US1964957A - Printer's chase - Google Patents

Description

y 1 e. D. MARCY 1,964,957

PRINTER S CHASE Filed Dec. 26, 1931 Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in printers chases. Such a chase ordinarily comprises a shallow steel frame within which forms and pages of type matter may be assembled and locked in printing position so as to permit the entire assembly to be lifted from an imposing surface and placed in the press. Under the lateral pressure necessary to hold a heavy type form securely, the chase is likely to be deformed, straight lines therein becoming curved, and its critical dimensions altered. To avoid such conditions great dexterity and many readjustments of the locking quoins are required, since each deflection from a rectangular contour in the chase changes the position of the type matter and loosens quoins previously set. Efforts have been made to minimize this difliculty, as by making the chase heavier in structure and by inserting one or more median bars to act as tension members between opposite sides of the chase or frame. These expedients, however, have not been entirely satisfactory. Making the chase heavier so widens its sides as to prevent utilization of the full capacity of the press and furthermore the increased weight of the chase and renders its handling more difiicult. The application of median bars, whether welded to or dovetailed into the chase, is also objectionable since they seriously limit the adaptability of the chase or so seriously weaken the sides thereof as to increase rather than decrease the difficulty. Furthermore, in both these cases the bars are immovable and the chase is, therefore, divided into fixed areas in each of which independent type-locking operations must be made in two directions.

The present invention aims to eliminate the difficulties above discussed and to provide an improved printers chase which is adequately sup ported against lateral deflection or deformation and in which the furniture dividing the chase into compartments has a limited lateral adjustment permitting a variation in the sizecf the compartments and also permitting the utilization of the same locking means to lock the type in adjacent compartments by pressure extending entirely across the chase. The invention, therefore, not only provides a more adaptable chase but also one in which the type may be more conveniently and readily locked into position and without danger of deflecting the chase or disturbing the type therein. I

In a more specific aspect, my invention utilizes a tie rod or tension member of relatively small diameter which can be passed through the sides frame and are threaded at their inner ends into of the chase without causing serious weakening thereof. Such a rod may be arranged to remain stationary and firmly to support the sides of the chase against outward deflection. The furniture which divides the chase into compartments is 80 preferably in the form of a rectangular tube or its equivalent and is so mounted on the rod as to have free lateral movement thereon, thus providing for a limited variation in the size of the compartments and permitting one set of quoins to lock up the type on both sides of the bar.

The invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of one preferred form thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which 1 Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a printers chase embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of Fig. 1.

The chase illustrated in the drawing consists of a rectangular frame comprising four steel side members 12 joined together at their ends, one side member not being shown. In Fig. 1, I have illustrated this frame as divided into four compartments by four pieces of furniture 18, 20, 22 and 23 but it will, of course, be understood that the frame may be otherwise divided, as for example in one direction by a rigid or permanent median bar in the manner heretofore practiced.

The frame sides 12 are drilled and countersunk at suitable points 14 for receiving tie rods 24 and their slotted heads 25. In the construction illustrated these rods extend only part way across the a common center block 16. The rods thus serve to tie the opposite sides of the frame together and positively prevent spreading under the pressure of the locking quoins 28. It will be clear that the rods can be adjusted as to their effective length to place the desired amount of stress on the frame sides and hold the side members in exact alignment.

Each piece of furniture 18, 20, 22, 23 comprises a rectangular tube and each such tube surrounds .1 with clearance one of the tie rods 24 and is held against vertical displacement from its proper position in the chase by a rib or key 15 on the outer end of the tube engaging within a groove 13 in the interior wall of the frame. Due to this key connection with the chase and to the relatively wide rectangular opening through the tube, each tube has a limited free movement laterally with respect to its rod. It will also be noted that the center block 16 is provided with corner notches 17 so that the adjacent faces thereof separate the ends of the tubes and prevent interference when they are shifted toward the same quarter of the chase.

In using my improved chase, the forms or body of type matter 30 are set up upon a steel imposing surface within the compartments of the chase and properly spaced therein in the usual manner by pieces of furniture 26. The locking-in operation is then performed by the quoins 28 located between a side of the chase and one of the pieces 26. Relative adjustment of these quoins places the type body under a considerable locking pressure, as is well understood. In the ordinary chase whose sides are not supported by tie rods, this pressure tends to produce a distortion of the frame and a displacing and curving of the type and forms. In my improved frame, however, the tie rods compensate for the thrust of the quoins and hold the frame securely against distortion under this pressure. The frame being thus held accurately to its true shape, the type remains in straight line position, thereby eliminating much of the difiiculty and trouble heretofore experienced in these operations.

It will furthermore be noted that since the pieces of furniture 18, 20, 22 and 23 are free to move laterally, one set of quoins on one side of the frame serves the functions which heretofore required two sets, one on each side of the frame. Quoins 28 located along one side of the frame act entirely across the frame and place the type in this entire half thereof under pressure by acting against and through the movable furniture 22 which is free to shift on its rod 24. In like manner quoins 28, acting through furniture 18 and 20, places the type entirely across the chase under pressure. Thus in my improved chase the number of quoins necessary is reduced by one half and the locking-up operation is very much simplified, expedited and improved, as will be understood.

While some slight variation in the size of compartments is permitted, due to lateral motion of furniture on the bar in any one position of the bar, adaptability of the chase as a whole is secured through having countersunk holes for the tie rods located atdifferent points on the chase, the rods being easily removable, and different sets provided for various arrangements .of space to meet the printers requirements.

This has been attempted in previous chase constructions, by having removable median bars, fitting into dovetail notches at different positions in the side members, and having halved joints wherever the median bars might cross each other if more than one are used. The disadvantage of this construction is that the removal of the metal to form the dovetail notch seriously weakens the side member of the chase just where the strain is greatest; furthermore, the wedging action of the dovetail joint itself, which is considerable when the bar is under lock-up pressure, tends to increase the deformation, and concentrate the stress at the weakest point.

It is my contention that in my construction holes can be drilled at different points for varying the location of the tension members, without seriously weakening the side members, thus increasing its adaptability to varying needs of the printer, and making it unnecessary to have a wide assortment of solid or semi-adjustable chases to hold any kind of work which might come in.

It will be understood that in Fig. 1 the piece of furniture 20 is represented as having been displaced toward the right with reference to its tie rod 24 by the pressure of the quoins at the left end of the chase. This pressure is transmitted to the type set in the portion of the chase which is broken away and not shown in Fig. 1. It will be further understood that the action of the tie rods is positively to hold the center of each side member of the chase accurately in line without permitting any deflection therein. The tie rods 24 may be adjusted to withstand this pressure once for all in setting up the chase or it may be adjusted, if necessary, as the type is set therein.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A chase comprising a frame, a tie rod connected to opposite sides thereof, and a piece of furniture surrounding the rod and mounted for lateral movement with respect thereto.

2. A chase comprising a frame, a tie rod connected to opposite sides thereof, a piece of furniture enclosing the rod and mounted in the chase for lateral movement with respect thereto, and means providing a sliding engagement between the furniture and frame limiting displacement of the furniture with respect to the frame.

3. A chase comprising a frame, a junction block disposed within the frame, two tie rods having their outer ends anchored in opposite sides of the frame and their inner ends in the block, and pieces of furniture mounted on the rods so as to be movable laterally thereon.

4. A chase comprising a frame, a junction block disposed within the frame, two tie rods having their inner ends anchored in opposite sides of the block and their outer ends anchored in the adjacent sides of the frame, pieces of furniture loosely mounted on the rods for lateral movement thereon, and means providing a sliding engagement between the outer ends of the furniture and the frame limiting the displacement of the furniture.

5. A chase comprising a frame, a junction block disposed within the frame, two tie rods having their inner ends anchored in opposite sides of the block and their outer ends anchored in the adjacent sides of the frame, two tie rods angularly disposed with respect to the first-named rods and having their inner ends anchored in opposite sides of the block and their outer ends anchored in the adjacent sides of the frame, and four pieces of furniture loosely mounted on the rods and movable laterally thereon.

6. A chase comprising a frame, a junction block disposed within the frame, two tie rods having their inner ends anchored in opposite sides of the block and their outer ends anchored in the adjacent sides of the frame, two tie rods angularly disposed with respect to the first-named rods and having their inner ends anchored in opposite sides of the block and their outer ends anchored in the adjacent sides of the frame, four pieces of furniture loosely mounted on the rods and movable laterally thereon, and tongue and groove connections between the ends of the pieces of furniture and the frame to limit the displacement of the furniture.

7. A chase comprising a rigid frame having longitudinal slots in opposite interior walls, a piece of furniture extending across the frame and having tongues fitting in said slots which guide the piece of furniture for lateral movement in the frame and hold it against angular or vertical dis-. if

placement, and means extending longitudinally through the furniture and cooperating with the sides of the frame at the ends of the furniture for supporting said sides against relative lateral movement.

8. A chase comprising a frame, a tie rod extending across the interior of the frame and connected to opposite sides thereof to prevent bowing under pressure, a piece of furniture disposed in parallel relation to the rod and mounted in the chase for lateral movement with respect thereto, and a tongue at the end of the furniture engaging within a slot in the frame and acting to limit the displacement of the furniture with respect to the frame.

9. A chase including in its structure side memhers having oppositely disposed spaced holes therein, a tie rod adapted to be inserted through any selected pair of holes and to be tensioned to hold said members against bowing, and a piece of furniture surrounding the tie rod and mounted for lateral movement independently thereof.

10. A chase including in its structure opposite- 1y disposed side members, a hollow piece of furniture arranged to slide transversely with its ends in engagement with said side members, and a tie rod extending with clearance through said piece of furniture and being adjustable as to its effective length to hold the said members against bowing when the chase is locked about a body of type.

GROSVENOR D. MARCY.

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