Patent GB-906461-A (GB)
Title: A syllable typewriter or like printing machine
IPC: B41J7/90
Filed: 1959-07-30
Abstract: 906,461. Typewriters. GREMILLET, J. July 30, 1959 [Aug. 2, 1958], No. 26148/59. Class 100 (4). A syllabical typewriter for rapid typing, stenography, teleprinting apparatus and music typewriting machines comprises a special keyboard in which the keys are arranged in groups, e.g. five, so that a character from each group may be simultaneously printed in each of five adjacent letter-space positions and wherein certain single keys may automatically operate several type-levers to print in several spaces, the type-segments of each group being separately case - shifted and automatic letter-spacing mechanism providing carriage displacement in proportion to the number of characters printed simultaneously. Keyboards, framework.-Six keyboards for various languages are shown so that the commonly used syllables for each language can be provided. The usual central column of keys is higher than the others and is offset to the left. The keys of one type of machine are divided into three or more single-character groups, Fig. 14, and one key of each group can be struck simultaneously plus the space key. The characters are arranged in the group in which it most likely occurs, e.g. the vowel in the second group and such letters as t, n, e in the last group as required in syllables ion, the, ous. With this first type of keyboard a single type-lever may carry two or three characters operated from a single key. In a second type of keyboard described, several type-bars may be operated by the actuation of a single key. Fig. 4 shows such a keyboard divided into five groups each of which has a distinct printing position, and the type levers are carried by a distinct segment. Group I prints single characters in the first letter-space position and the keys, shown vertically shaded, are on the periphery of the keyboard. Group II prints in the second position and comprises mainly vowels; the keys of this group are shown with horizontal shading and occupy the central column, and three keys of the first row. Groups III, IV, V comprise fewer keys and are marked in Roman figures. There are two groups of keys marked with two characters and these actuate simultaneously a type-lever in Groups I and II, each of these keys is placed in the column and row intersection of the two characters. In order to interlink the operation of the two type actions a connecting-box, Fig. 24, is removably mounted on the machine frame and comprises a stepped cover and bottom slidingly supporting square key-rods 107-111, 128. Lugs 53 engage transverse bars 24-28, Fig. 7, to interlink the actuation of the appropriate type-levers. Type and other actions.-The ends of the square key-rods are concave to straddle the longitudinal levers 524, Fig. 125, and convex in longitudinal direction to give rolling action. The key-rods may operate through a parallelogram linkage 112, 114, 116, Fig. 24, to the longitudinal lever, e.g. 505. The levers 505 or 524 and others like them are connected through links, Fig. 125, to actuating levers 626 having ties to the type-levers 129. Certain characters, e.g. full stop, comma, semi-colon, are permanently linked to a space action. The action of the case-shift key is described in the paragraph on Case-shift. Auxiliary power actions.-A power or snatch roller may be used in the machine or, as described, the power may be derived from one or two electromagnets 1320, Fig. 125. When a longitudinal lever is operated by the fingering of a key, this operates a slide 1039 common to all character keys, which operate two pawls 1301 and lever 1308 and close micro-switch 1314 which energizes the electromagnets 1320. Armature 1338 rises and rocks lever 1340 of a framework having a transverse bar 1362 which sharply engages any longitudinal levers which have been depressed to effect a power action. After a certain travel a second switch cuts off circuit to the electromagnet and the type-levers complete a type-action by momentum. Adjustable impact.-Either one or both electromagnets are operated according to how many type-levers have to be actuated, and further, letter-by-letter adjustment may be made by the inclusion of resistances in the circuit to the electromagnets. Repeat operation.-A repeat operation may be made by depression of a REP key simultaneously with the required character keys which prevents the pawls 1301 from releasing the lever 1308 or alternatively by acting on a lever associated with the micro-switch 1314 to hold it closed, so that, although the magnets 1320 are released by the second switch, they again operate when the bar 1362 returns. Case-shift; case-shift actions.-The type-lever segment is divided into five sections corresponding to the five groups of keys and each has its own centre impression position spaced over five adjacent letter-spaces. The segments are normally in raised position for printing of lower-case letters and are lowered in two stages for capitals and figures. Segments I and II corresponding to Groups I and II may be shifted individually by keys 2nd I and 2nd II and by operating a palm key ALL 2nd and ALL 3rd, Fig. 4, all segments may be lowered into capitals or figures position. The segments are held in raised position by springs 836, 907, 908, Fig. 28, and are pulled down by actuation of one of the four keys and their longitudinal levers, e.g. 527, Fig. 28, and intermediate lever 940. Aligning for impression.-Segments I, II have integral with them, their own type guides 806-807, the latter being positioned lower than the others. Segment III carries type guides 808 having three slots 811, 812, 797 for typelevers of Groups III, IV and V. Shift-lock.-The shift-lock mechanism may be pedal operated. Type-lever rests.-Cushioned type-lever rests are separated into groups to correspond to the separate shifting of the type segments. Letter-spacing.-The letter-spacing mechanism permits advance of the carriage one to five letter spaces to agree with the number of characters being printed at one time. The same mechanism may be used to effect differential letter-spacing of five different widths. The escapement mechanism comprises a pinion in mesh with a rack on the carriage and an escapement wheel 1013, Fig. 66, coacting with a single rocker 1014 on which is mounted a fixed 1021 and a movable pawl 1032 which carries an adjustable double tooth 1033, 1064. The front tooth 1033 engages the ratchet-wheel whereas the back tooth 1064 abuts against one of the mobile stops 1065-1069 which has been chosen according to whether one to five letter spaces are required. Normally the movable pawl which swings on an axis 1003 coaxial with the axis of the escapement wheel 1013 returns to a " zero " stop 1037, but it, in addition, a space bar has been pressed down the stop 1037 is displaced and movable pawl returns to a " - 1 " stop. The rocker is tilted by an escapement slide 970 operated during the last 4 mm. travel of a curved escapement universal bar 969 having thereon adjustable slides 971 (both in Fig. 56, not shown) fitted so that each longitudinal lever has the same effective action on the escapement slide 970. When more than one key is operated it is always the stop giving the greatest letter space which is effective. In a modification the rocker mechanism may operate on the toothed rack of the carriage. Back-spacing.-The back-space key is larger and situated higher than character keys as the pressure required is greater. The key, through its longitudinal lever, pulls rod 1219, Fig. 62, downwardly, pivots lever 1220 and the upper part 1222 meshes with the carriage rack 1001, then, the pivoting of the lever moves the rack and carriage to effect back-spacing. Tabulation.-Denominational tabulation stops are housed in an off-centre column to avoid interference with the escapement mechanism. The tabulation stops, Fig. 118, are set by a key POS, 1247. A tabulation run is made by key TAB, 1224, rod 1229, longitudinal lever 553 joined by link 1232, actuation of a column rod, pivoting of a lever 1257 in direction 1259 and through axle 1258 raising the rack 1001 of the carriage to disengage it from the pinion of the escapement mechanism. The stops are restored by key DEP, 1251, linkage 1250, 554, and another vertical rod in the off-centre column. Alarms; line-locking devices.-A cam 750, Fig. 47, adjustably set on an axle 748, is engaged by a digit 747 on the carriage and its first slope 774 causes a rack 749 to pivot on the axle 748, tends to displace a push-rod 754 but a lug 755 thereon under the action of a cam 756 deviates the motion of the push-rod. A second lug 757 on the push-rod engages end 761 of a bell hammer 759 and, because of the deviation the lug 757 releases the hammer after a certain travel. When the digit 747 engages a second slope on the cam 750, the rod 754 is further depressed and an angled end 762 meets extension 762 and moves a plate 763 into position to lock the longitudinal levers such as 502. Ink-ribbon mechanism; vibrator mechanism; multi-colour arrangements.-The ink-ribbon is vibrated, Figs. 29, by the movement imparted from the longitudinal levers such as 527 to small tongues on a plate 1078 which operates a slide 1041. This slide is connected to a rod 178 which has a lug 179 engaging with a trefoil-shaped aperture in a lever 181 operatively connected with ribbon guides 51. To change the colour or so that the ribbon is not raised when cutting stencils, the connecting-rod 178 may be manually adjusted within the trefoil by a lever 183 having a lug engaging in a triangular opening in the connecting-rod 178. The two forks 51, 52, Fig. 28, of the ribbon carrier are wider than usual to allow for the simultaneous strikings of the type-levers.