US2101437A - System of operation of typewriters - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 7, 1937. w. s. LEMMON ET AL 2,101,437 SYSTEM OF OPERATION OF TYPEWRITERS 7 Filed Nov. 16, 1934 IN V EN TOR.

, 0251 m M2 4 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 7, 1937 2",l01,437

SYSTEM OF OPERATION OF TYPEWBITEBS Walter S. Lemmon, New York, N. Y., Clyde J. Fitch, Jersey City, N. .L, and Richard F. Walz,

New York, N. Y., assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 16, 1934, Serial No. 753,254

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a system of operation of typewriters, and more particularly to the operation of a plurality of typewriters controlle by indicla record means. a

companying specification and claims and shown in the drawing which by way of illustration is what we now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying that principle.

-28 to 32 which are provided to be stepped from The system broadly provides for lndicia record Other embodiments of the invention employing 5 control means to operate the plurality of typethe same or equivalent principle may be used writers or similar translating mechanisms simuland structural changes made as desired by those taneously or to operate one or all typewriters inskilled in the art without departing from the dependently and in succession. present invention and within the spirit of the In the disclosure of the present invention for appended claims.

purposes of illustrating the principle of opera- The invention is fully disclosed by way of tion, one type of indicia record control means example in the following description and in the will be embodied, and which is in part in the form accompanying drawing which shows a diagramof a tape, sheet, or ribbon on which characters matic view of the system.

or other indicia to bereproduced are represented M is by perforations to selectively operate the particun m lar associated translating mechanisms. Referring to the drawing, it indicates gener- The present system is particularly applicable ally the preferred form of sensing device for to aut matic l t r W er y ms whereby indicontrolling the typewriters II and I! which may i ll l r h v im r b y f rms m y be be of any conventional form whereby the chartypewritten and in addition have the addresses acter key bars and the corresponding type bars of the particular letters typewritten automati- (not shown) are controlled by the associated solecaliy instead of typing them manually, which at noids l3 and M to eifect printing the characters. present is the usual method. a The following brief description of the sensing 95 To accomplish this Procedure auto atica ly device ID will be sumcient, since a more comtwo perforated rolls or sheets are provided, one plate disclosure is made in our copending appliwhich may be termed the address roll and the cation Serial No. 743,208, filed September 8, 1934, other the letter roll. The address roll controls and which as shown is provided with-a horizontal lfl n n p r i n 0! the In ivid al typetransverse conducting roller i5 which supports writer so that upon completion of the particular and, feeds the elongated perforated sheet it, this 30 address, another individual typewriter is opersheet or roll being wide enough to contain a lonated to type' a corresponding address whereupon gitudinal series of perforations for the control at the completion of typing the individual adof each corresponding sensing brush l1. dresses the letter roll becomes eifective to control It is adapted so that the position of a single the operation of the bank oi typewriters simuiperforation on the sheet indicates the partlcu- 35 taneously to type the common part of the letter lar character representation. Therefore when on all the machines. the sheet isied continuously to the sensing de- It is an object ofthe present invention to provice by suitable means, such as motor l8, and vide for independent operation of the individual when the particular brush l1 senses its corre- 40 machines and simultaneous operation of all the spending character perforation, a solenoid. it or 40 macmnei- I4 is energized to depress a corresponding key Another object of the present invention is to bar and type bar to record the character correprovide for operation of the. machines independsponding to the character perforation sensed. A ently and automatically'operate all the machines complete description of this operation will be set at the completion of the independent operation. forth hereinafter. 45

Still another object is to provide for operation Rom, relay of all the machines simultaneously and to render I inoperative all the other machines when one is In addition to the character sensing brushes l1, selected for independent operation thereof. a similar brush 20 is provided to control the mag- Still another objectis to provide for a plurality net ii of the rotary switch or relay indicated 50 of indicia record control means for controlling generally at 22, which is a type well known to the machines and rendering one inoperative when those skilled in the art, and consisting of a pluanotheris operative. f rality of arcuate banks of contacts 28 to 21 adapt- Further and other obiects of the present ined to be engaged by the individual rotary brushes ll vention will be hereinafter set forth in the acmaining contacts are divided in groups of five and connected in multiple to contacts 2, 3, 4, and 5 in each independent bank and thus permit the continuous operation of the independent cycles to be described herein.

Double step relay One of the character sensing brushes. I'Iw for controlling the key shift" solenoid |3a or |4a of the typewriters is provided to energize magnet 35 of the double step relay 36 when sensing its corresponding perforation in the roll. l5. In order to type in both upper and lower cases, it is obvious that the key shift key bar must be maintained in its respective position for the particular typing desired.

Therefore provision to depress the shift key bar must be made so that the depression is maintained for the period selected for that particular type form. This is accomplished by using a double step relay similar to the type described in application Serial No. 746,489 filed October 2, 1934, the following brief description of which will be sumcient.

Energization of magnet 35 causes its armature 31 and the associated arm 38 to rotate cam wheel 39 so that its high surface forces contact blade 40 into engagement with contact 4|, keeping the said contacts closed to energize the shift solenoid |3a or |4a (the method of selecting the individual solenoid to be described hereinafter) depending on the particular typewriter operated. The solenoid |3a or |4a or both depending on the selected operation remain energized so long as contacts 40 and 4| are closed, obviously printing the records in the same case during this period.

Engagement of the sensing brush 20 with another correspondingi perforation energizes the magnet 35 thereby stepping the cam wheel 39 ahead to permit the contact blade 40 to engage a lower surface of the cam wheel to disengage the contacts 40 and 4| deenergizing the particular key bar solenoid |3a or at. The slotted camwheel 39 is provided with half the number of slots as there are teeth in ratchet 42; for example, if the ratchet 42 hastwenty teeth and cam wheel 39 half that numbecof high'surfaces, it is obvious that a single operation of the magnet 35 will close and maintain the contacts 40 and 4| closed and a second energization of the magnet will permit the contacts to resume the position shown in the figure.

Individual typewriter operation The sensing devices l and I9 are similar mechanisms therefore the description of one hereinbefore need not be repeated for the device |3.

It is understood that the perforations are formed by any suitabie means and are provided on a sheet or roll wide enough to contain a longitudinal series of perforations for the control of each element of the machine to be operated and used in connection with the translating procedure, that-is the type bars and their associated brushes 28 to 32 ciated solenoids to actuate the corresponding type bars.

Let it be assumed that the perforated rolls AR I and LR are positioned on the corresponding feed ,rollers l and 45 so that when the motor I8 is ent operation of the typewriters the motor l8 will be deenergized and motor 46 energized to feed its perforated roll LR to the corresponding brushes 4'! and 48 to control the plurality of typewriters simultaneously.

The method of controlling the independent operation of the typewriters is as follows: Depression of the start key 5|] supplies current from grounded battery 5| to magnet 2| via conductor 52, through the closed contacts of key 50 depressed momentarily, contact of the arcuate bank 23, brush 28 to ground 53, energizing magnet 2| to step the brushes 28 to 32 ahead to the next set of adjacent contacts in the arcuate banks 23 to 27.

Brush 29 now engaging contact 2 of bank'24 permits current from grounded battery 5| to energize relay 54, contact 2, brush 29 and ground 53 completing the circuit, closing its associated contact 55 conducting current from the grounded battery 5|, through the said contact 55, conductor 56, motor I8 and ground 51, starting the motor and address roll feeding operation.

At the same'time brush 3| engages contact 2 of arcuate bank 26 to energize control solenoid 60 by current from grounded battery 5|, through common conductor 6|, solenoid 60, return conductor 62, contact 2, brush 3| to ground 53. The typewriter control contacts 63 now closed, in conjunction with the operation of motor l8 feed ing the perforated address roll AR, now permit the operation of typewriter in accordance with the perforations sensed by brushes I7.

It was mentioned hereinbefore that a perforation position is provided for each character to be recorded by the associated typewriters, each of the said positions have a corresponding sensing brush I] to control the energization of the connected'and corresponding type bar solenoid l3 by the current flow from grounded battery 5|, common conductor 6|, the particular solenoid I3, the corresponding contact 63 now closed,

the associated conductor 64, corresponding brush conducting roller l5, common contact 65 to ground 51.

Upon completion of recording the address or controlling operation of the typewriter I, a perforation is sensed by a control brush 20 to energize magnet 2| by establishing a circuit from grounded battery 5| through conductor 52, magnet 2|, conductor 66, brush 20, roller I5, contact brush 65 and ground 51.

Energization of magnet 2| advances the assoto contacts 3 of the arcuate banks 23 to 21 similarly as mentioned hereinbefore.

Brush 29 now engages contact 3 of bank 24 to energizerelay 54 maintaining the operation ofthe address roll motor, as previously described, to continue feeding the perforated roll AR.

Brush 32 now engages contact 3 ofbank 21 to I energize control solenoid 61 associated with type? writer |2 by completing the circuit from grounded battery 5|, through common conductor 6|, solehold 61, contact3, brush 32 to ground 54 to condition typewriter I! for operation from the roll AR because of the now closed contacts I4 of solenoid 61.

Advancing the brushes 28 to 32 to contact 3 position, obviously deenerglzed solenoid 60 by opening its circuit at contact 2, thus rendering the typewriter Ii inoperative during the period of operation of typewriter ii.

The sensing brushes ll engaging the perforations in the advancing roll AR operate the typewriter similarly as described for the operation of typewriter it.

Simultaneous typewriting operation Upon the completion of the previously described operation, control brush 20 sensing a perforation energizes magnet 2| again to advance its brushes to contacts 4, whereupon brush 30 completes a circuit from grounded battery 5! through relay Hi, contact '4', brush 30 to ground 53 energizing this relay to operate the motor to advance the letter roll LR to its associated brushes 4'! and 48 by virtue of the now closedcontact ll conducting current from battery 5i through said contact H, conductor 12, motor 46 to ground 13.

At the same time brushes 3i and 32 engage their respective contacts 4 to energize the solenoids 60 and 61 in a manner previously described to close their contacts 63 and 14 rendering both the associated typewriters sensitive to the character impulses transmitted by the sensing brushes 17. In this manner it is seen that the prepunched perforations of the letter roll LR control the operation of typewriters H and i2 simultaneously. Advancement of the brushes 28 to 32 from contacts 3; to t of the banks 23 to 2!- deenergized the relay E l, causingits contact 55 to break the established circuit to motor i8, thereby preventing any further feeding of the perforated roll AR.

It is well to note at this point that when the control brushes 2t and 48 sense their corresponding perforations to energize the magnet 2i and advance the brushes to the adjacent contacts in the arcuate banks to render the circuits to the motors it and 55 inoperative by the deenergization of the relays 5d and it to open their respective contacts 55 and ll, these said contacts are adaptedto be slow break contacts to insure .cient operation of the motors to properly advance their corresponding perforated rolls AR and LE to the extent that the control perforations are beyond the sensing. position so that the brushes 2t and' it are clear of the respective periorations, thereby preventing the said brushes from continuing to energize the said magnet 25.

During the selective operation of the typewriters, that is either the operation of the typewriters independently or operating all of them simultaneously the sensing of a perforation by the brushes llc or Mu designating a case shift, controls the. corresponding case shift solenoid 311 or l4a as mentioned hereinbefore. Sensing this particular perforation energizes magnet 35 to close the associated contacts 40 and 4! to energize the solenoids that are in an operative or closed circuit, namely the circuit established from grounded battery 5! through common conductor ti to solenoid i311 or |4a or both depending on the position of the contacts 68 and I4 and previously explained, then through the common return conductor it, contacts 40 and H now closed to ground.

brushes "a or 41a sensing a perforation causes the contacts 40 and 4| to open deenergizing the established circuits just described. At the completion of the simultaneous operation of the typewriters the magnet 2! is energized by the circuit completed by the control brush 48 as explained hereinbefore to advance the brushes 28 to 32 from contacts 4 to 5, and brush 30 engaging contact 5 of bank 25 keeps relay I energized to further advance the roll LR. The transmission of another impulse through control brush 48 energizes magnet 2| to advance the brushes 28 to 32 from contacts to 6.

Advancement of the said brushes from contacts 4 to 5 cuts out the energized solenoids 6B and 61, and further advancement of the brushes from contacts 5 to 0 cuts out the motor 46 and I relay 10 to restorethe system to a normal posiited only as indicated by the scope of the fol-' lowing claims.

What is claimed is: 1. In a system of the class described, a plurality of typewriters, a plurality of perforated record control sheets, individual sensing means cooperating therewith, typewriter selecting means, a rotary control switch comprising banks of individual contacts and associated brushes adapted to cooperate with the corresponding contacts, said typewriter selecting means associated with certain of said contacts, and means under control of one of the said sensing means and control sheets to position said brushes to select certain oi said typewriters in accordance with the sensed perforations.

2. In a system of the class described, a plurality of typewriters, a plurality of perforated record control sheets, individual sensing means cooperating therewith, typewriter selecting means, a rotary control switch comprising banks of individual contacts and associated brushes adapted to cooperate with the corresponding contacts, circuits associated with certain of said contacts to control said typewriter selecting means, means under control of one of said control sheets to position said brushes to engage certain contacts to effect the selection of certain of said typewriters in sequence, and also to position said brushes to engage other contacts to eflect the selection of the said typewriters in unison.

3. In a system of the class described, a plurality of typewriters, a perforated record control sheet, sensing means cooperating therewith, a rotary control switch comprising banks of individual contacts and associated brushes adapted to cooperate with the corresponding contacts,

typewriter selecting means associated with certain of said contacts, and means under the control of one of said sensing means to position the said brushes step by step to control the operation of the said typewriter selecting means in suc-. cession.

4. In a system of the class described, a plurality of typewriters, a plurality of perforated record control sheets, individual sensing means cooperating therewith, typewriter selecting means, a rotary control switch comprising banks of individual contacts and associated brushes adapted to cooperate with the corresponding contacts, circuits associated with certain of said contacts to control said'typewriter selecting means, other circuits associated with certain other of the said contacts, switching means included in the last named circuits to control the positioning of said brushes to engage certain of said contacts toefiect the selection of certain of said typewriters, means under control of one of said sensing means and control sheets to position said brushes to engage certain other contacts to effect the selection of certain other of said typewriters and also to position the brushes to engage other contacts to efiect the selection of said typewriters in unison, and means under control of another of said sensing means and control sheets to position the rushes to engage the said contacts associated with the circuits including the said switching 10 means.

WALTER S. LEMIMON.

CLYDE J. FITCH.

RICHARD F. WALZ.

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