US1767829A

US1767829A - Matrix for composing machines

Info

Publication number: US1767829A
Application number: US242063A
Authority: US
Inventors: Yewdall Clifford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-12-23
Filing date: 1927-12-23
Publication date: 1930-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 1947-06-24

Description

YEWQALL June 24, 1930.,

I MATRIX'FOR comPoszu'b MACHINES Filed Dec. 25. 3.927

MU 1.. 4 a d 4 l W W & D :5, A 3 1 m a A INVENTOR.

A TTORNEVS.

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES cmrronn YEWDALL, or GREAT NECK, NEW Yonx MATRIX FOR COMPOSIN 'G MACHINES Application filed December 23, 1927. Serial No. 242,063.

This invention relates to composing machines, and with respect to its more specific features, to the character carrier, or matrlx, of such machines as the linotype, the intertype, the Ludlow, and other such machlnes where the matrices are provided with indicating characters for the guidance of the operator. v

The invention has particular reference to matrices of the type disclosed in they patent to P. L. Hill, No. 1,466,437, patented August 28, 1923, the contrasting color characterlstics disclosed in said patent being also embodied in the invention herein disclosed.

Among the objects of the invention are the provision of a practical matrix havlng the color characteristics disclosed in said patent, with the consequent advantages thereof, and in which the construction 1s such as to guard the reference character from being scratched, or worn, 1n use; in which contrasting color closely adjacent the reference character is maintained, notwithstanding the color of the edge of the reference character may be worn at places remote from the reference character; in which cleaning of the reference character may readily be confined to the reference character and the field closely therearound and without encroaching upon the more remote colored reference character edge of the matrix, which latter need not be cleaned so often, if at all; and in which the outer face of the reference character is inset in the body of the matrix so as to be guarded and protected from abrasion when in use.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. I

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction here- 45 inafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should as) be had to the following detailed description embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a matrix embodying the invention, the embodiment being somewhat modified in respect to Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a view of a plurality of matrices like those of Fig. 1 assembled side by side, as for instance they would be in the assembler of the composing machine ready for the casting operation;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing an assembly of the matrices of Fig. 2 similar to those of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail through the matrix from the reference character side to the mold side.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the matrix is generally indicated by the numeral 1. It will have the mold 2 and the reference character 3, the reference character being upon the narrow edge 4 of the matrix, herein termed the reference character edge. In the embodiments illustrated the matrix is made of metal, as for instance brass, and the reference character may be made by forming a hollow, or indentation 5, in the reference character edge 4, said hollow beingof the shape of the clesired reference character and being filled with a suitable light colored filling or pigment which will be firmly retained in the hollow, the outer face of the filling being flush with the surrounding surface, or field, of the reference character edge. Preferably, the filling for the hollow is white in color soas to have strong light-reflecting quality. In order to render the reference character clearly visible and well defined, the reference character edge closely adjacent the reference character is treated to color it in sharp color contrast to that of the reference-character. In the embodiment illustrated this closely adjacentfield,indicated at 6, is dark as black. This dark field may be provided by treating the field with a suitable chemical or oxidizing agent which will color the brass black. In practice, as indicated in the aforesaid patent, both the hollow and the field may first be colored black by the chemicals and thereafter the white filling is applied in the hollow over the black surface thereof.

In order that the reference character ma boldly stand out in color in a dark field, and in order to avoid reflections from the refer ence character edge when the matrices are assembled preparatory to the line casting operation, the reference character edge 4; of the matrix is colored black throughout its visible extent in the assembler. Thus when the matrices are assembled together side by side, as illustrated in Figs. 3 or 4, the reference characters appear as bright, white characters in the large, surrounding field of lack, which latter ispreferably made of a subdued ligh -reflecting quality so that strong reflections will'not be'cast therefrom into the eyes of the operator. 7

"The numerals? and 8 respectively indicate upper and lower shoulders, being narrow ribs which rise from the reference edge of the matrix at points spaced from its upper and lower ends, and which project in ront of'the reference character and are relatively close to the reference character, and

act as guards protecting the reference charactor from abraslon andw'ear, as for ni stance, from sliding contactz withanother partvof the composing machine. Furthermore, when the matrices are out of the composing ina'chine,-the shoulders? and 8 have the effectrof. guarding the referencecharacter from contact withthe table or other surface on'which the matrix may lie. Nevertheless, the reference character is clearly exposed to view between the shoulders'when in the assembler, the operator rea'dily viewing the reference character past the shoulders. I

In the embodiment illustrated in Fi 2, the reference character edge of the matrix is slotted, as generally indicated at 9,'the slot extending throughout the width of the matrix, and having rectangularly related 'upper' and

lower walls

10, 11 and a bottom wall or bottom 12. In this wise the upper shoulder is formed by the intersecting walls 4: and 10, and the lower shoulder is formed by the intersecting walls l and 11, the refer en'ce character being depicted on the bottom wall 12 of the slot. In both Figs; 1 and 2 the reference character maybe formed by filling a hollow or indentation with pigment, as hEIGlllbefOiQ described, the reference character, in each instance, being inside the slot provided by the upper and lower should,

ers, and being vis'ible through such slot.

Inpractice, instead of merely darkening the reference character edge of the matrix, the matrix is darkened throughout its surface by subjectingit t6 the oxdiaing process, as hereinbefore"mentioned. This is a desirable feature as it is found that, by such treatment, dust, lint, and the like, does not for original coloring thereof.

so readily adhere to the so treated surfaces as it does to untreated brass surfaces of prior forms of matrices for composing machines: In consequence, less cleaning, brushing, and the like is required.

The coloring of the matrices, to apply the white filling in the hollows of the matrices, is accomplished by arranging the matrices close together, side by side, as for instance illustrated in Fig. 3 or 4, the assembled matrices being suitably clamped together, with the shoulders longitudinally aligning with each other, so that between the upper and lower shoulders a continuous channel 13 is provided across the reference character edges of the assembled matrices. Thereupon the pigment or filling, as a suitable quality of white paint, is brushed or spread throughout the channel, thus filling the hollows in the matrices, whereuponthe hottom of the channel may "be wiped with "a soft cloth, thus leaving the white filling in the hollows, the adjacent dark field being wiped clean and free, of the filling material. The

shoulders

7 and 8 are adapted toc'o'nfine the filling material to the channel, so

that it does not spread across the more rel, and the recoloring of the reference characters may be accomplished as just explained In the recoloring operation the frictionand consequent wear is likewise readily confined to the channel formed by the upper and lower shoulders, so that the reference characters may be recolored without danger of wearof the black field outside the shoulders, which latter may be sufficiently dark for practical purposes so as not to require recoloring.

By varying the depth of the slot between i the guard shoulders, the reference characters may be disposed farther back or'forward from the front ends of the shoulders,

in each instance, however, being guarded from'wear as already described. The farther forward the shoulders project from the reference character, the more of the downward- ,ly or upwardly coming light rays are out off.

The shoulders, therefore, may have the effect of a frame, in respect to said light rays, and enable the operator more clearly to observe and distinguish the reference characters, by

reason of lack of interference with vision of reflections of said upwardly and downwardly coming rays.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

' Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a composing machine of the character described, in combination, a plurality of metal matrices, having reference characters, assembled together side by side, each matrix having upper and lower narrow ribs between which the reference character is exposed to view, said ribs projecting in front of the reference characters and longitudinally aligning with each other above and below the reference characters, and providing a plurality of parallel channels across the reference character edges of the assembly of matrices, the reference character edges of each matrix between the upper and lower ribs being in sharp color contrast to that of the reference characters.

2. A composing machine matrix made of brass and having ribs projecting from its reference character edge adjacent the upper and lower sides of the reference character, said edge, both above and below said ribs, being of oxidized brass sharply contrasting in color with the reference character.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLIFFORD YEWDALL.