US539983A - Type-justifying mechanism - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) Y

P. T. DODGE. TYPE JUSTIPYING MBGHANISM.

Patented May 28, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT i Trinca.

PHILIP T. DODGE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRIOI OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MERGENTIIALER LINO'IYPEOOMPANY, OF'NEW JERSEY.

TYPE-JUSTIFYING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent IVO. 539,983, dated May 28, 1895.

Application filed November 16, 1392. Serial No. 4525164. (No model.) l

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP T. DODGE, of Washington, District of Columbia, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Type-Justifying Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference more particularly to what are known as linotype machines, in which a series of matrices or female dies,

1o containing individual characters, are assembled, inconnection with intermediate spaces, temporarily in line in front of a mold or impression mechanism, in order to produce a line of type in relief on a bar or plate of type I 5 ine'tal or other suitable material. The invention is also applicable, however, in connection with the so called matrix machines of various forms, in which male dies or punches representing individual characters are assembled in line and used to impress or indent the characters in papier-[hach or similar material to produce a line matrix for type.

The invention bears only on those machines in which there are individual matrices or A2 5 type, that is to say,'matrices or type bearing of matrices or dies, lafter being composed, may be spaced out, expanded endwise, or'

justified to the predetermined length. This justification of lines of dies.. has been heretofore effected by the use of intermediate yielding spaces which admitted of the line being compressed endwise to the required length; by single wedge-shaped spaces forced between the matrices; by compound spaces consisting of two oppositely tapered wedges moving one along the other and forming jointly an expansible space with parallel outer spaces; and also in other cases by space bars which were stepped or increased in thickness step by step, so that when forced end- 5o wise through the composed line they would fill successively increasing spaces in the line.

All the methods and means of justification heretofore known are open to objections of one kind or another.,y The compound or twopart wedged spaces were objectionable because of their expense and their extreme frailty when adapted to produce the thin spaces required in certain classes of printing. The stepped spaces were objectionable among other reasons because the number of steps 6o required in order to admit of their practical use gave them an inconvenient length. Now

the main object of the present invention is to provide for justification by means of step wedges or spaces adapted to be made short in length and to add at each movement only a small amount to the length of the line, so that although a line of matrices may be confined between immovable jaws or clamps, it is impossible to advance the entire series of con- 7o tained spaces to complete the justification of the line. With this end in view I construct my spacing devices with a series `otsteps or shoulders, less in length than the matrices or dies with which they are to be used and construct the matrices or dies with corresponding steps, so that the spaces in position between the matrices may be advanced short distances at a time, and so as to add at each movement very slightly to the length of the 8o line without destroying. the parallelism of the matrices. My matrices and space bars may be varied in detail at will, provided they retain the peculiaritiesv above named, and they may be mounted and used in connection with machines of any form now known in the art and with devices of any suitable character for composing the matrices, inserting the spaces in the line and adjusting them through the line either individually or in series.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective viewof a space-bar constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the matrix adapted to be used in connection therewith. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing an assembled or proposed line of matrices and the contained spaces located between the clamps or jaws to determinevthe length of the line, the parts being shown in the positions they occupy roo previous to justification. l Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts after justification.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig@ is a horizontal crossfsection on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4E. Fig. 7 is a per spective view ot' a matrix with a series of steps therein. Fig. 8 is an elevation showing the matrices and spaces stepped on both sides.

Referring to the drawings., A represents one of my stepped spaces; B,one of the matrices; C. C, two jaws or abutments, which previous to or during justification are iixed at a predetermined distanceapartin order to determine the length of the line- The spaces and matrices herein shown are of the same general character asv those used in the well known Mergenthaler linotype machine represented in Letters Patent of the United States, issued on the 16th day of September, 1890, No. 436,532-, the spaces being provided at their upperen ds with'shoulders e, by which they are suspended while traveling through the machine and`while mounted in front of the mold;A and the matrices being in like manner provided at their upper ends with supporting shoulders, l).

Eachmatrix B consists ofa dat plate o f brass or similar material having in one edge the. intaglio character or matrix proper, b. The matrix instead of being made with pa-rallel sides throughout itsV length` as heretofore, is reduced in width step bystep toward its lower end. It may be niade of 'uniforml thickness fromf its upper end to a point` near its middle and then reduced one step and continued of the diminished thicknessto the opposite end asl shown in Figs. 2 and 3; or, it may be provided with two steps as represented in Fig. 7 so as to present three different thicknesses at different' points in its length. It is strongly recommended that each portion or thickness present parallel vertical faces on opposite sides. The character or matrix proper is located in the edge of the thickest portion, andthe bearing faces ofthis thickened portion are given such an area that when the matrices are assembled side by yside in contact with each other between the clamping or confining jaws. they willr maintain parallel vertical positions and be adapted jointly with the spaces to tit against the edge of the mold after the manner of the ordinary matrices used in the Mergenthaler machine. The space A is made of much greater-length than the matrices andl is provided' with s teps of the same length whereby the thickness of the space is reduced by easy gradations by steps from the lower tothe upper end. In order to permit the operation of the spaces in series under all conditions encountered in practice, it is desirable that the steps Qf the matrices and spaces shall have the smallest rise allowable-that is to say, that there shall be t-he smallest possible increase in thickness between one step or section and the next.

Vhen the matrices are assembled side by side in line they will bear closely against each other, as represented in Figs.,3 and 4. At the points where spaces are to occurin the print `bid the advance of all the spaces.

the spacing devices A, are inserted in the line, each with its stepped face toward that of the adjoining matrix against which it will tit closely as shown, the complementary steps on the two parts permitting the upper end of the space to be made extremely thin, so that the thinnest spaces demanded by the printer may be produced by the machine. rlhe matrixline containing the spaces and set of such length that it is impossible to introduce the matrices for another word or syllable, is placed between the two jaws or abutments C after which justification is effected by advancing the spaces endwise through the line step by step either in unison or one at a time. It the spaces are all advanced at one time through the line they will add to its length the sum of the rise of their steps. It may sometimes happen that the space remaining to be lled in the line to effect justification will be so small as to for-r In each case one or more of the spaces may be advanced beyond the others, that is to say, a greater distance through theline. I tind,l how. ever, by actual test that if the matrices of ordinary length are constructed with a single `step as shown in Fig.` 2, and the space proi vided with from four to eight steps,v it is possible under every condition encountered in i practice to advance the entire series of spaces into the line the length of one step. There j are in practice many reasons why it is necesf sary to make the matrices ofV the length and proportion substantially such as shown in the l drawings. rThe employment of the steps upon the matrices and spaces admits of the matricesbeing made of rthe requisite length and of their being operated with spaces which are kept within practical limits as to length and which within their limited length contained a large number of steps, each rising but a slight distance above the next.

When the spacesare usedv in connection with the Mergenthaler matrix as herein shown, having projecting ears at the lower as well as the upper edge, the steps should be cut down into the matrix between the lower ears as shown l in Figs. 2 and 6, leaving the ears of their original thickness and form.

- sion of the line.

While I have used in the following claims the words matrix and matrices, it is tobe understood that these wordsl are used in their generic sense, as including mainly dies or punches asr well as matrices proper.

Under ordinary conditions it is sufficient to provide` the spaces and matrices with steps IOO IIO

on one side but if desired the matrices and spaces may each be provided with steps on both sides, as represented in Fig. 8.

I do not claim as my invention a justifying wedge having at the middle, continuous smooth surfaces from one end to the other,with small steps at one edge, as disclosed in the application of W. S. Scudder for Letters Patent, Serial No. 865,815; nor do I claim the combination of such a space with a matrix containing a tapered groove, as described in the above mentioned application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is;

l. A rigid individual type matrix reduced in thickness from one end to the other, step byfstep, whereby the matrix is given a side bearing face for a justier, less in length than the length of the matrix.

2. An individual type matrix consisting of a single plate of metal, reduced in thickness step by step from one end toward the other, its opposite faces Vbeing parallel except as-to inclined shoulders rising from one step to the next whereby the matrix is adapted for use with a space or justifier having steps less in length than the length of the matrix.

3. An improved matrix having its middle portion reduced in thickness, step by step, and its ears or edges of equal thickness at its two ends.

4. In combination with a series of single letter matrices stepped on their side faces, a series of correspondingly stepped spaces.

5. In combination with a single letter stepped matrix, an elongated space-bar having steps of a length less than the matrix.

6. In combination with a composed line of single letter matrices, stepped on theiry side faces and jaws or abutments to limit the length of the line, a series of space-bars inserted in and movable longitudinally through the line, each space having steps of a length less than the length of the matrices.

asl

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my 45 hand.

PHILIP T.A DODGE. Witnesses:

WARREN S. CHASE, W. R. KENNEDY.

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