Patent GB-190102935-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
Inventor: FELBEL JACOB
Filed: 1901-02-11
Granted: 1901-03-16
Abstract: 2935. Felbel, J. Feb. 11. Type-writers. - Relates to detail improvements in front-strike type-bar machines of the form shown in sectional elevation in Fig. 1. The key levers 4 are pivoted on a rod 5, and are normally tensioned upwards against a pad 6 by springs 7. The springs 7 are hooked at their rear ends to engage slots 8 in the key levers ; their front ends are passed through holes in a channelledbar 12, and are clamped by a plate 17. A universal bar 19 is carried by arms 21 pivoted on a fixed shaft 22. The arms 21 are united by a tie-rod 24 and rear bar 23 so as to constitute a bail from which an ear 25 extends rearwardly. To this ear are pivoted the operative rod 142 of the ink-ribbon vibrating-mechanism, and the link 32 which operates the escapement-dog rocker 40. The rockshaft 36 of the dog-rocker is provided with the usual returning-spring 44. On the descent of the arm 32, a spring 56 yields until the forward end of a plate screwed on to the further side of the arm 54 comes in contact with the arm 35 of the dogrocker. The aforesaid plate has a curved lower edge, so that its point of contact with the arm 35 creeps along the latter towards the rear, thus giving the maximum leverage on the dog-rocker at the moment of starting it. Pivoted at 59 to each key lever is a bell-crank lever 61 slotted at 62 to engage with an antifriction collar on the shaft 22. The descent of the key lever throws the lever 61 rearwards, and brings the type-bar 65 to the platen 50 by means of the link 64. The links 64 are slotted as shown in Fig. 23, to render them easily detachable from the levers 61. The upper ends of the bellcrank levers are guided in a segmental comb 67. The links 64 are twisted, where necessary, and are pivoted loosely to the type-bars 65. Fig. 7 shows one form of loose pivot connection between the link and bar. The stud 66, secured in the typebar 65, is formed with a convex or spherical shonlder 66<a>, on which the link is able to move laterally to a limited extent, as indicated by dotted lines. The type-bar is recessed at 65<a> to render this movement possible. The type-bars are held in the segment 76 by a curved rod 75 secured in a slot cut in the inner periphery of the segment. In order to hold the rod firmly in place its ends are forced downwards by two screws arranged at an inclination in line with the ends, thus seating the rod firmly in the bottom of the slot. By unscrewing one of the screws and screwing down the other, the pivot rod can be moved so as to bring fresh bearing-surfaces within the hubs of the type-bars. The type is brought accurately to the impression-point by a centre-guide 79 provided with flaring prongs 78. The centre-guide is carried by a bar which spans the segment 76, and is bolted to it. A segmental comb 82 assists in guiding the type-bars to the impression-point. Each type-bar is provided with a retracting-spring 87, secured at one end to a stirrup or loop 88 and at the other to a hook extending from the segmental plate 91. This plate, together with the padded rest 93, is carried by rods 95 extending from the segment 76, and is adjustable thereon by means of nuts 96 so as to vary the tension of the springs 87. The plate 91 is formed with teeth 97 constituting a guide comb for the type-bars as they return to the rest 93. The rest 93 is supported by a pair of adjustable wedge-shaped pads 98 when the segment 76 is in the normal or lower case position. To shift from lower to upper case type, the segment 76 is adapted to be raised, carrying all the type-bars with it. For this purpose, a race containing bearing-balls is formed between the vertical side edges of the segment and brackets depending from the top plate 3. The shift key actuates an arm extending from a horizontal rock-shaft from which also extend two arms connected by vertical links with the segment 76. The rock-shaft is tensioned by an adjustable coiled spring, which nearly balances the weight of the segment and type-bars. The inking-ribbon 122, Figs. 1 and 10, is wound on spools 123 carried by vertical shafts 124, driven through intermediate shafts 184 from a transverse shaft 178. The shaft 178 is driven by gears 179, 180 and a ratchet-wheel from the spring drum 51 which drives the carriage. The shaft 178 can be made to drive either of the shafts 184 by giving it a small endwise movement. The ribbon 122 passes through the guiding-eyes 131 of a ribbon vibrator constructed as shown in Fig. 13. The tongues 128 engage in slots in the vertical arms of the centre guide 79, and move freely therein. The extension 126 is hinged to the front end of a vibrating lever 136, which is actuated by the rod 142 through the medium of a yielding spring 141. The upward movement of the ribbon is limited by the abutment of the lever 136 against one or other of two stops 146 carried by a disc pivoted beneath the top plate 3. The disc is adjustable by a handle 148, so that the height to which the ribbon rises when a key is depressed can be changed from time to time. This allows the full width of the ribbon to be utilized for inking purposes. When the ribbon is not being raised to its highest point, the spring 141 yields to accommodate itself to the unvarying stroke of the bar 142. Devices are provided for locking the keyboard when a ribbonspool is empty, thus indicating to the operator that the ribbon requires reversing. For this purpose an obstruction 160, Fig. 10, is secured to the ribbon near each end. When the obstruction reaches the pins 159 between which the ribbon passes, the lever 161 drawn forward the link 165, and thus depresses a bail 170. Through a slot in this bail passes a pin 172 carried by the horizontal arm 173 of a two-armed lever 173, 176. The vertical arm 176 terminates in a hook 177, Fig. 1, which is thus caused to engage beneath the dog-rocker arm 35 and lock the universal bar 19 and the keyboard. An endwise movement must then be given to the shaft 178. If ribbons of various colours are carried by the spools, obstructions are placed at the ends of each ribbon. A plate 187 is secured to the front of the machine, its upper edge being curved concentrically with the system of type-bars. A detachable shield 188 fits above the plate 187, and may be extended rearwardly as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, so as to cover the type-bars as far as possible.