US2095002A - Slug casting machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5, 1937. J HlLPMAN 2,095,002.

SLUG CASTING MACHINE- Filed Sept. 3, 1936 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 5, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SLUG CASTING MACHINE John H. Hilpman, Springfield Gardens, N. Y.,as-

signor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application September 3, 1936, Serial No. 99,193

20 Claims.

This invention relates to slug casting machines of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to O. Mergenthaler, No. 436,532, wherein circulating matrices and expansible spacebands are released from their respective storage magazines and then assembled in line, the composed line transferred to a vertically movable transporter or first elevator which thereupon descends to present it tow the face of a slotted mold, the spacebands then expanded to justify the line and the mold filled with molten metal to cast a type-bar or slug against the line, and the transporter thereafter raised to its uppermost level and the matrices and spacebands returned through transfer and distributing mechanism to the magazines from which they started.

The matrices employed in these machines are formed on their opposite edges with upper and lower projecting ears and are usually provided on their casting edges with two superposed characters, one roman and the other italic or otherwise. In composing a line including both kinds of characters, the matrices are assembled at two different levels, and when the line is transferred to the line transporter, those matrices standing at the lower level (with their upper or roman characters in casting position) are supported therein by their upper cars which rest on a pair of fixed rails formed on the inner walls of. the front and rear jaws of the transporter, while those matrices standing at the upper level (with their lower or italic characters in'casting position) are supported in the transporter solely by their lower front ears which rest on a single retractible rail arranged in the front jaw of the transporter.

In practise it has been found that the matrices standing in the transporter at the upper level (due to the fact that they are supported solely by their lower front ears) frequently become turned or twisted and fall out of the transporter or else become so badly displaced as to cause damage to themselves and other parts of the machine (as during casting) or to interfere with the normal operation of the machine (as during line transfer). This objectionable twisting or displacement occurs particularly during the ascent of the transporter following a casting operation, at which time the matrices may lack lateral support, e. g. after a quadding or centering operation or after the return of the spacebands to unexpanded condition. The occurrence is most frequent during recasting, i. e. when the same line of matrices is used repeatedly to produce duplicate slugs, and when. of course the transporter is required to present the line in casting position more than once before theline is removed therefrom.

The present invention is intended to obviate the above and other difll'culties and, to this end specifically, the transporter is equipped with friction members, in the form of thin flat downwardly-bowed springs, arranged on its front and rear jaws in position to bear upon the top edgesof the upper projecting ears of those matrices supported therein at the upper 'level. These springs not only serve by their friction effect to retain the matrices in proper place upon their supporting rail but in addition they assist, by the downward pressure, which they exert, in bringing the matrices to the lower level (in alinement with those already supported at that level) when their supporting rail is automatically retracted preparatory to the transfer of the line from the transporter. i a

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and p in preferred form and obviously many changes and variations may be made therein and in its mode of application which will still be comprised'gg 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.

In the drawings:'- V

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a portion of. a slug casting machine embodyingthe present improvements, and showing certain parts of the line assemblingline delivery, and line transfer devices; i

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the rear jaw of the line transporter showing the matrix engaging spring in its normal inactive position and showing a composed line of matrices in the course of transfer into the transporter;

Fig. 3 is a. similar View, showing the composed line (with matrices standing at different levels) 7 after it has entered the transporter, and showing the spring as it appears in action;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the transporter, and showing the springs as attached to both its front and rear jaws;

Fig. 5 is an end View of the transporter shown as containing a line of matrices; a

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the rear jawof the transporter, its matrix engaging spring and attaching parts; and

Fig. '7 is a vertical section through the rear transporter jaw, taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2, 55-

. the assembling elevator I2.

'able line transporter or first elevator I1.

and showing the matrix engaging spring in its normal position.

In the operation of the machine, the matrices l0 and spacebands H are'delivered from their places of storage by the manipulation of thekeyboard (not shown) and are composed in line in After the line has been composed, the assembling elevator I2 is raised to position it between the depending fingers l3 and M of the line delivery slide l5,

which thereupon transfers the line through the intermediate channel It into the vertically mov- The line transporter I! then descends to casting position, where the composed line'is located in front,

of the mold and between the vise jaws l8 and I9 which clamp the line endwise during the slug casting operation. Before the line is completely clamped up, however, justification of the line takes place, the spacebands being expanded to move the matrices apart and spread the line to full length. After the slug is cast, the pressure on the vise jaws I 8 and I9 is released and the line transporter l'lascen'ds to its upper transfer position, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l, where the'transfer'slide 20 removes the line from the transporter I1 into the upper transfer channel ill from .which'the'matriceslfl and the spacebands I l are returned to their usual places of storage.

' As usual, each of the matrices I0 isformed on its. opposite edges with upper and lower projecting ears 22 and 2 3, respectively, and on'its rear or casting edge with two superposed characters 7 25 and 26, one roman and the other italic or otherwise. the customary tooth combination web 24.

'When a printing slug bearing both kinds of characters is to be cast, the matrices are com- The transporter I1 comprises front and rear' jaws 2'land 28 formed with'a pair of upper fixed.

rails 29 and 30 (Fig. 5) arranged to support matrices standing at the lower level by their upper projecting ears 22. The front jaw 21 is also provided with a lower retractible rail -3| arranged to' support matrices standing at the upper level by their front lower cars 23 only, the rail being automatically'retractedwhen the transporter is in the uppertransfer position by depending overhead projections 32 on the machine frame to allow the matrices at the upper level to drop to the lower level prior to the transfer of the line from the transporter. Matrices that fail to drop by gravity to the lower level as the rail 3! is retracted are pushed down by a stationary V- shaped bar 33 positioned to engage the tooth combination websv 24 'of the matrices. V The spacebands II are supportedin the transporter in the usual way, being formed at the top and at opposite edges with narrowears I l which enter correspondingly narrow grooves 1 l formed: faces of the transporter jaws 21' in the opposed and 28. V

Inasmuch as those matrices which are assembled at the upper lever are supported in the line transporter l1 only by their front lower projecting ears23 which rest on the retractible rail 3|, they frequently become'twisted or turnedor At the top, the matrix is provided with otherwise displaced during the movement of the transporter l1, and give rise to the objections be- 7 35 secured to the front and rear jaws of the transporter just abovethe spaceband grooves I l and.

beneath shoulders 35 and 31, respectively, these springs being made with a permanent downward bow (see Figs. 2 and 5) and arranged to bear upon the top edges of both upper ears 22 of .matrices supported in thetransporter at the up- Each spring isformed with a pair of l per level. upwardly extending lugs 38, one near each end, fitting into vertical recesses 39 out in the inner walls of the transporter jaws and secured therein by means of tap bolts or'studs 4B, the unthreaded or shank portions of the studs passing through holes 4| drilled through the jaws of the trans,- porter and through apertures 42 in the lugs, and the threaded orend portions of the studs being screwed into tapped holes d3 in retaining plates 44 channeled or recessed t0 fit over the lugs.

.At the line receiving end of the transporter, the springs are bent upwardly against shoulders '45, formed by cutting away the jaws of the transporter; soas not to interfere with the entrance of the matrices into the transporter; and to prevent edgewise displacement of the bent up ends, they are protected by outwardly extending guard plates 46 formed, on the adjacent retaining:

to the matrices as the latter enter the transporter, the attaching lugs 38 are permitted a' certain amount of play, this being provided for by slightly widening therecesses 39 in the'transporter jaws, as well as the recesses in theretaining plates M, and byslightly enlargingthe;

apertures 42 in the lugs (see Fig. 3). As the springs are straightened out, they will, of course,

exert a downward pressure on the matrices, but a in this connection it should be noted that the springs are so thin and flexible as to accomniodate themselves to any irregularities in alinement of the top edges of the matrices, due to wear or other causes.

With this arrangement, when a composed line with matrices assembled at both levels is deprojecting ears 2 2 'of the matrices supported at the upper level and hold the matrices in proper place upon the retractible supporting rail 3l,

overcoming any tendency of the matrices to turn or twist. In addition, when the rail 3| is retracted to allow the matrices at the upper level to drop to the lower level, the springs impart a slight downward impetus to the matrices and act, particularly on the thinner lightweight matrices, to dislodge any which tend tostick suf-' ficiently so as not to dropby gravity, thereby lessening the frequency with which matrices strike the stationary V -shaped bar 33v during the ascent of the transporter with consequent damage to the delicate teeth of the ccmbination webs 24.

Various alternative arrangements 'will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art- Thus, some of the benefits of the invention could be realized by substituting for the springs V 35 solid steel plates urged downwardly by springs cars at a lower level and. the front-jaw having or by gravity to frictionally engage the upper ends of the matrices standing. at the upper level; likewise, stationary plates with soft or yielding matrix engaging surfaces might be used to advantage. Suchv modifications and others of similar character obviously would come within the scope of the present invention as defined. in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is::

I. In or for a slug casting machine, a. line transporter provided with means for supporting matrices at upper and lower levels therein and with meansv to frictionaily engage from above the top" edges of matrices standing at the upper level.

2'. In or. for a slug casting machine, a line transporter provided with means for supporting matrices at upper and lower levels therein and with means to frictionally engage the top edges of matrices standing at the upper level, said friction means presenting ayieldable matrix engaging surface capable of conforming to irregularities in alinement of the top edges of the matrices.

3. In or for a slug casting machine, a line transporter provided with means for supporting matrices at upper and lower'levels therein and with a friction member arranged to engage from above,,at one side of the composed line, the top edges of matrices supported at the upper level.

4. In: or for a slug casting machine, a line transporter provided with means for supporting matrices at upper and lower levels therein and with a pair ofv friction members arranged toengage, at both sides of the composed line,

top edges of matrices supported. at the upper level;

5. A linetransporter as specified in claim 1, characterized by thefact that the friction means therein-referred to are in the form of long springs overlying the upper level matrices.

6. A line transporter as specified in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the friction means therein referred to are in the form of long downwardly-bowed springs overlying the upper level matrices and loosely mounted at their 0pposite ends to permit straightening when engaged by the matrices.

7. A line transporter as specified in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the friction means therein referred to are in the form of long springs overlying the upper level matrices and so thin and flexible as to conform to irregularities in alinement of the top edges of the matrices.

8. In or for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed on their front and rear edges with upper and lower projecting cars, a

line transporter comprising front and rear jaws formed with an upper pair of fixed rails to sup port matrices by their two upper projecting cars at a lower level and the front jaw having a lower rail to support matrices by their lower front projecting cars at an upper level, said transporter being provided with a friction member arranged to engage from above, at one side of the composed line, the top edges of the upper projecting ears of matrices supported at the upper level.

9. In or for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed on their front and rear edges with upper and lower. projecting cars, a line transporter comprising front and rear jaws formed with an upper pair of fixed raiis to support matrices by their two upper projecting a lower rail to-sup'p'ort matrices by their lower front projecting ears at an upper level; said transporter being: provided-with apai'r of friction members arranged to engage, at opposite-sides of the composed line, the topedges of the upperprojecting ears of matrices supported at. the upper level;

10. Inor for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed on their front and rear edges with upper and. lower'projeeting cars, a linetransporter comprisingfront and rear jawsformed' with an upper pair of fixed rails to support matrices by their two upper projecting ears at a lower level and the front'jaw having a-lower rail to sup-port matricesby their-lowerfront-pro jecting ears at anupper levehsaid transporter" being provided'withalong flat spring arranged to bear down, atone side of the composed line, upon the top edges of the upper projecting ears of matrices" supported at the'upper level} a 11; Inor for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed on their front and rear edges withupper and lower projecting cars, a line transporter comprising front and rear jaws formed with an'upper pair of fixed rails t'o'support matrices by their two upper projecting ears at a lower level and the front jaw having a lower rail to support matricesby their lower f-rontprojecting ears at an upper level, said transporter being provided with a pair of long flat Springs arranged to bear down, at Opposite sides of the composed linejupon the topedges of the' upperj projecting ears of matrices supported at the-upper level. V

12. In or'for aslug casting machine equipped with matrices formed on their front and rear edges with upper and lower projecting ears; a

line transporter comprising front and rear jaws formed with anupper pair of fixed rail'st'o sup-- port matrices by their two upper pro-jecting ears at a lower level and the front jaw having a lower rail to support matrices by their lower front pro jecting cars at an upper level, said transporter being provided with a long fiat spring arranged to bear down, at one side of the composed line,

upon the top edges of the upper projecting ears of matrices supported at the upper level, said 'rail to support matrices by their lower from projecting cars at an upper level, said transporter being provided with a long flat spring arranged to bear down, at one side of the composed line, upon the top edges of the upper projecting ears of matrices supported at the upper level; saidspring being made with a permanent downward bow and loosely mounted at its opposite ends to permit straightening when engaged by the matrices.

14. In or for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed'on their front and rear edges with upper and lower projecting ears, a

line transporter comprising front and rear jaws formed with an upper pair of fixed rails to support matrices by their two upper projecting ears at a lower level and the front jaw having a lower rail to support matrices by their, lower front projecting ears at an upper level,'s aid transporter" being provided with a long flat spring arranged to beardown, at one side of the composed line,

upon the top edges of the upper projecting ears of matrices; supported at the upper level, said spring being formed at the receiving end of the transporter with an upwardly turned portion to avoid; interference with .the matrices as they enterthe, transporter. t g

{In or for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices'formed on their front and rear edges with upper and lower projecting-ears, a

7 line transporter comprising'front' and rear 'jaws formed with an upper pairof fixed rails to sup:- port matrices by their' two upper projecting ears at a lower level and the front jaw having a lower rail to support matrices by their lower front projecting ears at' an upper level, said transporter being provided with a long flat spring arranged to bear down; atone side of the composed line, upon the top edges of the upper projecting ears of matrices supported at the upper level, said spring being'backed up by a correspondingly long overlying shoulder formed on the transporter.

v16.'Inor-for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed on their front and rear edges with uppenand'lower projecting ears, a lineltransporter comprising front and rear jaws formedwith an upper pair of fixed rails to support matrices by their two upper projecting ears at a lower level and the front jaw having a lower rail to support matrices by their lower front projecting ears at an upper level, said transporter being provided with along fiat spring arranged to bear .down, at one side-of the composed line,

upon the top edges of the upper projecting ears of matrices supported at the upper level, said spring being formed at the receiving end of the transporter with an upwardly turned portion to is retracted.

avoid interference withth'e matrices as'they enter the transporter and backed up by, a corre'-' sponding shoulder formed on the transporter. 17. A transporter as specified. in c1aim-10,,

characterized by the fact that the rail for supporting the matrices at the upper level is retractible and that the overhead spring acts to depress such matrices to the lower level when the rail 18. In or for a slug casting mahine; a line transporter provided with means for supporting matrices at upper and lower levels therein and with a'friction member arranged to cooperate solely with the upper level matrices and hold 7 V them in proper place upon means.

19. In or for a slug casting machine, a line transporter movable to and from casting position and provided with means for supporting their supporting matrices at upper and lower levels therein, said transporter being also provided with a pair of friction members arranged to engage the upper level matrices at opposite sides of the composed line.

20. In or for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed on their front and rear ber arrangedon thefrear jaw of the transporter in position to engage with the upper level matricesand serving to hold them in proper plac upon their single front supporting rail. 7 7

JOHN H. HILPMAN. 40

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