US1886099A - Typographical distributing machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1, 1932. J. H. HlLPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l lm h'k.

INVENTOR TORNfi: 6%

Nov. 1, 1932. J. H. HILPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 transferred to the face of a mold, the mold Patented Nov. 1, 13-2 r are" s insane JOHN H. HILPMAN, J3 HOLLIS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTHALER LINO'IYPE COMPANY, A GOR.-.'ORATION OF NEW YORK TY POGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Application filed February 1930. Serial No. 428,678.

This invention relates to typographical distributing machines, such linotype machines of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to O. li iergenthalerh o. 436,582, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear print and then assembled in line, the composed line filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started. p

In these machines, it is the common practice to make use of matrices other than those contained in the magazines. 'lhese extra or sorts matrices are inserted by hand into the matrix line in the course of composition and, after the casting operation, are carried up with the line to the distributing mechanism,

end of the stick for directing the matrices from the delivery end of the tube onto the ledge, a yielding line resista slidabl mounted on the ledge, and a star wheel arranged at the lower end of the throat for stacking the matrices successively in line against the resistant.

While the pi-stackers, ordinarily constructed, are capable of handling satisfactorily matrices ranging in thickness up to approximately of an inch, serious diliiculties have arisen in an endeavor to adapt them to the extremely thick sorts-matrices now used in conjunction with the head letter and display fonts carried in the more modern machines and which comprise matrices ranging as high as of an inch in thickness. ample, minor changes, such as increasing the width of the throat and using a star wheel sufficiently large to cooperate therewith,

For ex seemed at first all that would be necessary, but it has since been discovered by experiment that the action of a large star wheel is much too severe, the matrices, (particularly the thinner ones, which happen to strike the arms of the star in certain positions of the latter) being thrown violently against the fixed right wall of the throat and otherwise knocked about before they are stacked in the line. Damage to the matrices or a clogging of the throat, or both, usually results. Furthermore, due to the increased width of the throat, the thinner matrices in their descent t irough the same are free to twist and wabble about and seldom engage the star wheel properly. Also, unless the thick heavy matrices happen to be interrupted in their fall by the star wheel, they strike the supporting ledge with such force that in a comparatively short time their lower edges become worn and battered and have to be discarded.

The present invention is intended to overcome the above and other dilhcult-ies and contemplates a pi-stacker which will be capable of handling sorts-matrices of the maximum thickness with the same ease and facility as those of ordinary or less thickness. To this end, firstly, he star wheel is formed with only two arms, instead of the usual tour, so as to stand completely out of the path of the descending matrices at every half revolution; secondly, the supporting ledge of the stacker is inclined downwardly from the horizontal so as to cause the matrices thereon to assume a forward inclination from the vertical in order to increase the space ordinarily provided between the upper-end of the last assembled matrix and the left wall of the throat; and thirdly, the entrance throat of the stacker is provided with a resilient guide member which is adapted not only to straighten up the thin matrices as they approach the line but in addition to break the fall of the thicker matrices before they reach the sup porting ledge. As a result of these improvements, the thickest sorts-matrices are allowed free entrance into the line without danger of striking the upper edge of the matrix last assembled, and since the lower end of the la ter, due to the inclination of the ledge, is closside *tion 'has been shown merely in preferred form, but obviously many changes and variations may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. For instance,

the (fi-stacker throat, including the resilient gui member, might be carried in whole or in. rt by the delivery tube, and moreover sai ide memwr could be made in the form of a at leaf spring, instead of in the form of a resiliently mounted plate as herein illustrated, but in such case the throat should preferably be detachably connected to the pistacker. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a linotype machine equipped with the improved pi-stacker;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section through the receiving end of the pi-stacker, showing the driving connection for the star wheel;

F ig. 3 is a perspective view of the pi-stacker, showing it attached to the machine; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a rtion of the improved pi-stacker, showing in dotted lines the action of the hinged guide plate on a descending matrix as it is about to enter the matrix line.

As shown in Fig. 1, the sorts-matrices X released by the distributor 0 enter the long flexible pi-tube P and descend therethrough by gravity to the pi-stacker A, the latter being attached by two bolts or screws a to a bracket A secured to the right-hand front post 0 of the machine frame.

The pi-stacker A (see Figs. and 3) comprises an irregularly shaped cast-iron body rtion B formed with a horizontal hub proection B and a long upright rearwardly tilted back portion B extending forwardly from the body portion at an angle convenient to the o erator. At its lower edge, the back portion is provided with a right angularly disposed shelf or ledge B of corresponding length and upon which the sorts-matrices are assembled in line under the influence of a rotary star wheel C, the latter being adapted to push the matrices, one after another, out of the path of succeeding matrices and simultaneously advance the line along the ledge To sustain the line endwise, the stacker is equipped, as usual, with a line resistant block D, which is slidably mounted on the ledge B so as to be capable of yielding as the length of the line increases. The block D is formed with an open finger notch d to facilitate its manipulation and is provided with a sprin clip 55 for restraining it against accidenta dis lacement, the free end of the clip bein resiliently engaged with a longitudina groove b on the underside of the ledge B arfrd extending throughout the length there- 0 As the sorts-matrices enter the pi-stacker, they are directed onto the ledge B in operative relation to the star wheel C through a throat or chute E mounted at the receiving end of the pi-stacker above the ledge. The throat E, as usual, is inclined rearwardly from the vertical at an angle suited to the curvature or general inclination of the lower delivery end of the tube P, this end of the tube (see Figs. 1 and 3) being rigidly sustained in alignment and communication with the throat E by a bracket plate P rising from the body portion B of the pi-st-acker. Matrices descending through the tube P are thus allowed to pass freely into the throat and thence to the ledge B The throat E (as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is constituted by a front side wall E fastened at its lower end to the ledge B and paralleling the body portion B as the rear wall, and by the long I left side wall E and the short right side wall E both fastened by ofi'set flanges e to the body portion B.

The star wheel C (Fig. 2) is fixed to a short shaft C arranged perpendicular to the front and rear side walls of the throat E and journaled at its forward end in the front side wall E At its rear end, the shaft C is connected by a universal joint C to a horizontal drive shaft C journaled in the hub portion B before mentioned, and receives motion from the well-known intermediate shaft 0 through the driving ulley C and the connecting belt C (Fi 1 As thus far described, the parts, their construction, and mode of operation are, or may be, the same as those embodied in the commercial machines or as disclosed in the patent to J. R. Rogers, No. 630,112. The present invention is directed to certain improvements which are intended to enable the pistacker to handle matrices of a much greater thickness than has heretofore been practicable, as will now be dscribed.

By reference to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the ledge B is inclined downwardly from the horizontal so that the sorts-matrices X when supported thereon will stand at an inclination forwardly from the vertical or reverse to that of the left wall E of the throat E, the latter, as shown, being given the greater width required to accommodate sortsmatrices of maximum thickness. By this arrangement, a V-shaped space, into which the matrices may fali as they emerge from the ces, the latter may be pushed thereby far enough along the ledge B to locate their upper ends out of the path of following matrices even though they be of the maximum thickness. I

In the present instance, the star wheel C, as will also be noted (Fig. 4), is substantially elliptical in form and presents only two oppositely disposed radial operating points or arms, 0, 0, instead of the usual four, so that at every half revolution it will be disposed completely behind the left wall E of the throat and thus permit the matrices to pass uninterruptedly to the ledge B Moreover, the action of this particular form of star wheel has been found in practice to be less violent than that of a star wheel of standard form and to be more eflicient 1n stacking the matrices in line.

As a further feature of the invention, the" pi-stacker A is provided with a resilient guide member which, in the embodiment illustrated, is in the form of a plate or gate F disposed diagonally across the throat- E from right to left and mounted so as to be capable of displacement by the matrices as they are about to enter the matrix line. This gate is intended to serve a two-fold purpose: first, to straighten up the thinner matrices (which are the ones most likely to become twisted in the tube P or throat E) so as to insure their delivery in proper position to the star wheel E; and second, to break the fall of the thick or heavier matrices so as to prevent damage a to their lower edges through contact with the ledge B As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the gate F is hinged at its upper edge to the short right wall E of the throat and has its lower edge held resiliently engaged with the left wall E by a thin wire spring F coiled around the hinge pin f. The tension of the spring F is such that the gate F may be readily pushed aside by the thin matrices without unduly delaying their passage to the supporting ledge B and, at the same time, offer sutlicient resistance to hold them flatly against the left wall E of the throat and so guide them into proper position to be engaged by the star wheel G. On

the other hand, the resistance offered by the gate F to the descending matrices increases according to their thickness, so that the fall of the thicker or heavier matrices will be broken to the extent desired, the points at which these thicker matrices engage the gate being relatively close to the hinge pin fand the leverage exerted thereby being therefore correspondingly decreased. Furthermore, the spring-actuated gate F is peculiarly suitable for the intended purposes, since its capacity to yield is not impaired by the comparatively limited space allowed.

The several features described, besides being useful in and of-themselves, cooperate with one another in a most advantageous manner, all contributing to the production of a simple but extremely eflicient pi-stacker and one particularly adapted to handle matrices of all sizes, whether thick or thin, such as are now used in the commercial machines.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is a 1. In or for a typographical distributing machine, a pi-stacker for circulating sortsmatrices including, in combination, a ledge whereon the matrices are supported, a throat or chute located at the receiving end of the pi-st'acker for directing the matrices onto the ledge, a rotary two-arm star wheel for stacking the matrices successively in line as they emerge from the throat, a yielding resistant for sustaining the line, and a resilient memberarranged atthe lower end of the throat for guiding the matrices into the line.

2. In or for a typographical distributing machine, a pi-s'tacker for circulating sortsmatrices including, in combination, a ledge whereon the matrices are supported, a throat or chute located at the receiving end of the stacker for directing the matrices onto the ledge, a rotary two-arm star wheel for stacking the matrices successively in line as they emerge from the throat, a yielding resistant for sustaining the line, and a resilient member arranged at the lower end of the throat for guiding the matrices'into the line, said ledge being inclined downwardly from the horizontal toward the outer end of the pistacker, for the purpose described.-

3. In or for a typographical distributing machine, a'pi-stacker for circulating sortsmatrices including, in combination, a cast metal body portion formed with a back portion projecting therefrom, a matrixsupporting ledge fastened to the lower edge of said back'portion and inclined downwardly from the horizontal, a throat secured to said body portion above the ledge and having its left wall inclined backwardly from the vertical, a rotary star wheel having only two oppositely disposed radial arms for stacking the matrices in line as they emerge from the threat, a yielding resistant for sustaining the line, and a resilient member associated with the throat for guiding the matrices into the line.

or chute located at the receiving end of the stacker for directing the incoming matrices onto the ledge, a rotary star wheel for stacka ing the matrices successively in line as they emerge from the throat, and a yielding resistant for sustaining the matrices in line, the said ledge being inclined downwardly from the horizontal toward the outer end of the stacker, and the left wall of said throat inclined backwardly from the vertical, the line of intersection between the ledge and the left wall of the throat being so arranged with reference to the star wheel as to cause the latter in its rotation to engage the lower endsof the matrices when supported at a forward inclination on the ledge. J 5. In or for a typographical distributing machine, a pi-stacker for circulating sortsmatrioes inc uding, in combination, aledge whereon the matrices are supported, a throat or chute located at the receiving end ofthe stacker for directing the incoming matrices onto the ledge, a rotary two-arm star wheel for stacking the matrices successively in line as they emerge from the throat, and a yielding resistant for sustaining the matrices in line, the said ledge being inclined downwardly from the horizontal toward the outer end of the stacker, and the left Wall of said throat bein inclined backwardly from the vertical, the line of intersection between the ledge and the left wall of the throat being so arranged with reference to the star wheel as to cause the latter in its rotation to engage the lower ends of the matrices when supported at a forward inclination on the ledge.

6. In or for a tipographical distributing machine, a i-stac er for circulating sortsmatrices inc uding, in combination, a ledge whereon the matrices are supported, a throat 4o or chute located at the receiving end of the stacker for directing the incoming matrices onto the ledge, said throat having its left wall extendin down to the matrix supporting ledge and its right wall terminating well I 45 above the ledge, a rotary star wheel for stacking the matrices successively in line as they emerge from the throat, a yielding resistant for sustaining the matrices in line, and a resilient matrix guide member arranged at the 50 lower end of the right wall of the throat and forming a downward continuation thereof, said guide member extending across the throat toward the left wall thereof and ter minating above the matrix supporting ledge 53 at a distance greater than the length of an individual matrix.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed by:

JOHN H. HILPMAN.

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