Improved Process for the Production of Type Founders' Matrices.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1300 - Accepted, 31st Mar., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process for the Production of Type Founders' Matrices.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LOCK, Manager and Secretary of The Linotype Company
Limited, of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City of London, BERNE NADALL, of
No. 6118, Princeton Avenue, Englewood, Chicago, in the State of Illinois,
U.S.A., Designer and WOOLMAN GIBSON WHITE, of No. 415, B Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C., U.S.A., Engineer, both at present of The Linotype Works,
Broadheath, in the County of Chester, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to an improved process for the production of
typefounders' matrices. It has more especial reference to a matrix which
consists of a cubical block having a round stem fast to it and projecting from
it. Such matrices are already more or less known, as for instance by the
Tachytype machine described in the Specification of Letters Patent 2554 of
1895. The function of the stem is to hold the block to a plate by engaging in
a guide hole in the latter. The matrix proper or cavity for the face of the type
is cut in a copper plug let into the face of the block opposite to the one from
which the stem projects. The other faces, of the block must be true planes and
at right angles with each other, the front one being rectangular, in order that
each block may fit accurately in a correspondingly rectangular guide hole
surrounding the type body mould, as well as up to that mould.
The raw material for the improved process is an oblong block or a long
bar, of steel or other suitable metal. This is chucked end on in any suitable
machine tool and has its end turned down for the proper length to form the stem
of the matrix. The end of the stem is then screw-threaded to take a nut, and
the raw material is cut through in the proper plane to detach the said stem
and its block. The stem and block are then chucked in a milling tool the
cutters of which have stationary axes and which is otherwise suitable, and the
four sides of the block that are parallel with the axis of the stem are milled to
the same size, all the sides being at right angles with each other and symmetrical
with the stem. This milling can be dispensed with when the long bar above
mentioned is accurately rolled or drawn to the desired cross section. The stem
and block are then chucked by the above mentioned four sides of the block or
by the stem, in any suitable engraving machine, preferably in the engraving
machine described in the Specification of Letters Patent 11938 of 1895. While
so chucked, the cavity to receive the copper plug above mentioned, is cut out
and the sides of it undercut. The cutting out and undercutting just described
may be done in a machine in which the work is moved past a cutter revolving
on a stationary axis or in one in which the work remains stationary and the
revolving cutter is moved past it. The stem and block are next fixed in a
suitable jig or equivalent device and a proper length of copper inserted in the
cavity. The copper is driven into it until the undercut recesses in the four
sides of the cavity are filled. When this has been done, the entire cavity finds
itself plugged with compressed copper and some projects above the block. This

page_text: projecting portion is then faced off. The matrix cavity is then punched or
engraved in the copper plug and the block justified for depth of matrix by
being faced off.
The term square as descriptive of the shape in plan of the plug cavity in the
block, is to be understood as including rectangular with square or round corners
and with curved instead of rectilinear sides.
The
A square plug is better than a round one for the following reasons.
diameter of the plug must be less than that of the block; and a square plug
of the same diameter as a round one, will have a larger area by reason of the
four corners. A hexagonal or triangular block would also be inferior in that
respect to a square one and for a similar reason. An "I" of a height equal
to the diameter of the round plug, could be cut in it, but an "M" of the same
height could not, but could be cut in the square plug.
Dated this 8th day of May 1899
CHAS. S. WOODROFFE,
Chartered Patent Agent..
Improved Process for the Production of Type Founders' Matrices.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LOCK, Manager and Secretary of The Linotype Company
Limited, of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City of London, BERNE NADALL, of
No. 6118, Princeton Avenue, Englewood, Chicago, in the State of Illinois,
U.S.A., Designer and WOOLMAN GIBSON WHITE, of No. 415, B Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C., U.S.A., Engineer, both at present of The Linotype Works,
Broadheath, in the County of Chester, 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 an improvement in typefounders' matrices,
such a matrix being either (a) a rectangular steel block having two opposite
faces rectangular or square (generally the latter), and a copper plug let into
the working face in which plug there is the matrix proper or formative cavity
for the type face, or (b) a rectangular steel block having two opposite faces
square, a copper plug let into one of the square faces in which plug the matrix
proper or formative cavity is indented, and a round stem fast to and projecting
centrally from the opposite square face at right angles therewith. Both the
above classes of matrices are well known in the art at the present time, the (a)
class in connection with ordinary type casting machines and the (b) class in
connection with machines that cast type in the order of composition, such as
are described in the specification of Letters Patent of the United States, Nos. 2554,
February 5th 1895, and 7399, April 7th 1896.
Apart from the new matrix next described and claimed, the matrices produced
by it, differ from. those at present in use, in the cavity to receive the plug
material copper for preference-being undercut on its four sides and in the
copper being driven into the said cavity. with sufficient force to condense it.
The object and advantage of the undercutting is to prevent the plug loosening
to any extent. The condensation of the copper makes it closer grained so
that the matrix. proper is sharper than it would be if the copper were not
condensed.
The accompanying figures illustrate matrices of the two classes (a), (b), above
mentioned, produced by the present invention.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a matrix of class (a):

page_text: Figure 2, a perspective view of a matrix of class (b) :
Figure 3, a perspective view of the same matrix after part of the block has been
cut away across the plug to shew the undercutting of the plug cavity; and
Figure 4, a plan of the matrix of Figures 2 and 3.
The raw material for the new process is a bar of suitable metal, steel by
preference, having a cross section either accurately or only approximately corre-
sponding with the desired shape of a block 1 or 1*.
It is thought that the distinctive features of the improved matrix will be
best understood from a description of the only process by which it can be pro-
duced. The first step in the manufacture of the improved matrix is to chuck
the bar in a suitable machine tool, for instance a hollow lathe mandrel, and to
face off the end of it at a right angle with the axis of the bar.
The second step depends upon whether the matrix is to have a stem 3 or not.
If it is to be without a stem, as illustrated in Figure 1, the width of the sides 5, 5,
is measured off along the bar from the faced off end above mentioned, and the
bar severed along the plane represented at 6 in Figure 1. If the matrix is to
have a stem 3, as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the proper length of bar,
measured off from the block 1", is turned down to produce it. Seeing that the
bar is still in the machine tool above mentioned and that its chucking the
rein has not been altered, the stem 3 will be at right angles with the block 1ª.
A screw thread 7 is sometimes required upon the outer end of the stem 3. If
so, it is now cut there. After the stem 3 has been turned down or after the screw
thread 7 has been cut on its end, it is severed from the bar at a right angle with
the axis of the latter.
Both
The condition of the four sides 5, 5, of the blocks 1, 1ª, respectively, depends
upon the condition of the bar in respect of its cross section. If the latter
accurately corresponds with the desired shape of the said blocks, then are the
latter true planes, each one parallel with the one opposite it and with the sides.
and axis of the stem 3, (if there be one) and at right angles with the respective
working face 4, 4ª of the matrix. But if the cross section of the bar only
approximately corresponds with the said desired shape, the blocks 1 or block 1*
and stem 3, are next chucked in a milling tool, the cutters of which have stationary
axes, and the four sides 5 or 5", milled to the relative shape and position just
specified. This milling may be regarded as the third step in the process.
The fourth step relates to the cavity to receive the copper plug 2.
cavity and plug are replicas of each other in every respect, in matrices without
or with a stem 3, and the plugs are, for that reason, designated by the same
reference number. A cavity is not shewn apart from its plug 2 because they
have a common contour. This contour is square in plan, as shewn in Figure 4.
The slight roundness at the corners may be regarded as only an accidental
result of the action of the cutting tool. The term square as descriptive of the
shape in plan of the cavity and plug 2, is to be understood as including a rect-
angular shape having equal sides and either round or square corners and also
curved instead of rectilinear sides. No claim is made to such square shape per se
for cavity and plug. It is the preferred one for the following reason.
In any
case the diameter of the plug 2 must be less than that of a block 1 or 1ª.
square plug has a larger area than a round one or any other shape having the
same diameter or major dimension. The two shapes hitherto used have been
round and square.
For equal diameters, the area of the square one will exceed
that of the round one by the areas of the four corners. A "J" of a height equal
to the diameter of the round plug could be cut in it; but a
height could not. It could, however, be cut in the square plug.
A
"M" of the same
The block 1, or block 1ª and stem 3, as the case may be, are chucked either
by the four sides 5 or 5*, or by the stem 3, in any suitable engraving machine,
preferably in the one described in the Specification of British Letters Patent
11938 of 1895. While so chucked, the cutter, guided by the tracer rod and
pattern of that machine, cuts the cavity and undercuts the four sides. The

page_text: contour of the undercutting is clearly shewn by the section in Figure 3. The
cutter. revolves about a vertical fixed axis and is suitably shaped to effect such
undercutting. Both the. cutting of the cavity and the undercutting of the four
sides may be done in any machine tool other than the engraving machine last
mentioned, the cutter of which has a stationary axis, the cutter revolving only
and the block being moved past it as required, or in one, the revolving cutter
of which is moved past the work, the block being then held stationary.
The fifth step relates to the insertion of the copper plug 2 in the cavity. The
quantity of copper required for a plug is the contents of the cavity plus a quantity
equal to the amount of compression plus a third quantity which the act of
driving and compressing is to leave projecting beyond the working face 4 or 4ª,
to be afterwards faced off. The total quantity is cut off a bar having preferably
a cross section nearly equal to the area of the mouth of the cavity. The block 1
or block 1ª and stem 3 above mentioned is then removed from the machine
tool by which the cavity has been cut and undercut, and is fixed in a suitable
jig or the like. The piece of copper for the plug is inserted end on in the
cavity and hammered or otherwise driven down into it until the entire cavity is
filled with copper duly compressed. As much copper as this hammering leaves
projecting beyond the working face 4 or 4ª is next faced off flush therewith.
The sixth step is to punch or engrave the matrix proper or formative cavity 8
in the proper position in the plug 2, and to justify the matrix for depth of such
matrix proper 8, by facing off the working face 4 or 4ª of the matrix more or
less as may be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:--
1. The hereinbefore described typefounders' matrix consisting of a block
having a square cavity therein the sides of which are undercut and a plug of
condensed plug material in which the formative cavity is formed.
2. The hereinbefore described typefounders' matrix consisting of a block
having a square cavity therein the sides of which are undercut, a plug of con-
densed plug material in the said cavity in which the said formative cavity is
formed, and a stem fast to the said block and projecting from that side of it
opposite to the working face of the block.
Dated this 8th day of February 1900..
CHAS. S. WOODROFFE,
188, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.