US2713824A - Printer's form - Google Patents

Description

July 26, 1955 H. J. HILLAND 2,713,824

PRINTER S FORM Filed Aug. 8, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 & java 7'.

Li e? J July 26, 1955 HILLAND 2,713,824

PRINTER S FORM Filed Aug. 8, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 T27 3 M E haen/for.

July 26, 1955 HlLLAND 2,713,824

PRINTERS FORM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1949 1729672 21 J67 Jfla'famj Unite My invention relates generally to lock-up devices for locking up printing forms, and the like, and more particularly to an improved lock-up mechanism of the general type illustrated in my prior Patent No. 2,449,38l, issued on September 14, 1948, the present application being an improvement on the patented structure.

The present invention has among its objects the production of a lock-up mechanism for printers forms which is relatively simple in construction and very efiicient in use, whereby printing forms may be readily locked up without requiring the use of the usual printers furniture, or other printing material, within or without a printers chase, press, galley, or the like.

Another object of the invention is the production of such an improved lock-up mechanism having the principal advantages of the structure disclosed in the above referred to patent, which is so constructed that the operations employed in the utilization of the present invention is similar to present operations employed, with the exception that the furniture or other lock-up material is not required, nor need the form be originally locked up in the printing chase, galley, or the like.

A further object of the invention is the production of a novel lock-up mechanism of the type described, including a novel form of quoin which co-acts with the other elements of the lock-up mechanism to produce very efficient results, and which is relatively simple in construction, in expensive to manufacture, and very durable in use.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters represent like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a plane view of a lock-up mechanism embodying the present invention with a printers form locked therein and the device positioned in a printers chase;

Fig. 2 is a section view through one of the lock-up quoins taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the quoin illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plane view of such a quoin with a portion thereof broken away to disclose the details of construction;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the bar locking members;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 77 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a top plane view of a bar locking member illustrating a modified form thereof with a portion of the structure broken away to disclose the details of construction;

atent Patented July 26, 1955 Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken approximately on the line 1010 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modified form of quoin;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary View of the quoin illustrated in Fig. 11 with portions of the structure broken away; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the portions of a pair of additional supporting bars which may be employed, if desired, where two or more type forms are being simultaneously printed.

The present invention, as hereinbefore mentioned, is an improvement of the device illustrated in my previous patent, which discloses a lock-up mechanism including two pairs of bars, the bars of each pair being parallel to one another with one pair of bars extending at substantially right angles to the other pair of bars to define a form receiving space between the respective bars. Each pair of intersecting or crossing bars is secured together by corner locking members, by means of which each pair of parallel bars may engage and clamp the printing form therebetween. The present invention, while utilizing pairs of bars and means for connecting the bars in rigid relation relative to each other, employs additional means in the form of novel quoins for providing the clamping forces required to maintain the form in locked-up position to increase the flexibility of the device. The present construction, thus by employing quoins, permits the locking up of the form in a manner similar'to that heretofore employed, but eliminating the necessity of employing furniture, or the like, as Well as eliminating the necessity of locking the form in the chase, galleys, or the like, and permitting handling and moving of the locked-up form without a chase or galley. The present invention also has the advantage of permitting minor adjustments of or changes in the form Without disturbing the supporting bars.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 7, 1 indicates generally a printers form to be locked up and supported by a printers chase 2, the form 1 comprising set type, a cut, or other form from which printing is to be run. The chase 2, as illustrated, is of conventional form and is constructed with opposed inner side edges 3 and end edges 4, against which, under old methods, the form is clamped through the usual wooden or other furniture. Extending between the edges 3 is a pair of spaced, parallel bars 5a and 5b, and extending at right angles to the bars 5 between the edges 4 is a second pair of spaced parallel bars 6a and 6b. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the bars 5a and 5b are positioned above the bars 6a and 6b, so that the bars 5 and 6 may be moved independently of one another throughout the area of the chase.

The bars 5a and 5b are each provided with an inverted, longitudinally extending rack 7, and the bars 6a and 6b are each provided with an upward, longitudinally extending rack 8. The racks '7 and 8 in the construction illustrated are formed from separate stock and secured to their respective bars by screws 9, or other suitable means, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. However, if desired, the racks could be suitably formed integrally with their respective bars. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the bars 5 and 6 are shorter in length than the distance between the edges of the chase between which they extend, and in the construction illustrated, each end of the bars is provided with a threaded stud ll rigidly secured thereto, and a disc-like chase engageable member 12. threadedly mounted thereon. The peripheral edge of each disc 12 is provided with tool engaging apertures 13, in which may be inserted a suitable tool for facilitating the rotation of the disc, whereby the latter may be rotated in a direction to move the same outwardly with respect to the adjacent bar end and engage the adjacent inner edge of the chase, thus placing the bars under compression between opposite edges of the chase.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the bars 5 and 6 are operatively connected at their intersections by corner members or slides 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d, the member 14a being illustrated in Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the member 14a, of generally L-shape, is provided with a channel, indicated generally by the numeral 15 shaped to receive the bar 6a, the member 14a being provided with a channel 16 adjacent one side wall of the channel 15 and the shoulder 17 of the member 140/ is engageable with the complementally formed shoulder on the bar 6a to permit the member 14a to slide on the bar, with the latter retained at all times in the channel. The member 14a which is provided with a second channel, indicated generally by the numeral 16, extends at right angles to the channel 15 and positioned thereabove, and is adapted to receive the bar 5a. The member 14a is also provided with a flange 17 adjacent one edge of the channel 16 engageable with the shoulder 18 on the bar 5a, whereby the member 14a is free to slide along the bar 5a, with the latter being retained in the channel 16. Rotatably mounted in the member 1411 is a pair of pinions 19a and 1%, the pinion 1% being positioned to engage the teeth in the rack 7 of the bar 5a, and the pinion 19b positioned to engage the teeth on the rack 8 of the bar 6a. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the pinion 19a is positioned in a slot 21a, and the pinion 19b in the slot 21b, each pinion being rigidly mounted on a respective shaft 22 journaled in the member 14a at opposite sides of the slots 21a and 21b. The member 14a is provided with slots 23 which respectively intersect the bores for the shafts 22, thereby, in effect, forming a split bearing for each of the shafts. Connecting the portions of the member on opposite sides of each slot 23 are screws 24 which are threaded into the portions of the member below the respective slots, as illustrated in Fig. 7; thus by tightening the screws 24, pressure may be applied on the shafts 22, whereby the latter may be rigidly clamped or locked in the member, thereby preventing rotation of the pinions. Also rigidly secured to each shaft 22 is a disc 25 having a plurality of apertures 26 in its peripheral edge for the reception of a suitable tool by means of which the disc, shaft, and pinion associated therewith may be rotated. As illustrated in Fig. 6, each disc 25 is positioned in alslot 27 formed in the member 14a, the end edges of the slots 27 diverging outwardly at each side of the block, as indicated at 28, to provide adequate space for engagement of a tool with the apertures 26 and permit sufficient rotation of the disc by means of the tool to allow the tool to be inserted in the next adjacent aperture. The members 14 are all similar in construction insofar as the details thus far described in connection with the member 14a, with the exception that the vertical relationship of the pinions of the members 14b and 14d are reversed as compared with the pinions of the members 14a and 140, as will be apparent from an examination of Fig. 1, due to the relationship between the bars 5a and 5b with the bars 6a and 61), whereby the racks 7 are in an inverted position. i

It will be apparent that with the construction thus far described, the members 14 maintain the bars 5a and 5b in parallel relation, and the bars 6a and 6b in parallel relation, but permit either pair of parallel bars to be moved along the other pair of bars. Thus the bars 5:: and 512 may be moved towards or away from one another and, in like manner, the bars 6a and 6b moved towards or away from one another, assuming that all of the pinions are free to rotate. However, by tightening the respective screws 24 by means of a suitable tool engaged with the head of the screw, the

members 14 may be locked in stationary position with respect to the bars, so that the two pairs of bars may be locked in any desired relationship, whereby the space adapted to receive the printing may be of any desired size within the limits of the chase or press, and may, within the inherent limits of the structure, be positioned anywhere within the space defined by the internal edges 3 and 4 of the chase. Normally, upon release of the various pinions by backing off the screws 24, the members 14 may be readily slid along the various bars. However, where it is desired to make very small adjustments of any of the members 14 with respect to a bar or bars, the pinions may be rotated by means of the discs 25.

Positioned on each of the bars 5b and 6b, and extending inwardly into the space occupied by the form 1 is a quoin, indicated generally by the numeral 31, the latter, in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, comprising a base or body member 32 having a channel 33 formed in one face thereof of a size to receive the bars 5b or 6b, which have the same transverse dimensions. Carried by the body 32 is a form engaging member or plate 34 having a rectangularly-shaped shank 35 extending therefrom and positioned in a channel 36 formed in the member 32. The latter is also provided with a relatively narrow slot or channel 37 in which is positioned a disc 38 having a threaded shank 39 rigidly secured thereto and threaded into a bore 41 in the shank 35. Thus by rotating the disc 38 and stem 39, the member 34 may be moved toward or away from the adja cent face of the member 32, the face 42 of the disc 38 bearing on the adjacent wall 43 defining the slot 37.

The block 32 is also provided with a pair of bores 44, the axes of which extend parallel to the channel 36, in which are positioned pins 45, the inner ends of which terminate in heads 46 of a diameter slightly less than that of the bore 44. The pins extend through the small bores 47 and have their free ends suitably secured to the member 34. Positioned in the respective bores 44 and encircling the pins 45 are compression springs 48, one end of which is seated upon the head 46 of the pin, and the other end upon the shoulder 49 formed as a result of the difference in diameters of the bores 44 and 47. Thus the springs 48 tend to draw the pins 45 into the block 32 and urge the member 34 toward the block. The disc 38 is therefore maintained in engagement with the wall 43 so that play between the parts is substantially eliminated The open end of each of the bores 44 is preferably sealed by a threaded plug 51 provided with a recess 52 for engagement of a suitable tool therewith. To facilitate rotation of the disc 38 and extension or retraction of the member 34 relative to the lock 32, the disc is provided with a plurality of apertures 53 similar to the apertures 26 in the discs 25 and, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, the end walls of the slot 37 are flared outwardly at both sides of the slot, as indicated at 54 and 55, to facilitate engagement of a tool with the apertures 53. The quoins 31, as illustrated in Fig. 1, are positioned on the bars 512 and 6b with the quoin on the bar 512 being inverted due to the fact that the bar 5/) is positioned above the bar 6!). Thus by rotating the discs of the respective quoins, the members 34 of each quoin may be engaged with the adjacent edge of the form 1.

In locking up a form, the lock-up mechanism, including the bars 5 and 6, members 14, and quoins 31 are placed upon the make-up stone, or other surface, and the respective pairs of parallel bars separated a sufficient distance to receive the form to be locked up, the relative positions of the bars depending upon the size of the form and the desired position of the form when on the press. To facilitate the centering or other positioning of the form, the bars 5 and 6 are preferably graduated, as indicated in Fig. 1, zero on each bar constituting the center line, and by having the form evenly spaced on either side of the centering line, the form may be readily centered with respect to the lock-up mechanism. When the proper position of the bars 5:: and 60: has been determined, the screws 24 of the member 12 are drawn up, thereby rigidly clamping the bars 5a and 6a in their desired relation, after which the bars 5b and 6b, together with the members 14b, 14c, and 14d, are moved adjacent thereto but spaced a slight distance from the adjacent edges of the form. The screws 24 of the members 14b, 14c, and 14d are then drawn down to lock all of the bars and members rigidly together, after which the quoins 31 are suitably positioned on the bars 5b and 6b, preferably in approximately the center of the form, and by rotating the discs 38 in the proper direction, the members 34 are engaged with the adjacent edges of the form, compressing the same between such member and the oppositely disposed bar. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. l, the quoins 31 en age the upper and right hand edge of the form 1 with the left hand and lower edge of the form, bearing against the bars 5a and 60, respectively. Obviously, if the form 1 possesses an elongated shape, it may be desirable to use two or more quoins along such elongated edge. In some cases it may be desirable to employ additional furniture adjacent the form 1, and this may be readily accomplished by increasing the size of the space to receive the form. However, cases may arise where the form to be locked up is sufficiently small that the quoins 31 cannot be utilized without employing additional furniture, the use of which may be undesirable. In this event, such small form may readily be locked up without utilizing additional furniture by means of supplemental lock-up screws, which may be provided on the members 14b, 14c, and 14d. Such additional loci-up means is illustrated in Fig. l and comprises screws 56b, 56c, and 56d, the members 14b and Mn! each carrying one of such screws, and the member ldc carrying two screws, the axes of which extend at right angles to one another. Each of the screws is provided with a disc-like head 57, the periphery of which is provided with apertures 58 similar to the discs 25 and 36. As illustrated in Fig. l, the members 14b, 14-0, and 14a are each extended to provide suflicient material for supporting the respective screws.

In locking up a small form by means of the screws 56,

the form is placed in engagement with the bars 5a and.

6a in the same manner as previously described, and the members 14b, 14c, and 14d positioned close to the adjacent edges of the form with the screws 56 being fully retracted in the respective members. The latter are then looked in position, following which a suitable tool is positioned in the apertures 58 of the discs 57, and the latter rotated to withdraw the screws from the members l4, and upon engagement of the form with the discs 57, compression forces may be applied to the form comparable to that of the quoins 31.

After the form has been locked in the device, the lock-up mechanism and the form comprise an integral assembly which may be readily picked up and handled, or transported without danger of injury to the form. The same may be readily secured in the chase 2 by positioning the device and form between the inner edges 3 and 4 of the chase, and by rotating the discs 12 in a direction to move the same away from the adjacent end of its respective bar; the edges 3 and 4 of the chase may be engaged by the respective discs, and the bars associated therewith put under compression to firmly secure the bars in the chase. Minor adjustments of the form in the chase may be made by loosening the discs and backing off the discs at one corresponding end of a pair of parallel bars, and taking up the discs at the opposite ends of such bars, thus moving the form in a direction parallel to such pair of bars. It is therefore unnecessary in making minor adjustments of the form in the chase to unlock the form from the lock-up mechanism, although, of course, if the adjustment was considerable, it might be desirable to adjust the bars 5 and 6 relative to each other.

While I have illustrated the use of a rotatablepinion, together with means for preventing rotation of the pinion when desired, to accomplish locking of the members 14 and bars 5 and 6 in their desired positions, the locking mechanism may take a form other than a rotatable pinion. Such a construction is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, in which the member 61 corresponds to the member 14a and is provided with channels 62 and 63 corresponding to the channels 15 and 16 of the member 14a adapted to receive bars 5 and 6, respectively corresponding to the bars 5a and 6a engaged with member 14a.

Positioned in the recess 6% of the member 61, and rotatably mounted on a pin 65, is a dog 66 having teeth 67 formed thereon engageable with the teeth of the rack 8. The dog 66 is urged about the pin 65 by means of a compression spring 68 in a direction to rotate the dog towards the rack 7 and bring the teeth 67 into engagement with the teeth of the rack, operative to firmly lock the bar and member together. The dog 66 is provided with an L-shapcd handle 69, by means of which the dog may be rotated out of engagement with the rack by applying downward pressure on the handle 69 in opposition to the spring 68. As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9, the bore 71 in the dog 66, through which the pin 65 extends, may be flared slightly, as indicated at "72, to permit the dog to be cooked slightly and, as illustrated in 8, the member 61 may be undercut, as indicated at 73, to form a shoulder under which the handle may be positioned when in a depressed position and disengaged from the rack, thereby providing means, if desired, for bold ing the dog out of engagement with the rack during movement of the member 61 relative to the bar 5.

The member 61 is also provided with a second dog 74 positioned in a recess 75 in the member 61 and pivotally mounted on a pin 76, the dog being provided with teeth 77 engageable with the teeth on the rack 8 of the bar 6, and urged toward the rack 8 by a compression spring 73. The dog 74 is likewise provided with a handle 79, by means of which the teeth 77 may be disengaged from the rack 8 by exerting downward pressure on the handle 79 in opposition to the spring 78. Likewise, the bore 71 of the dog 74 may be flared, as indicated at 72, and the member 61 may be provided with an undercut 81, similar to the undercut 73, by means of which the dog may be retained in disengaged position by cocking the dog slightly on the pin 76.

The operation of the device incorporating corner members similar to the member 61 is substantially the same as that heretofore described, with the exception that the members may be unlocked from the respective bars merely by actuating the handles on the respective dogs, and as the quoins 31 or screws 56 and discs 12 are capable of greater movement than the linear tooth pitch, the members wolud be positioned relative to the bars merely to the closest interlocking tooth, after which the form would be clamped by means of the quoins 31 or the screws 56, and any additional adjustment made by means of the discs 12 when the device is mounted in the chase.

While I have described the quoins 31 as being actuated by screw means, if desired, the quoins could be actuated by a cam, and such a construction is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, wherein the quoin 31' comprises a body member or block 32' having a channel 33 therein for the reception of a locking bar, and a transverse channel 82 adapted to receive the rectangular shank 83 of the pressure plate or member 84, corresponding to the member 34 of the quoin 31. The block 32' is also provided with a vertically extending bore 85, in which is positioned a cylindrical actuating member 536 having a cam portion 87 positioned adjacent the end 88 of the shank 83 and engageable therewith. The free end of the member 86 is provided with a relatively flat head 8?, the peripheral edges of which are beveled, as indicated at 91. The member 86 is retained in the bore by any suitable means as, for example, deforming the material of the block 32 adjacent the mounting of the bore 85 to form a retaining flange 92 adjacent the beveled edge 91 of the head 89. The opposite end of the member 86 is provided with a short stem 93 positioned in a bore 94, of less diameter than that of the bore 85, forming a retaining flange 95 engageable with the shoulder 96 thus formed on the member 36, thereby firmly retaining the member 86 in the bore 85. Each end of the member 86 is provided with a recess 97 of a size and shape to receive a suitable tool by means of which the member 86 may be rotated. The pressure plate 84 is urged toward the block 32' by a pair of compressing springs 48 (only one of which is illustrated) comparable to the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 and including the spring 48, bore 44, pin 45, etc. Thus the plate 84 may be extended from the block 32 by rotating the member 86, whereby the cam portion 87 thereof will move the shank 83 and plate 84 outwardly or, by reversing the rotation of the member 86, the plate 84 will move toward the block 32 under the action of the springs 48.

In some cases, as for example where a plurality of type forms such as book pages, or the like, are to be simultaneously printed and thus locked in a single lockup device, separator bars may be employed between the respective forms. Such spacing bars are illustrated in Fig. 13, in which the bars ldizz and llillb are substantially the same as the bars 5 and 6, with the exception that the racks 7 and 8 are omitted. The ends 102 of the bars are constructed in the same manner as the bars 5 and 6, with the end of each bar being provided with a disc 12 threadedly mounted on a stud 11 rigidly carried by the end of the bar, the discs being provided with apertures 13 in their peripheral edge for engagement with a suitable actuating tool. The bars may be employed in the following manner: Assuming, for example that four forms are to be locked up, each form being of substantially the same size, the lower left hand form would be positioned in engagement with the bars 5a and 6a in a manner similar to the form 1 illustrated in Fig. 1. A bar 191a would then be positioned directly above the form with the bar extending parallel to the bars 6, and a second form would then be positioned above the bar 101a adjacent the bar 5a. The bar 101b would then be positioned vertically adjacent the right hand edges of both forms, and the remaining two forms would be positioned in the remaining two spaces, following which the entire group of forms would be placed under compression by means of quoins engaging the upper edges of each of the top forms, and the right hand edges of each or" the two right hand forms, with the quoins, of course, being positioned on the bars 512 and 6b. Obviously, if only two forms were being locked up, only one bar positioned between the two forms would be employed. When applied to the chase, the bars 5 and 6 would be placed under compression, as heretofore described, after which each of the bars 101a and 1011), or merely one of the bars, if that is all that is employed, is then placed under compression in a similar manner, whereby each form is firmly locked in position.

It will be noted from the above description that I have provided a lock-up mechanism which eliminates the necessity of utilizing furniture or of locking the form directly in the chase or galley, and which employs a suitable form of quoin so that, apart from the elimination of the furniture, similar operations may be employed in locking up a form in my lock-up mechanism as is employed in present practice. Likewise, the use of the quoins provides a very simple and flexible construction which is very durable and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lock-up mechanism, a pair of spaced parallel bars, a second pair of spaced parallel bars extending across the first pair of bars at substantially right angles thereto, with the bars defining a form receiving space, each of said bars being independently movable relative to the other bars and each having a tooth rack thereon, corner members at the juncture of each pair of crossing bars operative to maintain the parallel and angular relation between said bars, a pair of rotatable pinions operatively mounted on Shafts carried by each member, each pinion engageable with one of the adjacent racks and operative by a disc operatively mounted on its respective shaft, means operatively engaging the respective shafts for preventing rotation of said pinions to maintain the respective bars in fixed relation to provide a substantially rigid form supporting structure, adjustable means extending inwardly into said form receiving space and movable relative to said structure into said space operative to engage and exert compression forces on a pair of intersecting edges of a form placed therein to retain the latter in said structure, and individual means on the ends of each of said bars for engaging means for supporting said structure in a press.

2. In a. lock-up mechanism, a pair of spaced parallel bars, a second pair of spaced parallel bars extending across the first pair of bars at substantially right angles thereto, with the bars defining a form receiving space, each of said bars being independently movable relative to the other bars and each having a tooth rack thereon, corner members at the juncture of each pair of crossing bars operative to permit longitudinal sliding movement between said bars but maintain the parallel and angular relation therebetwcen, means for preventing transverse movement of said bars relative to their respective corner members, a pair of rotatable pinions carried by each member, each pinion engageable with one of the adjacent racks and having a shaft rigidly secured thereto, each member being provided with a split bearing for each pinion shaft, screw means for drawing each split bearing together to clamp the respective pinion shafts therein and maintain the respective bars in fixed relation to provide a substantially rigid form supporting structure, adjustable means extending inwardly into said form receiving space and movable relative to said structure into said space operative to engage and exert compression forces on a pair of intersecting edges of a form placed therein to retain the latter in said structure, and individual means on the ends of each of said bars for engaging means for supporting said structure in a press.

3. In a lock-up mechanism, a pair of spaced parallel bars, a second pair of spaced parallel bars extending across the first pair of bars at substantially right angles thereto, with the bars defining a form receiving space, means including rotatable pinions and shafts therefor and racks complemental to the pinions and securing means operatively engaging the shafts to prevent rotation thereof at the juncture of each pair of crossing bars for maintaining the same in fixed relation to provide a substantially rigid supporting structure, one or more adjustable quoins slidably carried by each of two intersecting bars and adapted to be detachably mounted above or below said bars as assembled, each quoin having a compression member extendin inwardly into said form receiving space and movable relative to said structure into said space operative to engage and exert compression forces on intersecting edges of a form placed therein to retain the latter in said structure, and individual adjustable means on the ends of each of said bars for engaging means for supporting said structure in a press.

4. In a lock-up mechanism, a pair of spaced parallel bars, a second pair of spaced parallel bars extending across the first pair of bars at substantially right angles thereto, with the bars defining a form receiving space,

each of said bars being independently movable relative to the other bars, means including rotatable pinions and shafts therefor and racks crmplemental to the pinions and securing means operatively engaging the shafts to prevent rotation thereof at the juncture of each pair of crossing bars for maintaining the same in fixed relation in any of their adjusted positions to provide a substantially rigid form supporting structure, adjustable means slidably carried by each of a pair of intersecting bars and adapted to be detachably mounted above or below said bars as assembled, said last-mentioned means extending inwardly into said form receiving space, and movable relative to said structure into said space operative to engage and exert compression forces on intersecting edges of a form placed therein to retain the latter in said structure, and individual means on the ends of each of said bars for engaging means for supporting said structure in a press.

5. In a lock-up mechanism, a pair of spaced parallel bars, a second pair of spaced parallel bars extending across the first pair of bars at substantially right angles thereto, with the bars defining a form receiving space, each of said bars being independently movable relative to the other bars, means including rotatable pinions and shafts therefor and racks complemental to the pinions and securing means operatively engaging the shafts to prevent rotation thereof at the juncture of each pair of crossing bars for maintaining the same in fixed relation in any of their adjusted positions to provide a substantially rigid form supporting structure, adjustable qnoin means operatively mounted upon each of a pair of intersecting bars and extending inwardly into said form receiving space and adapted to be detachably mounted above or below said bars as assembled, and movable relative to said structure into said space operative to engage and exert compression forces on intersecting edges of a form placed therein to retain the latter in said structure, and individual means 10 on the ends of each of said bars for engaging means for supporting said structure in a press.

6. In a form locking-up device, a lock-bar having rack teeth thereon, a slide slidably connected with said lockbar, a pinion rotatably mounted in said slide and meshing with said rack teeth, a supporting shaft rigidly connected to said pinion, said slide having a split bearing for said shaft, and screw means for compressing opposite portions of said split bearing to rigidly clamp the shaft and pinion thereto and prevent relative movement between the slide and lock-bar.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 362,301 Megorden May 3, 1887 435,771 Rollings Sept. 2, 1890 451,625 Smith May 5, 1891 498,935 Jesinghaus June 6, 1893 602,679 Deegan Apr. 19, 1898 625,005 Wilkinson May 16, 1899 682,840 Burroughs Sept. 17, 1901 753,671 Conly Mar. 1, 1904 911,173 Stephens Feb. 2, 1909 1,525,937 Hilland Feb. 10, 1925 1,648,417 McLaughlin Nov. 8, 1927 1,740,382 Weldon Dec. 17, 1929 1,803,782 Weldon May 5, 1931 1,938,359 Smith Dec. 5, 1933 1,941,747 Holt Jan. 2, 1934 2,241,597 Hacker May 13, 1941 2,449,381 Hilland Sept. 14, 1948 2,593,575 Lance Apr. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,169 Great Britain Aug. 21, 1890 571,276 Germany Feb. 25, 1933

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