Improvements in the Metallic Matrices of Linotype Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Metallic Matrices of Linotype Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 6 Serjeant's Inn, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Sole Manufacturers, Licensors and Vendors 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the metallic matrices of linotype
machines. These metallic matrices are made of brass because it possesses the desired
degrees of softness and hardness. The object of the invention is to prevent damage to
the side walls of the indentation or matrix proper in the formative edge of the metallic
matrix.
The indentation in question is formed by punching the metal matrix edge on. This
punching leaves the side walls of the indentation thin and weak. They soon wear
down, with the result that, when the injected metal enters the aligned and clamped up
indentations, small fins are formed between the type on the printing bar, which
fins produce faint lines in the printed line, between the letters.
In carrying the invention into effect, we provide for replacing the weak side walls
described above, with side walls of a strength sufficient to resist the wear which we
liave found to suffice to wear the weak ones down. The substitute side walls which
our invention provides, are plates of steel or other equally hard metal. These are
permanently combined with the metallic matrix after the absence from the latter, of
à mass of material of the size of each substitute side, wall, has been provided for.
Thus the substitute side walls may be parts of plates of the same area as the sides
of the metallic matrix to which they are to be attached, but they must be as large as
the side walls of the indentation plus as much as suffices to provide for their being
combined with the respective sides of the said matrix.
If it is desired that the plates providing the substitute side walls, shall be of the
same area as the metallic matrix, the latter is made of a decreased thickness accordingly.
A preferable and practically useful size of plate, is one as long as the metallic matrix
is wide; as wide as is necessary to provide the side walls of the indentation and side
flanges having bevelled edges capable of engaging in the undercut sides of a transverse
groove in the side of the metallic matrix, such groove being of the same width as the
plate in question; and as thick as there is space for between a side of the letter in the
bottom of the indentation and the plane of the side of the metallic matrix. The above
mentioned device of edges and undercut sides may be replaced by an on the whole
suitable equivalent. But it should be borne in mind that a transverse plate such as
is described above, fortifies the side of the metallic matrix against a blow from the
foot of the next following one and it should be combined with its matrix with due
regard to the nature of the said blow.
Dated this 16th day of May 1895.
I
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in the Metallic Matrices of Linotype Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 6 Serjeant's Inn, 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, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
'statement :-
'
Our invention relates to improvements in the metallic matrices of the well known
Mergenthaler linotype machine, as well as in those of any linotype machine, which
are exposed to the damage hereafter defined.
The Mergenthaler linotype machine and its matrices are fully described in the
Specification of Letters Patent 145821800.
The special object of the improvements above mentioned is to obviate certain
damage which is done to the matrices by their fellows during the process of
assemblage. The 'damage in question is caused under the circumstances, and is of
the nature next described. The indentation or matrix proper in the formative edge
of the matrix body, is formed by punching or engraving the said body edge on.
The material of the matrix is brass because that metal possesses the properties of
softness and hardness in the desired degrees, respectively. Either process leaves
the side walls of the indentation thin and weak. A linotype matrix is sent foot
first and in an oblique direction towards the place of assemblage. It is there
turned up into a vertical position, and in that position presents one side to the foot
of the following matrix, which strikes a blow across such side, the portion struck
including one of the side walls above mentioned. This wall is indented and finally
'broken down. A further cause of damage to the side walls is that due to the
accidental adherence of small fragments of type metal to the sides of the spacers.
In the operation of clamping prior to the injection of the molten metal, the
presence of a small fragment of hard metal between a matrix and a spacer neces-
sarily puts a severe pressure on the matrix at that point, whereby the matrix is
liable to be damaged; and in the event of the fragment pressing against the side
wall above mentioned, the said wall is liable to be broken down. Both walls are,
further, exposed to wear and tear.
When the damaged matrices are assembled and clamped in the vice, there is a
space between the indentations of the adjacent ones. In the act of casting, molten
metal is injected into all these spaces, thereby forming fins upon the same edge of
the linotype as are the printing characters, which fins are high enough to take ink
and will, consequently, print lines between the printed letters.
The present invention consists in substituting strong side walls for the weak ones
above mentioned. These substitute side walls are plates of steel or other equally
hard metal. These plates are permanently combined with the metallic matrix after
the absence from the latter, of a mass of material of the same size as each sub-
stitute side wall, has been provided for. Thus, the substitute side walls may be
parts of plates of the same area as the sides of the metallic matrix to which they
are to be attached, but they must be as large as the side walls of the indentation
plus as much as suffices to provide for their being combined with the respective
sides of the said matrix.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred form of our
invention,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a linotype matrix, embodying the present invention,
taken from the left hand of the operator.

page_text: Figure 2 is a rear elevation of it, taken from the left hand of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 of Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a linotype matrix also embodying the present
invention, taken from the right hand of the operator.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the same matrix.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the same matrix shewing the top, the rear edge
and the side to the left hand of the operator.
"
25
4.
The terms rear and front left hand," right hand," are used in respect of
the assembled and clamped position of the matrices in the vice.
A is the body of the matrix. a is the formative and rear edge of it. b is a
rectangular notch in the said edge, and forms a portion of the mould of the body of
the linotype. is the indentation or inatrix proper, being that part of the matrix
which is forined by the process of punching or engraving.
d, d are the substitute side walls. The material of them has been already specified.
In respect of position, the outer face of each one stands flush with the respective side
of the matrix body A; extends laterally as far as the bottom of the notch 6, and
As
vertically as far as the (at least) top and bottom edges of the indentation c.
to the thickness of a side wall, the hardness of the material as compared with that
of brass, permits of it being either as thin as heretofore and therefore stronger,
or as strong and therefore thinner and with a corresponding diminution of the
maximum thickness of the matrix body.
The position and minimum dimensions of a substitute side wall being as above,
there now remains to be considered the means by which it is to be incorporated with
and held to the matrix body A. On this point, the present invention imposes no limits
beyond requiring that the means be sound and workmanlike, note being taken of the
above mentioned wear to which one side wall is subjected during the process of
assemblage. The blow on the right hand substitute side wall is delivered borizontally
across the matrix body. Now if there are two different metals side by side, under
that blow they will be set vibrating at, most likely, dissimilar rates, whereby a tendency
to disruption along their contacting edge will be established. We therefore consider
it preferable, that the substitute wall on that side of the matrix body, should be a
portion of a plate e extending the whole width of the said body, so that there shall be
only one metal to receive the blow.
As to holding the said plate to the matrix body, we do it by cutting a trans-
verse groove across the matrix body A, as deep as the plate e is thick, under-
cutting the top and bottom edges of the groove and bevelling the corresponding
edges of the plate to engage therein. The substitute side wall on the opposite side
of the matrix body may be incorporated with and held to the latter in the same
way and is illustrated in the figures as being so dealt with.
We are aware that the use of a compound matrix of copper and steel has been
proposed as an improvement in the old method of casting single type, in which
the copper matrix formed a removeable bottom to the mould and was clamped
against it.
In punching the impression on these copper matrices an inequality of the marginal
surfaces was produced by the displacement of metal whereby the close contact of
matrix and mould was prevented and a lateral burr was formed on the cast type which
prevented its proper assemblage and alignment.
""
To prevent the formation of this burr and to obviate the necessity of "rubbing
the type, it was proposed to remove the lateral margins of copper on either side of
the punched indentation and replace them by strips of hard metal, the hard metal
and copper portions being then rivetted together.
According to our invention we provide an armoured surface to a linotype matrix
at the point where it receives a lateral blow from the matrix following, and prevent
the consequent breakdown of the side walls and the formation of fins on the printing
bar in the process of casting; and we would have it understood that we do not claim

page_text: the application of hard metallic surfaces to type matrices generally, but only in the
particular manner and for the particular purpose described, riz.
1. The combination with a separable matrix of linotype and similar machines, of
the hard metallic surfaces applied in the manner described for the purpose of with-
standing, in the process of assemblage, the lateral blow delivered by the following
matrix.
2. In a
linotype or similar machine, the combination with a separable matrix of
the substituted side walls of steel or other suitable hard metal extending across the
said matrix in the manner described and the indentation in the formative edge, for the
purpose of preventing the formation of fins on the printing bar by the wearing away
or breaking down of the side walls.
3. The separable matrix for linotype and similar machines as described and
illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings.
Dated this 15th day of February 1896.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.