Patent GB-615208-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in keyboard-controlled printing type machine
IPC: B41J3/01
Filed: 1945-04-13
Abstract: 615,208. Typewriters. KAO, C. C. April 13, 1945, No. 9266. [Class 100(iv)] [Also in Group XI (b)] A machine for printing in Chinese ideographs or the like under the control of electrical impulses produced either by a local keyboard or, alternatively, by a remote telegraph transmitter, comprises a drum with spaced circumferential rows of type and moved longitudinally and cir-' cumferentially to present a selected type to the printing point, each of the movements being in two steps and their extent being determined by stops set by the impulses. As described the type cylinder 1 has 60 circumferential rows of type with 100 type in each row, and is normally held by a retracting spring in the position shown in Fig. 1, with the impression hammer 2 opposite the first row. The drive is from a motor 4 and magnetic clutch 5 through an electricallycontrolled clutch 11 and rack and pinion mechanism 8a, 9 for the linear movement, and gearing 6 for the rotary movement. Both the linear and the circumferential selections are performed in two stages. For the former purpose, a rack 8 moving axially with the drum is provided. It has six shoulders 0-50 on its upper edge each corresponding to ten rows or 1,000 type and a stop 15 is set to engage one of the shoulders so as to bring the drum to rest at the first row of the 1,000 type in which the required type is situated. On the lower edge of the rack 8 are six teeth corresponding to the shoulders 0-50 and each is subdivided into ten steps 17. A stop 16 is set to engage one of the steps 17 after release of the stop 15 so as to select the particular row required. For the circumferential selection, a somewhat similar arrangement is employed consisting of a series of ten discs 19. Fig. 9, attached to a single disc 18 and mounted on the shaft of the drum 1. Each of the discs 19 has a single tooth, the set of teeth being distributed helically, and the disc 18 has ten large teeth each formed with ten steps similar to steps 17. One of ten stops 15a-15j is set to engage one of the teeth 19 and subsequently a stop 16a is set to engage one of the steps in the selected. tooth of the wheel 18. The selection is performed by depressing successively four keys of ten such keys 0-9, Fig. 6, the particular keys and the order of operation depending on the type to be selected. Each key has six electric contacts associated therewith which by its depression are connected to a source of current. The first and last contacts in every case are connected respectively by wiring 27, 39, 32, 40 to the start and stop segments of two rotary distributors E1, E3, Fig. 3, the brushes 43, 46 of which rotate together and also drive the brush 45 of a third distributor E2 through reduction gearing so that the latter rotates one step for each revolution of the brushes 43; 46. Some or all of the intermediate contacts are connected in various combinations to four lines 28-31 connected through a plug jack 25. 26 to the four segments 1, 2, 3, 4 of the distributor E1 which are successively connected by the brushes 43, 46 to the corresponding segments of the dis-- tributor E3 as the brushes rotate. On depression of any key, the brush 45 moves to segment 1 and connects the return leads of four electromagnets 50, 60, 61, 62 to earth. The brushes 43, 46 also move over their segments in turn and according to the connections from the key contacts energize one or more of the electromagnets. Each electromagnet is associated with a notched bar 53-56 which is turned through 180 degrees by its energization. According to the bars which are operated, one of six bars TH is allowed to drop and positions the stop 15 as described below. When the next key is depressed, the brush 45 moves to segment 3 and connects the return leads of another set of electromagnets 76-78 to earth and the brushes 43, 46 select the magnets to be energized so that a particular bar of a series H is selected and sets the stop 16. Similarly the third key selects a bar T which sets a stop 15a-15j and the fourth key key selects a bar U which selects a stop 16a. Each bar TH when it drops depresses a spring-controlled lever 63, Fig. 7, the extent of the depression increasing by equal amounts for the bars numbered 0-5, Fig. 3. The tip of the lever 63 acts on another lever 65 integral with the stop 15 the position of which is set according to the bar TH which is released. A detent 69 is provided for the lever 65. A universal bar b, Fig. 3, is operated when a bar TH drops and closes the circuit of the clutch 11 to start the cylinder moving axially, such movement being stopped when the stop 15 engages one of the shoulders 0-50. Setting of a bar H by depression of a second key sets the stop 16 in like manner by mechanism 79, 84, 85, which through a rod 82 releases the detent 69 and therefore the stop 15 so as to allow the cylinder to continue its movements. Similarly the bars T, U set the stops 15a-15j and 16a. A typing key T, Figs. 1 and 6 is now depressed and through electrical devices of the nature of those described for the keys 0-9 selects a. bar which is connected by suitable linkage to the hammer 2. Similarly keys S, R, B and C operate letter-spacing mechanism, drum release mechanism (i.e. release of a retaining pawl for the drum 1), backspacing mechanism and paper carriage releasing devices. The key T on release actuates a rod 96, Fig. 7, which through suitable linkages releases the detents of stops 16, 16a. The machine may be operated by impulses similar to those produced by successive depression of the keys coming from a remote transmitter which may be controlled by a perforated tape. In this case lines from the transmitter corresponding to the lines 27-32 are plugged into the member 26 and the plug 25 detached. Specification 591,424 is referred to.