US2037078A - Separator box - Google Patents

Description

M, ma

A H. LVY

SEPARATOR BOX Filed June 25,1934

x INVENTOR Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to metal separator boxes and contemplates the provision of a box designed for the separation of various sizes and compositions of type metal from each other, and for the separation of immediately usable trimmings of such metal from the unusable trimmings, shavings and sweepings with which the usable trimmings are usually mixed.

In printing plants using both monotype ma- 'vl0 chines and casting machines for the formation of comparatively large slugs such as linotype and intertype machines, the slugs cast by the monotype machine consist generally of individual characters and are comparatively small in size. The

F type metal used for the small slugs is of a different composition from that used for the casting of slugs comprising an entire line or a multiplicity of characters. In the cases where both types of machines are used in the same plant, it is diicult to separate the metal or slugs used in the different types of machines, when the printing job is completed and the metals are to be remelted for further use. It will be understood that these metals, being made from Widely different formulae, should not be mixed, because if they are inadvertently mixed and melted together even in a special remelting pot, the original formula is changed, and the work-properties of the metal and of the type made therefrom are adversely affected.

In printing plants wherein no separate melting pot is used, but Where the old slugs are fed back directly to the machine pot and melted therein for reuse, it is desirable similarly to have the metals fed back to the proper machine which originally cast the slugs so that undesirable mixing of the different metals does not occur.

In all plants using type setting machines, the slugs cast by such machines are saw-trimmed and 40 shaved to a considerable extent, resulting in waste pieces of Widely varying sizes. Some of the trimmings may be large enough to go directly into the melting pot, if kept clean, but the small trimmings and .shavings must rst be refined as they 45 produce excessive dross when remelted. In .the trimming and shaving operations, however, the waste pieces drop to the floor. A considerable amount of labor and time would be required to pick off the oor the large pieces for reinsertion o into the machine melting pot and to clean said pieces free of small shavings and dirt.

My invention therefore contemplates the provision of means for separating large size line type slugs such as linotype and intertype slugs from small size single type character slugs such as monotype slugs, and for also separating large trimmings from small trimmings, dirt and shavings.

My invention further contemplates the provision of simple, economical, durable, efficient and easily manipulated means for quickly sorting the type metal slugs of different sizes (and consequently of different formulae) and for sorting out the comparatively large size trimmings of sufficient size to warrant their reinsertion into the lil melting pot of the casting machines, from smaller trimmings and shavings which do not warrant such reinsertion but which are of such nature that they should be refined before remelting in the machine pot.

'I'he various objects of my invention will be clear from the description which follows, and from the drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a now preferred form of my invention. 20

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical longitudinal section and partial side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of the same, showing the guard Wall for material dumped on the screen.

In that practical embodiment of my invention which I have shown by way of example, the separator screen II) is preferably secured at its sides between the screen-holding strips II and the upper edge of each of the side walls I2 of the box, 30 said strips and walls being preferably made of wood for economy and ease of construction. At one end, the cross strip I3 is similarly secured to the upper edge of the end wall I4 of the box with the end portion of the screen III therebetween. At the discharge end of the box, however, the cross strip I5 (Fig. 2) is secured to an additional cross piece I6 which is in turn secured to the walls I2.

To prevent material dumped on the screen from 4o falling olf the box, the side walls I2 are each preferably recessed Vas at I'I for the reception of the guard wall or' plate I8, said wall being preferably made of metal to resist the action of the slugs thereupon. Similarly, the bottom I9'of the '4e box is recessed as at 20 for the reception of the wear-resisting metallic discharge lip or guard plate 2|. It will be understood that the box is closed at one end, the sides, and the bottom, the other end 30 being open, and the top being par- 50 tially closed by the screen. Material passing through the screen and falling on the bottom I9 is discharged through the open end 30 of the box. A suitable removable closure ls provided at said open end. Said closure takes the form of a vertical slidable one-piece metal .door as 22, having bevelled corners as 23 and 24 and provided with an outwardly turned lip as 25 serving as a handle whereby the door may be raised or lowered. The height of the door is such that it extends above the side walls I2 about the same distance as the guards I8 extend thereabove, thereby forminga compartment above the screen open at the closed end of the box for the discharge of material remaining on the screen. In order to provide suitable guides for the sliding door 22, one leg of an angle member as 26 is secured to each of the sides I2 in such a manner as to provide a groove `21 between the other leg 28 of the angle member and the adjacent edge of each of the walls I2, the door 22 sliding in the .groove 21 thus formed and being adapted to rest on the upper surface of the bottom I9 normally to close the discharge opening 30.

In operation, should it be desired to separate individual type character slugs from line type slugs, the mass of intermixed slugs are placed on the screen I0 and the box is shaken, the mass being held in place on the screen by the guards I8 and the top of the door 22. The holes in the screen are approximately a half inch square, thereby permitting the individual character slugs to fall through the screen on to the bottom I9, While the line slugs which are usually about two inches wide, cannot fall through the openings in the screen and remain thereon.

After the screening operation has been performed, the box need merely be tilted to dump the line slugs remaining on top of the screen into a remelting pot, or said slugs may be dumped into a suitable container for reinsertion into the melting pot of the casting machine, the guards I8 preventing the slugs from falling off the sides of the screen.

To remove the single character slugs, the door 22 may now be raised in the grooves 21 therefor, to open the discharge opening 30 and the box tilted to discharge the slugs into a suitable receptacle therefor, the slugs striking the metal guard plate 2I as they are discharged.

If the box is to be used to separate large size trimmings from shavings and dirt, the entire mass is dumped on the screen I0 land the box shaken as before to permit the small size trimmings, shavings and `dirt to fall on to the bottom I9. The large trimmings, however, cannot pass through the screen and remain on top. It being understood that small trimmings when remelted are quickly oxidized and produce an excessive amount of dross, it is desirable that the large trimmings be separated from the small trimmings, shavings and dirt. The large trimmings thus separated may be reinserted into the machine melting pot, and the smaller trimmings together with any dirt and accumulated shavings may be dumped into a suitable drum for shipment to a metal rener or smelter.

It will be understoodthat by reason of the construction of my improved box, it is comparatively easy not only to perform the separating operation, but also to perform the .discharge or dumping operations either through one end of the box or past the unguarded end of the screen as the case may be, the sliding door when closed serving to prevent loss of the screened material.

It will further be seen that the means for performing the various functions above described are simple in construction but durable, efficient and economical, and well adapted to meet the requirements of practical use.

While I have shown and described certain specic embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto but desire to claim my invention as broadly as may be permitted by the state of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

Y 1. A type metal separator box having an open end and top, a screen secured at said top and having openings therein of such size as to close the top against the passage into the box of line type slugs dumped on the screen but permitting the passage of single character slugs therethrough, a four-sided frame secured to the entire periphery of the uppei` surface of said screen and to the sides and to one end of the box, said frame having a flat upper surface spaced above the upper surface of the screen, a one-piece metal door extending across the width of the box slidable at the open end of the box and adapted to close the same, and metal upright side guards projecting above the screen and each secured to aside of the box, the space between said guards at one of the ends thereof and above the screen being open to permit the sliding of a loaded tray into said space and on the frame.

2. A type metal separator box closed on three sides and the bottom, a screen at the top of the box, resting on the uppermost edges of said sides, a rectangular frame on the screen, means for securing the frame to said sides with the screen therebetween, a slidable door at one end of the box, said door being of suicient height to extend above the screen when closed, a metal plate secured to the bottom in a recess therein and extending beyond the end of the box and a metal guard plate secured to each side of the box in a recess therein to cover the adjacent edge of the screen `and extending above the screen and cooperating With the door to form a compartment open at one end to permit the slidable insertion of, and to hold material dumped on the screen.

3. A separator box for' separating type metal slugs, or trimmings and shavings of various sizes, comprising a pair of side walls, an end wall of the same height as the wide walls and closing one end of the box, a bottom, a horizontal screen resting on the uppermost edges of said side and end walls, a four-sided frame above the screen, a horizontal cross strip arranged at the other end of the box with its uppermost edge in coplanar relation to the uppermost edges of the side and end walls, and supporting the adjacent end edge of the screen, said frame being secured .to the uppermost edges of the side and end Walls and of said cross strip with the screen therebetween whereby a flat horizontal upper surface is provided on the frame in vertical spaced relation to the screen, saiddoor adapted removably to close and to extend l entirely across said other end of the box and to engage the upper surface of the bottom in its closed position, said door being of suflicient height to close at al1 times the end space between said guards, said door having an integral out-turned handle portion bent from the material of the door and from its upper edge portion, and metal angle members, each provided with a flange secured to the outer face of one of the side Walls and with a perpendicular ange spaced from the end edge of the adjacent side wall to provide a door-receiving space therebetween, said `screen being pro-vided with openings of sufficient size to permit the passage therethrough of single character-type slugs but of insuflicient size to permit 5 the passage of line slugs.

- A. I-IOYT LEVY.

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