Patent GB-584495-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to typewriting machines
IPC: B41J3/26
Filed: 1944-03-14
Abstract: 584,495. Typewriters. JENNINGS, H. W. K. (Sweeney, J. L.). March 14, 1944, No. 4746. [Class 100 (iv)] A typewriter has typebars each carrying more than one type and pivotally mounted on rocking- levers by means of which they are moved from inoperative position to printing position over a substantially straight-line path and each type-bar has an extension on the side of its pivot remote from the types which is permanently in engagement with a guide movable to select a type by rotating the type-bar relatively to its rocking- lever. The arrangement is particularly applicable to stenographic machines arranged to print simultaneously a number of characters in a line, such as, for example, is described in Specification 546,160. Type actions; case-shift mechanism. Three rows of keys are provided, two rows 15, 16, Fig. 5, operating normally to print consonant sounds and the row 17 to print vowel sounds. Each key is carried by a pair of levers 46, 47, so as to move vertically, substantially in a straight line when depressed and is connected to one end of a cable 82 of coiled wire which passes through a guide tube 80 with its other end projecting through a spacing bar 136, Fig. 8, extending perpendicularly to the rows of keys and situated at the left-hand end thereof. When a key is depressed, the free end of the cable corresponding to the key operates a pivoted lever 120 having a cam part 122 engaging a roller 123 on a rocking lever 109 pivoted at 110 and carrying a type lever 107 so as to cause the type 106 carried thereby to make an impression on the paper 20 passing over the platen 19. The levers 109 are retracted by springs 133. The construction described enables the types to be arranged in one order and the keys in another. The keys are returned by springs 60 to their normal positions where the levers 47 abut against a felt cushioning pad 69, carried by a transverse bar 64. Combs 124, 131 guide the type levers 109. The levers 109 operated by the keys 16, 17 each carries a single type 106 only but those actuated by the keys 15 each carries two types 106, 108, one above the other. Normally the upper type 106 prints, but by the actuation of a universal bar 225 the type 108 which may print numbers are raised to printing position. For this purpose, the member 10.7 carrying the types instead of being fixed to the type-lever 109 as in the case of the single-type members, is pivoted thereto at 112 and has an extension 113 engaging between arms 114 on a vertically movable plate 200. Depression of the key 225, which is supported similarly to the keys 15, 17, causes the plate 200 to be moved against spring action downwardly and thus the type 106, 108 to be moved upwardly. A toothed segment 229, Figs. 5 and 10, carried by the key 225 engages a pinion 232 on a shaft 217 operating through another pinion 220, Fig. 10, the teeth of which rotate an internallytoothed member 213 on a shaft 212. Fixed to the member 213 is a plate 211 with a cam slot 210 in which rides a pin 209 on the plate 200 and which is moved to set the type as required. Paper feeding, guiding, and severing arrangements.-The paper 20 which passes underneath the machine from right to left between guides 273, 274, Fig. 5, and over a guide plate 275, Fig. 8, to the platen 19, is fed by the movement of rollers 135 over the platen surface. The shafts of the rollers 135 carry one-way ball-clutches which prevent rotation of the rollers as they are moved to the left to feed the paper but allow them to rotate freely during the return movement. Actuation of the rollers takes place each time the type keys are depressed or when the bar 225 only is depressed if feed without printing is desired. The roller shafts are carried by arms 143 pivoted at 144 to levers 144a fixed to a shaft 140. A pinion 152 on the shaft 140 is oscillated by a toothed bell-crank lever 153 against the other end of which bears a cable 158 fixed at its far end to a bail 165, Fig. 5, mounted on arms pivoted on the same rod 34 as the levers 47. Each lever 47, including that carrying the key 225, has an extension 172 which when the corresponding key is depressed abuts against a felt pad on the bail and moves the cable 158 so as to operate the feed. To prevent backward movement of the paper with the rollers 135, another roller 175, Fig. 7, mounted in brackets 182 on an arm 176 freely pivoted on the shaft 140 bears on the paper. Its axle also is provided with a one-way ball clutch. Light springs 187 on the bracket 176 bear on the shafts of the rollers 135. Extensions 180 of the arm 176 are formed with a toothed edge 181 for severing the paper. To release the sheet, the rollers 135, 175 together with a spring-pressed cover 188 have to be raised. Ink-ribbon mechanism.-A continuous inkribbon 21 is employed which is guided across the front of the type by screws 130, Figs. 2 and 7, which serve to secure the type-lever guide-comb 131 to a support 128. It is fed by a roller 235, Figs. 2 and 5, at one corner of the machine and passes over guide rollers 250, 251, and guides 257, 259, 260, and through a channel guide 258, Fig. 7, at the rear of the machine. The roller 250 carries a thick ink pad of felt or the like and is supplied with ink through holes 255 by means of a dropper. The roller 251 has a felt periphery to absorb excess ink. Actuation of the feed roller 235 takes place each time a type key is depressed. This occurs through bevelgearing 238, 239 including a one-way clutch, connected by a linkage 243 ... 247 to a lug 248 on the paper-feed bail 165. The arrangement is such that the ribbon feed is completed before the full stroke of the key has been completed and before the types strike the platen.