US958530A

US958530A - Linotype-machine attachment.

Info

Publication number: US958530A
Application number: US44180608A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ocren Gordon Pickett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1908-07-03
Filing date: 1908-07-03
Publication date: 1910-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 1927-05-17

Description

0. G. PICKETT.

LINOTYPE MACHINE ATTACHMENT.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1908. 958,530, Patented May 17, 1910.

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LINOTYPB MACHINE ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1908.

958,530, Patented May 17, 1910. v I a ammira-sum1* 2.

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0. G. PICKETT.

LINOTYPE MACHINE ATTACHMENT.

APPLIUATION FILED JULYa, 190s.

958,530, Patented May 17,1910.

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OCREN GORDON PICKETT, OF JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI.

LINOTYPE-MACHINE ATTACHMENT.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, 1910.

Application led July 3, 1908. Serial No. 441,806.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, OoREN GORDON P10K- ETT,I a citizen of the United States, residin at Jefferson City, in the county of Cole an State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Linotype-Machine Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to linot pe machines of the form known as the Mergenthaler, and is directed to improvements in mechanism for controlling the movements of the assembler block for the purpose of increasin the speed of operation; and to the contro by suitable means of the incoming matrices during assembly; and of the shifter fingers of the line transfer mechanism, in order to permit the automatic movements of the assembler without interference from these sources.

In the Mergenthaler machine, as now in general commercial use, the matrices are released from the magazine by the action of finger keys, and descend through chutes and are received upon an inclined belt from which they pass into an assembler block into which they are pushed by the action of a star wheel against the pressure of a yielding resistance in the form of a slide which interlocks or presses against a finger depending from a shifter carriage by which the assembled line is upon its completion, shifted from the assembler block to the casting fposition. In the sequence of operations per ormed by the parts mentioned in assembling a line, it is necessary to lift the assembler block after the line is completed by the depression of a handle at the right hand side of the keyboard, which operation releases the line shifting carriage and thereby removes the line from the assembler block which is thereupon returned to its initial position to receive another line, this return being dependent upon the action of gravity land partially controlled by a spring attached to the lifting lever and to the rame of the machine.

The keyboard of the machine is so arranged that the lower case matrices in the magazine are controlled by the finger keys at the left hand side of the keyboard and this is naturally the portion of the board most used by the operator. The leverwhich controls the movement of the assembler block is as before stated at the right hand side of the keyboard. When, the assembler block is filled with a line of matrices and in condition to be lifted into position for 'the shifter-mechanism to act, the operator is under the necessity of stopping the assembly action and reaching to the right to depress the hand lever which raises the assembler block. He must then await the action of the shifter mechanism and the return of the assembler block before proceeding with the operation of the assembling matrices for a new line. The time consumed in the lifting of the assembler block and its return amounts to about one tenth of the time of the operator, and so far as the setting up of matter is concerned is time lost.

My invention consists in the provision of automatic means for raising the assembler block to the shifting position and returning the same to its initial position; controlllng said automatic means by a finger key preferably located in the keyboard of the machlne; in combining with mechanism so controlled, means for sustaining the last matrix inthe line; also for controlling the action of the left hand finger of the shifter mechanism,

and for -removing from the path of movement of the matrices an elongated finger at the right side of the shifter mechanism which forms a part of the quadding attachment in use in the Mergenthaler machine.

In a more detailed sense the invention consists in providing the lever which lifts the assembler block to the shifting position with a spring normally under tenslon and controlling the action of this spring by a latch operated by a finger key, which upon 1ts depression releases the latch and permits the spring to raise the assembler block to the shifting position, and in returning the assembler block by means of a second sprmg the tension of which is controlled by one of the moving parts of the machine connected with the shifter mechanism in such manner that when the shifter carriage carries the line out of the assembler block, the second spring operates to return the carriage to its initial point, reestablish the tension of the first spring and the condition eXistin before the depression of the linger key, an in combination with the finger key, mechanism for moving the left hand finger of the shifter carriage, sustaining the last matrix in the line in order to prevent it from falling over and interfering with the movement of the carriage, and swinging the right hand finger of the shifter carriage used in the quadding attachment in order to prevent injury to the distributer of the matrlces.

In the drawings accompanying thls specification-Figure l is a front elevation of the assembly and keyboard of a linotype machine, with my invention incorporated therein. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the linger key and the levers actuated thereby for releasing the carriage and controlling the movements of the assembly block. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are details of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the finger key and coperating parts.

Referring to the drawings, A is a magazine of a linotype machine, B the chutes through which the matrices descend, C the belt upon which the matrices are received, and by which they are carried to the entrance of the assembler block D, E is a star wheel which forces the matrices in an upright position into the assembler block D, F a yielding resistant against which the matrices are forced by the action of the star wheel E, G a brake which controls the movement of the yielding resistant F.

H designates the finger keys controlling the release of the matrices, and I a rock shaft mounted in front of the keyboard and adapted to be rotated and thereby lift the assembler block D, through the movement of an arm J secured to the rock shaft I and connected to the assembler block D by a link K.

In the usual form of the linotype machine, the shaft I is rotated and the assembler block lifted by means of a hand lever situated at the right hand side of the keyboard and the assembler block is returned to its normal position by its own weight. In the form herein shown, both the upward and return motions of the assembler block are due to the action of springs normally under tension by reason of the action of moving parts of the machine, andI controlled by the movement of a linger key described hereafter, which serves also to control the movements of the finger of the shifter carriage and' of a lever for straightening the last matrix in line and releasing the brake.

Referring now to the drawings 1 is an arm secured to the rock shaft I which extends to the rear at the right hand side of the keyboard, and is connected bv means of a spiral spring 2 to some part o the frame of the machine, in this instance to the arm 3 which sup orts the sort box. In the downward position of the assembler block D, this spring is under tension, and the parts are retained in place by an angular latch lever 4 pivoted to the frame of the machine, and provided with an upward extension 5 having a hook 6 at its upper end adapted to engage a projection 7 on the assembler block D, and at its other end with a depending arm 8 which en ages a slot 9 in the Vrear end of a pivote hn er key 10 at the left hand side of the key oard of the machine. The key 10 is secured to the keyboard by a pivot screw 11 and has its forward end provided with a linger button, and is normally held against downward motion by a s ring 12 att-ached to the key lever and to the rame of the machine. The rear end of the key 10 is provided with three

slots

9, 9 and 9b and underlies the depending arms of three

levers

8, 13 and 14 which engage with the notches or

slots

9, 9 and 9b respectively, and are held in engagement therewith by means of springs 15, 16 and 17 attached to the levers and to the frame of the machine. The lever 13 comprises two arms at right angles to each other, and is pivoted to the frame of the machine in such position that the angle or point of the lever 152l lies below and slightly to the rear of the point where the matrices to the rear of the point where the matrices enter the assembler block, and the horizontal arm 15b extends to a point adjacent the brake Gr, where it is provided with an adjusting screw 15c by which its point of contact and consequent time of release of the brake G may be adjusted.

As at present constructed the slide brake is moved by hand in order to straighten a line. This not only takes the hand of the operator away from the keyboard, but also requires him to watch the line to see if it needs straightening. The lever 13 acts both as a line straightener and as a brake release. The screw 15c rests on the slide brake and the lower end of the lever rests in the groove 9a of the key 10. This lever is pivoted at 15d and when the key 10 is depressed and its inner end lifted the lever 13 is rocked and a pressure is put on the slide brake which straightens the line, the same as now done by direct pressure of the hand on the brake. A further movement of the key 10 causes the lever 13 to slip oftl on the lefthand side of the key and a projection 13", on the lower end of the lever, enters a recess 9c in the side of the key. This removes the pressure from the slide brake and allows the latter to come to rest at the moment the line is elevated.

In machines where the quadding attachment is in use, it is necessary to provide means for releasing the left hand finger of the line shifter carriage and for controlling the motion of the right hand finger in such manner as to prevent interference with the line of matrices when the assembler block is raised. For the purpose of moving the left hand finger L, it is provided with a downwardly extending arm 16 provided with an an ular extension 16a which lies in the path o movement of a horizontal arm 14a extending from a lever 14 in such a manner that theV depression of the arm 14a will cause' itfto act against the angular ex-- tension 16* and swing it, the arm 16 and the left handfinger, backward and out of the path of movement of the assembler block D.

The right-hand finger, now inuse in oo nnection with the uadding attachment, is much longer than t e old style finger. The lower end of this finger, as at present manufactured, is about on a line with the to of the assembling elevator and directly a ove the assembling matrices. A spring holds this nger to the right and it is continually coming in contact with the space-bands and matrices causingthem to assemble somewhat slower, wearing the combinations of the matrices and at al times in the way if a matrix has to be changed. In fact, to at present change a matrix it is necessary to slip the finger of the hand to the right of this machine right-hand 4finger and push it out of the way. It is necessary to hold this finger out of the way while composition is in progress and to return it to position quickly when the line is ready for transfer. For the purpose'of controlling the movements of the finger M I lengthen the same and a bell crank lever 18 is pivoted in a suitable bearing block 19 secured to the under side ofthe space band box N, and provided with a finl ger 20 adapted to be forced against an incline on the upper end and above the pivotal i point of the finger M, in such a manner as to orce it into a vertical position, in response to the action of a spring 21 secured to the arm 18a of the bell crank lever 18. The arm 18a is connected by a rod 22 to the forward angle 14c of the lever 14 and acts against'the tension of the spring 21 to hold the finger 20 away from the shoulder on the finger M. A

fiat spring 23 is attached to the bell crank lever in position to bear against the finger M below its pivot in such manner as to force it backward and thereby swing it away from the line of matrices, this being the normal position of the finger when the key 10 and lever 14 are not in use. Upon the depression of the key 10 and the consequent raising of the lever 14 the attached rod 22 releases the bell crank which is rotated by the action of the spring 21 releasing the spring 23 from contact with the nger M and throwing the angular finger 20 forward into contact with the shoulder M and thereby bringing the finger into position to receive the line of matrices as the assembler block ing. When the key 10 is depressed it causes lever 14 to rock on its pivotal point, thus operating the right hand linger release, as previously described, and also operating the left hand linger L. The operation of the left 55 hand linger L at this time is also of importance. As now constructed the left hand finger'closed after the line started up, which oftenl allows the'first matrix in the line to fallover to the left. B means of my construction the left hand ger is released before the line starts up. The downward movement of the assembler block D is controlled by the act-ion of a s ring 25 mountedv behind the face plate of the machine, with its upper end secured to a convenient part of the machine frame, preferably to lthe bracket O which supports the dash pot of the shifter cam lever P. The lower end of the spring 25 is secured by an adjusting nut 26 to the end of a lever 27 pivoted to the frame of the machine and with its free end 28 projecting to the front of the face plate of the machine in position to overlie the arm J with which it makes `contact at certain times in such a manner as to act first as a cushion to receive the impact of the assembler block in its upward movement and second as a means for returning the 4assembler block to its initial position, as will be described hereafter. The rear end of the lever 27 adjacent the spring underlies the end of the lever P connected to the piston of the dash pot controlled by the shifter carriage'and its cam, and the spring 25 is extended and under tension when the lever P is at its lowest point of movement, at which time the assembler block D is at itslowestpoint in position to receive aline of matrices, and the forward end 28 of the lever 27 is in the path of travel of the arm J and at a point slightly below its upward limit of motion, the relative arrangement being such that as the assembler block rises the arm J is caught by the end 28 of the lever 27 near the end of its upward movement, and the tension of the spring 25 utilized as a cushion to receive the impact of the ascending assembler block, and to check its movement without jar.

When the assembler block D is lifted to its upper position, it sets free the line shifter carriage which transfers the line of matrices from the assembler block to the vise which sustains them in the casting operation. The movements of the shifting carriage are controlled by a spring actuated lever and by a suitable cam and the motion of the carriage is steadied in such a manner as to .prevent the jar as it moves in response to the action of the spring by a dash pot connected'by a link to the end of the lever P. The arrangement of parts being such that the lever P rises at the time that the line shifter carria-ge passes out of the assembler block; this restores the tension of the spring 25 thereby establishes a condition in which the spring is ready to act as a cushion to receive the upward impact of the assembler block, as previously described and, to restore it to its receiving position in' the manner previously stated.

The complete operation of the mechanism is as follows Assuming the assembler block to be at its lowest, or receiving position and a line of matrices assembled in the same and in readiness for elevation for the action of the shifting mechanism, and that the last matrix in the line leans slightly to the right: the first quarter inch depression of the finger key 10 causes the angle screw 15c of the lever 13 to press the slide brake and close up the line and the point 13a of the lever slips 'ofi' from its position on the key lever and makes connection with the hole 9c in the side thereof by this means releasing the pressureon the brake G and allowing it to act as the assembler block rises. At this point in the movement of the key the arm 16 is acted upon by the extension (4a of the lever) 4 thereby releasing the left hand finger L, the latch lever 4 releasing the hook 6 and the assembler block ascends in response to the action of the spring 2. Upon reaching its upper position the assembler block releases the shifter carriage, which removes the matrices therefrom and in so doing releases thepressure of the lever P upon the lever 27 and allows the tension of the spring 25 to return the assembler to its initial osition. In case a quadding attachment orms a part of the machine the action of the latch 4 swings the left hand pivoted finger into proper position as the assembler ascends as has been previously described.

While the invention as described and shown is adapted for use with the Mergenthaler linotype machine, it is obvious that modifications in the mechanical structure can be made in the same adapting it for use on other forms of linotype machines, and that various modifications within the limits of mechanical skill can be devised in the mechanism here shown without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is 1. An attachment of the kind described comprising an assembler block, said block nioving vertically, a pivoted lever, a left hand finger, a right hand finger, means connecting said fingers to said lever, and a key controlling action of said lever.

2. An attachment of the kind described comprising a right hand finger, a spring for holding said finger in normal position, a bell crank carrying said spring, the bell crank being adapted to engage the finger, a keyoperated lever, a rod connecting said lever and bell crank, and means for holding the lever in normal position.

3. An attachment of the kind described comprising a pivoted key notched in its rear portion, a line straightening device resting loosely in one of said notches, a trigger engaging one of said notches, said trigger being secured to the assembling elevator lock, and a left hand finger attachment resting loosely in the remaining notch, as and for the purpose set forth.

v4. In a'linotype machine having an assembling elevator provided with a lock and a left hand finger, a pivoted key notched in its rear portion, a line straightening device resting loosely in one of said notches, a trigger engaging one of said notches, said trigger being secured to the assembling elevator lock, and an attachment connected to the left hand finger and resting loosely in the other notch, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with a linotype keyboard and slide brake, of a line straightener resting loosely upon the inner end of a key having a pivoted angled portion, and a pin flattened upon its under face, said pin being carried by said line straightener and engaging the slide brake when in normal position.

6. An attachment of the kind described comprising a pivoted key, a line straightener resting loosely upon the rear end portion of said key, a pin carried by, said line straightener, said pin bearing upon a slide brake, a left hand finger release resting loosely upon said key, an angled trigger resting upon said key and secured to an assembling elevator lock, a, spring connecting said trigger and the tray and holding the trigger in engagement with the key, a pivoted bar having a front'curved end, and a tension spring connected to the rear end of the bar, said bar acting as a cushion for slowing up the assembling elevator.

7. The combination with an assembler block, of a left hand finger, a pivoted lever, means connecting said lever and finger, and a key for operating said lever for the purpose of releasing the said left hand finger in advance of upward movement of the assembler block.

8. In an attachment of the kind described, the combination with an assembler block and a left hand finger, of a pivoted angled lever, a downwardly extending arm operatively connected with the left hand finger, and having a lower end portion lying in' the path of movement of a portion of said lever, a spring holding said lever in normal position, and a key adapted to rock said lever upon its vivotal point and depressing that portion ofD the lever adapted for engagement with the downwardly extending arm, thereby swinging said arm and releasing the left hand linger in advance of upward movement of the assembler block.

9. The combination with a verticall movable assembler block and right and le hand fingers, of an angled pivoted lever, a key provided with a notch to receive one end of said lever, means connecting the right hand finger with said lever, and means connecting the left hand finger with said lever, thereby simultaneously operating said lingers upon depression of the said key.

10. In an attachment of the kind described, a right hand linger, a pivoted bell crank lever, a finger carried by said lever and adapted for engagement with the upper end portion of the right hand finger, a spring adapted to rock said bell crank lever upon its plvotal point, a second spring carr1ed byV said lever and normally bearing against the right hand finger below its pivotal point, a vertically movable rod engaging said bell crank and holding the first mentioned sprin under tension, and key-operated means or lifting said rod, thereby releasing said sprin and permitting the bell crank lever to roc upon its pivotal point, l as and for the urpose specied. l

. OCR N GORDON PICKETT. Witnesses:

E. L. BURCH,

EDA TANNER.