Patent GB-1028991-A (GB)
Title: Automatic setting of type-wheels
IPC: B41F33/00
Filed: 1963-01-18
Abstract: 1,028,991. Selective printing. SEAILLES & TISON. Jan. 18, 1963 [Jan. 22, 1962], No. 2379/63. Heading B6F. Apparatus for selecting a line of type to be printed from a series of coaxial typewheels 1, la, 1b &c., Fig. 1 (not shown), comprises for each type-wheel a contact 30, Fig. 3 (not shown), rotated in synchronism therewith and cooperating with a series of fixed contacts 25a, 25b &c., equal in number to the number of characters on the typewheel, means 45 for locking a typewheel with the desired character in printing position, and means for energizing a fixed contact 25a &c., corresponding to the character, the typewheel being rotated until the rotating contact 30 engages the energized fixed contact, whereupon the locking means is operated to stop the typewheel. The typewheels 1, la &c. are.frictionally rotated from a shaft 2, Fig. 1 (not shown), coupled to a shaft 15 driven by a motor 19. A series of discs 16, one for each typewheel, is rotated frictionally by the shaft 15, and each carries a contact 30. Intermediate the discs 16 are fixed discs 17, one corresponding to each disc 16, and each carrying a set of fixed contacts 25a, 25b &c. over which the corresponding contact 30 passes. The fixed contacts 25a &c. are connected to another series of fixed contacts 27a, 27b &c.. Fig. 3 (not shown), on which a selector contact-arm 28 is set according to the character required, the setting of the arm 28 being controlled from the scanning head of an electronic apparatus. The pivot 51 of the arm 28 is connected to one terminal 43 of a current source and to two solenoids 39, 40 in parallel the circuit of which can be completed by closing contacts 36, 37 leading to the other current source terminal 34. When the solenoids 39, 40 are energized, stops 44, 45 engaging notches 32, 33 in the peripheries of a disc 16 and to typewheel 1 are withdrawn allowing the disc and typewheel to rotate. The contacts 36, 37 can be closed by a contact 38 which, however, is inoperative when a solenoid 49 connected to rotating contact 30 and supply contact 34 is closed. Normally, when the member 28 is set, the contact 30 is not opposite the fixed contact 25a selected. Consequently, solenoid 49 is not energized, contacts 36, 37 are closed and solenoids 39, 40 are energized. The stops 44, 45 are thus inoperative and the typewheel and disc rotate until the contact 30 engages the energized contact 25a &c., whereupon solenoid 49 is energized, contacts 36, 37 are broken, solenoids 39, 40 are de-energized and stops 44, 45 act to hold the typewheol and disc stationary with the selected character in printing position. When successive lines are being printed, # zeroizing " of the typewheels is not required between successive, printing operations. The discs 16 may be dispensed with, Figs. 4, 5 (not shown), and the contacts corresponding to contacts 30 provided in recesses in side walls of the typewheels, these contacts co-operating with contacts similar to contacts 25a, 25b &c. on a printed circuit In a further modification, Fig. 6 (not shown), each typewheel is geared directly to its disc 16, and a single stop 44 only engaging the disc 16 is provided corresponding to each typewheel. Impression mechanism.-The shaft 2 on which the typewheels are mounted is carried by bearings 4b, Fig. 2 (not shown), reciprocated in a slidoway 5 by a crank-and-connecting rod 4, 4a to and from a platen to effect printing. A telescopic or universal connection is provided between the shafts 2, 15 to permit of the movement.