Patent GB-191509225-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
Inventor: FAIRWEATHER WALLACE CRANSTON
IPC: B41J3/01
Filed: 1915-06-23
Abstract: 9225. Fairweather, W. C., [Underwood Typewriter Co.]. June 23. Machines with two or more sets of type.-A typewriter adapted to print a large number of characters, and particularly for use in writing in two languages, such as English and Japanese, comprises a papercarriage which is movable into a number of fields each having a set of key-operated type-members and a letter-spacing mechanism adapted to feed the carriage through a space corresponding to the size of the types in the set associated with the field. In the machine shown, two " Underwood " machines A, B are secured side by side to a base 1 and are provided with a single carriage 13 which runs across both machines. The machine is designed for filling in insurance and other forms F in English and Japanese, the left-hand half being in English and the right-band half in Japanese. The lines are printed across the form, and the form is turned quarter-way round for the purpose of reading the Japanese lines, these being read downwardly. The keyboard of the machine A may be used entirely for Japanese characters, and in machine B one shift or case may be used for English characters and the other for Japanese. Types.-Suitable types 6a for the machines A, B respectively are shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the Japanese types being arranged to make cumbent impressions. Letter-spacing mechanism.-The carriage 13 is controlled by the escapement-wheels 22<a>, 22<b> in such a manner that the letter-spacing of machine B is greater than that of machine A. The teeth of the escapement - wheels may be of different pitches, or, as shown, the feed-pinion 20 may be larger than the feed-pinion 26<a>, the carriage being provided with two racks 21, 21<a>, Fig. 4, secured side by side and arranged to engage the pinions 20, 20<a> respectively. The length of the racks is equal to the distance between the centres of the pinions, so that the rack 21<a> engages the pinion 20<a> simultaneously with the disengagement of the rack 21 from the pinion 20. Carriage-releasing arrangements.-The feed-racks 21, 21<a>, Fig. 4, are secured to a pivoted frame provided with a key 26 which is depressed for carriagerelease. Carriage scales.-The scales 84, Fig. 6, on the machines A, B are graduated to correspond with the different letter-spacings on the two machines, the end graduation of the scale on machine B coinciding with the zero graduation on machine A. Platen-shift mechanism; shift-key actions; keylocks.-A roller on the platen frame runs on a shift-rail 32, Fig. 3, secured to the usual brackets 33 .. 36, which are supported by the shafts 37, 38 or by a single shaft, and are engaged by shift-key levers 39, 40 on machine A and by shift-key levers on machine B, the levers 39, 41 being coupled by a shaft 57 for simultaneous operation, and the levers 40, 42 being similarly coupled by a shaft 57. On depressing either of the keys 49, 51 of the levers 40, 42, the platen is locked in the shift position by a lever 62, which engages an arm 60<a> on a rock-shaft 58 provided with an arm 59 engaging a pin 61 on the lever 40. A recess 64 in the lever 62 normally engages a pin 65 on the bracket 33, and on depressing either of the keys 49, 51, the pin 65 engages a notch 68 and the pin 61 drops into a notch 69 in the arm 59. When the platen-frame is locked in the shift position, it is supported at the ends by the levers 62, 42 and at the middle by the lever 40. The platen-frame is released by depressing either of the keys 48, 50 of the levers 39, 41, the lever 39 being provided with a pin 71 engaging an arm 72 on the shaft 58. Line-locking devices; carriage stops; alarms.- Each machine A, B is provided with a margin stop 74 and a line-locking stop 75 adjustable on a rod, which is secured at the ends to the side frames of the machines and is supported at the middle by a bracket. The stops 75 are provided with detents engaging a pivoted rack formed with two depending arms, which, on the eogagement of a projection on the carriage with either of the stops 75, actuate locking bails for the keyboards. Each depending arm is engaged by a re!ease-key consisting of a push-button formed with a coned part adapted to push the arms laterally. Either or both of the depending arms may operate a bell.hammer. A release-key on the carriage is operated when it is necessary to write in the left-hand margin or to move the carriage from machine A to machine B. Each machine A, B is provided with a margin stop 74 and a line-locking stop 75 adjustable on a rod, which is secured at the ends to the side frames of the machines and is supported at the middle by a bracket. The stops 75 are provided with detents engaging a pivoted rack formed with two depending arms, which, on the eogagement of a projection on the carriage with either of the stops 75, actuate locking bails for the keyboards. Each depending arm is engaged by a re!ease-key consisting of a push-button formed with a coned part adapted to push the arms laterally. Either or both of the depending arms may operate a bell.hammer. A release-key on the carriage is operated when it is necessary to write in the left-hand margin or to move the carriage from machine A to machine B.