Patent GB-190427616-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Typewriters.
Inventor: SOBLIK MAX
Filed: 1904-12-17
Granted: 1905-10-26
Abstract: 27,616. Soblik, M. Dec. 17. Type-writers.-Relates to pneumatically-operated type-writers of the kind described in Specifications No. 21,504, A.D. 1899, No. 16,249, A.D. 1900, and No. 23,289, A.D. 1902, and consists (1) of a motor arranged to rotate the type-wheel continuously except when stopped for printing a character, (2) mechanism for printing and controlling the stepby-step movement of the carriage, (3) line-spacing mechanism, and (4) means for moving the platen into position to receive any one of three rows of type on the type-wheel. (1) The type-wheel a, Fig. 1, is carried by a vertical shaft b revolving in a bearing-piece fixed in the framework c and supported on a ball bearing y. The shaft b is operated by a four-cylinder motor, the cylinders of which are arranged at right-angles. The piston-. rods f are ball-jointed to the pistons and operate on a common crank-pin e. A rotary distributing- valve k, Figs. 1 and 6, is provided for the continuous operation of the motor by compressed air from the reservoir t. The type - wheel shaft b is connected by gearing to a spindle 11, Figs. 1 and 5, so that the spindle revolves once during the passage of one printing-character on the wheel from the printing point and the arrival of the next character. To stop the typewheel at the desired point, an arm 13, Fig. 5, is interposed in the path of a vane 12 on the shaft 11, and a brake 151 is applied to the disc 158. The stop arm 13 is operated by a pneumatic cylinder 30 when the finger of the operator covers the hole in any one of the keys 14, to prevent the compressed air from escaping therefrom. The keys are connected to a series of pipes 19 radiating from a ring 20, Fig. 1, so that a puff of air from a radial arm formed on the type-wheel spindle b and provided with a passage 22 would be emitted in succession through the keys 14. When, however, the emission is interrupted by the operator's finger, the increase of pressure is communicated along the passage 23 and annular groove 24 to the motor cylinder 30. The radial passage 22 communicates with the reservoir t through a duct 25, annular groove 26, pressure regulator 28, and pipe 29. The exhaust valve 155 of the motor 30 is opened by an arm 153 rocked on the centre 152 by an arm 45 operated by pieces 43, 44 on a double-cylinder motor 38, 39, the exhaust openings of which are alternately uncovered by a pivoted valve operated through an arm 35 on the stop arm. (2) The pieces 43, 44 also operate an arm 47, Fig. 1, which controls the valves of the printing- motor and the step-by-step motor. The effect is such that the various parts have a short and sharp action. The hammer 67 for operating the spring-controlled types 60 is operated by a rooking arm 71 connected with the vertical piston-rod 68 of the printing-motor. The step-by-step motion of the carriage is effected as follows :-The rackbar 91, Fig. 9, is engaged by a pinion 93 connected through a ratchet clutch 96 with a shaft 94 operating through worm gear an escapement piece 101. The rod 102 of the motor 54 is provided with stop-pieces 110, 111 which allow the piece 101 to rotate once at each operation. The motor can be operated also by the spacing-key 107, a valve 106 establishing connection between the reservoir t and the pipe 105 which communicates with one of the chambers of a divided bell-piston. The carriage is actuated by a pneumatic motor 72 which is reversed by depression of a key. (3) To effect the line-spacing, a motor on the carriage is put into operation by contacting with a tubular spring valve when the end of the line is reached, and acts to operate, through a pinion 117 and rack 118, Fig. 11, a loaded lever 119 carrying a pawl 120 engaging a ratchet wheel on the platen. (4) The platen is adjusted vertically for receiving the different lines of characters by a lever 131, Figs. 1 and 11, connected with a motor 128 operated from a key, Fig. 12. When the hole 137 is closed and the key depressed, a puff of air is sent not only to the motor 128 but also to a small motor 145, which sets a stop 146 to limit the motion of the piston-rod. If the hole be uncovered, a puff will only be communicated to the motor 128.