1,225,572. Typewriters, &c. ING. C. OLIVETTI & C. S.p.A. 21 Feb., 1969 [2 March, 1968], No. 9580/69. Heading B6F. A front-feed device for an accounting or like machine having a platen 12, Fig. 1, around which a rear form 41 can be placed, comprises a frame 108 disposed above the platen and having side walls 109, 110, Fig. 2, connected by three crosspieces 116, 117, 118, Fig. 1, for guiding front and rear forms 41, 67, a transparent rule 94 being disposed in front of the platen 12 and the front form 67 being guided between the rule 94 and cross-piece 118. As shown, the device is applied to a teleprinter having an axially-fixed platen and a set of laterally-movable typewheels 9. The form 41 passes over a fixed plate 121 and is pressed against the platen by spring-urged plates 61 and rollers 39. Arms 53, 59 carrying the rollers 39 and plates 61 are pivoted on a shaft 43 and can be moved away from the platen by manual rotation of the shaft causing a pin 58, Fig. 1, on an arm 57 fixed to the shaft first to move the roller-carrying arms 53 and then through a pin-and-slot device 63 to move the plates 61. An arrangement of pressure rollers 66 and guide plates 89 is provided at the front of the platen and is releasable by manual rotation of a shaft 69 in a similar manner to that employed for the parts 39, 61. The transparent rule 94, which has markings for aligning the front form 67, and also has lateral guides 107, is carried by a support 96 held by pivoted levers 97, 98, the lever 98 having a pin-and-slot connection 102, 103 with links 104, 105 connected to the shaft 69 so that release of the rollers 66 and plates 89 causes the rule 94 to be moved to the open position shown dotted, Fig. 1, and so that independent movement of the rule to its open position can take place. The intermediate cross-piece 117 carries laterally-adjustable plates 127 serving to guide the lateral edges of a discontinuous form 126 inserted between the crosspieces 116, 117, if such a form is to be used instead of a continuous journal form 41. The usual upper paper-holding bail comprising rollers 131 carried by spring-pressed levers 129 is also provided. In operation, to insert the journal form 41 the rollers 39 and plates 61 are moved to release position, and the sheet slid into the machine until its front edge abuts against the rollers 66. The plates 61 and rollers 39 are restored to operative positions and the form can now be fed forward by manually rotating the platen as described below. The rule 94 is pressed downwardly to its open position and the form is fed forward so that its front edge is above the lower edge of the rule 94 in its closed position. The rule is then moved back to its closed position and the frame 108 is tilted about an axis 113 rearwardly against stops 111 to permit the form 41 to be passed under the rollers 130 into the space between the cross-pieces 117, 118 so as to rest against the surface 124 of cross-piece 117. The frame 108 is now restored to its normal position resting against stops 112. To insert the front form 67, the shaft 69 is rotated to move the rollers 66 and plates 89 to release position and to lower the rule 94 to its open position. The form 67 can now be inserted between the crosspiece 118 and rule 94, and after its alignment by means of the marks on the rule, the parts 66, 89, 94 are restored to their operative positions. Finally, the platen is coupled to its automatic line spacing mechanism. If a discontinuous back form 126 is to be used instead of the journal sheet 41, the form 126 is first introduced between the cross-pieces 116, 117, the subsequent procedure being the same as that for the sheet 41. Line spacing.-The platen shaft 13 is rotated for automatic line-spacing by a worm 14,Fig. 2, engaging a worm-wheel 16 free on the shaft but having teeth engaging teeth on a disc 19 integral with a sleeve 17 slidable axially on but rotatable with the shaft 13. A spring 30 normally holds the disc 19 in driving engagement with the worm-wheel 16, but the parts 17, 19 can be moved axially to disengage the drive by rotating a lever operated disc 26 having pins 25 engaging cam parts 24 on a disc 29 bearing against the sleeve 17 to move the parts 29, 17, 19 axially. When the drive is disengaged, the platen can be rotated manually by means of a disc 32 coupled by gearing 33 ... 38 to the platen shaft 13.