GB238141A - A device, applicable to typewriting machines, for counting the lines and announcing the end of the pages - Google Patents

Abstract

238,141. Seigneur, A. Feb. 21, 1925. Counting-apparatus; exhaust of paper, indicating; alarms.-A line-counting mechanism for indicating in typewriters the number of line spaces remaining on a sheet, and, by means of an alarm bell. announcing the end of a page, is mounted upon an axis 4 which forms an extension of the roller platen axis and is rotated for line-spacing by a knob 12, the number of line spaces remaining being indicated upon a barrel 8 which is free to turn on the axis 4 and is connected bv a reduction train 9, 20, 19 to a free pinion 7 carrying spring-pressed pawls 6 engaging a ratchetwheel 5 secured to the axis 4. The barrel 8 is secured to or integral with the pinion 9 and is connected to one end of a clock spring 10, the other end of which is secured to a wall 2 within the casing 1 enclosing the apparatus. The engagement of the pawls 6 and the ratchet-wheel 5 is controlled by a slidable sleeve 15 provided with a tapered edge 16 which engages rollers 17 on the pawls and lifts them from the ratchet-wheel to disengage the counting-mechanism when the sleeve is moved towards them, a movement in the reverse direction allowing the pawls to drop. The sleeve 15 is provided with inwardly projecting radial screws extending within oblique guide slots 14 in a stationary collar 13 on the end wall 3 of the casing, so that when the sleeve is rotated through about 60‹ by lifting a handle 21 attached thereto, it is moved laterally away front the ratchet-wheel 5. The handle is moved against spring tension and is retained in the raised position by means of a catch. Two rows of numerals may be provided around the periphery of the barrel 8, with maxima, for example 30, 59, corresponding respectively to the number of widely spaced or closely spaced lines upon a page. The initial position of the barrel is set according to the number of lines required to be typed, by means of a setting-mechanism comprising a crown 29 which is rotated upon the wall 2 and carries an abutment 31 which lies in the path of an abutment 32 on the barrel 8. The projection 31 on the crown can be moved within an arcuate notch in the wall 2, carrying the barrel with it until the requisite number upon the barrel appears through the window of the casing. The crown is clamped in the set posi. tion by a headed screw 30 which also serves as the setting-handle, and, at its inner end, is reduced to engage one of a series of holes at linespace intervals in the notch in the wall 2. During the operation of the device the gearing and the barrel 8 are rotated against the tension of the spring 10, until, the last line being reached, the abutment 32 on the barrel strikes a projection on the catch holding the clutch handle 21, which is thereby released and is pulled back to its initial position, releasing the ratchet clutch and suriking the alarm bell at the end of its movement. The clock spring 10 then returns the barrel 8 to its original set position.