Patent GB-1229711-A (GB)
IPC: H04L17/22
Filed: 1969-02-25
Abstract: 1,229,711. Teleprinters, &c. ING. C. OLIVETTI & C., S.p.A. 25 Feb., 1969 [2 March, 1968], No. 10088/69. Heading B6F. In a teleprinter or like printing machine comprising a paper support, a support for printing apparatus, a carriage for one of the supports, a step-by-step shift mechanism for the carriage responsive to received character and space code signals, and a normally-inoperative tabulating mechanism comprising a series of stops which move with the carriage and arranged to encounter one of a number of counter-stops, means are provided responsive to code signals to render the shift mechanism inoperative and the tabulating mechanism operative so that tabulation takes place under control of stops of the series and a selected counterstop, each counterstop encountering different combinations of the stops so that different tabulating programmes may be employed. Letter and back spacing.-As described, in a teleprinter with an axially-fixed platen and a movable type-wheel carriage, the carriage is fixed to a rack 13, Fig. 2, engaged by a gearwheel 14 on a shaft 16. A toothed member 22 fixed to the shaft 16 is engaged by a spring- pressed toothed member 24 free on the shaft, to form a coupling 17, and the member 24 carries a worm-wheel 28 engaging a worm 29 on a shaft 18. The shaft 18 can be coupled to a continuously-rotating driving shaft 21 by a cyclic two-direction clutch 19. If a printing or spacing signal is received, a release lever 74 is operated causing the clutch 19 to rotate the shaft 18 so that the carriage is advanced one step. A backspacing signal causes another release lever 83 to be actuated so that the clutch 19 rotates the shaft 18 in a reverse direction to effect a back spacing. If tabulating or carriage return is to be carried out, the coupling 17 is opened by operation of a lever 311 as described below to disengage the member 24 from the member 22. Tabulation; carriage return.-A drum 86 driven from the shaft 16 by gearing 92, 93 so as to rotate with the type-carriage movement, carries a series of tabulating stops 97. Each stop has a tooth 103 and the teeth 103 are situated in three axially-spaced circumferential rows  according to three tabulation programmes. Three side-by-side counterstops 109, 111, 112, Figs. 7, 9, are provided, each aligned with one circumferential row of teeth 103, and having a projection 106 to be engaged by the teeth. The counterstops are normally held out of the path of the teeth against the action of springs 116 by the engagement of the end 127, Fig. 9, of a lever 128 with a pin 126 on a frame 114 to which the stops are pivoted at 113. When the lever 128 is operated, as described below, the pin 126 is released, thus allowing the stops to move towards the path of the teeth. However, one only of the stops is allowed to move into this path to select a particular programme, this selection being effected by means of a baffle plate 149 movable along a rod 151 and having an opening 152, Fig. 9, to allow one of the counter-stops to move to operative position, the other two stops being held back by projections 146 engaging the plate 149. To select, for example, the stop 109, a code signal operates a bail 178, Fig. 9, which through a slider 166 actuates a lever 157 connected by a link 154 to the plate 149 so as to position the opening 152 opposite the stop 109. For the stops 111, 112  to become operative, bails 181, 179 respectively have to be operated by signals, and through sliders 171, 168 and lever 157 move the baffle plate 149 to position the slot 152 opposite the required counter-stop. Each bail 178, 179, 181 when actuated, rotates a bail 187 connected to a slider 191. This slider by means of a lug 194 moves the stop lever 128 away from the pin 126, thus freeing the counter-stops so that the selected one can move to operative position. At the same time, the slider 191 operates a lever 281 connected with a slider 279 which initiates a cyclic movement of a clutch 316, Fig. 2, driven from the shaft 21 and operating in two stages of 120 and 240 degrees, the second stage resetting the various parts. During the first stage, cams driven by the clutch 316 operate a lever 311 to open the coupling 17, Fig. 2, and to operate a clutch 201 so that a shaft 197 is driven from the shaft 21. The shaft 197 is coupled to the shaft 16 to impart a tabulating movement to the type carriage. For this purpose, the shaft 16 has connected thereto by a friction coupling 199 a sleeve 224 having two sets of gear teeth 222, 223 engaged respectively by gear-wheels 238, 239 free on the shaft 197. A sleeve 248 rotatable with and slidable along the shaft 197 has discs 246, 247 with recesses 243, 244, so that if the sleeve 248 is moved to the left, a recess 243 engages a pin on the gear 238 so that through the gear 222 the type carriage is driven forwardly for tabulating. If the sleeve 248 is moved to the right, gears 239, 223 drive the shaft 16 for carriage return at twice the speed of the forward movement, since gear 223 is half the diameter of gear 238. The axial movement of the sleeve 248 is effected by a lever 252, Fig. 12, having two pins 257, 258 engaging slots in a slide 261 which is tilted by a cam-operated lever 272 to move the sleeve 248 and which can be set in two positions according to the required direction of rotation of shaft 16. For tabulation, when the lever 281, Fig. 9, is moved as described above, it moves a slide 279, Figs. 7, 12, causing movement of the slide 261 to the left, in which position operation of the lever 272 causes the sleeve 248 to move to couple gear 238 to the shaft for tabulating. The slide 279 also acts on the roller 343 of a lever 341 to initiate operation of the clutch 316. For carriage return, a signal operates a bail 288, Fig. 9, to move a slider 286 which, through a lever 280, operates a slide 284 causing movement of the slide 261, Fig. 12, to a position where actuation of the lever 272 causes the lever 252 to move the sleeve 248 rightwardly so that the shaft 16 is rotated in a direction to effect carriage return. At the same time, the slide 284 acts on the roller 343 of the lever 341 to initiate the action of clutch 316. When a stop 97, Figs. 2 and 7, engages a counter-stop projection 106, it moves the stop together with its supporting lever 114 and a latch 138, Fig. 10, to the left so that the latch engages a fixed shaft 129 and rotation of the drum is stopped, the springs 116 &c. causing a cushioning effect. A lever 367 operated from the lever 114 causes anti-clockwise movement of a lever 363 so that through a bail 359, Figs. 2, 10, the clutch 201 is opened. The lever 363 is held in the position shown against the action of a spring 371 at the beginning of a line by a pin 370 on the gear 92, the pin 370 restoring the lever 363 at the end of carriage return to open the clutch 201. To bring the carriage into successive tabulating positions in accordance with a selected programme, the same bail 178 &c. must be successively operated by received signals. To bring the carriage into positions corresponding to another or other programmes, the other bails 179, 181 must be operated. If another tabulating signal is received after the last stop 97 has been passed, the carriage moves to the end of its travel, whereupon a fixed pin 143, Fig. 10, strikes a shoulder 142 of a lever 141 mounted on the pin 113 of frame 114, to move the parts 141, 114 leftwardly to bring the tabulated movement to rest as already described.