Patent GB-540954-A (GB)
Title: Keyboard mechanism for typographical composing and like machines
IPC: B41B11/18
Filed: 1940-06-18
Abstract: 540,954. Type-bar-making machines. MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE CO. June 18, 1940, No. 10542. Convention date, June 19, 1939. [Classes 100 (iii) and 100 (iv)] Escapements; keyboards; driving-mechanism,-To reduce the number of power-operated devices that actuate the escapements, the escapement-operating reeds are divided into groups of main reed sections and corresponding groups of auxiliary reed sections arranged above them, one reed in each of the main groups being operated by each key, and one auxiliarygroup being also brought into action, so that a single reed in the selected auxiliary group is actuated for releasing a matrix. The number of power-devices for dealing with a ninety-character fount can thus be reduced to, say, twenty, a set of ten operating ten different sets of main reeds, and a second set of ten operating ten groups of auxiliary reeds. The powerdevices comprise cams loosely mounted on a rotating shaft and adapted to be coupled thereto by friction davices. The groups of auxiliary reeds G<SP>1</SP>, Figs. 2 and 8, that operate the escapements, are mounted in rocking frames G<SP>3</SP> and are normally out of alignment with the main reeds G, which are located below them. On actuation of a key, one auxiliary group is rocked into alignment, with the main reeds and a particular reed in that group is operated by the main reed below it. The frames G<SP>3</SP> are rocked by arms G<SP>8</SP>, reeds J, and rocking bails K from a set of reeds M<SP>1</SP>, which are operated by one set of power-devices. The main reeds G are operated by bails L from a set of reeds N<SP>1</SP>, which are actuated by the other set of power devices. Each power-device comprises a cam M, Fig. 15, loosely mounted on a rotating shaft T and adapted to act through a lever on one of the reeds M<SP>1</SP>, N<SP>1</SP>. The cam can be clutched to the shaft by means of a split frictionband m<SP>2</SP>, which turns with the cam. The band is tightened on the shaft by the action of a curved spring-pressed lever m<SP>s</SP>, which is mounted on the cam and is normally held inoperative by a lever S<SP>1</SP>. When the lever S<SP>1</SP> is rocked by the operation of a key, the lever m<SP>3</SP> acts on one end of the friction-band m<SP>2</SP> and causes it to grip the shaft. After one revolution the cam is arrested by the lever S<SP>1</SP>. The levers S<SP>1</SP> are operated from the key-levers O<SP>1</SP> through key-bars P', bails Q, R, and reeds Q<SP>2</SP>, R<SP>2</SP>, each Key-bar actuating two bails and two reeds. As heretofore, two channels of a magazine are assigned to the character e, and the main reeds associated with these channels are actuated alternatively; by one of the bails L, which is moved to and fro lengthways by cam and ratchet mechanism operated by the rise of the assembler. The machine is adapted to handle both 90 and 72 character founts, which are contained in different magazines. The key-bars P<SP>1</SP> are in duplicate sets and are mounted in a shift-frame, so that either set having appropriate connections with the escapements can be brought into use. The shift-frame is adjusted by a handoperated slide-bar, which effects the interchange of the magazine-entrances and the distributor-bars. Each of the bails employed in the machine is formed from two overlapping plates K, K<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 19, having curved portions to form a socket K<SP>2</SP>, which receive a pivot-pin K<SP>3</SP>.