Patent GB-191418421-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Shorthand Typewriting Machines.
Inventor: ANDERSON GEORGE KERR
IPC: B41J3/26
Filed: 1914-08-07
Granted: 1915-08-09
Abstract: 18,421. Anderson, G. K. Aug. 7. Stenographic type-wheel machines; case-shift mechanism.-Relates to machines in which a number of type-wheels or sectors can be rotated by shift-keys to bring different rows of types to the printing-line, and comprises improvements in the shift-mechanism, the pivotal-mounting of the key-levers, the arrangement of the keyboard and the web-guiding arrangement. (1) In the arrangement shown in Figs. 2, 7, and 10, the type-sectors G, I, H are rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft J and the sector I is provided with a wide bearing by means of a rod I<2> which extends across the sector H and is formed with an eye I<3> to receive the shaft. Springs J<3>, J<4>, J<5> normally hold the sectors against a. stop-rod J<2> with the bottom rows of types at the printing- line. The springs J<3>, J<5> are compressed before being inserted and thus serve also to prevent lateral movement of the sectors. (2) The sectors I, H are provided with three rows of types and can be shifted separately by means of shift-key levers E, E<3> to bring the second rows of types to the printing-line and can be shifted simultaneously by a shift-key lever or frame O to bring to the printing-line, the third rows of types, for printing numerals. The levers E, E' engage respectively a part of the rod I<2> and a rod H<2> on the sector H, and the lever Q is pivoted on a rod a and is formed with a fork Q<4> engaging both rods I<2>, H<2>. The lever Q is normally held against a. stop A<4> by a spring and its movement is limited by a stop a<2>. The movement of the levers E, E<3> is limited by stops and the shift-movements due to these levers are limited by the engagement of the rods H<2>, I<2> with the fork Q<4>. The stops serve to hold the sectors accurately in the shift-positions. (3) The sector G is provided with four rows of types and is operated by shift-key levers U, V which are arranged in the following manner so that separate operation of the key-levers brings the second or third rows to the printing-line and simultaneous operation brings the fourth row to the printing-line. The levers U, V engage a rod Y on the sector and are formed with stops U<2>, Y<2> in the path of a rod Y<3> on the sector. On depressing either lever U, V, the sector is rocked and the stop on the depressed lever is moved out of the path of the rod Y' and the movement of the sector is limited by the engagement of the rod Y<3> with the stop of the lever which is not operated. On depressing both levers U, V both stops U<2>, V<2> are moved out of the path of the rod Y<3> and the movement of the sector is limited by the engagement of the rod Y with a stationary stop Y<2>. The sector is held accurately in the shift-positions by the shift-key levers and the stops. To equalize the dips of the keys on the levers U, V, the lever V engages an offset X<1> on the rod Y. (4) In the modification shown in Fig. 12, the spring J<3> is arranged to move the sector G away from the stop-rod J<2>, movement being normally prevented by means of a lever S which engages the rod Y and is connected by a spring T to a frame F which is rocked at each operation of the machine and thereby permits the sector to rotate. The shift-key levers U, V engage a stop-lever R, arranged so that when neither lever is operated, the sector is arrested with the bottom row of types at the printing-line, by the engagement of the rod Y' with the stoplever R. When either or both of the shift-key levers are operated, the stop-lever R is lifted out of the path of the rod Y<3> and the sector rotates until the rod Y' or the rod Y is arrested as described above with reference to Figs. 7 and 10. (5) As applied to the keyboard arrangement described in Specification 18,393/14 in which the shift-keys are arranged at the front of the keyboard for thumb-operation, the shiftkey levers cross under the printing-key levers, and the shift-key levers E, E<3> also cross each other. (6) The printing-key levers Wand the shift-key levers are pivoted on wires C<3>, C<4>, C<6>, Fig. 3, mounted in a block C which is formed with a slot for each lever, the slots being formed simultaneously by a gang of saws. Holes C<7>, of greater diameter than the slots, receive returning-springs for the levers. The wires C<4>, C<6> are secured by the screws for securing the block to the machine, the screws passing through holes C<5>. Keyboards.-The letters on the printing-keys, and on the shift-keys, or a part or the whole of each shift-key, may be coloured, the colour on each shift-key being the same as that of the associated group of letters on the printing-keys. Web-feeding arrangements. - The rod a. Fig. 2, which supports the shift-frame Q is provided with a guide-roller g for the web.