US2900901A - Columnar type form and removable type slugs for such form - Google Patents

Description

7 Aug. 25, 1959 COLUMNAR TYPE FORM AND REMOVABLE TYPE SLUGS FOR SUCH FORM Filed June 10, 1957 J. SCHWARTZ ET AL STANDARD FACE TYPE BOLD FAQE TYPE J5 United States Patent COLUMNAR TYPE FORM AND REMOVABLE TYPE SLUGS FOR SUCH FORM James Schwartz, Chicago, and Gunnard E. Stark, Lake Forest, 111., assignors to R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a corporation of Delaware Application June 10, 1957, Serial No. 664,579 5 Claims. (Cl. 101-368) This invention relates to a columnar type form which contains retainable lines and removable lines, and in particular it relates to a type slug which is adapted for use in a column of standard type slugs of predetermined length to permit ready removal of the removable slug from the column.

There are certain types of printing work in which type set in columnar form must be periodically revised by the removal or insertion of certain of the Linotype slugs which are included in the column. Such an operation naturally changes the length of each column where a line change is made and requires a reorganization of successive columns into new columns of equal length. In some cases mate'- rial set'in, for example five column pages, must be reset in four columns, or vice versa. The present invention contemplates the provision of specially constructed type slugs which cooperate with apparatus for changing the lines of type in a column. 7 e

A typical large scale printing operation in which such revision of set type must be performed is in the preparation for printing the subscribers telephone directory. Columns of type for printing telephone directories are retained in made up form at all times, because a substantial part of the telephone directory must be reprinted every few days to provide the information operators with up to date listings. When a new or revised listing comes to the printer, the listing is set up on a Linotype machine and is either added to the existing material at the proper position or is substituted for a listing which it supersedes. Also, listings are frequently cancelled. Changesin listings are printed promptly and sent to the information operators of the telephone company.

To simplify the information operators handling of the telephone directory, they are provided with books in which the pages contain more columns, and longer columns, than are found in the directory for public distribution. In addition, the information directories are provided at intervals in each column with eye catchers, which are either bold face initials or a bold face name to break down the listings in each column into groups which may be readily scanned by the operator searching for a particular listing; and line rules are used beneath new or revised listings. To leave room for addition of listings, the foot of each column in the page form contains several blank slugs. When it is time to make up the sub scribers directory, the set type which has been held and revised throughout the year for printing the information operators directories is reorganized-commonly from 5 columns per page to 4 columns per page-each column is shortened, and the eye catchers, line rules and extra line spacers are removed from each column. For clarity of description, eye catchers, line rules and extra line spacers are referred to collectively herein as removable lines or removable slugs.

In order to simplify the elimination of the removable lines of type from a column, the present invention requires that each column be set with most of its lines consisting 2,900,901 Patented Aug. 25,

, of the slug (disregarding the type face), and when the removable slugs are set in a column with retainable slugs the positioning surfaces are coplanar with the ends of the retainable slugs. The ends of the removable slugs are cut away from the bottom surface of the slug to the lower margins of the positioning surfaces, so that the removable slugs have relief areas which are shorter than the retainable slugs with which they are to be used. At the extreme upper portion of each removable slug is a pair of ears which extend endwise beyond the ends of the retainable slugs so as to overhang a column spacer which is positioned between adjacent columns of type.

When the removable slugs are being used in individual page lock-up for the short-run direct printing of information operators books, their positioning surfaces retain them against longitudinal shifting (laterally of the column) with respect to the retainable slugs. However, when it is necessary to pull the removable slugs, the column may be put into a machine which exerts endwise clamping pressure on the lower portions of the retainable slugs, but which does not clamp the removable slugs because of their recessed end portions. A lifting mechanism which flanks the coplanar ends of the retainable slugs above the clamping mechanism may then be elevated to engage the lifting ears on the removable slugs and lift them bodily to a position above and clear of the retainable slugs where they may be gathered for storage. Suitable apparatus for performing this operation is disclosed and claimed in our copending application Serial Number 683,338, filed September ll, 1957.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of two adjacent columns of type which include the removable slugs of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale taken as indicated along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a single column containing the removable slug of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a column containing the removable slugs;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View on an enlarged scale showing the relative positions of an end of a removable slug and the ends of the retainable slugs;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a removable slug with the retainable slug in position behind it;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a removable slug; and p i Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a retainable slug. i

In the drawings, the type matter on the printing slugs is omitted to simplify the drawings, except in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a page form contains a first type column 10 and a second type column 11 which are separated by a longitudinal column spacer 12. As seen in Fig. 2, the column spacer 12 does not extend to the tops of the type slugs in the columns 10 and 11. Each column seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and the single column seen in Figs. 3 and 4, consists predominantly of retainable slugs 14, and in most cases the column would also contain several of the removable slugs 13.

The retainable slugs 14 are standard Linotype slugs of predetermined length, so that their end surfaces 15 are coplanar to provide two upright plane surfaces at the two longitudinal margins of the column.

Each of the removable slugs 13 has a portion slightly below its top surface which is the same length as the retainableslugs 14, soasto provide retaining surfaces 16 coplanar with the end surfaces of the retainable slugs. As seen in Fig. 2, the column spacers 12 have their upper ends between the positioning surfaces 16, and when the columns of typeare locked up for the preparation 'of a mold, the positioning surfaces 16, being coplanar with the ends 15 of the retainable slugs, prevent'endwise shifting of the removable slugs.

"The lowermost portion of each removable slug 13 is shorter than the corresponding retainable slugs 14, so that there are upright recessed surfaces 17 which extend upwardly from the bottom of the slug to the lower margins of the positioning surfaces 16. Thus, if the removable slugs 13 are to be separated from the retainable slugs 14, clamping pressure-upon lower portions of the ends of the retainable slugs leaves the removable-slugs free.

The extreme upper portion of the removable slug is longer than the corresponding retainable slug with which the removable slug is used, so that the removable slug has lifting cars '18 which project from'both ends of the slug and overhang the column spacer 12 as seen in Fig. 2. Each lifting car 18 is slightly shorter than /2 thickness of the column spacer 12, so that if two removable slugs 13 are located in corresponding positions in adjacent columns, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, thelifting ears will not interfere with one another.

When the removable slugs 13 are to be separated from the retainable slugs 14, the entire column 10 or 11, without a column spacer associated with it, 'has, its lower portion clamped between bars which are entirely below the positioning surfaces 16 of the removable slugs, so that no clamping pressure is placed on said slugs. A pair of lifting bars or rails, which are positioned flanging the positioning surfaces 16, may then be elevated to engage the undersides 18a of all the ears 18 in the column. This simultaneously lifts all the removable slugs 13 clear of the retainable slugs 14 so that they may be readily gathered, either manually or mechanically, for further disposition. The clamping pressure may then be released, and the retainable slugs pushed together'to fill the gaps left byremoval of the removable slugs.

-' As seen in Fig. '3, any removable slugs 13 having a type face are normally provided with type 13a which is bold face, and of a larger size than the type face 14a of the retainable slugs 14; Thus, the removable slugs are suitable for the eye catchers used in the informationoperators telephone directories, which eye catchers must be eliminated from the columns before the public telephone directory is printed.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only to and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim: l

1.' A type form comprising: a plurality of columns of type positioned side-by-side, each of said columns consisting predominantly of a pluralaity of retainable slugs the ends of which form two upright plane surfaces; a column spacer between each pair of adjacent columns 2,900,901 p g a 4 against-which the adjacent'plane surfaces abut; and at least one removable slug in one of said columns, said removable slug having positioning surfaces at its two ends which are coplanar with the ends of the retainable slugs, an upright recessed surface at each end of the removable slug which extends upwardly from the bottom of said slug to the lower margin of the positioning surface, and lifting ears above the positioning surfaces whichoverhang an adjacent column spacer.

2. A type form comprising: a plurality of columns of type positioned side-by-side, each of said columns consisting predominantly of a plurality ofretainable slugs the ends of which form two uprightplane'surfaces; a column spacer between each pair of adjacent columns against which the adjacent plane surfaces abut; and a plurality of removable slugs in each ofsaid columns, each of said removable slugs having positioning surfaces at its two ends which are coplanar with the ends of the retainable slugs, an upright recessed surface at each end of the removable slug which extends upwardly from the bottom of said slug to the lower margin of the positioning surface, and lifting ears above the positioning surfaces which overhang no more than one-half of the width of an adjacent column spacer.

3. A column of type comprising: a plurality of retainable sings the ends of which form two upright plane surfaces; and at least one removable slug in said column, said removable slug having positioning surfaces .at its two ends which are coplanar with the ends of the retainable slugs, an upright recessed surface at each end of the removable slug which extends upwardly from the bottom of said slug to the lower margin of the positioning surface, and lifting ears above the positioning surfaces which project outside the planes of said positioning surfaces.

4. A removable slug for setting in a column of re tainable slugs of predetermined length, said removable slug comprising: an intermediate positioning portion the length of which is equal to said predetermined length;

a lower relief portion which is shorter than said predetermined length to afford relief recesses extending upwardly from both ends of the bottom of the slug to the lower margin of the positioning portion; and an upper -lifting portion of small height which is longer than said References Cited in the file of thispatent I UNITED STATES PATENTS 694,141 Daley Feb. 25, 1902' 942,102 Richards Dec. 7, 1909'- 962,857 Richards June 28, 1910 1,976,715 Chisholm Oct. 16, 1934

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