Part 7

The universal adjustable molds for 36-em machines will cast any measure from 30- to 36-ems inclusive, from 5- to 14-point body. If a measure shorter than 30 ems is desired a regular 30-em mold must be used.

In order to change liners on a 36-em mold it is necessary to take the mold from the mold disk, as the liners fit around three sides of the post, and can not be changed in the regular way.

It is possible to remove the 36-em mold from the disk and substitute a 30-em mold. A filling piece is required to take up the difference between the 30-em and the 36-em mold.

MOLD WIPERS

There are two felt wipers which are designed to keep the face and back of the mold clean. A small amount of a mixture of cup grease and graphite rubbed into the back wiper will keep the base of the mold clean. For the front mold wiper, keep the felt well saturated with graphite. Do not use oil or grease on the front wiper, or it will be transferred onto the matrices and into the magazine. A good plan is to soak the felt with gasoline and rub the graphite in. When the felt becomes worn, new ones should be applied. When applying new felt, put graphite between the layers. Be careful that the felt does not become worn to the extent that the steel part of the wipers will be allowed to rub against the mold.

MOLD HINTS

If the mold cap guides become bent they will throw the mold cap out of alignment with the constant side of the mold. The guides can be straightened by removing the mold from the disk. Place a straight-edge across the mold and cap to determine how the guides are bent. They may be tapped with a hammer and a piece of brass rule to spring them back in position. Care should be used in this operation and if bent very much, the mold should be shipped to the nearest agency for repairs. A mold with bent guides or a warped cap will cause back squirts and to remedy these, the mold must be repaired. Mold cap guides can be renewed by driving out the small pin that holds them in place in the base of the mold and fitting in new ones.

If a mold has become warped by overheating, it can be shipped to the nearest agency to be ground. If the mold is ground on the back, the slug will be less than type high, according to the amount taken off in the grinding. The liners must be ground as well as the mold. Always be very careful of the mold so this will not be necessary.

The bottom of the mold sometimes becomes tinned. This will not permit the mold and mouthpiece to lock up properly. The trouble can be remedied by removing the mold from the disk and placing it on the bench. Put a small amount of metal polish on a block of hard wood. Rub the wood back and forth the entire length of the bottom of the mold, with an even pressure. As the metal polish contains an abrasive, the mold, cap, and liners should be kept together, so that the casting edge of the mold will not be rounded. Be careful of the molds as they are one of the most important parts of the machine and will run indefinitely if handled intelligently.

Take the mold apart and clean the base and the cap with the polish. Place each part in a vise so it will be held solid while cleaning. After using the polish, clean with gasoline.

When metal gets into a mold cap screw in the disk after a squirt, do not hammer the metal with a screwdriver. To do so merely drives the metal tighter in the threads of the hole. Gouge the metal out with a knife a little at a time.

Do not remove the mold keeper from the mold. The mold keeper is for the purpose of holding the lugs of the matrices in alignment. If it is removed and not replaced properly, it will interfere with the proper alignment of every line set.

Keep the face of the mold clean and free from metal which has a tendency to accumulate during the day while the mold is being used. A clean face of the mold will greatly facilitate the press make-ready. Metal on the mold causes high and low letters on the slug.

REMOVING AND REPLACING MOLD

To remove a mold from the disk, loosen the three screws in the rim of the disk, take out the four screws which hold the mold to the disk and lift the mold out of the pocket, being very careful not to drop it.

In replacing a mold in the disk, be sure that all seating surfaces of the mold and disk are clean and free of all metal, so the mold will align with the trimming knives and mold knife. Then bring the four front screws to a light bearing. Next tighten the three cap screws in the disk, the center one first. Then tighten the four front screws tight.

DISTRIBUTOR

DISTRIBUTOR BAR

The distributor bar is suspended between the distributor screws, and is fastened to the distributor beam by two machine screws, and held rigid by dowel pins.

There are seven combination rails along the bar. These combination rails are cut away in various places, and certain of the rails or combinations terminate directly above each channel in the magazine entrance. The V-shaped end of the matrices have combinations or distributing teeth which engage these rails. The bar is adjusted to proper height and position so that the matrices, leaving the top rails of the distributor box, do not bind on the aligning plate at the back of the bar above the rails. These adjusting screws are in the top of the distributor beam and rest on the yoke. On the later machines the side-wise adjustment is made by an adjusting screw fastened to the beam and banking against the right side of the yoke.

Each matrix has a combination corresponding to the combination cut on the bar. The matrix is conveyed along the bar by the distributor screws. As soon as the matrix reaches the end of the rail corresponding to the combination on the matrix, it drops into the channel, which guides it into the magazine.

CHANNEL ENTRANCE

The channel entrance is connected to the rear end of the magazine on the magazine frame by two hinge screws. The entrance is held in position by a spring at the right side and fastened to the magazine frame.

The channel entrance consists of a number of flexible partitions, which are assembled in the channel entrance partition plate, and act as a guide for the matrices as they fall from the distributor bar into the magazine.

Each partition rests against the side of a tooth in the automatic stopping bar. If matrices become clogged in the entrance guides, they pile up until they come in contact with the distributor screws. This forces the partitions against the teeth of the automatic stopping bar which causes the distributor driving mechanism to stop.

At the bottom of the channel entrance, on each side, and banking against the magazine frame, are two adjusting screws which are used to adjust the position of the channel entrance. The adjustment is made to give the matrix free movement in transferring from the channel entrance to the magazine under the channel entrance matrix guard.

The upper end of the partitions sometimes get bent to one side and thin matrices will fall into the wrong channel, causing the channel to clog. The lower end of the partitions should set so they will guide the matrices into the magazine. If they are sprung to either side they will hold the matrices and keep them from entering the magazine, causing the matrices to clog in the channel.

As the matrices are carried along the distributor bar by the screws, there should be 1/16 of an inch between the bottom of a matrix suspended on the distributor bar and the top of the channel entrance partitions. Adjust, on models 1, 2, and 3, by the two screws in the magazine frame which rest against the magazine supporting rods. Care must be used in turning these screws, as they move the magazine also.

On Model 5 or later machines, this adjustment is set at the factory, so it is rarely necessary to change it.

DISTRIBUTOR SCREWS

The conveyor screws are assembled on the distributor beam. Two of these screws are in front of the distributor bar and one in the back. As soon as the matrix leaves the distributor box it is conveyed along the bar.

On the right-hand end of the screws are the driving gears which are pinned to the screw shaft. These gears are properly timed at the factory so as to carry the matrix in a vertical position without bending.

There is a small pin projecting between two of the teeth of one gear which must mesh with a tooth of its companion gear which is partly cut away. This prevents the gears turning when they are improperly timed.

This timing is readily accomplished by forming a small triangle with the pins in the end of the gears and the openings in the gears, or by placing the points of the upper and lower screws on the right end in the same relative position before connecting the gears with the distributor clutch shaft and gear.

Do not raise the back distributor screw while there are matrices on the bar, as it is difficult to get their lugs in the right threads again.

In closing the back screw see that the pin in the gear matches with the short tooth in the front gear.

The old distributor screws were pitched four threads to the inch. The new distributor screws have a much wider pitch, two threads to the inch, consequently the matrices are moved along the bar twice as fast to their respective channels. They are called “two-pitch screws.”

The two-pitch screws keep the matrices widely separated on the bar, permitting a freer distribution of large matrices.

DISTRIBUTOR SCREW GUARD

The distributor screw guard is suspended between the front conveyor screws and fits over the lower screw. This guard is for the purpose of deflecting the matrix away from the lower screw as it drops from the combination bar.

On models 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 18, and 19, this guard is fastened by two nuts to the two machine screws projecting through the front side of the combination bar.

On models 8, 14, and 14-s-k this guard is loose, working on a fulcrum rod, and operated by the distributor screw guard lever and the right-hand locating bar. The lever is fastened to the right-hand magazine frame guide by a fulcrum screw. Whenever the locating levers are shifted for the purpose of raising or lowering the magazine frames, a screw on the right-hand locating lever moves against the guard lever and forces the guard upward. If there are any matrices on the combination bar when attempting to change the position of the magazines, this guard will strike them, and prevent the guard from making the full upward stroke. Retarding the bar prevents the locating levers and blocks from moving far enough to clear the bar stops, thus not permitting the magazine frame to be moved.

If the magazine frames were changed with matrices on the bar, these matrices would drop in the magazine that was in operating position, causing wrong fonts in the magazine.

DISTRIBUTOR CLUTCH

The distributor screws are driven by a friction plate, keyed to the distributor clutch shaft, and held against the face of the distributor driving pulley by a spring inside of the distributor clutch flange. This allows the clutch to slip when anything binds the distributor screws.

The clutch shaft, operated by the friction plate, drives the distributor screws by means of small gears which are timed so that the matrices will hang perpendicular from the distributor bar.

To remove the distributor clutch, loosen the small screw on the distributor clutch lever, and remove the clutch rod, spring, and lever. Remove the hexagon head machine screw that holds the clutch bracket to the distributor beam. Insert a screw driver between the bracket and the beam at the upper end and pry the bracket away from the beam. Lift the bracket off over the end of the shaft. Remove the screw in the washer on the end of the clutch shaft. Take out the spring which is behind the washer. The friction plate and pulley can then be removed over the end of the shaft.

The friction plate should be kept free from oil at all times. There is an oil hole in the flange of the pulley which should not be overlooked when oiling. This hole should be kept stopped with a counter sunk screw to prevent the oil working out on the drive belt.

DISTRIBUTOR STOPPING MECHANISM

The stopping bar is on the magazine channel entrance, and is operated by the partitions and a spring hooked on the stopping bar and the frame of the channel entrance.

The right side of the small teeth on the stopping bar should touch each partition (which is flexible). When a matrix fails to enter the magazine, the channel becomes clogged. This causes the matrices to bind on the distributor screws which moves the partition to the right, throwing the stopping bar from the clutch plate. This allows the clutch lever screw to catch the clutch flange collar, force the friction plate away from the driving pulley, and stop the distributor.

The clutch plate is held by two screws to the distributor clutch lever.

The stopping bar should rest 1/32 of an inch on the clutch plate. Adjust by loosening the screws which hold the plate. The holes in the plate are elongated, to permit the plate being moved sidewise.

When adjusting be sure that the partitions are straight and touching the teeth of the stopping bar on the right side. If not, when straightening, they would cause the stopping bar to rest on the clutch plate more than it should. This would prevent the clutch lever and screw going into action instantly, which would cause thin matrices to bend if caught.

THE SPIRAL AUTOMATIC

The new style distributor screw driving mechanism is termed the spiral automatic.

The spiral automatic does away with the channel entrance stopping bar and flexible entrance partitions. The channel entrances of the new style are equipped with fixed partitions which can not become bent, damaged or twisted out of adjustment by the action of the distributing mechanism. Some of the features are: The channel entrance partitions are thinner, allowing large matrices to pass freely through the channels. The partitions are more rigid, although thinner, because they are fixed and supported their entire length. The entrance once set, does not have to be readjusted for different sizes of matrices.

The partitions have guides at their lower end, which are arranged to direct the various matrices into their respective channels by having contact with the lugs instead of the body of the matrix, giving the minimum amount of friction.

Two rotary wedges are pinned to the right end of the two front distributor screw shafts. These wedges are placed so the thin edge of one wedge is opposite the thick edge of the other. These wedges rotate with the screws.

The small timing gear on the lower front distributor screw is loose on the shaft. A connection between the screw and the gear is made by two parallel pins, one on the gear and the other on the wedge. These pins are held together by a spiral spring. The tension of the spring should be so the slightest drag on the lower screw would allow the pins to separate.

When anything binds or retards the revolution of the lower screw, the two parallel pins separate, which changes the relation of the wedges, causing them to lock. This locking of the wedges stops the distributor screws and releases the tension of the clutch flange on the distributor washer clutch flange permitting the driving pulley to run free.

Assembled on the distributor clutch pulley washer clutch flange are two distributor clutch stops. These are called left-hand stops. Fastened to the distributor clutch flange are two distributor clutch stops. These are called right-hand stops.

When the distributor is operating, the right-hand stops are held on the left-hand stops by two spiral springs. One end of each spring is fastened to an adjustable spring collar that slips over the distributor clutch flange; the other ends are fastened to the pulley washer clutch flange. These stops force the pulley washer flange against the driving pulley, operating the distributor.

The tension of these spiral springs should be just tight enough to hold the stops together. When the spiral locks, the tension of the spring should permit the right stops to leave the left, releasing the pressure on the driving pulley.

The tension of these springs can be adjusted by releasing the clamping screw in the spring collar and turning the collar.

Remember that anything binding the lower screw will prevent the distributor from operating.

A matrix not lifting properly, a dry distributor shaft bearing, or the front rails of the distributor box bearing against the lower screw will cause the screw to drag and stop.

If the spiral spring that holds the two pins together is too strong, matrix ears or lugs will be bent. The spring, when at its proper tension, should not bind the ears or lugs of the matrices when they drag the lower screw.

When having trouble with the spiral automatic, do not change the spring tension unless you are sure that it is necessary to do so.

The tension of the two springs, which hold the stops on the clutch flange and washer flange, should be just strong enough to keep the stops together. Too much spring tension will have a tendency to bend matrices or prevent the proper working of the spiral.

To remove the distributor clutch flange and washer clutch flange on a machine with the spiral automatic: Loosen the small screw on the distributor clutch lever, and remove the clutch rod and lever. Remove the two headless screws in the knurled lever flange on the end of the clutch flange shaft. Remove the hexagon head machine screw that holds the clutch bracket to the distributor beam. Insert a screwdriver between the bracket and the beam at the upper end and pry the bracket away from the beam. Lift the bracket off over the end of the shaft. Remove the flat headed screw in the washer on the end of the clutch flange shaft. Take out the spring which is behind the washer. Take off the clutch flange shaft, stops and springs, assembled. Unscrew the clutch pulley washer flange stop screw. The clutch pulley washer flange can now be removed.

DISTRIBUTOR BOX

After the line has been transferred from the first elevator jaws to the second elevator bar it is carried by the second elevator lever to the distributor box. The distributor box contains the upper and lower rails, tilting rails, matrix lift, font distinguisher, box bar and point assembled, safety spring, lift cam lever, lift lever, lift hinge pin, lift lever spring, lift spring, lift cam roll, and matrix lift adjusting screw.

When the matrices are transferred from the second elevator bar to the box bar they are supported at their lower end, by the tilting rails. These rails release the strain on the matrix combination, and also prevent matrices falling from the bar if there is any space between the two bars.

To assure a good alignment of the two bars, the box bar pin hole at the left is elongated, allowing play to the bar, which permits the teeth of the second elevator bar to align easily with the box bar.

Matrices, coming into the box, hang to the rails on the box bar by their teeth until they reach the vertical face of the box rails. There are two upper and two lower rails held to the box plates (front and back) by dowel pins and screws, so that the matrix will align perfectly with all four rails and the bar point at the right end of the box.

The rails must align the matrix to clear the distributor screws and the aligning plate on the combination bar without binding. The matrix must also pass between the vertical face of the rails and the bar point. If these rails become worn, they will permit more than one thin matrix to pass the bar point, or will not lift the matrix so it will clear the screws properly, because of the unevenness of the vertical face of the rails. This will bend the ears of the matrix and stop the distributor.

The only remedy for worn rails is to apply new ones. Four new rails must be applied, as the vertical faces of all the four rails wear, and this is the only method of obtaining the proper alignment again.

A safety spring is pinned in a grooved part of the upper front rail at the right end to prevent matrices turning and getting caught by the lift when the shifter is suddenly withdrawn. It is only the matrix ready to be lifted that need be held by the spring.

As the matrices are lifted by the matrix lift they must pass between the vertical face on the rails and the bar point. All matrices are the same thickness where they pass this point. There is just sufficient space between the rails and the bar point for but one thin matrix to pass when lifted by the matrix lift. If the bar point becomes worn or broken it will permit more than one thin matrix to be lifted to the distributor screws, resulting in the clogging of the channel entrance or bending the matrix.

When the bar point becomes worn a new one should be applied. A new bar point can be applied by removing the bar, and, with a small nail set, driving out the two pins that hold the bar point. Put the new point in its proper position, place the bar in the box, and test with a thin matrix by raising the lift. The matrix should pass the point without binding. When the point is set properly, remove the bar from the box and drill two holes for the pins. Sometimes the bar point can be drawn out a little by peening it with a small machinist hammer. However, extreme care must be used, so the bar rails will not be damaged by the hammer. Just a few light taps of the hammer should be sufficient.

The font distinguisher is placed in the lower right end of the box, between the two lower rails. All the matrices must pass this distinguisher. When properly adjusted, it will stop all matrices of a different font size to the one being used, or one of the same font turned backwards. To change font distinguisher, turn the stud one complete turn for each size. Turn the stud to the left for a smaller size and to the right for a larger size.

On the multiple magazine machines the font distinguisher is automatically changed when changing the position of the magazines.

Matrices must never be driven over the point of the distinguisher when they stop in the box, but should be pushed to the second elevator bar and the wrong font or the turned matrix removed. Driving a matrix over the font distinguisher not only damages the matrix, but it also often breaks the font distinguisher and causes serious damage to the box by throwing the various parts out of their proper alignment. When this happens it is almost impossible to get the box back into proper shape.

The matrix lift mechanism is composed of the matrix lift lever, the matrix lift cam lever, matrix lift spring, matrix lift cushion spring, matrix lift hinge pin, matrix lift cam roll, and the matrix lift.

This matrix lift is at the right end of the box and is held to the lift lever by a fulcrum screw and forced against the font distinguisher block by a small coil spring. The lift should set so the back of the shoulder aligns with the vertical face of the rails. If by any accident it is forced out of alignment to the left, the lift cannot engage the bottom of the matrices and lift them over the vertical face of the rails.

The shoulder and seat of the lift should be kept free from gum or dirt so the matrices will not slip off while being raised. When the shoulder and seat of the lift wear so that it will lift two thin matrices or lift them crooked, the lift must be replaced by a new one.

The cam lever and lift lever are connected by a cushion spring which absorbs the movement of the cam lever, if the lever hangs up. There is an adjusting screw in the matrix lift lever which permits the lift lever to be raised or lowered.