Patent GB-162238-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or in connection with carriage returning mechanism for typewriting machines
IPC: B41J11/24
Filed: 1920-10-19
Abstract: 162,238. Fairweather, W. C., (Underwood Typewriter Co.). Oct. 19, 1920. Carriage-returning mechanism; electric driving - mechanism; margin stops; line spacing mechanism. - The carriage is automatically returned from any position within a predetermined zone upon operating any one of the set of keys, such as the spacing key and the punctuation or hyphen keys, that are usually struck at the end of a line; a key from returning the carriage from any position is also provided; the carriage - returning mechanism may be adapted to operate the line-spacing mechanism. In the machine shown in Fig. 1, the levers 12 of the punctuation and like keys 11, and the levers 38 of the spacing-key 37 operate a special universal bar 84 having an arm 83 engaging a slide 81 adapted, when an interponent 79 is in position, to operate a slide 82 controlling the rocking contact 95 of a switch 61 for a carriage-returning electromotor 55. The interponent can slide on a bell-crank 85 engaging a depending arm 78 on a rocking bail 75 which carries an adjustable margin stop 73 adapted to arrest the carriage 21 by engaging a finger 76 thereon. Normally, the arm 78 maintains the interponent in the raised position, and a gap 80 between the slides 81, 82 prevents the universal bar 84 from operating the switch. When however the carriage approaches the end of the line, the finger 76 engages a finger 77, Fig. 6, on the margin stop 73 and rocks the bail 75 and the arm 78, and thereby permits the interponent to enter the gap 80. Thereafter, upon operation of the punctuation keys or the spacing-key the universal bar 84, by means of the slide 81 and the interponent, moves rearwards the slide 82 and permits a spring 97 to close the switchcontact 95, the motor then operating to return the carriage. To permit of releasing the punctuation-keys or the spacing key during the return of the carriage, there are provided a catch 87, Fig. 6, for retaining the arm 78 and a bell-crank '101 for retaining the interponent in the operated position. When the arm 78 is rocked it permits the bell-crank 101 to engage the interponent and when the latter is operated in the abovedescribed manner, a tooth on the bell-crank drops at the rear of a tooth 104 on the interponent and retains the interponent. When the carriage has been returned to the line-commencing position, the switch is automatically opened to arrest the motor, in the following manner : A finger 109 on the carriage engages a cam, adjustable with the margin stop 110, and thereby rocks the shaft 74 carrying the bail 75 and the arm 78; the arm 78 in rocking forwards releases the bell-crank 101 and, by rocking the bell-crank 85 raises the interponent; thereupon, a spring 100 draws forward the interponent and a spring 130 draws forward the slide 82 and raises the switch-contact 95. The margin stop 110 may be provided with a buffer 111 in the path of a lip 109<a> on the finger 76. The carriage-returning key is carried by a lever 123 which operates the universal bar 84 and, by a pin-and-slot connection 126, a lever 124 having a pin 128 engaging the arm 78. The motor may operate a strap 62 connected by a link 68 to a slide 70 mounted on the carriage and formed with a hook 72 engaging the line-spacing lever 46. Line-locking devices.-The keyboard is locked during the return of the carriage by means of a locking-bail 132 which is connected by a link 136 to the slide 82 and is moved into the path of ears 133 on the key-levers when the slide is operated to close the switch. To permit the punctuation keys, the spacing key, and the carriage-returning key to be released during the return of the carriage, the ears 133 associated with those keys are pivoted at 137 and are engaged by springs 138, the arrangement permitting those ears to yield and then engage the locking-bail. Alarms.-When the arm 78 is operated upon the carriage entering the predetermined zone, a pin 113 on the arm raises and releases a bell-hammer 118.