Improvements in the Adjustable Moulds of Linotype Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE NATIONAL TYPOGRAPHIC COMPANY
(a Company organized under the laws of the State of West Virginia), having
its principal places of business at Washington, D.C., and New York City,
United States of America.]
Improvements in the Adjustable Moulds of Linotype Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188 Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Sole Proprietors of and Manufacturers, Vendors and Licensors
under, the "Linotype" Patents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the adjustable moulds of linotype
machines; and is particularly applicable to the mould of a Mergenthaler linotype
machine. In the case of the latter, the mould is a cavity in a mould block. This
mould block consists of four pieces held together in a way proper for producing a
mould-block having a central or mould-cavity through it of a definite length and
sized in all its dimensions to those of the body of the linotype. The said four
pieces are a top and a bottom piece having their opposite faces truly parallel and
as wide as the depth of the linotype body, and two distance pieces of the same
width as the top and bottom pieces and as thick as the linotype body. The top
and bottom pieces are made fast togethor, face to face, with the distance pieces
between them flush, as to their sides and outer ends, with the respective ends of
the mould-block, thus framing the central or mould-cavity last mentioned between
them. These distance pieces are hereinafter referred to as "liners." The above
mentioned mould-block is bolted to the face of a wheel known as a mould-wheel,
cach revolution of which provides for the presence of the above mentioned mould-
cavity between the assembled matrices on the one side and the casting mechanism
on the other, in time for the casting operation.
Linotypes are required to vary in two dimensions--length and thickness.
Several mould-blocks adjustable in respect of both of these dimensions (which
correspond with the length and thickness of the body of the linotype) have been
proposed and the object of the present invention is to provide a cheaper and
readier method of and means for effecting such adjustment.
In carrying this invention into effect, the original fixed liner is retained at each
end of the mould cavity. The end to be adjusted is fitted with a series of inter-
changeable liners, varying amongst themselves in respect of length. Each is
adapted to fit butt up against the respective end liner. It extends through the
monid cavity, being notched to embrace the shank of the screw which holds that
end of the top piece down upon the end linor. There is a transverse groove in
the face of each pieco-both top and bottom. Each interchangeable liner has a
transverse ridge upon each of its faces, the ridges being adapted to fit in the
grooves when the interchangeable liner butts up against the fixed liner.
The mould is changed for depth or thickness of linotype by substituting end
liners as well as an interchangeable liner of the proper thickness.
Dated this 20th day of April 1896.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicaute.

page_text: Improvements in the Adjustable Moulds of Linotype Machines.
We, THE LINOTYPE COMPANY, LIMITED, of No. 188 Fleet Street, in
the City of London, Sole Proprietors of and Manufacturers, Vendors, and
Licensors under, the "Linotype" Patents, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, a communication from The National Typographic Company (a Company
organized under the laws of the State of West Virginia) having its principal
places of business at Washington, D.C., and New York City, United States of
America) and in what manuer the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in the adjustable moulds of linotype
machines, and is particularly applicable to the mould.
In the Mergenthaler linotype machine, for instance, the mould is a cavity in a
mould block. This mould block consists of four pieces held together in a way
proper for producing a mould-block having a central or mould-cavity through it of
a definite length and sized in all its diniensions to those of the body of the linotype.
The said four pieces are a cap plate and a bottom piece having their opposite faces
truly parallel and as wide as the depth of the linotype body, and two distance
pieces of the same width as the cap and bottom pieces and as thick as the linotype
body. The cap plate and bottom piece are made fast. together, face to face, with
the distance pieces between them and flush as to their sides and outer ends, with
the respective ends of the mould block, thus framing the central or mould-cavity
between them. These distance pieces are hereinafter referred to as "liners."
The above mentioned mould-block is bolted to the face of a wheel known as a
mould-wheel, each revolution of which provides for the presence of the above
inentioned mould-cavity between the composed line of inatrices and space bars on
the one side and the casting mechanism on the other, in time for the casting
operation.
Linotypes are required to vary in two dimensions length and thickness, and to
meet such requisition, several mould-blocks made adjustable in respect of both of
their length and breadth (dimensious which correspond with the length and the
thickness of the linotype) have been proposed.
In nearly all liuotype mould blocks, the mould cavity is adjusted for thickness
of linotype, by the substitution for the liver then in the block at each end of it,
of another liner of the desired thickness. In all linotype mould blocks adjustable
for length of linotype, the adjustment is made at one end of it by either moving
the liner at that end towards or away from the liner at the opposite end or by
substituting one of a different length for it. In either case the adjustment is
effected at the same end of the block. In one type of mould block adjustable by
substitution of liner in respect of both the thickness and the length of the linotype,
the block is provided with several series of interchangeable liuers for the adjustinent
end of it. There is one series for each thickness of linotype all the liuers of a
series differing in length. The present invention resembles the one just described
in respect of the several series, their different thicknesses, and the different lengths
of the liners of each series; but it differs therefrom in the shape of each liner of
the series. Instead of being U shaped lengthwise, each interchangeable liner of
the present invention, is solid for the greater portion of its length, thereby
obviating the risk of being sprung out of its normal position, a thing that a
longitudinally shaped liner is very likely to do. Further, instead of being taken
out of the mould block and inserted therein lengthwise, the present invention
requires a transverse, and in the majority of changes, a shorter motion. It will be
noted that we say above that there is one series of interchangeable liners for each
thickness, all the liuers of each series differing in length. It would be equally

page_text: the liners of each series differing in thickness.
The accompanying figures illustrate a mould block for the Mergenthaler linotype
machine described in the Specification of Letters Patent 14582 of 1890, but made
adjustable in respect of the length of its mould cavity according to a later
invention, and having applied to it, the improvements which constitute the present
invention. It must, however, be borne in mind that tho said invention is applicable
to the mould block of any linotype machine. It is only because it has beeu
conceived and developed with special reference to the Mergenthaler linotype
machine, and because that machine is the only linotype machine in practical use
in this country, that the application of it thereto has been selected for illustration
and detailed description.
Referring to the accompanying figures which illustrate the conception and
development above referred to:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of an adjustable mould block made according to the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan of the bottom piece and the two liners of the same mould
block.
Figure 4 is a plan shewing an interchangeable liner partly inserted.
Figure 5 is a plan of the underside of the cap plate.
Figure 6 is a plan of a stationary distance piece detached from the adjustable
end of the block.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of Figure 6.
Figure 8 illustrates by way of plan and front elevation, one interchangeable
liner of each of four series, the four liners differing from each other in both
thickness and length.
B is the cap plate of the mould block; C, the bottom piece; E the mould cavity;
D, the fixed liner at one end thereof; d'a short steadying ridge standing up centrally
from the face of the bottom piece C for a short distance from the end of it, and, a
corresponding recess in.the opposite face of the cap plate B, to receive the said ridge.
Fis a stationary distance piece. It has a short steadying ridge f¹ on each side of
it, adapted to fit in corresponding recesses in the cap plate B and the bottom
piece C, both ridges being then aligned with the ridge d'. is a pin fast to and
depending from the cap plate B, so as to pass down through the hole f' in the
piece F into the bottom piece C to prevent the said picco F dropping out. This
distance piece F is changed at the same time and for the same reason as the
fixed liner D. d, f, are screws for holding the cap plate B down upon the distance
piece F and the fixed liner D then between it and the bottom piece C. Euch
of the improved adjustable liners G is as wide as the opposite faces of the
plates B, C, and is provided on its inuer end with the projecting corner g' to co-
operate with the corresponding projecting corner on the fixed liner D. So far
the parts above described are of the same construction as heretofore.
The number of improved adjustable liners comprised in a series, is a quantity
variable according to the requirements of each case. There are four lengths and
four thicknesses illustrated, that is, four series of four liuors each, but the invention
does not impose any limit upon the number of liners in a series or upon the number
of series to a mould block. 9 is a notch in the rear edge of each improved
liner G. In point of dimension and position, it must allow the said liner to be
pushed in between the cap plate B aud the bottom piece C, till its edges are flush
respectively with the rear and front faces of the mould blook, with its outer end
adjoining the stationary distanco piece F and the end of the notch fitting up to
the shank of the screw which thereby serves as a stop for the liner in that
direction. Across each side of the liner, there extends a ridge g', 9* parallel with
the notch g'. The two ridges are preferably, opposite each other. At any rate,
the distance (or distances, if they are not opposite) separating them from the outer
end of the liner, is uniform throughout the series. There is a corresponding

page_text: groove, g', in the cap plate B and in the bottom pioce C, adapted in respect of size,
shape and position, to receive the said ridges, respectively, to guide the liner
through its transverse motions, and to prevent all inution in any other direction.
The comparative thinness of the liners G', even of the thickest, prevent the
presence in them, of grooves g of the depth illustrated. It is for that reason,
that the ridges g' are on the liner and the grooves g' in the cap plate and bottom
piece. The invention includes any other equivalent device by which the liner can
be engaged with or held in operative position between the cap plate B and the
.bottom piece C.
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 combination with a linotype mould, of an interchangeable liner adapted to
be inserted in the said mould transversely from one side.
2. The combination with a linotype mould, of au interchangeable liner adapted
to be inserted in the said mould transversely from one side of it, and to be held
therein by the eugagement of grooves and ridges.
3. The combination with a linotype mould, of one or more series of inter-
changeable liners differing from each other in respect of either their length or their
thickness, each one adapted to be inserted in the said mould transversely from one
side.
4. The combination with a linotype mould, of one or more series of inter-
changeable liners differing from each other in respect of either their length or
their thickness, each one adapted to be inserted in the said inould transversely from
one side of it and to be held therein by an engagement of grooves and ridges.
5. The combination with a linotype mould, of one or more series of inter-
changeable liners differing from each other in respect of either their length or their
thickness, each ove adapted to be inserted in the said mould transversely from one
side of it and to be held therein by an engaging device, the devices of the said
series occupying an uniform position throughout the same.
6. In a linotype mould, the combination of cap plate, bottom piece, fixed liner
and interchangeable liner, adapted to be inserted between the said plate and piece
transversely from one side thereof, as set forth.
7. The combination with a linotype mould, of holding screw, interchangeable
liner notched in oue edge to pass the said screw and to be stopped thereby,
transverse ridges fast on the said liner and grooves in the opposite sides of the
mould cavity, adapted to receive the said ridges, as set forth.
8. The combination with a linotype mould, of holding screw, interchangeable
liner adopted to be inserted in the said mould transversely from one side and
notched in one edge to pass the said screw and to be stopped thereby, and an
engaging device adapted to gnide the said liner during its trausverse motion and
to prevent any other on its part.
D
1007
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.