Improvements in and connected with the Distributing Mechanism of Linotype Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Distributing Mechanism
of Linotype Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Sole Proprietors of, and Sole Manufacturers, Licensors, and Vendors under,
the "Linotype" Patents, and HERBERT PEARCE, of No. 57, Belsize Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in and connected with the distri-
buting mechanism of linotype machines, and more particularly to improvements in
the distributing mechanism of the Mergenthaler linotype machine as it is made in
this country at the present time. The latter consists of (a) a swinging elevator arm
which receives the matrices to be distributed, (b) a distributor rail and matrix
traversing screws by which the matrices are returned to their respective grooves in
the magazine of the machine, (c) a pusher by which the matrices are transferred
from the end of the elevator arm above mentioned, on to an intermediate pair of sup-
porting rails, (d) a lifter by which the leading matrix is lifted up within reach of the
threads of the traversing screws, and (e) a stop at the end of each of the intermediate
supporting rails against which the pusher holds the matrices.
The transferring motion must be of a particular kind, as steady as it is possible to
get it, because it has not only to transfer the matrices from the swinging elevator
but it is expected to hold them up to the stops. The pusher consists of two parts, a
swinging arm and a slide. It is the latter that comes in contact with the inatrices.
As the pusher is made at the present time its action is not as perfect as it might be
for the two following reasons. Its own motion is reciprocating, that is, at certain
intervals, it is swung back from the matrices to make room for the introduction
of the next lot. Besides this, in consequence of its pushing motion being quick and
caused by the pull of a spring, it rebounds. The result is that there are many
imperfections in the way it discharges its duty of holding the matrices up to the
stops.
The object of the present invention is to combine with the pusher, an automatic
cushioning device capable of absorbing any jar which it may receive during its
action, to the end that that jar may not have a chance of making itself felt in the
notion of the nose of the slide or in the manner in which the matrices are held up
to the stops.
The swinging arm of the pusher is a vertical one and oscillates on a pivot through
or near its bottom end. The slide is a horizontal arm pivotally connected by one
end to the top of the said arm, so as to slide to and fro in the same direction as it
oscillates.
The invention does not limit us to the particular position of the cushioning device
in the pusher. It may be in either the slide or in the arm.
The general arrange-
ment of the parts of the device are settled according to the direction in which the
arm or the slide must move to cushion or absorb the jar in question.
The invention consists in the arm or the slide, as the case may be, being in two
pieces held together by suitable means in such a way that that piece which is nearest.

page_text: to the nose of the slide is capable of motion under a jar independently of the other of
them. There is combined with the said two pieces a telescopic guide. The piece
that actually does the cushioning or absorbing is a spring or springs arranged to act
between the two parts either in compression or in tension as may be most convenient.
The resilience of the spring enables it to return the moveable piece above mentioned
into its normal position.
A form of the invention which gives satisfactory results is the following.
The slide, being heretofore a flat bar, consists of two short flat bars each long
enough for the adjacent ends of the two to overlap each for a distance in excess of
the maximum cushioning or absorbing motion. The telescopic guide consists of a
longitudinal slot in each short bar at a short distance from the end which overlaps its
fellow bar and a headed screw the nose of which passed through each slot into the
end of the fellow bar. A spiral spring has its ends made fast respectively to the
adjacent ends of the two bars in such a way that they are pulled the one over
the other, giving the slide its maximum length or capacity for cushioning.
The modification of the above necessary to adapt it to co-operate with the arm con-
sists in making both the short arms and slots arcual to the same radius, cutting the
arm in two at a suitable distance from its axis of oscillation, and inserting a joint
having its axis at right angles with the plane of oscillation, and coincident with the
centre of the arc of the two short arms. The latter are made fast by their outer
ends to the two parts of the arm, one to each.
Dated this 1st day of March 1897.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in and connected with the Distributing Mechanism
of Linotype Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Sole Proprietors of, and Sole Manufacturers, Licensors, and Vendors under,
the "Linotype" Patents, and HERBERT PEARCE, formerly of No. 57, Belsize Park, in
the County of Middlesex, but now 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 and connected with the dis-
tributing mechanism of linotype machines, and more particularly to improvements
in the distributing mechanism of the Mergenthaler linotype machine as the latter
is made in this country at the present time. That mechanism consists of:-
(a) A swinging elevator arın which receives the matrices to be distributed:
(b) A pusher by which the matrices are transferred from the end of the elevator arm
above mentioned, on to an intermediate pair of supporting rails:
↓
(c) A stop at the end of each of the intermediate supporting rails up to which the
pusher holds the matrices.
(d) A lift by which the leading matrix is lifted up within reach of the threads of
the traversing screws; and
(e) A distributor rail and matrix traversing screws by which the matrices are
returned to their respective grooves in the matrix magazine.
For further particulars of the Mergenthaler machine above mentioned, especially of
its distributing inechanism, reference should be made to the Specification of Letters
Patent 14582 of 1890 and 26648 of 1896.
The transferring motion of the pusher must be of a particular kind, that is, as steady

page_text: as it is possible to get it, because it has not only to transfer the matrices from the
swinging elevator arm but it has to hold them up to the stops.
The pusher proper of the Mergenthaler linotype machine is a block of the same
contour as a matrix so as to bear fairly over the face of the outside matrix of those
hanging from the swinging elevator arin. It is carried by one end of a slide capable
of a reciprocating horizontal motion in a guide in the main frame of the machine,
there being a cushioning spring interposed between the block and the end of the
slide. This slide is connected by a link to the top end of a lever. This lever is a
vertical one, and oscillates on a pivot through or near its bottom end, in the same
directions as the slide moves. As the pusher is operated at the present time, its
action is not, in spite of the interposed cushioning spring, as perfect as it might be,
for the two following reasons. Its own motion is reciprocating, that is, at certain
intervals it is swung back from the matrices to make room for the introduction of
the next lot. Besides this, in consequence of its pushing motion being quick and
caused by the pull of a spring, the pusher rebounds from the matrices which it should
hold steadily up to the stops.
The object of the present invention is to combine with the pusher of the distribut-
ing mechanism of any linotype machine, an improved automatic device capable of
absorbing or cushioning any jar which it may receive during its action, to the end
that that jar may not have a chance of making itself felt in the manner in which the
matrices are held up to the stops. The invention does not limit us to the particular
position of it. It may be in any suitable part of the mechanism that operates the
pusher. Thus, in that of a Mergenthaler linotype machine it may be in either the
slide, the link, or the arm. The general arrangement of the parts of the device, is
settled according to the direction in which the organ of the machine to which the
device is applied must move to absorb or cushion the jar in question.
The invention consists in the above mentioned suitable part being in two pieces
held together by a telescopic guide in such a way that one piece is moveable over the
other of them. The part that actually does the absorbing or cushioning is a spring
arranged to act between the two pieces, either in compression or in tension, as may
be most convenient. The resilience of the spring enables it to return the moveable
piece above mentioned, into its normal position.
The accompanying figures illustrate two modes in which the present invention is
applied to the distributing mechanism of the Mergenthaler machine above mentioned.
So far they are to be taken as part of this specification.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the left hand end of the distributing mechanism
having the present invention applied to the link.
Figure 2 is a plan, on an enlarged scale, of the link illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of a part of the swinging arm of the pusher having
the present invention applied thereto.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the same part from the left hand.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, A is the respective part of the main frame of the
machine; B, part of the matrix inagazine; T, the swinging elevator arm; t, the free
and operative end of the said arm, being a short length of rail; Y, matrices hanging
from it ready to be distributed; t', a second short length of rail;, the distributor
rail; 8, 10, two of the matrix traversing screws; t³, one of the matrix stops; x¹, the
matrix lift; W1, the pusher proper; and w¹, the lever which operates it. w³, w³, are
a pair of antifriction rollers mounted on the slide W to facilitate its motion in its
guide w, which latter is an undercut groove in the face of a lateral extension 107 of
the main frame A. The rails t, t¹ and x are all of the same cross section as the
V-shaped notches in the tops of the matrices.
,, are the two pieces into which is divided the link which connects the
slide W to the top end of the lever w¹, and w10, w10, are the pivots making such
connection between the link and the lever w¹ and the slide W respectively.
So long as the pusher W₁ is out of action, that is waiting for the swinging elevator
arm T to raise a line of matrices up to the distributing mechanism, the parts last

page_text: described stand in the positions illustrated in Figure 1. As soon as the said arm
has so raised the said line, the lever begins its motion to the right and does not
begin its return motion to the left, until the matrix lift a¹ has lifted the last matrix
of the line undergoing distribution, up within reach of the threads of the traversing
screws.
It occasionally happens that it becomes desirable to lock the pusher W¹ back out
of action. To meet such a contingency, there is provided a pivotted stop wll adapted
to be swung down in front of the said pusher as illustrated in Figure 1. When the
normal action and inaction of the said pusher are not to be interfered with, the said
stop is swung back upon a stud 12 projecting from the main frame A for that
purpose.
The two pieces w³, wo, stand in parallel planes, and overlap each other by about
one third of their respective length. They are held together by the telescopic guide
above mentioned. This is shown as consisting of a slot w¹ in the piece wo, beginning
at a point at about a third of the length of the latter from the overlapping end, and
extending longitudinally in the direction of the respective pivot 10 for the distance
demanded by the desired absorbing already mentioned and described at length further
on; a headed screw pin w4 thick enough to fit in the said slot with a sliding fit,
passed through it and screwed through the nose of the other piece w", and a slot wis
and a screw pin 1 in the case of the other piece w, both occupying positions
relatively symmetrical with those of the slot w13 and pin w14 and respectively
discharging corresponding duties. 2017 is the absorbing spring. It is spiral and of
suitable strength and temper for the work it has to do. It is always in tension and
its ends must be connected to the respective noses of the two pieces 10%, w³, whereby
the screw pins w14, w10 are pulled up to the adjacent ends of the slots 2013, 2015. Its
extensibility is not less than the length of one of the slots.
The action of the absorbing device is as follows:
When the pusber W₁ is moved up to the matrices Y and has pushed them as far
to the right as the stops will let it, any excess motion in the link over that necessary
to push the said matrices so far, shews itself in a tendency of the piece w to move
over the piece to the right. Such a tendency is forthwith absorbed by the
spring w pulling on the screw pin 2016 fast on the nose of the piece w, and from
the screw pin w¹ fast in the nose of the piece w", as a base; while the same spring
pulling from the screw pin w16 as a base, tends to keep the pusher W₁ in constant
contact with the last or left hand matrix, and to therefore make it keep the next
matrix to be lifted, always steadily up to the stops.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, 2018, 19, are the two pieces of the lever w¹. They
are pivotted together by the pivot w20 which is parallel with the pivot on which the
said lever pivots as a whole. The telescopic guide is shewn as consisting of two
equal are shaped arms, one w21 fast to the piece wls, and the other 22 fast to the
piece w They spring from the said pieces w18, w10, respectively, at equal distances
from the pivot 20, and, being in the same planes, respectively, as the said pieces,
they overlap each other in the same way as do the two pieces us, w, of the link
already described. 2023 and 24 are the two slots, and 202, 2026, the two screw pins.
27 is the absorbing spring. It is made fast by its two ends to the arms w21,
respectively, by the said ends being connected to the heads of the screw pins w25,
which are eye-shaped to receive them.
W22
2020
The action of the absorbing spring w27 is identical with that of the spring 17
already described, and for the like reasons, because of the correspondence between
the pieces w8, w₁ and w18, 2019 with their respective arcs w21, 22; the slots w13, 2015
and w, the screw pins w14, 14 and w25, 1620.
Both springs 17 and w27 are tension springs. Like results may be obtained in
Either of the
both cases by substituting compression spiral springs for them.
springs illustrated-its shape and temper being duly modified-would act as a
compression spring with the desired result, after its respective ends had been
transferred so to speak, from the nose of the one piece to the other piece. For
instance, the ends of the spring 17 might be made fast to the pieces w³, 20º,

page_text: respectively, at points close to the adjacent ends of the slots w13, 15, the left hand
end to the piece wand the right hand end to the piece w. There should be
some device to prevent the compression spring buckling and to keep it up to its
work. The action of the spring as a cushion would, under the circumstances just
stated, be the equivalent of its absorbing influence already explained.
The invention may be applied to the slide W instead of to the link with the
same result, but not so conveniently or economically.
It is now obvious that the actions above described, may be obtained from
combinations of spring, pair of pieces or pair of arcs and telescopic guide between
the two pieces or two ares of the respective pair, other than those illustrated, without
departing from the nature of the present invention. For that reason, it must be
distinctly understood that the combination herein before described must be understood
in its widest sense, that is in respect of the functions of the several parts and not
in respect only of the particular constructions illustrated.
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 combination with the pusher of a linotype machine,
of a suitable part of the pusher-operating mechanism in two pieces; means by which
the said two pieces are held together so that one of them is moveable over the other;
a telescopic guide; and an absorbing spring.
2. The hereinbefore described combination with the pusher of a linotype machine,
of a suitable part of the pusher-operating mechanism in two pieces; means by which
the said two pieces are held together so that one of them is moveable over the other,
a telescopic guide; and a cushioning spring.
3. The hereinbefore described combination of pair of pieces; slots; pins; and an
absorbing spring.
4. The herein before described combination of pair of arcs; slots; pins; and an
absorbing spring.
5. The herein before described combination of pair of pieces; slots; pins; and a
cushioning spring.
6. The herein before described combination of pair of ares; slots; pins; and a
cushioning spring.
Dated him tot 2
100
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.