Patent GB-711462-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for use in direct or indirect reproduction of a written oriental language
IPC: B41J3/01
Filed: 1949-11-09
Abstract: 711,462. Typewriters &c. MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE CO. (Yatung, L.). Nov. 9, 1949, No. 28764/49. Class 100 (4) Oriental language machines.-An apparatus for selecting characters or components of the Chinese language comprises a cylinder C carrying the whole range of Chinese type which are segregated into a number of main groups each character or component thereof containing a first symbol which is different in each main group, each main group being further segregated into sub-groups, each character of each sub-group containing a second symbol in addition to the said first symbol. By the operation of two keys the particular sub-group may be selected and a third key selects an individual character from this sub-group and also effects the printing of the character. The apparatus may be adapted for printing telegraph apparatus. As shown, the apparatus is a Chinese typewriter consisting of a keyboard K, Fig. 1, with the type carrying cylinder C and a travelling platen paper carriage D. The keyboard G has three sets of keys, a first set comprising thirty-six keys 12-47, a second set comprising twenty-eight keys 49-76 and a third set comprising eight keys 77, a-h, The first set selects a main group of characters arranged on one of the thirty-six type bars 80 mounted on the cylinder C, the second set of keys 49-76 effects transverse movement of the carriage D selecting a sub-group of characters which extends around the type-bars 80 at one of twenty-nine longitudinal positions. At the same time this key operates a visual indicator E exposing data corresponding to that on the selected sub-group. From a visual inspection of the indicator E the individual character required is selected by depression of the appropriate key 77 a-h which rotates the previously selected type bar 80 varying amounts to select one of the eight characters spaced around the bars. Simultaneously, the operation of a key 77 a-h effects operation of the printing hammer. The Chinese characters, except in some more common instances, are made up by printing the character in two stages, a lefthand component which usually forms the classifier, and a right-hand component usually forming the phonic portion. In selecting the left-hand component the operation of one of the keys 49- 76 is not necessary as all the characters are on the type-bars 80 at the normal central position of the cylinder. Rotative selection of the typebar 80 is effected by one of the keys 77 a-h. The left-hand component may occupy two fifths of the width of the character space and may occupy either the top only or both the top and bottom of this area. In general, the top portion of the right-hand component is selected by one of the keys 12-47 and the bottom by the keys 49-76. Some characters are formed occupying both the left- and right-hand portions by only one operation of each of the two or three sets of keys. Letter spacing occurs only after the right-hand component has been selected. The operation of any one of the first set of keys 12-47 actuates one of six levers mounted on spindles 91-95, Fig. 7, and one of six levers mounted on spindles 97-102. The spindles 91-95 terminate at the righthand end of the cylinder C and operate levers, e.g. 103, which move a stop 105 leftwardly so that, when a raised portion 123 moves past a bar 124, the stop moves upwardly into engagement with one of a series of six stop members 112 on a drum 113. Drum 113 has a pinion engaging with gears 115, Fig. 3, attached to the shafts 83 carrying, between discs 81, 82, six revoluble type bars 80, and thus turns the required bar 80 so that it is in the outer position of the cylinder C which is, as a whole, also rotated by drive through a slipping clutch until a further drum 127 is arrested by stop members similar to stop 105 but which are positioned by one of six levers, e.g. 104, mounted at the left hand end of spindles 97-102. The stops engaging the stopped drums 113, 127 are withdrawn at the operation of another key 12-47, by a lever mechanism operating a bail 129, Fig. 7 (and 130 at other end of machine) which, in the operated position, reaches over the extreme end of the levers 105 &c. The operation of one of the second set of keys 49-76 moves the paper carriage relative to the cylinder. The carriage has a back plate 167, Figs. 20, 21, travelling in rollers on the side frame, and projecting from the plate 167 is a slide member 221 having opposed flanges 221a, 221b, one or the other being moved to engage one of twenty-eight stop bars 180-207 (200-207 only are shown) operated from keys 49- 76, according to whether they are to the left or right of a central position. The carriage is moved by a slipping clutch from a continuous drive to a horizontal chain 222 having a number of upstanding pins 229 which engage the slide 221 on either side according to its forward or rearward position, to which it is moved by a bar 238 attached to links 238d that are moved by a disc 241 turned upon the operation of a key 63-76 or anticlockwise upon the operation of a key 49-62. If a second key having its corresponding type on the same left- or right-hand of the central position is depressed the forward or rearward position of the slide 221 is not changed but when it is driven by the chain to either end, a snap action mechanism 230, 231 engages stops 232, 232a and 233, 233a at left and right ends' respectively to move the slide forwardly or rearwardly and on its return to the centre it is halted by the raised stop 180-207. By means of a channel member 210, Fig. 21, spring pressed against notches 213, 214, only one stop 180-207 can be raised at one time. When a left-hand component is being typed there is no longitudinal movement of the carriage D. The operation of one of the third sets of keys 77a-h rocks its lever 140, Fig. 8, about a pivot 141 and a link 144 suspended from a projection 142, turns a lever 145 to turn shaft 146 and also a lever 147 which is pivotally connected to a rack 148, Fig. 10, which engages a pinion 149 on a spindle 150. The spindle 150 moves axially by a pin and slot device 157, 156, and a key portion 153 engages a slot 154 in the end of the particular type bar 80, and is thus rotated by the upward movement of me rack. Each of the keys 77a-h effects a different amount of rotation since the links 144 terminate in levers 145 of different lengths and in projections 142 at different distances from the lever pivot. Hammer impression arrangements.-Keys 77ah on levers 140 also effect impression by means of an L-shaped lever 280, Fig. 8, normally held downwardly and latched behind a block 283 by a pin 284 on a lever 285. When one of these keys is depressed, lever 280 rises and is urged by the lever 285 to engage its curved surface 280a with a motor driven roller 281 which actuates the key-lever 146 and lifts lever 285. A pawl 288 attached to the lever 285 engages a hooked end 290 of a hammer lever 293 and rocks a hammer bar 292 to effect impression through a hammer pin 300 having a rounded inner end 300a rockably receiving an adjustable impression cap. As the lever 285 returns to normal a cross-bar 297 thereon engages a latch 298 on a lever 236 elevating a central carriage stop, retracting all other stops 180-207 and by means of the slide 221, a shifting mechanism arranges for the carriage to be returned to a central position. Visual indicator.-The appropriate key 77a-h effecting the rotation of the individual type bar is chosen by visual selection of the characters around the type bars 80 which are represented in twenty-nine vertical columns on 36 cards, one for each key 12-47 and one for the central position. The cards have 29 slots so that when one of the cards is moved transversely the characters on the card are visible through the slots in the cards above it. The selected card is moved upon the operation of one of the keys 12-47 by means of thirty-six cam bars 250 &c., Fig. 26, connected thereto which operate through a slotted member 256. Only the particular column required is exposed to view since the cards are covered by a single slotted shutter 272 supported on sprocket rolls 273, 274 and connected to the carriage plate 167 so that it travels therewith and so that the slot corresponds to the printing position. A lens L, Fig. 1, overlies the cards to magnify the exposed characters. In a modification, Fig. 41, the visual indicator comprises a second cylinder 540 driven in step with the printing cylinder 515 by chain drive 571, 572, 573, 574, 575. The cylinder 540 carries six character bearing hexagonal bars 541, corresponding to one of the six bar assemblies 519- 524 on a type-carrying cylinder 515. Each side of the hexagon carries eight characters corresponding to the individual characters around each type bar 525. The cylinder 540 travels in sympathy with the paper so that either the characters in the central position or one of the twentyeight sub-groups of characters corresponding to the key 49-76 operated is moved below a lens system comprising lamps 605, lenses 603, deflecting mirror 602 and viewing screen 600. If there are more than eight characters that fall within this sub-group the screen gives the necessary cross reference to another which has a vacant space. Paper carriage.-The paper is carried in a scroll 327, Fig. 8, from where the paper is fed between a pair of tensioning rollers 325, 326, guided past the impression hammer pin 300, and over a feed roller 305. The roller 305 is hollow and contains a spring tending to rotate sprocket wheels 313, 314 and drives endless chains 315, 316 which carry a clamping device 317, Fig. 1, gripping the forward edge of the paper and feeding it upwardly for Chinese letter spacing under control of an escapement mechanism (see below) on the end of a spindle carrying the roller 305. The paper is returned into the scroll 327 for printing the next line by the operation of a return lever 354 attached to a gear sector 355 m