Patent GB-312136-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in typewriting machines
IPC: B41J3/28
Filed: 1928-02-21
Abstract: 312,136. Marks, E. C. R., (Elliott- Fisher Co.). Feb. 21, 1928. Carriage-returning mechanism; line-spacing mechanism; driving-mechanism.-In machines having printing or printing and computing mechanism mounted to move transversely and longitudinally for letter-spacing and line-spacing, motor-driven means is provided for moving the mechanism longitudinally and, in some cases, transversely in the return direction. In the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 65 and comprising typing and computing mechanisms mounted on a carriage 8 travelling for letterspacing on a frame 7 which travels for line-spacing on framework 3 supporting the platen 4, motor-driven means is provided for returning the carriage and incidently operating the line-spacing mechanism, and for traversing the frame longitudinally in either direction. The carriage is propelled by a spring-drum tape 31 and is controlled by an escapement operated by a universal bar. The frame 7 is provided with a shaft 13 which is associated with linespacing mechanism, described below, and carries rollers 12 and pinions 14 running on rails 11 and racks 15 on the frame 3. A motor 36 on the frame 7 drives through a friction coupling 40, Fig. 65 and worm-gearing 38, a shaft 41 having a loose pinion 51 engaging a rack 52 on the carriage 8. The pinion and shaft have clutch members 56 which are engaged by moving axially the pinion, the movement being effected by an arm 67 on a shaft 71. A second arm 66 on the shaft has a pin 64 which engages an arm 63 on a shaft 62 provided with arms 61 supporting a bar 60. A loose latch 68 normally engages the arm 66 and holds open the clutch the latch having a pin 65 connected by a spring 74 to the pin 64. An arm 75 on the shaft 62 is connected by an adjustable fibre-link 76 to a pivoted contact 80 adapted on engaging a stationary contact 82 to close the circuit of the motor. The carriage is provided with a carriagereturning key 89 connected to a shaft 93 having a finger 94 which rides along the bar 60. On depression of the key, the bar 60 is moved forwards, the motor is started, the latch is raised, the arms 66, 67 are rocked, the pinion is coupled to its shaft, and the carriage is thereupon returned, the spring 74 retaining the parts in operative position on release of the key. When the carriage reaches its starting position, a roller thereon rides over an adjustable stop 98 on the bar 60 and moves the bar rearwards, the parts being thereby restored to the normal position. For automatically returning the carriage if the key has not been operated before the carriage reaches line-end position, the carriage is provided with a second roller which co-operates with a second adjustable stop to move the bar forwards and thereby initiate the carriagereturning movement. The line mechanism comprises a knurled wheel 15<1> Figs. 1 and 34, secured to the shaft 13 and co-operating with a pawl 16 mounted on rocking arm 17 and coupled by a pin 17<b> to a bell-crank 17<a> which is coupled to a rock-shaft 21 provided with a line-spacing key 22. The throw of the pawl is limited by an adjustable stop 23, and a stationary stop 24 which jams the pawl and thereby locks the frame 7 after being line-spaced. The shaft 21 is coupled by an arm 103 and link 104 to a bell-crank 107 which is coupled to a slide 108 mounted on the frame 7. Towards the end of the carriagereturning movement, a pivoted hook 112, Fig. 43, on the carriage engages an adjustable stop 109 on the slide, the slide being thereby drawn to the left to operate the line-spacing mechanism. To permit movemnt of the slide after the stop 24 arrests the pawl, the slide and bell-crank are yieldingly connected by a spring 115 arranged in a casing 114 on the bell-crank and abutting on a nut 116 on the slide. The spring 115 aided by the draw-tape 31 serves also to cushion the carriage. For releasing the frame 7 from the line-spacing mechanism, the hook 112 is provided with a pin 117 adapted, during the initial letterspacing movement of the carriage, to ride over an incline on a block 118, thereby releasing the hook from the block 109 and permitting the linespacing mechanism to return to the normal position. The block 118 rocks on a vertical axis and after being moved aside by the pin 117 is returned by a spring-pin 119 to the position shown in Fig. 43. 'The frame 7 is traversed backwards or forwards by means of mechanism comprising a shaft 129, Fig. 65, which is geared to the shaft 13 and is driven through reversing-gearing by the motor 36. The reversing-gearing comprises a stub-shaft 134 which is geared to the shaft 41 and has a bevel-gear 135 engaging loose bevel-gears 136, 137 revoluble on the shaft 129 and having clutch members for engaging a clutch member 140 on the shaft. The member 140 is normally in neutral position, but on moving the shaft longitudinally it is clutched to one of the gears 136, 137 and is driven in one direction or the other. The shaft is moved to the right or left by means of a rail 146 which engages a grooved disc 145 on the shaft and is carried by a rock-shaft 147 operated by knee-levers 151, 152, Fig. 58, described below. For starting the motor, there is provided a spring- urged pivoted contact 83 having a lug 141 which normally abuts on the periphery of a V-disc 142 on the shaft, the disc permitting the contact to engage the contact 82 when the shaft is moved. The contacts are in circuit with a tumbler-switch 88, Fig. 65. For automatically limiting the back. wards or forwards traverse of the frame 7 it is provided with a projection co-operating with adjustable cams on the rail 146 to rock the rail and thereby arrest the motor. To prevent simultaneous operation of the carriagereturning and frame-traversing mechanisms, the shaft 71 is provided with an arm 73 normally in register with a groove 143 in a collar 144 on the shaft 129. If the carriage-returning mechanism is operated, the arm enters the groove and locks the shaft 129, and if the frame traversing mechanism is operated, the collar blocks the arm. For releasing the frame 7 from the line-spacing mechanism if the traversing-mechanism is operated when the carriage is in the starting position, the shaft 129 is arranged to operate a lever 173, Figs. 43 and 46, which engages the pin 117 on the hook 112. The lever is connected by a slotted link 174, bell-crank 175, and link 176 to a forked lever 177 engaging a disc 180 on the shaft. On movement of the shaft to the left or right, the lever 173 is lifted by a pin 182 on the bell-crank or by the link 174, and the hook is lifted to permit of the line-spacing mechanism returning to the normal position. Locking-devices. - The escapement for the carriage 8, Fig. 1, is locked during carriage-return by means of a pivoted member which is moved forwards by the bar 60, Fig. 65, and obstructs the link connecting the escapement to the universal bar. Carriage brakes.-The rollers 12, Fig. 65, of the above-described frame 7 are normally engaged by brake-shoes 187, Fig. 1, pivoted on a spring- urged bail 184 pivoted on the frame. The brakeshoes are released by depressing a key arranged at the front of the carriage 8 and connected to a lever which is provided with a pin engaging the bail. Knee attachments.-The above-mentioned kneelevers 151, 152, Fig. 58, for actuating the rail 146 are mounted on shafts 153, 154 supported below the platen 4, and are yieldingly coupled to the shaft by coiled springs. Arms 159, 160 on the shafts are coupled by a link 161, and the arm 160 is coupled by a link 169 to the bar 146. Loose arms 162, 163 on the shaft 153 are drawn by a spring 164 into contact with a fixed pin 165 and a pin 167 on the arm 159. A similar pair oi loose arms 162, 163 on the shaft 154 are drawn by a spring 164 into contact with a pin 166 on the arm 160. The inner arms of each pair are formed with stop-lugs 168. By pressing on the knee-lever 151 or 152, the rail 146 is moved towards the right or left, the springs being tensioned and serving to return the rail and kneelever on the knee-lever. Guards for machines.--For arresting the abovedescribed frame 7, Fig. 1, on engagement with the operator's hand or other obstruction, the front bar of the frame is provided with a rail 214, Fig. 65, which is loosely mounted on studs 216 and is provided with a pin 217 for engaging a pivoted contact 212 connected to one of the terminals of the switch 88. The rail is moved backwards by the obstruction, and the pin rocks the contact, thereby breaking the circuit of the motor.