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front rail at the right end to prevent matrices turning and getting caught by the lift when the shifter is suddenly withdrawn.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.

The matrix lift must raise the lugs of the matrices clear of the vertical face of the box rails. If it does not do this, thin matrices, when being moved by the distributor screws, would be forced against the screws and become damaged. To adjust the lift, turn the distributor screws by hand until the cam roller is at the low part of the cam, place a thin matrix in the distributor box against the vertical face of the rails, then adjust screw until the shoulder of the lift is not more than ¹/₆₄ of an inch under the bottom of the matrix. The lift then should raise the matrix ¹/₃₂ of an inch above the top rails in the distributor box when the cam roller is at the highest part of the cam. After adjusting the lift, be sure that the adjusting screw locknut is tight.

The buffer of the distributor shifter should come in the box almost to the distributor lift, but should never come in far enough to engage the lift. The distance the shifter can travel into the box is regulated by a stop screw which sets in the shifter slideway. However, this screw sometimes gets broken off, comes out, or is worn off. This would allow the shifter buffer to engage the lift and cause undue wear.

Lower Distributor Box For Models 2 and 4

On the upper distributor of a Model 2 or 4 the matrices are raised over the rails by the matrix lift, the same as on any other model. The upper portion of the inclined rails, however, are cut away. There is a bridge on the upper distributor box on which the matrices for the upper magazine ride until they catch on the distributor bar. The matrices for the lower magazines have a slot in the bottom so that they will not ride on the bridge. They fall from the upper box, through a chute, into the lower box, where they are separated and delivered to the lower distributor rail.

Care should be taken to see that the box escapements (or matrix lift) work freely at all times. If dirt is allowed to accumulate, the escapements will not work freely; the matrices will be prevented from separating and cause them to clog in the box.

To adjust the escapement pawls (or matrix lift) in a lower box, turn the screws until the matrix lift lever cam roll rides in the lower part of the cam. Adjust with the adjusting screw until the point of the male pawl clears the bottom of the slot in the matrix about ¹/₆₄ of an inch. See that the male pawl does not become bent; this point should admit a thin matrix only between both pawls. The female pawl must have a retaining hold on the matrix of at least ¹/₃₂ of an inch when the male pawl is adjusted to clear the bottom of the slot.

Distributor Box Matrix Lift Cam

This cam is fastened to the distributor back screw by means of a taper pin. There is no adjustment of the cam. It should not be detached unless badly worn, and then it should be replaced by a new one.

To apply a new cam: Drive out taper pin and slip cam off the shaft, placing a new one on the shaft in such a position that the holes in the cam will match with the hole in the shaft. Use an 8 x 32 headless screw to hold the cam in position. Put a thick matrix with a full size lug in the box in the regular way. See that the lift is adjusted to raise the matrix ¹/₃₂ of an inch above the upper rails. Then turn the distributor screws by hand, and when the matrix starts to raise and enter the screws, the side of the matrix opposite the distributor shifter should clear the threads on the distributor screws ¹/₃₂ of an inch. If the matrix does not clear the threads ¹/₃₂ of an inch, loosen the small screw in the cam, turn the cam so that when the matrix lift starts to raise the matrix it will clear the threads properly. Fasten the cam securely with the screw, and then run through a few lines to make sure that the cam is set right. Then drill a hole in the shaft and fasten with a pin.

Before applying a new matrix lift cam, make sure that the upper and lower rails in the box are not worn; if worn, renew the rails before applying the new cam. It is seldom necessary to replace a lift cam, due to the small amount of wear the cam undergoes.

Distributor Troubles

Considerable annoyance and lost time is caused by distributor troubles. Some of the most frequent troubles may be traced to the following:

The lifting of two thin matrices to the distributor is caused by having too much space between the end of the bar point and the vertical face of the rails, due to worn rails or bar point, or both.

Bent matrices are caused by the rails being worn, worn bar point, matrix lift out of adjustment, worn lift cam, safety spring broken or not functioning, conveyer screws out of time.

Matrices may drop in the wrong channel of the magazine if the flexible guides become bent. If the lugs of the matrices are thicker than those regularly running in that channel, the matrices will clog in the entrance and stop the distributor.

The back conveyer screw, being set too far from the front screws, will cause the matrices to fall in the wrong channel or twist as they leave the distributor box rails. Adjust the screw with the two adjusting screws at each end of the conveyer screw bearing.

A floor that is uneven or shaky will cause the matrices to drop in the wrong channel.

Matrices will drop on top of the partitions or in the wrong channel if the distributor beam is out of adjustment. Adjust with the screw that is fastened to the beam at the front and banks against the right side of the yoke.

Matrices with damaged or worn distributing teeth or combinations will drop in the wrong channel.

The matrix combinations, a very important part of the matrix, is sufficient under ordinary conditions to last for years. It is possible, however, to ruin a set of combinations in a very short time. The causes are almost always due to bad alignment at one or possibly all of the various transfers. The matrices are transferred at three distinct points, where the combinations are involved.

The first transfer is from the first elevator jaws onto the second elevator bar at the intermediate transfer channel. The line of matrices, when in position at this transfer point, should line up with the bar so they will have a perfect transfer to the bar without binding. Use the set screw at the bottom of the first elevator slide on the right hand side to raise or lower the slide for the proper alignment. This alignment should be as nearly perfect as possible. If the second elevator bracket and bar do not seat properly on the intermediate channel rails, or if these rails are out of true or worn, the trouble should be remedied so the bar will align properly for the transfer. The bar should be perfectly smooth and free from burrs, and should be held tight against the bracket plate by the two flat head screws that extend through the plate.

The second transfer is from the second elevator bar to the distributor box bar. The second elevator, when in its normal position, should be adjusted so the second elevator bar will line up with the distributor box bar. The distributor box bar should be perfectly smooth and free from burrs.

The third transfer is from the distributor box rails to the combination bar. The distributor box rails should be perfectly square with each other. The matrices should transfer freely from the distributor box rails to the combination rails on the bar. There must be perfect alignment at all of these points of transfer, or undue wear on the matrix combinations will result.

Matrices with damaged combination teeth, or with small burrs on the teeth, will not drop squarely between the flexible guides or will wobble as they leave the bar, and cause distributor stops. This trouble can usually be remedied by dressing the burrs off the teeth with a fine file. Be very careful not to dress the teeth below the plane of the surface of the matrices. Also make sure that there are no burrs on the combinations where the teeth are supposed to be cut away.

The distributor screws must be kept clean and free from oil at all times, or the dirt and oil will be transferred onto the matrices and into the magazine.

Battered ears or lugs on the matrices will cause distributor stops. The ears of the offending matrices should be examined, and if it is found they are battered out of shape or increased in thickness, they should be carefully dressed down with a very fine file or a matrix file gauge to their original thickness. Care should be taken to see that the edges or sides of the matrix bodies are not altered. When the ears of the matrices become bent they can be straightened by laying the bent matrix on a perfectly flat surface and with a pair of smooth jawed pliers straighten the matrix so it will lie flat on the surface without rocking. If it becomes necessary to straighten a matrix with a hammer care should be used to use a very light one. The shape of the matrix can be changed very easily when pounded, and the matrix can not align properly with the other matrices.

To Remove a Distributor Box

Back the machine until the second elevator descends from its seat. Pull down on the magazine channel entrance. (If the box is equipped with the automatic font distinguisher, press in on the stud until the distinguisher is resting against the lower front rail of the box and turn the stud to right a quarter of a turn.) Press downward on the handle of the screw which holds the box in position and unscrew until it stops. Pull downward on the box.

Care must be used in replacing the box to seat as high as it will go and have the washer on the screw so that it clamps the box bracket to the distributor beam. Turn upward on the handle of the screw.

The new distributor box bracket is provided with pins that fit in a groove in the distributor beam to prevent the box being placed in any other than the correct position.