Question

How many type bars passes through the common centre to produce impression at a time?

• A. One
• B. Two
• C. Many
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

A. One

The Typewriter Mechanism

On a standard mechanical typewriter:

1. The Type Basket: The type bars are arranged in a semicircle (or arc) called the type basket, radiating out from the center .

2. The Common Center (Type Guide): The strike point where the letters appear on the paper is precisely guided by a small, slotted metal piece called the type guide or type slot. This guide ensures that every character from every type bar is perfectly aligned to the same point.

3. The Strike: When a key is pressed, the corresponding type bar is thrown up and forward in a fast arc. It is momentarily guided by the type slot just before it strikes the ribbon and the paper on the platen.

4. Anti-Jamming: The arrangement ensures that only one type bar can physically occupy the common center at a time. If a typist presses two keys too close together, the type bars will collide or "jam" because they are trying to reach the same single point simultaneously.