Patent GB-189911778-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Actuating Mechanism for Key-operated Machines.
Inventor: MURRAY DONALD
Filed: 1899-06-06
Granted: 1900-03-10
Abstract: 11,778. Murray, D. June 6. Type type, setting; type-writers; linotype machines.-Relates to mechanism for operating the keyboards of type-writers, linotype machines, type-casting and type-setting machines, &c. by means of a perforated strip obtained by telegraphic or other means. Fig. 20 shows a portion of the perforated strip 13. The central perforations 28 are used for positively feeding the strip, the larger perforations 28<a> representing the various characters serving to operate the case-shifting devices &c. The strip 13 passes in a vertical plane between a pair of plates 11, 12 shown in plan view in Fig. 21, each having five horizontally-arranged perforations. The strip is guided by rollers 14, 15, 17, 16, and is driven by a cylinder 26 bearing pins which engage with the perforations 28 and serve to drive the strip. The whole of the above-mentioned parts are mounted on a carriage 9 adapted to reciprocate in guides 8, and the cylinder 26 is turned sufficiently to advance the strip through a distance equal to one of the character sections a, b, Fig. 20, during the left-hand movement of the carriage by means of a ratchet-wheel and pawl. Five assembly members or combs 48, of which one is shown in side elevation in Fig. 27, are adapted to slide longitudinally between guiding-pins 52 upon a table or bed-plate 1. The combs are provided with pins or fingers 51 which enter the perforations in the plate 11. When the carriage moves towards the right, those pins which are opposite unperforated portions of the strip will move with the carriage, while the others pass through the perforations and remain undisturbed. The re-arrangement of the combs 48 thus effected causes the alignment of one of the series of notches shown in Fig. 27, so as to permit of the descent of one of a series of transverse levers 55, Fig. 7, pivoted on a shaft 53. The levers 55 are normally supported by a bar 56, which is lowered by the movement of a camactuated lever 60 which bears adjustable pillars (not shown in the Figures), supporting the bar 56. The lever 55, which is vertically above the aligned series of notches, drops into the position shown in Fig. 7, and the cam 71 then actuates the levers 67 and bar 66 so as to force inwards the sliding rod 73, of which one is carried by each lever 55. The rod 73 is connected by a cord 76 with one of the keys of the type-writer or other machine to be operated, and the key is thus depressed. The bar 55 having been lifted, the carriage 9 returns to its left-hand position, and the projections 51<a>, Fig. 27, are aligned by a series of springs on the carriage so as to restore the combs 48 to the normal positioa with their ends aligned. In addition to the combs 52 are provided a " figure" comb 49, Fig. 21, and a "capital" comb 50. When a section of the perforative strip representing "capitals" (see b, Fig. 20) reaches the operative position, the combs are so aligned that a transverse lever is brought into action bearing a wedge-piece which co-operates with an inclined surface on the "capital" comb so as to shift the latter. The subsequent operation of a section such as c does not cause the same alignment of the notches as would otherwise be the case, but a new alignment, which effects the operation of a key in the "capital" section of the keyboard. The type-writer will continue to print capitals until a " release " section d of the strip is reached, when a transverse lever is operated which causes the "capital" comb to resume its normal position. The "figure" comb is employed in a similar way, a " release section of the strip being required to replace it after use. Fig. 36 shows a tension device for the paper strip, consisting of a roller 32 against which presses the roller 40. A spring 35 connects the roller 32 with a sleeve 36 which is gripped between a pair of braking-jaws 37, 38, the pressure of which can be adjusted by a bolt which connects their free ends. The perforations in the strip constituting each character may be arranged transversely instead of longitudinally, but they cannot in that case be conveniently telegraphed. The driving- cylinder of such a strip may be perforated so as to allow of the passage of the pins 51, the plate 12 being dispensed with. The type-writer or other machine may be operated pneumatically. Fig. 40 shows one of the levers 55 in cross-section. It is provided with a perforation 116 which connects the passages 111, 112 when the lever is depressed, and supplies air from a trunk 107 to a tube 113 which communicates with the cylinder operating the key lever of the type-writer. In the modification shown in Fig. 42, the circuit of the electromagnet 123 is closed by the contact-piece 122 at the same time that the bar 120 is descending, and the magnet is of sufficient strength to operate the type-writer &c. directly by means of the cord 76.