US2806587A - Quadding and centering mechanism for typographical line casting machines - Google Patents

Description

Sept 1957 w. B. ABBOTT ETAL 2,806,587

QUADDING AND CENTERING MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL LINE CASTING MACHINES Filed 001;. 5, 1955 4 Sheets$heet l Sept 17, 1957 Filed Oct. 5, 1955 \N. B. ABBOTT QUADDING AND CENTERING MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL LINE CASTING MACHINES ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mm w nmxmng I Sept 17, 1957 w. B. ABBOTT ET AL UADDING AND CENTERING MECHANISM FOR G MACHINES TYPOGRAPHICAL LINE CASTIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 3, 1955 Carlie/ R m mw 2 2% M. m% M v t 25 ATTORNEY;

Sept 17, 1957 w. B. ABBOTT ET AL 2,806,587

QUADDING AND CENTERING MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL LINE CASTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 3, 1955 4 Sheets-Chget 4 W/ y; ,,1 "-|Ih M as) .J/ I J; J --F flu ll I I 1 3 E f u ;-nq-, a)

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ATTORNEK United States Patent QUADDING AND CENTERING MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL LINE CASTING MACHINES William B. Abbott, Baldwin, and William J. Thompson, Jamaica, N. Y., assignors to Mergenthaler Linotype This invention relates to quadding and centering mechanism for typographical line casting machines. More particularly, it relates to an improved means for setting such mechanism for any selected operation, said means being especially suited for machines adapted for manual or automatic control.

Quadding and centering mechanisms are themselves quite well known in the typographical line casting machine art. In many forms, these mechanisms can be set to quad with the right hand jaw, with the left hand jaw, or with both jaws, the last mentioned operation being known as centering. The desired operation can be accomplished either by a toggle selector or rotary knob selector for strictly mechanical mechanisms or by push buttons in the newer electro-mechanical mechanisms. These devices are more common to manually controlled machines, which depend upon the operator to condition the machine for any desired quadding operation.

There are also machines which operate under the control of a coded tape and are known as automatic line casting machines. In machines of this type, the quadding and centering mechanism is responsive to appropriate signals in the tape, one for each line to be composed.

It is further not unusual for automatic line casting machines to be manually operated and hence to be equipped with a selecting device as mentioned above, those of the push button type now being most popular. When shift* ing from automatic operation to manual operation or vice versa, it has in the past been necessary to manually condition the push button selecting device for automatic or manual operation, whichever may be the case.

Among other advantages of the present invention, there is the major one of automatically resetting the manual selecting means when a coded tape is fed through the tape reading mechanism, thereby eliminating the need for a manual switch to determine whether the machine will be conditioned for automatic or manual operation.

Another advantage of the present invention is that, by proper conditioning of the manual selecting device, the quadding and centering mechanism will be responsive to the setting of the device even when the machine is operating automatically from the tape. This feature of the invention is of extreme importance and utility when it is desired to perform the same quadding or centering function for a number of successive lines, inasmuch as the quad signal can come from the manual selecting evice rather-than from the tape. In this manner, it is possible to save one tape signal for each line of composition, thereby minimizing the efiort required of an operator in coding the tape and also lessening the amount of tape used to control castingof a fixed number of lines.

In carrying out the present invention, there is provided (1) means for storing a quad or centering signal in a first information storage stage which corresponds to the line in the composing station or assembling elevator, separate means being provided depending on whether ice the composition is being efiected manually or automati cally, (2) means effective upon raising of the assembling elevator for transferring the signal to a second informa tion storage stage which corresponds to the line in delivery or waiting line position, and (3) means effective upon rotation of the main cam shaft, which carries the line in the first elevator to the casting position, for transferring the signal to the quadding mechanism proper. Means are also provided whereby if a quad signal is stored in the manually operable first information storage stage and thereafter operation is shifted to automatic control from a coded tape, passage of the tape through the tape decoding apparatus will reset the manual informa-' tion storage device and thereby render the quadding and centering mechanism responsive only to the coded tape. Means are further provided so that resetting of the manual information storage device can be prevented, thereby rendering the quadding and centering mechanism responsive to the quad signals stored in the manual device even though the machine itself is operating automatically under tape control.

In order that this specification may concern itself only with the present invention, reference is made to copending application Serial No. 378,268, filed September 3, 1953, which discloses an hydraulic quadding and centering mechanism now in commercial use. While the present invention is disclosed in conjunction with that particularform of quadding and centering mechanism, it is to be clearly understood that it may be used with any type of quadding and centering mechanism and is not restricted in use except insofar as hereinafter described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a line casting machine equipped with apparatus according to the present invention;

' Fig. 1A is a segmental side elevation showing the assembling elevator switch;

Fig. 2 is a segmental side elevation of the valve unit for setting the quadding apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a detail view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the lockout mechanism for a non-quadding operation of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a segmental rear elevation of the delivery slide cam switches;

Fig. 5 is a segmental side elevation of the delivery slide cam switches;

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of the apparatus for setting the quadder mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of the operated position of the stops for a right hand jaw quadding (i. e. quad left) operation;

Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of the operated position of the stops for a left hand jaw quadding (i. e. quad right) operation;

Fig. 9 is a schematic representation of the operated position of the stops for a double quadding or centering operation;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing the construction of the assembling elevator switch;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view with parts broken away showing the construction of the push button box; and

Fig. 12 is a straight line wiring diagram of thecircuits employed in the present invention. I i V In the regular operation of a typographical line casting machine, the character bearing matrices and expansible spacebands are composed in line and ultimately delivered to a vertically movable transporter or first elevator which descends to position the line between a left hand vise jaw and'a right hand vise jaw and in front of a slotted mold, which latter then advances into contact with the Patented Sept. 17, 1957 line and the two clamping jaws for the slug casting operation.

In casting a full line, the left hand jaw and the right hand jaw are pre-set to positions to accord with the desired length of line. Then with the line properly aligned in the usual way with respect to the mold, the line is just1- fied, that is to say, the wedge shaped spacebands are driven upwardly by a horizontal justification bar to expand the line between the fixed jaws.

. After the slug has been cast, the line is raised by the first elevator to an upper transfer level, and the line removed therefrom preparatory to the separation of the matrices and spacebands and their return to individual storage magazines. The first elevator then is lowered to its intermediate level or line receiving position just before the machine cycle is completed.

In those machines equipped with an automatic quadding and centering mechanism, either or both of the vise jaws can be controlled so that prior to the casting operation they will move inwardly from their normal full line position to a quadding or centering position. When a quad ding or centering operation is being effected, the upward drive of the justification bar is dispensed with and the spacebands consequently remain in their lower or nonexpanded position. The slug resulting from such operation will be cast full line length, but it will have blank or quad spaces to the right, left or on both sides of the characters, depending on whether the mechanism had been set for right hand jaw quadding, left hand jaw quadding, or quadding with both jaws or centering.

Now, referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a line casting machine equipped to provide operation of the quadding apparatus in accordance with the aforementioned features of the present invention. During manual operation of the machine, matrices are released from their storage magazines and spacebands are released from the spaceband box 21 under the control of manually operated keyboard 22 and composed in line in assembling elevator 23. If the line is to be quadded with either or both of the vise jaws, a corresponding push button 24 of selector box 25 is depressed. When a line is to be justified, a push button designated Reg. is depressed, and normal or regular machine operations take place. As will hereinafter be seen, an actuated push button remains depressed until a different operation is desired of the machine, at which time a button corresponding to the desired operation is depressed. Depression of the second button sets itself and resets any previously actuated button, the second button remaining set until reset by depression of still another button.

After a complete line is assembled in elevator 23, the

operator depresses handle 26 to raise the elevator and bring the line of matrices and spacebands to the delivery slide position 27. The downward movement of handle 26 pivots rock shaft 30 and causes abutment arm 31, which is keyed thereto, to strike operating plunger 32 of the mechanically actuated switch 33, and thereby engage the switch contacts. As will be seen later, engagement of the switch contacts acts to transfer information stored in selector box 25 by a depressed push button to a succeeding information storage stage corresponding to the advanced position of the composed line. Raising of the elevator itself is effected by lever connection 34.

In accordance with normal or regular machine operation, the composed line, after reaching delivery position, is transferred to the first elevator 29. In the event that the elevator is not in position to receive the line of matrices and spacebands, the line is held in a waiting line" position until the elevator returns to line receiving position, at which time the line is delivered thereto. This line transfer movement immediately initiates rotation of the main cam shaft which carries the composed line down to the casting position between vise jaws 35. Ascent and descent of first elevator 29 is effected, through connection 48, by first elevator cam 49. The initial movement of the main cam shaft to lower the line to casting position actuates cam controlled switch 37, the contacts of which transfer the information stored in the information stage corresponding to the line in delivery position directly to the quadding mechanism, which is thereupon set to provide the selected quadding operation. The delivery slide cam has been found satisfactory for actuating switch 37 although other cams having a suitable contour may be used. The quadding mechanism 46 illustrated is a hydraulic quadder according to the disclosure in the aforementioned copending application, Serial No. 378,268. Of course, the quadding mechanism can be locked out and a normal justification operation takes place by permitting the justification bar to rise and drive the spacebands upwardly to expand the line of matrices between the fixed visejaws.

After the slug is cast, the first elevator carries the line of matrices and spacebands to the upper transfer position where they are shifted to the intermediate channel 4-1. As the line is moved into channel 41, the matrices are engaged by the second elevator bar preparatory to being carried to the distributor mechanism 42 by second elevator 43 under the control of second elevator cam 44. When the matrices are lifted free of the intermediate channel, the spacebands (which remain in the channel inasmuch as they are not engaged by the second elevator bar due to the absence of coded teeth on the supporting section of the spaceband) are returned to spaceband box 21. The matrices are returned by the distribution mechanism to their storage magazines 20.

While the line of matrices and spacebands are being returned to their storage positions, the cast slug is carried by mold disc 45 to the slug ejecting position where it is acted upon by an ejector and deposited in slug galley 4-6. With the production of the slug, the operation cycle is completed and the machine is ready for the casting of succeeding slugs.

Turning now to the quadding mechanism, attention is directed to Figs. 2 to 9 which are reproduced from the aforementioned copending application Serial No. 378,268.

In order automatically to set the rotary selector valve of the hydraulic quadding mechanism (not a part of the present invention and consequently not shown) for the desired operation,, the horizontal rack 46 (Fig. 6) is adapted to be controlled by a piston 47 attached to the left end thereof and movable within a cylinder 50 formed in'housing 51. When the piston 47 is in its normal leftward position, as shown in Fig. 6, the selector valve is set for a regular or non-quadding operation. The piston 47 and the rack 46 may be moved the appropriate distances to the right to adjust the selector valve to right hand jaw quadding, left hand jaw quadding and centering posltions.

A pair of rotary solenoids 52 and 53 (Fig. 6), and companion pivotal stop members 54 and 55 controlled thereby, determine the stop position of the rack when actuated by the piston 47. As shown in Figs. 6 to 9, a plate 56, having projecting teeth and 61, is carried by the rack 46 in its movement to the right. The first or leftward stop 54 is normally spring-urged to engage the tooth 66 (Fig. 7) unless pivotally rotated to inoperative position by the energization of solenoid 52. The rotary selector valve and the quadding mechanism will be adjusted for quadding with the right hand jaw, i. e. quad left, when the rack 46 is stopped in this position. The stop 55 is normally spring-urged to inoperative position, but When both solenoids 52 and 53 are energized, the former to render the stop 54 inoperative, and the latter to render the stop 55 operative, the stop 55' engages the second tooth 61 (Fig. 8), the allowed movement of the rack 46 adjusting the selector valve for quadding with the left hand jaw, i. e. quad right. Finally, when only solenoid 52 is energized to render the stop 54 inoperative, the piston will drive the rack to the right until the tooth 61 strikes the shoulder member 62 of housing 51 (Fig. 9), thereby adjusting the rotary 'selector valve to the centering position.

Operation of piston 47 is regulated by slide valve unit 63 (Fig. 2) which also controls the quadding movements of the right hand and left hand vise jaws. As disclosed in the above mentioned copending application, the slide valve is actuated by cam controlled lever 64. During a quadding or centering operation, lever 64 is pivoted to move valve rod 65 rightwardly (Fig. 2) and fluid under pressure passes from a pump (not shown), through valve unit 63, through conduit 66 to piston chamber 67, wherein it exerts force on the piston to drive it and the rack 46 rightwardly until such movement is arrested, as by the engagement of a rack tooth and an operated stop, or if no stop is operated, by shoulder 62. Any fluid which might have been in piston chamber 70 is exhausted to a fluid reservoir through conduit 71. The piston 47 is preferably returned to its normal leftward position during each cycle of the machine by flow of fluid under pressure through conduit 71, and the fluid which had been in chamber 67 is returned to the reservoir through conduit 66. Sequencing of operation of the various hydraulic components is fully described in said copending application.

During regular machine operations (with no quadding or centering), the piston 47 remains in its normal leftward position. This is made possible by locking out of operation the lever 64 and maintaining the rod 65 of the main slide valve in its normal leftward position. In this position, the fluid is freely circulated to the reservoir and the pressure in the hydraulic system does not build up.

The means for locking the lever 64 out of operation is shown in Fig. 3. A stop pawl 72 is maintained in the path of operation of the lever 64 by a small tension spring 73. The pawl, however, is adapted to be tripped during a quadding or centering operation by member 69 actuated by a rotary solenoid 74, the energization of which is controlled by the electrical circuits hereinafter described. When energized, the solenoid rotates member 69, thus pivoting pawl 72 clockwise about pivot 75 to free lever 64 and permitting tension spring 75 to urge the lever and valve rod 65 rightwardly.

Reference will now be made to Fig. 11, which shows the details of construction of the push button. box adapted for actuation by the machine operator. A pair of superposed channel shaped members 80 are rigidly supported by end pieces 81 to form a sturdy frame which is separated from the top surface of the enclosure by spacers 82 and secured by screws 83. Each push button comprises a key 84, a latching member 85 and a stem 86 therebetween. The stem is guided in a slot provided in upper channel shaped member 80 while the latching member is guided in a slot provided in the lower channel shaped member 80. The central portion of the latching member is cut out except for the upstanding finger 87, which maintains spring 90 in position. As the button is depressed, spring 90 is compressed, thereby urging the button to its normal position. The latching member is also provided with aprojecting lug 91 which serves to latch the member in its operated position and which is formed with a tapered or wedge shaped surface 92. Slidable in the end pieces 81, is channel shaped catch 93 which also is provided with slots through which the latch members 85 of the various push buttons pass. A leaf spring 94 urges the catch to a downward limiting position. As a push button is depressed, the

tapered surface of its projecting lug 91 causes longitudinal movement of the catch 93 and at the same time tensions leaf spring 94. When the button, and its lug, have been depressed far enough so that the lug clears the catch 93, leaf spring 94 urges the catch to its normal position and blocks the return of the push button its raised position.

Depressing a second push button causes the catch 93 to be moved against the force of the leaf spring 94 to thereby free the first push button and permit its return to raised position. At the same time, the second push button is held'in depressed position by the return of the catch 93 to its normal position. It is thus seen that by depressing a push button, a previously operated push button is reset or restored to its normal position. A solenoid 95, mounted on bracket 96, is positioned so that when energized its plunger 97 acts to move catch 93 to tension spring 94 and thereby reset any operated push button.

A contact board 100 is mounted on one inside wall of the push button enclosure and is preferably formed of an insulating fiber. Adjacent each push button latching member 85 and on board 100, is a pair of spaced apart electric contacts 101 which are wired into the circuit to be controlled by that particular push button. A bridging contact 102 is carried by the push button latching member so that when the push button is depressed, the two electric contacts 101 are connected by bridging contact 102 and the circuit controlled thereby completed. There is also shown a pair of electric contacts 103 which are normally connected by bridging contact 104 when the push button is in its raised or non-operated position. Depressing of this latter push button causes the bridging contact 104 to slide off one of the electric contacts to thereby interrupt the electric circuit in which the stationary contacts are wired. While only a single pair of stationary contacts are shown for each push button, it is to be understood that several pairs may be associated with each push button so that several electric circuits may be controlled by a single push button.

Figure 10 showsthe switch mechanism which is actuated by the assembling elevator; An enclosure 105 is provided with openings 106 and 107 in its front and rear walls, respectively, through which pass switch operating plunger 32. The plunger is reduced in diameter and compression spring 111 is fitted over the .reduced portion thereof, being restrained by the rear wall of the enclosure and the shoulder 112 formed on the plunger. The top surface of the plunger is formed with a detent 113 which engages the front wall of the enclosure and limits the plunger movement resulting from the action of spring 111. The bottom surface of the plunger is formed with a cavity 114 which normally permits switch operating roller 115 to be in non-actuated position. Rearward movement of the plunger (rightwardly in Fig. 10), as by engagement of elevator arm 31 and plunger disc 116, depresses the roller 115 to actuate the switch. At the completion of an elevator operation, spring 111 restores the plunger to normal'position. Under certain circumstances, as when it is desired to recast slugs from the same matrices, it is also desirable to maintain switch 33 in its operated condition. This is achieved by manually withdrawing plunger 32 to a position shown in phantom line in Fig. 10. Inasmuch as spring 111 will not act to restore the plunger to normal position, the switch remains actuated until the plunger is manually returned to normal position.

The delivery slide cam operated switches 37 and 38, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, are secured to mounting bracket which in turn is fastened to supporting rod 121. As will be seen later, the switch 38 is provided with normally'engaged contacts and is operated by segment 123 on the delivery slide cam 36, while the other switch 37 is provided with normally separated contacts and is actuated by segment 122 of said cam 36 during the initial movement of the cam and just before the elevator 29 is lowered to bring the composed line of matrices and spacebands to casting position.

Fig. 12 shows the electrical circuits which are employed to control operation of the quadding mechanism. The circuits include the solenoids and mechanically actuated switches hereinabove referred to as well as several relays which are contained in anelectrical control box mounted at the rear of the machine but not shown in any of the drawings. The circuits are shown in straight or across-the-line form in which the contacts of a switch are shown separated from the coil which operates. them and arranged in the circuits which they control. Thus, it is possible to arrange each. coil circuit in a straight line between parallel vertical. lines representing the power source. Each of the circuit components will be given a letter designation which will be indicative of the function which it performs. However, those components which have been discussed before in the description of the mechanical aspects of the mechanism will also bear the reference numerals in parentheses following the letter designation.

In the circuit diagram the following electro-magnet switches will be found:

Alst quad left memory switch B-lst centering memory switch C2nd quad left memory switch D-2nd centering memory switch Throughout the description which follows, these letters will be applied to the coils of the above designated switches. Also, with reference numerals appended thereto they will beapplied to the contacts of these switches, which are shown in deenergized condition.

In addition to the above electro-magnet switches, the following mechanically actuated switches are also located in the across-the-line diagram:

Sl-Teletypesetter bail switch-quad left S2-Teletypesetter bail switch-quad right S3-Teletypesetter bail switch-quad right S4Teletypesetter bail switch-center S5-First memory clearing switch S64econd memory transfer switch S7Teletypesetter elevator switch. S8Second memory clearing switch S9-Selector solenoid operating switch There is further included in the circuit diagram the following solenoids:

SCE-Centering selector solenoid SPRPush button reset solenoid SQC-Quadding and centering solenoid SQL-Quad left selector solenoid The various electric circuits of the. present invention employed. in a quadding and centering apparatus can best be disclosed through a description of an operating sequence. Assume first that the apparatus is arranged for automatic operation from the Teletypeset-ter unit and. that the lines, W1, W2 areconnected to a suitable source of electric power.

It is wellknown that the Teletypesetter tape may be coded to control either a quad left, a quad right or a centering operation. According to this code and the response of the Teletypesetter reading or decoding unit,

bail switch S1 is operated for a quad left operation, bail.

switches S2 and S3 are operated for a quad right operation, and hail switch S4 is operated for a centering operation.

If the first line of matrices being composed under the control of the tape is to be quadded with the righthand vise jaw (quad left), then a quad left signal willfollow the various matrix release signals and will cause actuation of bail switch S1. Immediately a circuit is completed for 1st quad left memory switch coil A and contacts All and A2 engage. Contacts A1 are connected in parallel with bail switch S1 and hence provide a self holding circuit which permits the bail switch to be restored to its normal non-operated position. The following tape signal will be the assembling elevator signal and therefore the line of matrices and spacebands will be carried up by the elevator. Upward movement of the elevator is accompanied by pivoting of rock shaft 30'and swinging of abutment arm 31, the latter of which strikes the operating plunger 32 of switch33/ Operation of the switch engages contacts S6 to complete a circuit for 2nd quad left memory switch coil C, the circuit extending through" normally engaged contacts S8, coil C, contacts A2, recti tier CRP and contacts S6. The rectifier CRF, as well as rectifier DRF, is provided to prevent the establishment of sneak circuits. Energization of coil C causes the en'- gagement of contracts C1, C2, and C3, the first of which completes a self holding circuit for coil C. As soon as this circuit is established, contacts S5 of switch 33 are separated to interrupt the circuit for coil A. When the assembling elevator reaches its upper terminal position, the line of matrices and spacebands is removed therefrom and the elevator is returned to its lower or composing position. Incident thereto, switch 33 is restored to normal condition with contacts engaged and contacts S6 separated. A significant feature of the present circuitry is that although the first line has not been cast, a succeeding line of matrices can be composed and a signal entered into the circuits for a quadding or centering operation which differs from that associated with the first line.

Returning to the first line of matrices and spacebancls which has been carried to the delivery position and there removed from the assembling elevator, it will be assumed that. the line has been immediately delivered to the first elevator and a cycle of machine operations thereby initiated in the usual manner. Switch 37 is actuated by the segment 122 of the delivery slide cam 36 and contacts S9 thereof engage to complete a circuit for the quad left selector solenoid SQL (53), contacts C2 having previously been engaged. A circuit is also completed for solenoid SQC (74) to release pawl 72 and permit lever 64 to actuate valve 63 and drive piston 47 and rack 46 to their operated positions. Energization of this solenoid actuates stop 55 as previously disclosed. Once the quadding mechanism is set in accordance with the desired operation, contacts S8 of companion switch 38 separated to interrupt the circuit for coil C. By the time that the first elevator is seated on the vise cap, switches 37 and 33 are restored to normal non-operated condition, wherein contacts S9 are engaged and contacts S8 separatedl Thus, here again the circuitry is such that another line of matricesand spacebands may be in waiting line position after being removed from the assembling elevator and a quadding or centering signal stored in an associated switch.

While for a quad left operation, the movement of the piston and rack is arrested by the engagement of tooth and non-operated stop 54, it should be noted that it is only necessary to maintain a solenoid energized for a period sufficient for a tooth to engage a stop. Consider, for example, quadding right, when the position of the plate is controlled by the engagement of tooth 61 and stop 55. Thereafter the pressure exerted on piston 47 maintains the tooth and stop in frictional engagement. This is analogous to a self latching selector mechanism in an electromechanical quadding apparatus wherein it would be suflicient to energize a solenoid for a period sufficient for the self latching feature to be actuated.

Having described the transfer of quad left signals through the circuitry from the operation of the Teletypesetter bail switch to the setting of the quadder apparatus, it is believed that a similar transfer of a quad right or a centering signal will be readily apparent without a detailed description of the circuit operations.

Furthermore, operation of the circuits and the resulting setting of the quadding apparatus from the push buttons is similarly obvious. For example, if the machine is being manually operated and the operator desires to quad a line leftwardly, he depresses the Quad Left push button to engage contacts QLl and QL2. This he may do either before or after he composes the line of matrices- After the and spacebands in the assembling elevator. line is composed and the proper push button depressed, the operator actuates handle 26 to raise the assembling elevator to bring the composed line to delivery position.

Downward movement of handle pivots arm 31 and actuates switch 33 to close its contacts S6 and thereby com plete a circuit for 2nd quad left memory switch coil C. This corresponds to the composed line in line delivery position. As the line advances through the machine, the signal associated therewith progresses to various memory relays and eventually to the solenoid for setting the quadding apparatus as in the case where the machine is under automatic control.

In the description of the mechanical details and particularly that part directed to the push button unit 25, it was shown how depression of a second push button reset a previously depressed button, so that it was necessary for the operator only to depress a selected button to give the desired operation. However, if the machine is set for automatic operation, 'it becomes necessary to-reset any push button which may have been depressed when the machine was operated manually. To achieve this result there is provided a circuit from line W1 through Teletypesetter elevator switch S7, the parallel connected push button contacts QL1, QRI and CE1, the normally closed push button contacts REG, operated by the regular operation push button, and push button reset solenoid SPR (95) to line W2. In operation, if any push button is depressed, e. g. the quad left push button, the contacts associated therewith, QL1, are engaged. Thus when the machine is to be operated automatically from the tape,-

it is a simple operation to insert the tape in the Teletypesetter unit and proceed to let the machine compose automatically. A quad signal will be stored in 1st memory switches A and B in accordance with the coded signal on the tape as described above. The signal will then be transferred to the 2nd memory switch C and D upon the rise of the assembling elevator. However, in addition to actuation of switch 33 and the engagement of contacts S6 and subsequent separation of contacts S5, switch S7 (located in the Teletypesetter unit and operable when the elevator signal is received therein) is actuated. Engagement of the switch contacts completes a circuit through contacts S7, QL1, REG, and coil SPR to energize solenoid SPR (95) and reset the depressed push button as heretofore described. It is believed to be obvious without a detailed description that if any of the push buttons (quad left, quad right or centering) be depressed, the same will be automatically reset when the machine is operated from the Teletypesetter unit.

This same circuit which permits the automatic resetting of a depressed push button may also be utilized to provide for the feature whereby, even if the machine will compose matrices and spacebands responsive to a tape, quadding or centering of the various lines will be responsive to the push buttons. In other words, a depressed push button will not be reset automatically when the tape is fed through the decoding unit. This feature is of advantage when numerous lines are all to be operated on similarly, that is, all the lines are to be quadded left or quadded right or all are to be centered.

In order to achieve this result in operation it is only necessary to depress the button selected for operation, e. g. the quad left push button, and the regular push button. Both buttons must be depressed simultaneously in order that they both remain depressed. If the operation were sequential, the latter operated push button would reset the previously operated push button due to the mechanical construction of the push button box. Depression of the regular push button to separate contacts REG prevents the completion of a circuit for the push button reset solenoid SPR (95) and hence if one of the other push buttons is depressed it will not be reset. Consequently, the signal represented by the depressed push button will be transferred through the memory switches to the selector solenoids for each composed line passing through the machine and it will not be necessary to provide a quad signal on the tape for each line to be composed.

Having thus described our invention, it is realized that many apparently dilferent embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the description and drawings hereof are to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typographical casting machine, adapted for operation from a keyboard or from a coded tape, having a pair of line clamping jaws each of which is movable from a normal full line receiving position to a quadding position and return, and a tape reading mechanism for controlling operation of the machine, the combination of mechanism for effecting a quadding operation, means for conditioning said mechanism for one of a plurality of quadding operations, means for controlling said conditioning means to provide a selected operation when the machine is operated from the keyboard, and means responsive to tape operation of said machine to deactivate said controlling means and render said conditioning means responsive to the tape.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the controlling means includes a plurality of push buttons, each of which is adapted to provide a selected operation.

3. A combination according to claim 2, including a plurality of electric contacts and wherein depression of a push button results in the actuation of at least one pair of electric contacts.

4. A combination according to claim 3 including means, efiective when a push button is depressed to actuate electric contacts, to maintain the contacts in actuated condition.

5. A combination according to claim 3, wherein the tape responsive means is effective to restore the actuated contacts to their normal condition.

6. A combination according to claim 4, wherein the maintaining means is a mechanical catch for holding the push button in depressed position.

7. A combination according to claim 6, wherein the tape responsive means is an electrically operated mem her which actuates the mechanical catch to permit restoration of the depressed push button to normal position.

8. A combination according to claim 1, including means to deactivate the tape responsive means and render said conditioning means responsive to the controlling means when the machine is being tape operated.

9. A combination according to claim 8, wherein said deactivating means includes electric contacts and a push button, depression of which results in the actuation of at least one pair of electric contacts.

10. A combination according to claim 9, including means to maintain the electric contacts in actuated condition.

11. A combination according to claim 9 wherein the tape responsive means includes an electrically operated member and the means for deactivating said responsive means include the push button actuated contacts for interrupting the circuit to said electrically operated member.

12. In or for a typographical casting machine having a push button controlled quadding mechanism, the combination of a plurality of push buttons, locking means for retaining a push button in operated position, means whereby upon operation of the push button the locking means is tripped to release a previously operated push button and to retain the operated push button, and electrically actuated means for tripping the locking means to release a push button from operated position.

13. A combination according to claim 12, including a tape reading mechanism for controlling operation of the casting machine from a coded tape and wherein the electrically actuated means is responsive to the tape.

14. A combination according to claim 12, wherein each push button but one is effective upon operation to engage a pair of electrical contacts and wherein the excepted push button is elfective to separate a pair of contacts, the contacts which engage being connected in parallel, and

moses?" 11 said parallel circuit being connected in series with the separable contacts and the electrically actuated means.

15. A combination according to claim 14, wherein the tape reading mechanism includes a pair of electric contacts which engage automatically when the machine is tape operated and which are connected in series with the electrically actuated means.

16; In a typographical casting machine, adapted for operation from a keyboard or from a coded tape, having a pair of line clamping jaws, at least one of which is movable from a normal full line receiving position to a qu'addin'g position and return, and a tape reading mechanism for controlling the operation of the machine, the combination of mechanism for effecting a quadding operation, means for conditioning said mechanism for a quadding operation, manual means for controlling said conditioning mechanism when the machine is operated from the keyboard, and means responsive to tape operation of the machine for deactivating said manual means and rendering the conditioning means responsive to the tape.

17. A combination according to claim 16, including means for deactivating the tape responsive means and maintaining the conditioning means under control of the manual means While the machine is still subject to tape operation.

18. In a typographical casting machine, adapted for operation'from a keyboard or from a coded tape, having a pair of line clamping jaws each of which is movable from a normal full line receiving position to a quadding position and return, and a tape reading mechanism for controlling operation of the machine, the combination of mechanism for etfecting a quadding operation, means for conditioning said mechanism for one of a plurality of quadding operations, manual means for setting said conditioning means to provide a selected quadding operation when the machine is operated from the keyboard, and means for automatically resetting said conditioning means to provide a different selected quadding' operation when the machine is operated from the tape.

19. A combination according to claim 18, wherein the automatic means is controlled from the coded tape.

20. A combination according to claim 18, including manual means for disabling the automatic means during tape operation of the machine to maintain the manual setting of the conditioning mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,672,972 Rossetto et a1 Mar. 23, 1954

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