Patent GB-794009-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to data transcribing equipment
IPC: B41B25/00
Filed: 1956-01-02
Abstract: 794,009. Data transcribing equipment. SPERRY RAND CORPORATION, Jan. 2, 1956 [Jan. 2, 1955], No. 75/56. Class 100(4) A typewriter 10 Fig. 1, having contacts selectively operable by the keys 15 of a typewriter is incorporated with a tape perforator 11, having electrically operable punches, to form a data transcribing equipment. A data encoding circuit which includes a neon matrix comprising a plurality of input lines each selectively connected by lamps'such as 125, 126, Figs. 2, 9, to at least one of a number of output lines 122 for operating the perforator, interconnects the contacts and punches and is arranged to encode the characters of each key impulse to operate the perforator. Control and interlock circuits which shift automatically when the character changes from a letter to a numeral and vice-versa are also provided, and the arrangement is such that, on failure of the tape perforator, the keyboard is rendered ineffective. In the form shown, a stack of contacts of small proportions, one for each key, is placed under the keyboard of a typewriter 10, Fig. 1, 2, 5, 6, with a neon matrix and an associated amplifier circuit through which pulses passing through the matrix are amplified for each index position of the code whereby circuits through the matrix are increased in potential to operate directly the tape perforator magnets, so that data entered on the keyboard is encoded and transmitted to the telegraph tape perforator 11, which may be directly connected to the typewriter by cable 12, Fig. 1. Operation of a key 15, Figs. 1, 2, 6, trips power arm 16 to bring disc 17 into contact with a power driven roll 18 to rock type bar 21 to effect printing and other operations such as carriage return. A cam on each type bar bellcrank 20 closes one of a bank of contacts 23, Figs. 2, 9, on depression of a key to close a circuit through a matrix, positive lead 120, neon lamps 125, 126 and tubes 134, 135, Fig. 9, to actuate the punch magnets 4, 5, Fig. 10, of the tape perforator 11 which is of normal type. The typewriter may have an insulated finger 22, Fig. 2, secured to type-bar bell-crank 20 to close an associated circuit contact 23 through a matrix for operating the perforator on operation of a letter key 15. An interlock circuit between typewriter and punch, to maintain synchronism of their operations, holds if a keyboard lock solenoid KL, Figs. 2, 9, fails to unlock the keyboard, by the aid of a bail 26, Figs. 2, 6, which in locked position is situated below feet 27 rotatably secured to stems of keys 15. Two normally-open contacts on the side of the typewriter frame are engaged by a stud 2P, Fig. 5, on the left hand side of the type segment 30, and when the segment is shifted to upper case, the stud closes the lower contacts 31. If the segment is in normal or lower case position, the upper contact 32 is closed, as shown in Fig. 5. In each case, a circuit to a relay is closed to close a circuit through the matrix and enter the code for further figure-shift or letter-shift. A lever 41, Fig. 2, of a switch 33 actuated by the escapement rocker 35 each time the typewriter carriage escapes to the left, closes a circuit for effecting operation of the "Typewriter Escape" magnet TE, Fig. 10. On operation of the space bar 50, Fig. 6, a contact 47 with an insulated plate 51 mounted directly below one of the arms 48 of the bar 50 closes a circuit to punch a space signal on the tape. Specification 688,289 is referred to.