Patent GB-190516895-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Automatically Operated Typewriters.
Inventor: MCCALL THOMAS ABIJAH
Filed: 1905-08-21
Granted: 1906-07-05
Abstract: 16,895. McCall, T. A. Aug. 21. Typewriters.- Relates to an apparatus for perforating a record-strip which is afterwards passed through the apparatus and caused to operate a typewriter. The perforating - apparatus i s actuated by balls which are released from a hopper by the action, of keys. Balls are then allowed to pass through the perforations of the strip and to actuate a typewriter with which the machine is connected. The machine described is adapted for printing in succession a number of letters having the same body portions and different addresses. Key-levers B are connected to perforated plungers B<4> which can slide horizontally in the walls of a hopper C containing balls C'. When a key is depressed, a ball is carried over a passage D<3> and falls into a shoot D<2>. Below the hopper is a perforated shaft D which can be rotated to allow balls to pass through it and through the perforated strip into the shoot D<2> in order to operate the typewriter. Each ball, when released by a key, falls down the shoot D' and rests on one of a number of spring-supported levers J, to which are pivoted punches K. A rotating drum F, carrying projections F', depresses the ball and the lever J so that a hole is punched in the strip I<1>. The released ball falls down an inclined shoot D<5>, and is raised and returned to the hopper by an elevating-worm. The machine is driven by a motor which is connected by worm gearing with a shaft G<4> carrying the drum F. The stripto be perforated is wound from a reel I<4> on to a reel I which is intermittently driven from the shaft G<4> through spur-wheels G<5>, G<8>, G<10>, H, Fig. 4, A lever H<2>, pivoted to the wheel H, drives the reel I by means of a ratchet and pawl. The wheel G<10> is loose on its shaft, and is frictionally connected with the wheel G<8> by means of an annular flange on each wheel and a split ring G<11> between them. Between the ends of the split ring is a finger g which is normally engaged by a stop lever L<2>, whereby rotation of the wheel G<10> is prevented. Each lever J, when actuated, depresses the lever L<2> by means of a shaft L and allows the wheel G<10> to make one revolution so that the strip I<1> is fed forwards. The reel I<4> is detachable and has on its shaft loose pinion N6 which is geared to the shaft G<4>. The pinion N<5> can be locked to its shaft by a clutch member N<6> actuated by an arm on a shaft P. When the perforation of the strip is completed, a key is actuated which operates the clutch member N<6> and causes the strip to be rewound on the reel I<4>. The levers J are then connected by links J<4> with the type-levers of a typewriter. The end of the perforated strip is passed through an aperture below the hopper C and attached to a reel N. Balls then pass through the perforations of the strip and actuate the typewriter. The perforated shaft D which controls the passage of the balls is connected by an arm and link D<11> with an arm D<12> on the shaft P. The reel N is driven from the shaft G<4> through a loose wheel Q<4>, which can be locked to its shaft by a clutch member Q<2> actuated by an arm Q<1> on the shaft P. At the end of the shaft P is an arm which can be caused to occupy any one of three positions by means of three levers R, R<1>,R<2>, the lower ends of which are actuated by certain of the levers J. Either or both of the clutches N<6>, Q<2> may by this means be thrown out of gear. A second perforated strip S' for printing the addresses of letters is carried by a reel S and passes below a hopper E on to a reel S<8>. The balls from the hopper E pass through a perforated shaft S<3>, actuated by hand, and down a shoot D' which communicates with the shoot D'. The reel S<8> is driven by a shaft and bevel-wheels from the shaft G<4>, through a loose wheel which can be locked to and unlocked from its shaft by a clutch actuated either by hand or by two of the levers J. During the printing, the stop lever L' is held in its lower position by a pivoted arm L<5>, and the finger g is engaged by a stop M to prevent rotation of the wheel G'‹. When a number of letters are to be printed, each with a different address, the reels S<8>, N are, alternately thrown into gear by means of special perforations in the strips, and, after each letter is written, the strip I<1> is rewound upon the reel I<4>.