Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1897-Accepted, 24th July, 1897
vements
Linoty
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188 Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Sole Proprietors of and Licensors, Manufacturers and Vendors under, the
"Linotype" patents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The present invention relates to improvement in linotype matrices and
particularly to those for dashes, brackets, rules, borders and the like, hereinafter
referred to as "pieces."
In carrying it into effect, there is provided a matrix closely resembling in
general contour, the ordinary matrix of the particular linotype machine to which
the invention is to be applied, and with that matrix there is combined an inter-
changeable slide in which is cut the matrix proper or formative cavity of the respective
piece.
The linotype machines in which the characters are indented in soft material, and
the cast made from it, the above mentioned matrix proper or formative cavity is
replaced by a male type of the respective piece.
The improved matrix corresponds in length with that of the piece to be cast, or
it may be a multiple of that length. The mould cavity is modified or divided in
length accordingly.
The combination of matrix and slide is effected, preferably, by means of groove in
the operative face of the former and having undercut edges under which the edges of
the slide are adapted to engage. Locking springs or bolts to hold the slide exactly
in position in the groove, may be applied to either the matrix or the slide, as may be
most convenient.
In the application of the present invention to the Mergenthaler Linotype machine
it is not proposed to send the improved matrices through the distributor, but to lock
the transfer lever as in recasting from a line of matrices, and so set the machine to
work on stock.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY LIMITED, of No. 188 Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Sole Proprietors of and Licensors, Manufacturers, and Vendors under, the
5 "Linotype" Patents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention-a communication
Price 8d1

page_text: to us from the Mergenthaler Linotype Company, of New York, U.S.A.-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 linotype matrices, and, more
particularly, to those for dashes, brackets, rules, borders, and the like, which are
hereinafter referred to as "pieces."
In linotype machines, separable matrices, each having a formative cavity for the
particular character which it is intended to reproduce, are composed in a line, the
necessary space bars being introduced between the words during the process of com-
position. The line of formative cavities constitutes a matrix for the printing edge of
a linotype or printing-bar. Suitable deviens are incorporated with the separable
matrices above mentioned, by means of which the different organs of the machine can
deal with the said matrices during the eyele of its operations, according to the nature
of each one respectively.
In some linotype machines, matrices having formative characters are replaced by
type dies adapted to indent a strip or sheet of stereotype material. In either case,
the same result is obtained, viz. a matrix for the printing edge of a linotype or
printing bar. Such being the state of the art in that respect, it is to be understood
that whenever the terms "matrix," "matrices," occur in the present specification,;
they include the respective substitutes "type die" or "type dies," as the case
inay be.
The present invention has been developed with special reference to the well known
Mergenthaler Linotype machine; and for that reason, as well as because that linotype
machine is the only one in practical use in this country, the form which the improve-
ments in question take when made up for it, has been selected for illustration and
detailed description.
In the said Mergenthaler machine, the matrices are rectangular metal plates of a
regular area, but differing from each other in thickness, according to the width of the
respective character. They are first released one by one, from the respective divisions
of the matrix magazine in which they are kept, and are next delivered into the
assembling block where the composition of them and their complement of space bars
into a line, is completed. From the assembling block, they are shifted into the grip
of the transporter which takes them to the justifying and casting mechanism, holds
them there in front of the mould block of the machine during the two actions of (a)
justification of the line, and (b) casting of the linotype. The transporter then takes
the composed line to a certain part of the machine where the matrices and the space
bars are, first, separated from each other, and next distributed to their respective
magazines. The formative cavity of the matrix is situated at the bottom of a notch
in one side edge of the matrix. Of the suitable devices above referred to as those by
means of which the different organs of the machine can deal with the matrices, the
most important in the case of a Mergenthaler matrix, are four tabs, projecting laterally
from ench corner, and the distributing notch. The top tabs are suspending devices-
the matrices bang by them from supporting rails in different parts of the machine, eg.,
in the assembling block and in the transporter. The two bottom tabs stand under a
pair of fixed rails or shoulders when the composed line is in the casting position, and
which prevent the act of justification which takes the form of a push upwards through
the bottom of the composed line, forcing any of the formative cavities of the matrices
out of alignment with their fellows. The distributing notch is V-shaped and extends
downwards into the body of the matrix from the top of it. Each side of the V-shaped
notch is occupied by laterally projecting teeth and vertical steadying shoulders both
of which co-operate with a horizontal V-shaped rail. This mail is the principal organ
of the matrix distributor. Both sides of it are shaped to correspond with the teeth and
shoulders on the sides of the said notches, so that the matrices can ride along the rail,
suspended from it. The distributor rail stands at a higher lever in the machine than
does the certain part above referred to as that where the separation of the matrices
and the space bars take place. The connection between the two is by means of a

page_text: first aligned with the composed line in the top of the transporter and next with the
distributor rail. As soon as it is aligned with the composed line in the transporter,
the said line is pushed on to the short piece of rail, which latter retains the matrices
by engaging the teeth in the sides of the V-shaped notches, but leaves the space
bars alone because the V-shaped notches in the tops of them, are too wide for the
short piece of rail to touch them.
Occasionally there is required in a composed line, a matrix which differs in some
important particular, from all the others in the magazine. Matrices differing to that
extent from their fellows are known as "sorts" matrices, and it is convenient that
they be kept apart in a separate magazine. They have the four tabs above mentioned
because such tabs are as necessary to them as to the normal matrices. They have also
the V-shaped notches; but like those in the tops of the space bars, the said notches
are too wide for the short piece of rail above mentioned to touch them. They are
introduced by the operator into the composed line in the assembling block during the
process of composition, and drop out of the cycle of the machine's operation when the
composed line is pushed on to the said short piece of rail, and into a special receptacle
conveniently placed to receive them.
The body of a matrix made according to the present invention, is practically
identical in general contour with that of one of the "sorts" matrices described above.
The formative cavity is in a detachable strip adapted to be held flush with the
respective side of the said body. The invention includes the combination with that
body, of a series of interchangeable strips, each having a formative cavity for each
different "piece." That being the case, the strips are of uniform width and each is
adapted to be held to the body by a device common to them all, such as bevelled
side edges engaging in an under cut or double V-groove in the above mentioned side
of the body.
Referring to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of this specifi-
cation and read therewith-
Figure 1 is an end elevation of an improved matrix.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation corresponding therewith.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an improved matrix.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation of two improved matrices between the two detachable
strips of which, is shared the formative cavity of a "piece" too long for one
of them.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of an improved matrix, illustrating the detachability
of a strip.
Y is the body of the matrix.
and is the V-shaped notch.
inatrices above described.
y, y are the four laterally projecting tabs,
So far it is identical with one of the "sorts "
The invention does not impose any limit on the length of the body Y14, but it is
obviously advisable that it be as long as the machine will take.
Further, the invention allows of the formative cavity being shared between more
than one detachable strip when the body Y is too short for the "piece."
Such a
case is illustrated in Figure 4, where two bodies Y", each shorter than the "piece,"
are shown as sharing the corresponding detachable strip between them. Seeing that
the said short bodies will be clamped together when they are in the vice, they
will then be practically only one. There may be more than two bodies, Y, set
end to end, the formative cavity in the detachable strip being divided between
them all.
Y15 is a detachable strip. It is, preferably, of the same length as the body Y
on which it is to be used at any rate it may not be longer than that. The
cavity in the mould block of the machine is adjusted to the length of the body of
the "piece."
Y, Y are the bevelled side edges of the detachable strip, engaging in a double
V-groove Y" in the respective face of the body Y".
25 is the formative cavity at the bottom of the groove y".
This latter

page_text: corresponds with the notch above mentioned as being in the edge of a normal
matrix, and is a portion of the mould for the body of the "piece."
The stock of pieces" is made up on a Mergenthaler Linotype machine, by
introducing the block Y", previously fitted with the proper strip Y, into the
assembling block of the machine locking the distributor, and starting the said
assembling block and the casting mechanism, whereupon the manufacture of "pieces"
from the said strip and their delivery into the galley of the machine, will proceed
until the casting mechanism is stopped.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The hereinbefore described combination of body and detachable strip.
2. The hereinbefore described combination of body and series of detachable
strips.
3. The hereinbefore described combination of bodies and detachable strips sharing
between them the formative cavity of a "piece" longer than themselves.
4. The combination of bodies shorter than the respective "pieces" and a
series of detachable strips of the same length as the said shorter blocks,
respectively, and sharing between or amongst them, the formative cavity of the
respective piece."
Dated this 23rd day of April 1897.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.