Improvements in the Assembling Mechanism of Linotype Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Assembling Mechanism of Linotype Machines.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LOCK, Manager and Secretary of The Linotype Company,
Limited, of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City of London, WILLIAM ROBERT
SPEECHLEY, and ALBERT EDWARD BARLOW, of The Linotype Works, Broadheath,
in the County of Chester, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
:-
The present invention relates to improvements in the assembling mechanism
of linotype machines, and which are applicable more particularly to the assembling
mechanism of the linotype machine described in the Specification of Letters
Patent 14582 of 1890. In that machine, the selected matrices drop from the
magazine on to an oblique belt conveyor which delivers them end first down an
incline. It is required that each matrix shall be up-ended as soon as it reaches
the bottom of the incline and then pushed forward side first. Both the up-ending
and pushing forward have hitherto been effected by means of a triangular cam
or a star wheel. Either device has been mounted and rotated in a convenient
position for getting at the matrices one after the other as they slide down the
incline.
According to the present invention, there is provided a reciprocating pusher
which is protruded beyond the surface of the incline at regular intervals, and in
a direction at a suitable angle therewith, so as to effect the above mentioned
up-ending and pushing forward. The head of the pusher is suitably shaped to
deliver a proper push against the side of the matrix. The pusher is reciprocated
in suitable guides by means of a rocking lever suitably fulcrummed and having
one end, preferably the lower one, pivotally connected to the inner end of the
pusher and the other engaged in a cam groove.
This latter is conveniently
supplied by a metal disc fast upon the axle of an adjacent pulley of the conveyor
above mentioned. The cam groove may be of any suitable contour, such as
triangular which will effect three protrusions of the pusher for each rotation of
the axle of the adjacent pulley just mentioned.
The rocking lever above mentioned may be dispensed with by mounting the
cam groove near to the rear end of the pusher, and suitably bending that end
to engage in the said groove.
Dated this 29th day of September 1808.
CHAS. S. WOODROFFE,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: We, WILLIAM HENRY LOCK, Manager and Secretary of The Linotype Company
Limited, of 188, Fleet Street, in the City of London, and WILLIAM ROBERT
SPEECHLEY, and ALBERT EDWARD BARLOW, both of The Linotype Works, Broad-
heath, in the County of Chester, Engineers, 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 assembling mechanism
of linotype machines,, and more especially to the assembling mechanism of the
Mergenthaler Linotype machine described in the Specification of Letters
Patent 14582 September 16th, 1890. In that machine, the selected matrices drop
from the magazine on to an oblique belt conveyor which delivers them end first
down a decline. This decline terminates immediately opposite and close to the
open mouth of the assembly box, so that the matrices enter the latter. The space
bars for spacing and justifying, the composed line drop from their magazine
into the said box. The opposite end of the assembly box is practically closed by
a yielding resistant. Some device is necessary to push the inclined matrices and
the dropped space bars forwards along the assembly box. The one at present in
use consists of a rotating triangular metal cam or a vulcanite star wheel con-
veniently mounted to reach the matrices and space bars as soon as they have
entered the assembly box.
The present invention consists in the substitution for the rotating cam or
rotating star wheel as the case might be, of a pusher moving with a reciprocating
motion parallel with the direction of the length of the assembly box, so as to
strike the matrices and space bars with a straight push. The pusher is recipro-
cated in a suitable guide by a cam driven by any suitable means.
Referring to the accompanying figures,
Figure I is a front elevation of the invention and of the adjacent parts of a
Mergenthaler Linotype machine:
Figure 2, a side elevation of Figure 1 from the right side of it;
Figure 3, a detail front elevation on an enlarged scale, of the invention detached
from the machine:
Figure 4, a side elevation of Figure 3 from the right side of it:
Figure 5, a detail plan of the cam, rocking lever, pusher and connection:
Figure 6, a side elevation of the rocking lever from the left side of it:
Figure 7, a front elevation of the same:
Figure 8, a vertical section on line 8-8 of Figure 9:
Figure 9, a front elevation of the cam disc and groove:
Figure 10, a front elevation of a modified form of the invention; and
Figure 11, a side elevation of Figure 10 from the left side of it.
Referring to Figures 1 to 9, A, A, are parts of the machine frame; G, G, vertical
matrix channels from the matrix magazine; 9, 9, ribs separating them from each
other; H, the oblique belt conveyor; h, its driving pulley; a", its axle; a³, a
pulley on the opposite end of the said axle and through which rotary motion is
imparted to it; 16, the detachable plate that carries the axle a"; and h, the
block having a decline continuing the obliquity of the conveyor H and down
which the matrices Y are delivered into the open mouth of I the assembly box.
Only the rear side of this box I is shewn in Figure 1, the front side having been
omitted to disclose its interior. is one of a pair of ledges for the matrices to
rest upon and travel over-the other one is opposite to it on the front side of
the assembly box. Y, Y, are matrices; Z, Z, space bars; k, the shoot down which

page_text: the latter drop from their magazine; j, the yielding resistant that practically
closes the left end of the assembly box I; J, the sliding assembly bar that carries
the resistant j; L, the shifter arm that the resistant ; pushes before it as the
increasing length of the composed line in the assembly box I pushes the said
resistant before it; and L', the fellow shifter.
A is the pusher above mentioned. It is a straight metal bar of a smaller
diameter than the width of a matrix. The nose 18 of it is preferably of vulcanite
because that material is relatively softer than metal; and is fixed to the pusher
by being screwed into a screw threaded socket 19, as illustrated in Figures 3, 5,
and 10, to facilitate adjustment of the length of the pusher and replacement of
a worn nose by a new one. 20 is a slot in the block to serve as a guide for
the reciprocating motion of the pusher h¹. Both guide 20 and pusher h¹ are
aligned with the length of the assembly box I, on a level with about two-thirds
the height of the matrices Y when they stand on the ledges and midway of
their side edges, so that the pusher 7 hits each matrix fairly in the middle and
clear of its formative cavity, the side walls of which are its weakest parts. For
detailed information as to this formative cavity and its side walls, the reader is
referred to the Specification of Letters Patent 9732 of 1895. The cam that
reciprocates the pusher h7 must be rotated with a regular and rapid motion.
is advantageously carried by the axle a. It takes the form of a cam groove 21
in a plate h fast upon the said axle a. The connection between the cam
groove and the pusher h7 consists of a rocking lever 23 having its fulcrum
on the stud fast to the plate 16, a rod 28 fast to the bottom end of the said
lever, projecting through a slot in the said plate h¹6 long enough to allow
of its reciprocating motion therein, and
It
by the screw pin 5, and engaging connected to the end of the pusher ¹
the cam groove by a pin 26 fast
to and projecting from its opposite end. The cam groove is shewn as
triangular in elevation, so that the pusher will be reciprocated three times
for each revolution of the axle a This is a suitable proportion but it may be
varied.
The invention constructed as above described works as follows. Each matrice Y
and space bar Z drops into the mouth of the assembly box I, the former on to the
ledges, while the latter hangs by its shoulders 22 from the top of the said
box I, and the pusher nose h¹8 delivers a light push on the middle of each one
and pushes it forward, the push on a matrix first up-ending it into a vertical
position against the resistant į or against the preceding matrix or space bar.
When the connection between the cam groove his a rocking lever h³, the
pusher nose 18 pushes when the pin is engaged with a portion of the cam
groove ha of shortest radius, and is retracted when that pin is engaged with a
portion of the same groove having a longest radius. But the type of connection
may be varied as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. In these, the connection is
a stiff finger h27 fast to the rear end of the rod and carrying the pin 26 on
its opposite end. With such a connection, it is the longest radius portions of
the cam groove that make the pusher push and the shortest ones that retract
it.
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. In the assembling mechanism of a linotype machine, the combination of
assembly box; pusher aligned therewith and reciprocating within it; a cam
adapted to so reciprocate the pusher; a connection between the said pusher and
cam; and meclianism for rotating the cam.
2. In the assembling mechanism of a linotype machine, the combination of
assembly box; pusher aligned therewith and reciprocating within it; a cam
adapted to so reciprocate the pusher; a guide for it to move in; a connection
between the said pusher and cam; and mechanism for rotating the cam.

page_text: 3. In the assembling mechanism of a linotype machine, the combination of
assembly box; pusher aligned therewith and reciprocating within it; a cam
adapted to so reciprocate the pusher; a rocking lever engaging by one end with
the said cam and connected by the other with the said pusher; and mechanism
for rotating the cam.
4. In the assembling mechanism of a linotype machine, the combination of
assembly box; pusher aligned therewith and reciprocating within it; a cam
adapted to so reciprocate the pusher; a finger fast to the pusher and engaging
the said cam; and mechanism for rotating the cam.
Dated the 30th day of June 1899.
CHAS. S. WOODROFFE, Fel. Ch. Inst. P.A.,
188, Fleet Street, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.