Improvements in the Space Bars of Linotype and analogous Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
[Communicated from abroad by C. P. WOODRUFF, of Brooklyn, New
York, U.S.A., Engineer.]
Improvements in the Space Bars of Linotype and analogous
Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE. COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 6 Serjeants Inn, Fleet
Street, in the City of London, Sole Proprietors of and Manufacturers, Vendors
and Licensors under the Linotype Patents, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a yielding or compressible space for
the purpose of spacing out or justifying composed lines of type matrices or
dies. It is intended more particularly for use in the Mergenthaler linotype
machine, in which type matrices bearing characters to appear in a line of
print are temporarily assembled in front of a mold in which a slug or linotype
is formed against them, so that they produce the required characters in relief on
on its edge.
In this machine the spaces introduced into the line of matrices must be expansible
or adjustable in order to fill out the line to an extreme predetermined length, and
they must also be adapted to co-operate with the matrices in closing the face of
the mold that there may be no leakage of molten metal therefrom between the
matrices. To this end we make use of a metallic elongated space constructed in
such manner as to be compressible throughout portions of its length, so that after
its thin end is set in the line it may be thrust end wise there through in order to
present its thicker portion in the line if further elongation or justification is
necessary.
The space consists of two metal plates having at their front edges overlapping
lips to close the space between them, and having formed in or attached to one of
the plates springs, which, acting upon them, serve to urge the two plates apart and
thus expand or increase the thickness of the space.
The space is composed of two elongated plates or strips. At one end these strips
are brought together and united face to face to form the thin end of the space.
This end is provided with sustaining shoulders, or otherwise formed, to admit of
its being supported in the Mergenthaler linotype or analagous machines.
One plate has a series of lips, punched endwise there through in order to rest
against the opposite plate and serve as springs to urge the plates apart, in order to
give the lower end of the space greater thickness than the upper. The yield of
these springs will permit the plates to approach each other under moderate pressure,
so that the space having its thin end inserted in the line which requires to be
lengthened, it is only necessary to force the space endwise through the line in order
to present its thicker portion therein, this thicker compressible portion serving to
separate the matrices between which it is inserted, while at the same time its
compressibility permits of its yielding as it is crowded into the place so that it will
exactly fill the required space. In practice the custom is to set up a line of
matrices and spaces between two jaws or abutments which determine the length of
the line, and thereafter to crowd the spaces forward to effect the justification; but
obviously the line may be overset, that is to say, set to a length greater than is

page_text: demanded and thereafter compressed end wise within the required limits. When the
line is in position in front of the mold, the edge of the spaces will be presented
toward the mold subject to the action of the molten metal. To prevent this metal
from entering the interior of the spaces between the plates, we form the latter with
longitudinal lips, the line of vertical bodies turning these lips inward at right angles
to the side face of the space-bar so that they will overlap each other. The fore-
most lip may be made extremly thin so that there will be no danger of the molten
metal materially escaping through the angular space at its edge when the machine
is in action.
In practice, we propose to construct the two plates of sheet steel, sheet
brass of spring temper or other equivalent material. They may be quickly
formed into shape and cheaply finished and united. Obviously the series of
lips-first mentioned-may be constructed on either or both edges of the plates,
or the metallic springs may be separately constructed and inserted between said
members.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1895.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in the Space Bars of Linotype and analogous
Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 6 Serjeants Inn, Fleet
Street, in the City of London, Sole Proprietors of and Manufacturers, Vendors
and Licensors under the "Linotype" Patents, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved compressible and self
expanding space bar adapted to automatically space out and justify type matrices
or type dies assembled or composed in line. It is intended more particularly for use
in the Mergenthaler linotype machine in which type matrices bearing characters to
appear in a line of print, are temporarily assembled in front of a mould in which a
slug or linotype is formed against them, so that they produce the required characters
in relief on its edge.
In this machine, the spaces introduced into the line of matrices must be expansible
or adjustable in order to fill out the line to an extreme predetermined length, and
they must also be adapted to co-operate with the matrices in closing the face of
the mould that there may be no leakage of molten metal therefrom between the
matrices. To this end, we make use of a metallic elongated space constructed in
such a manner as to be compressible throughout portions of its length, so that
after its thin end is set in the line, it may be thrust endwise therethrough in order
to present its thicker portion in the line if further elongation or justification is
necessary.
The improved space bar consists in a peculiar and distinctive combination with
two metal plates, of plate springs. The metal plates have overlapping lips along
their front edges, which lips are adapted to shut in the space between the said
plates. The plate springs are arranged between the latter, being attached to or
incorporate with one of them, so as to be capable of forcing the plates apart, thereby
expanding or increasing the thickness of the space bar; and also of yielding to
pressure exerted from the outside upon both plates in the direction of each other.
At the same time, it must be distinctly understood that the present invention is
strictly limited to the precise means hereinafter specified for making the space bar
compressible.

page_text: eferring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved space bar looking at it on the
compressible side.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figures. 3 and 4 are horizontal sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively
of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section through a short line of three matrix words.
spaced out and justified in respect of each other by two of the improved
space bars.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Figure 7.
Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section down through the middle of a space bar..
A and B are the two metal plates of which the space bar is composed. These
plates are of different widths, such difference being required by the overlapping lips
described further on.
One of these plates A, is straight for the whole of its length. The other one, B,
is bent transversely through a small angle, twice and in opposite directions, thereby
producing an incline or riser B which joins the still straight top and bottom.
portions of the said plate B, the three forming one continuous surface. The top.
portions of the two plates are brought face to face and made fast together by any
suitable means, to form the thin end of the space bar. This latter is provided
with the well known suspending shoulders a, a. The compressibility above referred
to is confined to the middle and lower portions of the space bar. The above.
mentioned precise means for making the space bar compressible consists,.
according to the present invention, of metal plate springs fixed between and attached
to one of the plates A or B and acting upon the other with its free ends so as to
urge the said plates apart and thus increase the space between them. These plate.
springs may be fixed to either plate A or B and may be separate and distinct.
pieces held fast thereto or they may be stamped up out of the substance and
plane of either such plate. Both systems of combining the plate springs with the
space bar are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, both are within the scope
of the invention but the latter relates only to the use of the plate springs described
and not to use of any other kind of spring.
Figures 1 to 5 shew these springs b, bas stamped up and out of the substance
of the bottom portion of the plate B, the line of severance being along the sides
and round the free end 6', which latter thus becomes the operative nose of the
spring. The remaining side 6 of each spring is transverse to the plate B and
becomes the base of the spring's action. All the said springs are bent out of the
plane of the bottom portion of the plate B towards the plate A and as far as is.
necessary to be equally in touch with the inner face of the latter when the bottom.
portions of the said two plates are at their maximum distance apart. The springs
above described are shown as all pointed downwards, but whether they are formed so
as to point downwards, or upwards is practically immaterial. The plate B is made
of spring steel or of other resilient material, so that the springs b, b should be
possessed of the desired properties in that respect.
Figures 6 and 7 shew the springs as separate and distinct pieces. One of these
the lower one is a single spring: the other one is a double spring. This point
of unity or duplication is of no moment. These separate and distinct springs are
functionally replicas of those illustrated in Figures 1 to 5. That they are fixed
to the plate instead of being stamped up out of its material, and that they have
their bases of action on one plate instead of on another are mere details of
circumstance.
The yield of the springs constructed and arranged in any of the ways described
above, will permit of the plates A and B being made to approach each other by
moderate pressure, so that after the thin or top end of the space bar has been.
inserted in the line of matrices requiring spacing out and justification, it is then
only necessary to force the space bar in the direction of its length (upwards always.
in the case of the Mergenthaler linotype machine) through the said line to secure.

page_text: the presence of the thick (bottom) portion therein. This compressible portion
serves to separate the matrix words between which it is inserted, while at the same
time, its compressibility permits of its yielding as it is forced farther between the
said words, so it will exactly occupy the space left for it to fill.
In practice, it is the custom to set up a line of matrix words, the latter alternate.1
with space bars, between two jaws which determine the length of the line, and to
subsequently push the space bars farther through the line so as to complete the
spacing and effect the justification.
When the line of matrices so spaced and justified, and the mould are brought up
to each other, the edges of the space bars on the mould side will be exposed to
the molten metal. To prevent this metal from entering between the plates A
and B of each space bar, there are formed, along the edges of the lower portions of
the said bars, lips d and d' on the said bars respectively. Both lips are turned to
the respectively opposite plate, A or B as the case may be each standing at a right
angle with its own plate, and both are in touch with each throughout their length.
Further one lip overlaps the other throughout the said length. The foremost (the
one next the mould) lip may be made extremely thin, so that there may not be
any practical chance of the metal creeping past it.
Figures 1 to 5 shew the combination of lips d, d' along both edges of the space
bar Figures 6 and 7 shew it along one edge only. This unity or duplication is a
matter of indifference. If however, a space bar is lipped along both edges, a
reversal of it in the machine prior to its insertion between two matrix words, would
not render it incapable of closing that portion of the mould opposite it.
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. A compressible and automatically expanding space bar consisting of two thin
metal plates held together at one end and provided with overlapping lips so as to
form an enclosed space, and two or more springs between the said plates capable of
advancing or yielding so as to increase or diminish the said space for the purpose
of justification, substantially as described.
2. The combination in a compressible and automatically expanding space bar, of
two thin longitudinal metal plates formed with overlapping lips along their edges,
one of the said plates having spring lips punched therefrom so as to act upon the
other, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. The improved space bars for use in a linotype machine, substantially as shewn
and described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1896.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.