US2226305A - Linotype machine accessory - Google Patents

Description

De. 24, 19410. D B ELUS 2,226,305

LNOTYPE MACHINE ACCESSORY Filed May 28, 194Q 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 1 is ,-5.1 zmg jme/Wto@ I DQ/xefrJBE/'s Dec. 24, 1940. D, B. ELLIS LINOTYPE MACHINE ACCESSORY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1940 1.74* Ilg I ,W 4 3 um y Dec. 24, 1940. D. B. ELLIS 2,226,305

n LINOTYPE MACHINE ACCESSORY Filed May 28, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNrrEe ,STATES PATENT OFFICE LrNoTYPE MACHINE Accnssonv l..

Dexter B. Ellis, ogaemvtahf `f v I Application May2a194o, seria1No.337,716

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in type- Y clean of all surplus metal accumulationsafter each casting operation, otherwise a `perfect fit of the mouthpiece against the mold will not be had at the mornentwhen the molten metal is forced from the pot through the Vents in the mouthpiece into the mold. Ifthe aforesaid accurate t is not maintained between the mold and the mouthpiece when the two are in the casting lockup position, then the molten metal squirts out and imperfect type faces 'will result'. This faulty operation necessitates extra hand labor for the removal of surplus metal from the face of the mouthpiece, obviouslyl occasioning considerable loss of time and in many instances, damage to the face of the mouthpiece and mold.

lt is ccmmon knowledge that the line-casting mold must be cooled after each slug is cast, otherwise the mold will become so hot kthat the conetant iniiow of high temperatured metal will eventuate in a porous slug. When a slug of this type is subjected to the high pressure of a matrix molding machine or platen press, the face and base of said slug often collapse. With this preamble in mind, the objects of the invention are as follows: i

First, to provide an accessory for typecasting machines, specifically for the Mergenthaler Linotype machine, adapted to perform an automatic and simultaneous wiping of the mouthpiece of the met-al pot and an air cooling of the mold after each casting operation.

Second, to provide an accessory of the foregoing character which is attachable without the necessity oi drilling and tapping into or altering the existing machine, which derives its required m0- tions from certain well-known moving parts of said machine and whichwill not interfere with the normal operation of any part of the machine referred to.

Third, to provide a combined wiper and cooler for the purposes stated, wherein the rectilinear movement of the pump plunger rod is the medium for compelling a correspondingly rectilinear movement of the wiper blade across the` mouthpiece. 1 p v v Fourth, to provide a wiper-coolerwhich, while serving the dual purposeof wiping the mouthpiece and forcing cool air into the slug chamber, also acts as a cushion for the second elevator lever in its upward sweep towards its contacting position with the distributorbox bar ofa typecasting machine. v v

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference v being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevationof a portion of a typecasting machine, illustrating the application of the invention. v v

Figure 2 is a detail plan View of a portion of said machine, particularly illustrating the association of the wiper with the metal pot and the mold carrier wheel. V y

Figure 3 is a front elevation of themold wheel, illustrating the relationship thereto of the cooling and wiping devices. f

Figuree is a perspective viewl of the combined wiper and cooler. y f.

Figure 5 is a partially sectional vand lelevational View of the pump-wiper. f Y

Figure 6 is a perspective View of blade guide.

Figure? is a detail perspective view of the combined wiper and cooler, the latter being seen from the rear.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective View of the wiper fblade. y y f Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of the blade cover. Y

Figure l0 is a detail section taken substantially onthe line l0-'I0 of Fig. '7.

Figure l1 is a detail cross-section taken on the line I I-Il of Fig. 1'. v

Figure l2 is a cross-section taken substantially on the line I Z-IZ of Fig. 2.

Figure 13 is a detail section taken substantially on the line l 3-13 of Fig. 5. l

Figure 14 is a cross section on the line Illi4 of Fig. 5.y

Reference is firstmade to Fig. l. wherein the main frame of a type-casting machine of a known construction is generally designated I, a portion 43 of which is offset to define whatis aptly called a shelf. VThe cam shaft bracket 2 provides the support for a camshaft 4. This shaft is situated well within the interior of the-machine' and it `carries numerous cams from which the the wiper various functions of the machine are derived, one of these cams being designated 5.

A lever 6, commonly known as the second elevator lever, is pivoted at 1 to a bracket 8 near the cam shaft 4. This lever has an arm 9 with a roller I0 that bears on the face of the cam 5. The rotation of the cam causes the periodic swinging of the lever 6 from the full to the dotted line position in Fig. 1 (arrow a), and this motion of the second elevator lever is employed as the power source, so as speak, for the operation of the combined wiper and cooler.

The typecasting machine also includes a pot II which contains a quantity o'f molten metal from which type slugs are cast. The arrangements for keeping the pot supplied with metal and for keeping the latter in the molten state are not disclosed because they do not rel-alte to the invention. It is sufficient to note that the metal pot II has a delivery-mouth I2 ('Fig. 12) which terminates at the mouthpiece I3. This mouthpiece has a series of vents I4 (Fig. 3) through which vthe molten metal is expelled into thevslug cavity I5 (Fig. 12) of a slug mold or chamber I6 when the face I1 of said mouthpiece is moved into tight engagement with the mold I6. This action presupposes a periodic motion of .the metal pot II. This motion is derived from mechanism not shown, and it is suicient in extent to advance the pot far enough to bring the face I1 against the mold, as just stated, then to retract the mouthpiece to the approximate extent of the space I8 (Fig. 12) l The mold I6 as shown herein is one of a plurality of such molds carried by a wheel I9. This is a gear wheel, and the means and reasons for its periodic rotation are neither disclosed nor necessary to an understanding of the invention. It is customary in some constructions to make the mold-carrier wheel hollow or jacketed as at 20 (Fig. 12) for the purpose of a water cooling system. It has been found through years of experience that the water cooling device is not effective for the reason that the water jacket ,is too far removed from the slug mold I6 which the water is intended to cool. Thus an important part of the invention provides for introducing periodic charges of air directly into the slug mold cavity I5 (Fig. 3) after each slug has been cast and ejected. 'Ihe mold is stationed in the ejecting position in Fig. 3, at which time the slug chamber I 5 is open to atmosphere making it possible to blow the air in and through and thus accomplish the cooling effect.

The importance of wiping the face I1 of the mouthpiece I3 clean has been pointed out. This function is accomplished by a wiper 21 (Fig. 4). This wiper is the rst element of the invention, previously alluded to as the accessory, and it consists of a blade 28 (Fig. 8) which is desirably made of exible metal. At least one of the edges of the blade is serrated at 29. A cover 30 of felt, cloth or other desirable material is secured to the blade 28, the serrations 29 preventing the cover from slipping oif endwise or from rolling around the blade when the latter goes through its wiping action.

One end of Ithe blade 28 is secured to an arm 3|. which comprises an extension of the plunger rod 32. This rod works in a pump cylinder 33 through and beyond the ends of which it extends as substantially shown in Fig. 5. The rod 32 carries a plunger 34 Wh-ich is operable in the cylinder 33 to produce the previously mentioned charges of air. Said cylinder has one or more air vents 39a (Fig. 4) at which outside air is admitted at the virtual limit of the plunger stroke in one direction. The plunger consists of a gasket 35 which is fitted between a pair of holders 36. These, in turn, are held firmly in position by two beveled dowel pins 31 which are driven through holes in the plunger rod 32, and they have holes off-centered at 36a (Fig. 14) Ito secure an eccentric position of the r-od in respect to the cylinder for a purpose later explained.

An opening 38 in the otherwise closed end of the cylinder 33 (Fig. 5) provides for the passage of the adjacent part of the plunger rod. The other end of the cylinder has a closure cap 39 which is secured to the threaded end of the cylinder. This cap has a hole for the plunger rod. A nipple 40 on one side of the lcap (Fig. 5) matches an opening 4I in the cylinder 33 and provides communication of the interior of the latter with an air tube 42 (Fig. 4) which leads down to a position over the t-op of the slug ejector (not shown) directly over the slug mold cavity I5 (Fig. 3), and secured in this position by any suitable means to the main frame of the machine.

A main supporting frame 44 carries most of the parts which comprise the accessory. This frame includes a bracket 45 (Fig. 5) to which the cylinder 33 is secured at 46. The bracket has an extension 41 which overlies the cap 39 as well as a pair of air-retaining leather gaskets 48. These gaskets, `as Well as the extension 41, are perforated for the plunger rod, the free end of the extension having a screw 49 driven through it into the top of the Aair cylinder cap for the purpose of holding the air cylinder rigid to the frame. 'I'he frame 44 is slotted at 50 (Fig. '1) to make room for an existing projection on the main frame of the machine I. In the present instance, said projection consists of the nut and bolt end shown in Fig. 1, and it may comprise the projecting end of a transfer lever spring hook in some types of this machine.

The frame 44 is curved and bent at 52 to conform to the previously mentioned shelf 3. The frame is secured to portions of said shelf, for which purpose it has an arm 53 (Fig. 7) which is slotted at 54 for the purpose of adjustment in respect to a securing bolt 55 which goes through the slot into the distributor bracket of main frame I (Fig. 1).

The bracket 41 terminates in a barrel 56 (Fig. 5) which is located crosswise of the bottom end of the cylinder 33. This barrel has registering slots 51 through which the plunger rod 32 passes prior to its being bent into the arm extension 3I. One end of the barrel is occupied by a spring 58 which abuts a hollow set screw 59 at one end and a plunger 60 at the other end. The plunger is kept pressed against one side of the plunger rod, the other side of said rod thereby resting in the crotch 6I (Fig. 13) of a solid set screw 62 which is driven into the other end of the barrel.

The adjustments of the set screw 62 regulate the contact of the wiper 21 with the mouthpiece I3. If la closer contact is desired than is obtained by any particular setting of the screw 62, the rod 32 is simply deected far enough to the left (Fig. 5) to release it from the crotch 6I, whereupon the screw 62 is given one or more inward quarter turns to station the crotch that much farther inwardly .of the barrel 56. 'Ihe slight bending of the rod 32 does not interfere with its reciprocation.

A clevis 63 surmounts the upper end of the :bracket B9. --from the frame 44, is functionally a part therelof. Said bracket 69 has a slotted portion 1li` :which is secured, and adjustably so, to the frame 44 as at 1I.

tached to a part of the lever 61. :its main bearing on the stud 68 and the bearing 'from the mold 'carrier wheel I9 for.- the dislodgeplunger rod 32, being secured thereto in anyde- -sired way. The clevis has a cross pin 64 on which a'roller 55 is mounted.. This roller'travels in 'a slot 56 in the adjacent end of an operating lever 61. This lever is pivoted on a bearing. stud 68 which extends crosswise of an. upstanding This bracket, although separate The bracket 69 is made somewhat in the nature .of a fork. The portions 12 are brought into :spaced and paralleled relationship to each other .so asto provide a passageway for the lever 61.

One'end of a spring 13 is anchored in this passageway, the other end of said spring being at- This lever has ismade flexible so that it can yield in case the wiper rod, for any unforeseen reason, is stalled in its downward movement. In such an event the spring 13 will be expanded by the upward movement of the second elevator lever 6 and allow this bearing to slide upward in the vslot 59a, thus precluding any possibility of damage Yto the second elevator lever or the mouthpiece wiper blade. Said lever is offset at 14 at a place adjacent to the anchorage of the spring, and is 'thereafter curved at 15 to .provide a cam. The

previously mentioned power of the second eleva- 'tor lever 6 is transferred to the operating lever `61` on the upstroke of the former by means of a latch 16 (Fig. 1l) that iscarried by a clamp 11.

Said clamp comprises a block 18 to which the latch 16 is pivoted at 19. The block is attached to one of a pair of clamp halves 8l] and 8| which are applied to the opposite sides of the lever 6.

` Said halves are connected by bolts,y 82, the actual fastening of the clamp to the lever 6 being accomplished by a pair of divergingly positioned 'set screws 3 which are driven against the approximate outside corners of the lever 6.

- When the second elevator lever 6 is raised (arrow a, Fig. l) the latch 16 comes into engagement with the nether side of the cam 15.

ing an arrangement of clamp plates 35 and 86 which are secured by means of bolts 81 to What is known in the existing machine as the mold wheel supporting bracket 88 (Fig. 3).

ports the guide 84 closely adjacent to the mouthpiece I3. The guiding function is derived from a relatively tall plate 89, one edge of which is beveled at 9E) to coact with the exposed tip Sl of. the wiper blade 28. When the blade makes a down stroke, said tip engages the bevel 9i), which is located on that side of the plate 89 nearest the mouthpiece I3, causing the wiper to move in a rectilinear path directlyv across the mouthpiece and without bending outwardly therefrom.

The operaticml` is readily understood. The second elevator lever 6 swings up and down periodically and performs its functions in the known typecasting machine, and as it does, the metal pot II is stepped back This `bracket is so situated that it conveniently supment of the previously cast type slug from the slug chamber l5 by action of the ejector blade (not shown). It is at this period of the operation of the typecasting machine that the space I8y (Fig. 12) becomes evident, andv it is at this `moment that the invention performs its part `ing ofthe operating lever S1 (dotted lines, Fig. .1). The spring 13 is stretched by this-swinging. The actions of the wiper 21 and pump plunger 34 are performed` simultaneously because they are commonly carried by the plunger rod 32. The downstroke of the plunger 34 is responded to by a downstroke of the wiper 21. When the plunger-is forced downward it passes beyond the air vents, allowing cool air to enter the air compression cylinder, vand when the plunger is moved upward by action of the spring 13, it passes these air vents and forces the air entrapped ahead of it through tubey 42 into the slug chamber I5, at the same time moving the wiper 21 upwardly across the mouthpiece I3.

These acts occur after every revolution of the mold wheel I 9 land when the mold I5 thereof stops at the ejecting position (Fig. 3), at which time coolair isforced directly intofthe slug mold cavity, cooling the top, bottoni'and both sides of the entire mold. It is important to -note lthat the cooling part of this accessorycools only the vmold that is being used to cast type slugs. V

It is also important to note -that the motions of the wiper 21 are rectilinear. This desirable function is a main contribution of the plunger 34 and the metalpot jacket that an `air cylinder v with sufficient air capacity to emciently cool the mold cannot be accommodated if the holes in the plunger were centered, and allow the operating rod to clear the pot jacket and the line delivery lever. In other words,.the air cylinder must be Acrowded againstthefframe of the machine and the cylinder cap milled off on the right-hand side to' give the operating lever 4space f to clear the vupper portion of the mouthpiece in its upward and downward moyeifnent.V In this operation the mouthpiece wipery operating rod has less than one iive-hundredth'of an inch clearance. So the wiper rod mustbe crowded over as close as possible to the right-hand side ofthe air cylinder, making the gasket holders eccentric in position and, the holes in them off-center.

The latch 15gfunctions as follows: when the vsecond elevator lever 6 descends from its position at the distributor boxv bar (not shown) to contact the intermediate line transfer channel, it depresses this latch and allows the latch to go under the voperating lever 51, and when the second elevator '5 starts its upward movement the latch contacts the cam 15 and rides therealong,

propelling wiper rod 32 downward and causing the mouthpiece wiper blade to pass over the face of the mouthpiece.

The coil spring T3 brings the wiper blade back to its normal position above the pot mouthpiece. The latch 16 loses contact with the cam 15 when the second elevator lever is about threefourths the distance in rits upward movement to contact the distributor box bar.

I claim:

1. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal pot periodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiece from the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motion during said period of retraction; in combination a pump cylinder, a plunger operable in the cylinder, an air tube leading down from the air cylinder tothe rear of the slug chamber, a wiper to wipe the mouthpiece, a rod commonly carrying the plunger and wiper so that the wiper moves rectilinearly in consonance with the plunger, and means operated by the motion of said lever to actuate said rod to cause an air ilow through said chamber simultaneously with a wiping action of said wiper `across the mouthpiece.

2. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal pot periodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiece from -the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motion during said period of retraction; in combination, a pump cylinder, an air tube lproviding air communication of the cylinder with the interior of the slug chamber, a Wiper to wipe the mouthpiece, a rod commonly carrying the plunger and wiper, said rod supporting the wiper in position at one side of the mouthpiece, and means operated by the motion of said lever to actuate the plunger rod in one vdirection to simultaneously displace the plunger and wiper in the same direction, thereby to cause an air ow into and through said chamber and a wiping action of the wiper across the mouthpiece.

3. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal pot periodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiece from the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motion during said period of retraction; in combination, a pump cylinder, an air tube providing air communication of the cylinder with the interior of the slug chamber, a wiper to wipe the mouthpiece, a rod commonly carrying the plunger and wiper, said rod supporting the wiper in position at one side of the mouthpiece, means operated by the motion of said lever to actuate the plunger rod in one direction to simultaneously displace the plunger and wiper in the same direction, thereby to cause a wiping action of the wiper across said mouthpiece, and means put under tension by said motion of the lever, actuatingthe plunger rod independently of said lever and in the opposite direction to cause an air flow through said chamber and a reverse wiping action.

4. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal pot periodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiece from the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motion during said period of retraction; in combination, air pumping means in communication with the slug chamber and having a reciprocable part for producing an air current through said chamber, wiper means supported by said reciprocable part in line with the mouthpiece but spaced away therefrom, an operating lever coupled to the pumping means thereby to impart motion to its reciprocable part and to the wiper means, and a member attached to the elevator lever, adapted to engage said operating lever for the transfer of motion.

5. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal pot periodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiece from the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motion during said period of retraction; in combination, a pump cylinder, a plunger operable in the cylinder, an air tube providing air communication of the cylinder with the Aslug chamber, a wiper to wipe the mouthpiece, a

rod commonly carrying the plunger and Wiper so that the wiper moves in consonance with the plunger, means operated by the motion of said Alever to actuate said rod to cause an air flow through said chamber simultaneously with a wiping action of said wiper, and guide means stationed contiguously to said mouthpiece to guide said wiper in a rectilinear path across and in contact with said mouthpiece.

6. An accessory for a typecasting machine comprising a pump cylinder, a plunger operable in the cylinder, an air tube leading from the cylinder for the passage of an air current to a slug chamber, a wiper to traverse the mouthpiece of a metal pot, a rod commonly carrying the plunger and wiper, and an operating lever coupled to the plunger rod for producing simultaneous air currents and wiping actions upon at least one stroke of said rod imparted thereto by the operating lever.

'7. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal pot periodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiece from the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motion during said period of retraction; in combination, a pump cylinder, a plunger operable in the cylinder, an air tube providing air communication of the cylinder with the slug chamber, a wiper to wipe the mouthpiece, a rod commonly carrying the plunger and wiper so that the wiper moves in consonance with the plunger, means operated by the motion of said lever to actuate said rod to cause an air ow through said chamber simultaneously with a wiping action of said wiper, and means acting' against the plunger rod, serving to adjustably hold the wiper to a determined line of movement across the face of the mouthpiece.

8. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal pot periodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiece from the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motion during said period of retraction; in combination, a pump cylinder, a plunger operable in the cylinder, an air tube providing air communication of the cylinder with the slug chamber, a wiper to wipe the mouthpiece, a rod commonly carrying the plunger and wiper so that the wiper moves in consonance with the plunger, means operated by the motion of said lever to actuate said rod to cause an air flow through said chamber simultaneously with a wiping action of said wiper, and means guiding the plunger rod, being adjustable in respect to said rod to guide the rod along selected paths and thus hold the wiper to a corresponding line of movement across the face of the mouthpiece.

9. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal pot periodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiece from said means and terminating in a mouth-4 from the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a. swinging motion during said period of retraction; in combination, a pump cylinder, a plunger operable in the cylinder, an air tube providing air communication of the cylinder with the slug chamber, a Wiper to Wipe the mouthpiece, a rod commonly carrying the plunger and wiper so that the Wiper moves in consonance with the plunger, means operated by the motionof said lever to actuate said rod to cause an air ow through said chamber simultaneously with a wiping action of said wiper, an element guiding the plunger rod, said element being adjustable to direct the rod along any one of several -paths and ythus to hold the Wiper to a corresponding line of movement, and resilient means acting against the rod to slidably hold the rod. against said element.

10. An accessoryy for a typecasting machine comprising a main supporting frame securable to the frame of said machine, air jet discharging means mounted on the frame, a plunger forming part of said means, including a rod extending piece Wiper blade, and an operating lever movably mounted on said supporting frame, having a coupling at one end to said plunger rod and having a formation at the other end adapted to be engaged by an actuating member, thereby to simultaneously actuate the air jet means and mouth-piece Wiper.

11. An accessory for a typecasting machine comprising a main supporting frame securable to the frame of said machine, a bracket comprising part of said supporting frame and terminating in a barrel, a reciprocable plunger rod extending through the barrel and terminating in a Wiper blade, an operating lever movably mounted on said supporting frame, having one end coupled to the plunger rod and the other end adapted to be engaged by an actuating member, adjustable means in the barrel having a crotch in which the rod is slidable, andresilient means also in the barrel, exerting pressure against the rod to keep it in said crotch.

DEXTER B. ELLIS.

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