US1341557A - Machine for casting and finishing tubular stereotype-plates - Google Patents

Description

C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR CASTING AND FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PLATES.

' APPLICATION FILED on. 2. 191a. RENEWED SEPT. 24, 1919.

1,341,557, I Patented Ma 25, 1920;

II SHEETS-SHEET I.

19. dyad/aw WE v c. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR CASTING AND FINISHING TUBULAR SIEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION ILED OCT- 2, 913.. RENEWED S EPT. 24. 1919.

Maia/e fkz/ar zllgah'a wrzeu'aes:

C. E. HOPKINS. MACHINE FDR CASTING AND FINISHING TUBULAR STEREDTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 2, I913. RENEWED SEPT-24, I919.

Patented May 25, 1920.

I I SHEETSSHEET 3- 4 Qatar-"gar,

C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR CASTING AND FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 2, I913- RENEWED SEPT. 24, I919.

Patented May 25, 1920.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I C. E.' HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR CASTING AND FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PLATES. APPLICATION FILED OCT- 2, I913. RENEWED SEPT.24, I9I9.

1,341,557. Pa ented May 25, 1920.

. I II SHEETS-SHEET 5.

LTTI

II I C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR CASTING AND FINISHING TUBULAR STEHEOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION men on. 2, I913. RENEWED SEPT.24, I919.

1,341,557, Patented May 25, 1920.

I I SHEETS-SHEET 6.

C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR CASTING AND FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2, 19m. RENEWED SEPT.24, 1919.

1,341,557 v Patented May 25,1920.

I1 SHEETSSHEET 7- lrzaarzfan- WZtmJmr: &fii/ZI iii hm:

{ W l3 Qdarnyw C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR CASTING AND FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPEPLATES.

- APPLICATION FILED OCT- 2, 1913. RENEWED SEPT. 24, 1919. 1,341,557.

Hm I ,m I! 58 ll. 2% y I at. III MW Run WMg ig/Zy C. 'E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR CASTING AND FINISHING TUBULAR. SIEREOTYPE'PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 2, 1.913.. RENEWED S.EPT.24, 1919.

P N w M g I l I I l l I L I. l

@w EN Patented May 25, 1920.

H SHEETS-SHEET I0.

C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR CASTING AND FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 2 I913- RENEWED SEPT-24 I919- 1,34=1,557.

naiisn stares PATENT-OFFICE.

CHARLES E. HOPKINS, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR CASTING AND FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE-PLATES.

Application filed. October 2, 1913, Serial No. 792,995.

To all whom it may concern Be it 'known that I, Crmnnns E. Hor- KrNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Machine for Casting and Finishing Tubular stereoty fie-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of this invention is to simplify and quicken the production of stereotype printing plates of practically a tubular form, having narrow openings throughout their length. The plates thus cast are for use on cylinders of printing presses in which the plate practically envelops the said cylinders instead of occupying, as in ordinary printing presses, only one half or less of the circumference.

The principal features of this invention are, means for supporting and conveying a tubular core from a horizontal to a vertical position, between two concave backs; means for simultaneously moving both backs about the core and thereby forming a tubular casting chamber therein-between; means carried by the core support for engaging and disengaging the straight edges of a matrix positioned in said casting chamber; means for moving the core with the plate cast there on from a vertical to a horizontal position with means for ejecting the said plate from the core; means carried by the core for moving a plate cast thereon, longitudinally off the core and delivering it to a finishing numhanism in which it may he finished; means whereby the delivery means causes the finishing mechanism to start; means for automatically looking and unlocking a tubular plate held in a finishing cylinder; and many details and features of construction, hereinafter set forth.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which I Figure 1 is a front elevation of the casting end of a-complete machine, constructed in accordance with this invention, with portions broken away to better illustrate som of the important features.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the finishing mechanism, substantially continuous with Fig. l, with part of the frame broken away and the finishing cylinder and co-acting parts in longitudinal. section.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Renewed September 24, 1919. Serial No. 325,996.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the core in horizontal position partly in section on a plane just inside the frame.

Fig. 2 is an end view of one of the cast plates.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the casting end of the machine showing the back-open with parts in section.

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the back closed.

Flg. anism.

Fig, 6 is a cross section of the casting mechanism taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 0f Fig. 1, showing the core in horizontal position.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal view of the core and co-acting members with portions broken away and in section to better illustrate.

Fig. 10 is a cross section on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a plan of the bottom casting ring and plate conveyer racks.

Fig. 13 is a side View of the same.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmental edge view of the matrix clamping bars.

Fig. 15 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 16 is a plan of the finishing mechanism with parts in section.

Fig. 17 is an end view of the finishing mechanism showing the drive and oonnections.

Fig. 18 is a cross section of the finishing mechanismtaken on line 18-18 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 19 is a plan of a portion of the tail trimming mechanism. 7

Fig. 20 is a detail view of the clutch lock- 5 is an end view of the casting meching rods.

Fig. 21 is a cross section of the finishing mechanism taken on line 2121 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figs. 22 and 23 are side views of a portion of the automatic stopping mechanism showing two positions of the parts.

Fig. 24.- is a sectional view of a tail trimming mechanism taken on line 242i of Fig. 1.

Figs. 25 and 26 are enlarged side and top views of a feature of the tail trimming mechanism.

The invention is shown in a form in which the mechanism is supported in a framing composed of side frames A and B, and cross pieces G, D and E. Two concave casting backs F-F, are hinged together in a vertical position on vertical pivot pins 10, which are mounted in bearings 11 on cross pieces (J, (J. The hinged backs are caused to move toward or away from each other. For this purpose an operating lever 12 is made fast on a horizontal shaft 13, mounted in bearings on the lower cross piece C. Mounted on the shaft 13 near the ends are two vertically disposed rock arms 14-14, the top ends of said arms are pivoted to locking slides 15 operative in guideways 16 which are fast on the opposing faces of the side frames A and B. The pivots between the arms 14 and slides 15 have enough play to prevent binding. The said slides 15 are provided with cross channels 17, and longitudinal locking faces 18. Rollers 19, mounted on studs fast on the outside faces of each of the concave backs F, engage with the operating faces of the lockingslides 15, so that when the backs are in the open position, as shown in Fig. 3, the rollers 19 are positioned in the cross channels 17 in slides 15. By moving the lever 12 forward the slides are caused to advance, which action forces the rollers 19 forward. This causes the backs to swing on their hinges and draw the rollers 19 out of the cross channels, and as the slides 15 continue to advance the rollers pass out of the channels on the longitudinal locking faces 18. In this position the concave casting backs are held during the casting operation, (see Fig. 4). By reversing the movement the rollers again enter the channels and separate the backs.

The core G is formed as a complete tubular cylinder, and is mounted on one edge of a vertical bar 30. The opposite edge of said bar is fixed to a core carrying support '31. This support 31 is provided with extending side arms 31 at the ends of which are formed bearings in which are fixed studs carrying V-faced rollers 32. The V-faced rollers 32 travel on horizontal V tracks 33 formed on the top edge of frames A and B.

This core support 31 is provided with a cross hearing at its bottom end in which there is fixed a horizontal guide shaft 34. (Figs. 1 and 7.) On the ends of this guide shaft 34 are anti-friction rollers 34 which operate in a vertical guideway 35, fast on the opposite inside faces of the side frames. A core operating lever 36 is fixed on one of the studs of the V rollers 32. By this construction the movement of the handle causes the core on "the support to advance and simultaneously turn.

As is customary in all vertical castingapparatus, I have a bottom ring 42 for overlapping the bottom flat margin of the matrix and to form that wall of the casting chamher (see Figs. 12 and 13). Also a top pouring sheet or tail piece 50 overlaps, and guides the metal over, the top fiat margin of the matrix. (See Fig. 8.) Also side bars 37 form the straight side walls of the casting chamber and overlap the straight side margins of the matrix. (See Figs. 9, 10, 11, 14 and 15.)

The straight-edged matrix clamps 37 engage along each side of the core supporting bar 30 and are joined together on the opposing sides of short bars 38, operating in recesses formed in the bar 30 and support '31. (See Figs. 9 and 10.) The opposite ends of the bars 38 are provided with studs which are located in angular cam-ways 39 formed in a sliding bar 40 slidable in brackets 40 fast on the underside of the core support 31. The movement of the bar 40 causes a lip formed on each of the matrix clamps 37 to move into or out of recesses 41 formed along the lower face of the core above each matrix clamp, and engage the straight edge of a matrix, as hereafter described.

The bottom ring 42 is mounted between two brackets 43, (Figs. 12 and 13) made'fast to the ends of the two long racks 44. These racks are positioned in recesses 44 formed along the top surface of the core support 31. The arms of the brackets 43 normally extend beyond the lower end of the core G,

When the core is in the horizontal positionthe top ends of the racks 44 engage in gear wheels 45, mounted on a horizontal cross shaft 45 located in hearings in the side frames A and B. On one end of this shaft is fast an operating crank lever 46.

For the purpose of holding the racks 44 in mesh with the gears 45 there is a locking device co-acting with the core turning lever. This device consists of a spring actuated clamp lever 47, pivoted on the handle end of the core turning lever 36; one end of this lever operates a pin 48, mounted in a bearing in the lever 36 (see Fig. 7). core is horizontal this pin 48 engages in a recess in a locking plate 49, positioned on the side frame A. (Fig. 1.) By thus mounting the bottom ring 42 on racks arranged to intermittingly engage with operating gears I have a conveyer for moving a plate, cast on the core, longitudinally oii' and positioning it in a finishing cylinder, and also starting a mechanism for boring and trimming as hereinafter described.

The pouring sheet 50 for guiding the metal over and by the top margin of a matrix when a plate is being cast in the casting chamber is arranged to envelop at all times that part of the core above the space occupied by the type face of a matrix. (Fig. 8.) It is mounted 'by its straight sides on When the pivots in the top ends of a set of curved arms 51, which are fast on short rock shafts 5252, operating in bearings formed on the top end of the core support 31. To one end of each of these rock shafts 52 is fast one end of a lever arm, the free ends of which are provided with studs 53. These arms are so arranged that when the core is nearing the horizontal position the studs 53 engage in a circular cam-way 54 made fast on the face of the cross piece E, and as the movement continues the studs 53 are forced toward each other. This action causes the curved rock arms 51 to expand the pouring sheet to a larger circumference, free it from the core, and allow the bottom ring supports 43 to pass over the core support and between the core and said curved rock arms 51. The pouring sheet is made of spring: metal so that it acts as a spring and, on the reverse movement of the core, moves the arms and co-acting parts back.

For the purpose of supporting the flexible matrix in the casting chamber when it is in the open position, as shown in Fig. 3, there is a bracket 55 fast to the bottom cross piece C, upon the top surface of which the matrix is stood, when the casting backs are in the open position. This bracket 55 is provided with a curved recess 56, into which the bottom ring 42 moves when the core is turned into the vertical position and acts as a means for accurately positioning the said core relative to the concave faces of the backs when they are in casting position.

Formed on the outside ribs of the concave backs FF near the edges of their loose sides, are integral curved clamping hooks 57. These hooks 57 engage about corresponding curved edges 58 on the core support 31, when the backs are moved into a closed position as shown in Fig. 4. By this means the core is held central with the concavity of the back throughout its length.

Connections are provided between the matrix clamp slide bar 420 and the shaft 18, on which the locking slide arms 14 are fast, and are arranged so that after the backs are locked about the circumference of the core in casting position, as previously described, a further movement of the locking means will move the lips of the matrix clamps out of their recesses in the core and into engagement with the straight edges of a matrix in the casting chamber, formed between the core and said backs.

The means shown comprises a slide bar 60, pivoted by one end to the loose end of an operating lever 61, fast on shaft 13. (Figs. 1 and 9.) The opposite end of this bar 60 is provided with a slot 62 in which is a roller 63 mounted on a cross shaft 63, which is supported by the side frames A and B. On the extreme end of the bar 60 is a hooked cam-way 64, which intermittently engages a roller mounted on the bottom end of the matrix clamping slide bar 40. This operation of clamping the straight sides of the matrix is accomplished after the casting members are locked in casting position.

By this combination the hook cam-way 64 is brought into engagement with the roller 65 on the slide bar 1 0 during the process of moving the hinged backs F, F, into closed position and as the operation of locking continues, the cam-way lifts the roller 65 on bar to, and through the bars connections draws the lips of the matrix clamp out of the recesses 37 and into engagement with the straight edges of a matrix, as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11.

For the purpose of keeping the plate casting cylindrical core G cool there is arranged a means for conveying water into and out of the same. And for the purpose of getting a quick action of the water cooling means, as well as reducing the volume of water that must be carried along with the core in its travels, it is made with an outer shell 70, and an inner shell 71. The outer shell is open at the bottom and closed on top, whereas the inner shell is closed at both ends. The lower closing wall 72 of the inner shell is positioned a short distance from its bottom for the purpose of forming a distributing chamber 73. A disk 74 is provided to close the bottom of the outer shell. Cap screws through the disk enter lugs formed on the bottom rim of the interior shell and like cap screws pass through the top of the outer shell and hold the disk fast to the bottom edges of the outer shell as well as hold the interior shell central with the exteriors concavity. (See Figs. 9 and 10.)

Two pipes pass through the disk; a short one 75 is the water supply pipe and extends into, and near the top of, the distributing chamber 73; and a long pipe '56 is the discharge whieh pass through both end walls of the interior shell. l exible tubing 7' connects the outer end of these pipes to a water supply pipe 77, and a drain pipe 78.

The drain pipe is made to curve up above the top of the core when vertical and then curve down. The purpose of thus curving the pipe is to keep the supply chamber 73 and the cooling chamber formed between the two cylinders, constantly filled with the cooling water.

It will be seen by this construction that the cooling water passes into the distributing chamber, then down under the bottom edge of the interior shell, and up into and through the narrow cooling chamber to the top, and then down through the outlet pipe. A valve is let into the supply pipe as a means for controlling the water supply, the operatin wheel 79 of which is located on a long valve stem, supported at its loose end in a bearing in the side frame, so as to be handy for the operator, (see Figs. 1 and Having described the construction of the casting mechanism 1 will now describe the means 1 have shown for finishing the tubular stereotype plate after the casting has been conveyed from the casting mechanism. Y

A tubular plate finishing cylinder H alined with the core G, when horizontal, is supported by brackets 100 made fastto the upper inside faces of the side frames A and ln bearings 1&8 and 1 19 is supported a cross driving shaft 1417 driven by a pulley 161. fln this shaft is a helical gear 150 driving a helical gear 106, mounted on a worm shaft 105, and forming part of the clutch for operating the tool shafts. AXially alined within the cylinder H and supported in bearings 101 and102 is a tool carrying shaft 103. This shaft 103 is made hollow throughout its length, and is provided. with a slotted opening 10 1, which is made somewhat longer than the length of the finishing cylinder H.

The worm shaft 105 is mounted in bearings formed at the ends of the hollow shaft 103. This worm shaft operates within, and extends throughout the length of the hollow shaft and beyond at one end to a bearing formed in a supporting bracket 189. Mounted on this extending end of the worm shaft 105, besides the helical driving gear 106, is a slide clutch 107, and a fixed clutch j aw 108. The clutch 107 is driven by a pin 109, which is fixed in the said clutch and operates through a bearing in the driving gear 106. Fast on the adjacent end of the hollow shaft 103 is a second jaw 110. The sliding clutch '107 is operated along the worm shaft by a roller 111, mounted on a rock arm 112, carried by a rock shaft 151. By rocking the arm 112 toward the jaw 110, as will appear later, the pin 109 engages in a recess in the said jaw and causes the hollow tool shaft 103 to revolve with the driving gear 106. By rocking it in the opposite direction the pin disengages from the jaw 110 and engages the jaw 108 fast on the worm shaft, whereupon the worm shaft revolves and the hollow shaft becomes fixed as hereafter described.

Mounted on the worm shaft 105 is a wormed bearing provided with a tool support extension 113. This support is caused to travel back and forth in the slot 10a in the hollow shaft by the alternative revolving of the hollow shaft 108 and the worm shaft 105. A boring tool 114, made fast to the tool support 113, is made to revolve about the stationary worm 105 by the turning of the hollow shaft 103, and thereby is advanced along the length of the groove 10%, whereupon the clutch mechanism reverses and causes the hollow shaft to become staeaner)? tionary and the worm shaft 105 to revolve which causes the tool to move in the opposite direction and back to the end.

Edge beveling tools or trimmers are mounted. in supports and slidingly keyed to the hollow shaft 103, and located one at each end of the finishing cylinder H. The tool 115, for beveling the bottom end of a plate, is held at an angle in a sliding support 116, located at the front end of the cylinder H. The tool 117 for separating the riser portion of the plate is carried by a fixed tool support 118 located at the opposite end of the said cylinder. The tool 117 is dovetailed to the angle end of a slide key 119 made fast in a slide piece 120. (See Figs. 25 and 26.) .The movement of the slide piece 120 causesthe angle end of the key 119 to advance the tool 117 along an angular bearing in the tool support 118, and thereafter return.

These beveling tools are made to revolve with the hollow shaft 103, during which revolution they are caused to advance toward each other, the tool 115 a sufficient distance to engage and bevel the lower end of the plate and the tool 117 sufficient to pass through the said plate at an angle and thereby simultaneously separate the riser and bevel the type portion of the aforesaid plate. This operation occurs during the revolving of the hollow shaft 103, and simultaneously with the boring operation; the trimming tools being returned at the same time as the boring tool to their starting positions.

The means for advancing and returning the beveling too-ls comprises a grooved cam wheel 121 mounted on a cam shaft 122. A worm 1 16 mounted on the driving shaft 1 17 meshes with a large worm gear 145 fast on the end of the cam shaft 122 for driving the latter. ln the groove of the wheel 121 operates a stud fixed on the loose end-of a lever 123. This lever. is fast on the bottom end of a vertical shaft 124:, journaled in a bracket fast on the bottom side of one of the supports 100. (Figs. 1, 18 and 19.) To the top end of this shaft is fast a two-toothed pinion 125, the teeth mesh in recesses formed near the ends of rods 126 and 127, which rods are located in guide ways formed in the side walls of a slot 128 in the finishing cylinder H. The opposite ends of these rods 126 and 127 are attached to brackets 129, provided with wrist bands 130, located in grooves formed in the sliding tool supports 116 and 120. By this arrangement each revolution of the cam shaft 122 advances, and thereafter returns, the trimming tools.

For the purpose of alternately locking and unlocking the hollow shaft 103 and the worm shaft 105, there are arranged two up rightlocking rods 181, 131, each operating in a guideway alined with and beneath the clutch jaws 108 and 110. These rods are pivoted at their bottom ends to the opposing ends of a rock lever 132, which is pivoted at its center to a bracket 133. This rock lever is provided with an operating arm 134 formed at its end with a tooth which engages in a recess in a slide 135, located in a slideway formed in the bracket The opposite end of the slide 135 is provided with a roller which engages in a recess of a cam 136 fast on the cam shaft 122. The top ends of the rods 131 are formed with V points .131, and rocking the rock lever 132, alternately engages one or the other V in like V recesses formed in the faces of the clutch jaws 108 or 110, and thereby positions and holds them stationary.

The clutch and locking mechanism are so timed that the hollow shaft is stopped and locked with the slot 104 down, so that the boring tool 114 passes between the two straight edges of a plate held in the cylinder, and over the slot 128, so as not to obstruct the moving of a plate into or out of the cylinder, as hereafter described.

The plates, when cast, are made a trifle smaller than the bore of the finishing cylinder H, so that they can be readily moved into or out of the cylinder, but as it is necessary to hold the plate firmly against the interior surface of the finishing cylinder during the finishing operations, and at the same time prevent it from revolving with the tools, there is provided a stop and locking mechanism, by which the plate is held by one edge and the opposite edge forced ahead so as to cause the plate to expand to the diameter of the cylinders concavity. The stop consists of a fiat bar 137 (see Fig. 18) fast to one of the side walls of the slot 128 formed throughout the length of the cylinder in its bottom side. This bar 137 is made to project into the cylinder H, about the thickness of a plate. A series of locking levers 138, are mounted on a rock shaft 139 located so that the levers loose ends extend into the cylinder through the slot 128 so as i to engage the plate by the edge opposite that held by the fixed stop on the bar 137.

The rock shaft 139, upon which the locking levers 138 are fixed is caused to rock the said levers into engagement with the straight edge of a stereotype plate in the cylinder H, by a compass spring 140, mounted on a rod 141. One end of this rod is attached to the loose end of a lever 142, fast on the rock shaft 139, the opposite end operating through a bearing in the side frame 13. The loose ends of the locking levers 138 are normally held in an open position by a roller 143 mounted on the lever 142 and engaging the high portion of the face of a cam 144 on the cam shaft 122. The purpose of making the locking device spring actuated is to automatically adjust, by expansion, the face of the tubular plate against the face of the finishing cylinder.

A. half circular raised track 154 is formed on the side face of the worm gear 145. Mounted in bearings formed on the cross pieces D is a vertical shaft 151 on which are mounted short rock arms 152 and 153, the loose ends of which are arranged to engage and disengage in sequence the side face of the curved track 154, when the worm gear is in motion and thereby rock the clutch rock lever 112, mounted near the top of the rock shaft 151 and through the said lever operate the tool sliding clutch jaw 107. By this means each half revolution of the worm gear 145 shifts the clutch 107 in one direction and the next half returns it, during which complete revolution the finishing mechanism makes a cycle of movements.

There is provided a trip mechanism for automatically starting the finishing operations, after the plate has been conveyed from the casting cylinder or core G, and positioned in the finishing cylinder, and thereafter automatically stopping the same.

For this purpose the driving pulley 161 is made fast to one end of a sleeve 162 which is mounted loose on the cross driving shaft 147 and extends through the bearing 149. (See Fig. 16.) To the opposite end of this sleeve is fixed a clutch jaw 163, which is kept in constant motion by the driving pulley and its source of power.

Facing this aw 163 is a co-acting aw 164 which is mounted on the said shaft 147 so as to operate with the shaft and yet slide into or out of engagement with the driven jaw. The sliding jaw 164 is provided with a re cess about its circumference in which a stud 165 mounted on a rock arm 166 operates. The rock arm 166 is mounted on a vertically disposed stud operating loose in a bearing in the foot of bearing 149. Back of the pivot and on the arm 166 there is formed a curved cam-way 167. The rocking of this arm 166 moves the sliding jaw into or out of engagement with the driven jaw.

The rock arm 166 is operated by a compass spring mounted on a spring rod 168; one end of this rod is provided with a stud 169 which is located in the cam-way 167 the other end of the spring rod passes through a hearing fast on the top end of a vertical shaft 171 operating in a bearing fast to the rear finishing cylinder support 100. To the bottom of this vertical shaft is fixed a two-armed rock lever 172. To one of the arms is pivoted one end of a connecting rod 173, the opposite end of which rod is pivoted to the swinging end of a rod arm 174, which is loosely pivoted to a short vertical shaft l75,operating in bearings formed on the cross piece E. Mounted on the bottom end of this vertical shaft below the loose is a short arm 176, which is held fixed so as to rock with the shaft 175. The loose end of this short arm is provided with a stud which is made to operate in a slot 177 made about the center of the loose arm 1741. Fast to the top end of this vertical shaft 175 is a trip lever 17 8, the loose end of this lever is positioned so as to engage the sides of a projection 179 formed on one side of the tail ring support 413, of the casting mechanism. (See Fig. 12.)

i In operation the plate conveyer of the casting mechanism is moved along the core G until the bottom ring 12 has moved the cast plate into position in the finishing cylinder. Near the end of this movement the forward side of the projection 179 engages with the trip lever 178, pushing it ahead against the action of a spring 180, and as the forward movement continues the projection passes past the end of'the lever whereupon the spring 180 returns the lever to its first position, and into the return path of the projection. During this movement of the trip arm the stud in the short arm has traveled back and forth in the slot 177. Upon the reverse movement of the conveyer the projection 179 comes again into contact with the trip lever and pushes it in the opposite direction which act causes the stud in the slot 177 to turn the loose arm 17 4 and through the connection the spring rod 168 turnsand forces the stud 169 to move up the slot 167 of the clutch roclrarm 166 to and over the apex, whereupon the spring forces the rod 168 ahead and turns the rock lever 166,3vhich action moves the jaws 161 into engagement with the driving jaw 163, and thereby starts the finishing mechanism on its cycle of o eration.

On the completion of the cycle of operations the jaws 164 will be forced out of connection with the operating jaw 163 by the reverse movement of the spring rock shaft 171 through a slide trip bar 18a, one end of which is pivoted to the second arm 172 fast on the said rock shaft 171, the opposite end of which is supported by a yoke 185 operating about the cam shaft 122. and alongside of the cam 136. The end of the bar 184 is provided with a pivoted trip arm 183, which is normally held horizontal by the yoke 185. The loose end of the trip arm 183 is provided with a recess 182. Fast in the side face of the cam 136 is a trip pin 181, which engages in the recess 182 near the end of each revolution of the cam 136 and forces the bar 18 1 back, and the clutch spring bar 168 to draw the stud 169 over the high point of the cam-way 167, where upon the spring forces the bar ahead and the jaws out of engagement. (See Figs. 16, 22 and 23.).

Fig. 22 shows the stop trip mechanism at rest and Fig. 23 shows the latch in two positions, in full lines, just before the pin on the rocking cam comes into engagement with the recess in the trip arm, and in dotted lines just as the spring bar stud is passing over the apex of the cam groove 167 in the clutch operating arm 166. At this point the jaw operating spring forces the jaws out of engagement and at the same time draws the trip rod 184 ahead. and from engagement with the trip pin 181, whereupon the pivoted latch 183 drops down as shown in Fig. 22. 4

For the purpose of supporting and guiding the tubular plate while being pushed off the core and into position in the finishing cylinder there is arranged a line of rails. The first rail 190 is fast on the top of the finishing shaft bearing 101. A second rail 191 is mounted on the top side of the hollow shaft 103, and a third rail 192 is mounted on the top side of the bearing 102 of the hollow shaft and on top of a bearing formed on the bracket 189, which supports the end of the worm shaft 105. 1

By this means, when a plate is being ejected from the casting core the supporting rail 190 enters a recess 84 formed in the cast plate P by the wall 82, located in the beveled top of the core G. As the plate is moved along the recess engages the rail. 191, on the hollow shaft, and thereafter the rail 192. While the boring operation is taking place the rail 191 acts as a means for sweeping the shavings so they drop down through the slot 128, at the bottom of the finishing cylinder. After the riser has been separated by the beveling tool it remains supported on the rail 1.92.

A hand operated ejector is arranged for pushing the finished plate out of the cylin der. This ejector consists of a sprocket 195 mounted on a short shaft 196operating in bearings formed in a bracket 197 fast on the front end of the finishing cylinder 11'. A like sprocket 198 is mounted on a stud fast in a be located at the opposite end of the finishing cylinder. A n endless chain 199 carried by the sprockets operates through a recess 209 in the cylinders case and over the top of the cylinders ribs. This chain is provided with two ejector fingers 201, 201 positioned so that, as the sprockets are revolved by the handle 202 one orthc other will engage the rear edge of a tubular plate and push it out of the finishing cylinder and along its supporting rail. During this .s operation the riser portion is pushed along in advance of the now finished plate until the said riser drops off the outer end of the said rail 192, free from the machine.

I do not claim herein by itself the finishing mechanism that constitutes the subject matter of my divisional application Se rial No. 344,199 filed Dec. 11, 1919.

Although I have illustrated and described a specific and detailed embodiment of my invention, I am aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein, within the scope thereof as expressed in the claims, therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction, but what I do claim is 1. In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a cylindrical core, two pivoted concave matrix supporting backs, and a leverage system for moving both backs so as to envelop the core and form a cylindrical casting chamber between them.

2. In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a cylindrical core, two pivoted concave backs, and means for simultaneously moving both backs on their pivots to form a casting chamber between said backs and core.

3. In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a cylindrical core, a frame, two concave backs, both pivoted on said frame, and means for moving both backs on their pivots toward each other to form a casting chamber be tween them and the core.

l In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of piv' oted concave backs in a vertical position, a movable tubular core in a horizontal position in front of the said backs, means for moving the core to a vertical position be tween. said backs, and means for turning the backs to envelop the core, with means for locking the said backs and core in said position.

In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a frame, two concavebacks supported by the frame, a core supported on said frame, means for moving the core between the backs, and means for simultaneously moving the backs so that their concavities envelop the said core.

6. In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a frame, a pair of concave matrix supporting backs hinged together and supported in upright position, a movable support, a tubular core mounted on said support, said core being movable between the backs, and the backs being movable to engage with the core support, and matrix clamps carried by the support and movable to engage a matrix POSltlOIlQtl in the backs.

T In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a pair of concave backs, a support between said backs, a tubular core rigidly mounted on said support, and means on the hacks for engaging the core support and centrally locating the core in the concavity of the backs.

8. In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a frame, a back supported by the frame, a

movable support, a core mounted on said movable support, matrix clamps carried by said movable support, and having lips, said core having a recess'in the face thereof in which the lips on the matrix clamps are located, and means for moving the lips of the clamps into or out of said recess.

In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a back, a core, matrix clamps, having lips, said core having a recess in the face thereof in which the lips on the matrix clamps are located, and means for moving the lips of the clamps into or out of said recess.

10. In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a pair of concave matrix supporting backs, hinged together and supported in upright position, a movable support, a tubular core mounted on the movable support, matrix clamps carried by the core support, means for moving the core between the concave backs, means for moving the backs to engage with the core support, and means for moving the matrix clamps to engage a matrix positioned in the backs.

11. In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a pair of casting backs, a tubular core, a matrix clamping mechanism, means for moving the core between the casting backs, and means for moving the backs to form a closed easting chamber between said backs and core and thereafter moving the matrix clamping mechanism.

12. In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a cast ing back, a matrix support positioned below, a movable tubular core, and means for moving the back to engage and curve a matrix located on the said support and move it into casting position facing the core.

13. In an apparatus for casting tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a pair of concave casting backs, a matrix support positioned below the concavity of the backs, a movable tubular core, means for moving the core, and means for moving the backs to engage and curve a matrix located on the said support and move it into casting position facing the core.

1%. In an apparatus for casting curved stereotype plates, the combination of a concave back, a core co acting with said back to form a curved casting chamber, a bottom closing ring, and means for moving the ring along the core, for the purpose set forth.

15. In an apparatus for casting curved stereotype plates, the combination of a concave back supported vertically, a tubular core mounted on a movable support, a plate ejector carried by said core support, and means for moving the ejector lengthwise of the core.

16. In an apparatus for making tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a matrix supporting back composed of concave segments, a tubular core, a finishing cylinder having its axis at an angle to that of the back, means for moving the segments away from the core, means for moving the core into axial alinement with the finishing cylinder, and means for moving a plate cast on the core longitudinally from said core into the said finishing cylinder.

17. In an apparatus for making tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a tubular core, a hollov. finishing cylinder, means for swinging the core endwise through an are into axial alinement with the finishing cylinder, and means for moving a plate cast on the core longitudinally from said core into the said finishing cylinder.

18. In an apparatus for making tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a tubular casting core, means for forming a guideway in a plate cast on said core, a finishing cylinder alined with said core, guide rails alined with, and in said cylinder, and means for moving a plate lengthwise of the core to engage its guideway with said guide rails, for the purpose set forth.

19. In an apparatus for making tubular stereotype plates, the combination of a tubular casting core, a conveyer, a finishing cylinder, a boring tool in said cylinder, and means operated by the conveyer for starting the boring tool, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. HOPKINS. l Vitnesses:

LLEW'ELLYN LLOYD, B. N. SLonBEn.

Images