Improvements in Spacing Mechanism for Linotype Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan.,
1898
'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spacing Mechanism for Linotype Machines.
I, FRANK HINMAN PIERPONT, of 12/13, Gitschinerstrasse, Berlin, Empire of
Germany, Director, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
The spacers hitherto employed in connection with the various classes of line
casting machines consist of a wedge-shaped disc mounted on a revoluble shaft
and having a corresponding wedge like stationary arm adapted to co-operate with
the said revoluble disc and to form the space, simultaneously justifying the line
Where short detached
and wedging the matrices apart in the well known manner.
matrices are employed, one of these spacers has been found sufficient to answer the
purpose. In machines provided with the longer class of matrix-levers, however,
the upper ends of such levers are apt to get bent when the spacer is wedged between
the lower ends of the same.
Another disadvantage accruing from the employment of one spacer is that the
matrices are apt to get slightly skewed, owing to the weight of the long upper
matrix ends and their distance from the spacer."
Now, according to the present invention, in order to avoid the above mentioned
disadvantages, two spacers are employed one at the operative points of the matrices
and the other a short distance higher up. Both spacers may be coupled by any
suitable means so as to operate simultaneously, or the lower spacer may be set
somewhat in advance of the upper one, or both may be operated independently.
By thus employing spacers at different points of the length of the matrices, the
latter will be prevented from getting bent or misshapen when the effective or
lower spaces are wedged tight and any skewing of the matrices forming the type
line will be effectually prevented.
And in order to render the present specification more easily intelligible refer-
ence is had to the accompanying drawing in which similar letters denote similar
parts throughout the several views:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the arrangement of the spacers,
Fig. 2 an end elevation of Figure 1,
Fig. 3 a detail side elevation of the spacer and
Fig. 4 an end elevation of Figure 3.
The matrices are represented by g and the spacer between the matrices, which
closes the mould is designated by the letter a. The spacers are of the usual con-
struction consisting of the wedge-shaped disc a or a¹ mounted on the spacer shaft b
or b¹ and the stationary wedge d or d¹ mounted on a groove formed on the boss of the
disc a or a¹, and retained in position by a groove in a stationary bar e or e¹ in
the well known manner. According to the present invention a second upper
spacer a¹ is employed, fitted to a shaft b¹ and having stationary wedge held in
operative position by means of the upper grooved ledge or bar e¹.
The lower spacer a and the upper one a¹ may be coupled and operated simul-
taneously by means of the gears c and c¹ mounted on their respective shafts and
connected by means of a rack f, which may be actuated at the required moment

page_text: by any suitable means from any convenient part of the machine. The two spacers
may be operated simultaneously and equally or the lower one may be set in in front
of the upper one so that on turning both shafts simultaneously the lower spacer
will act to wedge the lower end of the matrices g forming a perfectly lead tight
line of matrices to close the mould, whilst the upper end need not be wedged quite
so tightly.
If desired both spacers may be operated independently and at different periods,
according to requirement, in which case the lower spacer would be operated as here-
toiore whilst the upper would have a totally independent operating mechanism.
Instead of the rack and pinions, any other known mechanism may be substituted
such as intermediate gear wheels, connecting rods or the like. The particular con-
struction of the spacer is also indifferent. If desired more than two spacers may be
employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:--
(1) In a line-casting machine having long matrices, the arrangement of two or
more spacers adapted to operate in unison or one after the other or entirely inde-
pendently, substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of December 1897,
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.