US3090069A

US3090069A - Machine for cleaning the matrics of a photographic line composing machine

Info

Publication number: US3090069A
Application number: US48484A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claire N Brewer; Jr Carl C Smith
Original assignee: INTERNATIONAL TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
Current assignee: INTERNATIONAL TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
Priority date: 1960-08-09
Filing date: 1960-08-09
Publication date: 1963-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-21

Description

May 21, 1963 c. N. BREWER ETAL -v MACHINE FOR CLEANING THE MATRICES OF A PHOTOGRAPHIC LINE COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS CLA/RE N. 5REWR CARL C- SMITHJIZ.

g mma/2 v fz/un/ ATTORNEYS May 21, 1963 Filed Aug. 9. 1960 C. N. BREWER ET AL MACHINE FOR CLEANING THE MATRICES OF A PHOTOGRAPHIC LINE COMPOSING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS M (f) E a:

[q INVENTORS CLAIRE /V. 5REWEI? CARL C. SMITH J19,

May 1963 c. N. BREWER El'AL 3,

MACHINE FOR CLEANING THE MATRICES OF A PHOTOGRAPHIC LINE COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 WASHING INVENTORS CLAIRE N. BREWER CARL C. SM/THJR ATTORNEYS May 1963 N. BREWER ETAL 3,090,069 MACHINE FOR CLEANING THE MATRICES OF A PHOTOGRAPHIC LINE COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 DRYING QVL Y 2/6 2 4 i r :1-: a i K3 2/4 I i I .Fi 5 A7 INVENTORS MW fwf ATTORNEYS May 21, 1963 c. N. BREWER ETAL 3,090,069

MACHINE FOR CLEANING THE MATRICES OF A PHOTOGRAPHIC LINE COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR5 CLAIRE N. BREWER CARL C. SM/ TH JR.

ATTORNEYS May 21, 1963 c. N. BREWER ET AL 3,090,059

MACHINE FOR CLEANING THE MATRICES OF A PHOTOGRAPHIC LINE COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS CLAIRE /V. BREWER CARL C. SM/TH we,

ATTORNEYS MACHINE FQR CLEANING THE MATRICES @F A PHOTOGRAPHIC LINE COMPOSING MACHINE Claire N. Brewer and Carl C. Smith, In, Indianapolis,

Ind, assignors to International Typographical Union of North America, Indianapolis, Ind

Filed Aug. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 48,484 7 Claims. (Cl. 15-308) This invention relates broadly to the printing art and, more particularly to the part of that art which has to do with typographical machines for photographically producing on a sensitized film or paper lines of typed matter from composed lines of individual character-bearing elements or matrices. The film, when developed, may be used, for example, in preparing printing plates which are particularly suited for use in oil-set and gravure printing processes. In such machines a matrix having an opening therein Within which there is a translucent membrane, known as a negative insert or plaque, bearing a letter or character, is moved to a position between a source of light and sensitized film or paper in order to register on the film or paper a photographic reproduction of the character within the negative insert. These machines, and the matrices used in them, are available and widely used commercially and the machine is known as the Fotosetter. They are described in many United States Letters Patent, such as Nos. 2,552,881 and 2,552,882, and need not be further described here.

In the use of typographical machines of the described type it is found that the matrices become soiled and smudged due to the normal conditions of use particularly found in a composing room. Such soil and smudge on the negative insert obscures the character thereon and prevents the free passage of light onto the film or paper on which the photo-composition is made. It is therefore necessary periodically to clean the matrices and, until this invention, this has been done only by manual washing in a detergent. This known method of cleaning requires very considerable time, which is of the order of several hours for one magazine, it being remembered that a photocomposing machine may have as many as four magazines. The most apparent disadvantage of this known method of cleaning matrices is that the machine will be out of use for the time necessary to perform the cleaning operation, it the machine has only one magazine of matrices of a type face which is much used or it the machine operator also performs the cleaning.

it has therefore been the principal object of this inven tion to provide new and improved means for cleaning the matrices of a photo-composing machine of the described type, which means will reduce greatly, for example to the order of minutes rather than hours, the time required to clean all of the matrices of a single magazine of a photocomposing machine and will therefore result in a considcrable reduction of the shut-down time of the machine. It has also been a principal object of the invention to provide a matrix cleaning machine which will be auto matic in operation, requiring only that the operator sup ply the matrices to the machine assembled on a holder, which is a known device for handling assemblies of matrices, and remove the cleaned matrices from the machine in the same way.

The invention is described in the following specification and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a matrix of the type which is to be cleaned by the machine provided by this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, taken from the rear, of the cleaning machine provided by the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the machine, includice ing the parts shown in FiGS. 3A, 3B and 3C of the drawings;

FIG. 3A is a side elevational view, with parts in section, of the input end of the machine, showing the apparatus for feeding the matrices from the in-take column to a first washing station;

FIG. 3B is a side elevaticnal view, with parts in section, of the central part of the machine showing the second Washing station, the rinsing station and the drying station;

FIG. 3C is a side elevational view, with parts in section, of the final part of the machine, showing the inspection station and the out-take column;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the operating parts of the machine, taken from the right hand side of FIG. 3A,

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of parts of the track along which the matrices move;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the output or delivery end of the track, taken on the line 77 of FIG. 3C;

MG. 8 is an end elevational view of parts shown in FIG. 7;

MG. 9 is a diagram of the circuit for operating the device which adjusts the level of the top of the stack of cleaned matrices, and

FIG. 10 shows the device operated by the circuit of FIG. 9 for varying the level of the top of the output stack.

The machine provided by this invention automatically cleans the matrices of a photo-composing machine of a known type and construction, which is commercially available under the trademark Fotosetter. In the operation of such a machine the characters to be photographed are mounted in matrices such as that shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings accompanying this specification. Composition of the desired type matter is eitected by assembling matrices bearing the proper characters into a line of desired length and then individually photographing on a sensitized surface the characters of successive matrices of the composed line, to produce a line of type matter on the sensitized surface. The matrices have the same general size and shape but have individual characteristics for each character. As shown in FIG. 1, each matrix is provided with the usual upper and lower sets of edgewise projecting cars or lugs A and B, respectively, and the combination distributing teeth C. The lugs A and B on all of the elements of a font are alike in thickness so that such lugs may be used to guide the elements, regardless of their variant body thicknesses for difierent width characters, through a common guide or feed channel to the photographic devices of the machine. The notch D in the rear vertical edge of each element cooperates with a slide member having a V shaped end and adapted to engage said notch to align the character of each element at photographing position in the feed channel. The location of this notch bears a definite relation to the location of the difierent characters on the negative inserts or plaques E of the elements, that is, the apex of the notch lies at the same distance in all cases from the point of intersection of fixed horizontal and vertical base lines which establish the location setwise and vertically of all characters.

The machine for cleaning these matrices, which is provided by the invention, is shown generally in FIG. 2 of the drawings as being mounted on a rectangular, upstanding frame having the four upright members 2 supporting a lower, a middle and an upper level of apparatus, these being indicated at 4, ti and 8. The lower level supports a blower 10 for supplying heated air to the apparatus at the upper level 3 and, in addition, supports a motor 12 for rotating and operating the apparatus on the upper level. The middle supporting member 6 carries two

tanks

14, 16 which, respectively, contain a liquid detergent and water which are supplied to the cleaning apparatus carried by the upper supporting member 3, all of which will be described in detail in this specification.

The apparatus mounted on the upper supporting memher 8 supports, moves, cleans and stores the matrices. The soiled matrices are stacked in a vertical stack within an in-take column which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A and which is rectangular in cross section, having one open side. This intake column has an internal, vertical, V-shaped ridge extending along one side wall which receives and aligns the V-shaped notches in the stacked matrices and insures that they will be placed in the intake column in the proper position. This in-take column is open at its top and bottom and is positioned above the flat bottom 22 of a horizontal track, designated generally at 24, which extends from the in-take column horizontally through the cleaning part of the machine which is supported on the upper member 8 of the machine frame. The track section below the in-take column has side walls extending upwardly from the bottom of the track, and from the intake column to the output or delivery end of the machine the track is provided with side walls extending upwardly at right angles from the side edges of the bottom of the track and having inturned upper edges 26, thus providing at the sides of the track recesses for receiving the transversally extending ears A, B on each matrix. It will be seen that the vertical stack of soiled matrices within the in-t-ake column 20 will rest on the flat bottom part 22 of the track 24. The lower end of the in-take column itself is positioned sufficiently above the bottom of the track that the lowest matrix in the stack may be moved from the in-take column onto the track.

Means are provided by the invention for moving the lowest matrix of the stack within the in-take column from the in-take column onto the track 24. Such means are particularly disclosed in FIG. 3A and 4 and comprise a head 30 which is mounted in horizontal guides 32 in spaced side blocks 34 for horizontal reciprocating movement. This head is carried by the upper end of a lever arm 36 which is mounted on a rock shaft 38. This rock shaft also has mounted on it one end of a horizontally extending lever arm 40, the other or outer end of which is connected to one end of an extension spring 42 which extends downwardly from lever 40 and has its lower end connected to a fixed part 44 of the machine. Between its ends the lever 40 carries a roller bearing 46 which is engaged on its lower side by the surface of a cam 48 which is mounted on a rotating shaft 50 which is driven by a sprocket 52 over which there is trained a chain 54 which is driven by the motor 12 which is supported on the lower shelf 4 of the machine. The head 30 has an elongated, horizontal wide and shallow slot 56 therein and within this slot or recess there is mounted for horizontal sliding movement a wide, thin plunger 58, the head slot and plunger being so positioned that the plunger is disposed just above the bottom 22 of the track 2'4 and can be moved by horizontal reciprocating movement of the head 3% to a position in which its free end is adjacent but outside of the intake column 26 to a position within and extending entirely across the intake column. In FIG. 3A the plunger is shown in its most extended position outside the in-take column and it will be seen that movement of the head 36 toward the in-take column will move the plunger to a position entirely Within the in-take column. In performing such movement the plunger will move the bottom matrix of the stack of soiled matrices within the in-take column out of the column and into the channel shaped track 24. Rotation of shaft 50 from the position shown in FIG. 3A will cause the spring 42 to rock lever arms 4i? and 36 in a counter-clockwise direction with shaft 38, thus moving the plunger from the position shown in FIG. 3A, which is outside the in-take column, to a position entirely within the in-take column. Continued rotation of the cam in the same direction will cause the lever arms 49, 36 to be moved in a clockwise direction, thereby moving the plunger 53 back out of the intake column. Continued operation of these parts in this way will cause the matrices in the in-take column to be successively moved from the in-take column into the track 24, thus producing a moving line of matrices within the track.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 6, the plunger 58 has an elongated opening 6% therein which extends along the length of the plunger from its end adjacent the in-take column 29. A pin 62 which is mounted on the head 30 has its upper end positioned within this opening and an extension spring 64- has its one end connected to this pin and its other end connected to a pin 66 carried by the plunger 53. The spring 64- has sufiicient strength that when the plunger is moved against the bottom matrix in the in-take column the spring will not yield and the plunger can therefore force the matrix out of the column. However, if the moving line of matrices within the track should be obstructed the spring 64 will yield when the plunger is moved against the bottom matrix in the in-take column and the plunger will be moved into the opening 56 within the head. The spring 64', therefore, together with the slidable mounting of the plunger in the head, provides a safety means operable whenever the moving line of matrices within the track is blocked.

An arm 70 having a roller bearing '72 on its outer end is pivotally mounted at its other end on a shaft 74 which is positioned between the

lever arms

40 and 36. A handle 76 is mounted on shaft 74 and may be used to rotate arm 70 from an inoperative position, which is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3A, to an operative position which is shown in full lines in the same figure, in which the roller bearing 72 engages the lever arm 36 and holds the same from any movement. When the parts are in this operative position the shaft 50 and cam 48 may continue to rotate but, in doing so, they will only stretch and release the extension spring 42 and no motion will be transmitted to the reciprocating head 39. Thus, the stop means 70 to 76 provides a means for stopping movement of the matrices out of the in-take column without stopping the electric motor and other parts which drive and operate the machine.

Means are provided by the invention for permitting movement of the bottom matrix of the stack of soiled matrices in the intake column onto the track 24 and, at the same time, preventing any movement of the matrices in the track back into the intake column. The scrubbing means which are described later in this specification exert a force on the line of moving matrices within the track tending to force them from the track back into the in-take column, and the means now to be described prevent such reverse movement. These means are shown in FIGS. 3A, 5 and 6 and comprise two spaced, parallel leaf springs 80 which are mounted on and below the bottom 22 of the track just below the in-take column 20, and which are parallel to the length of the track. Each of these leaf springs is supported at its end away from the track by rivets or other suitable means 82 and each spring extends from the rivets along, below and parallel to the bottom of the track and has an end part 8 4 which extends upwardly within an opening 86 in the bottom of the track just at the point where the bottom emerges from beneath the in-take column, which point may be said to be on the output side of the column. This upstanding part 84 has an inclined face 88 on the side thereof adjacent the in-take column and on its other side has a flat vertical face 96' which forms a point with the upper end of the inclined face 88, which point is normally positioned above the upper surface of the bottom of the track. It will be seen that as the bottom matrix moves out of the in-take column it will engage the inclined surfaces 88 of the two pawls and force the pawls downwardly so that the matrix will move over the points of the pawls in passing from the in-take column into the track. After the matrix has moved entirely out of the in-take column into the track the pawls will be moved upwardly to their normal positions by their resilient mountings and, in this position of the pawls, the trailing edge of the matrix will engage the iiat vertical surfaces 90 of the pawls and will be prevented from moving back toward the in-take column.

As a further means of preventing reverse movement of the matrices, and holding the same in place as they move into the channel shaped track, there is provided a roller 100 which is mounted on an arm 102 which is pivotally supported at 104 on the output side of the in-take column and which is urged downwardly by an extension spring 106 which is connected at its one end to the arm 102 and at its other end to the in-take column. These parts are so constructed and arranged that the roller 10%) is drawn resiliently downwardly into engagement with the upper surface of the matrix emerging from the in-take column, and will engage such upper surface until the matrix is entirely outside the column and positioned within the channel shaped track, in which its transverse ears A, B will be held beneath the inturned edges of the side walls of the track, thereby holding the matrix down and within the track.

Means are provided by the invention for cleaning the matrices as they are moved along the track from the intake column. In the preferred form of the invention such means comprise two openings formed in the bottom of the channel at spaced points along the length thereof. These openings are shown at 119 and 112 in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and while two openings and two scrubbing means will be described and illustrated in this preferred form of the invention, it will be apparent that one opening, or more than two, may be provided in the bottom of the track at spaced points along its length without departing in any way from the invention. The opening 119 is positioned nearer to the in-take column than is opening 112, and above and below this opening there are mounted rotary brushes 114 and 116, these being mounted on rotary shafts 118 and 12b, respectively, and these shafts are driven by the motor 12 through chain drive 54, sprocket 52, shaft 50', belt 122- and

gearing

124, 126. The

brushes

114, 116 are preferably formed of radial bristles made of some soft material, and we have found that soft nylon bristles produce very satisfactory results. The bristles of the upper brush 114 are of such length that they extend between the inturned edges of the side walls of the track and into scrubbing engagement with the upper surface of each matrix as it moves along the track. The bristles of the lower brush 116 are of such length that they extend through the opening 110 in the bottom of the track and into scrubbing engagement with the lower surface of the matrix. The side walls and bottom of the track are partially cut away adjacent the opening 110' in the same way as shown at 13b in FIG. 5, to permit the upper brush 114 to come in contact with the side parts of the matrix and to scrub the same. Brushes 14% and M2 are mounted, respectively, above and below the second opening 112 in the track, which opening is positioned farther from the in-take column than the opening 110. These brushes are mounted on shafts 144 and 146, respectively, which are driven through to suitable connections by the motor 12. in all respects the structure and operation of the brushes 141i, 142 are the same as those of

brushes

114, 116 and need not be again described in detail. As stated, only one opening in the track and one associated set of brushes may be provided, or more than two may be provided, in either case without departing from the invention.

We have found that the best scrubbing action of the brushes is provided if they are rotated in such directions that the parts thereof which engage the moving matrices move in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the moving line of matrices, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. This relation of the direction of movement of the brushes to that of the line of matrices within the track has a tendency to cause a backward movement of the matrices within the track and this movement is prevented by the spring pawl means 84 to 9i) which are described above.

Means are provided by the invention for supplying liquid detergent to each set of revolving

brushes

114, 116 and 141i, 142. Such means for the brushes 141 14-2, comprise a pipe or tube which has its lower end in a supply of liquid detergent within the tank 14 which is supported on the intermediate member 6 of the machine frame. The upper end of the pipe 156 is positioned adjacent the

brushes

140, 150 and is closed, and has two branch pipes 152, 154 which extend from the pipe to points adjacent the rotating brushes 149, 142 and supply liquid detergent to the brushes. A pump (not shown) is provided for forcing liquid detergent upwardly from the tank through the pipes. A similar means for supplying liquid detergent is provided for the brushes W14, 116 but only one such means need be described here.

The two sets of

brushes

114, 116 and 140, 142 with their means for supplying liquid detergent, comprise that part of the machine which scrubs and cleans the matrices. This section of the machine is known as the washing section and is separated from the succeeding parts of the machine by partition 160. This partition separates the washing section from the next succeeding section, which is known as the rinsing section, and it will be seen in FIG. 313 that the track passes through an opening 162 in this partition.

The rinsing section of the machine is positioned at the output side of the washing Section and is bounded by partitions 169 and 164. The track extends entirely through this rinsing section, passing through the opening 162 in partition 16% and through an opening 166 in partition 164. Within the rinsing section the bottom 22 of the track has formed therein an opening 170 over which the matrices pass in moving along the track. Rotary brushes 172, 174 are mounted, respectively, above and below this opening on rotary shafts 176, 178 which drive the brushes in such directions that the parts thereof which engage the matrices tend to move the matrices in a direction opposite to the direction in which they are moved along the track. These brushes are constructed in the same manner as is described above in connection with the detergent brushes and such construction need not be described again here. The shafts 176, 178 are driven through suitable driving connections by the motor 12 and such driving connections need not be further described here. A pipe 189 extends vertically upwardly within the rinsing chamber and its upper end is closed end and has two branches 182, 184 which direct rinsing water from tank 16 onto the rotating brushes 176, 178.

Means are provided for preventing the matrices from carrying liquid detergent through opening 162 in partition tea and for preventing the matrices from carrying rinse water through opening 166 in partition 164. Such means comprise a pipe 190 which extends upwardly from the blower llil which is mounted on the lower section 4 of the machine frame, and which pipe has a rightangled extension 192 extending into and across the rinse section of the machine. A tube 194 extends from this pipe within the rinse section and terminates adjacent the opening 162 in partition 160 and has its open end positioned on the output side of the partition 16% and directed backwardly toward the washing section. A second tube 196 leads from the pipe 192 and terminates adjacent the opening 166 in partition 164 at the output side of the partition, and is directed toward the rinse chamber. It will be seen that air blown from tube 1% through opening 166 and into engagement with the matrices passing through that opening will keep rinse water from passing out of the'rinse section. Air blown from pipe 194 will prevent liquid detergent carried by the matrices from passing beyond partition 160 and into the rinse section.

Means are provided by the invention for drying the matrices moving along the track after they have passed out of the rinsing section of the machine, i.e. after they have passed partition 164. Such means comprise a drying section of the machine which is shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C and which is bounded by

partitions

164 and 20!). Within this section of the machine an opening 292' is formed in the bottom 22 of the track and above and below this opening there are positioned

pipes

204, 206 which are directed, respectively, downwardly and upwardly and which are connected to the blower and which therefore supply heated air under pressure. This heated air is blown onto the upper and lower surfaces of the matrices passing over the opening 202 and dries the matrices.

Means are provided by the invention for inspecting the matrices within the track after they have been washed, rinsed and dried. These means are positioned within the inspection section of the machine, which is bounded by partitions 2th and 210 and which is shown in FIG. 30. Within this section the bottom 22 of the track has an opening 212 formed therein and below this opening there is provided a source of light 214 which is enclosed by a shroud 216, the upper end of which is provided with means 218 for directing the light upwardly into and through the opening 212. Directly above the opening there is provided a lens 220 and above this lens there is a viewing screen 222. It will be apparent that light from the source 214 will be directed by the means 218 upwardly and through the opening 2%2 in the track and then through the negative insert in the matrix, from which the light will be focused by lens 220 onto the viewing screen 222, thus providing a means for determining whether the negative insert in each matrix is perfectly clean.

Means are provided by the invention for receiving and storing the matrices after they have been cleaned and inspected. Such means are provided on the output side of the partition 210 which bounds the inspection section of the machine. The matrices are assembled here in a vertical rectangular, hollow rack 26%, which is known as the out-take column, and which is shown in FIGS. 3C, 7 and 8. This out-take column has its upper end positioned at the level of the bottom of the track and extends downwardly therefrom. .Within the out-take column there is positioned a platform 230 having a flat upper surface and a column 232 extending downwardly from its lower surface, the lower end of which is turned at right angles at 234 to be connected to the lower end of an elongated toothed rack 2 36 which extends upwardly from the platform 2.30. The teeth of this rack are meshed with those of a pinion gear 238 which is mounted on one end of a shaft 240 on the other end of which there is mounted a large ratchet wheel 250. In engagement with the teeth of this ratchet wheel is the pointed end of an elongated rigid rod 252 which, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3C and 4, extends across the machine and is connected at its other end to the upper end of a lever 254 which, as shown in FIG. 4, is mounted on rock shaft 38 and therefore moves with

lever arms

40 and 36. It will be apparent that as shaft 38 rocks to impart horizontal reciprocating movement to the plunger 58 to move the soiled matrices from the in-take column into the track, it will also impart the same movement to the push-rod 252. On each stroke of this rod to the left, as viewed in FIG. 3C, or to the right as viewed in FIG. 2, the ratchet wheel will be moved through an arc of rotation while on the return movement of the rod its pointed end will move over the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

Means are provided by the invention for varying the stroke of the push-rod 252, and therefore the arc of rotation imparted to the ratchet wheel 250 by the pushrod, in accordance with the thickness of the matrix passing from the inspection chamber of the machine into the out-take column. Such means comprise a lever 280 which is pivoted between its ends at 282 on some fixed part of the machine and the lower end of which carries a roller 284 which is so positioned that it bears on the upper surface of the matrix passing onto the platform 230 in the out-take column. The upper end 286 of the lever 280 is positioned below and in engagement with the lower surface of the push-rod 252 and a spring 288 resiliently holds the lower and upper ends of the lever in engagement with the matrix and push-rod, respectively, as described. If the matrix engaged by the lower end of the lever has a normal, predetermined thickness there will be no movement of the lever about its pivoted support. However, if the matrix has more than this predetermined thickness the lever will be moved clockwise about its pivotal support and its upper end, and the pushrod which it supports will be lowered. Thus, when the push-rod makes its next operative movement to rotate the ratchet 250 and lower the platform 230 there will be a greater than normal rotation of the ratchet wheel and a greater than normal lowering of the platform, thus accommodating the excessively thick matrix. Conversely, if the matrix is or" less than normal thickness the spring 288 will move the lever in a counterclockwise direction about its pivotal support, raising the upper end of the lever and the push-rod and thereby causing the push-rod to impart less than a normal arc of movement to the ratchet wheel, thus causing less than a normal lowering of the platform.

Means are provided by the invention for adjusting the stack of cleaned matrices in the out-take column in such a way that the upper surface of the upper matrix of the stack will always be at a level which will permit the next matrix emerging from the track to move into the out-take column. These means are shown in FIGS. 3C, '7, 8 and 9 and comprise a source of light 260 which is so positioned and constructed that it emits a horizontal beam of light directly across the upper end of the out-take column at exactly the level which should be occupied by the upper surface of the top matrix in the out-take column in order to permit the next matrix to enter the column. This source of light is positioned on one side of the out-take column, and on the other side there is positioned a photoelectric cell 262 which is so positioned that it will receive and be operated by the beam of light from the source 260. The photocell is of the photo-resistor type and combines with a fixed resistance 264 to form a voltage divider connected across the terminals of a battery 268, the positive terminal of which corresponds to the emitter terminal of a transistor 266. The base terminal of the transistor is connected to the junction between the fixed resistor and the photocell. Any change in the light intensity impinged on the photocell by the light source will change the resistance of the photocell and the current flow through the fixed resistor. This changes the voltage drop across the fixed resistor and thereby changes the base to emitter bias of the transistor, causing a resultant change in the collector current. A relay winding 270 is connected in the collector circuit and is energized in response to a predetermined base-to-emitter bias and corresponding value of collector current in the transistor. The armature of the relay operates a switch 272 either upon illumination or de-illumination of the photocell. The switch is connected in series to a load 274 and power source 276, whereby energization of the load is controlled by the photocell in conjunction with the light source by means of the relay 272. So long as the beam of light from lamp 260 is received by the photoelectric cell the relay winding 270 will not be connected to the battery 268, but if this beam is interrupted, as by the interposition of a part of the upper matrix in the out-take column, the battery will be connected to the relay winding, which will be energized to operate the relay and connect the source of alternating current to the winding 274 of a solenoid,

9 the armature 276 of which, as shown in FIG. 10, is connected to a pawl zss which engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 250 which, when rotated, and in the manner described above, imparts vertical movement to the rack 236 which is connected to the platform in the out-take column.

Operation In the use and operation of the machine to clean the soiled matrices of a photocomposing machine, which matrices are of the type used in the Fotosetter machine and one of which is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a line of these matrices is loaded into the in-take column by sliding a holder bar into the aligned combination distributing teeth C of the matrices and placing the assembled matrices, as a unit on the holder bar, in a vertical stack within the in-take column, after which the holder bar is removed from the in-take column. The motor 26, the pumps within the tanks of detergent and rinse water, and the blower, are now all energized. Operation of the motor will cause rotation of shaft 50 and cam 43, causing the

lever arms

46 and 36 to oscillate with rockshaft 38. This movement of lever arm 36 will impart horizontal reciprocating movement to the head within the guide 32 in the side bars 34, and the same movement will, of course, be imparted to the plunger 58 which is carried by the head 30. The plunger will move enlirely across and below the intake column on its movement to the left as viewed in FIG. 3A and, in doing so, it will move the bottom matrix of the stack of matrices in the in-take column out of the column and into the track. In passing from the in-take column to the track the matrix will engage the inclined surface of the spring-pressed pawl 84 and will depress the pawl against the force of the spring arm 80 which supports it. The matrix will therefore pass freely into the track and, when it has completely passed the pawl, the pawl will rise behind it to its normal, upper position in which its flat vertical face 99 is positioned above the bottom of the track, in which posi tion the pawl prevents any backward movement of the matrix from the track toward the in-take column. As the matrix passes out of the in-take column its upper surface is engaged by the roller 100 which resiliently bears down on the matrix and prevents it from riding up. The projecting ears A, B on the matrix pass into the channels formed by the bottom, side walls and inturned edges of the track and the matrices are therefore guided and held in their movement along the track. As the head 30 con tinues its horizontal reciprocating motion, the matrices in the in-take column will be moved successively into the track, thereby forming a moving line of matrices in the track. If, for any reason, this moving line is obstructed the next operating movement of the head 30 toward the in-take column will cause thep lunger 58, which cannot move a matrix from the in-take column because of the obstruction, to be moved backwardly into the head against the force of spring 64, thereby preventing any damage to the machine.

As each matrix moves along the track is passes successively over the openings 110 and 112 in the bottom of the track. As it does so, its upper and lower surfaces are scrubbed by the soft nylon brushes 114, 116 at opening lit and by the same type of brushes 140, 1142 at opening 112. These brushes and both surfaces of the matrix are supplied with liquid detergent through pipes and branch pipes so that they are completely cleaned and scrubbed.

As the matrices pass from the washing section of the machine into the rinsing section any liquid detergent on them is blown back into the washing section by the blast of air delivered by tube 194. Within the rinsing section of the machine each matrix passes over the opening 170 in the bottom of the track and, when it does so, its upper and lower surfaces are engaged and scrubbed by the brushes 17 6, 178 and these surfaces are flushed with rinse water delivered by pipe 180 and branch pipes 182, 184, so that all detergent and any remaining dirt is removed from both surfaces of the matrix. As the matrices move along the track from the rinse section of the machine to the drying section, any rinse water on them is blown back into the rinsing section by the blast of air delivered by pipe 96.

Within the drying section of the machine each matrix passes over an opening 2% in the bottom of the track. As each matrix passes over this opening its upper and lower surfaces are subjected to downwardly and upwardly directed blasts of hot air supplied by the blower 19 and delivered through pipes 294, 2%. The matrices are completely dry when they have passed beyond the blower pipes.

After passing out of the drying section of the machine each matrix reaches the opening in the bottom of the track which is positioned above the out-take column. This opening is so shaped that the matrix will pass downwardly through it onto the upper surface of the platform 236 or the upper surface of the matrix which preceded it. As this occurs, the ratchet wheel 2% will be rotated by the horizontal reciprocating movement of push-rod 252 and this will cause rotation of pinion gear 238 through a limited arc determined by the position of the push-rod with respect to the teeth on the ratchet wheel. Rotation of the pinion gear will cause downward movement of the rack 36 and of the platform 23% which is connected to it. Thus, the platform will be moved downwardly in a step-by-step manner to accommodate each matrix as it passes into the out-take column. Downward movement of the platform under the weight of the matrices stacked on it may be braked by any suitable means.

After each matrix leaves the drying section of the machine it enters the inspection section where it passes over opening 212 in the bottom of the track. During such movement the plaque or negative insert of each matrix will pass over this opening and the light from the source 214, which is below the opening, will pass upwardly through the directing means 1218, opening 212 in the track, negative insert E and lens 22%, so that the operator of the machine can observe on the viewing screen 222 whether the negative insert is completely clean.

if any matrix passing onto the out-take column is of such excessive vertical thickness that it obstructs the beam of light passing from the light source 266, to the photoelectric cell 262, the electric circuit controlled by the photoelectric cell will be operated to energize solenoid 27d and the pawl 28% connected to its armature, to thereby move the ratchet wheel an additional amount which will be suiiicient to lower the platform, through pinion gear 233 and rack 236 until the beam of light again impinges on the photoelectric cell, causing operation of the electric circuit to de-energize the solenoid 1274, thereby stopping continued downward movement of the platform.

While we have described and illustrated one embodiment of the machine which we have invented, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, as well as modifications of that disclosed, may be made and practiced without departing in any way from the spirit or scope of the invention, for the limits of which reference must be made to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for cleaning the matrices used in a photocomposing machine, comprising a vertical storage rack for receiving a stack of horizontally positioned matrices, a horizontal track which is channel-shaped in cross section having its one end adjacent said storage means with its bottom positioned to receive the lowest matrix of the stack when moved horizontally from the storage means, a horizontally movable head positioned adjacent the lower end of the storage means, a plunger mounted for horizontal sliding movement in the head and positioned in the plane of the lowest matrix of the stack, a spring urging the plunger in the direction of the stack, means for horizontally reciprocating the head to cause the plunger to successively move the lowest matrix from the stack into the track to produce a moving line of matrices in the track, a pawl positioned between the storage means and the track md having an inclined face adjacent the storage means and a flat vertical face adjacent the track, means resiliently supporting said pawl and urging it upwardly whereby a matrix moving from the storage means to the track will engage the inclined face of the pawl and depress and pass over the pawl but will be held from movement in the opposite direction by the flat vertical face of the pawl after the matrix passes the pawl, means positioned at spaced intervals along the track for cleaning the matrices moving along the track, and means at the end of the track for producing a vertical stack of cleaned matrices.

2. A machine for cleaning the matrices used in a photocomposing machine, comprising a vertical storage rack for receiving a stack of horizontally positioned matrices, a horizontal track which is channel-shaped in cross section having its one end adjacent said storage means with its bottom positioned to receive the lowest matrix of the stack when moved horizontally from the storage means, a matrix ejecting head positioned adjacent the lower end of the storage means and mounted for horizontal movement toward and away from the storage means, a lever of the first class having its one arm operatively connected to the head to impart horizontal reciprocating movement to the head when the lever is rocked about its pivot, a spring connected to the other arm of the lever and constantly urging the lever to a position in Which the head is at the limit of its movement toward the storage means, a rotatably mounted cam engaging the second arm of the lever and operable when rotated to move the head, through the lever, to the limit of its movement away from the storage means, means positioned at spaced intervals along the track for cleaning the matrices moving along the track, and means at the end of the track for producing a vertical stack of cleaned matrices.

3. A machine for cleaning the matrices used in a photocomposing machine, comprising a vertically arranged storage means for receiving a stack of horizontally positioned matrices, a horizontal track extending from the lower end of said storage means to receive matrices from the storage means, means for successively moving the lowest matrix in the storage means into the track to form a line of matrices in the track which moves along the track as successive matrices are moved from the stack to the track, the track having a plurality of openings therein spaced along its length over which openings the matrices move, a first scrubbing means disposed above and below the track at the location of the opening therein nearest the storage means, means for supplying a liquid detergent to said first scrubbing means, a second scrubbing means disposed above and below the track at the location of a second opening therein more removed from the storage means than the first opening, means for supplying rinse water to said second scrubbing means, air blowing means disposed above and below the track at the location of a third opening therein more removed from the storage means than the second opening, means at the output side of at least one of said scrubbing means for blowing air along the track in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of the matrices along the track to thereby prevent movement of detergent and rinse water along the track with the matrices, and a vertically arranged storage means positioned at the outlet end of said track for receiving matrices from the track and storing them in a stack of horizontally positioned matrices.

4. A machine tor cleaning the matrices used in a photo-composing machine, comprising a vertically arranged storage means for receiving a stack of horizontally positioned matrices, a horizontal track extending from the lower end of said storage means to receive matrices from the storage means, means for successively moving the lowest matrix in the storage means into the track to form a line of matrices in the track which moves along the track as successive matrices are moved from the stack to the track, the track having a plurality of openings therein spaced along its length over which openings the matrices move, scrubbing means disposed above and below the track at the location of at least one of the openings therein for engaging and cleaning the upper and lower surfaces of each matrix as it passes over such opening, and a vertically arranged storage means positioned at the outlet end of said track for receiving matrices from the track and storing them in a stack of horizontally positioned matrices, a platform mounted for vertical movement in the storage means at the outlet end of the track onto which the matrices move from the track, and means operated by the means for moving matrices into the track for lowering said platform to successively receive in the storage means matrices from the track.

5. A machine for cleaning the matrices used in a photo-composing machine, comprising a vertically arranged storage means for receiving a stack of horizontally positioned matrices, a horizontal track extending from the lower end of said storage means to receive matrices from the storage means, a plunger mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with the lowest matrix in the storage means for successively moving the lowest matrix in the storage means into the track to form a line of matrices in the track which moves along the track as successive matrices are moved from the stack to the track, the track having a plurality of openings therein spaced along its length over which openings the matrices move, scrubbing means disposed above and below the track at the location of at least one of the openings therein for engaging and cleaning the upper and lower surfaces of each matrix as it passes over such opening, and a vertically arranged storage means positioned at the outlet end of said track for receiving matrices from the track and storing them in a stack of horizontally positioned matrices, a platform mounted for vertical movement in the storage means at the outlet end of the track onto which the matrices move from the track, a vertical toothed rack connected to said platform, a pinion gear meshed with said rack, a ratchet wheel connected to the pinion gear to rotate therewith, and a rod mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement and having its one end in engagement with said ratchet wheel to rotate the same when the rod is reciprocated and having its other end operatively connected to said plunger to be reciprocated thereby.

6. A machine for cleaning the matrices used in a photo-composing machine, comprising a vertically arranged storage means for receiving a stack of horizontally positioned matrices, a horizontal track extending from the lower end of said storage means to receive matrices from the storage means, a plunger mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with the lowest matrix in the storage means for successively moving the lowest matrix in the storage means onto the track to form a line of matrices on the track which moves along the track as successive matrices are moved from the stack to the track, the track having a plurality of openings therein spaced along its length over which openings the matrices move, scrubbing means disposed above and below the track at the location of at least one of the openings therein for engaging and cleaning the upper and lower surfaces of each matrix as it passes over such opening, and a vertically arranged storage means positioned at the outlet end of said track for receiving matrices from the track and storing them in a vertical stack of horizontally positioned matrices, a platform mounted for vertical movement in the storage means at the outlet end of the track onto which the matrices move from the track, and means operable by movement of said plunger for moving said platform downwardly step by step as successive matrices move from the track into said storage means.

7. A machine for cleaning the matrices used in a photocornposing machine, comprising a vertically arranged storage means for receiving a stack of horizontally positioned matrices, a horizontal track extending from the lower end of said storage means to receive matrices from the storage means, means for successively moving the lowest matrix in the storage means into the track to form a line of matrices in the track which moves along the track as successive matrices are moved from the stack to the track, the track having a plurality of openings therein spaced along its length over which openings the matrices successively move, a first scrubbing means disposed above and below the track at the location of the opening therein nearest the storage means, means for supplying a liquid detergent to said first scrubbing means, a second scrubbing means disposed above and below the track at the location of another opening therein more removed from the storage means, means for supplying rinse water to said second scrubbing means, air blowing means disposed above and below the track at the location of a third opening therein more removed from the storage means than the second opening for blowing air toward the track to dry a matrix above said third opening, air blowing means disposed above and below the track on the downstream side of the first and second of said openings and directed upstream toprevent detergent and rinse water from movement with the matrices, and a vertically arranged storage means positioned at the outlet end of said track for receiving matrices from the track and storing them in a stack of horizontally positioned matrices.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,218,523 Carrington Mar. 6, 1917 1,536,186 Arnold May 5, 1925 1,930,575 Wynd et a1. Oct. 17, 1933 2,056,159 Albrecht Oct. 6, 1936 2,395,397 Croft Feb. 26, 1946 2,500,568 Puschel et al Mar. 14, 1950 2,748,417 Heim June 5, 1956 2,904,914 Trubert Sept. 22, 1959 3,023,669 Hall Mar. 6, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 436,930 Germany Nov. 15, 1926

Claims

1. A MACHINE FOR CLEANING THE MATRICES USED IN A PHOTOCOMPOSING MACHINE, COMPRISING A VERTICAL STORAGE RACK FOR RECEIVING A STACK OF HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED MATRICES, A HORIZONTAL TRACK WHICH IS CHANNEL-SHAPED IN CROSS SECTION HAVING ITS ONE END ADJACENT SAID STORAGE MEANS WITH ITS BOTTOM POSITIONED TO RECEIVE THE LOWEST MATRIX OF THE STACK WHEN MOVED HORIZONTALLY FROM THE STORAGE MEANS, A HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE HEAD POSITIONED ADJACENT THE LOWER END OF THE STORAGE MEANS, A PLUNGER MOUNTED FOR HORIZONTAL SLIDING MOVEMENT IN THE HEAD AND POSITIONED IN THE PLANE OF THE LOWEST MATRIX OF THE STACK, A SPRING URGING THE PLUNGER IN THE DIRECTION OF THE STACK, MEANS FOR HORIZONTALLY RECIPROCATING THE HEAD TO CAUSE THE PLUNGER TO SUCCESSIVELY MOVE THE LOWEST MATRIX FROM THE STACK INTO THE TRACK TO PRODUCE A MOVING LINE OF MATRICES