Patent GB-189911779-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Typewriters and Supports therefor.
Inventor: CARMONA MANUEL SANCHEZ
Filed: 1899-06-06
Granted: 1899-08-05
Abstract: 11,779. Carmona, M. S. June 6. Type writers.- Relates to t y p ewriters in which the writing-surface remains stationary while the machine moves over it, and characterized a l s o by the fact that only a small number of keys are employed, w h i c h a r e operated in various combinations to enable a much larger number of characters to be written. Fig. 24 shows the machine A arranged to travel on a rack B across an open book supported upon a frame E. Letter - spacing is effected along the rack B, line-spacing being provided for by the use of racks P, Rand a variable ratchet-feed controlled by the key S<3>. The machine moves over the writing-surface from left to right in the usual way, and when the bottom of the page is reached the guide B is released from the racks P, R and pushed upwards until the handle p and slide q are actuated, when the supporting-table swings downwards and the holder K<1> backwards to enable a new leaf to be exposed beneath the machine. Fig. 1 shows the machine adapted to move across a base-plate 26 on which the paper rests. Line-spacing is effected by pressing the lever 51, which operates a variable ratchet-feed so as to turn a pair of rubber-covered rollers which move the paper on the base-plate. The machine slides upon a guide-bar 28, and blocks 33 actuate mechanism which rings the bell 59 at the commencement and end of each line. Letter-spacing is effected by a worm 71 which engages with the screw-thread 38 of the guide-bar 28. The type are formed upon the surface of three parallel type-bands 146, Fig. 5, carried in a removable type-box at the rear of and beneath the keyboard. The bands are secured at one end to spring drums 147, and at the other to a carriage 160 engaging with a sliding plate 180 the position of which is determined by a cord 171 controlled by the keyboard. The type bands move with the carriage 160 until the proper type comes beneath the impression plunger 153 situated at the lefthand rear corner of the machine. Pads 151 and 157 supply ink to the type bands, and the impression frame which carries the type box is movable towards and from the operator under control of the levers 125 and 132 so as to bring either of the three type bands into operative position. The depression of either of the five key levers 164, or of any combination of them, first causes a definite movement of the cord 171 owing to the movement of small pulleys, carried by the keys, between which and an equal number of fixed pulleys the cord is passed. The five keys move the cord through distances proportional to the numbers 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and the various combinations enable thirty-one characters to be carried on each type band. After the keys have been depressed to the extent determined by their respective stops, the whole keyboard, together with the impression frame, descends against the control of balancing-springs, and the character is printed upon the paper. The descent of the keyboard operates a pawl engaging with a ratchet-wheel on the axle of the worm 71, and as the keyboard rises the wheel turns so as to feed the machine along the guide 28 in readiness for the next impression. The feed so effected depends in extent upon which of the three type bands was employed for the last character, the letter spacing feed for capitals being thus larger than for small letters, which in turn have more space allotted to them than punctuation marks and like characters.