Patent GB-1037816-A (GB)
Title: Power operated typewriter
IPC: B41J7/30
Filed: 1963-09-24
Abstract: 1,037,816. Typewriters. ING. C. OLIVETTI & C. S.p.A. Sept. 24, 1963 [Sept. 28, 1962], No. 37576/63. Heading B6F. [Also in Division F2] Type-lever actions; clash of type - bars preventing; power-assisted actions; keyboard locking devices.-A power-operated typewriter comprises a set of type actions 12, Fig. 1, each connected to an interponent 19 adapted to be coupled to a common bail 33 for the forward pivotal displacement thereof and to actuate a cyclically operable clutch mechanism 64, 69 on depression of a corresponding key 31, a spring 37 operating said bail through said forward stroke, said bail being restored and said spring tensioned by said mechanism, characterized in that said bail is operated at a first fast speed when a single interponent has been coupled therewith or at a second reduced speed when more than one interponent has been coupled therewith, whereby a locking element 83, Fig. 2, operable by said mechanism at a third invariable speed intercepts the said bail to prevent clashing of the type-bars 7. In operation depression of the key lever 31 rocks a latch 23 through a lever 28 thereby unlatching the interponent 19 which is coupled to the common bail 33. The interposer also rocks a further bail 46, which through a link 51 rocks another bail 53, whose arm 56 unlatches a lug 57 on a lever 58, which is rocked counter-clockwise so that its lug 62 may set free the projection 63 of a clutch pawl 64, and a ring 67 urged by spring 68 may rock all three clutch pawls 64 into engagement with the clutch ratchet wheel 69. The engaged cyclically operable mechanism comprising a sleeve 44 and cams 43, 91, 94, Fig. 2, is rotated for a cycle of 120 degrees, whereby the cam 43 causes a lever 39 to be rocked clockwise and when the cam follower 42 reaches the portion 129 of the cam the spring 37 rocks the bail 33 at the first fast speed against the action of one spring 16 only. As the bail 33 rocks, the interponent 19 coupled therewith pivots an intermediate lever 12, which through a link 11 causes the type-bar 7 to strike the platen 6. At the end of this movement of the bail 33, the interponent is automatically relatched by the latch 23. During this rocking movement of the bail 33 a cam 94 engages the arm 93 of the lever 58 causing the lug 62 to obturate the path of the following clutch pawl 64 so as to arrest the sleeve 44 at the end of the cycle of 120 degrees. Simultaneously a cam 71 rocks a lever 72, which through a lug 91 and arm 92 of bail 53 resets the bail 46. After the impact of the typebar the portion 130 of the cam 43 pivots the lever 39 in a counterclockwise direction restoring the bail 33 and tensioning the spring 37. When two or more type-levers 31 are depressed simultaneously, the spring 37 rocks the bail 33 at a second reduced speed. However, a lever 79 actuated by the cam 71, through levers 72, 77, link 76 and spring 81, at a speed independent of the number of the interposers 19 engaged by the bail 33, obturates the path of the forward pivotal displacement of the bail 33 and projection 83 on the lever 79 (Fig. 5, not shown), intercepts a lug 84 on the bail 33 to arrest the latter, whereby clashing of the type-bars 7 is prevented. Moreover, a stud 101, Fig. 2, on the lever 39 does not reach the arm 99 of the bail 97 and the lug 57 of the arm 58 is arrested by a latching tooth 96 on the bail 97 preventing lever 58 from rendering the clutch mechanism 64, 69 effective, whereby the typewriter remains locked. Key-action.-To release the typewriter so locked following the simultaneous depression of a number of key levers, a key (not shown) is depressed for rendering the latching tooth 96, Fig. 3, ineffective and causing all the coupled interponents 19 to be relatched by their latches 23. In particular, depression of the key causes the clutch 107 to be engaged whereupon a cam 106 rocks a lever 104 together with a bail 109 whose cross-bar 110 relatches the coupled interponents 19. Near the end of its stroke the lever 104 through its lug 103 engages an arm 102 of the bail 97 and disengages the latching tooth 96 from the lug 57 of the lever 58 and the lug is restored by the spring 61 to contact the arm 56 of the bail 53. Case-shift mechanism; letter-by-letter and collective impression adjustment.-The intermediate lever 12, Fig. 1, is provided with a serrated slot 14 which is engaged by a restoring spring 16, which may be anchored in a variable position to individually adjust the force of impact according to the printing area of the type on the type-bar 7. Moreover, the impact of all the type-bars 7 may be collectively adjusted by altering the tension of the spring 37 by manual operation of a lever 116 thereby displacing a lever 113 fulcrummed on a pivot 114 on a bail 115. Furthermore the impact of all the type-bars 7 may also be collectively adjusted in an automatic manner by a conventional case shift mechanism. When the type bar basket 9 is lowered to its upper case position a bail 124 is rocked anticlockwise, the bail 115 clockwise and the lever 113 rocked anticlockwise about a pin 117 thus tensioning the spring 37.