Patent GB-303109-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in typewriting machines
IPC: B41J23/06
Filed: 1928-12-10
Abstract: 303,109. Royal Typewriter Co., Inc., (Assignees of Degener, G. O.). Dec. 28, 1927, [Convention date]. Relay type-lever actions.-A power-lever connected to the action and controlled by a keylever carries a pivoted star-wheel which cooperates with projections on a rotating driving- member. The power-lever may be associated with a spring device which is adapted to cushion the power-lever and assist the movement of the type-lever. The driving-member may be connected to a motor provided with switch mechanism arranged to be started by a special key and to remain in operation so long as the interval between successive operations of the key-levers lies within a predetermined period. The keylevers may engage a locking-device which is released by means of the motor shaft when the motor is started. In the action shown in Fig. 14, the type-lever B is connected by a link 141 to a lever 140 which is connected to a link 138 engaging a slot 139 in a power-lever 133 controlled by a key-lever 106. The power-lever has a lug 142 engaging a finger 130 on the key-lever and the offset end 132 of a spring 131 secured to the finger. A star-wheel 145, frictionally pivoted on the power-lever, has teeth 147 for co-operation with ribs 45 on a driving shaft 43. The teeth 147 have recesses 148 shaped to fit the curved ends of the ribs. A bell-crank 149 on the powerlever abuts on a plate 46 and has a lug 153 in the path of the teeth 147. On depression of the key-lever, the power-lever is slightly rocked by a spring 136, the lug 142 displacing the spring 131 and then entering the space Y between the spring and finger 130. The movement of the power-lever releases the bell-crank 49 and slightly depresses the star-wheel. Thereupon the ribs m, n by successively engaging the tooth f positively move the star-wheel into a position ensuring engagement of the rib o and the recess in the tooth e, the power-lever being thereby rocked to operate the type-lever. On release of the key-lever the parts return to normal position, the bell-crank preventing overthrow of the star-wheel. The lug 142 abuts temporarily on the spring-end 132 if release of the key-lever is delayed. The bell-crank 149 may be omitted. For cushioning the power-lever the lever 140 is pivoted on a second lever 156, the pivot carrying a roller 159 which engages a spring-cushioned universal bar 160. An arm 162 on a shaft 161 supporting the universal bar has notches 163 for receiving a roller 164 connected to a cushioning- spring 169. The roller is guided by curved slots 167 in a pair of members 168 mounted on a shaft 171 which can be rocked by means of a handle 172 to adjust the effect of the spring. When the power-lever is rocked it is cushioned by the spring, the levers 140, 156 moving initially as one. Thereafter the spring returns the lever 156 and assists the movement of the type-lever. The key-levers have lugs 109 which are normally, held in contact with a block 108 by means of springs 107. The power-levers engage a universal bar 143 connected to the ink-ribbon mechanism. The driving-shaft 43 is geared to a shaft 29, Fig. 2, which is coupled to the shaft 17 of a motor X in the manner described below. To reduce noise the motor is mounted at the ends on springs 15 and is provided at the middle with a shaft 9 journaled in bearings 11. The journals are surrounded by felt, and felt washers 13 abut on the bearings. The motor shaft 17 carries discs 18, 19 and a felt disc 21 having a weighted extension 26 for engaging a stop 28. The shaft 29 is coupled to the shaft 17 by means of a spring 33 which passes over pins 20 on the discs 19 and pins 32 on a disc 31 secured to the shaft. When the motor is started, pivoted plates 22 revolving with the shaft 17 swing into contact with the disc 18 and press the felt disc into contact with the disc 19, the motor being thereby braked. The switch mechanism, Figs. 6, 8, and 11, for controlling the motor is similar to that described in Specification 303,188. Springs 25 normally hold the plates out of contact with the disc. The shaft 29 is geared to a shaft 36 operating carriage-returning mechanism, and is so arranged that the motor is started on depression of a key-lever E, and is maintained in operation so long as the interval between successive depressions of the keylevers 106 lies within a predetermined period. The key-lever E rocks an arm 60 connected to a horizontal lever 63 having a finger 65 engaging a lug 66 on a rocking arm 67. The lug 66 engages also a flange on the letter-spacing universal bar 73 which is connected to the action links 141. The arm 67 is connected by a link 69 to a bell-crank 70 engaging a spring-urged rocking arm 76. A member 80 pivoted on a stud 81 is formed with a short arm carrying a contact spring 82<1> normally resting on an insulating-block 89, Fig. 11, the motor leads 49, 48 being connected to the contact spring, and to contacts 90, 91 flanking the block 89. The member 80 is formed also with a long arm 83 which normally engages a nose 79 on the arm 76, and carries a pivoted finger 100 having a tooth 102 in the path of a pin 99 on a worm-wheel 57 geared to the shaft 29. A hook 96 normally disengaged from the arm 76 is formed on a bell-crank 94 connected by a spring 86, the contact 82<1> moving from the 80, a rod 98 in the spring abutting on the bellcrank and extension. On depression of the keylever E, the arm 76 is depressed and the member 80 is rocked into the position shown in Fig. 8 by a spring 86, the contact 82<1> moving from the position a, Fig. 11, to the position b and closing the circuit of the motor. The pin 99 then cooperates with the tooth 102 and rocks the member 80 to the left, the contact moving to the position c and maintaining the circuit of the motor. The pin then rides over the tooth and the member can return to the normal position. The above-described movements occupy about thirty seconds and unless one of the key-levers 106 is depressed during this period the circuit of the motor is broken. If however one of the key-levers 106 is depressed, the arm 76 is again depressed and is caught by the hook 96 so that the contact 82<1> moves to the position b and maintains the circuit. Locking-devices.-A locking-bar 111, Fig. 14, normally engaging the lugs 109 on the key-levers 106, is released by the following means when the motor X is started. The extension 26 of the above-mentioned discs 21 engages a spring-arm connected by linkage to an arm 112 on a shaft 110 carrying the locking-bar. When the motor is started, the disc turns slightly and the locking- bar is rocked out of the path of the lugs. Attaching machines to baseboards; sounddeadening supports.-The motor X, Fig. 2, and associated mechanism are mounted on a base 1 which is secured to the bottom of the framework 2 of the machine by means of screws 3 serving also to secure rubber feet 4, the base and feet being removable without removing the screws. The screws are threaded into the framework and pass through enlarged apertures in the feet and base, a member 6 having an open slot being arranged between each foot and the head 7 of its screw. When the screws are slackened, the plates are moved aside and the base and feet can then be detached. The feet are provided with metal cups 5.