US529205A - District - Google Patents

Description

UNIT D STATES PATEN OF ICE.

OOLLESTIN SKATULLA, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE MONOLINE COMPOSING COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF I COLUMBIA.

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING CAST TYPE-BARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,205, dated November 13, 1894.

Application filed'J'une 16, 1894. Serial No. 514,787. (No model.)

. To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OoLLEsrIN SKATULLA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Producing Cast Type-Bars, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the well known class of machines for producing type-bars, or

lines of words or characters, wherein interchangeable matrices and space-bars are released by finger-key mechanism from the cells or channels of a magazine and assembled in n1. orderly arrangement in an assembling or composing block from which the line is shifted I into a Vertically movable transfer yoke or frame and lowered into proper relation to a mold into which type-metal is injected to cast the type-bar, or the line of words or characters. The space-bars are each composed of a main wedge-plate and a secondary wedgeplate inseparably but slidably connected with the main wedgaplate and havingits upper z 5 or thickest end provided with lateral sustaining lugs or shoulders adapted to engage with grooves or ribs in the transfer yoke or frame, so that after the aligned matrices are clamped in position, and prior to the casting operation, the main Wedge-plates, of the space-bars can be forced or driven lengthwise to obtain the proper spaces between their matrices.

In machines of the character alluded to a serious objection exists, in that matter printed 5 from the cast type-bar frequently exhibits burrs, or lines of demarkation, or fine lines, between more or less of the letters or characters, which is prejudical to the appearance of the printed matter, and prevents thehigh 4o perfection desirable in the art of printing.

The cause of the burrs or lines referred to resides in the fact that the secondary wedgeplates of the space-bars remain immovable or stationary during the justifying operation, and the type-metal injected into the mold comes in contact with the secondary wedgeplates at certain points and gradually'accumulates thereupon in the form of small lumps or protuberances, which, in the frequent operation of the space-bars are forced against the walls at the sides of the characters or letters of the matrices. These walls are extremely thin-sometimes only a thousandth part of an inch in thickness-and they are more or less crushed or pressed inward by the lumps or protuberances formed by the type-metal accumulating on the edges of the secondary wedge-plates, until finally cavities are formed in the walls, which eventually admit small portions of the type-metal which ac- 6o cumulates, as before stated, on the secondary wedge-plates, with the result that the casttype bar presents thin metal lines or projections approximately the same height as the letters or characters. In printing from the cast type-bar the lines or projections produce burrs, or lines of demarkation, or fine lines, between the letters, thereby materially detracting from the appearance of the printed matter, and preventing the production of finely executed work.

In operating machines of the class referred to, the attendants are instructed to daily remove all traces of metal from the space-bars and grease the same with oil or similar material, which is not only troublesome, but laborious and of little real value, and prevents the matrices from being kept perfectly clean and free from oil, as they should be. Furthermore the greasyor oily matter is vapor- 8o ized by the hot type-metal, and the vapor enters the letters or characters of the matrices, and so affects them that they, as well as the print therefrom are dimmed.

It has been proposed to prevent the crushing or pressing in of the walls at the sides of the characters or letters of the matrices by increasing the thickness of the latter, but this is objectionable for many reasons, chiefly because the thickened matrices occupy too go much space. I have discovered that the objections stated are entirely avoided by the provision of means whereby thesecondary wedge-plates are caused to slide in contact with the matrices in a mannersimilar' to the sliding movements of the mainwedge-plates during the justifying operation, when the aligned matrices lie in the yoke or frame in proper relation to the mold. By this means the secondary wedge-plates are, by frictional too contact with the matrices, maintained in a perfectly clean and smooth condition, and the type-metal, which tends to adhere to the secondary wedge-slides, is effectually prevented from adhering, so that the liability of crushing or pressing in the walls at the sides of the characters or letters of the matrices is entirely avoided, and the cleaning and greasing of the space-bars is rendered unnecessary, thereby enabling perfect work to be pro duced, and enabling the cast typebars to produce printed matter entirely free from burrs, or lines of demarkation, or fine lines between the printed letters or characters, while at the same time largely contributing to the life of the matrices.

The invention consists, essentially, in the combination with a yoke or frame in which aligned matrices are suspended and sustained in juxtaposition to a mold, and space-bars each composed of a main plate and a secondary plate having devices to suspend it from the yoke or frame, of means whereby the secondary plates of the spacebars move in sliding contact with the sides of the matrices when the main plates of the space-bars are forced or moved between the matrices to justify the line.

The invention also consists in the combination with a yoke or frame in which aligned matrices are suspended and sustained in juxtaposition to a mold, and space-bars each composed of a main wedge-plate and a see ondary wedge-plate slidingly connected with the main wedge-plate and having sustaining lugs or shoulders, of a yielding abutment or rail against which the secondary wedgeplates bear, and by which said secondary wedge-plates are adapted to move or yield in sliding contact with the matrices when the main wedge-plates are operated to justify the aligned matrices.

The invention also consists in certain other features and combinations or arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is adetail sectional view of a portion of the yoke or frame in which the aligned matrices are suspended or sustained in juxtaposition to a mold, the space-bars being represented in their lowest positions prior to justifying or spacing the matrices. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the space-bars raised or moved to justify the line. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the composed line looking at the characters or letters of the matrices, and showing the usual clamps or vise-jaws by which the line of matrices is confined in position in the yoke or frame. Fig. 4 is a de tail enlarged edge view of a matrix to show the thin walls at the sides of the character or letter. Fig. 5 is a detail enlarged edge view of a space-bar having thereupon a lump or projection formed by accumulated typemetal. Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged edge view,

showing the manner in which the lump or projection formed by the accumulated typemetal crushes or presses in the thin wall of the matrix; and Fig. 7 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of a type-bar produced from matrices having their thin walls crushed or pressed in, as hereinbefore alluded to, and showing the solid metal lines or projections which produce the burrs or fine lines between the printed letters or characters.

In orderto enable my invention to be clearly understood by those skilled in the artI do not deem it necessary to illustrate the entire machine, and therefore have only shown such parts as I believe will clearly exhibit the im provement I have made.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the ordinary yoke or frame in which the line of assembled or composed matrices, with the space-bars at the proper points, are carried or movedinto juxtaposition to the usual mold for producing a cast-type bar, or a line of words or characters, by injecting type-metal into one side of the mold while the opposite side thereof is closed by the matrices, as is well known in machines of the character to which my invention relates.

In the practical use of the machine, the matrices and the space-bars are released from the cells or channels of a magazine through the medium of finger-key mechanism,aud are assembled in a composing block, and then shifted into the yoke or frame 1, which is lowered or moved into proper relation to the mold. The line of matrices is clamped by the usual vise-jaws 2, Fig. 3, and then the space-bars are acted upon to obtain the required spaces between the end of one word and the beginning of another.

The space-bars are each composed of a main tapered or wedge-plate 3, and a short second ary wedge-plate at inseparably connected with the main wedge-plate by a suitable sliding connection,and provided at its upper or thickest end with sustaining lugs or shoulders 6, adapted to engage and be sustained by the ribbed and grooved or recessed portion of the yoke or frame.

In the usual line, or type-bar casting machine, the two oppositely projecting lugs or shoulders 6 of each secondary wedge-plate engage parts of the yoke or frame, in such manner that the secondary wedge-plates are held immovable or stationary when the main wedge-plates are forced or driven between the matrices to justify the line. It will be obvious, therefore, that the edge portions of the secondary wedge-plates, exposed to the typemetal during the repeated casting operations, remain the same at all times, and consequently the adhering type-metal accumulates as a lump or projection, as at 7, Figs. 5 and 6, which in time crushes or presses in the thin wall 8 at the side of the character or letter of the matrix 9, with the result that a cavity is formed which becomes enlarged and admits typemetal. In consequence of this the cast typebar, or line of characters or words, is formed IIC with thin metallines, as at 10, Fig. 7,between the type characters or letters. These thin metal lines produce burrs, or lines of demarkation, or very fine lines, between the characters or letters of the printed matter, which mar or destroy the appearance thereof. This serious objection I avoid without increasing the thickness of the matrices by providing suitable means whereby the secondary wed geplates are adapted to yield on the final thrust of the main wedge-plates and slide in contact with the matrices much the same as the main wedge-plates, thereby rubbing off any typemetal that may have been deposited on the secondary wedge-plates during a previous casting operation. As shown in the accompanying drawings I attain the desired result by constructing the yoke or frame 1, at its opposite sides, with longitudinal chambers, grooves, or recesses 12 and 13 of sufficient depth and height to enable the sustaining lugs or shoulders 6, of the secondary wedge-plates 4, to move vertically, so that the secondary wedge-plates can slide in contact with the sides of the matrices.

The edges 14. of the secondary wedge-plates, in proximity to the lugs or shoulders 6, are so constructed that they can move past the longitudinal shoulders or ribs 15, which serve asstops to prevent displacement or vertical movement of the matrices during the justifying operation. The construction is such that when the main wedge-plates are forced or driven lengthwise between the matrices, the secondary wedge-plates are also caused to move in the same direction, and these frequentlyrepeated movements of the secondary wedge-plates entirely free them from all adhering type-metal, and the entire space-bar is cleaned during the operation of the machine, so that greasing or oiling of the spacebars is unnecessary.

It is advisable that the sliding movements of the secondary wedge-plates 4 should not occur on theinitial upward movement of the main wedge-plates 3, as this would interfere with or prevent the necessary and proper pressure of the secondary wedge -plates against the matrices. For this reason I increase the height of the chamber, groove, or recess 12 and arrange in the upper portion thereof a yielding abutment, preferably made in the form of a bar or rail 16, against which bears the sustaining lug or shoulder 6 at one edge of each secondary wedge-plate. The bar or rail 16 is constantly pressed downward by a suitable spring 17, one or more, and the arrangement is such that on the initial upward movements of the main Wedge-plates the movements of the secondary wedge-plates are temporarily resisted by the spring-pressed bar or rail, in such manner that the secondary wedge-plates become attached, as it were, by friction to the main wedge-plates, so that on the second or final thrust of the latter, the resistance offered by the spring-pressed bar or rail is overcome by the upward pressure of the secondary wedge-plates, and the latter are, by frictional contact with the main wedgeplates, driven upward by the latter. The. distance which the secondary wedge-plates travel should not be too great. It is sufficient if they move about three-sixteenths of an inch. wedge-plates not only removes all type-metal therefrom, but obtains the very useful results of entirely preventing crushing or pressing in of the thin walls at the sides of the characters -or letters of the matrices, thereby materially increasing the life of the same, and enabling attractive clean printing to be obtained.

The matrices ordinarily used in this class of line-casting machines are provided with shoulders at their upper and lower ends, and the shoulders at their upper ends lie in the groove below the shoulders or ribs 15. As before stated, the shoulders or ribs 15 serve as stops to prevent vertical adjustment of the matrices during the justifying operation.

My invention avoids the labor of daily scraping the type-bars to remove any metal therefrom, keeps the secondary or small wedge-plates clean without the use of oil or black lead, and prevents burrs appearing in the printed matter.

The mechanical appliances or construction of parts for attaining the result set forth can be Widely varied without affecting the spirit of my invention, and therefore I claim 1 1. The combination with a yoke or frame in which aligned matrices are sustained, and space-bars each composed of a main plate and a secondary plate having devices to support it in the yoke or frame, of means whereby the secondary plates of the space-bars move in sliding contact with the sides of the matr ces when the main-plates of the space-bars are forced or moved between the matrices to justify the line, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a yoke or frame in which aligned matrices are suspended and sustained in juxtaposition to a mold, and space-bars each composed of amain-plate and a secondary plate having devices to suspend it from the yoke or frame,0f means whereby the secondary plates of the space-bars move in sliding contact with the sides of the matrices when the main plates of the space-bars are forced or driven upward between the matrices to justify the line, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a yoke or frame in which aligned matrices are suspended and sustained in juxtaposition to a mold, and space-bars each composed of a main plate and a secondary-plate having sustaining lugs or shoulders to suspend it from the yoke or frame, of means whereby the secondary-plates of the space-bars move in sliding contact with the sides of the matrices when the main-plates of the space-bars are forced or driven upward between the matrices to justify the line, substantially as described.

The sliding action of the secondary ICO.

substantially as described. 5. The combination with a yoke or frame in which aligned matrices are suspended, and space-bars each composed of a main-plate and a secondary-plate having sustaining lugs or shoulders to suspend it from the yoke or frame, of a yielding abutment against which some of the sustaining lugs or shoulders bear and by which said secondary wedge-plates are adapted to move or yield in sliding contact with the matrices when the main wedgepl-(ites are operated to justify the line, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and ailixed my seal in presence of 2 two subscribing witnesses.

COLLESTIN SKATULLA. Witnesses:

HERMAN BID ER, CLEMENS HUNEWINOKELL.

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