US2055664A - Typographical composing machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29, 1936. R. R. MEAD I TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 1 [N VENTOR vb TTORNE x5 R. R. MEAD 2,055,664

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING' MACHINE I Filed Oct. 2, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2.

Sept. 29, 1936.

l E I I l I i I I i 1 5 h ii INVENTOR BY w 6P I 6/! TTORNEY;

Sept. 29, 1936. D 2,055,664

TYPOGRAPH ICAL COMPOS ING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 29, 1936 iTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Richard R. Mead, Queens Village, N. Y., assignor to Mergcnthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application October 2, 1935, Serial No. 43,136

20 Claims.

This invention relates to typographical composing machines such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent of the United States No. 436,532 to O. Mergenthaler, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print and then assembled in line, the composed line transferred to the face of the mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter elevated and returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started.

More particularly, the present improvements deal with devices for removing a matrix magazine from the machine when it is desired to replace such magazine with one containing a different matrix font, and they are especially applicable to machines employing a plurality of matrix magazines in bank. In the present instance, the base frames that support the magazines are slidably arranged in a shift frame which in turn is supported in a relatively fixed supporting frame pivoted in the main frame of the machine. When the supporting frame is rocked upwardly about its pivot so as to permit a selected magazine to clear the usual assembler entrance, the base frame on which that magazine is supported may be slid forward out of the shift frame and the magazine then, by a combined sliding and rocking motion, suspended in a vertical position on the base frame free and clear of the assembler entrance as well as the other magazines. The magazine may then be readily removed and replaced by another magazine Which can be positioned in the bank by a reverse manipulation of the parts.

In the embodiment disclosed, the forward movement of the base frame is limited by a pair of bars arranged for sliding movement in a foreand-aft direction in the relatively fixed supporting frame at the rear of the bank of magazines. Only one pair of such bars is provided, and these are common to all of the base frames, being arranged to be connected automatically to the appropriate base frame as the shift frame is raised or lowered to bring a selected magazine into operative position.

Although the improvements have been illustrated in connection with a three-magazine machine, for the reasons just stated, it is apparent that they could be used with equal facility in machines employing a greater or a lesser number. It may also be added that the magazines shown herein are so-called main magazines,

although they could as well be auxiliary magazines.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a linotype machine equipped with the present im- 5 provements;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. l with the forward position of the magazine base frame and the magazine supported thereon shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1 and with the vertical suspended position of the magazine indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine illustrating the automatic connections between the magazine base frames and the common pair of bars for determining the extent of the forward movement thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a sectonal view through a portion of the magazine base frame and the rigid shift frame and illustrating a detent with which each of the magazines is equipped and which is adapted to secure the base frames against inadvertent sliding movement in the shift frame.

The matrices are stored, according to font or otherwise, in the magazines A, three of which are shown, but of which a greater or lesser number might be employed, if desired. The several magazines are removably mounted upon separate base frames B, as by means of lips or shoulders B rising from the forward or lower ends of the base frames and engaging in front of cross ribs or plates A attached to the undersides of the magazines. The three base frames B are each arranged for limited fore-and-aft sliding movement in a shift frame C which includes a pair of side plates C a top cross plate C fastened at its ends to the side plates, and a lower tie bar C fastened at its ends in said side plates, the whole as just stated constituting a rigid shift frame which may be raised and lowered to bring a selected magazine into active position.

The shift frame C is in turn mounted in a relatively fixed supporting frame D pivoted at its upper end (see Fig. 1), as at D to the machine frame and banking at its lower end upon a fixed rest D formed in said frame.

It may be stated here that the magazines herein shown are of the short variety and, for this reason, there is employed in connection with the magazines, a channeled conductor E which serves to connect the active one thereof with the customary magazine entrance F leading from the distributing mechanism G. As will be noted from Fig. 1, both the magazine entrance F and the channeled conductor E are mounted directly on the supporting frame D.

The magazines are each provided with a fixed bank of escapements H adapted to be actuated in the usual way from the main keyboard but, as these parts are Well known and form no part of the present invention, further description thereof would be superfluous. If desired, reference may be had to the Kennedy Patent No. 1,561,244 for fuller information with respect to the keyboard connections. An assembler entrance I is arranged to receive the matrices as they are released from the magazines and carry them to the composing or assembling mechanism.

In selecting one or another of the magazines for use, the shift frame C is raised and lowered within the fixed supporting frame D to bring the selected magazine into registration with the assembler entrance I at the front and the channeled conductor E at the-back.

The mechanism for raising and lowering the magazine shift frame C (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) consists in part of a pair of cams J arranged in spaced relation between the side plates C of the shift frame and mounted on a shaft J extending horizontally beneath the magazines and journalled at its opposite ends in the supporting frame D. As the cams J are rotated, they cooperate with a corresponding pair of rollers J mounted on the shift frame tie rod C to raise or lower the shift frame. into a position wherein a selected magazine will be operative, the shift frame during the adjustment just mentioned being guided by anti-friction rollers J 3 with which the supporting frame D is equipped.

When it is desired to remove or replace a magazine, the entire supporting frame D is rocked about its pivot D to raise the magazines into a position wherein the one selected for removal will clear the assembler entrance I (see Fig. l)

The mechanism for raising the supporting frame D includes a toggle device consisting of a pair of pivotally connected members K and K the member K being rotatably connected to the cross shaft J and the member K fastened to a rock shaft K journalled in the main frame of the machine, the'arrangement being such that, as the rock shaft K is turned to straighten out the toggle members, the supporting frame D will be raised to its uppermost position wherein the removal of the magazines can be effected. The rock shaft K is operated by a crank handle K arranged at the side of the machine through two arms K and K and an intermediate link K the arm K being fixed to the crank handle K and the arm K to the rock shaft K the intermediate link K being pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said arms. If desired, the pivotally mounted supporting frame D may be counterbalanced by a tension spring D (Fig. 1) anchored at one end to the machine frame or a bracket carried thereby and connected at its ppo-site end to the rear arm of a lever D pivotally mounted adjacent its center and having a front arm equipped with an anti-friction roller D bearing against the frame D at the bottom.

The parts as thus far described, with the exception of certain details of construction of the shift frame C and the sliding arrangement of the magazine base frames, and except as hereinafter indicated, are known and constitute no part of the present improvements. For a more detailed description thereof, reference may be had to the Burt Patent No. 1,864,799.

As previously stated, the magazine base frames B are slidably mounted in the rigid shift frame C and for this purpose are equipped on their lower side edges with flanges b extending into corresponding grooves 0 formed in the inner faces of the side plates C of the shift frame. The base frames are held in their normal positions within the shift frame each by a pair of retractable spring-pressed detents 0* extending through the opposite side plates and into said frames near the lower edges thereof. As shown in Fig. 6, the detents just referred to, include each an end portion 0 arranged to seat in a hole 0 provided in the frame, an enlarged flange portion 0 slidable in a hole 0 drilled in the side plate C and a smaller shank portion 0 that extends through a retaining plate C secured to the side plate and which is provided at its outer end with a knob c resting against the outer face of the retaining plate just alluded to. Encircling the shank portion 0 there is a spring 0' reacting at one end against the plate C and pressing at its opposite end against the flange portion 0 to hold the detent in place.

In order to release a base frame B to facilitate the removal of a magazine (which has previously been selected by moving the shift frame to bring such magazine into operative position and then pivoting the supporting frame D, by turning the crank K to raise the magazine and its base frame into a position wherein it will clear the top of the assembler entrance I as in Fig. 1), the operator grasps the knobs c of the detents associated with the selected magazine and withdraws them from the recesses in the base frame so as to release the latter and permit its forward movement. The detents may be held in their retracted positions by turning the knobs through an angle of approximately 90, in which positions pins 0 extending laterally from the flanges 0 will engage shoulders 0 formed in the side plates C to hold said detents clear of the magazine base frame (see Fig. 6).

The base frame of the selected magazine (and with it the magazine itself) may now be slid forwardly in its own plane for a limited distance as determined by a pair of sliding bars D one arranged at each side of the supporting frame D directly beneath the magazine entrance E. These bars rest on long lugs D formed on the supporting frame D and are held in place and constrained to move in a fore-and-aft direction by L-shaped retaining plates D screwed to said lugs. Only one pair of slide bars D is provided regardless of the number of magazines in the bank, and said bars will always cooperate to limit the movement of the base frame associated with the magazine that happens to be in register with the magazine entrance channel E, i. e., the base frame of the magazine selected for removal.

The base frames B are adapted to be automatically coupled to the bars D as their respective magazines are brought into operative position. Thus, on each magazine base frame, there is a pair of lugs B extending laterally from the frame near the rear edge thereof and formed each with a pair of spaced forwardly extending ears b for a purpose presently to be described. The slide bars D near their forward ends in turn are formed with L-shaped openings if so positioned that, as the magazine shift frame C is moved into its different positions, the lugs B will pass freely therethrough (see Fig. 5). When a selected mag- 7 5 azine is in operative position, the lugs B on the base frame associated therewith will be positioned in the openings (2 and thus couple the base frame to the slide bars D As the base frame of the selected magazine is slid forwardly, a small amount of lost motion between the frame and slide bars D is taken up, i. e., the base frame moves independently of the slide bars until the projecting ears b straddle the slide bars at the front end of the L-shapedopening :1, whereupon both frame and slide bars move together until arrested by the banking of laterally extending lugs d formed at the rear ends of the bars D against shoulders d presented by the slide bar retaining plates D (see Fig. 4). In this manner the forward or projected position of the base frame is determined.

When the ears b of the lugs 13 straddle the slide bars D they prevent any movement of the base frame except in a fore-and-aft direction as intended. Consequently, any attempt to raise or lower the shift frame C except when the base frame occupies its proper position therein will be prevented by the bars D This is a safety feature which applies both when any base frame is slid forwardly in the shift frame during the removal of a magazine and when that base frame is later slid rearwardly in the shift frame during the replacement of the magazine. In this latter connection, it may be observed that while, in the initial lost-motion rearward movement of the base frame, the ears 2) will be positioned clear of the slide bars D this condition will not maintain at the close of such rearward movement unless the operator locks the base frame in its proper place by manipulating the detents C When a base frame is in its forward or projected position, the magazine A thereon may be raised without disturbing the other magazines in the bank to permit the cross piece A to clear the shoulders B ,whereupon the magazine maybe slid forwardly with respect to the frame until arrested by the banking of the protruding ends of a second cross piece A fastened to the magazine at the bottom, against a pair of raised shoulders B located at the front of the magazine base frame and formed on parallel side plates B secured rigidly to the base frame at its opposite edges. In this position of the parts, the magazine A may be tilted clear of the other magazines into a vertical position (see Fig. 4) where its removal is greatly facilitated. It may be noted, that the side plates B aside from guiding the magazine against lateral displacement, are formed with inclined ways B which act to support the magazine as it is drawn forwardly and to guide the cross piece A above the shoulders B which, as will be remembered, determine the normal position of the magazine on its base frame.

In order to replace a magazine in the machine, it is first hung in a vertical position on the base frame 13 (which, of course, is then in its projected position), where it is supported by the cross rib A engaging the shoulders B The magazine is then tilted back into its normal plane and slid rearwardly until the front cross rib A engages behind the upstanding shoulders B on the base frame, the latter in the meanwhile preserving its projected position. When the magazine thus assumes its normal position on the base frame, the rear cross rib A rests against a pair of shoulders B formed on the base frame at the rear end of the ways B so that by continuing to push rearwardly on the magazine, the base frame will be slid rearwardly back into its normal position in the shift frame. As the base frame starts to move rearwardly, the lost motion between its lugs B and the slide bars D will be taken up and thereafter said slide bars will be returned to their normal position, wherein they are retained by spring detents 01 mounted in the slide bar retaining plates D and engaging in recesses 11 formed in the slide bars for the purpose. Of course, when the base frame has been returned to its normal position, the operator will again turn the knobs c on the detents C to permit the latter to return into the recesses b in the frame to hold it in place. With both the base frame and the slide bars D in their normal or rearward positions, the magazine shift frame C is, of course, again free to be raised or lowered to bring any selected one of the magazines into operative position as before described.

In addition to the side plates B on the base frames, the magazines are further guided during their fore-and-aft sliding movement with respect to the base frames by bars A fastened to the magazines at the bottoms thereof and which project into guide channels B formed in the center ribs of said frames (see Figs. 2 and 3).

In the accompanying drawings the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, and obviously, many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclined matrix magazine, a base frame whereon the magazine is removably mounted, a support upon which the base frame is arranged to slide forward and backward, and means carried by the base frame for suspending the magazine therefrom when the frame is in its forward position.

2. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclined matrix magazine, a base frame having supporting means whereby the magazine is removably mounted thereon, a support upon which the base frame is arranged to slide forward and backward, magazine suspension means carried by the base frame and distinct from its magazine supporting means, and means for determining the extent of sliding movement of the base frame.

3. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclined matrix magazine, a base frame whereon the magazine is removably mounted, a support upon which the base frame is arranged to slide forward and backward, magazine suspension means carried by the base frame, and means for determining the extent of sliding movement of the base frame, said means including a pair of bars slidably arranged for limited movement in a fore-and-aft direction and adapted to be coupled to the base frame.

4. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclined matrix magazine, a base frame whereon the magazine is slidably supported, devices on the base frame adapted to cooperate with means on the magazine for sustaining the latter in normal position on said frame, and means on the base frame acting as the magazine is slid forwardly thereon to raise the magazine clear of said sustaining devices.

5. In a typographical composing machine, the 75 combination of an inclined matrix magazine, a. base frame whereon the magazine is slidably supported, devices on the base frame adapted to cooperate with means on the magazine for sustaining the latter in normal position on said frame, means on the base frame acting as the magazine is slid forwardly thereon to raise the magazine clear of said sustaining devices, and magazine suspension means carried by the base frame and arranged to intercept the magazine in its forward sliding movement.

6. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclined matrix magazine, a base frame whereon the magazine is slidably supported, lugs on the base frame adapted to cooperate with means on the magazine for sustaining the latter in normal position on said frame, and a pair of inclined ways on said base frame acting as the magazine is slid forwardly thereon to raise the magazine clear of the sustaining lugs to facilitate removal of the magazine.

7. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclined matrix magazine, a base frame whereon the magazine is slidably supported, lugs on the base frame adapted to cooperate with means on the magazine for sustaining the latter in normal position on said frame, a pair of inclined ways on said base frame acting as the magazine is slid forwardly thereon to raise the magazine clear of the sustaining lugs to facilitate removal of the magazine, and a pair of shoulders located at the forward end of the base frame and arranged to intercept the magazine in its forward sliding movement, said shoulders permitting the magazine to be tilted to and suspended in a vertical position on the base frame.

8. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereon the magazines are removably mounted, and a support in which the base frames are arranged to slide forward and backward to facilitate removal and replacement of the magazines, each of said base frames when in its forward position permitting the associated magazine to be supported at the front of the machine clear of the other magazines.

9. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereon the magazines are removably mounted, a shift frame in which the base frames are arranged to slide forward and backward to facilitate removal and replacement of the magazines, and common means for arresting a selected magazine in its forward position.

10. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereon the magazines are removably mounted, and a support in which the base frames are arranged to slide forward and backward to facilitate removal and replacement of the magazines, each of said base frames when in its forward position permitting the associated magazine to be tilted clear of the remaining magazines into a vertical position and having means for supporting the magazine in such vertical position.

11. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereon the magazines are removably mounted, a shift frame in which the base frames are arranged to slide forward and backward to facilitate removal and replacement of the magazines, each of said base frames when in its forward position permitting the associated magazine to be tilted clear of the remaining magazines into a vertical position and having means for supporting the magazine in such vertical position, and common means for arresting the base frames in their forward positions.

12. A combination according to claim 11, wherein the means for limiting the extent of forward movement of the base frames includes a pair of slidable bars mounted independently of the shift frame and adapted to be coupled to the base frame of the magazine selected for removal.

13. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereon the magazines are removably mounted, a shift frame in which the base frames are arranged to slide forward and backward to facilitate removal and replacement of the magazines, and common means for limiting the extent of forward movement of the base frames, said means being automatically coupled to the base frame of the magazine to be removed by the raising or lowering of the shift frame.

14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein the limiting means referred to include a pair of slidable oars mounted independently of the shift frame, and means on said bars and on the base frames adapted to couple the bars to a selected base frame.

15. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereon the magazines are removably mounted, a shift frame in which the base frames are arranged to slide forward and backward to facilitate removal and replacement of the magazines, means for raising and lowering the shift frame to bring a selected magazine into operative position, and devices for locking the shift frame against movement except when the base frames occupy their proper positions within said shift frame.

16. A combination according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that the common means therein referred to also act, when coupled to a selected base frame, to lock the shift frame against raising or lowering except when said base frame occupies its proper place in the shift frame.

1'7. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclined matrix magazine, a base frame whereon the magazine is removably mounted and provided at its forward end with means for suspending the magazine therefrom in a vertical position, and a support upon which the base frame is arranged to slide forward and backward to a limited extent.

18. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereon the magazines are removably mounted, each of said base frames being provided at its forward end with means for suspending the magazine in a vertical position, a shift frame in which the base frames are arranged to slide forward and backward independently, and means for controlling the extent of the sliding movement of the base frames.

19. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereon the magazines are removably mounted, each of said base frames being provided at its forward end with means for suspending the magazine in a vertical position, a shift frame in which the base frames are arranged to slide forward and backward independently, releasable means for locking each of the base frames in proper base frame whereon the magazine is slidably supported, a support in which the base frame is arranged to slide forward and backward to a limited extent, devices on the base frame adapted to cooperate with means on the magazine for sustaining the latter in normal position on said frame, means on the base frame acting as the magazine is slid forwardly thereon to raise the magazine clear of said sustaining devices, and magazine suspension means carried by the base frame and arranged to intercept the magazine in its forward sliding movement.

RICHARD R. MEAD.

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