US1910601A - Slug casting machine - Google Patents

Description

y 1933. F. c. FROLANDER 0,601

SLUG CASTING MACHINE I Filed Oct. 2, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet l May 3- F. c. FROLANDER SLUG CASTING MACHINE e Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 2, 1930 By 'INVENTOR WM M y 1933- F. c. FROLANDER SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed 001:. 2, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR y 3, 1933. F. c. FROLANDER 1,910,501

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 LIV] BY%Z% INVENTOIR flynm. AT; g /'21! y 1933- F. c. FROLANDER 1,910,601

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Patented May 23, 1933 FRANK C. FROLANDER, F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTHALER LINO'I'YPE COMPANY, A COEPORATI'ON OF NEW YORK tion, st.

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Application filed October 2, 1930. Serial No. 485,855.

This invention relates to slug casting machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to C Mergenthaler, No. 436,532, wherein a melting pot is arranged to deliver metal into a slotted mold and up against a composed line, of matrices to produce a slug or linotype whose characters correspond to the intaglio characters of the matriries. lin these machines, the molds (there usually being four in number) are mounted on a wheel or disk which is ustable to bring any selected mold into use and which is rotatable periodically during each cycle of operato locate the active mold in casting position, and then, after the casting operation, to locate said mold with the cast slug in ejecting position. During the latter rotation, the cast slug is subjected to the action of a fixed knife common to all of the molds and arranged to trim the backs or bottom edges of the slugs so that they will stand at exactly the same height in the printing form.

Ordinarily, the molds employed are designed to produce slugs of normal or standard type height, which, while suitable for most classes of work, are not entirely suitable for special classes of work, such as telephone books, time tables, etc. In these special instances, the slugs after being set up for one edition are stored away in galleys to be used for later edit-ions'except for such substitutions as are required to be made in taking care of changes and corrections for the later editi The quantity of type metal thus tied up in storage (especially in the case of telephone books) is enormous and represents a substantial amount, besides requiring con- .iderable space for storage. Moreover, the

galloys are quite heavy and burdensome to handle, so that the work of making changes or corrections is slow and tiring.

The present invention eliminates the foregoing objections by adapting the commercial 7 linotypc machine to produce extremely low slugs (which may therefore be exceptionally light in weight) and of form that will per mit their quick removal from the trays or galleys wherein they are stored. To this end, the mold wheel is equipped with a plurality of correspondingly low molds of different sizes andeach is provided with a reciprocatory knife operable during each machine cycle to trim the rear or bottom edges of the slugs before they are ejected from the mold. The improved molds are also each provided with a pair of core members located at the opposite ends of the mold cavity and adapted to pro duce notches in the 7 opposite ends of the slugs, these notches being intended to receive holding ribs formed on special trays or galleys in which the slugs are stacked in column formation. The core members also serve to hold the slugs against displacement while they are subjected to the action of the trim ming knife but are withdrawn from the mold cavity prior to the ejection of the slugs. Slugs produced in the improved molds are substantially less in height than any heretofore proposed, being approximately one quarter of normal type-height.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely in preferred form and by way of example, and as applied to a commercial linotype machine, but ohviously many changes and variations may be made therein and in its mode of application, which will still be comprised within its spirit. It should, therefore, be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a linotype machine, showing the mold disk in a normal position and the relation of the adjacent parts;

Fig. 2 is a front View of the mold disk detached, showing one of the molds in casting,

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the knife supporting slide, and showing the manner of retracting the core members, the mold being indicated by broken lines;

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7 and showing the mold in full lines;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the safety means employed;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a rear perspective view of the mold detached.

lifter composition, a line of matrices X and spacers Y (see Fig. 1) is lifted by the assembling elevator A between the fingers of the delivery slide B and is transferred thereby horizontally through the intermediate channel G into the first elevator or line transporter D which immediately descends to present the line between the clamping jaws E. The mold disk- F is then advanced to carry the active mold F (the latter having been previously located by a one-quarter rotation of the disk in casting position) into contact with the matrix line at the front, and the metal pot G (Fig. t) is similarly advanced from the rear to carry the mouthpiece G thereof into close contact with the back of the mold. The parts are now in proper position for casting, and after this operation is effected by the descent of the pot plunger, the mold disk and pot recede. The disk is then finally given a three-quarter rotation to carry the mold and cast slug to the ejecting position, and the composed line is simultaneously lifted for separation and distribution, all as is well understood in the art.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the mold disk F is rotatably mounted, as usual, on a hub member l-l carried by the customary mold slide (not shown) and is equipped with two molds F either of which may be brought into use by a manual adjustment of the disk about its rotary axis. Such adjustment of the mold disk F is effected in the regular way by means of the pinion J (Fig. 1), which normally r0- tates the disk when the machine is in motion but which is mounted for axial movement on the drive shaft J to break its connection therewith when desired. The molds F (there being two shown herein arranged diametrically opposite each other on the disk F) are much smaller than those of the regular construction and, while exceedingly low, have their front faces located as heretofore so as to cooperate properly with the composed lines supported in the transporter D.

Each. of the molds F (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) comprises a base or body portion F 2 permanently secured by screws 7 to the disk F, and a cap portion F which fits against the front face of the disk and is fastened down upon the body portion F 2 by a clamping plate F screwed or otherwise secured to the disk.

The top of the cap F is beveled upwardly from front to rear so as to engage beneath the clamping plate F which therefore serves also to reinforce the cap against the strains imposed thereon during the casting and ejecting operation. Since the slugs desired for the purpose herein described are of a definite length, the use of the detachable liners ordinarily employed is dispensed with, and the end walls of the mold cavity (as shown) are made integral with the mold body. At the front, the body portion F 2 of the mold is provided with the usual matrix aligning rib F 5 and at the rear with a longitudinal supporting ledge F, which latter seats in a pocket or aperture F formed in the mold disk F.

Due to the greatly reduced depth of the mold cavity, the back of the mold proper (see Fig. l) is spaced a considerable distance forwardly of the front face of the disk F, leaving a horizontal recess F open at the rear and ends and closed at the top and bottom by the cap and body portions of the mold. This recess F communicates with the disk pocket F", which extends above the ledge F so as to admit the mouthpiece G of the metal pot when it is advanced preparatory to the casting of the slug. In this connection, it may be stated that the mouthpiece G1 is made long enough to extend through the aperture F and recess F and contact with the back of the mold, and that the relative force-and-aft movement of the pot and disk is such as will permit free rotation of the latter in the retracted or normal positions of the parts.

Each of the molds F is provided with a reciprocable knife L for trimming the backs or rear edges of the slugs cast in the mold cavity, these knives being operated automatically as their respective molds are carried from casting to ejecting position. The manner of mounting and the mode of operation of the knives for the two molds F are identical, so that a detailed description of one will suffice for both.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated and as more clearly shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 11, the trimming knife L employed is carried at one end of a slide L mounted in suitable guideways 7, f formed respectively in the upper and lower walls of the recess F before mentioned. The knife L is secured to the slide L by means of an inclined pin and slot connection Z and held in operative or slug trimming position by a set screw Z which latter may be turned to adjust the knife toward and from the rear face of the mold. The slide L (see Fig. 6) fits snugly against the front face of the mold disk F- and, in the normal or retracted position of the knife L, extends a considerable distance beyond the mold, being guided and sustained at its outer end in a pair of subsidiary guideways or gibs f fixed to the mold disk in alignment with the mold guides f As thus arranged, by pushing the slidefrom' left to right (according to Fig.- 6) in the guideways f f F, the knife will be carried longitudinally across the back of the mold F to trim the contained slug, and by pulling the slide in the opposite direction, the knife L will be returned to its original position in readiness to trim the next or succeeding slug that may be cast in said mold.

The first or slug trimming operation of the knife slide L is adapted to take place immediately after casting and as the disk starts its three-quarter rotation to carry the mold from the casting to the ejecting position, while the second or resetting operation of the knife slide is adapted-to take place just before the disk comes to rest with the mold' in the ejecting position. These operations of the knife slide are effected by means of a pair of fixed cooperating cams M,.M and an intermediate curved arm M which latter is pivotally mounted on the mold disk F, as at M and loosely connected, as at M*, to the free or outer end of the knife slide. The cam M (see Figs. 1 and 2) is fastened to the supporting hub H of the mold disk and presents high and low concentric portions m, m respectively, and intermediate eccentric portions m m whereas the cam M is fastened to the machine frame adjacent the periphery of the mold disk and presents a single eccentrically disposed track portion on opposed to the cam M. The arm M is provided adjacent its pivotal axis with a roller m, which cooperates with the cam M, and at a point remote from its axis with a second roller m which cooperates with the cam M As will now be clear, the cam M during the rotation of the disk and through the medium of the roller m swings the arm M inwardly to impart the active or slug trimming stroke to the slide L while the cam M, through the medium of the roller m swings the arm outwardly to retract the slide, such operations being effected in this order at each cycle of operation. It will beunderstoodthat there are two arms M one for each mold, although but one cam M and one cam M these cams being common to the two arms M and adapted to cooperate in the manner stated with one arm or the other according to the mold in use.

The molds F are each further provided with a pair of upright core members or pins K, K adj ustably mounted therein and which project downwardly from the cap portion F through the mold cavity and into corresponding holes f in the body portion F These core members are intended to produce in the opposite ends of the slugs 0 cast in the molds half-round notches 0 (see Fig. 5) which are used for holding the slugs in their storage trays and for other reasons unnecessary to mention in this application. As best shown in Fig. 8, the core members K, K are formed with enlarged upper portions is, which are offset rearwardly and present at their lower ends horizontal shoulders 76 which support the members in their active position and whereby they may be lifted out of the mold cavity to their inactive position as shown in Fig. '3. .When the core members are raised, the upper ends thereof project above the top surface of the mold cap F but when depressed their upper ends are substantially flush with said surface.

In order to function properly, it will be understood that the core members must be depressed prior to the casting of the slug and then raised before the slug is ejected. Consequently, as will be noted by reference to Fig. 3, the transporter D, which supports the matrix line in front of the mold during casting, is provided with a beveled cam plate'D secured to the rear wall thereof and arranged to engage the upper ends of the core members K, K and depress them as the mold is advanced into contact with the matrix line. The core members are thus moved to their active position within the mold cavity preparatory to the forward movement of the metal pot G against the back of the mold and of course before the actual slug casting operatlon takes place.

The raising or removal of the core members from the mold cavity is accomplished,

in the present instance, by a longitudinally extending lip or flange L (Fig. 7) formed at the front of the knife slide L and arranged to cooperate with said members as the slide is reciprocated. The flange L (see Figs. 6 and 11) is located in a longitudinal groove formed in the back of the mold cap F and the offset portions 76 of the core members, when the latter are depressed, project into this groove directly in the path of the flange L As best shown in Figs. 7 and 11, the shoulders 70 of the core members are beveled upwardly, while the slide L is formed at its leading end adjacent the knife L with a cam surface L leading up to a. long horizontal supporting surface L and a second cam surface L leading up from the first horizontal surface L to a second relatively short horizontal supporting surface L As thus constructed, when the knife slide L is pushed toward the right from its normal or inactive position shown in Fig. 6 to trim the slug 0, the first core member K will be raised by the cam surface L to the horizontal supporting surface L but at this level the lower end of said member, as may be observed from Fig. 7, still maintains its engagement with the slug. Consequently, as the knife slide continues to advance, the slug while undergoing the trimming action of the knife L, will be restrained against displacement by the core members K, K the surface L" of the flange L being sufliciently long to thus supmained in its fully depressed position.

port the core member K in a partially retracted position only until the cam surface L is brought into engagement with the second core member K which up until now has re- At this time, the shorter bevel L is brought into engagement with the first core member K, and then as the active stroke of the slide L is completed (see the dotted lines in Fig. 7), both core members will be raised simultaneously and withdrawn fully from the mold so as later not to interfere with the ejection of the contained slug. In this connection, it may be noted that the location of the beveled surfaces on the two core members K and K differs so that the latter will, while the former will not, be fully retracted by the engagement with such surfaces of the cam surface L on the slide L After the slug has been trimmed. and the cores retracted, the mold disk F will have been turned to the position shown in Fig. 1 with the roller m about to pass beyond the lower end of the cam l 1 (the latter having just previously forced the arm M inwardly to effect the trimming operation), and the roller m engaging the low concentric portion m of the cam M. From this point, the slide L and its operating arm are idle until the active mold F (assuming it to be the one at the left in Fig. 1) is in an. inverted position at the bottom of the disk and the roller m is about to engage the rise or eccentric portion 077, of the cam M (see Fig. 2). During the last quarter of the threequarter turn of the disk, however, (which would bring the lower mold of F ig. 2 to the slug ejecting position of the mold shown at the right in Fig. 1), the arm M is swung outwardly by the cam M and, as the disk comes to rest, the roller m will have passed over the eccentric portion m thereby retracting the slide L to its original or inactive position.

At the start of the next cycle of operation and during the first-quarter turn of the mold disk, which carries the mold from the ejecting to the casting position, the slide L and its operating arm M are again idle, the rollor m at such times passing over the high concentric portion m of the cam M and the roller on passing through space toward the cam M To aid in carrying out the foregoing operation of the parts, there is employed a detent L (Fig. 6) mounted transversely in the mold disk and arranged to engage one or the other of a pair of recesses Z formed in the back of the slide L The dctent L will serve to hold the slide L yieldingly in its extreme advanced and retracted positions and to prevent its actuating arm M from swinging downwardly by its own weight as it passes out of control of the cam M The fit of the core members K, K in their bearings is such that they will remain, when in their raised position, clear'of the mold cavity at the time the slug is ejected therefrom, but as the mold disk is rotated from the casting to the ejecting position, there is some possibility of the core members being thrown bodily out of the mold, particularly at the moment when the latter is inverted.

-To guard against such occurrence, tapered pins 7 (Fig. 8) are provided, these pins being mounted in the mold cap F and engaging in vertical cuts formed in the upper ends of the core members.

In the course of experimentation, it was found that the chips and fins trimmed from the back of the slug would frequently find their way into the bearings of the core members K, K and thus interfere with the oper ation of the knife L. These difliculties have been overcome by equipping the knife slide L with a deflector finger L (Fi 11) secured to the leading end'thereor and eX- tending some distance beyond the trimming knife L. This finger L (see Fig. 4:) fits across the corner formed by the upper wall of the recess F and the back of the mold, or above the mold cavity, so as to close the groove F (wherein the core members K project) in the vicinity of the cutting edge of the knife. In this wa the shi chi is or trim-' mings are kept out of the groove and are deflected rearwardly and downwardly through the mold pocket F 7 by the lower inclined surface of the finger L Chips that might cling to the knife itself are also brushed off by means of a resilient wiper plate L (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) secured tothe mold disk immediately adjacent the far end of the mold and adapted to be forced over the beveled surface of the knife as it completes its slug trimming stroke. As a further precaution against the clogging of the parts from flying chips, the holes f which accommodate the core members K, K (see Fig. 4) are extended downwardly and rearwardly completely tirough the body portion of the mold as well as the mold disk, so that any stray particles of type metal adhering to the mold cavity or around the core members will be discharged through these extended holes or apertures.

In carrying out the invention, safety means are provided for stopping the operation of the machine if for any reason the movement of the trimming knife is obstructed. Such means, in the example shown, include a friction clutch J (Fig. arranged between the disk rotating pinion J and its drive shaft 3, and comprising the two cooperating clutch members 5*. The rear clutch member J is fast to the shaft 5 whereas the opposed clutch member J is loosely mounted thereon and keyed to the driving pinion J by means of a pin j, which projects forwardly from the member J andengages in a hole or recess 7' formed in the rear face of the pinion.

The clutch members are formed with beveled or cam surfaces J, which mesh with one another when the clutch is properly engaged but which serve to separate the clutch members axially whenever the clutch is overburdened. That is to say, when undue resistance is ofiered to the rotation of the pinion J, the clutch member J 4 will be cammed forwardly by the cooperating beveled surfaces J for a given distance on theshaft J The clutch member J is held resiliently engaged with the fixed member J 3 by four compression springs J 6 mounted on pins J projecting through concentric slots 7' in the loose clutch member J and threaded into the fixed clutch member J It is intended that the axial movement of the member J when it occurs, be transmitted through suitable intermediate connections to the bar Q embodied in all commercial linotype machines and adapted when moved endwise to disengage the main driving clutch and stop the operation of the machine. Such connections (as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 9) consist of a fore-and-aft slide rod P mounted in a fixed bracket P and loosely connected at the rear to a crank arm P rising from one end of a horizontal rock shaft P At the front, the rod P is provided with a finger P which projects upwardly at an angle therefrom to engage in front of a circular flange J formed on the loose clutch member J. The other end of the shaft P terminates directly above the rod Q (see Fig. 1) and is connected to said rod by a depending crank arm P similar to the crank arm P The shaft P is supported in suitable bearings P", P located adjacent the respective crank arms P P the bearing P being formed on a downward extension of the bracket P and the bearing P formed at the upper end of a fixed upright post P bolted to the main frame.

According to the above arrangement. any obstruction to the normal operation of the knife slide L is communicated to the mold disk from the cams M. M through the arms M and thence to the driving pinion J. The resistance thus presented to the pinion causes a relative movement of the clutch members J J and, as the member J is forced forwardly. the flange J thereof engages the finger P and advances the slide rod P to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 9. This movement of the slide rod rocks the shaft 1? and causes its depending arm P to force the rod Q rearwardly and release the main driving clutch. After the trouble has been rectified, it is merely necessary to turn the pinion J slightly in the normal direction of its rotation to reengage the clutch members J J and when the main clutch sprlng (not shown) is released to restart the machine, it will act throughthe rod Q,

to restore the intermediate connections to their original positions.

To recapitulate briefly, it may be best as sumed that a machine cycle of operation has progressed to the point where the transporter D has descended with a matrix line to casting'position, and the mold disk F has been rotated through the first quarter to carry a selected mold F to the horizontal position in front ofthe line (see Figs. 2 and 3). As the moldis advanced into contact with the line, the core members K, K will be depressed into the mold cavity by the cam plate D the lip or flange L of the knife slide L at this time standing clear of thecore members in the normal position shown in Fig. 6, and the roller m on the arm M being about to engage the segmental cam M The mouthpiece G of the metal pot is then brought forward to close the mold cavity at the rear, and the casting of the slug immediately follows. After the mold disk F and metal pot G have receded, the drive shaft J is rotated and, through the clutch J and pinion J, turns fromcasting to ejecting position. During the first part of such three-quarter turn of the mold disk, the arm M is swung inwardly by the cam M and the knife L is pushed thereby longitudinally across the back of the mold to trim the bottom or rear edge of the cast slug 0, the chips or Waste material being deflected by the finger L away from the moving parts, and the knife L wiped clean by the small resilientplate L as the cutting stroke of the knife is completed. The knife L will now have traveled some distance beyond the slug (as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 6), but such lost motion of the knife and its supporting slide L permits the flange L of the latter to engage and lift the core members K, K out of the mold cavity in the manner before described. As the disknears the end of its rotation, the arm M is swung outwardly by the cam M through the engagement of 'the roller m therewith so as to retract or return the slide to its original position before the disk comes to rest preparatory to the ejection of the slug from the mold. Should undue resistance be offered to any of the moving parts, the safety device'will function in the manner above described to arrest the operation of the machine and thus avoid damage to the parts.

As before stated,the invention has been shown only in preferred form and by way of example, and obviously many modifications and alterations will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my inventiornwhat I claim is:

1. In or for a slug casting machine, a mold provided with a reciprocable knife movable the mold disk in an anti-clockwise direction 9 longitudinally thereof for trimming the bottom edges of slugs cast in the mold cavity.

2. In or for a slugcasting machine, a mold provided With a knife movable longitudinally thereof and arranged to trim the bottom edges of slugs cast in the mold cavity, and a reciprocable slide mounted in the mold and Whereto the knife is attached.

3. In a slug casting maclhine, the combinanation of a mold, a reciprocable slide mounted therein and movable longitudinally thereof, a knife carried by the slide and adapted When the slide is reciprocated to trim the bottom edges of slugs cast in the mold cavity, and means for operating the slide.

4. In a slug casting machine,the combination of a mold, a reciprocab'le slide mounted therein, a knife carried by the slide and adapted when the slide is reciprocated to trim the bottom edges of slugs cast in the mold cavity, and means for restraining the slugs against displacement in the mold during the trimming operation.

5. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of molds, a carrier Whereon the molds are fiXed-ly mounted, a reciprocable knife associated With each of the molds for trimming the bottom edges of slugs cast therein, and common means for operating the knives.

6. In a-slug casting machine, the combination of a mold, a Wheel or disk Whereon the mold is fixedly mounted and rotatable to carry the mold from casting to ejecting position during each cycle of operation, a knife associated With the mold and movable longitudinally thereof for trimming the bottom edges of .slugs cast therein, and automatic means for operating the knife as the mold Wheel is rotated.

7. A combination as specified in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the knife therein recited is carried by a reciprocable slide and that the means for operating the knife consists of an arm pivotally mounted on the mold Wheel and operatively connected to said slide.

8. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold, a Wheel or disk Whereon the mold is mounted and rotatable about a fixed hub to carry the mold from casting to ejecti-ng position during each cycle of operation, a reciprocable knife mounted in the mold for trimming the bottom edges of slugs cast therein, and a pair of cams, one mounted in the machine frame and the other on said hub for operating the trimming knife as the mold disk is rotated.

9. A combination as specified in claim 8, characterized by the fact that one of said cams therein recited is adapted through suitable intermediate connections to impart the advancing stroke to the knife and the other cam adapted through the same connections to impart the return stroke thereto during each revolution of the mold disk.

10. A combination as specified in claim 6, including a fixed Wiper finger arranged in the path of the knife to clean it after each trimming operation.

11. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of molds, a mold carrier adjustable at Will to bring any'selected mold into use, a knife associated With each of the molds for trimming the bottom edges of slugs cast therein, and automatic means for operating the trimming knife of the selected mold.

12. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of molds, a mold Wheel or carrier adjustable at will to bring one or .another of the molds into use and rotatable to carry the selected mold from casting to ejecting position during each cycle of operation, a corresponding plurality of knives associated with the respective molds for trimming the bottom edges of slugs cast therein, and means controlled by the rotation of the mold Wheel for operating the trimming knife of the selected mold.

.13. In a slug casting machine, the combi nation of a mold, a r ciprocable knife associated With the mold for trimming the bottom edges. of slugs cast therein, positive means for operating the trimming knife, and safety means for stopping the operation of the machine When the normal operation of the knife is obstructed.

14. A combination as specified in claim 13, wherein the mold is carried by a rotatable Wheel or disk, and characterized by the fact that the said safety means for stoppingthe operation of the machine functions When the normal rotation of the mold Wheel is obstructed.

15. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold, a rotatable Wheel or disk Whereon the mold is mounted, and safety means for stopping the operation of the machine When the normal rotation of the mold Wheel is obstructed. g

16. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold, a rotatable Wheel or disk Whereon the mold is mounted, a friction clutch for driving the mold Wheel, and safety means controlled by the clutch for stopping the operation of the machine When the nor mal rotation of said Wheel is obstructed.

17. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a rotatable mold Wheel, a pinion for rotating said Wheel, a shaft Whereon the pinion is loosely mounted, an intermediate friction clutch comprising a pair of cooperating clutch members, and safety means controlled by a relative movement of said members for stopping the operation of the machine when the normal rotation of the mold Wheel is obstructed.

18. A combination as specified in claim 17,

including a rod for controlling the operation of the main driving clutch of the ma chine, and characterized by the fact that the safety means therein recited comprises a rock shaft for operating said bar, together with means controlled by an axial movement of one of the said clutch members for operating the rock shaft, as and for the purpose described.

19. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold carrier, a mold mounted thereon for producing slugs of substantially less than normal type height and having its formative cavity spaced forwardly of the front face of the carrier, an intermediate reciprocable knife mounted in the mold for trimming the bottom edges of slugs cast in said cavity, and means for operating the knife.

20. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold carrier, mold mounted thereon for producing slugs of substantially less than normal type height and having its formative cavity spaced forwardly of the front face of the carrier, an intermediate reciprocable slide mounted in the mold, and a knife carried by the slide adapted to trim the bottom edges of slugs cast in the said cavity when the slide is reciprocated.

21. In a slug casting machine, the combination of mold carrier, a mold mounted thereon for producing slugs of substantially less than normal type height and having its formative cavity spaced forwardly of the front face of the carrier, an intermediate reciprocable knife mounted in the mold for trimming the bottom edges of slugs cast in said cavity, and a pair of retractable core members serving to prevent the displacement of the slugs in the mold as they are being trimmed.

22. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a mold, a reciprocable knife mounted therein and arranged to trim the bottom edges of slugs cast in the mold cavity, a pair of retractable core members serving to prevent displacement of the slugs in the mold as they are trimmed by said knife, means for projecting the core members into the mold cavity prior to the slug casting operation, and means for retracting said members as the trimming knife completes its active stroke.

23. A combination as specified in claim 22, characterized by the fact that the core members therein recited are arranged respectively at the opposite ends of the mold cavity so as to produce notches in the opposite ends of the cast slugs.

24:. In a slug casting machine equipped with matrices, the combination of a mold, a mold carrier movable forwardly and backwardly to carry the mold into and out of casting relation to a composed line of matrices, a reciprocable slide mounted in the mold, a

knife carried by the slide and adapted to trim the bottom edges of slugs cast in the mold cavity as the slide is reciprocated, a pair of retractable core members serving to prevent dis-placement of the slugs in the mold as they are trimmed by said knife, means for projecting the .core members into the mold cavity as the said carrier moves forwardly, and means carried by the reciprocable knife slide for lifting the said members out of the cavity as the slide completes its active or trimming stroke.

25. A combination as specified in claim 24, including a transporter for presenting a composed line of matrices to the mold, and characterized by the fact that the means therein recited for projecting the members into the mold cavity consists of a cam plate carried by said transporter and arranged to engage the said core members.

i 26. A combination as specified in claim 21, characterized by the fact that the reciprocating knife slide therein recited is provided with a guard or deflector plate arranged in advance of the trimming knife to prevent chips lodging in and around the bearings of said core members.

27. A combination as specified in claim 21, characterized by the fact that the bearing openings in which the core members are slidable communicate with passages extending through the mold to carry off metal chips or other foreign substances which may accumulate in said openings. 7

28. A combination as specified in claim 21, including stop means (such as the pins to limit the retracting movement of the core members.

29. A combination as specified in claim 20, characterized by the fact that the knife slide when in its retracted position is additionally supported by subsidiary guides carried by the mold disk and aligned with the guides formed in the mold.

30. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a support, and a mold mounted thereon, said mold comprising a body portion fixed to the support, a cap portion seated upon the body portion, and a clamping plate fixed to the support and serving to hold the cap portion in place upon the body portion.

31. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a rotatable wheel or disk formed with an aperture extending therethrough from front to rear, a mold mounted on the disk opposite the aperture and with its rear face disposed forwardly of the front face of the disk, and a casting pot having a mouthpiece extending through the disk aperture and adapted to contact with the rear face of the mold during casting.

32. In a slug casting machine, the combination of .a mold for casting slugs with open notches in its opposite ends, said mold comprising relatively fixed body and cap portions and being provided With av pair of retractable core members located at the opposite ends of the mold cavity, With automatic means for projecting the core members into and Withdrawing them from the mold cavity before .and after each slug casting operation respectively.

33. A combination as specified in claim 32, including a line transporter to cooperate with 10 the mold, and characterized by the fact that the means Which project the core members into the mold cavity are carried by the line transporter.

34-. A combination as specified in claim 32,

characterized by the fact that the core actuating means are operated positively in both directions.

35. A combination as specified in claim 82, characterized by the fact that the core actuati'ng means are operated positively in both directions, and including means for arresting the operation of the machine in the event that undue resistance is offered to the movement of the core members.

36. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a rotatable Wheel or disk formed with an aperture extending therethrough from front to rear, a mold mounted on the disk opposite the aperture and With its rear face disposed forwardly of the front face of the disk and a slug trimming knife reciprocable in the space between the front face of the disk and the rear face of the mold.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed by.

FRANK C. FROLANDER.

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