362,913. Typewriters &c. ENGLISH, F. G. S., 42, Lavender Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey. Sept. 9, 1930, No. 26965. ' [Class 100 (iv).] Platen-rotation for blanking.- Manually operated blanking- mechanism for tabulating- machines can be employed independently of the line-spacing mechanism for. rotating the platen through a predetermined arc, or can be 'coupled to the line-spacing- mechanism and employed thereafter for completing rotation of the platen through a predetermined arc. In the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pinion 10 on the shaft 2 of the platen 1 engages a pinion 11 which co-operates with a pawl 12 on a disc 14 provided with a pinion 16 engaging a rack 17 connected to a hand-lever 19. The pinions 11, 16 and disc are mounted on a pivot 15 on the endplate 3 of the platen carriage, and the hand-lever is pivoted on the endplate. A member 22, pivoted at 21 to the disc and connected to a spring 29, normally abuts on the back of the pawl and locks the pawl to the pinion 11. A latch 25, pivoted at 24 to the disc and connected to a spring 32, normally locks the member 22 by engagement with a notch 30 therein. The member 22 and latch 25 have fingers 23, 26 for engaging stationary and adjustable stops 27, 35 respectively. The stop 35 is mounted on an arm 39 which is adjustable on the pivot 15 and has teeth 48 for engaging teeth on a stationary scale-plate 28. A spring- washer 51 permits of lateral movement of the arm to release the teeth. At each operation of the line-spacing mechanism, the pinions 11, 16 and the hand-lever are advanced and after the required number of lines have been printed, the hand-lever is pulled forwards and the platen is rotated through an arc equal to the difference between the length of the form and the line-spacing. At the end of the movement the finger 23 and stop 27 co-operate to rock the member 22, the pawl is released from the pinion 11, and a spring 33 returns the mechanism, the pawl riding idly over the pinion. During return, the latch engages'a notch 31 and holds the member 22. When the finger 26 engages the stop 35, the member and latch are returned to normal position and the pawl is locked to the pinion. When the mechanism is employed independently of the line-spacing mechanism for rotating the platen through a predetermined arc, the stop 35 is withdrawn from the path of the finger so that on return of the hand-lever the pawl is not locked by the member 22 but is released from the pinion 11 and arrested by means of a pin 43 on the pawl, and a co-operating cam 41 and shoulder 42 on the arm 39. The stop 35 consists of a spring pin which is mounted in a sleeve 38 and can be withdrawn and retained by pulling out and turning a knob 37. The member 22 and latch 25 may be replaced by a single member 73, Fig. 5, arranged to lock positively the pawl 12 to the pinion 11. The member is loosely mounted on a pin 76 on the disc 14 and is connected to a spring 77, an arm 75 on the member normally locking the pawl by engaging a recess 78 therein. At the end of the feed movement of the hand-lever, an arm 73 on the member engages the stop 27, and the member is rocked to release the pawl. Thereupon, the spring raises the member and causes the arm 75 to abut on the back of the pawl. At the end of the return movement, a shoulder 80 on the arm 75 engages the pin 35 and the member is restored to pawl-locking position. The platen can be rotated by the line-spacing mechanism through multiples of the arc determined by the pin 35, the hand-lever and associated parts being returned idly each time the arm 73 engages the stop 27. When the pin 35 is withdrawn, the mechanism can be employed in the above-described manner for rotating the platen independently of the line-spacing mechanism. Line-spacing mechanism platen-roller detents and couplings; web-guiding arrangements.-The platen 1, Fig. 1, is normallv coupled to a line-spacing wheel 52 co-operating with a pawl operated by an arm 53 on a rock-shaft 54 which is mounted on. the carriage 3 and has telescopic engagement with a rock-shaft 55 mounted on the framework. A detent-wheel 60 connected to the line-spacing wheel co-operates with a detent which can be released by depressing a slide 61. A projection 61b, Fig. 5, on the slide may co-operate with a rocking arm 61c to release feed-rollers 61f. A coupling for connecting the wheels 52, 60 to the platen consists of a toothed member 63 secured to a sleeve on the platen and co-operating with spring-urged toothed . members 66, 67. Release is effected by gripping blocks 70 having bevels engaging plungers abutting on the members 66, 67. Alternatively, release may be effected by moving axially a sleeve co-operating with external bevels on the blocks. In the alternative arrangement shown in Fig. 8, release of the members 66, 67 is effected by moving axially a sleeve 87a having slots engaging levers 81, 82 provided with plungers 87 . . 90 engaging the members 66, 67. The levers have tongues 83 resting in slots in the sleeve 62 that carries the member 63. The members 66, 67 have one tooth more than the member 63. Adjustable guides 6 for the webs engage an apron 4, a spindle 8, and, preferably, a rod 5. The carriage may be provided with guide-plates 81, 83 for the webs, the plate 81 having a tearing-edge 81.