Patent GB-226379-A (GB)
Title: Method of and apparatus for mechanical book-keeping
IPC: B41J11/06
Filed: 1924-01-14
Abstract: 226,379. Michelsen, C. Jan. 14, 1924. Paper-supports; paper clamping and guiding arrangements; printing- line indicators.-The flat platen of a visible-writing typewriter for double-entry book-keeping is provided with means for holding an original entry sheet and exchangeable account and other sheets superposed and interleaved with carbon papers so that an entry is made on all the sheets by typing on the upper sheet, with means for moving the sheets relatively to one another and for setting them with the correct columns and lines in register, and with means to indicate the correct printing position in which the sheets are to be placed on the platen. The platen 8, Figs. 3, 3<a> and 4, is guided for key-operated or hand linespacing by rolls 7 and rails 6 on the carriage C, which is guided for letter-spacing by .rolls 5 and rails 1, 2 on the frame on the machine. For addition and subtraction and automatic summing of items, calculating mechanisms K, Fig. 3, on the carriage are operated through gear wheels 57 mashing with a long gear wheel 58 on operating mechanism L connected by a rod 59 with any of the digit key levers. The original entry sheet is positioned on the platen 8 by pins 9, Fig. 4, engaging perforations in the sheet. The account sheet 18 is positioned by pins 13 - - 16 on a U-shaped frame 12 engaging perforations in the sheet spaced apart a distance equal to the line spacers. The two arms 12<1> of the frame 12 are U-shaped in cross-section and slide on guides on the platen 8 to facilitate the superposition of the correct columns of the sheets. The sheet 18 is placed on the frame 12 with the required line of printing opposite an indicating tooth 17 of a sprocket wheel 20 carried by a slide 21 freely mounted in the frame 12 and co-operating with a stop 24 on the carriage C. The teeth of the wheel 20 engage perforations 23 in the frame 12 corresponding to the perforations 19 in the sheet 18 and, when the platen 8 is moved in the dir.ection of the arrow x, Fig. 4, the slide 21 moves with the platen until meeting the stop 24, after which the wheel 20 turns against the action of a spring 22. For special records such as statements of account and communications, a second frame similar to the frame 12 is provided at the left-hand side of the platen 8. Sheet-retaining spring-pressed bails are provided on the frames and the sheets are held at the printing point by a spring-mounted ink-ribbon vibrator. Line-spacing mechanism; space-key actions; carriage-releasing arrangements.-A central rack 44, Fig. 3, on the platen 8 co-operates with a spring-urged locking-pawl 46 pivoted at 48 and with a spring-urged line-spacing pawl 45 pivoted to a rocker 49 operated through a link 51 and a lever 52 from a bar 43 carried by two line-spacing keys. The rack 44 is locked by the pawl 46 and is moved for line-spacing on depression and release of a line-spacing key by a spring 53 and the pawl 45. For hand movement of the platen, both pawls 45, 46 may be released from the rack 44 by deeper depression of either of the linespacing keys, a nose 50<a> on the rocker 49 releasing the pawls. Letter-spacing mechanism.-A rack 27, Fig. 3<a>, on the carriage C engages a gear-wheel 28 on the shaft of the letter-spacing ratchet-wheel 31, the movement of the carriage by a spring-barrel 3 being controlled by a rocker 34 operated from the key-levers 40 through a universal bar 39 and the rocker 34 carrying a fixed pawl 23 and a pawl 32 movable circumferentially of the wheel 31. Relay type-lever actions.-Upright type-levers 61, Fig. 3a, carrying pivoted multiple-type typeheads 74 are rocked to the printing point forwards and downwards towards the keyboard either manually from the keys I, Fig. 3, or by relay action controlled by these keys. The key-levers 40 arranged below the platen 8 are pivoted at their rear ends to links 69 pivoted to upright levers 62 operating the levers 61 through links 65 and levers 63 controlled by springs 68. The links 69 mav be locked to the levers 62 for manual operation of the levers 61 by arms 73 operated by a common bail 73<a>. For relay action, the links 69 are released and urged bv springs 40<a> into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3<a> and are selectively raised by the key-levers into the path of a cam-shaft 72 continuously rotated by a motor D. Case-shift mechanism; shift-key actions.-The pivoted type-heads 74, Fig. 3a, each with two types 75, 76, are held in either position by springs 88 and are returned to their normal position by stops 86 on the type-basket 87 engaging fingers 77 on the heads 74 on the return of the levers 61 to the basket 87. The case is changed by means of a. rocking bail 78 operated against the action of a spring 104 by side bars 80, links 82, arms 83 on a shaft 84a, and rods 85 connected to the key-levers. Normally the bail 78 is out of the path of the fingers 77 so that the type 75 strikes the platen 8, but is moved by the shiftkeys to engage the finger 77 so that the type 76 strikes the platen. Ink-ribbon mechanism. - The ink-ribbon 89, Fig 3a, wound on two spools G is guided to the printing point by a ribbon vibrator 90 normally holding the ribbon 89 away from the platen to display the typing and thrown against the platen to hold the sheets during printing. The vibrator 90 is mounted on leaf springs 94 on pivoted side bails 92 carrying a rod 93 operated by the levers 63 of the type-lever action. The ribbon is fed by means of ratchet discs 95 on the spools G alternately engaged by spring-pressed pawls 97 mounted on levers 99 operated from the bails 92 through arms 101 and rods 102. The levers 99 carry finger-pieces 100 for disengagement of either of the pawls 97 from the discs 95.