GB1023542A - Improvements in or relating to single-type casting machines and photographic composing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1,023,542. Type-making machines. MONOTYPE CORPORATION Ltd., and P. WILLS. April 11, 1962 [April 25, 1961], No. 14962/61. Heading B6W. Single type composing and casting.-In a single type casting machine of the type described in Specifications 1,017,362 and 607,191, the matrix selecting mechanism is so modified that for any one position of a gauge stop 6 the matrix case can be located selectively in two or more positions in each of which a different matrix overlies the mould. As described in the above Specifications, the position of the stop 6 is determined by means of a pair of movable jaws which co-operate with a set of pneumatically operable gauge pins. The matrix case is slidably mounted on a sliding frame 29 to which is pivoted at 42 a draw-rod 41 carrying a roughly hemispherical head 45. The horizontal position of the head 45 and therefore of the frame 29 is determined by a pair of jaws 46, 47 which are moved apart and together in synchronism with the machine cycle by levers 8, 7 respectively, the final, closed position of the jaws 46, 47 being determined by the engagement of surfaces 58, 59 of the jaws with the gauge stop 6. The jaws grip the head 45 between either surfaces 48, 51 or surfaces 49, 52 thereon, the two pairs of surfaces being offset from one another by the width of one row of matrices in the matrix case, e.g. 0À2 inch. The jaws and the head 45 are disposed between horizontal plates 56, 57, the plate 57 being slotted to allow a plunger 53 to pass therethrough and the jaw 47 being slotted to allow the draw-rod 41 to pass therethrough. The plunger 53 is movable by an air cylinder 54 actuated by means of a signal, from a perforated strip which controls operation of the whole machine. When the plunger is in the position shown the head 45 rests on the plate 57 and is gripped between the jaw surfaces 49, 52 so that a matrix is positioned over the mould. When the plunger is moved vertically upwards it engages the draw-rod and causes it to swing about the pivot 42 until the head 45 engages the underside of plate 56; when subsequently the jaws close the head is gripped between jaw surfaces 48, 51 and a different matrix is positioned over the mould. A spring or pneumatic means may bias the draw-rod to its lower position. More than two pairs of gripping surfaces may be provided on the jaws so that there is a range of three, four or more positions of the matrix case for a given position of the stop 6. The stop 6 is part of positioning means which locate the matrix case in one direction of its movement; similar positioning means locate the case in the other direction and these means may also be modified in the way described above. The invention allows the capacity of the matrix case to be enlarged by one or more rows of matrices. It also allows the matrix case to be moved to left or to right one or more rows independently of the position of the mould blade so that type can be cast having greater or lesser set size than the row in which the selected matrix is located. The invention may also be applied to a photographic composing machine of the type described in Specification 563,331.