
When the key-lever, A³, is brought opposite the character to be selected on the
character-board, A, it is depressed until it reaches the bottom of one of the
notches in the spacing plate, L.
The hub, A, is encircled by a sleeve, F2, normally held upward by a spring, f
This sleeve is secured against turning with respect to the hub, A, by a notch, f
(Fig. 6) at its upper end and with which the key-lever engages, and is provided
with a flange, f, preferably annular, below which is located the arm, F, adjustably
secured to the vibratory shaft, F, before referred to, and which is held upward

page_text: against the flange, ƒ², with its contact point, 10, by a spring, f¹, encircling the
vibrating shaft, F.
the
The operation of these parts is as follows: When arm, F, is depressed by the
depression of the key-lever, A, and intermediate parts, the arm, F is turned in
the direction of the arrow, Figure 11, and by impinging against the dog, F',
journal thereof is first turned, so as to cause the cam surface, /, to bind against
the rib, E3. The further movement of the arm, F21, then carries the block F³, and
with it the rib, E³, to which it is now locked, and the carriage along sufficiently for
the spacing of one letter. Upon releasing the key-lever the arm, F, flies back
and the spring, 13, slides the block, F³, which is now released or unlocked, back
The
to its initial point while the carriage remains in its advanced position.
carriage is thus fed forward one step at each impression of the key-lever and the
extent of its forward feed can be regulated with perfect accuracy and nicety by
the extent of the depression of the arm, F.
In order to vary the extent of the feed which should be different for different
characters for proper justification, the following mechanism is employed: It will
readily be seen that the extent of feed or movement of the carriage, E, is governed
by the extent of downward movement of the key-lever, A3, and this in turn is
governed by the depth of the notches in the notched spacing plate L, which with
its actuating mechanism is best shown in Figures 16, 17 and 25. This plate is a
compound plate consisting of two separately removable sections, L', L, concentric
with the axis of the stud, A. Section L', is firmly secured to the table, B³, and
is provided with notches, 1, of equal depth and corresponding to and in line with
each radial tier or column of characters on the character-board, A. The other
section, L, is secured to the table, B³, by pin and slot connections, 11, 12, and
capable of sliding along on the former. As shown in Figure 25, the plate, L², is
indented with a number of step-shaped notches, 1&, 12, 1Y, LX, 1W—1A,
one for each notch on the section, 1. Each of these step-shaped notches comprises
four steps, 1, 2, 3, 4, corresponding to the rows of dies, cx, cx, cx, cx³, and governing
the spacing respectively for the characters on these rows of dies when brought into
indenting position.
The flanged section, L2, derives its motion from the lever, B1, B2, being
connected thereto by a link, 13%, connecting a toc, B2, on the fulcrum point of said
lever with a pin, 1, depending from said section down through a slot in the
table, B
This causes the said section to slide synchronously with the die-
carrier, C, and automatically adjust the depth of the spacing notch for the row of
dies, which are in indenting position.
•
The Line Spacing Device. As shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the carriage, E,
consists in a frame carrying two feeding rollers, E, E, between which the matrix
blank to be indented is fed into the machine. In this instance these feeding
rollers are situated in front of a flaring opening, I', of a casing formed by the
bed, A, and the metallic plate, 1. The object of the flaring opening or mouth, l',
is to facilitate the introduction of the matrix material into the casing.
The feeding wheels, E' and E2, are actuated to feed the matrix one line at a
The lower
time, after each line is completed by the following mechanism.
roller, E, is provided with a ratchet wheel, e', which is preferably provided with
a stop pawl, elo, as shown in Figure 24. This ratchet wheel is moved forward the
extent of one tooth at the completion of each line by the vibratory arm, e², having
a pawl, e, whenever the carriage is returned to its initial position by the operator,
thereby causing the upper end of the pawl arm, e, to impinge against a wiper or
incline, e, on the machine frame and best shown in Figures 20 and 22. As the
carriage is then fed forward step by step on the formation of the new line and is
released from the wiper, e, the spring, e, causes the pawl lever, and the pawl, e"
to return to their initial position ready to feed the matrix material forward another
line.
The Letter Space Regulating Device. This will best be understood by reference

page_text: to Figures 2, 6, 16, and 23, in which I have shown two forms of device for this
purpose. The purpose of this device is to add or deduct a certain percentage to
or from the spacing for each character, so that by adjusting the same, I can
produce wide or narrow spacing. This object I attain by making the contact
part, referred to above adjustable with respect to the vibratory shaft, F. In
the form shown in Figures 2 and 6, I adapt the arm, F', to slide in a slot in a
vibratory rod, F, and provide a set screw, , for holding it in any of its positions
of adjustment.
In the second form (shown in Figures 16 and 23) I provide the arm, F', with a
sliding block, 10, having a knife edge and which forms the contact piece bearing
up against the flange,, on the sleeve, F. To impart the sliding motion to the
contact piece, 10, in this instance, provide the arm, F, with two lugs, 20, in
which is journalled a screw, 22, threaded into the contact piece, f
This space regulating device is employed to accurately adjust and regulate the
spacing for the same dies, but is of particular value when dies of a different
character are introduced into the machine; that is to say for a change of font.
THE IMPRESSION DEVICE.
This consists mainly of a plunger, H³, guided in a block, H, (Figs. 1, 2 & 3)
attached to the frame, and means for closing an electric circuit and for thereby
depressing the said plunger. These means are essentially as follows: The con-
tacting device consists preferably of a circular strip, G, of copper or other
conductor of electricity, arranged on the table, 133 preferably somewhat in front
of and parallel to the character-board, A', and also in advance of the stop or
spacing plate, L already described.
A wire, G, runs from the strip, G, through a battery or other source of
electricity, as indicated at g, and thence through the electro-magnet, G', to a
binding post, G³, whence the current passes to the key-lever, A³, through the
spring G, attached to the top of the said key-lever, as shown, which spring serves
tlie double purpose of conducting the current to the lever and of holding it normally
raised to break the circuit. For the purpose of enabling the key-lever to readily
turn on the pivot or stud, the same is provided with a rounded bearing or button 620,
and the spring is secured thereto by a headed pin, 62, loosely passing through a
hole in the end of the spring.
The key-lever, A³, is provided at its free end or boss, a³, with a spring raised
stud, A', of conducting material having a button or handle, a', of non-conducting
material.
It will be seen that upon the descent of the key-lever, A³, and after its forward
end has reached the bottom of the notch in the spacing plate, I, opposite to which
it is situated, a further depression of the button, a, will cause the stud, a', or
contact pin to impinge against the contact strip, G. The circuit is thereby closed
and the electro-magnet G, energized, drawing down an armature, H, (Figures 1, 3
and 4) and with it the arm, H, against the stress of the spring,, thereby
depressing the plunger, H³, through the medium of the pitman, '. This causes the
particular die which is at the indenting point to be depressed and forced into the
matrix blank.
The means which permit this depression of the selected die with respect to the
die-carrier constitute a part of my invention and are as follows, special reference
being had to Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10:
Each one of the ribbed plates, C', is provided at the point, which, when the die-
carrier is properly shifted, will come opposite the indenting point (in the present
case at the middle of the plates) with a vertical slot, co Within this slot an
inwardly extending pin, forming the continuation of the rib, c, is held upwardly by
a spring, c, preferably located in a horizontal slot, c¹³, communicating with the
slot, c¹0.

page_text: It will be readily understood that whenever the die selected is brought forward
so that its nick engages this yielding pin, the die may be depressed into the matrix
blank by the descending plunger, H³.
It will be noted that my key-lever has three distinct movements corresponding
to the three principal operations of the machine: a horizontal movement for
selecting the die to be indented, a downward movement of the lever until it reaches
the bottom of one of the notches in the spacing plate, L, for actuating the spacing
devices, and finally the downward motion of the contact stud or pin, a, to close the
circuit and form the impression. It will also be noted that I am by this con-
struction enabled to complete the spacing operation before the impression is made,
whereby all liability to create a blurred impression is avoided.
By having the die-channels and also the die-shifter, D, open at top and bottom,
as shown, I gain the important advantage of permitting the plunger, which forces
the die into the matrix blank to act directly against the ends of the die, whereby
the great and even impression necessary to produce sufficient indentation can be
obtained. This arrangement also enables me to place the dies with their indenting
faces downward, whereby I am enabled to provide a very simple arrangement of
the support for the matrix blank and to keep the die faces free from dust.
Below the die-carrier is located the horizontal stripper plate, I, between which
and the bed, A, the matrix blank is held, said plate, I, being provided with a
perforation or throat, i, large enough to accommodate any of the dies and directly
under the plunger, H³.
This space between the stripper plate, 1, and the bed, A, is made flaring at, l',
opposite the feeding rollers, E, E, of the matrix carriage, in order to obviate all
difficulty of introducing the matrix blank as before explained.
The carriage is provided with an index or finger, J, which may consist of a strip
of metal suitably bent upward, forward and downward and adapted to slide over
the scale, ', as shown in Figures 3 and 4, or of a pointer projecting from the
carriage through a slot, j, as shown in Figure 21. This index is to show the
operator at any stage of the work how much space is still left in the line.
While I consider the form of machine thus far described the best embodiment of
my invention, still it is manifest that the same may be modified in many respects
without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Thus, for example, in lieu of the sliding type carrier, C, in Figure 1, having the
die-shifter, D, I may provide a rotary and shifting dic-wheel, C, best shown in
Figures 16 and 17, which die-wheel is provided with die rings, ex, cx1, cx, and ex³,
corresponding to the die-channels, shown in Figure 2. The rotary motion is
imparted to this die wheel by means of the key-lever, A³, through a sectoral
gear, C, and a beveled gear, C, mounted on the shaft, C2, to which the shifting
die is connected. The shifting motion is imparted to the die wheel by means of the
lever, B, B already set forth and the fork, B, which, in this instance, has spring
prongs, and pins *, preferably adapted to be screwed in the prongs, as shown in
Figure 16, and engaging with indentatious on the collar, 61, loosely mounted on
the hub of the die wheel, C. It will readily be seen that by this arrangement any
die ring on the die wheel and any die on such die wheel may be placed into
indenting position in a way similar to that by which the rows of dies and individual
dies in each row are placed into indenting position in the construction involving the
sliding die-carrier, C, illustrated in Figures 1, 2, &c.
It will also be seen that the spring prongs of the forked lever, B, in this con-
struction enable me to readily disengage the said prongs from the die-wheel, whose
shaft, C, is removably journalled in the posts, C, thereby enabling the same to
be removed from the machine when it is desired to substitute a different die wheel,
or for any other purpose whatsoever.
It will also be noted that in the construction shown in Figures 16 and 17, I make
the character-board, A', extend entirely across the machine or approximately so
and dispense with the pointer, B10, shown in Figures 2A 2B, &c. But in this
instance, I provide the character-board with radial lines, a*, running through the

page_text: radial tiers of characters and terminating at the lower edge of the character-board
and also provide the key-lever, A³, with a knife edge, a×³. The parts are so
arranged with respect to cach other that when the knife edge comes opposite to
one of these radial lines, a*,.one of the characters on the die wheel corresponding
to the characters in the tier through which this radial line runs will be exactly in
indenting position.
may also provide a modified means for letter spacing in lieu of the device
shown in Figures 1, 4 and 11 to 14, consisting essentially of a clutch block, F³,
and the vibrating arm, F2 &c., and this modified form of line spacing device is
best shown in Figures 17, 20, 23 and 24, where it will be seen that the matrix
carriage, E, is provided at its rear with a serrated edge, Ex³, engaged by the
weighted pawl, Fx4, on the vibrating arm, F". As will be readily seen a step by
step motion is imparted to the carriage by this means, governed by the extent of
the oscillation of the arm,
F21.
The construction shown in Figures 16, 17, 20 and 21 differs moreover from that
hereinbefore described in the following details:
The matrix instead of being fed between the bed, A, and the dies, 3, as in the
former construction, is fed in between the die wheel, C, and the plunger, H³, by the
feed rollers E¹, E². In order to prevent injury to the matrix plate and to insure
its withdrawal from the die-wheel after every indentation or impression, I provide
the hinged stripper plate, I, best shown in Figure 21 and detached in Figure 19,
upon which plate the matrix blank rests. This plate is swung upward after every
impression or indentation by the following means: The armature, H, is provided
with a set screw, h, upon which the stripper plate, I, rests. It will be readily
seen that after every impulse the armature H. receives from the electro-magnet, G³,
the set screw, *, carries with it the stripper plate I, thereby stripping the matrix
blank from the dic.
In order to prevent buckling of the matrix blank and to insure that the same is
fed into the machine smoothly, I provide the plate, 1", above the stripper plate,
formed with an aperture through which the plunger, H³, works. The stripper
plate, I, and the plate I", form a passage between which the matrix material is
smoothly fed.
It will be also seen that the feed roller, E', is yieldingly held against the feed
roller, E, by the loose blocks, J, adapted to slide in the slots, j, which in turn are
held down by the spring, j', whose tension is adjusted by a set screw,. In the
construction shown in Figures 16 and 17, 1 also substitute for the single spring, G³,
shown in Figures 1 and 2, the two springs, Gx, (interposed between the lever, A³,
and the sectoral plate, C) and G³ (running from the binding post, G³, up under
the lever, A³, to complete the circuit).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1, In a matrix making machine the combination of a die-containing channel
open at top and bottom with a die-shifter also open at top and bottom and means
for supporting the dies in said channel, whereby the dies may be held with their
faces downward and the pressure exerted directly against the ends of the dies,
substantially as described.
2. In a matrix making machine the combination of a die-carrier having die-
channels and dies sliding in contact with said channels with a die-shifter such as
hereinbefore described and which may preferably be provided with arms with or
without downwardly extending tongues extending across the channels, all substan-
tially as above described.
3, In a matrix making machine the combination of a sliding die-carrier
having die-containing channels with a die-shifter for moving the dies transversely
to the movement of the die-carrier, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
4. In a matrix making machine the combination with a sliding or other

page_text: die-carrier having die-containing channels and a die-shifter having a bracket forked
or otherwise, extending therefrom, of a key-lever having a stud extending or
depending therefrom to engage the bracket on the die-shifter, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
5, In a matrix making machine a die-carrier provided with a die-containing
channel, having a die-retaining rib, a portion of which is held yieldingly, for
example by the arrangement of a vertical and horizontal slot containing a pin
extending from the vertical slot into line with the retaining rib and held by a spring
in the horizontal slot, or otherwise, the said parts considered either alone or in
combination with a die-depressing plunger or a die-shifter or both, substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
6, In a matrix making machine a rotary and shifting die-wheel removable or
not from its bearings and with or without a loose collar in combination with a forked
rod having elastic prongs and pins for engaging the die-wheel or the loose collar on
the same, substantially as set forth.
7,-In a matrix making machine a downwardly inclined character-board in com-
bination with a key-lever having a knife-edge for indicating the character to be
selected and a spring for holding the key-lever up against the lower edge of
the character-board, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8, In a matrix making machine the combination of a character-board and a
pointer mounted thereon and adapted to slide thereon by means of a bead on the
character-board and a sleeve on the pointer embracing the bead, or by any other
suitable means alone or in combination with means for loosely connecting the
pointer with the key-lever, such as a fork attached to the pointer and straddling the
key-lever, substantially as herein before set forth.
9. In a matrix making machinc a letter spacing device having an arm bearing
upwardly, in combination with a pivoted hub provided with a key-lever and
sleeve encircling the hub and provided with a flange for pressing down the upwardly
bearing arm.
10, In a spacing device for matrix and similar machines, the combination of a
sliding sleeve, provided with a flange with a pivoted arm controlling the carriage
feed and having an adjustable contact piece for varying the extent of the feed,
substantially as described.
11,-lu a spacing device for matrix and similar machines the combination of a
flanged piece adapted to be depressed by the key-lever, with a pivoted arm
controlling the feed and having an adjustable contact block, preferably provided
with a knife edge, and capable of being adjusted by means of a screw threaded
thereinto and journaled in the pivoted arm, or by equivalent means, substantially
as described.
12, In a matrix making machine, the combination with a flanged piece, as F,
provided with a flange, as, with an arm for controlling the carriage-feed and a
vibrating shaft, the arm being held adjustably by the vibrating shaft, for example
by passing through a slot in the said vibrating shaft and held in its positions of
adjustment by a set-screw or otherwise, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
13, In a matrix-making machine the combination of a carriage provided with
serrations and an oscillating rod carrying a pawl arm engaging the said serrations
and an upwardly urged arm, with a hub for carrying a key-lever and a sliding sleeve
encircling said hub and provided with a segmental flange impinging against said
arm, substantially as described.
14, In a matrix making machine a matrix carriage in combination with a sliding
frictional clutch-block and means for causing the clutch-block to grip the carriage
on its forward movement and to release the same on its return, substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
15,-In a matrix making machine a step-by-step spacing device consisting of a
carriage having a rib, carrying a sliding block and a dog having a cam face formed
by partly cutting away the journal of the dog, or otherwise, journaled therein
with means such as a spring for returning the sliding block to its initial position.
13

page_text: 16, In a matrix-making or similar machine a vertically and horizontally
swinging key-lever, provided at its forward end with a yielding knob or button
carrying a contact stud or pin, whereby the three operations of selecting the die,
actuating the spacing devices and making the impressions are consecutively
performed and the spacing operation may be completed before the plunger for
indenting is operated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
17, In a matrix-making or printing machine the combination with a plunger and
means substantially as described for selecting a character for printing or indenting,
of an electrical plunger depressing device comprising a single flat contact plate for
all the characters included in the circuit of the plunger-depressing device and
opposite to and adapted to be struck by the key-lever, substantially as described.
18, In combination with the single circular or other contact plate included in
the circuit of the electrical plunger depressing device for indenting the matrix
blank, a horizontally and vertically swinging key-lever provided with a yielding
contact pin, substantially as described.
19, The parts set forth in Claim 18, in combination with a notched spacing
plate, whereby the spacing operation is first performed before the electrical contact
is made for operating the indenting plunger, substantially as described.
20, In a matrix-making machine the combination of a matrix-carriage with a
bed and a stripper-plate, the space between the bed and the stripper-plate being
flared opposite the matrix-carriage, substantially as described.
21,-In a matrix-making machine the combination with a character-die and a
plunger, of a hinged stripper-plate and means for lifting the stripper-plate away
from the die, when the plunger is released, which means may consist in a set screw
attached to an armature' actuated by an electro-magnet to operate the plunger,
substantially as set forth.
22, In a matrix-making machine an electric circuit for operating a die-plunger,
comprising a key-lever, included in said circuit and adapted to close the same when
depressed and a spring for raising the key-lever and connecting the same with a
binding post, the spring being connected to the key-lever by means of a headed
pin passing loosely through a perforation in the spring, or by any other suitable
means, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant..