18,627. Lock, W. H., Billington, J. E., and Holliwell, C. Aug. 17. Linotype and like machines.-In typographical composing-machines, a preliminary assembler is interposed between the usual movable assembler and the organ which delivers the line elements into the assembler. The preliminary assembler receives as many elements of the line as the operator can assemble while the movable assembler is out of assembling position in delivering a line to the next organ of the machine. The apparatus is described in connexion with the Mergenthaler linotype machine, [Specification No. 14,582, A D. 1890], but may be applied to other machines such as those in which the assembler moves horizontally, or those in which a shifter moves the line from a fixed assembler. In assembling the first line of a take, the usual line resistant 10 is initially in the preliminary assembler 25 against the assembling-wheel 7. When the line is complete, it is moved completely into the assembler elevator 9 by a transferring-finger 26 operable by a special key 38, which is as easily actuated as any of the ordinary keys. During the assembling of a line, the finger 26 has a pin-and-slot engagement with a slide 42, Fig. 4, which is upwardly pulled by a spring 47 so as to hold the finger 26 above the line of matrices. The slide 42 is linked. to a pivoted lever 55 which is connected with a crank loose upon a rapidly rotating shaft 52, for example the shaft of the front keyboard roller. Depression of the key 38 causes the crank to be clutched to the shaft during a single rotation. The slide 42 depresses the finger 26 into engagement with the end of the line during half the rotation and returns to its normal position during the other half. The finger 26 is slidable in a crosshead 27, which is normally held by a latch 36 at the right-hand end of a guide 34 but which is pressed towards the left by a spring 33. The descent of the slide 42 releases the latch 36, and the line is swept into the assembler elevator 9, the finger 26 having a limited horizontal movement. The elevator 9 is held locked during the assembling of a line by a spring-controlled bell-crank lever 71 engaging over a rod 73 on the elevator, and is unlocked at the correct moment by the movement of the lever 71 caused by a bell-crank lever 79, 80 which is nocked by the movement of the cross-head 27. A spring piston device 75, 77, 78 pushes up the elevator from which the line is taken by the shifter 12, 13. The elevator is returned by any suitable organ of the machine. The means shown comprises a cord 86 secured to the elevator, passing around pulleys 89, 88, 87 and attached to a slide 83 which is depressible by a stud 82 on the so-called first elevator 19: The slide 83 and its support are arranged to permit a forward rocking of the mould carrier 24. During the passage of the finger 26 to the left, a roller on its rear edge passes along the top edge of the assembler 25 and the assembler elevator 9, the latter during its ascent causing the partial return of the finger to its original position, the final movement being effected upon a lever 97 pivoted to a pivoted arm 94. A spring tends to hold the lever 97 as shown in Fig. 1. During its ascent a stud upon the elevator 9 encounters and rocks the lever 79, 80 which pushes back the cross-head 27, the roller upon the finger 26 thus being moved on to the lever 97. The lever 79 also engages an arm 98 connected to the lever 97, and its further movement lifts the latter and rocks the arm 94 so as to bring the pin 46 of the finger 26 again into engagement with the slide 42. After the rise of the assembler elevator, the resistant 10 returns to coact with the line in process of formation in the preliminary assembler, the resistant finger 101 of the latter being then moved out of action and returned to its original position, in which it is ready to be returned into the assembler 25 immediately after the finger 26 has descended to transfer the completed line and before the arrival of the first element of the new line. The resistant 101 has a spring-pivoted connexion with a lever 103 secured upon a rod 104 movable endways under the control of a spring 122. A laterally restrained member 118, having a pin-and-slot connexion with, and embracing the rod 104, is acted upon by a spring tending to push the resistant 101 through a slot 102 into the assembler. The return of the resistant 10 causes a cam 114 in connexion therewith to rock the lever 103 and withdraw the resistant 101 from the assembler, the resistant beiug held in this position by a shoulder 109 on the assembler. A collar 111, pivoted at 112 and acted upon by a spring 113, grips the rod 104 when stationary to avert a braking action thereon, but is swung by a cam on the member 118, when the rod 104 is rotated, to unbrake the latter and allow it and the resistant to move towards the right. The descent of the slide 42 causes a rod to be pushed up to release the resistant from the shoulder 109 and permit its return into the assembler. If the keyboard is replaced by a system of electric circuits or by a perforated mechanical controller, the key 38 may be similarly replaced.