US2639027A

US2639027A - Typographical casting machine

Info

Publication number: US2639027A
Application number: US80887A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ransom H Turner
Original assignee: Mergenthaler Linotype GmbH
Current assignee: Mergenthaler Linotype GmbH; Mergenthaler Linotype Co
Priority date: 1949-03-11
Filing date: 1949-03-11
Publication date: 1953-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 1970-05-19

Description

y 19, 1953 R. H. TURNER 2,639,027

TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACI'IINE Filed March 11, 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet l INVBN TOR BY -%'MWATT0RNEYS May 19, 1953 R. H. TURNER 2,639,027 TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE Filed March 11, 1949 7 Sheets- Sheet 2 May 19, 1953 R. H. TURNER TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE '7' Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 11, 1949 IN VEN TOR May 19, 1953 R. H. TURNER TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE IN VEN TOR S H N M W -BY 2m 4: I

y 9, 1953 R. H. TURNER 2,639,027

TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE Filed March 11, 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 1% BY W TTO NEYK May 19, 1953 R. H. TURNER TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 11, 1949 mIN INVENTOR May 19, 1953 TURNER 2,639,027

TYPOGRAPHICAL SASTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Marbh 11, 1949 OuadRJau/ Patented May 19, 1953 TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE I Ransom HQTurnen-Great Neck, N. Y., assignor to Mcrgenthaler Linotype Company, a corporationof New York Application March 11, 1949, Serial l Io. 80,887

This invention relates to typographical com posing and casting machines of the'general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent No. 436,532, wherein circulating matrices and spacers are released from their places of storage in response to the operationof a keyboard and then composed in line in an assembler under the influence of a rapidly rotating star wheel, the assembler raised to position 'the composed line between a pair of depending fingers carried by a delivery slide'which moves to the'left through an intermediate Channel to deliver the ,line'to" a transporter or so-called first elevator)? the transporterlowered to position the line between a pair of confining jaws and'before the "face of a slotted mold, the spacers expanded to justify the" line between the vise. "jaws, the mold advanced against the line and then filled with molten metal to form a typejbar or slugfagainst thesame, and, after the casting operation, the transporter raised to an upper level where the line is shifted to the right into" an upper transfer channel, whence the matrices and spacers are returned totheir original places of. storage.

More particularly, the invention relates to machines equipped to handle not only lines of full length but in addition lines of less than full length (regardless of their actual length); Under certain conditions the twoline clamping jaws are movable equi-distantly' toward each other until arrested by contact with the opposite ends of the composed line for fcentering; whereas,

cording to the conditiondesired, or in a fourth position if the machine is to'operate normally or without quadding or centering. When the latter condition exists, the 'machine is free to function in the usual way, 'the'right hand jaw being left normally stationary and the left'hand jaw being adjustable, according to the length of the composed lines, by means of the customary The operation of manually controlled devices. the two line clamping jaws is effectedthrough two distinct trains of connectionsfrom a verti cally movable rod actuated from themain shaft of the machine, and the conditioning of the jaws is effected by an annularly groovedsegmentally shaped. collar which is mounted at the upper'end of said rod and is capable of rotation irom a 22 Claims. (Cl. 199- 50) V 2 neutral position to three different angular positions in order to connect the rod with either jaw for right or left hand quadding or with both jaws for centering. p

While there is an ever increasing demand for machines equipped with such quadding and centering mechanism, it has been found in practice that, in the great majority of cases, machines so equipped are used'mostof the time for re ular work or, in other wo'rds-for ordinary type composition where quadding operations by the.

right hand jaw only are required, it being understood that the necessity for such quadding operations occurs quite frequently as, for example,

whencomposed lines'of less than the proper justifying length terminate paragraphs and inthe setting up of court records and testimony where short questions and answers are printed;

In view of the foregoing conditions, the=present invention contemplates a quadding and centering mechanism which will not only offer the advantages of centering as well as quadding with the" left hand jaw'when desired but which will alsoenable the machine to accommodate itself automatically to handle-properly composed lines that are too short-to justify and therefore require a quadding operation by the right hand jaw. To this end, specifically, t he line transporter is equipped with devices that are capable of adjustment to difierent positions and are adapted as the transporter descends to the casting position to actuate the jaw conditionin mechanism when acentering or a quadding operationby either jaw isf'to be performed. The adjustments of the actuating devices are effected during the line delivery operation and are controlled by means carried by the line delivery slide. As hereinillustratedsuch means includes three elements, one movable automatically to active position whena composed line is of. less than the proper justifyinglength and an adjustment of the actuating devices for right hand quadding is required, and the other two movable at will or by hand to active position to efiect. different adjustments of said devices for left hand quadding or centering.

The conditioning clamping jaw is somewhat similar to that shown in the patent to F. C. Frolander No. 2,104,859 '(to which referencemaybe had if desired) andincludes an annularly grooved segmentally shaped collar located at the upper extremity of a vertically movable rod but, inthe presenttinstance,

the-collarfis keyedto the rod and'the latter ro tated to different angular positions to establish mechanism for the' line an operative connection between the collar and either or both of the line clamping jaws. When the transporter descends to carry a composed line to the casting position, the rod is turned about its vertical axis to one position or another according to the adjusted position of the actuating devices, and the rod then is raised to close the jaw or jaws against the line preparatory to the line justifying and casting p tions.

After the casting operation has been performed and as the transporter is being raised in the usual way to the upper transfer level,- the vertical rod for operating the clamping jaws is moved downwardly to return thejaw or jaws to their normal or original position. When the transporter arrives at the upper transfer level, the actuating devices also are restored to their normal or original position by operation of the well known transfer slide so that the in turn may be capable, at the beginning of the next machine cycle, of effecting a different rotary adjustment of the rod and collar or of restorin them to their normal position. Duringthe vertical movements of the transporter from and to its line receiving position, and also during the casting operation, the actuating devices are locked against accidental displacement in their different adjusted positions but are automatically released to permit their adjustments at both the line transfer level and the line delivery level.

In adapting the improved quadding and centering mechanism to the present Linotype machines, no change whatever is required in the manner of functioning of those parts which make up the standard equipment in these machines for regular casting. This particular feature is important since heretofore many difliculties have arisen that had to be overcomein one way or another before satisfactory results could be accomplished. Moreover, the machine may be adjusted for quadding or centering and the lines cast at the same rate of speed as when operating normally, due to the fact that the adjustable actuating devices for the conditioningmechanism are restored to normal or inactive position automatically after each casting operation and" therefore may be adjusted in the manner stated at th beginning of each machine cycle for any new condition that happens to be demanded. In other words, during rapid composition, with perhaps, a waiting line in the intermediate channel and another still in the first elevator, they will be properly handled as usual and without delay regardless of whether a quadding or a centering operation is or is not to be performed.

It also may be mentioned that the improved quadding and centering mechanism permits the use conveniently of a member of the customary justification devices in effecting the upward movement of the jaw operating rod, .and in this way eliminates the necessity of additional mechanism controlled from the main drive shaft of the machine that ordinarily is employed.

These and other advantages of the invention will readily be understood from the detailed description to follow:

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a Linotype machine equipped with the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the vise frame with the line transporter or first elevator in the course of its descent to casting position and broken away to show details of the mechanism for setting the grooved collar and also the mechanism controlling the movements of the vertical rod which operates the line clamping jaws;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the vise frame and mechanism shown in Fig. 2 with the first elevator located in the casting position;

Fig. 4 is a topplan view of Fig. 3 with the first elevator partly broken away to show details in construction of the adjustable actuating devices carried thereby;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the first elevator supported at the normal or line receiving level and partly broken away to show th manner of releasing the actuating devices to permit their adjustment by operation of the line delivery slide;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 11 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the first elevator supported at the upper transfer level and partly broken away to show the manner of releasing the actuating devices to permit their restoration to inactive position by operation of the upper transfer slide;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of Fig. 9 partly broken away to show the means for effecting the restoration of the actuating devices to their normal or inactive position;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view, partly broken away; of the parts shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the mechanism carried by the line delivery slide for controlling the adjustments of the actuating devices, showing in full lines the relative position of the parts when the slide is in its normal or retracted position, and showing in dotted lines the relative position of the parts when the slide during its active stroke has advanced sufliciently far to carry a ll-em composed line into engagement with the left hand finger;

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-I4 of Fig. 12, showing in full lines the automatically controlled element in its inactive position, and in dotted lines the position said element is caused to assume when the composed lines are of less than the proper justifying length;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken on the line l5-|5 of Fig. 12 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 16 is a vertical section taken on the line l6l6 of Fig. 12, showing one of the two manually operated elements of the control mechanism for the adjustable actuating devices in its active position;

Fig. 1'7 is a vertical section taken on the line l1l'l of Fig. 12, showing the means for timing the movements of the automatically controlled element to and fromactive position during the operation of the line delivery slide; and

Figs. 18 to 21, inclusive, are detail views showing the different angular positions the segments of the grooved collar are caused to assume under corresponding adjustments of the actuating devices, for regular casting, quadding with the right hand jaw, centering and quadding with the left hand jaw.

The matrices X and the expansible spacebands Y (see Fig. 1) are composed in line in the assembler 2 under the restraining influence of a line resistant 3 which can be set in the usual way for lines of different length. After the linehas been composed, the assembler is raised to position the line between the left-hand finger 4 and the relatively short right-hand finger 5 of the line delivery carriage 6, which thereupon moves to the left (and in doing so inaugurates the operation of the machine) and transfers the composed line through the intermediate channel 1 into the vertically movable line transporter or first elevator 8 slidably mounted in the vise frame 9. Upon receiving the composed line, the first elevator immediately descends to position it between the left hand jaw I and the right hand jaw II and in.

front of the slotted mold I2, which latter then advances from the rear and into contact with the line and the two clamping jaws for the slug casting operation, the line prior .to the casting operation being aligned with the mold and-properly justified when the machine is operating un-'- der the usual conditions. After the slug has been cast, the mold is carried from its horizontal casting position (Fig. l) to a vertical ejecting position by a three-quarter turn of the mold disk I3, the first elevator in the meantime being raised to the upper transfer level where the composed line is shifted therefrom to the right by operation of the upper transfer slide I6 into the upper transfer channel I4 preparatory to the separation of the matrices from the spacebands for delivery to their individual storage magazines. The first elevator then is lowered and finally comes to rest in its original or line receiving position just before the machine cycle is completed.

The line clamping jaws I0 and I I are operable automatically to cooperate with lines of less than full length soas to cast slugs with blank spaces at either end, as for quadding or at both ends for centering. For this purpose, the two jaws III and II are movable toward and from each other by a vertically movable rod Iwhich may be connected .at its upper end to the respective jaws through the medium of two similar oppositely disposed bell crank levers I6 and I'Ipivoted at Mi and Il respectively, to the vise frame 9.

v The longer arm of the lever I6 (Figs. 1 and 2) is and from the opposing right hand jaw to provide for the proper handling of composed linesof.

different lengths in the normal or regular operation of the machine. To secure or look the left hand jaw in its adjusted positions, there is employed the usual rotatable toothed rod 23 (Fig. 5) which may be turned by a handle 22 (Fig. 1) into and out of engagement with a complementary toothed section (not shown) on said -jaw, the arrangement being such that, when the rod and toothed section are in engagement, the adjusted position of the jaw Ill is maintained, whereas, when out of engagement, the jaw may be moved with respect to the toothed rod in effecting its adjustment. The rod 23 is connected to the banking block 2I and is therefore movable therewith during a quadding or'centering operation. To accommodate this movement of the rod 23, it is arranged to telescope'within a sleeve 23 (Fig. 3) which extends through the right hand jaw and serves conveniently as a meansfor turning the rod from the handle 22. Theseparticular parts, as

well as those us'ed'to determine thesetting of the left hand jaw in its different line receiving positions, may be of any suitable construction or such as those shownand described in the "U. patent to J. H. Hilpman, No. 2,061,872.

' In providing for the connection and disconnection of the rod I5 with and from the jaws Ill and I I, it is equipped (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) at its'upper' end-with an annularly grooved collar 24 formed for engagement with diametrically

opposed pins

25 and 26 protruding inwardly from the extremities of the shorter arms of the jaw actuating levers I1 and I6, respectively. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the rod I5 is mounted to slide in suitable bearings 2'! and 28'of the fixed vise frame 9 and, between its ends, is further provided with a flanged collar 29 which banks against the top surface of the lower bearing 28 when therod is in its lowermost or normal position of rest. In the present instance, and as previously stated, the collar 24 is keyed or otherwise secured to the rod I5 and the latter is rotatable in opposite directions in order to set the collar in different angular positions so as, in this way, to establish an operative connection between the rod and either jaw for quadding, or both jaws for centering. Specifically, the lower section of the collar 24 (see Figs. 18 to 21 inclusive) presents two segments 30 and 3I so shaped and disposed that when both of the line clamping jaws I0 and II are to be disconnected from the rod I5 for regular machine operation, the rod is turned to set the collar 24 in the neutral position shown in Fig. 18, with both segments out of engaging relation to both

pins

25 and 26 of the jaw actuating levers. When the right hand jaw I is to be connected alone to the actuating rod I5 for right hand quadding, the collar 24 by a partial turn of the rod, in the direction indicated, is set in the position shown in Fig. 19 so as to locate the segment 3I in engaging relation to the pin 26 and at the same time locate the segment 38 in a position to clear the pin 25. When both jaws are to be connected to the rod I5-for centering, the collar 24 by a partial turn ofthe rod in the same direction is set in the position shown in Fig. 20 so as to bring the two segments 30 and iii in engaging relation to the

pins

25 and 26, respectively. Finally, when the left hand jaw is to be connected to the rod I5 for left jaw quadding, the collar 24 by furtherrotation of the rod is set in the fourth position shown in Fig. 21 to bring the segment 30 in engaging relation to the pin 25 and to locate the segment 3| in a position to clear the pin 2t.

. The means employed to set the collar 24 in its different angular positions, in the manner above stated, include a horizontally disposed rack bar 32 (Figs. 2 and 3) mounted to slide in horizontal guideways 33 of the vise frame 9 and arranged to mesh with a pinion 3d splined to the vertical rod I5. As shown, the guideways 33 are formed on a"she1f-like support 35 extending forwardly from the upper bearing 21 for the rod I5, and a pair of retaining plates 35 secured to said support hold the rack bar in its proper position in the guideways. The pinion 36 (Fig. 3) seats upon the top surface of the bearing 2! and is restrained against upward displacement during the vertical movements of the rod It by an angular bracket piece tl'jlocated at the rear of the pinion and fastened to a cross member 9 of the vise frame.

Operation of the rack bar 32, to set the collar 24,- is effected automatically by adjustable devices (later to be'described) carried by the first elevator 8 and which are adapted during its descent to casting position to actuate the rack bar through the medium of a vertically disposed lever 38 located above the rack bar 32 and also mounted in the vise frame 9. Specifically, the lever 38 (Figs. 2 and 3) is arranged to rock about a foreand-aft pivot screw 99' mounted in a fixedcross bar 40 of the vise frame, and at its lower end said lever is provided with an anti-friction roller 41 normally engaged in an open slot 42 formed in a lug or flange 43 rising from the rack bar 32. At its upper end, the lever 38 is further provided with a stud or pin44 projecting forwardly therefrom and by means of which the lever may be rocked to different predetermined positions about the pivot screw 39, the arrangement of the parts being such that, when such rocking of the lever occurs, the rack bar 32 will be shifted corresponding distances in the guideways 33 and; through the pinion 34, turn the rod I about its vertical axis through the proper number of degrees to set the grooved conditioningcollar 24 in one or another of its four angular positions, as above described. The rod l5 then, and just prior to the casting period, is moved upwardly to close either or both of the line clamping jaws Ill and l 1 against a composed line in performing a quadding or a centering operation. After the casting operation and after the first elevator 8 is raised to carry the line to the upper transfer level, the rod [5 is moved downwardly to restore the jaws to their original or normal position. The means employed to effect such vertical movements of the rod [5 will now be described.

Since the justification of composed lines in standard machines takes place during each castin cycle immediately after the line has been positioned between the clamping jaws, a member of the justifying mechanism in performing its normal function is used advantageously, in the present instance, to effect the upward movement of the jaw operating rod 15. Part of this mechanism is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and includes, generally, the horizontal spaceband thrust bar 45 supported at its opposite ends by the two vertical rods 46 and M slidably mounted in the vise frame 9; the spring-actuated fore-and-aft lever 43 controlled by cam action from the main drive shaft (not shown) and having a forked or bifurcated front end portion presenting the two

arms

49 and 55; the vertically disposed spring-actuated wedge member 51 loosely connected at its lower end to the arm 49 of said lever and guided at its upper end in a bracket 52 of the vise frame so as to sustain the banking block 2! for the left hand jaw against the force of justification; the other fore-and-aft lever 48 also controlled from the main drive shaft and connected through a fixture 58 to the vertical slide rod 47; and an upwardly inclined strut 53 pivoted to the fixture 48 and attached to the thrust bar 45 at a point immediately adjacent the upper end of the slide rod 46. The slide rods 56 and 41, during the justifying operation and for reasons well known, are actuated one slightly in advance of the other by the

levers

48 and 48, respectively, so as to raise the thrust bar 45 first in a canted position and then in a horizontal position into engagement with the spacebands of a composed line supported between the clamping jaws l9 and l 1.

According to the present improvements, theupward movement of the jaw actuating rod i5 is effected by the operation of the fore-and-aft lever 38 through the medium of an interponent or sleeve 54 which is splined to the rod 46 for vertical movement thereon and which is normally supported by the arm 50 of said lever in the position shown in Fig. 2. Near its upper end, the sleeve 54 is provided with a radially projecting stud 55 formed with a squared-oil end portion 56 located directly beneath the flanged banking collar 29 through which the actuating rod I5 is sustained in its inactive or normal position. While, with this arrangement, the upward movement 'of the rod 15 could be effected during each successive machine cycle of operation by the lever 48, it has been found desirable to break the connection between said rod and the sleeve 54 when the machine is conditioned for regular casting. For this purpose, the flanged portion of the collar 29, at a predetermined point in its circumference, is formed with a notch or recess 57 adapted at such times to register with the stud 55 (see Fig. 8) so that the rod l5 and parts controlled thereby will remain undisturbed in their normal position of rest during the line justifying and casting operations. However, the rod 46, as may be observed (see Fig. 2), is provided with a collar 58 spaced above the sleeve 54 and through which it still may be raised thereby in performing the justifying operation in conjunction with the corresponding rod 41. At other times, i. e. when a quadding or a centering operation is to be performed, the recess 51 will be out of registry with the stud 55, so that during the justification period the upward movement of the rod [5 will be effected by the operation of the lever 48 through the medium of the sleeve 5 3 and the engagement of the stud 55 with the flanged collar 29. Under these latter conditions, it may be mentioned that, since the upward movement of the sleeve 54 and the rod :5 is limited by the engagement of the clamping jaws with the opposite ends of the composed line positioned between them, the sleeve 54 may and frequently does fail to engage the collar 58. In such instances, however, the justification rod 41, with the aid of the inclined strut 53, will act independently of the rod 46 to justify the lines properly. It also may be mentioned, at this point, that since the operative connection between the rod I5 and the actuating sleeve 54 is broken in the manner above described for regular casting, the shape of the

segments

30 and 31 of the grooved conditioning collar 24 might well be changed so as to give support at such times to the jaw actuating levers through the diametrically

opposed pins

25 and 23 and thus sustain the clamping jaws against accidental movement or displacement in their line receiving' position.

When the machine is conditioned for quadding or centering, the vertical rod l5 after the casting operation is moved automatically downward to restore the-clamping jaws IE! and I l to their original or line receiving position. The means herein provided to bring about this result includes an angularly disposed lever 59 (Fig. 2) pivotally mounted between its ends on a small bracket 60 secured to the underside of the lower cross member 9 of the vise frame 9 At its opposite ends, the lever 59 is provided with

anti-friction rollers

61 and 82, the roller 6| being located in the verticalpath of a lip 63* projecting laterally from a plate 63 attached to the lower end of the elongated upright slide 8 of the first elevator (a portion of which is shown in Fig. 2), and the roller 62 being arranged to engage from above a collar 64 fastened to the lower end of the vertical actuating rod l5. As the rod [5 is raised to move the jaws into contact, with a composed line, the

lever 59, through the engagement of the collar 64 with the roller 62, will be rocked idly in one direction about its pivotal axis but later, as the first elevator in rising approaches the upper transfer level, said lever through the engagement of the lip 63 with the roller 6| will be rocked in the opposite direction and positively move the rod l downwardly to separate the jaws and restore the parts to their normal position.

As previously stated, the mechanism (already described) for conditioning the machine for regular casting, right hand quadding, left hand quadding or centering, is controlled automatically by devices carried by the first elevator 8 and which are adapted to function during its descent to the casting position. Accordingly (see Figs. 2, 6 and '7), the offset head portion 8 of the first elevator is equipped with a fiat, vertically disposed cam plate 65 secured along its upper edge to a horizontal bar 66 and arranged directly above the actuating lever 38 for the conditioning mechanism. The bar 66 :(Figs. 4 and 6) is arranged between the side walls of'the elevator head and is capable of endwise adjustment by the operation of a horizontally movable slide 61 so as to locate the cam plate 65 in four different edgewise positions. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the slide 61 i mounted and properly guided in a shallow recess 8 formed in the top surface of the front line supporting jaw of the first elevator 8, and at its leading end the slide is provided with an upstanding ear 6'1 whereby it may be advanced horizontally, in a manner later to be described, from its normal position (Fig. 4) to any one of three other different predetermined positions in effecting the adjustments of the bar 66.

The horizontal movements of the slide 61 are imparted to the bar 66 through the medium of a fore-and aft lever 68 which is movable in" a horizontal plane and pivotally'atta'ched between its ends to an angular bracket 69 fastened to one of the side walls of the elevator head. At the front, the shorter arm of the lever 68 is loosely connected'to the contiguous end of the bar 66, and at the'rear the longer arm of saidlever is offset laterally and similarly connected through a stud ll] to the corresponding end of the slide 81.

For reasons presently to appear, the bar 66 is locked in its different adjusted positions by means of a second fore-and-aft rocking lever ll which is arranged immediately above the bracket 69 and formed with a single blade-like tooth '12 (Fig. 6) disposed in engaging relation to four closely spaced-apart grooves 13 formed transversely in the bar. The lever H is attached by a pivot screw 14 directly to the elevator head and is operable to carry the tooth l2 downwardly and upwardly into and out of locking engagement with one or an-' other of the grooves 13 according to the adjusted position of the bar 66. At its front end, the lever ll (Figs. 6 and 7) is connected to the upper ex tremity of a vertical rod H the, latter being arranged between the side walls of thei'elevator slide 8* and provided with a pull spring I I which is anchored to a small bracket 8 of the elevator slide and tends to hold the' tooth l2'of said lever actuating slide 61 and parts controlled thereby to their normal positions, and again after the elevator descends to its normal or line receiving position to permit the operation of said slide.

As the first elevator 8 in its ascent after the casting operation comes to rest at the upper transfer level (see Figs. 9 and 10), the rear end of the lever H is adapted to engage a fixed member E5 of the machine frame and through such engagement actuate the lever to release the bar 66. Then, as a result of the operation of the upper transfer slide 16 in shifting a composed line from the elevator into the upper transfer channel l4, thebar 66 and the cam plate 65 will be returned to normal position (Fig. 1) .by a flat horizontally disposed element H which is slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in the frame member 75 and formed at one end with a downwardly bent projection 18 arranged to enga e the upstanding ear 61 of the actuating slide 61. The element ll (Figs. 10 and 11) is actuated by a pull spring l9 and sustained yieldingly in its inactive position by the regular transfer finger piece through the medium of a pin Bl fastened to an offset projection 82 of said element. To limit the horizontal movement of the element Tl, the fixed frame member 15 is provided with a stop pin 83 (Fig. 11) which is directlyopposed to the other or right hand end of said element and is spaced therefrom a distance determined by the maximum movement of the actuating slide 6'1.

The arrangement of the parts is such that, when the transfer slide 16 starts its active stroke (in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 11), the projection E8 of the slide element Ti, under the influence of the pull spring 19, will engage the ear 67 of the actuating slide 61 and restore the latter and parts controlled thereby to their original position as said element banks against the stop pin 83. Thereafter, and during the return stroke of the transfer slide, the element H will be moved back to its inactive'position against the tension of the spring 19 through the engagement of the fingerv piece 80 of the transfer slide with the sustainin pin 81 of said element. Meanwhile, the first elevatorwill have started its descent to the line receiving position, and as the rear end of the rocking lever H breaks its engagement with theframemember 15, the tooth 12 thereof will be swung downwardly by action of the pull spring 1 I into engagement with the last or fourth groove in the adjustable bar 66 and thus lock the parts in their respective normal positions (suitable for regular machine operation). When the first elevator in its descent approaches the line receiving level, the lever H again will be actuated torelease the horizontal bar 66, in a manner about to be described, in order to permit any required adjustment of the actuating slide 61 (for left hand quadding, right hand quadding or centering) The connection between the lever H and the vertical rod H (see Fig. 7) is established by a cross pin 84 which projects'through a clearance aperture 8 formed in the adjacent side wall of the elevator slide 8%. "Near its lower end, the rod H is provided with a pair of

toggle links

85 and 85, the former being pivotally connected directly to the rod, and the latter being similarly connected to the small: bracket 8 (before mentioned) by a pivot screw 8 which passes through an elongated SlOt'TBB in said rod and serves as an anchorage for the pullspring 'H When the toggleisstraightened"outfthe rod H as'permitted by the slot 86, "willbe moved upwardly in 1 1 opposition to the spring "H to disengage the lever H from the horizontal bar 66, and when the toggle is collapsed, the spring will be allowed to function in restoring the lever to its active or locking position.

Operation of the toggle is controlled by a pair of beveled cam surfaces 9 and 9 formed respectively near the upper and lower edges of one of the elevator guide plates 9 secured to the cap portion of the vise frame 9. Thus, as the elevator 8 in descending from the upper transfer level arrives at the line receiving level (Fig. 6), the toggle will be extended through its engagement with the cam surface 9 so as to actuate the lever H for the release of the rod 66, and when the elevator starts its descent to the casting position, the toggle will be collapsed by action of the spring H as it (the toggle) is carried downwardly over the cam surface 9 to actuate the lever H for the relocking of the bar 66. In this connection, it may be mentioned that, while actuation of the toggle by the cam surfaces 9 and 9 again will take place soon after the elevator starts its upward movement subsequent to the casting operation, the rod 65 will only be released momentarily and will stay locked until the elevator arrives at the upper transfer level. Consequently, the adjusted positions of the bar 66 will be safeguarded against possible disturbance through any jarring of the mechanism that may take place during machine operation.

Attention again is directed to Figs. 2 and 7, which show the shape or form of the cam plate 65 and the relation it bears to the control lever 38 for the conditioning mechanism already described. In its lower edge, the cam plate 65 (Fig. '7) is formed with a deep wedge-shaped recess presenting a pair of corresponding beveled cam surfaces 65 and 65 which converge upwardly and lead to the open end of a vertical slot 65 adjustable horizontal bar 65 to which it is attached occupy the full line (fourth) position shown in Fig. 7 for regular machine operation, and if the conditioning mechanism happens to be set for that operation, as also shown in Fig. '7, the slot 65 in the cam plate will be vertically aligned with the actuating stud 44 of the lever 38, so that the machine may function continuously without disturbing the conditioning mechanism. However, when the cam plate 65 is adjusted to one of its other three positions for left hand quadding, right hand quadding or centering (see the dotted lines in Fig. 7), the beveled surface 65 of said plate will engage the stud 44 during the descent of the first elevator to the casting position and actuate the lever 38 to set the collar 24 of the conditioning mechanism in the proper position, according to the particular operation to be performed. In such instances, as well as when the cam plate 65 and bar 66 are located in their normal position, the lever -38 and parts directly controlled thereby will be locked against movement during the casting operation by the engagement of the stud 44 with the side walls of the vertical slot 65 It may also be mentioned that the conditioning mechanism, together with the-control lever 38, will remain undisturbed after an adjustment throughout a machine cycle of operation, but since the actuating devices, including the cam plate 65, are restored to their normal position before the cycle is completed and are subject to adjustment by operation of the horizontal slide element 61 at the start of the next succeeding cycle, one

Normally, the cam plate 65 and the 12 or the other of the

beveled surfaces

65 or 65 of the cam plate will be capable of effecting a corresponding adjustment of the conditioning mechanism irrespective of the position the control lever 38 may happen to occupy under a previous adjustment.

According to the present improvements, the operation of the slide element 61 of the actuating devices, in effecting the adjustments of the horizontal bar 66 and cam plate 65, is controlled by means carried by the line delivery slide 6 as the latter transfers a composed line from the assembler 2 to the first elevator 8. Such means, in the preferred embodiment illustrated (see Figs. 1 and 12 to 17 inclusive), includes a rocking bailshaped member 81 having a pair of fore-and-aft side arms 81*, 81 and a horizontally disposed connecting bar 81, the latter being formed on its upper edge with rack teeth 31 extending substantially throughout the length thereof. The side arm 81 of the bail member is pivotally connected to a lug 83 rising from a forwardly projecting shelf 88 secured to the line delivery slide 6, and the other side arm 81 of said member is likewise pivotally connected to the upper end of the right hand finger 5 which is also secured to the delivery slide.

To sustain the bail member 8'! against gravity in its normal position (Figs. 1, 14 and 17) there is provided an elongated narrow strip 89 which is fastened to the lower front edge of the upper transfer channel l4 and which is arranged to engage an offset ear 8'! formed at the rear end of the arm 8'! of the bail member. Near its front end, the arm 8'! (Fig. 17) also is formed with a depending projection 8'! and carries a pin 8! extending laterally from said projection beneath the shelf 88 of the delivery slide. As shown best in Fig. 1, the sustaining strip 89 terminates at one end in an upwardly inclined beveled or cam surface 89 and under certain conditions later to be pointed out (as for right hand quadding), said cam surface will permit the front portion of the bail member to rock slightly downward and thereby locate the pin 8'I directly in line with the upstanding ear 6'1 of the adjusting slide 61. Ordinarily, however, i. e. when the machine is conditioned for regular work and lines are composed to the proper justifying length, the bail member 81 will be sustained independently of the strip 89 in its normal position by a fore-and-aft supporting element 4 which is carried by the left hand finger 4 of the line delivery carriage and is adapted to serve its function through an indicator piece 81* adjustably mounted on the cross bar 81 of the bail member.

Specifically, the supporting element 4 (Figs. 12 and 15) is arranged alongside the usual slide block 4*, from which the left hand finger 4 depends, and terminates at the front in juxtaposition to the cross bar 8! so that it may underlie a lip or flange 81 of the indicator piece as the leading end of a composed line engages the left hand finger in the course of the line delivery operation. At its rear end, the supporting element 4 is pivotally mounted on a suitable bracket 4 and is provided with a light pull spring 4 for holding it yieldingly in its proper position (Fig. 12) against the slide block 4 The indicator piece 8'! (Figs. 12, 13 and 15) is equipped with a latch pawl 8'! normally engaging the teeth on the upper edge of the cross bar 81 but is operable at will in opposition to a compression spring 81 to release the indicator tions along said bar.

piece and permit its adjustment to different posi- While these positions may be conveniently determined by a graduated scale marked on the front face of the bar 81, the indicator piece 81 is usually (for composed lines ranging upwardly to 24 ems in length) set two ems short of the actual or justified length of the lines in order to override the element 4* and prevent the downward rocking of the bail member if the lines are composed in accordance with the setting of the indicator piece. Thus, in Figs. 11 and 12, the indicator piece is set at 12 on the graduated scale for a 14 em line.

Besides the bail member 81 and the other parts (just described) associated therewith, the control means for the actuating devices further includes three fore-and-aft push rods 99, 9| and 92 arranged alongside one another and provided at their front ends with buttons marked L (for left hand quadding), C (for centering), and R (fOr right hand quadding as well as for regular machine operation).

The push rods 90, 9| and 92 are mounted in a box-like casing 93 secured to the shelf 88 of the line delivery slide, and each of said rods is provided with a fillister head screw 940: reduced diameter and extending rearwardly through the back wall of the casing 99. Compression springs 95, surrounding the shank portion of the screws and reacting against the same wall of the casing, hold the push rods yieldingly in their forward or inactive position. The first two push rods 99 and 94 are each furnished with a depending finger 99 (Figs. 13 and 16), while the third rod 92 (Fig. 14) has no such depending finger but is formed on its upper surface and near its front end with a recess 92 adapted when said rod is pushed inwardly to its active position, as shown in Fig. 12, to register with a relatively thin overlying extension 81" of the cross bar 91 of the bail member 81. To sustain the push rods 92 as well as the

rods

99 and 92 in their active positions, the casing 93 is equipped with a bladelike pawl 96 common to all three push rods and arranged to engage one or the other of two ratchet shaped teeth 91 formed transversely in the upper surfaces of said rods. The pawl 96 .is hingedly mounted between the side walls of the casing 93 and is provided with a wire spring 98 (see dotted lines in Fig. 12) for holding it yieldingly engaged with the teeth 91.

If a quadding operation by the left hand jaw or a centering operation is to be performed, the

corresponding push rod 99 (marked L) or 9| (marked C) as the case may be, is actuated to locate its depending finger 99- in line with the upstanding ear 6'! of the adjusting slide element 61. If the machine is to be conditioned for regular work or quadding with the right hand jaw, the push rod 92 (marked R) is'pushed to its active position so that the bail bar 8! (unless it is supported by the element 4 in the :manner already described) may rock downwardly to locate the aforementioned pin 81 in the line with the ear 61 of the slide element 61.

.This latter operation, of course, will take place push rods that may have been previously actuated. If the rod 92 happens to be the one so released, the recess 92* therein will be carried forwardly from beneath the extension 81 of the cross bar 81 and the latter will then obtain support directly from the rod 92 through said extension, thus locking the bail member 81 against movement until the push rod 92 is again actuated.

In standard Linotype machines, the operation of the line delivery slide is effected during each machine cycle by a cam-controlled spring-actuated lever 6 through a connecting link 6 (Figs. 1 and 12) and the active stroke of the slide is limited by a fixed banking screw 6 mounted in the front plate of the machine framework. Also, the left hand finger 4, whose movements are controlled by the operation of the line delivery slide, is adapted when the machine is at rest to occupy its position of maximum separation (30 ems) from the right hand finger 5, where it is restrained against overthrow by a spring plunger 4 as the delivery slide completes its return stroke. The plunger 4 is mounted, as usual (see Fig. 15) in the slide block i of the left hand finger and is arranged so as to frictionally engage a fiat finished surface 4 of the machine frame.

It also may be mentioned that, since the length of the active stroke of the line delivery slide is definitely determined by the stop screw 6, accurate adjustments of the slide element 6'! is readily accomplished by proper spacing of the depending fingers 99 of the first two push rods 99 and 9| and the laterally projecting pin 81 of the bail member 81.

It will now be clear that, when the parts occupy the position shown in Figs. 1, 12 and 13 (with the push rod 92 actuated for right hand quadding or for regular machine operation and with the indicator piece 81 set for a 14 em line) and when lines are composed to the proper justifying length ,(i. e. within 2 ems of the actual measure), the bail member 8! will be supported in its normal or inactive position by the element 4* as the lines are delivered to the first elevator 9 and the casting mechanism, including the clamping jaws l9 and I I, will be allowed to function in the usual way for a regular machine operation. However, when a composed line is more than 2 ems short of the actual measure, the lipo'r flange 81 of the indicator piece 81 during the line delivery operation, will be carried beyond the supporting element It as the leading end of the line engages the left hand finger 4. Consequently, and as the ear 87 of the bail member 87 passes from under the sustaining strip 89, the bail member will be permitted to rock downwardly to its active position and actuate the adjusting slide 61, through the engagement of the pin 8'! with the ear 61 just before the line delivery slide 6 banks against the stop screw 6. As a result, the cam plate 65 will be set automatically in the proper position to: condition the machine for a quadding operation by the right hand jaw I I when the first elevator 8 descends to carry theline to the casting position. During the return stroke of the line delivery slide, the bail member 87 will be rocked back to its original position by the engagement of the ear 87 with the cam surface 89 of the sustaining strip 89, but "in the meantime the indicator piece 81*, in passing thesupporting element 4*, will swing the latter out of the way against the influence of the pull spring 4 .-:-;I t will also be clear 'that'when the push rod 90 'aesaoar or the push rod 9! is actuated, the adjusting slide 6-! during the active stroke of the delivery slide 6 will be actuated by the depending finger 99 of said rod to condition the machine for a quadding operation by the left hand jaw or for a centering operation by both jaws, according to the rod actuated. Under such conditions, the bail 87 is held in its raised or inactive position by the push rod 92, regardless of the length of the composed line.

In other words, and by way of recapitulation, when the push rod 93 (marked L) is actuated, the machine will be conditioned for left hand quadding regardless of the length of the composed line. Likewise, when the push rod 91 (marked C) is actuated, the machine will be conditioned for centering, again regardless of the length of the composed line. On the other hand, when the push rod 92 (marked R is actuated, the machine will be conditioned for right hand quadding or for regular machine operation according to the length of the composed line in reference to the setting of the indicator piece 81 Thus, as above explained, if the indicator piece is set for a 14 em slug, the machine will be automatically conditioned for a regular machine operation so long as lines are composed within 2 ems of the actual measure, such 2 ems representing the normal spa-ceband expansion during justification. However, if any composed line falls short of such 2 cm allowance, the machine will be automatically conditioned for ri ht hand quadding, due to the overrunning of the pawl it by the indicator piece. It is to be expected, of course, that the operator will set the indicator piece in accordance with the actual measure of the slugs to be cast, just as other parts of the machine have to set, in controlling the automatic switch from regular machine operation to right hand quadding, or vice versa. For instance, if 30 em slugs are to be cast, the indicator piece will be set accordingly except that, in such case, a 3 cm allowance for spaceband expansion would be more common, meaning that the indicator piece would be set at 27 on the graduated scale to provide for a more extended cooperation with the pawl 4 in controlling the operation of the bail member 81.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a slug casting machine equipped with a vertically movable line transporter and a horizontally re-ciprocable slide for delivering composed lines to the transporter, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws, each movable independently toward the other for quadding and both movable in unison toward each other for centering, mechanism to effect such quadding or centering movement or the jaws, means. to condition said mechanism for a quadding or centeringoperation, adjustable devices carried by the line transporter and adapted during its downward movement to actuate the conditioning mechanism for a quadding or centering operation, and pre-settable means carried by the line delivery slide. for effecting the required adjustment of the actuating devices as a composed line is delivered to the transporter.

2. In a slug casting machine equipped with a vertically movable line transporter and a horizontally reciprocable slide for delivering composed lines to the transporter, the combination of a-pacir of line clamping jaws, an operatingdevice 16 therefor, and manually settable means carried by the line delivery slide and operative as a composed line is delivered to the transporter to cause either one or both of said jaws to be connected to said device during the ensuing casting cycle, as required.

3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein the manually settable means includes an element which when selected is normally inactive but movable automatically into position to cause the right hand jaw to be connected to the operating device for a quadding operation when a composed line is of less than the proper justifying length.

4. In a slug casting machine equipped with a line transporter, actuating devices carried thereby and adjustable to condition the machine for quadding with the right hand jaw, and a horizontally reciprocable line delivery carriage, the combination of a V-shaped rocking bail member pivotally sup-ported by its opposite arms upon the carriage and movable to different positions, means carried by said bail member :and adapted in one position thereof to cause an adjustment of the actuating devices for a quadding operation, and in another position thereof to avoid an adjustment of said devices, and means whereby the position of the. bail member is controlled automatically and according to the length of the line composed.

5. In a slug casting machine equipped with a line transporter, actuating devices carried thereby and adjustable to cause a conditioning of the machine for quadding with the right hand jaw, and a horizontally reciprocating line delivery carriage comprising a left hand finger mounted independently of the carriage but movable thereby, an opposed right hand finger integral with the carriage for shifting a composed line against the left hand finger and into the line transporter, the combination of a U-shaped rocking bail member pivotally supported by its opposite arms upon the carriage and movable to diiferent positions, means carried by said ball member and adapted in one position thereof to efiect an adjustment of the actuating devices for a quadding operation when a composed line is of less than the proper justifying length, an indicator piece mounted for longitudinal adjustment to diiferent positions on the cross bar of the bail member to accord with the justifying length of composed lines, and a supporting element attached to the left hand finger for sustaining the bail member through the medium of the indicator piece in another or inactive position when a composed line is of the proper justifying length.

6. In a slug casting machine equipped with a .line transporter, actuating devices carried thereby and adjustable to condition the. machine for quadding with the right hand jaw, and a horizontally reciprocable line delivery carriage, the combination of a U-shaped rocking bail member pivotally supported by its opposite arms upon the line delivery slide, means to sustain said bail member against gravity in an inactive position throughout the active stroke of said slide when a composed line is of the proper justifying length, means whereby the bail member is allowed to automatically drop to an active position when a composed line is of less than the proper justifying length, and means carried by the bail member and adapted in the active position thereof to effect an adjustment of the actuating devices for a quadding operation.

7, In a slug casting machine equipped with a line transporter, actuating devices carried thereby and adjustable to condition the machine for right hand or left hand quadding or centering, and a horizontally reciprocable line delivery carriage, the combination of a U-shaped rocking bail member pivotally supported by its opposite arms upon the line delivery carriage and movable automatically from inactive to active position to cause an adjustment of the actuating devices for right hand quadding during the active stroke of the line delivery carriage, three corelated spring-controlled push rods mounted on the bail member one behind another in the direction of movement of the line delivery carriage, one rod operable manually to permit such automatic movement of the bail member for right hand quadding, another operable manually to cause an adjustment of the actuating devices for left hand quadding, and the third operable manually to cause an adjustment of the actuating devices for centering, means common to all three push rods for retaining any selected one to the exclusion of the others inits actuated position, and lugs carried by the push rods for engagement with a common cooperating part of said actuating devices.

8. In a slug casting machine equipped with a line transporter movable downwardly to casting position and thereafter upwardly to the transfer level during each casting cycle, actuating devices carried by the transporter and adjustable to cause a conditioning of the machine for right hand or left hand quadding or centering during thedownward movement of the transporter, and a horizontally reciprocable carriage for delivering composed lines to the transporter, the combination of means carried by the carriage to effect all adjustments of the actuating devices, and means arranged at the upper transfer level to automatically restore the actuating devices to their normal position as a composed line is shifted from the transporter for distribution.

9. In a slug casting machine equipped with a vertically movable line transporter and a horizontally reciprocable carriage for delivering composed lines thereto, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws, an operating device therefor, and manually settable means carried by the carriage and operative as a composed line is delivered to the transporter to control the connection of either one or both of said jaws to said device as the transporter descends to the casting position.

10. In a slug casting machine equipped with a vertically movable line transporter and a horizontally reciprocable carriage for delivering composed lines thereto, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws, an operating device therefor, actuating devices carried by the transporter and adjustable to connect either one or both of said jaws to the operating device for a quadding or centering operation as the transporter descends to casting position, manually settable means carried by the carriage and operative as a composed line is delivered to the transporter to effect the required adjustment of the actuating devices during the ensuing casting cycle, and means for restoring said devices automatically to their normal or inactive position before the cycle is completed.

11. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a line transporter movable during a casting cycle first downwardly from its line receiving position to the casting position and thereafter upwardly to the line transfer position and ing devices carried by the transporter and adjustable automatically to cause a conditioning of the machine for right hand or left hand quadding or centering, and automatic safety means, also carried by the transporter and acting to lock the actuating devices against accidental displacement in their normal or adjusted positions during the vertical movements of the transporter, said safety means comprising, a locking element movable to and from active position by the transporter. o

l2. A combination according to claim 11, including means for rendering the locking element inactive as the transporter is restored to its line receiving position so as to permit the adjustments of the actuating devices to be effected.

13. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a line transporter movable during a casting cycle upwardly from the castin position to the line transfer position, actuating devices carried by the transporter and adjustable automatically to cause a conditioningof the machine for right hand or left han'd'quadding or centering, safety means acting tolock said devices against accidental displacement in their adjusted positions, means for renderingthe safety means inactive as the transporter attains the transfer level, a horizontally reciprocable slide operative to transfer a composed line from the transporter for distribution, and means controlled by the operation of the transfer slide to restore the actuating devices to their normal or inactive position, V

"14. 1; combination according to claim 13, wherein the actuating devices include a horizontally adjustable control element, and the means for restoring said devices to their normal position include a spring-actuated member arranged to engage and actuate the control element during the transfer operation.

15. In a slug casting machine equipped with line justifying devices, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws, each movable independently toward the other for quadding and both movable in unison equi-distantly toward each other for centering, a vertical slide rod movable upwardly and downwardly for operating the jaws, a vertically movable interponent controlled by the operation of the line justifying devices for raising the slide rod when a quadding or centering operation is to be performed, and means for automatically breaking the connection between the interponent and said rod when the composed lines. are of the proper justifying length.

16. A combination according to claim 15, wherein the vertical slide rod is capable of rotation to different angular positions to establish an operative connection between the rod and either one or both of the line clamping jaws, and including means for effecting the rotation of said rod automatically.

1'7. In a slug casting machine equipped with line justifying devices, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws, each movable independently toward the other for quadding and both movable in unison equi-distantly toward each other for centering, a vertical slide rod movable upwardly and downwardly for operating the jaws, a, vertically movable interponent controlled by the operation of the line justifying devices for raising the slide rod when a quadding or centering operation is to be performed, and means for breaking the connection between the ina vertically movable interponent controlled by the operation of the line justifying devices for raising the slide rod when a quadding or centering operation is to be'performed; and means for rotating the slide rod to difierent angular posi tions to establish an operative connection between the rod and either one or both of -the line clamping jaws while maintaining an operative connection between the interponent and the rod.

19. The combination according to -claim'18, wherein the slide rod is capable of rotation'to still another angular position to break the operative connection between the intei'ponent and the rod for a regular machine operation;

20. A combination according to I claim -l, wherein the active stroke of thedelivery slide is constant and the control means for the actu ating devices include horizontally spaced part elements arranged one behind another in the direction of movement of the slide for engagement with a common cooperating part of the actuating devices as the slide completes its ac tive stroke, and means for positioning any selected one of said elements for such engagement.

21. A combination according to claim 20, wherein there are three such positionableelements, one for quadding with the left hand jaw,

a second for quadding with the right hand jaw, and a third for centering with both jaws, said elements being arranged on the carriage from left to right in that order. 7

22. In a slug casting machine equipped with a vertically movable line transporter and with line justifying devices, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws, each movable independ} ently' toward the other for quadding and both movable in unison equidistantly toward each other for centering, a vertically movable device for operating the jaws and capable of rotary movement to differentangularpositions to establish a connection with either one or both "of said jaws, means operable by" the downwardmov'e ment of the transporter 'for effecting the rotary movement of said device, means actuated by the upward movement of the line'justiiying devices for imparting an upward movement to the jaw operating device to effect the quadding or can teri'ng movements of the clamping jaws; and means actuated by the upward movement of the line transporter for imparting a downward move ment to the jaw operating device to efiect the return movement of the jaws to their original positions of maximum separation.

' RANSOMI I-I. TURNER.

References Cited in the file Of this atent 2,153912 Billington et al. Apr-.11, 1939