Patent GB-128920-A (GB)
Title: Braille Type-writer for Use by the Blind.
IPC: B41J3/32
Filed: 1919-06-20
Abstract: 128,920. Belisaire Soc. Anon, (Assignees of Cottier, A., Enriqucz, R., and G'rcyo, H.). June 28, 1918, [Convention date]. Machines for blind persons and for Braille type. - The machine comprises (i) a carriage 32 provided with a set of punches 51 and key-levers or hammers 58 for striking the punches, (2) positivefeed mechanism for letter-spacing the carriage 32, and (3) a hollow cylinder 9 which receives a rolledup sheet of paper and is provided with feed-rollers 13, 19. Portable machines. - The rnachine is contained in a box, consisting of a base 1 and a hinged lid 2, Fig. 3, which is provided with a handle 7 and a spring catch 4, having a release-button 6. Before the lid is closed, a projecting knob 15, Fig. 2, forming part of the sheet-feeding mechanism described below, is removed and fitted on to a split pin 18, Fig. 3, on the lid. Type-bar actions; hammer-impression arrangements; type-carriages.-The carriage 32 is supported at the front by a rail 35 and at the rear by a roller 33 which runs in a track 34. The punches 51 are arranged in two rows in a box 52 on the carriage and pass through holes in the top and bottom of the box. A returning-bar 54, Fig. 3, guided by a rod 53 and pressed downwards by a spring 55, is arranged between the two rows of punches and engages notches in the punches. To permit of independent actuation of the punches, the notches are made of greater height than the bar. The sheet passes between the top ends of the punches and the end of an arm 50 formed on a boss 40 on the carriage, the end of the arm having pits in register with the punches. The line can be read by running the finger over the sheet while it is supported by a bar 29, secured to the frame of the cylinder 9. The impressionkey levers 58, six in number, are mounted on a spindle 57 on the carriage and are provided at the rear with arms or hammers 60 for striking the associated punches, the four outer arms being formed with inturned fingers 60<a> for engaging the punches. Returning-springs 61, Fig. 3, are connected to pins 63 on the arms. Keyboards.-The keyboard is adapted for operation by one hand, the impression keys 59 being. as shown in Fig. 2, arranged in a row with the space key 43<a> at the middle. The left-hand key is formed with an extension 67 for enabling this key and the adjacent key to be operated simultaneously bv the thumb. Letter-spacing mechanism; space-key actions; carriage-releasing arrangements.-The type-carriage is moved towards the right at each operation of the impression-keys 59 or the space-key 43<a> by positive-feed mechanism of the following character. A member 38, Fig. 3, guided vertically by a plunger 39 which enters the boss 40 on the type-carriage, is provided with a pawl 44, Fig. 10, for engaging pins or teeth 36 on the rack 35. The space-key lever 43 is connected by a link 42 to the member 38 and is secured to a universal frame 69 which underlies the impression-key levers 58, the arrangement being such that, at each operation of an impression-key or the space-key, the member 38 is pulled downwards and the pawl 44 engages one of the pins 36 and causes the type-carriage to move to the right. At the end of the spacing-movement, the vertical face of the pawl rides idly in contact with the pin. On release of the key, the member 38 is raised by a spring 41 in connexion with the plunger 39, and the pawl is rocked idly by one of the pins. The member 38 is provided with a detent, adapted when the member is in the raised position, to lodge between two of the pins 36 and prevent the type-carriage from moving. The detent is pivoted on a pin 46, Fig. 3, on the member 38, and is formed with a finger 49 which is pressed inwards to release the detent when it is required to return the type-carriage. Paper feeding and guiding arrangements; platen-roller detents and couplings.-The hollow cvlinder 9 for receiving the rolled up sheet of paper is secured to lugs 10 on the base 1. The feed-roller 13 is mounted in plates 12, integral with the cylinder, and co-operates with the feedroller 19, carried by arms 20 on a rock-shaft 21 which is mounted in the plates. The shaft 21 can be rocked to release the feed-roller 19 by means of a finger-lever 23 which co-operates with a catch-lever 27. The feed-roller 19 is rotated for line-spacing by means of the knob 15, Fig. 2, and is formed with notches 30 for engaging a spring plunger or detent 31. The knob 15 is detachably coupled to the feed-roller 19 by the engagement of a pin 17 on the spindle of the roller with recesses in the sleeve of the knob. Alarms.-The type-carriage is provided with a spring 66, Fig. 2, for actuating the hammer 65 of a bell 64.