Patent GB-190716225-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Typewriting Machines
Inventor: PARKER ROY DANFORD
Filed: 1907-07-15
Granted: 1908-07-15
Abstract: 16,225. Parker, R. D. July 15. . Typewriters. - Relates to typewriters in which the platen is rotated for 'letter-spacing and comprises (1) tabulating- mechanism; (2) means for allowing the platen to rotate from mid - line positions to new-line position ; (3) means whereby when a space occurs near the end of a line, the operation of the spacebar causes the platen to rotate to new-line position ; (4) a brake or buffer which restrains the platen near the end of a line; (5) an automatic means for moving the platen upwards at the end of each line ; (6) details in connexion with the platen, including a clutch for connecting the platen to its driving-means and also a paper - gripping means which is combined with an alarm-bell; (7) ribbon vibrating and' winding-mechanism. Keylevers 37, 38 for upper and lower cases, resting on bars 36<a>, 36 of a frame which may slide in guides 125, 126 in the framework, are connected by arms 40, 39 to type-levers- 42, 41. The platen 29 is slidably mounted on a non-circular shaft 4 journaled in an overhanging. part of a, bar 3 and connected at the bottom to a wheel 7, which has as many teeth as the units in the maximum line and is, mounted on the same shaft as a wheel 8 connected by gear-wheels 9, 10 with a a spring-drum 11 which may be wound by a handle 15. A pinion 16, gearing with the wheel 7 is mounted, on the same shaft 18 as an escapement-wheel 17. An arm 20, pivoted at 21<a> and tensioned by a spring 21, is engaged by a projection; 35 on the bar 36 aud carries dogs for engaging the wheel 17. (1) A tabulating key-lever 73, vibrates a lever 76 which rests on the bar 35 and carries depending fingers 79, 80. Stops 81 are mounted on the wheel 7, shown in plan in Fig. 12, a scale 82 being provided for setting. When the. lever 76 is, depressed, the finger 79 contacts with the wheel 17 and thereby disengages the wheels 16, 7, the shaft 18 being slidably mounted in its bearing and pressed upwards by a spring. The finger 80 is pushed into the path of the stops 81 and when the wheels 16, 7 have been disengaged the wheel 7 is driven by the spring train until one of the stops 81 meets the finger 80. Upon releasing the key 73, the wheels 16, 7 re-engage before, the finger 80 clears the stop 81. (2) A new-line key 74 vibrates a; lever 75 resting on the bar 36 and provided with fingers 83, 84, the latter being, arranged to be moved into the path of a stop 85 placed on the wheel 7 at line-commencing position. When the, key, 7:4 is depressed, the finger, 83 disengages the, wheels 7, 16, and thewheel 7 moves until the stop 85 contacts with the finger 84, (3) A spacebar 77 is connected to levers 78 arching, together and carrying two fingers, the first which is hidden by the finger 84 being arranged over the wheel 7 and the second, 88, being arranged over a short curved plate 87 connected to the wheel 7 by an elastic strip 86 and situated within a few units of the end of the line. The space-bar operates in the ordinary manner until the plate 87 comes under the finger 88, whereupon it pushes down the plate 87 and disengages the wheels 7, 16, thus allowing the wheel 7 to move till the first stop meets the stop 85 and arrests the platen at line-commencing position. (4) The brake or buffer consists of a toothed plate 89 pivoted at 90 to the underside of the wheel 7 and provided with a restoring-spring 91. When the wheel 7 is free and driven by the spring-train, the teeth on the plate 89 engages the wheel 16 near the end of the rotation, and the plate is turned on its pivot against the pressure of the restoring-spring, thereby acting as a brake on the wheel 7. (5) The automatic line spacing- mechanism comprises a cam 92 on the wheel 7 atranged to rock a lever 95, which is connected by a rod 97 to a lever 98 pivoted in the bar 3 at 99 and provided with an arm 100 carrying dogs; which mesh with a rack 101 connected by a cord 33 to a spring-drum 34. The rack 101 is mounted in plates 30, 31 rotatively connected to the platen heads and fitting over the shaft 4, the plates being guided by a rod 32 secured in the framework. The arm 100 is formed with a plate 126 having a hooked end 126<a>, Fig. 7, and is also formed with a rod 129 carrying a stop 130 and carrying slidably a block 127<a> tensioned downwards by a spring as shown and provided with, at the left-hand (Fig. 7) end, a spring-hinged leaf. When the arm 100 is rocked, the plate 126 is swung to the right until the hooked end 126<a> engages the rack teeth 102 and the hinged leaf is drawn out of engagement. Thereupon the block 127<a> is drawn into contact with the stop 130. When the arm 100 returns to its forward position, the hinged-leaf engages the tooth of the rack opposite the stop 130, and the hook end 126<a> is disengaged from the rack, thereby permitting the rack and with it the platen to move upwards. The amount of line spacing may be adjusted by altering the position of the stop 130 on the rod 129. The platen may be moved upwards by band on freeing the rack 101 from its escapement by turning the rack on its axis by means of a knob 120. The hinged-leaf may yield against the pressure of its spring 127<a> to permit of the platen being pushed down. (6) The platen is provided with end hubs fitting over the non- circular shafts 4, but to permit of rotation of the platen by hand independently of the wheel 7 a clutch mechanism is provided between the shaft 4 and the wheel 7. The clutch may comprise clutch sections pressed together by a spring and arranged so that the platen may be turned backwards by a handle as shown in Fig. 3 at the top of the shaft 4, or, as shown in Fig. 16, the connexion may be such that the shaft may be turned in either direction independently of the wheel 7. A part 21<b> carried by the wheel is provided with a fixed ring 110 having teeth 109. A squared rod 107 having a knob 106 may slide in the shaft 4 and is provided with a block 108 having teeth which engage the teeth 109 and are engaged therewith by a spring 111. By pressing the knob 106, the teeth 108, 109 are disengaged and the shaft 4 may be moved independently of the wheel 7. The paper is secured at one edge by a spring-pressed jaw 199, Fig. 10, carried in a recess in the platen by a pivoted rod 198 having an operating-finger 134. The paper is secured at or near the other edge by a roller 141 mounted in slots 142 in arms 136, 137 pivoted on the platen heads, springs 138 being provided. An alarm-bell 149 is carried by the plate 31 and is struck by a hammer 146, which is pivoted at 147 and operated by a projection 145 on the plate 137. The arrangement is such that the bell is always sounded at line end whatever width of paper is being used. A scale 150 corresponding to the scale 82 is mounted on the upper end of the platen and co-operates with a pointer 152 on the plate 30. A printing-point indicator consists of a curved pointed strip secured on the right hand of the framework. (7) The ribbon 56 is carried by spools 57, 58 and mounted in a vibrator 51, which passes through a guide 50 and is connected to an arm 47 feathered on a shape 66. The sports 57, 58 are mounted on shafts 59, 60 carrying bevel-wheels 61, 62 in gear with wheels 67 loose on the shape 66 and connected thereto by ratchet gear 68. The spool shafts are rotated and the vibrator rocked by the operation of the keys. A spring 52 serves to return the vibrator and assists in returning the frame 36, 36<a>. The ribbon is re-wound by means of a handle 69 which is pushed inwards to put a wheel 64 into gear with the wheel 61.