Patent GB-190317101-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
Inventor: MILLS BENJAMIM JOSEPH BARNARD
Filed: 1903-08-06
Granted: 1903-11-12
Abstract: 17,101. Mills, B. J. B., [" Secretary"]. Aug. 6. Type-writers. - Relates more particularly to machines such as are described in Specification No. 21,008, A.D. 1902. The vertical shafts carrying the horizontallyswinging type - bars are journalled in a frame 15 controlled by shift mechanism to bring the different sets of types to the printing level. The carriage consists of a baseplate 24, brackets 29, and end plates 30 in which the platen 32 is supported. Rollers 21, 27 in the carriage run on tracks 20, 26 on the framing. The escapement-rack 40 o n the carriage, engages dogs 41, 42 on a rocker 44, having a pin 50 engaged by a slot 49 in a plate 46 connected at 47 with the universal bar 48. A general release bail 55 is pivoted at 56, and, when raised by any uf the release mechanisms, engages an arm 58 on the rocker 44, and throws the dogs out of engagement with the rack, to release the carriage. A tabulating-arrangement such as that described in the prior Specification is employed, and in connection with this an auxiliary tabulator mechanism for positioning the carriage at intermediate points. On the left side of the machine framing is a casing 75, Fig. 14, in which are guided vertically, five stop rods or keys 76. Each rod 76 is slotted, and straddles a horizontally-sliding cam-plate 90 having a series of inclines engaged by pins on the rods 76. The inclines are at different angles, so that the plate is moved to a different extent by the depression of each key-rod 76. The rods 76 also engage a plate 106 on a shaft 105 having an arm 107 engaging under the general release bail 55. On the bail 55 is a finger 108 adapted to engage the toothed tabulating-plate 110, and raise it into position to engage the stop lug on the carriage. On the rear end of the plate 90 is a stepped part adapted to engage the plate 110 when it is engaged and moved to the left by the carriage. The finger 108 is, normally, under a notch 113 in the plate 110, but, when a key 76 is depressed, a finger on the cam-plate 90 moves the plate 110 slightly to the left, so that its underside is engaged by the finger. The plate 110 is arrested by the stepped part of the cam-plate, and moves a distance corresponding to the key 76 depressed. In the carriage is a double carriage release bail 125, pivoted at 126, which has a recess for operating the line-lock device at the end of a line, and a lug for engagement of the margin stop. The line lock comprises a pivoted hook 130, Fig. 4, adapted to engage a hook 138 on the plate 46, to prevent the movement of the plate, and consequently that of the universal bar and key levers. The hook 130 is operated by a lever 132, 136 engaging the release bar 125. The margin stop is adjustable along a toothed bar 140. By rocking the bail 125 the carriage may be released for printing beyond the locking position at the end of the line, and may also be moved for printing in the margin. The bail 125 is rocked by levers having inclines for engaging the bail, and connected with a special release key. The return of the carriage for a fresh line is effected by a hand-crank geared to a shaft surrounded by a spiral spring by which the carriage is moved for spacing. This shaft is geared to a rack 191 on the carriage. The rack 191 has a limited longitudinal movement on the carriage for the purpose of line-spacing at each return of the carriage. On the end of the rack is a slotted plate 195, Fig. 9, having rack teeth 196 engaging a wheel 199 gearing with a segment 200 on a pawlplate 201. The pawl 202 engages a wheel 203 gearing with a wheel 205 fast on the shaft of the platen. A pin 206 on the plate 201 engages the gear-wheel 205 at the end of the line-spacing movement to limit the rotation of the platen. The pawl 202 has a shoulder 213, engaged to normally lift the pawl out of engagement with the wheel 203, by a pin 212 on a stop arm 210 which limits the rearward movement of the plate 201. A spring-seated pin 215 on the arm 210 engages one of a series of holes to hold the stop arm in the desired position. The plate 201 has an arm 201<a> for operation by hand. The teeth of the wheel 205 are engaged by a spring detent having a means for adjusting its spring pressure. The ink-ribbon mechanism is provided with means for automatically reversing the direction of feed, and with a two-colour ribbon and means for shifting either colour into the printing position. The ribbon spools 253, 254, Figs. 4 and 5, are journalled on the ends of a shaft 251 carried by a bracket projecting from the rear plate of the framing. On each spool is fixed a gear wheel 255 one of which is in gear with one of two pinions 258, 259 on a short longitudinally-movable shaft 257 splined to a ratchet-wheel 260 driven by a pawl 265 on an arm 263 having a pin 266 engaging a slot in the plate 46. A lever 270, pivoted at 271, is formed with two arms 270<a>, 270<b> engaging the ends of the shaft 257, and with an arm 270<c> engaging a locking-lug 283 on a lever 280 pivoted at 281. Arms 275, 276, pivoted at 277, extend under the ribbon spools, and are connected with the arms 270<a>, 270<b> of the lever 270 by springs 278. Extensions 284 on the lever 280 extend up beneath the arms 275, 276. As the bulk of ribbon on the winding-spool increases, it depresses the corresponding arm 275, or 276 and also the lever 280. When the lug 283 is disengaged from the arm 270<c>, the spring 278 which has been stretched will rock the lever 270, moving the shaft 257 and putting the other spool into gear for winding the ribbon. The two colours of the ribbon run longitudinally of the ribbon in two strips or zones a, b. One of these strips is normally at the printing level, and the other strip is brought into position by raising the ribbon guide 285, 286. The guide is carried by arms 288 pivoted on collars 289 on a rock-shaft 291, operated by a connection with a special key in the keyboard. A device is provided for holding this key depressed as long as desired. A means is provided for moving the carriage back, to the right, one space. A bar 305, Fig. 11, having a tooth 306 for engaging the carriage rack 40, rests and slides on a bracket 300. The longitudinal movement of the bar 305 is limited by its cylindrical end 305<a>, shoulder 308, and screw head 307. Sliding on the bracket 300 is a block 302 having an inclined face 303 engaging the end of the bar 305, and a stop lug 304. The block 302 is connected by a rod 114<a> to a lever 312 connected by a rod 314 to a special back-feed key-lever 315. When the lever 315 is depressed, the block 302 is moved to the right, first to lift the tooth 306 into engagement with the rack, and then to move the bar 305 and carriage to the right. An arrangement of pressure rollers &c. for guiding and feeding the sheets round the platen 32 is shown in Fig. 4. Forming a continuation of the curved guide plate 31 are two plates 328 carried between pairs of brackets 327 pivoted on pairs of arms 326 on a shaft 325 in the carriage. In each pair of arms 327 are journalled two rollers 330, which engage the platen through slots in the plate 328. A double leaf spring presses the arms 327 &c. up to the platen. The shaft 325 has a hand-lever by which the rollers &c. may be moved away from the platen. A scale bar 340, formed with a rear cutting-edge for cutting the paper transversely, is carried by pivoted arms 342, and is pressed on to the platen by a spring. A line-indicating plate 345 is carried by arms pivoted on the platen shaft at the ends of the platen, and is normally held by a spring below the line being written. It may be raised to indicate the printing line by operating a finger on one of the arms. A reel of paper 355, Fig. 22, may be supported by removable arms 357 shaped to rest against the guide plate 31, and having notches for engaging pins 359 on the platen frame. For holding a postcard &c. a frame 360 is preferably used. Hooks on the frame 360 engage the rod 343, and projecting fingers 364 guide the cards. To prevent the impression of more than one type on the card, an endless elastic band 367 is stretched from end to end of the platen on lugs 366 on the guiding-fingers. Fingers 362 hold up the scale bar 340, as shown.