Patent GB-190105801-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Typewriters.
Inventor: BECKER PHILIP
Filed: 1901-03-19
Granted: 1901-06-01
Abstract: 5801. Becker, P., and Thompson, W. J. March 19. Type-writers.-Relates to index-dial machines in which a flexible circular type-forme is employed, which is pressed through an aperture into contact with the platen. Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the machine, Fig. 4 a plan with the type-forme removed, Fig. 5 a vertical section from front to rear, Fig. 7 a longitudinal section showing the shiftmechanism, and Fig. 9 a similar section showing the spacing-mechanism. On the base a are fixed side walls a', between which is mounted the platen a<2>, Figs. 1 and 5. A roller a<6> held in spring bearings holds the paper firmly against the platen. Two side bars b, Fig. 5, are pivoted to the side walls a<1>, and are connected by rods b<2>, b<3>, and by a scale plate b'. The framework consisting of the parts b, b<2>, b<3>, b' is shown in Fig. 5 in the normal or working position, but it can be thrown back about the pivots b' to expose the platen when necessary. Pivoted to the side bars b is a U-shaped frame b<5>, which is pressed against the platen by springs b<6>, and serves to smooth and guide the paper. The carriage comprises a circular basket c, within which is mounted on a pivot d<6> a disc d bearing the typeforme d' and a finger-wheel d'. From the basket c extends forwardly a plate c', over the edge of which is turned the front edge of the scale-plate b<4>, so as to form a guiding track or channel. A plate c<3> is fastened to the plate c', and its front edge is turned downwards over the scale plate, thus preventing the basket from moving rearwardly. A tongue c<2>, Fig. 4, is stamped up from the bottom plate of the basket, and guides the carriage on the rail b<2>. The type-forme consists of a flat rubber ring d<2>, carried by a metal plate d'. The fingerwheel d<4> is slotted radially as shown in Fig. 1, each finger being adapted to be depressed independently, and having a suitable boss or button on it for that purpose. A cap-plate d<5> fits over the finger-wheel, and is engraved or printed with characters corresponding to those on the type-forme beneath. The type-forme bears the upper and lower case typefaces alternately, and the same finger is adapted to operate both. The type-forme is inked by a rotary pad f and two wiper pads f<1>. The impression device, for flexing the type-forme so as to press one of the type through the opening c' on to the platen, consists of a rock-bar e provided at its centre with an impression-finger e', and at the lefthand end with an arm e<2> adopted to be actuated by a tongue g<6> extending from the key lever g. The scale-plate c<4> is formed with a stamped-up rack b<8>, Figs. 1 and 9, with which co-operates for letterspacing a pawl g<3> carried by the pivoted plate or key lever g. The key g' is loose in the plate or lever g, and, if the key is depressed, the lever is depressed sufficiently to space the carriage, but not enough to depress the arm e<2> and impression finger e'. If, however, the key g' is depressed, the carriage is first spaced, and the impression is then made. To bring the proper character to the impression point, the operator places his finger on the proper button of the finger-wheel, and brings it to the front, and then depresses the finger d' into a recess h', Fig. 7, formed in a plate h situated immediately in front of and tangential to the basket c. The key g<7> may then be depressed to make the impression, but, if an upper-case character is to be printed, the key h<4> is depressed, which produces, firstly, a shifting of the plate h so as to bring the upper-case type over the aperture C<4>, and, secondly, a depression of the key g so as to effect the carriage feed and the impression. An alarm bell i is sounded at the end of a line by the co-operation of a lever i<1> and an abutment a<8>. The fingers of the wheel d<4> may be covered with rubber moulded with suitable knobs or buttons.