Patent GB-190318366-A (GB)
Title: A Chess Recorder.
Inventor: BABU LALA RAJA
Filed: 1903-08-25
Granted: 1904-01-07
Abstract: 18,366. Babu, L. R. Aug. 25. Type - writers. - Relates to an apparatus for recording the moves made during a game of chess. Each chess-man is provided with a key projecting from its base, the wards of which differ in each class of piece. Fig. 12 shows the key attached to the king. In each square of the chess-board is a keyhole which will fit the key of any piece. When a piece is moved to any square and given a sharp half-turn, its key operates certain levers which actuate type-bars and so cause the move to be printed on a piece of paper held against a roller. Additional squares are placed at each end of the board for the reception of pieces that are taken, the taking of each piece being recorded as above. Fig. 1 is a plan of the recording apparatus and part of the chess-board. Fig. 2 is a plan with the top of the chess - board, roller, type-bars, &c. removed. A horizontal cross-bar 7, Figs. 2 and 6, is attached to three short vertical cranks 8 fixed to a pivoted rod 9. A rod 10 fixed to the bar 7 operates through levers 11, 12, 13 a type-head which prints a sign representing the file of the king's castle. Similarly bars 14-20 operate types recording the other files. Springs 21, Fig. 6, are provided to cause these bais to return to their normal positions after each move. Horizontal bars 22-37, Fig. 2, which are capable of sliding between blocks 23, 24, Fig. 6, operate through suitable levers, type-heads recording the numbers 1-8 respectively, to indicate the number of the square in the file to which a piece is moved. Both the above sets of bars are operated by the broad upper ward on each key. Directly below each of the bars 22 &c. are six bars 39-44, Fig. 6, adapted to be operated by the narrow lower wards of the keys on the pawns, castles, knights, bishops, queens and kings respectively. All the eight bars 44 are connected to a pivoted rod 46, Fig. 6, which runs the whole length of the board, and to which are attached levers adapted to operate the type-head which prints K to indicate the king. Similarly, the sets of bars 39-43 are connected to pivoted rods 48-52 respectively. Springs are provided to cause these bars to return to their normal positions after each movement. The type are so arranged in the type-basket, Fig. 1, that the three typeheads, the first to indicate the kind of piece moved, the second the file in which the square to which the piece is moved occurs, and the third the number of the square in that file, can all strike the paper together in their proper places. Beneath the sixteen additional squares placed at each end of the board are cross-bars operated by the lower wards of the keys to indicate the kind of piece taken, and also bars 82 which are operated by the upper wards of the keys and are attached to levers adapted to operate the type-head which prints X to indicate the word "takes." The bars operated by the same class of piece at each end of the board are connected together. The printing is performed upon a piece of paper placed around a roller 94 and kept in position by small rollers 94<a>. The roller is rotated by a spring-driven drum 95 and controlled by an arrangement of dogs 98 gearing with a toothed wheel 99 on a spindle 100, Fig. 2, which is geared to a wheel 96 on the drum 95 through the spur-wheels shown. The dogs are fixed to a pivoted arm 1@ which can be partially rotated by a bent rod 105 attached to a cross-bar 106 actuated by pins 107 on the bars 22-37. The bar 106 may also be actuated by pulling a ring 108 attached to a rod 109 in order to rotate the roller without printing a move. Each time a move is made, the dogs allow the wheel 99 to rotate the distance of one tooth and so release the drum and cause it to move the roller one line up. A spring 155 causes the controlling-mechanism to return to the normal position after each move. At each end of the apparatus, five button-headed keys 110-114 are provided, the pressing of which operates levers and type - heads which cause signs indicating "check," "castles," "resigns," "draw" and "mate" respectively to be recorded. The type-heads are arranged to strike through a ribbon 122 wound on two drums 123, 124 loosely mounted on spindles 100, 125 respectively. Pins on the sides of the ribbon drums are adapted to engage projections on discs 128, 128<a> which revolve with the spindles 100, 125 and also have longitudinal movement along these spindles. The discs are connected by slotted pivoted arms 129, 129<a> and rods 130, 130<a> to a lever 131 so pivoted that one of the discs can engage with its drum while the other is free. To reverse the direction of the winding of the ribbon at the proper time, the lever 131 is operated, so as to cause first one disc to engage with its drum and then the other, by means of a horse-shoe cam 136 carried by a spur-wheel 135 which is driven by the drum 95 through the spur and pin gearing shown. To distinguish the moves made by the respective players, a device is provided to print a line under every alternate record. Seven pins 138 on a disc 137 mounted on the spindle 125 are adapted to engage a tooth on a pivoted lever 139 and so cause the lever to be jerked up. The lever operates through suitable rods a type-head to print a straight line. The spindle 125 being set in motion by releasing the wheel 99 which has fourteen teeth, the pins 138 only come into operation at every move.