13,983. Chambonnaud, L. July 1. Typewriters and like machines ; type, setting.-Relates to typewriters of the type - lever class, stenographic, composing, telegraphic, and like machines in which the typekeys and shift-keys are operated simultaneously. In the application t o a typewriter, means are provided to ensure the full depression o f t h e shift-key before the type character reaches the printing-point, clear printing being thus obtained ; in the case of other machines, clashing of the parts is prevented. Fig. 2 shows a section of a syllabic typewriter of known type comprising four independent typewriters, each having a printing-point on a telegraphic tape drawn over a pulley m, and a shift-key. The two outer machines have each six character key-levers and the inner machines two key-levers; the four shift-keys are placed side by side at the front of the keyboard. The shiftmechanism is the same for the four machines but is described for one only. Fig. 3 shows a universal bar or frame 119, which is pivoted at 120 and is tilted at each depression of a character key-lever. These key-levers operate articulated parallelograms h, i, Fig. 2, bearing types at j. The shift key-lever 110, Fig. 3, is slotted at 112, 113 for co-operation with a projection 114 on a rod 115 carried by the universal frame 119, and moves the whole typebasket forward for change of character by its action on a lever 140. The slot 112 is concentric with the pivot 120 so that, when a character key-lever is depressed, the shift key-lever 110 is not actuated. When a character and a shift key-lever are depressed simultaneously, the projection 114 passes above the part 113 and the complete depression of the shift key-lever is secured. Depression of the shift keylever alone does not affect the universal frame. Fig. 3 shows the universal frame partly depressed ; the projection 114 is normally situated at a distance from the part 113. A flat spring may constitute the projection 114. Fig. 8 shows a modification in which the key-lever 110 carries a spring-supported member 134 and passes through a curved slotted frame 130 on the universal frame 119. The construction enables the shift and character key-levers to be separately depressed, but when they are depressed simultaneously, the member 134 comes into the path of shoulders 131 on the frame 130. The presence of the spring 135 adapts the device for use in typewriters in which the characters print though the keys are but slightly depressed, if the keys are touched with sufficient energy ; the spring also acts to return the universal-frame and character key - lever. In another modification, the spring member 134 is replaced by a simple projection on the lever 110 in the form of a rod or spring. Fig. 11 shows a modification in which a character key-lever operates a type-parallelogram by means of a link 155, thus rocking a lever 153 about its pivot 154. The lever 153 normally clears the head 151 of a lever 149, but when the shift key-lever also is depressed, it rocks the lever 149 and the head 151 into the path of the lever 153, thus causing the type-basket to be moved forward. In another modification, a lever similar to the lever 140, Fig. 2, is operated by the depression of the shift key-lever, and a second lever by the depression of the character key-levers, so that when the key-levers are simultaneously depressed, the nose of the second lever passes above that of the other lever and ensures its complete depression. In the form shown in Fig. 2, the character key-levers actuate a lever provided with a projection 164, which normally swings clear of a projection 166 on the lever 140. When the shift and character key-levers are simultaneously depressed, the projection 164 strikes the nose of the projection 166 and ensures the complete travel of the lever 140.