US2728821A

US2728821A - Automatic shut-off for typecasting machines

Info

Publication number: US2728821A
Application number: US279337A
Authority: US
Inventors: William F Scheffler; Ralph L Skinner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-03-29
Filing date: 1952-03-29
Publication date: 1955-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1972-12-27

Description

Unifed SewPanfO AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF FOR TYPECASTING MACHINES William F. Scheffler and Ralph L. Skinner, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 29, 1952, Serial No. 279,337 Claims. (Cl. 200-38) This invention relates to a means to automatically shut-off the driving motors of automatic type casting machines, such as those which are known in the trade as linotype or intertype machines. The invention can also apply to a photostatic type of machine in which the various letters are photographed instead of cast in metal.

In machines of the above type, there is an electrical motor which drives the various shafts and other mechanisms of the machine and it is normal practice to leave the motor running at all times, even though the machine is not actually in use. This causes excessive wear on the moving parts of the machine, resulting in costly repairs.

An object of our invention is to provide a novel automatic shut-ott for type casting or photographing machines which will automatically shut-off the machine after a predetermined length of time, providing that the machine is not in use. As long as the machine is in use, our automatic shut-off device will remain inoperative.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel automatic shut-off device for type casting machines and the like which can be quickly and easily mounted on these machines without altering the construction or operation of the machines in any substantial manner.

Still another object of our invention is to provide an automatic shut-off device of the character stated, which is simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which can be readily applied to existing machines of the type casting or photographing class.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a type casting or photographing machine with our automatic shut-off applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of our automatic shut-olf.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of our automatic shut-oil with the cover removed and showing the switch in the open or off position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of the switch mechanism and showing the switch in the closed or on position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a type casting machine of the general class known in the trade as a linotype or an intertype machine. In these machines there is a shaft 2 mounted immediately in front of the keyboard 3. On each end of this shaft there are attached assembling elevator levers 4 and 4.

Our automatic shut-olf 5 is mounted on the side of the machine 1 and preferably adjacent the assembling elevator lever 4 and operates in conjunction with this lever, as will be further described.

Our automatic shut-off comprises a housing 6, including a cover or face plate 7. The housing 6 is attached to the side of the type casting machine in a suitable manner by means of appropriate bolts or the like, and in the position shown in Figure 1. Within the housing 6 is provided an electrical clock mechanism 8 of the usual and well known type used in the trade. In other words, this clock mechanism is an automatic starting and continuously rotating clock which includes a driven shaft 9, which is preferably the minute hand shaft of the clock 8.

A sleeve 10 is journalled on the shaft 9 and there is a frictional driving connection between the shaft 9 and the sleeve 10. In other Words, as the shaft 9 is rotated, it tends to drive the sleeve 10. However, the sleeve 10 can be held stationary relative to shaft 9, or it can be reversed in direction to the direction of the rotation of the shaft 9 in a manner to be subsequently described. Thus, there is a clutch-like connection between the shaft 9 and the sleeve 10. A cam 11 is lixedly mounted on the sleeve 10 and this cam is formed with a recess or notch 12, which cooperates with the actuating finger 13 of the switch 14. The switch 14 is mounted adjacent to the cam 11 and the switch points 15 are connected through the leads 16 to a switch block 17. The switch block 17 is provided with a power socket 18 and a second socket 19 to which the motor (not shown) of the type setting machine is connected. The type of double socket shown is again usual and well known in the electrical art.

From an examination of Figures 3 and 4, it will be evident that when the cam 11 is so rotated as to press against the nger 13, the switch points 15 will be closed. This closes the current to the socket 19, thus starting the motor of the type setting machine. When the cam 11 is so rotated so that the linger 13 can move into the recess 12 of the cam (as shown in Figure 4) then the switch points 15 are opened and the circuit is broken so that the motor of the type setting machine is stopped.

An arm 20 projects from a hub 21 and this hub is iixedly attached to the sleeve 10. This attachment can be the set screw 22. The arm 20 projects over and can be engaged by the lever 4 as that lever is depressed by the operator of the machine. In operating a linotype, intertype or similar machine, the operator depresses the lever 4 at frequent intervals, and each time that the ever 4 is depressed at its forward end, the rear of that lever will push the arm 20 upwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figures 2 and 3.

In the raised position of the lever 20 the cam 11 will be moved to the position shown in Figure 3 so that the switch 15 is closed, which means that the motor of the type setting machine will be operating. The clock mechanism tends to move the arm 20 downwardly in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 2, and if the arm moves to a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, then the notch 12 of the cam 11 will have moved to a position so that the finger 13 can depress into the recess, thus opening the contact 15 of the switch, thereby automatically shutting off the motor of the type setting machine. If this occurs, when the operator returns and wishes to again use the machine, it is only necessary to depress the lever 4, this pushes the arm 20 upwardly as previously described, thereby closing the switch contacts 15 and the motor of the type setting machine is again started. It will thus be evident that as long as the operator continues to use the machine, which means that the lever 4 will be frequently depressed and at short intervals of time, then the arm 20 will be continuously held in its raised position, which means that the switch 15 is closed and the type setting machine continues to operate.

The clock mechanism 8, of course, is actuated electrically when the switch 15 is closed. That is, the clock mechanism tends to rotate the arm '20 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, and independent entirely of the driving motor of the type setting machine. Y Y

We prefer that the Aarm'20 shall move from its raised position (in which the type vsetting machine is in operation) to its lowered or horizontal position (in which the type setting machine is inoperative in a period of approximately three minutes, more or less). That is to say, if the machine is left alone without being operated for a period of 3 or 4 minutes approximately, then our shutoff device will automatically shut oft the motor of the type setting machine.

Having described our invention, we claim:

`1. In combination with a type casting machine, a manually operable lever means on said machine, of a shut-E means comprising an arm, means rotatably mounting said arm, drive means connected to the arm to rotate said arm to engage the manually operable lever means, switch means, and means operatively connecting the switch means and said arm, said last named means holding the switch means open in one position of the arm and closing the switch means in another position of said arm.

2. In combination with a type casting machine, a manually operable lever means on said machine, of a shut-ott means comprising an arm, a housing, means rotatably mounting the arm in said housing, drive means in the housing connected to the arm to rotate said arm to engage the manually operable means, switch means, and means operatively connecting the switch means and said arm, said last named means holding the switch means open in one position of the arm and closing the switch means in another position'of said arm.

3. In combination with a type casting machine, a manually operable lever means on said machine, of a shut-oit means comprising an arm, means rotatably mounting said arm, an electrical motor driving the arm to rotate said arm to engage the manually operable lever means, switch means, and means operatively connecting the switch means and said arm, said last named means holding the switch means open in one position of the arm and closing the switch means in another position of said arm.

4. In combination with a type casting machine, a manually operable lever means on said machine, of a shut-oit means comprising an arm, a housing, means rotatably mounting the arm in said housing, an electrical motor mounted in the housing and operatively connected to the arm to rotate said arm to engage the manually operable lever means, switch means, and means operatively connecting the switch means and said arm, said last named means holding the switch means open in one position of the arm and closing the switch means in another position of said arm.

5. In combination with a type casting machine, a manually operable lever means on said machine, of a shut-oil means comprising an arm, means rotatably mounting said arm, drive` means connected to the arm to rotate said arm to engage the manually operable lever means, switch means, and a cam attached to said arm and operatively connected to the switch means, said cam holding the switch means open in one position of the arm and closing the switch means in another position of said arm.

6. In combination with a type casting machine, a manually operable lever means on said machine, of a shut-oi means comprising an "arm, means 'rotatably mcmnting said arm, drive means connected to the arm to rotate said arm to engage the manually operable lever means, clutch means between the arm and said drive means, switch means and means operatively connected to the switch means and said arm, said last named means holding the switch means open inone position of thearm and closing the switch means in another position of said arm.

7. In combination with a type casting machine, a manually operable lever means on said machine, of a shut-oft means comprising an arm, means rotatably mounting said arm, drive means connected to the arm to rotate said arm to engage the manually operable lever means, clutch means between the arm and said drive means, switch means, and a cam attached to said arm and operatively connected to the switch means, said cam holding the switch means open in one position of the arm and closing the switch means in another position of said arm.

8. In combination with a type casting machine, a manually operable lever means on said machine, of a shut-off means comprising a housing, an electrical Vmotor in said housing, a shaft driven by said last named motor, said shaft protruding from the housing, an arm mounted on said shaft and rotated thereby to engage the manually operable lever means, switch means and means operatively connecting the switch means and said arm, said last named means Yholding the switch means open in one position of the arm and closing the switch means in another position of said arm.

9. In combination with a type casting machine, a manually operable lever means on said machine, of a shut-oit means comprising a housing, an electrical motor in said housing, a shaft driven by said last named motor, said shaft protruding from the housing, an arm mounted on said shaft and rotated thereby to engage themanually operable lever means, switch means, a cam attached to said arm and operatively connected to the switch means, said cam .holding the switch means open in one position of the arm and closing the switch means in another position of said arm.

l0. In combination with a type casting machine, a manually operable lever means on said machine, of a shut-off means comprising a housing, an electrical motor in said housing, a shaft driven by said last named motor, said shaft protruding from the housing, an arm mounted on said shaft and rotated thereby to engage the manually operable Vlever means, clutch means between the arm and said drive means, switch means and means operatively connecting the switch means and said arm, said last named means holding the switch means open in one position of the arm and closing the switch means in another position of said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,119,967 Landsiedel Dec. 8, 1914 1,406,075 Pierson Feb. 7, 1922 1,474,342 Anderson Nov. 20, 1923 1,735,540 Lux Nov. 12, 1929 1,831,605 Porter Nov. 10, 1931 2,386,009 Smith Oct. 2, 1945 2,475,666 Homan July 12, 1949 2,674,664 Clubb et al Apr. 6, 1954