Patent GB-712430-A (GB)
Title: Music typewriter
IPC: B41J3/34
Filed: 1951-11-20
Abstract: 712,430. Music typewriter. EFFINGER, C. S. Nov. 20, 1951 [Nov. 29, 1950], No. 27225/51. Class 100 (4) A typewriter for printing musical characters includes a series of type bars 14, Fig. 6, having musical characters thereon and a series of actuating keys, a freely movable carriage C with a relatively freely rotatable platen P, the carriage being independent of the action of the keys and typebars in its movement and position, and an indicator I for accurately indicating the common printing point. (The platen is free from any ratchet mechanism, such as is used conventionally for line spacing, but a slight friction resisting rotation of the platen prevents accidental movement of the platen while the key is being struck). Each key is connected by a conventional lever mechanism with a type 13 on a bar 14, each type having two characters, preferably a musical character and an alphabetical character, including numerals and punctuations, the musical characters being printed when a shift key 15, and if necessary a locking key 16, are operated. A brake for the carriage is applied and released through a key 10 and is also releasable by depression of the space bar 12. In use, the platen knob 17 or 17' is held in one hand for turning the platen and moving the carriage laterally, whi!e the other hand operates the keys. For alphabetic printing a lever L is moved rearwardly and pulled slightly to the left to urge the carriage to the left, and to permit the automatic escapement to be operative. A similar lever L may be fitted at the right-hand side. Conventionally, lever 19 is used to adjust the pressure of rollers 20<SP>1</SP> beneath the platen, rollers 20 on a pivoted spring pressed bar holds the paper against the platen, and the vibrator 22 moves the ribbon 23. Preferably the indicator I is mounted on the vibrator 22 so that it will be moved away from the printing position when a type 13 strikes the paper &c, 25, and comprises a thin elongated piece of resilient material, e.g. rubber, softer than the type, pointed at one end 27 and attached by a screw 28, adhesive, or cement. Alternatively, the indicator may be of metal and resiliently attached to the vibrator, e.g. by a spring. The indicator may be struck by the type but does not hit the paper. The staves may be printed previously or by means of a staff key on the typewriter. The brake, to be applied when a chord or other vertical arrangement is to be printed, comprises a pad 32 which is pressed against a way 33 of the carriage. The pad, e.g. of rubber, is mounted on a lever 34 pivoted at 35, and is normally pressed against the way 33 by a spring 36, a lug 38 at the lower end of lever 34 is engaged by a fork 39 to disengage the brake, the fork being formed on an arm 40 integral with the brake operating lever 41, the central portion 42 of which bears in a bracket 43. At the other end lever 41 has a bracket 44 pivoted at 45 and provided with an arm 46 to which a rod 47 is connected. Rod 47 extends forwardly and upwardly to an arm 48 of a pivoted lever 49 of key 10. The brake maintains the carriage stationary but still permits the carriage to be moved manually. The key 10 may be locked by means of a key 11 mounted on a lever 53 pivoted on lever 49 and having a latch 55 which engages a bar 56 when key 11 is pressed against the tension of spring 57. Pressure on key 10 in the locked position pivots lever 53 to release the latch, spring 58 returns the keys and the brake engaged. The hooked upper end of rod 47 and the eye 51 on arm 48 form a lost-motion connection which permits the brake to be released by 'the space bar 12, the latter being mounted on one or more levers 61 pivoted at 62, provided with a limiting stop 63, and urged upwardly by spring 64. A rearwardly and upwardly extending arm 65 on one lever 61 is pivotally connected to a link 66 which is guided by a pin and slot connection 67, 68, and provided with an arm 70 which engages a lug 71 on arm 72 formed integrally with lever 41. Thus when the space bar 12 is depressed the brake is released, so that the space bar may be used when the brake is applied to permit movement of the carriage for printing a number of chords &c. Key 11 and spring 58 may be dispensed with and a single brake release key provided and fitted with a friction pad which engages arm 48 to hold the key in the up or down position. Alternatively the brake may be applied when the brake key is depressed, and released when the key is in the normal position. To move the carriage during the typing of alphabetical characters a conventional escapement mechanism is fitted including a space key and key actuated ratchet mechanism adapted to rotate a pinion 75, Fig. 11, mounted on shaft 76, the pinion engaging a carriage rack 77 on an arm 78 pivoted at 79. Lever L is connected to the rack at 79, and the rack and pinion are normally disengaged, for typing musical characters, by the pull of spring 81, but when alphabetic printing is desired the lever L is moved backwards to engage the rack and pinion. Lever L is preferably provided with an elongated curved arm 82 extending laterally and forwardly. An example of a keyboard design is illustrated, and examples given to show the variety of arrangements which may be printed on the machine. Sloping lines &c. may be printed by slanting the paper. Other arrangements of the keys and brake &c. are possible, for example, the spring which conventionally urges the carriage to the left may be retained and means provided to disengage the spring and carriage for free movement of the carriage.