US3833107A

US3833107A - Typewriter

Info

Publication number: US3833107A
Application number: US00305874A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Matsuhisa
Original assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 1971-11-13
Filing date: 1972-11-13
Publication date: 1974-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-03
Also published as: DE2255459B2; DE2255459A1

Abstract

A typewriter of the type in which keys on a keyboard are divided into at least a first and second key groups, wherein a torque bar is provided which is actuated in response to the depression of a key belonging to for example the first key group so that a type or character selecting mechanism is lifted in order to bring the desired character on a typing member to the typing position.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Matsuhisa Sept. 3, 1974 [54] TYPEWRITER 2,870,897 1/1959 Hubl 197/18 3,404,765 10/1968 G ss'no t 1. 197/55 Inventor: Matsuhmsa Nmomlyamach" 3,592,313 7/1971 c3562 t 197/16 x Kanagawwken, Japan 3,666,070 5/1972 8611616161 197/18 3,696,906 10/1972 Salto et a1... 197/18 [73] Asslgnee Rlcoh Tokyo Japan 3,738,471 6/1973 Werff et a1 197 16 x [22] Filed: Nov. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 305,874 Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerR. T. Rader I Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cooper, Dunham, Clark, [30] Foreign Application Priority Data G iffi & Moran Nov. 13, 1971 Japan 46-90707 Nov. 17, 1971 Japan 1. 46-92215 57 ABSTRACT Nov. 17, 1971 Japan 46-92216 A typewriter of the type 1n which keys on a keyboard [52] us. 01 197/18 197/55 178/34 are divided into at least a first and Second key groups 51 int. (:1 B4 lj 23/04 wherein a torque bar is P which is actuated in 58 Field 61 Search 197/16 18 55 52 98- JeSPOhSh the depression of a belOhgihg 2 example the first key group so that a type or character selecting mechanism is lifted in order to bring the de- [56] References Cited sired character on a typing member to the typing posi- UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,865,486 12/1958 Capellaro 197/55 x 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures [111M561 [11111111311111] 33 EEDU1UIUIEI[UID] [F llljlEllUlDlEllEb] 1 r VIZ. g r t 5. I 2 III II 1' -1 w I I I PATENTED 74 SHEU 1 0F 4 PATENTED $5? 31974 SNEH3UF4 PATENTED SEP 3 74 3.833.107 .WUQUF 4 i TYPEWRITER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a typewriter which is used as an input-output device for a data processing machine or electronic computer.

Generally, in typewriters, one of the characters arrayed in rows and columns on a typing cylinder is selected and brought to the printing position by a lever or gear addition system, but various character selection mechanisms other than the above lever or gear addition system have been recently devised and demonstrated. One example is a music box type typewriter in which a timing cylinder having a plurality of teeth or projections arrayed in the spiral form upon the cylindrical surface is continuously rotated in synchronism with a typing cylinder. There is a one-to-one correspondence between each of the plurality of teeth on the timing cylinder and each of the characters arrayed on the typing cylinder so that when one of the teeth passes through a predetermined position its corresponding character on the typing cylinder is brought to a printing position in opposed relation with a platen. When one of the keys on the keyboard is depressed and when its corresponding tooth passes through a predetermined position, a printing clutch is engaged so that the corresponding character on the typing cylinder is selected and brought to the printing position. In the typwriters such as a music box type typewriter of the type not using the lever or gear addition system the character selection mechanisms are made very simple in construction.

The characters each corresponding to each key on the keyboard are generally arrayed in the upper and lower rows on the typing cylinder so that in addition to a mechanism for bringing one of the character columns including a desired character into the printing position, there must be provided a mechanism for bringing the desired character in the upper or lower row of said one column into the final printing position. Generally the conventional mechanism for selecting the upper or lower row of the typing cylinder is based upon the lever or gear addition system, but when the lever or gear addition system is employed in a music box type typewriter of the type described, its advantages are almost lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of the present invention is therefore to provide a typewriter incorporating a row selection mechanism not based upon the lever or gear addition system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a typewriter in which the selection of the upper or lower row of the typing cylinder may be made by a simple mechanism not based upon the lever addition systern.

Briefly stated according to the embodiment of the present invention a number of keys arrayed on the keyboard are divided into a first key group and a second key group. The keys in the first key group correspond to the characters in the lower row on the typing cylinder whereas the keys of the second key group, to the characters in the upper row. A torque lever is provided which is adapted to be actuated when one of the keys of the first key group is depressed. The torque bar is operatively coupled through a linkage to a row selecting mechanism forselecting and bringing the upper or lower row into the printing position. When the row selecting mechanism is not actuated, the upper row is normally selected. Therefore when one of the keys of the first key group is depressed, the torque bar is actuated so that the row selecting mechanism is actuated to cause the typing cylinder to lift from its normal position. As a result the lower row on the typing cylinder is brought to the typing position. On the other hand the second key group is not provided with a torque bar so that even when one of the keys of the second key group is depressed, the row selecting mechanism is not actuated so that the upper row on the typing cylinder is in the printing position. In addition to the row selecting mechanism of the type described, a swivelling or column selecting mechanism is of course provided which is adapted to bring one of the character columns including a desired type or character on the typing cylinder to the striking position. When the row selecting mechanism in accordance with the present invention is combined with the column selecting mechanism which is used in the music box type typewriter, further advantages may be attained. When a desired type or character is brought to the printing or striking position by the row and column selecting mechanisms, a hammering mechanism is actuated to strike the selected type or character against a paper held by a platen. Thereafter the typing cylinder is returned to its initial position, that is the position in which a character in the upper row may be selected and brought to the typing position.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of one preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a music box type typewriter;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a mechanism thereof for swivelling a typing head in order to bring a selected type or character into the printing position; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a row selecting mechanism in accordance with the present invention for selecting a desired row of characters or types on the typing cylinder; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating in detail a hammering mechanism thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating a music box type typewriter, only one key 2 is shown even though a keyboard 1 has a number of alphanumeric and function keys. The key 2 is coupled to a key lever 3 whose one end is pivoted to a shaft 4 and whose the other end is supported by a member 6 through a spring 5 loaded therebetween. A key lever leg 8 is pivoted with a pivot pin 7 to the midpoint of the upper arm of the key lever 3. A spring 9 is loaded between the leg 8 and the key lever 3. An interposer 10 has a projection 10a which engages with the leg 8 and a bifurcated right end having an upper leg 10b and a lower leg 10c. The upper legnfpb has two stepped portions-10'b, and the lower step fg ed portion is normally in engagement with a guide cofiib 11 which in turn is fixed to a stationary member. A tongue 13 which isv pivoted with a pivot pin 12 to the lower leg c of the interpose 10 is normally biased upwardly under the force of a spring 14 while the interposer 10 itself is normally biased to move to the right under the force of a spring 15. The left end of the interposer 10 is pivoted to a supporting member 16 which in turn is securely fixed to a stationary member. The tongue 13 pivoted to the lower leg 10c of the interposer 10 is in opposed relation with a set lever 17, and the leading end of the upper leg 10b is in opposed relation with a reset lever 18. All of the keys on the keyboard 1 are arranged in a manner similar to that described above with the particular reference to the key 2. A timing cylinder 19 having a number of teeth disposed on the side surface thereof, a carrier 30 and a typing cylinder 33 are illustrated in detail in FIG. 2.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the number of teeth 20 are arrayed in the form of a spiral upon the cylindrical surface of the timing cylinder 19, and each tooth 20 has a one-to-one correspondence with each tooth on the typing cylinder 33. The set bar 17 which is disposed adjacent to the timing cylinder 19 has a rectangular shape and a'length equal to that of the timing cylinder 19. Both ends of the set bar 17 are pivoted to a pair of supporting members 17 for rotation about the axis 17". The tongues each corresponding to each key on the keyboard 1 are disposed in side-by-side relation upwardly of the set bar 17 and in opposed relation with the teeth on the cylinder 19. Thus it is seen that there is an one-to-one correspondence between the keys on the keyboard 1 and the teeth 20 on the timing cylinder 19 and the types on the typing cylinder 33.

A gear 21 carried by a rotary shaft 19' of the timing cylinder 19 is in mesh with a driving gear 22 which in turn is drivingly coupled to a motor (not shown) and is also in mesh with a driven gear 23 carried by a first keyway shaft 28. A clutch 24 which is carried by the rotary shaft 19' of the timing cylinder 19 and has a cam 25 and a gear 26 is normally in engagement with an arm 17' fixed to the left end of the set lever 17 so that both the cam 25 and the gear 26 are prevented from rotating. The cam 25 engages with an arm 18' fixed to the reset lever 18, and the gear 26 is in mesh with a gear 27 carried by a second keyway shaft 29. The carrier is fitted over the first and

second keyway shafts

28 and 29 for slidable movement, and has a vertical shaft 32 which carries a bevel gear 31 in mesh with a bevel gear carried by the first keyway shaft 28. Within the carrier 30 is located a cam 34 carried by the second keyway shaft 29. The typing cylinder 33 is carried by the vertical shaft 32, and a hammering block which is pivoted to the first keyway shaft 28 has a projection 35 which is extended from one end thereof for engagement with the cam 34. A platen 36 is disposed in opposed relation with the typing cylinder 33.

The rotation of the driving gear 22 which is drivingly coupled to the motor (not shown) is transmitted to the timing cylinder 19 through the driven gear 21 and to the typing cylinder 33 through the gear 23, the first keyway shaft 28 and the pair of bevel gears 31 so that the timing cylinder 19 and the typing cylinder 33 continuously rotate in synchronism with each other with the one-to-one correspondence between the teeth upon the timing cylinder 19 and the types upon the typing cylinder 33.

Referring back to F IG, ,1, upon depression of the key 2 on the keyboard 1, the key lever 3 rotates in the counter-clockwise direction about the shaft 4 so that the leg 8 fixed to the key lever 3 causes the interposer 10 to move downwardly. As a result the upper stepped portion 10"b of the upper leg 10b of the interposer 10 engages with the guide comb 11. More particularly the interposer 10 is shifted over a distance a to the right under the force of the spring 15 so that the tongue 13 fixed to the lower leg 100 is projected to engage with the corresponding tooth 20 on the timing cylinder 19 which rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow. When the tongue 13 engages with the corresponding tooth 20 on the timing cylinder 19, it is caused to move downwardly by the tooth 20 to engage with the set lever 17, thereby causing the latter to rotate about its axis 17''.

Next referring to FIG. 2, upon rotation of the set lever 17 about its axis 17", the arm 17 of the set lever 17 is released from the clutch 24 so that the latter may rotate in unison with the timing cylinder 19. Therefore both the cam 25 and the gear 26 carried by the clutch 24 are also rotated, and the rotation of the cam 25 causes the reset lever 18 to swing about the axis 18" to the left in FIG. 1, thereby pushing the upper leg 10b of the interposer 10 to the left. Therefore even when the key 2 is kept depressed, the projection 10a of the interposer 10 is returned beyond the leg 8 to the left side thereof and the interposer 10 itself is returned to its initial position in which the lower stepped portion of the upper leg 10b engages with the guide comb 11 and the spring 9 is compressed. As a consequence the tongue 13 is also returned to its initial position and is prevented from engaging with the corresponding tooth on the timing cylinder 19 when the latter rotates.

Upon rotation of the gear 26 in unison with the clutch 24, the cam 34 is rotated through the gear 27 and the second keyway shaft 29, and the projection 35' in engagement with the cam 34 is moved upwardly so that the hammering block 35 rotates about the first keyway shaft 28 thereby causing the type cylinder 33 to strike against the platen 36. Thus the printing is accomplished. As described above, there is the one-toone correspondence between the keys on the keyboard 1 and the teeth on the timing cylinder 19 and the type cylinder 33 rotates in synchronism with the timing cylinder at a rotational speed multiple or submultiple of that of the timing cylinder so that the printing timing of one key is dependent upon the position of the corresponding tooth on the timing cylinder 19 and the corresponding type on the type cylinder 33 is selected. The swinging time of the arm 17 is very short and is moved away from the clutch 24 under the force of a spring (not shown) when the clutch 24 rotates and moved toward the clutch 24 for engagement therewith after the clutch 24 makes one rotation. The operations described above are cycled whenever any key on the keyboard 1 is depressed.

Upon the cylindrical surface of the typing cylinder 33 are arrayed in rows and columns a number of characters, and in order to select a desired character and bring it to the typing position a swivelling or column selecting mechanism for rotating the typing cylinder 33 to a number of positions and a lifting or row selection mechanism for lifting the typing cylinder 33 to a plurality of positions are provided. A typing cylinder lifting mechanism in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in detail in FIG. 3.

On the keyboard 1 are disposed a first group of keys 2' operatively coupled to the types in the lower row of the typing cylinder 33, a second group 2" of keys operatively coupled to the types in the upper row of the typing cylinder 33 and a shift key 2". A first and

second torque lever

37 and 51 are disposed in engagement with the key levers 3' of the first key group 2 and with the key lever 3" of the shift key 2", but the second key group 2 is not provided with the torque lever. The torque lever 37 which is also shown in FIG. 1 at the bottom left, is coupled to one end of a clutch 39 through a linkage 38 consisting of a rocker and a connecting link. A driving shaft 42, which is normally rotating, carries a clutch 40 whose shaft 40' in turn carries a cam 43. A projection 39' extending from the other end of the clutch 39 is normally in engagement with the clutch 40 so that the rotation of the driving shaft 42 is normally not transmitted to the cam 43. A rocker 41 serves to hold the clutch 40 in its original position when the clutch 39 is engaged. The cam 43 carried by the shaft 40' of the clutch 40 is located in an aperture 44' formed in a sector segment 44 which is adapted to rotate about the axis 66 in unison with a segment gear 45. The position of a cam 65 fitted into an aperture 45 of the segment gear 45 determines the position of the segment member 44 with respect to the segment gear 45 as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The segment gear 45 is in mesh with a pinion 46 carried at one end of a keyway shaft 47. A pinion 48 which is slidably fitted over the keyway shaft 47 is in mesh with a rack 49 whose upper end is securely fixed to the bottom or undersurface of a plate 50 fitted over the boss of the typing cylinder 33. The carrier and the hammering block which have been described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematically illustrated in FIG. 3.

One end of the torque bar 51 for the shift key 2" is coupled to a plate 52 through a linkage, and a roll 53 fitted over a stud 54 extending from an arm 54 is fitted into a cam slot 57 which is formed in the plate 52 and has a projection 57 formed at the center of the cam slot 57. An arm 55 is normally pressed against the projection of the arm 54 under the force of a spring, and one end of the arm 55 engages with the stepped portion of a clutch 56 carried by a driving shaft 59 so that the clutch 54 is normally prevented from rotating. A cam 60 carried by the shaft of the clutch 56 is fitted into an aperture 61 of an arm 61 whose one end is coupled to the cam shaft 65 through

links

62 and 63. One end of the cam shaft 65 is fixed to the link 63 with a pin 64.

released from the clutch 40, and the clutch is engaged with the normally rotating driving shaft 42 so that the cam 43 fixed to the clutch 40 starts to rotate. Upon rotation of the cam 43, the segment member 44 is caused to rotate about the axis 66 which in turn causes the segment gear 45 to rotate thereby rotating the pinion 56. The rotation of the pinion 46 is transmitted through the keyway shaft 47 to the pinion 48 so that the rack 49 in mesh with the pinion 48 is lifted. As a result the typing cylinder 33 is also lifted so that the lower row of types is selected. In practice the typing cylinder 33 is swivelled to a desired position simultaneously when it is lifted in the manner described above so that a desired type is brought to a typing position. Thereafter the hammering block 35 is actuated. After typing, the clutch 42 further rotates to engage with the projection 39' of the clutch 39 and stops. The lever 41 serves to securely hold the clutch 40 in its initial position when the latter reengages with the clutch 39. The cam 43 causes the segment member 44 to rotate in the opposite direction so that the typing cylinder 33 is lowered to its initial position.

When a key in the second key group 2" is depressed the typing cylinder lifting mechanism does not function so that the position of the typing cylinder 33 is selected only by the mechanism described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. That is, a type in the upper row on the typing cylinder 33 is selected.

The print shift is made by the depression of the shift key 2". In this case, the segment member 44 is displaced from the segment gear 45 so that upon actuation of the lifting or row selection mechanism described above one of the shift types which are arrayed on the typing cylinder 33 and displaced from the other types by one-half pitch may be selected.

Upon depression of the shift key 2", its key lever 3" engages with the torque bar 51 to rotate it about the axis 51'. The motion of the torque bar 51 is transmitted through the linkage to the plate 52 to cause it to rotate about the axis 58. When the plate 52 is rotated and the roll 53 which is fitted over the stud 54' of the arm 54 passes beyond the projection 57 of the grooved cam 58, the arm 54 and hence the arm 55 are instantaneously rotated and then returned to their original positions. In response to the movement of the arm 55, the end thereof which is in engagement with the clutch 56 is released therefrom, and the clutch 56 engages with the driving shaft 59 to rotate in unison with the shaft 59. In this case the arm 55 rests upon the periphery of the clutch while extending a spring 67, and engages with the other stepped portion of the clutch 56 when the latter makes a half rotation. Therefore the clutch 56 is stopped. In response to the rotation of the clutch 56 the cam 60 is rotated through 180 so that the arm 61 is rotated about the axis 61". The movement of the arm 61 is transmitted through the

links

62 and 63 to the cam shaft 65 so that the latter is rotated to cause the segment gear 45 to angularly displace with respect to the segment member 44. Under this condition the lifting mechanism is actuated so that the shift type on the typing cylinder 33 may be selected. A spring 68 fixed to the stud 54' of the arm 54 serves to impart the snap action to the plate 52 when it is rotated. When the shift key 2" is released and returned to its initial position, the plate is returned to its initial position so that the stud 54' and hence the ring 53 passes again the projection 57' of the grooved cam 57 while the clutch 56rotates through so that the cam shaft 65 is returned also to its initial position. As a consequence the segment gear 45 is returned to its initial position so that the relative displacement between the segment member and gears 44 and 45 disappears.

When the hammering block 35 causes the typing cylinder 33 to strike against the platen 36 while the typing cylinder 33 is continuously rotating, the shearing in typing and the misalignment between the printed characters occur. To overcome this problem the present invention provides an arrangement shown in FIG. 4. The

typing cylinder 33 is continuously rotated by the motor (not shown) through the keyway shaft 28, the bevel gears 31 and the vertical shaft 32, and is selectively lifted in response to the rotation of the keyway shaft 47 through the pinion 48 and the rack 49. A hollow shaft 69 which is slidably fitted over and keyed to the vertical shaft 32 is rotated in unison with the vertical shaft 32 and has a hub 70 fixed to the upper end and provided with a notch 70'. The typing cylinder 33 has a plurality of internally threaded teeth 71 each of which corresponds to each of the columns of types on the typing cylinder 33. The extension of the hollow shaft 69 is fitted into a center aperture 33' of the typing cylinder 33 and is securely held in position with a stop ring 72. Two

studs

73 and 74 are extended downwardly from the hub 70 and the typing cylinder 33 respectively, and the stud 74 is located in the notch 70 of the hub 70. A coiled spring 75 which has its ends fixed to the

studs

74 and 75 and is fitted over the hollow shaft 69 serves to cause the typing cylinder 33 to normally follow the vertical shaft 32. The lower end of the hollow shaft 69 is fitted into a center aperture of the plate 50 and is securely fixed thereto with a stop ring 76. A detent 77 which is securely fixed to the carrier 30 is adapted to engage with the internally threaded teeth 71 of the typing cylinder 33 when the hammering block 35 and hence the typing cylinder 33 are caused to move toward the platen 36.

As described above the keyway shaft 28 is continuously rotated, and its rotation is transmitted to the typing cylinder 33 through the bevel gears 31, the vertical shaft 32, the hollow shaft 69 and the stud 74 so that the typing cylinder 33 is normally rotated at a high speed.

When one of the keys on the keyboard 1 (See FIG. 1) is depressed, a selected type is brought to a printing position and simultaneously the projection 35' of the hammering block 35 is lifted in the direction indicated by the arrow. The hammering block 35 rotates about the keyway shaft 28 in the clockwise direction thereby causing the typing cylinder 33 to strike against the platen 36 to impress the selected character on a paper held on the platen 36. In this case, the detent 77 engages with the teeth 71 of the typing cylinder 33 so that the latter is forced to stop while the selected character is impressed. Therefore the shearing in typing and the misalignment between the typed characters may be completely prevented. Even when the typing cylinder 33 is forced to stop its rotation, the rotational force is continuously applied through vertical shaft 32 from the keyway shaft 28 so that the stud 74 extending from the typing cylinder 33 is moved away from one end a of the notch 70 of the hub 70 whereas the stud 73 which to tates in unison with the vertical shaft 32 passes beyond the stud 74 while compressing the spring 75. When the hammering block 35 returns to its initial position after the printing operation has been completed so that the detent 77 is released from the internal teeth 71 of the typing cylinder 33, the rotation of the typing cylinder 33 is accelerated under the force of the compressed spring 75 to return to its initial position in which the stud 74 engages with the end a of the notch 70 of the hub 70. Thereafter the typing cylinder 33 follows the rotation of the hub 70 and hence the vertical shaft 32, and the next printing operation may be started.

So far the present invention has been described as being applied to a music box type typewriter, but it will be understood that the present invention may be also applied to other various typewriters, for example a type-bar type typewriter.

What is claimed is: l. A typewriter comprising a. a keyboard having a number of keys arrayed into I at least a first key group and a second key group,

b. a typing cylinder having a cylindrical side surface bearing a number of characters respectively corresponding to said keys on said keyboard, said number of characters being arrayed at least in an upper row and a lower row transverse to the axis of said surface, and in a number of columns parallel to said axis, said cylinder being rotatable about said axis and movable along said axis,

c. first character selecting means for angularly positioning said cylinder about said axis to select and bring one of said number of columns of characters to a printing position in response to the depression of the corresponding key in. any of said first and second key groups on said keyboard,

d. a torque bar which is adapted to be actuated in response to the depression of any key in only said first key group on said keyboard,

e. second character selecting means which is actuated in response to said actuation of said torque bar for moving said typing cylinder along said axis to lift said typing cylinder, thereby bringing a characumn into the typing position, and

f. hammering means for causing said typing cylinder to strike against a platen when said selected character is brought to said typing position by said first and second character selecting means.

2. A typewriter as defined in claim 1 which further comprises driving means for continuously rotating said typing cylinder, and wherein said first selecting means comprises i. a timing cylinder having a plurality of projections arrayed in the form of a spiral upon the cylindrical surface thereof, said plurality of projections corresponding to said number of keys in the first and second key groups on said keyboard, said timing cylinder continuously rotating in synchronism with said typing cylinder,

- ii. a group of tongue members arrayed in a line in the axial direction of said timing cylinder in opposed relation with said plurality of projections on said timing cylinder, andiii. means for causing one of said tongue members to engage with the corresponding projection on said timing cylinder upon depression of one of the keys on said keyboard which is operatively coupled to said one tongue member, and wherein said hammering means comprises means for causing said typing cylinder to strike against said platen when said tongue engages with the corresponding projection on said timing cylinder upon depression of said corresponding key on said keyboard.

3. A typewriter as defined in claim 2 further comprising means for forcing said typing cylinder to stop its rotaition only when the selected character is typed and for 65 aticelerating the rotation of said typing cylinder so as to rotate at a normal rotational speed after the selected cliaracter has been typed.

t. A typewriter including ter in the upper or lower row of said selected cola. a typing element having a surface curved about an axis and bearing a plurality of type characters for printing, said characters being arranged in columns aligned with said axis and in at least two rows transverse thereto;

b. means mounting said element for rotation about said axis and for movement along said axis;

c. a plurality of keys respectively corresponding to said characters; and

d. first character-selecting means responsive to depression of said keys for imparting to said element an angular orientation about said axis such that a column containing a character to which a depressed key corresponds is angularly positioned for printing;

wherein the improvement comprises:

e. a torque bar, positioned to be depressed only by keys corresponding to characters in one of said two rows, and rotatable by depression of any of the lastmentioned keys; and

f. second character-selecting means, connected to and operated by rotation of said torque bar, for moving said element along said axis between a first position at which characters in said one row are disposed for printing and a second position at which characters in the other of said two rows are disposed for printing.

5. A typewriter as defined in claim 4, wherein said second character-selecting means comprises i. a clutch;

ii. a continuously rotating driving shaft;

iii. a rotatable cam mechanism coupled through said clutch to said shaft;

iv. at least one sector segment member which undergoes angular displacement through a predetermined angle in response to rotation of the cam mechanism;

v. means connected to said one sector segment member for moving said element along said axis between said first and second positions in response to angular displacement of said one sector segment member; and

vi. means for causing said clutch to engage or disengage in response to rotation of said torque bar.

6. A typewriter as defined in claim 5, further includ- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE? "0 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. q 8qq 1 7 Dated HQ/7 1' Inventor(s) Koh Matsuhisa It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Cover sheet: The Inventor's name should be corrected to read:

Koh Matsuhisa Signed and sealed this 5th day of NovembeT 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner Of Patents I F ORM PO-IOSO (0-69) I USCOMM-DC 60376-5 69 r us, covnuuliu'r rlmmuc OFFICE: I! twan

Claims

1. A typewriter comprising a. a keyboard having a number of keys arrayed into at least a first key group and a second key group, b. a typing cylinder having a cylindrical side surface bearing a number of characters respectively corresponding to said keys on said keyboard, said number of characters being arrayed at least in an upper row and a lower row transverse to the axis of said surface, and in a number of columns parallel to said axis, said cylinder being rotatable about said axis and movable along said axis, c. first character selecting means for angularly positioning said cylinder about said axis to select and bring one of said number of columns of characters to a printing position in response to the depression of the corresponding key in any of said first and second key groups on said keyboard, d. a torque bar which is adapted to be actuated in response to the depression of any key in only said first key group on said keyboard, e. second character selecting means which is actuated in response to said actuation of said torque bar for moving said typing cylinder along said axis to lift said typing cylinder, thereby bringing a character in the upper or lower row of said selected column into the typing position, and f. hammering means for causing said typing cylinder to strike against a platen when said selected character is brought to said typing position by said first and second character selecting means.

2. A typewriter as defined in claim 1 which further comprises driving means for continuously rotating said typing cylinder, and wherein said first selecting means comprises i. a timing cylinder having a plurality of projections arrayed in the form of a spiral upon the cylindrical surface thereof, said plurality of projections corresponding to said number of keys in the first and second key groups on said keyboard, said timing cylinder continuously rotating in synchronism with said typing cylinder, ii. a group of tongue members arrayed in a line iN the axial direction of said timing cylinder in opposed relation with said plurality of projections on said timing cylinder, and iii. means for causing one of said tongue members to engage with the corresponding projection on said timing cylinder upon depression of one of the keys on said keyboard which is operatively coupled to said one tongue member, and wherein said hammering means comprises means for causing said typing cylinder to strike against said platen when said tongue engages with the corresponding projection on said timing cylinder upon depression of said corresponding key on said keyboard.

3. A typewriter as defined in claim 2 further comprising means for forcing said typing cylinder to stop its rotation only when the selected character is typed and for accelerating the rotation of said typing cylinder so as to rotate at a normal rotational speed after the selected character has been typed.

4. A typewriter including a. a typing element having a surface curved about an axis and bearing a plurality of type characters for printing, said characters being arranged in columns aligned with said axis and in at least two rows transverse thereto; b. means mounting said element for rotation about said axis and for movement along said axis; c. a plurality of keys respectively corresponding to said characters; and d. first character-selecting means responsive to depression of said keys for imparting to said element an angular orientation about said axis such that a column containing a character to which a depressed key corresponds is angularly positioned for printing; wherein the improvement comprises: e. a torque bar, positioned to be depressed only by keys corresponding to characters in one of said two rows, and rotatable by depression of any of the last-mentioned keys; and f. second character-selecting means, connected to and operated by rotation of said torque bar, for moving said element along said axis between a first position at which characters in said one row are disposed for printing and a second position at which characters in the other of said two rows are disposed for printing.

5. A typewriter as defined in claim 4, wherein said second character-selecting means comprises i. a clutch; ii. a continuously rotating driving shaft; iii. a rotatable cam mechanism coupled through said clutch to said shaft; iv. at least one sector segment member which undergoes angular displacement through a predetermined angle in response to rotation of the cam mechanism; v. means connected to said one sector segment member for moving said element along said axis between said first and second positions in response to angular displacement of said one sector segment member; and vi. means for causing said clutch to engage or disengage in response to rotation of said torque bar.

6. A typewriter as defined in claim 5, further including a. a shift key; b. means including a second sector segment member for angularly displacing said one sector segment member in response to rotation of the cam mechanism; c. a movable member operatively coupled to said shift key; and d. means for rotating said one sector segment member through a predetermined angle with respect to said second sector segment member in response to movement of said movable member coupled to said shift key.