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.