Patent GB-399586-A (GB)
Title: Automatic typewriting machine
IPC: B41J3/50
Filed: 1932-04-29
Abstract: 399,586. Typewriters &c. BLUMENTHAL, I. C., Jerusalem, Palestine. April 29, 1932, No. 12338. [Classes 100 (iii) and 100 (iv).] Strip-controlled driving mechanism; keyboard operators.-Apparatus, employed in connection with a typewriter, for making a perforated strip which is subsequently employed for controlling the typewriter, comprises a casing for supporting the typewriter and automatic operating-means therefor, and a removable casing for supporting the strip and feedmechanism therefor. The apparatus includes punches, operated by the character, shift, linespacing, and carriage-returning keys, for making corresponding perforations in the strip during typing of the original, the perforations subsequently controlling the circuits of solenoids for automatically operating the keys. Keys are also provided for initiating step-feed and rewinding of the strip, these keys also operating punches for making corresponding perforations. In the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a casing 82 supports the typewriter and operating-mechanism therefor, and the strip-feeding mechanism is mounted in a removable casing 80, described below. The character-key levers 1 and the shift and other special key-levers, described below, are each connected to a lever 2 having a lug 5 engaging a lever 8 which carries a punch 9 for perforating a strip 16. The strip is wound on rollers 17, 21 and passes over a feed-roller 18 and between die-plates 11, 13, the rollers 17, 21 being driven from the roller 18 by means of belts and ratchetcouplings 33, 34. Releasable pressure-rollers 19 co-operate with the roller 18. The strip is initially wound on the roller 17, and at each operation of the keys is fed on t the roller 21 by means of a, pawl 60. which co-operates with a ratchet-wheel 58 on the shaft 30 of the roller 18, and is carried by an arm 59 connected to the core of a solenoid 36. A contact-arm 70, Fig. 7, connected to the arm 59 is normally latched by a pawl which co-operates with a universal bar 25 operated by the key-levers. On depression of any key-lever, a perforation is made in the strip, a contact 28 in circuit with the solenoid 36 is broken by the universal bar, and the contact-arm is released and closes another contact 71 in circuit with the solenoid. On release of the key-lever, the contact 28 is again closed, the solenoid is energized, and the pawl feeds the strip, the provision of the two contacts 71, 28 preventing feed from occurring until the punch has been withdrawn. On return of the core of the solenoid, the contactarm is rocked by means of the arm 59 and the contact 71 is broken. The key-levers include a copying-key 114, Fig. 6, and a writing-key lever which are employed, in the manner described below, for making perforations at the end and beginning of the text perforations, and initiate rewinding and step-feed of the strip. The copying-key lever is so arranged that the universal bar 25 is not operated, feed of the strip being thereby prevented. The key-levers are connected by the levers 2 to the cores 3 of solenoids 4, each of which is in circuit with one of a series of contacts 23 for reading the strip. Means for rewinding the strip comprises a clutch-member 40 which is connected by a belt and gearing 75, 78 to a motor 38 and can be moved into or out of engagement with a clutch-member 39 on the roller 18 by means of a fork 42 co-operating with a latch 46 and a restoring-member 56. Solenoids 49, 50 for operating the latch and restoring-member are arranged in circuits which are closed by the copying-key and writing-key respectively. The casing 80 that supports the strip-feeding mechanism is provided with wheels 142 running on rails 144 on a table 145 which is mounted on screws 146. When the table is lowered, the gears 75, 78 separate, and the casing can be removed to permit of the strip being changed. To prepare for automatic operation of the typewriter, the spindle 7 of the levers 8 is lowered to move them out of engagement with the lugs 5. On depression of the copying-key, the solenoid 49 is energized, and the fork 42 moves the clutch-member 40 into engagement with the clutch-member 39, and permits a contact 53 to start the motor. The roller 17 then begins to rewind the strip, rewinding continuing until the writing-key perforation passes over a contact 4a. Thereupon, the solenoid 50 is energized, the clutch-member 40 is disengaged, and the contact 53 is opened. The step-feed device 58, 60 then becomes effective, and at each movement a perforation registers with one of the contacts 23, and the corresponding solenoid 4 operates its key-lever. When the copying-key perforation registers with its contact, rewinding of the strip is again initiated in the abovedescribed manner. The contact 53 and a contact 54 in circuit with the solenoids 4 are operated by the fork 42 in such a manner that one contact is open when the other is closed, the arrangement preventing the key-levers from being operated by the solenoids 4 during rewinding of the strip. Moreover, the contact-arm 70 opens the circuits of the solenoids 4 when the circuit of the solenoid 36 is closed, and vice versa, the arrangement preventing the strip from receiving step-feed during operation of the key-levers by the solenoids 4. Carriage-returning mechanism.-The carriagereturning key-lever 102, Fig. 6, operates a punch and is connected by a link 126 to a lever 127 carrying mercury contacts 103, 128 in circuit with the motor 38, Fig. 1, and a solenoid 87, Fig. 7, respectively, the solenoid being arranged to move a clutch-member 83 into engagement with a clutch-member 72 driven by the motor. The carriage-returning key-lever is locked in depressed position by co-operation of a catch 130 with a shoulder 108 on the link, release being effected, on return of the carriage, by co-operation of the 'margin stop with a bellcrank 116 connected to the catch. Line-spacing mechanism.-The line-spacing key-lever 97, Fig. 6, operates a punch and closes a contact 101 in circuit with a solenoid 92, Fig. 1, connected to a bell-crank 96 cooperating with a rod 94 which extends along the carriage and is connected to the linespacing lever 93. Shift-key actions.-The carriage is connected to a shift-lever 109, Fig. 6, co-operating with a catch 112 and abutting on a lug 111 on a shift-key lever 110 which operates a punch. Depression of the shift-key lever operates and locks the shift-lever, and a second depression releases the shift-lever.