Improvements in the Trimming Mechanism of Linotype Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Trimming Mechanism of Linotype Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188 Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Sole Proprietors of and Manufacturers, Vendors and Licensors under, the
"Linotype" Patents, and CHARLES LEWIS IRELAND 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 the trimming mechanism of
linotype machines, and is particularly applicable to the Mergenthaler linotype
machine. In the latter, the linotype is trimmed by being pushed by the ejector
between a pair of fixed knives.
There are sundry objections to this method of trimming. One of these is that as
the linotype is pushed between the knives, the cutting edges of the latter tend, after
the manner of cutting edges, to follow their own lead, so to speak, and to cut into the
linotype to such an extent that the latter leaves them tapered from top to bottom, or
in other words thinner along the foot than along the top.
According to the present invention, it is the knives which are travelled down the
linotype from top to bottom during a time that the latter is protruded from the
mould-block in the mould wheel for that purpose.
Heretofore the ejecting motion of the ejector has been constant. According to the
present invention, the ejector comes to a rest as soon as it has projected about a
third or less of the linotype, character edge on, in front of the mould block. There
are two knives, one for each side of the linotype. They are held firmly to a
travelling block which travels down; trimming or shaving both sides of the projected
portion of the linotype. The knives then remain still until after the act of ejection
is completed when they are returned to their former position.
The ejector is worked from a constantly revolving cam as heretofore, but the cam
groove is set to move the ejector to and fro and to rest and start again in the way
described above.
The knife block is fast on the end of a reciprocating slide which is linked to the
end of a lever extending from the rear of the machine to the front of it and gearing
any convenient way with a groove on the above mentioned cam, or a special one,
the said groove being set properly to put the knife block through the motions and to
provide for it resting and starting again in the way described above.
The action of the cam on the lever is or may be supplemented, as may be necessary
by spring devices of a suitable type, as for instance for effecting the rapid return
of the knife block to its normal position.
Dated this 4th day of May 1896.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in the Trimming Mechanism of Linotype machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188 Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Sole Proprietors of and Manufacturers, Vendors and Licensors under the
"Linotype" Patents, and LOTTIE MARY IRELAND of No. 1059 Halsey Street, Brooklyn,
New York State, in the United States of America, sole Executrix of CHARLES LEWIS
IRELAND deceased late 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 performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The present invention relates to improvements in the trimming mechanism of
linotype machines. The accompanying figures illustrate the application of the
invention to the Mergenthaler linotype machine described in the specification of
Letters Patent 14582 1890. It must, however, be borne in mind that the said
invention is applicable to the trimming mechanism of any linotype machine. It is
only because it has been conceived and developed with special reference to the
Mergenthaler linotype machine and because that machine is the only linotype
machine in practical use in this country, that the application of it thereto has been
selected for illustration and detailed description.
In that machine, the linotype is cast in a mould situated in a vertical wheel. The
mould is a slot parallel with a diameter of the wheel and nearer to the periphery of
it than to the edge. The cast takes place at a time when the mould wheel is standing
with the mould in a horizontal position. It is then turned until the mould is in a
vertical position. The two trimming knives are stationary and their edges are
straight, vertical, and parallel. The distance separating them is rather less than the
thickness of the linotype. When the mould is in the vertical position just mentioned,
the linotype is opposite the edges of the trimming knives and the space between them.
The trimming consists in shaving the two sides of the linotype as much as may be
required. It is effected by the forward motion of a so-called ejector pushing the
linotype before it out of the mould, between the knives and through the space between
them into a galley in the front of the machine.
There are many objections to the method of trimming described above. One of
these objections, and perhaps the principal one, is that during the travel of the
linotype between the knives, the cutting edges of the latter tend, after the manner of
cutting edges in general, to follow their own lead so to speak, and to cut so deeply
into the respective sides of the linotype, that the latter emerges from the act of being
trimmed, tapered from top to bottom, that is narrower across its foot than across the
top of its body.
The object of this present invention is to obviate all the objections above referred
to, and it consists in the trimming knives being capable of a motion at right angles
with that of the ejector, and of the motions of the two-ejector and knives-alternating
each other. It includes any suitable automatic mechanism by means of which the
ejector on the one hand or the trimming knives on the other, is actuated only during
the time that the other is stationary.
Heretofore, the motion of the ejector of the Mergenthaler linotype machine has
been regular, and the trimming knives have been stationary. According to the
present invention, the ejector comes to a rest as soon as it has projected about a third
or less of the linotype beyond the mould above mentioned. As to the knives, they
stand normally above the linotype instead of in front of it. Further, instead of being
vertical, they are inclined so that their edges overhang the protruded portion of the
linotype, and instead of being stationary, they are capable of a reciprocating vertical
motion not less than the length of a linotype so that one downward motion suffices to

page_text: trim the said protruded portion on both sides. The return motion of the knives does
not commence until after the ejector has been retracted.
The ejector is driven by constantly revolving cam devices as heretofore, but they
are modified so as to impart the intermittence required by the present invention.
The knife block, that is the block to which the two trimming knives are made fast
as heretofore, has a slide incorporated with it. This slide is connected by a rod to
the front end of a horizontal lever which is depressed at the proper moment by a
projection on the cam before mentioned, kept in that position by an arcual continuation
of the projection and returned to its normal position by a spring after the said
continuation has passed the lever.
The present invention includes the variation to any extent of the details of the cam
and lever mechanisms by which both the ejector and the knife block are respectively
worked. They may be varied to any extent, provided their respective capacities for
imparting the several motions described, are retained.
Referring to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of this
specification and read therewith:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the invention in its entirety.
Figure 2 is a plan corresponding therewith, but shewing the mould wheel in
section.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the knife block, the two trimming knives and the
connecting rod.
Figure 4 is a side elevation corresponding with Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a plan of the knife block and the two knives.
a is a spur wheel fast on the shaft a one of the shafts of the driving mechanism
of the machine. It receives a regular motion in the direction indicated by the arrows
in Figures 1 and 2, from a gear wheel underneath it. This gear wheel is omitted
from the figures. 1 is a vertical lever having its fulcrum upon a fixed shaft 2. 3 is
a connecting rod having its rear end pivotally connected to the lever 1 on a stud
fast to and projecting laterally from the lever 1. Its front end is pivotally connected
to the rear end of the ejector slide 6. o is the ejector blade held fast and projecting
to the front of the machine from the front end of the ejector slide 6. This latter
organ is so called because it slides to and fro in suitable guides in the machine frame.
7 is a lateral projection fast on the side of the wheel a about midway of the axis and
the periphery of the latter. 8 is a lateral projection fast on the side of the lever 1 and
standing in the path of the projection 7. The relative positions of the arcs of these.
two projections 7 and 8 as well as their respective contours are such that the
projection 7-the one on the wheel-will soon after the commencement of their
engagement, pass the projection 8 and leave the lever 1 standing still. The engage-
ment of the two, makes the ejector blade o¹ go through the first part of its motion of
ejection. The blade o, slide 6, and rod, together constitute the ejector. At the
moment when the lever 1 is left standing, the ejector blade rests, leaving as much of
the linotype L as is to be trimmed, protruding beyond the front of the mould and
standing still.
P is a so-called vice head. It is really an abutment, and in it stand the.
guides 11, 11 for the knife block to slide in. 9, 9 are the two portions of the
knife block and E, F, the two trimming knives held by screws to the rear faces
thereof respectively, as heretofore. The V-shaped extensions 10, 10, of the front
face of the knife block, constitute the slide above mentioned as being incorporated
with it.
The slide works between the guides 11, 11. The upper portions of the rear
faces of the two portions 9, 9 stand just clear of the front face of the mould, as
shewn in Figure 1. The lower portions of the said rear faces are equally inclined
to the front from the plane in which stand the upper portions and it is to these
inclined portions that the knives E, F are respectively fastened. This fastening is
effected by screws in the same manner as heretofore. Their cutting edges overhang.
The degree of inclination is regulated according to the width of the protruded
portion of the linotype.

page_text: O is the vertical wheel shewn as standing with the mould in the vertical position.
Lis the linotype, shewn as occupying and partially protruded from the mould.
a, a are studs projecting to the rear from the vice frame and engaging in
sockets a³, a³, on the mould wheel O to hold the latter steady.
12 is a tail rod fast to the two portions 9, 9, or knife block, and hanging vertically
therefrom. 13 is the longer arm of a bell crank lever extending from the bottom
end of the tail rod 12 towards the rear of the machine and having its fulcrum in
a horizontal rod or shaft 14. The front end of the arm 13 and the bottom end of
the rod are connected by any device capable of transforming the arcual motion of
the said front end into a vertical one in the knife block 9,9. The one illustrated
consists of a fork 15-the bottom end of the tail rod 12-carrying a transverse pin 16
and a second fork 17-being the front end of the arm 18-embracing the said pin.
18 is the shorter arm of the bell crank lever above mentioned. It is bent towards
the front of the machine and terminates in an antifriction roller 19. 20 is a drum
fast on the shaft a and 21 is an arc fast on the side of it. The roller 19 stands
in the path of the arc 21. The latter is really a cam. Its nose 21ª is radial to
make the action of the cam sudden, and is slightly rounded off towards the outer
edge or periphery of the cam, to make its engagement with the roller 19 easy.
The cam 21 occupies such a position on the drum 20 that the nose of it comes
into contact with the roller 19 as soon as the above described partial protrusion of the
linotype L has been effected. The projection of the cam, ie, the distance of its
periphery from the axis of the drum 20, is adapted to put the knives E, F, through
the trimming stroke; and the length of it, to keep them down at the lowest point of
such stroke, until the ejection has been completed and that of retraction of the ejector
blade effected. The position in which the lever 13, 18. tail rod 12 and
knives E, F, are held by the said length of the cam 21, is indicated by dotted lines in
Figure 1. As soon as the said cam has cleared the lever 13, 18, the knives E, F,
are returned to their original position-the one illustrated in Figures 1-by a
returning spring 22 pulling from some fixed point upon the lever arm 13.
The completion of the ejection of the linotype is completed and the retraction of
the ejector blade os effected as heretofore. 23 is a lateral projection fast on the side
of the gear wheel a³. 24 is a lateral projection from the top of the lever 1. It stands
in the path of the projection 23. The top of the said lever is bent and continued to
the front and has the projection 24 fast to the front end of it in order that the
engagement between the two projections may begin and end at the proper moments
respectively. The end of such engagement coincides with the divergence of the
respective paths of the two projections, such divergence being due to the marked
non-coincidence of the axis of the shafts a" and 2, and takes place when the lever 1
is in the position illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 1. The retraction of the
ejector blade is effected, as heretofore, by the engagement of an abutment 25
being one end of a recess in the edge of the drum 20 with the nose of a lever 26
pivotted on a stud 27 which is fast on the side of the lover 1 and duly presented
in the path of the said abutments for that purpose. The amount of arcual motion
on the stud 27 of which the lever 26 is capable is small, being limited by the
engagement of a stop pin 28 fast to the lover 26, in a short slot 29 in the lever 1.
The only object of the recess is to provide the abutment 25 and room for the nose
of the lever 26 to be swung into its path. To meet the latter necessity, the leading
end 25 of the recess is far enough in advance to be out of the way of the said
nose at the moment that the lever 1 is started through the first arc of the
motion of ejection. The abutment 25 is so placed as to come up to and engage the
said nose just before the retraction of the blade 18 must begin, and to clear it at
the moment that the retraction of the ejector blade o" is completed.
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. The combination in a linotype machine. of ejector adapted to protrude a

page_text: portion of a linotype from its mould and a trimming mechanism adapted to then
move in a direction at an angle with the path of the said ejector and to trim the
linotype.
2. The combination in a linotype machine, of ejector adapted to protrude a portion
of a linotype from its mould, a trimming mechanism adapted to then move in one
direction at an angle with the path of the said ejector and to trim the linotype
and automatic mechanisms for actuating the ejector and mechanism respectively and
accordingly.
3. The combination in a liuotype machine, of an ejector and trimming knives
capable of moving across each other's path, and of mechanism for actuating either the
ejector or the knives only during the time that the other is stationary.
4. The combination in a linotype machine, of an ejector and trimming knives, each
(ejector or knives) capable of motion across each other's path but only practically
during the time that the latter is stationary, and automatic mechanism adapted to so
actuate the two.
5. The combination in a linotype machine, of an ejector; a mould; a pair of
trimming knives; an automatic mechanism for putting the ejector through the first
part of its motion of ejection; an automatic mechanism for actuating and returning
the said knives; an automatic mechanism for making the ejector complete its motion
of ejection.
6. The combination in a linotype machine, of an ejector; a mould; a pair of
trimming knives; an automatic mechanism for putting the ejector through the first
part of its motion of ejection; an automatic mechanism for actuating and returning
the said knives; an automatic mechanism for making the ejector complete its motion
of ejection, and automatic mechanism for retracting the ejector.
7. The combination in a linotype machine, of an ejector; a lever having the said
ejector pivotally connected thereto; a wheel having a lateral projection on its side;
a lateral projection on the said lever adapted to be overtaken, pushed through a
certain arc and then passed by it; a second lateral projection on the said wheel having
a longer radius than that of the one first mentioned; and a second lateral projection
on the said lever likewise adapted to be overtaken pushed through a certain are and
then passed by it.
8. The combination in a linotype machine, of an ejector; a lever having the said
ejector pivotally connected thereto; a wheel having a lateral projection on its side;
a lateral projection on the said lever adapted to be overtaken, pushed through a
certain arc and then passed by it; a second lateral projection on the said wheel
having a longer radius than that of the one first mentioned; a second lateral projection
ou the said lever likewise adapted to be overtaken, pushed through a certain arc and
then passed by it, and a cam and lever co-operating therewith adapted to actuate the
trimming knives between the two actuations of the said lever.
9. The combination in a linotype machine, of an ejector; a lever having the said
ejector pivotally connected thereto; a wheel having a lateral projection on its side;
a lateral projection on the said lever adapted to be overtaken, pushed through a
certain arc and then passed by it; a second lateral projection on the said wheel
having a longer radius than that of the one first mentioned; a second lateral projection
on the said lever likewise adapted to be overtaken, pushed through a certain arc and
then passed by it, a cam and lever co-operating therewith adapted to actuate the
trimming knives between the two actuations of the said lever and a cam mechanism
for retracting the ejector.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.