A wooden reglet with a rubber band around the end will be found convenient for removing a flat matrix from the magazine.
Never attempt to remove a magazine without first inserting the locking bar.
Do not expect a rusty or bent locking bar to work freely. Clean it; if bent, straighten it.
Never put a No. 5 magazine on the machine until you have run your fingers along the opening at the back side of the lower end to make sure there are no matrices with the lugs in the opening. If there are, push them back in the magazine. Just one lug in this opening will prevent the magazine seating properly.
ASSEMBLING ELEVATOR
The assembling elevator is held in place on the face plate by the two gibs, one on each side, and by the assembler roll bracket on the lower right-hand side.
The assembling elevator on all the later model machines consists of two castings, held together at the bottom by a large screw and dowel pins. The two castings carry, as the main parts, the assembler gate, retaining pawls, the duplex rails, the buffer parts on which the matrices strike, the releasing pin, the latch, and the detaining plates.
The matrices, when falling from the magazines, are guided downward by a series of flexible partitions. These partitions are thin strips fastened to the assembler plate and are bent at an angle at the bottom to cause the matrix to drop flat on an endless conveyer belt which carries them to the assembler rails. These rails are so shaped that the matrices slide between them and the chute spring into the assembling elevator and are moved forward into the elevator by a star wheel.
As the matrix is caught by the star wheel, it is pushed between the two assembling elevator rail pawls and seated on the elevator buffers. The matrix is held in place at the bottom of the elevator by two detaining plates. When these parts are in perfect condition, the matrix will set straight in the elevator.
The back buffer is made of steel, and sets flush with the edge of the back rail of the elevator. The front buffer receives most of the impact of the matrices and there is not much wear to the back one, unless the front buffer is badly worn. The back buffer may be renewed if necessary.