Patent GB-351036-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to machines normally operated from a keyboard
Filed: 1930-03-14
Abstract: 351,036. Typewriters; punching- machines. THOMAS, A., 103, Headcorn Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, and MERCEDES BRO - MASCHINEN - WERKE AKT.-GES., Benshauser, Post Zella-Mehlis, Thiiringia, Germany. March 14, 1930, No. 8297. [Class 100 (iv).] Coupling machines for simultaneous operation; relay type-lever machines; selective-punching machines.-In mechanism for coupling the keyboard of a machine such as a typewriter to the keyboard of another machine such as a punching-machine having a smaller number of keys, two sets of members connected to the keys of the smaller and larger keyboards respectively are arranged across each other, and the members of the first set are operated one, two, or more at a time by the members of the second set. In the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a relay typewriter A is selectively coupled by mechanism B to the statistical card punching-machine C described in Specifications 328,255, [Class 31 (ii), Punching and perforating machines &c.], and 350,518 and comprising keybars 25 controlled by keys 22 and associated with relay-operated bars 28 coupled to bell cranks 33 for depressing set bars 34 for the punches. The keys 22 correspond to the numerals 0 .. 12 and are operated singly or in combination to make code perforations. The key-levers 2 of the typewriter have latches 3 engaging arms 5 connected to levers 6 engaging the type-levers 10, depression of any key-lever causing a nose 8 on the associated arm to engage a driving-roller 9. The selecting- mechanism B comprises a set of bars 14 connected to individual key-bars 25 and co-operating with a set of pivoted arms 13 operated through pushrods 12 by the levers 6 of the typewriter. The push-rods may abut on the arms or, to reduce the motion, may abut on intermediate levers 13b. The bars 14 are mounted on bell cranks 15a, 15b connected by links 14a, the bell cranks 15 being connected by rods 16 and Bowden cables 21 to the key-bars 25. The bars 14 are provided with lugs 18 for engaging the arms, the lugs being so arranged that each arm operates one or more bars in accordance with the code. The lugs may be adjustable to alter the code. The punch key of the punching-machine is controlled by a special key on the typewriter, the two keys being connected by means including a sliding rod 41. When a typewriter having adding-mechanism is employed, the punch key is controlled automatically by mechanism for printing a star to indicate that the machine is clear. For this purpose, the star-type mechanism operates a push-rod 35 abutting on a pivoted arm 36 engaging a bell crank 39 which engages a collar 40 on the rod 41. The carriages of the typewriter and punching machine are returned as an incident in the operation of the star-type mechanism. To permit independent operation of the typewriter and punching-machine, the rods 16 are provided with pins entering L-slots 16b in the bell cranks 15, and a plate 44 carried by a shaft 45 is provided for moving forwards the rods to prevent operation thereof by the bell cranks. When the punching-machine is required to operate during certain parts only of the travel of the typewriter carriage, the shaft 45 may be automatically rocked by means of a controlling-bar mounted on the typewriter carriage and having recesses and projections co-operating with a pin 51 on a rocking arm 50 connected by a link 47 to a spring-urged arm 46 on the shaft. For causing the punching-machine carriage to skip during certain parts of the travel of the typewriter carriage, the controlling-bar thereon is provided with dogs co-operating with a rocking arm 57 connected to an arm 59 abutting on a collar 60 on a rod 61 which is connected to the spacing-mechanism of the punching-machine. The back-spacing and spacing keys of the typewriter operate by means of push rods pivoted arms engaging two of the bars 14, these bars being connected to the back-spacing and spacing mechanisms of the punching-machine. When two columns only are available for indicating numerals, hundreds are indicated by perforations in the 12 and 11 positions and the above-mentioned controlling-bar on the typewriter carriage is employed to render the punching-machine inoperative when the typewriter carriage is in the hundreds position. For punching the hundreds perforations simultaneously with units or tens perforations, the typewriter is provided with special keys corresponding to the 11, 12 perforations and connected by a Bowden cable 87 to a notched arm 89 pivoted on one of the links 14a and adapted to co-operate with a rocking flap 90 which enters recesses 91 in the links. On depression of one of the special keys, the notched arm engages the flap and thereby couples the associated link 14a to the link 14a of the units or tens key so that operation of the latter key causes both hundreds and units or tens perforations to be made. The selecting-mechanism B may control two punching- machines, or two selecting-mechanisms may be employed for this purpose. Specification 350,001 also is referred to.