438,135. Type-bar-making machines. MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE CO., 29, Ryerson Street, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.- (Assignees of Stouges, A. J. ; Queen's Village, New York, U.S.A.) May 12, 1934, No. 14406. Convention date, May 12, 1933. [Class 100 (iii)] Assembling matrices.-Relates to machines adapted for handling matrices of different forms, which are assembled in a hand stick or holder. (1) The machine is adapted to handle, in addition to the regular matrices Y, Y<1>, Figs. 5 and 5a, which have one or two characters, special matrices X, X<1>, Fig. 3, which are without projecting ears, and range up to 72-point in the case of the matrices X<1>, and up to 144-point in the case of the matrices X, and also " Ludlow" matrices Z, Z<1>, Fig. 4, which have upwardly and downwardly projecting ears z<2>, z<5>. The matrices X, X<1>, Z, Z<1> are formed in their casting faces with recesses or routing-notches to compensate for the reduced depth of the moulds with which they co-operate. The larger special matrices X have walls x<9> surrounding their lower portions, to close off the portion that extends below the lower ends of the matrices X<1>, so as to prevent metal squirts. The matrices X have a recessed portion x<5> in their rear faces, to form an aligning- surface x<6>, which is level with the aligning- surfaces x<2> of the matrices X<1>. Notches x<4>, x' are formed in the aligning-surfaces, to receive a retaining-rail in the transporter or first elevator. Blank matrices without recesses are placed at the ends of a composed line of the recessed matrices X, X<1> Z, Z<1> to prevent metal squirts through the recesses. (2) The head portion of the line-transporter or first elevator comprises front and rear walls B<4>, B<5>, Fig. 17, and an intermediate spacing-block B<6>, and the front wall is provided with four interchangeable sections, to adapt it for the different matrices. One section B' is adapted to accommodate the matrices X X<1>, Y<1> and has a rail b<5> to engage the notches x<4>, x' in the matrices X, X<1> and similar notches in the feet of the matrices Y<1>. The rear wall B<5> of the transporter-head engages in notches x<11>, Fig. 3, in the matrices X, X<1>. When the matrices Y<1> are in use, an auxiliary plate B<14>, Fig. 18, is attached by a tongue and groove to the rear wall B<5>, as described in Specification 387,118 and projects below the upper ears of the matrices. Another interchangeable section, adapted for the matrices Y, has ledges for supporting the matrices at either of two levels, and is used with a longer auxiliary back-plate, having a sustaining-ledge for the upper matrixears. Two additional sections, adapted for the matrices Z, Z<1>, have ledges for engaging over the ears z<2>, z<5>. (3) The line is composed in a hand-stick J, Fig. 8, comprising a bottom wall, a side-wall, and two pivoted end-walls J<3>, as described in Specification 387,118. The stick containing the composed line is placed on a table H with the side-wall in contact with abutments H<1>. The matrices are aligned for transfer to the transporter by a plate H<2>, which is carried by a slide H<3> and is drawn forwards against spring pressure, so as to close the open side of the stick. The stick and the plate H<2> are then moved rearwardly together, so as to bring the line between the depending fingers F<6> of a transfer-carriage F. When in this position, the stick and the plate H<2> are latched together by a spring-pressed dog H<6>. During the rearward movement of the stick, the end-walls J<3> are rocked into open position by contact with the fingers F<6> of the transfercarriage. The line is then moved into the transporter by the transfer-carriage, which is operated by a handle F<4>. When the line has been replaced in the stick after the casting, the end walls J<3> are moved back into operative position by contact with the abutments H<1> (4) The line passes into the transporter through an intermediate channel comprising rear and front walls L<1>, L<2>, Fig. 12, the latter of which has adjustable sections L<3>, L<4>, so as to present matrix-supporting ledges corresponding to those of the different interchangeable sections of the transporter. The sections L<3>, L<4> are held in adjusted position by a vertical pin l<5>, which passes through one or the other of a pair of holes formed in each section.