Patent GB-190827249-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
Inventor: BROWN ALEXANDER TIMOTHY
Filed: 1908-12-15
Granted: 1909-06-03
Abstract: 27,249. Brown, A. T. Dec. 15. Typewriters.-The operative field of a multicolour or like inking-ribbon is changed by depressing a key, which resumes its normal position immediately after the change and is thus more conveniently operated than the usual keys or switches, which change their position according to the change of the ribbon field. The change device is combined with means for silencing the ribbon for mimeograph or stencil work. A machine of the " Smith Premier Visible No. 10 " class is shown. The levers 9 for operating the type-bars 5 operate a universal bar 17, which is provided with an ear 22 connected by a link 24 to a rockshaft 25, and is also provided with ears 18 each connected by arms 20, 26 and a link 28 to an arm 30 on the shaft 25. The two-field ribbon 44 is carried by a vibrator 42 pivoted to an arm 40 on a rockshaft 39 which is provided at the end with an arm 38 connected to a link 36. A block 34 to which the link 36 is pivoted is mounted on an arcuate arm 33 secured to the forward end of a cranked part 31 formed in the shaft 25. The ribbon is normally vibrated to present the black field a ; but by moving the block 34 to the rear, the throw may be increased to present the red field b, or by moving the block to the front the ribbon may be silenced for mimeograph work. The block 34 is connected by a link 45 to an arm 46<a> on a plate 46 pivoted on a stud 47 and operated by the key 62. An arm 54 pivoted on a stud 58 and tensioned downwards by a spring 56 carries a roller detent 52, which may engage notches 49, 50, 51 in the plate 46, which together with the block 34 is thereby maintained in its set position. A bell-crank lever mounted on the stud 58 is provided with an arm 58<a>, which engages beneath the detent 52 and is pivoted to the key-stem 60 mounted in the stepped framework 61 in or near the keyboard. The arm 58<b> of the lever is pivoted at 63 to a frame or " puller " 64 formed with a head 64<b> and an arm 64<a>, which is connected by a spring 65 to a fixed pin 57. The spring 65 holds the frame 64 in the position shown in Fig. 1, and tends to restore it to that position after movement. The head 64<b> is formed with notches 66<a>, 66, 67, 68, 69 adapted to engage studs 70, 71 secured to the plate 46 on opposite sides of the body of the frame 64. To change the ribbon from black to red, the key 62 is depressed, thereby pulling forward the frame 64 and, by engagement of the notch 66 with the stud 70, swinging the plate from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4. The movement of the plate is arrested by the engagement of the stud 71 with the notch 69, and the detent 52 then engages the notch 50 to lock the plate and with it the block 34 in the adjusted position. When the finger is released from the key 62, the spring 65 raises the key and also restores the frame 64 to its normal position, the notch 68 then engaging the stud 71. To re-change the ribbon to black, the key 62 is again depressed, thereby by engagement of the notch 68 with the stud 71 swinging the plate 46 until the stud 70 engages the notch 66<a>, the detent 52 being then seated in the notch 49. When the finger pressure is released, the key 62 rises and the frame 64 is again restored to its normal position, the notch 68 then engaging the stud 70. ' The plate 46 is pivoted to an arm 72 guided at the top by a rod 4<a> and provided with an index-finger 72<b> moving over indexes 74, 75, 76 painted or provided on the left-hand corner post and corresponding to the black, the red, and the mimeograph adjustments. To silence the ribbon, the index-finger 72 is pushed downwards from either of the indexes 74,75 to the index 76, thereby swinging the plate 46 into its new position ; the plate is locked by the engagement of the detent 52 with the notch 51. To prevent the head 64<b> from arresting the stud 70 before the plate 46 has moved sufficiently to the rear to bring it to mimeograph position, the notch 51 is formed at a greater distance than the notches 49, 50 from the pivot 47,. so that the arm 54 is lifted, thereby permitting the spring 65 to raise the frame 64 and the key stem 60. The movement carries the frame 64' slightly to the rear and permits the stud 70 to engage the notch 67. To return from the mimeograph to the red or the black adjustments, the finger 72<b> is lifted to the indexes 74 or 75. The re-changing to the black adjustment is however preferably made by depressing the key 62. The notch 67 engages the stud 70 and swings the plate 46 until the stud 71 engages a nose 64<c> on the head 64b, the plate being then locked by the engagement of the detent 52, with the notch 49. When the finger is released, the frame 64 is pulled down by the spring 65 to bring the notch 66 into engagement with the stud 70. The next depression of the key 64 moves the parts into the position shown in Fig. 4 and renders the red field operative.