Patent GB-955541-A (GB)
Title: Educational apparatus for children
IPC: G09B13/04
Filed: 1962-05-25
Abstract: 955,541. Typewriters combined with phonographs. McGRAW-EDISON CO. May 25, 1962 [May 29, 1961], No. 20276/62. Heading B6F. [Also in Divisions G4 and G5] A self-training apparatus designed to teach children to read, type and take dictation comprises a typewriter having a keyboard with characters designated on the keys and means audibly speaking statements related to and/or pronouncing the character designated on each key. The latter means includes a drum bearing as many recorded one - revolution tracks as there are characters represented by the keyboard. When a key is depressed contacts 67 or 68, Fig. 4, are closed, whereby one such track is selected and reproduced by means including a loud-speaker 90. The reproduction may be made immediately upon depression of the key or after a variable delay which allows the child to attempt pronunciation of the character before the machine pronounces it. Keys and keyboards.-The keys which are to be operated by the left hand are provided with a different feel, e.g. by a different shaping of the keys, and/or a different operating pressure, obtainable by adjusting the pressures of the return springs, from those of the keys which are to be operated by the right hand. The keys are mounted on levers 21 which extend rearwards into a key-lever interlock 35, Figs. 4, 5. The interlock allows only one key to be depressed at a time and comprises a guide comb 36 having slots 37 through which pass the levers 21. A raceway 38 in the comb houses a number of rollers 39 which fall short of fully spanning the length of the raceway by the width of a single lever. When a lever is depressed it will cam the adjacent rollers apart and move therebetween whereby the raceway is filled so as to block any second lever from being depressed until the first lever is released. Locking-devices.-After a key has been released the entire keyboard is automatically temporarily locked against further operation until after the sound corresponding to the key in question has been reproduced. A plate 40 pivoted at 41 is biased by a spring 42 to a position in which its upper edge engages under the outer ends of the levers 21 and prevents depression thereof. The plate is swung in a clockwise direction, Fig. 4, by means of a solenoid in order to unlock the keyboard. Actions using auxiliary power.-When a key is depressed the corresponding lever 21 turns a release lever 23 pivoted at 24 to a cam unit C13 or C14 to allow a two-lobe cam 27 to be spring- urged into contact with a roller 20 driven continuously by an electric motor. The cam is pivoted at 28 to the cam unit and is driven by the roller 20 through half a revolution in the course of which one lobe of the cam is brought into contact with the roller and the cam unit is thereby caused to pivot about a point 26, such pivoting being converted into movement of a type bar 15 or 16 through a linkage 30, 31, 32. The cam 27 is prevented from rotating more than half a revolution even if the key is held in the depressed position by the engagement of an abutment on the cam with the release lever 23. Case-shift mechanism.-Lower-case and uppercase keys 11, 12 are provided on the keyboard, one or the other of which must be depressed to effect a change of case. Signal lights are incorporated in the keys which light-up to indicate whether the machine is set for upper or lower case typing. The words " upper case " and "lower case" are spoken by the reproducing means when the appropriate key is pressed. Carriage return mechanism.-The machine may be set for either manual or automatic return of the carriage. Automatic return is effected by a solenoid energized by means of a switch which is closed by an adjustable finger on the carriage when the latter reaches a point near the end of its travel. Energization of the solenoid is delayed so that the sound corresponding to the last key depressed is reproduced before the carriage is returned.