Part 2 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 7.]

As the matrices approach the line, their upper ends are carried over a spring _g3_, projecting through the a.s.sembler face-plate from the rear, as shown in Fig. 7, its purpose being to hold the matrices forward and prevent them from falling back in such a manner that succeeding matrices and s.p.a.ces or justifiers will pa.s.s improperly ahead of them.

The descending matrices also pa.s.s beneath a long depending spring _g4_, which should be so adjusted as barely to permit the pa.s.sage of the thickest matrix.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 8.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 9.]

After the composition of the line is completed in the a.s.sembling elevator _G_, as shown in Fig. 8, the elevator is raised as shown in Fig. 9, so as to present the line between the depending fingers of the transfer-carriage _N_, which then moves to the left to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9, thereby bringing the line into the first elevator _O_, which then descends, carrying the line of matrices downwards, as shown in Fig. 10, to its position in front of the mold and between the confining jaws _P_, _P_, mounted in the main frame, which determine the length of the line.

Figs. 11 and 12 show the casting mechanism in vertical section from front to rear. When the first elevator _O_ lowers the line, as just described, the mold and the pot _M_ stand in their rearward positions, as shown in Fig. 11.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 10.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 11.]

The mold-carrying wheel is sustained by a horizontal slide, and as soon as the matrix line is lowered to the casting position, a cam at the rear pushes the slide and mold wheel forward until the front face of the mold is closed tightly against the rear face of the matrix line, as shown in Fig. 12.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 12.]

While this is taking place, the pot, having its supporting legs mounted on a horizontal shaft, swings forward until its mouth is closed tightly against the back of the mold, as shown in Fig. 12. While the parts are in this position, the justifying bar _Q_ is driven up and pushes the s.p.a.ces or justifiers upward through the line of matrices until the line is expanded or elongated to fill completely the gap between jaws _P_, _P_.

In order to secure exact alignment of the matrices vertically and horizontally, the bar _Q_ acts repeatedly on the s.p.a.ces, and the line is slightly unlocked endwise and relocked. This is done that the matrices may be temporarily released to facilitate the accurate adjustment demanded. While the justified line is locked fast between the jaws, the elevator, and the mold, the plunger _m2_ in the pot descends and drives the molten metal before it through the spout or mouth of the pot into the mold, which is filled under pressure, so that a solid slug is produced against the matrices. The pot then retreats, and its mouth breaks away from the back of the slug in the mold, while, at the same time, the mold retreats to draw the type-characters on the contained slug out of the matrices. The mold wheel now revolves, carrying the rear edge of the slug past a stationary tr.i.m.m.i.n.g-knife, not shown, and around to the position in front of the ejector, as previously described and shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the ejector advances and drives the slug between two side tr.i.m.m.i.n.g-knives into the galley at the front.

DISTRIBUTION

After the casting action the first elevator _O_ rises and carries the matrix line above the original or composing level, as shown in Fig. 13.

The line is then drawn horizontally to the right until the teeth of the matrices engage the toothed elevator bar _R_, which swings upward with the matrices, thus separating the matrices from the s.p.a.ces or justifiers _I_, which remain suspended in the frame, so that they may be pushed to the right, as indicated by the arrow, into their magazine.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 13.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 14.]

When the line of matrices is raised to the distributor, it is necessary that the matrices shall be separated and presented one at a time to the distributor bar, between the threads of the horizontal carrier-screws.

This is accomplished as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. A horizontal pusher or line-s.h.i.+fter _S_ carries the line of matrices forward from the elevator bar _R_ into the so-called distributor box, containing at its opposite sides two rails _u_, having near their forward ends shoulders _u2_, against which the forward matrix abuts so as to prevent further advance of the line, which is urged constantly forward by the follower or line-s.h.i.+fter _S_. A vertically reciprocating lifting finger _V_ has its upper end shouldered to engage beneath the foremost matrix, so as to push it upward until its upper ears are lifted above the detaining shoulder _u2_, so that they may ride forward on the upwardly inclined inner ends of the rails, as shown in Fig. 14. The matrices thus lifted are engaged by the screws and carried forward, and, as they move forward, they are gradually raised by the rails until the teeth finally engage themselves on the distributor bar _T_, from which they are suspended as they are carried forward, over the mouth of the magazine, until they fall into their respective channels, as shown in Fig. 15.

The distributor box also contains on opposite sides shorter rails, _u4_, adapted to engage the lower ends of the matrices, to hold them in position as they are lifted. The lifting finger _V_ is mounted on a horizontal pivot in one end of an elbow lever mounted on pivot _v2_ and actuated by a cam on the end of one of the carrier-screws, as shown in Figs. 2 and 15.

Tr.i.m.m.i.n.g-KNIVES

In practice there is occasionally found a slight irregularity in the thickness of slugs, and thin fins are sometimes cast around the forward edges. For the purpose of reducing them to a uniform thickness, they are driven on their way to the galley between two vertical knives, as shown in Figs. 4 and 16. The inner knife is stationary, but the outer knife is adjustable in order that it may accommodate slugs of different thicknesses. This adjustment is made by the knife being seated at its outer edge against a supporting bar or wedge, having at opposite ends two inclined surfaces seated against supporting screws in the knife-block. A lever engages a pin on the wedge for the purpose of moving it endwise; when moving in one direction, it forces the knife inward toward the stationary knife, and when moved in the other direction, it forces it to retreat under the influence of a spring seated in the block. The wedge is provided with a series of teeth engaged by a spring-actuated pin or dog, whereby the wedge and the knife are stopped in proper positions to insure the exact s.p.a.ce required between the two knives.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 15.]

The back knife, secured to the frame for tr.i.m.m.i.n.g the base of the slug as it is carried past by the revolving wheel, should be kept moderately sharp and adjusted so as to fit closely against the back of the pa.s.sing mold. Particular attention should be paid to this feature. The edge of the knife must bear uniformly across the face of the mold.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 16.]