Patent GB-190813883-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Typewriting and other Key Operated Machines.
Inventor: MAIN FRED FOSTER
Filed: 1908-06-30
Granted: 1909-06-30
Abstract: 13,883. Main, F. F. June 30. Typewriters and like machines.-The key-levers &c. of the machines are operated by means of the kind in which a perforated web of paper, massing over a metallic roller, co-operating with a series of contact-fingers, controls electric circuits connected with agencies for actuating the said key-levers &c. In another arrangement a master machine may, in known manner, have its levers connected in circuit with the contact devices of one or more machines, so that by manually operating the master machine, the others operate in unison with it. The parts are described as applied to typewriters and like machines. The keys F of the master machine A, Fig. 1, are connected with wires G and, when depressed, depending wires E thereon pass into mercury cups D connected with wires H in circuits including solenoids I, which are thus energized. The cores J are pulled down against the action of springs R, and, by means of wire connexions K, actuate the keys of one or both of two typewriters B, C. The typewriters B, C are shown in connexion with two sets of series of contact-fingers N and contact-rollers M, and the parts are electrically connected-so that the two machines can be controlled by either one of the perforated sheets, or each machine by its own sheet. In this manner, one sheet may be used to print the body portion of a letter &c., while the other may be used to print addresses or some other portion of the printed matter. The letters may all be alike and the addresses different. More than two machines may be employed and the addressing-sheet may control any one of them, or the addressing-machines may te disconnected from the others and employed to address envelopes only. Any machine may be manually operated independently of its electric connexions. In order to prevent fusing of the points of the contact-fingers N when the period of contact is prolonged, as when tabulating, the contact-roller M is, in known manner, employed as feed-roller for the perforated sheet O, and is continuously rotated by means of a belt T which may be shifted on to fixed and idler pulleys U, V. The belt is shifted to start the contact-roller by means of a lever W, rod X, fingers Y, and a pair of solenoids Z, a, the circuit Z being closed by a switch b. The circuit that shifts the belt to the idler pulley is closed automatically by means of a contactfinger c and the solenoid a, as soon as the work is done. The fingers N are mounted in a substance such as vulcanite or wood, and pins e, at each side of the holder f, retain them in place in their guide slots. Tension rolls j, k, one having marginal flanges, guide the sheet O, and a roller i presses it against the contact roller M. For operating the return of the paper carriage m, the line-spacing lever m<1> is connected by a cord n with a piston p, which is drawn into a cylinder q, when a valve lever t, upon a pipe v leading from a vacuum chamber V, is operated by the closing of the circuit of a solenoid s by means of a contact finger r. Contacts w, w<1> engage when the carriage has made its full travel, and close the circuit of a solenoid y which causes the valve to release the piston. A', B', C', D<1> represent respectively an alternating-current generator, a rectifier therefor, non-inductive resistances, and switches for connecting the machine circuits with the main circuit.