US524290A - Island - Google Patents

Description

(N Model.)

A. T. VIGNERON.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE Patentgd Aug. 7.11894..

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A. T. VIGNERON. TYPE WRITING MAGHINE.

Patented Aug. 7/18-94.

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To all whom t may concern,.-

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a citizen of the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPHUS T. VIGNERON, OF PROVIDENCE, HO'DE ISLAND.

TYPE-WRITI N G MACH IN E. A

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,290, dated August '7, 1894.

' Application nea rm 12.1893. serial No. 477.373. er@ moan.)

Be it known that I, ADoLrHUs T. VIGNERON, United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writlng Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable ot-hers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to letters of reference marked thereo'mwhich form a part of this specification. y Y

-My presentinvention relates to certain improvements in type writing machines in which the Writing orprinting is made upon the paper by means of axially movable type-carrying bars actingupon a movable ink-ribbon interposed between the type-face and the intermittingly movable impression cylinder or platen carrying the paper. The Remington and Caligraph are well known examples of the class of type-writing machines referred to; and it is to machines of such or a similar type that my improvement is Well adapted to be used.

In type-writing machines as hitherto'made it has been usual to so construct and arrange the type-arms or bars and the coacting mechanism that the impression or writing is made atihe under side of the cylinder. While possibly such former arrangement may in some respects be to the 'advantage of the manufacturer in the matterof assembling the parts, &c., yet to the operator or user it is a decided disadvantage since the arrangement necessarily renders the last written line or the line being written invisible unless the cylinder be rst swung upwardly, or rotated ahead sufficiently to bring the line into View.

The object I seek to attain is to provide machines of the class above referred to with means whereby not only the last Written lines are exposed at all times but each individual letter or character as it is produced upon the paper is exposedwimmediately succeeding its impression.

To thatend my invention consists, essentially, of a resilient type-bar proper or holder jointed to the lever or operating arm, combined with a stop orcontact plate and an in- Y termittingly-movable ink-ribbon; it also consists of certain/other novel mechanisms combined with adjunctive devices, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

By means of my improvement the upper and lower case letters and characters may be employed with equal facility; the spacing and alignment are more uniform; the writing as produced is exposed and in full view ot' the operator Without raising the cylinder, and the novel mannerof mounting and operating the ink-ribbon `adds materially to the efficiency of the machine.

In the accompanying two sheets of draw-i ings, Figure 1, Sheet l,is a vertical sectional view of a type-writing machine embodying my improvements; some of the usual devices or mechanisms to which my present invention has no special reference being omitted. The type-bar is represented in the act of impressing say a capital or upper case letter upon the paper wrapped around the cylinder. Fig. 2 is a substantially similar View, but showing the type-bar in the act of printinga lower case letter. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the cylinder and the inking device. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is an enlarged vertical sectional View, showing the relation of the type-bar, tire., at the instant of its engagement with the stop. Fig. `5 represents the same while the impression is being made. Fig. 6 is a view similar to that last described, showing a modification of the manner of mounting the cylinder, so as to change its relation to the type-bars. Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View, taken on line mm of Fig. 5, showing the manner of guiding and centering the type-bars so as toinsure amore uniform alignment. y Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, represent side and plan views of the type-bars as adapted to properly engage thev cylinder. Fig. 13 is a front view of the ribbon-l1older,

tbc., and Fig. 14. is an enlarged fron-t end elevation of the type-holder stops, the relation of the parts being substantially as shown in Fig. l.

In carrying ont myinvention I have represented a type-writing machine embodying some of the characteristic features of the wellknown Remington vand. other machines; that is to say the operating levers or arms 0.', the keys and key-levers lo and connectionsl o mal position.

5 entinvention I have omitted said mechanisms from the drawings.

The frame f, is provided with a suitablebase portion and uprights and is surmounted by a fixed bed or table f' to which latter the ro several arms a are jointed or pivoted on pins p' as common. The usual impression cylinder c 1s mounted to revolve in the carriage 'm winch 1s supported on ways or guide-rods fn,

'n'. The paper 1o, shown by dotted lines, is

keptin contact with the cylinder by means of combined guide and feed rolls c', c2.

To the rear side of the table is secured a horizontal plate b, the same extending toward the front of the machine and is provided on zo the under -side at or near its free end with a recess s having beveled or slightly rounded sides 82, and forming a fixed stop for arresting the upward movement ot' the said arms a. This stop, when coactin g with thev type-holders a, soon to be described, causes the holders to swing into position toproduce an im-` pression,theiinclined sides of the stop and the vertical guides g at the same time-serving to centralize the holders and insure com- 3o `paratively perfect alignment of the work.

The lplate b is further provided, on its underx side, with ways in which a secondary or stopplate b is mounted to move endwise. A pin CZ secured to the pieceb, passes upwardly through a slotted opening d formed in plate b, as clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5, dac.; the ends of the slot serving to limit the movement of stop-plate b. The latter it will be seen has a downwardly extending lug s formed on its 4o front end,'the same being cut away'to receive the toes of the t-ypeholders, see also Fig. 14. As drawn, when the toes engage the upper or fixed stop s', the lower case characters or l types are brought into action, and when the?` lower or movable stop s is advanced into pog sition, as in Fig. 1, the upper case letters are brought into use. vIn said Fig'l, it will bel seen that springs k2 cause the several levers f a. as Well as the stop s to return to the nori In the case of the stop s a coni nection Z 'jointed both to thepivoted short lever Z2 and the arm of the key 7a4-transmits the movement of the latter through the lever Z3 to the plate b', so that when the key 7a4 is depressed the said levers, dac., will retract the stop to its limit, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

' Obviously, the parts may be arranged so that upon depressing the key 7a4 the `stop will be advanced into position for use, a spring au- 6o tomatically returning the stop to the position shown in said Figs. 2, 4 and 5.

The case keys k may be arranged i'n two or more rows as common, and the space-key la may be a long bar located in front ot the other keys and connect with the` usual feeding mechanism.

The series of pivotally mounted swinging levers or arms a may be arranged in `an oval or circular form in such a manner that the outer or free ends thereof will, when elevated to a horizontal position, lie in a practically common center or point. The end of each bar is bent upwardly and is providedv with a short lug a4, spring w, and joint-pin as; to

the latter of which is fulcrumed the typeholder ct carrying at its upper portion two types or characters o, o; these may be similar or dissimilar. In the drawings the capitals or' upper case characters are indicated by o and the lower case by o. Each holder is provided at its lower end with a toe a2 extending at substantially right angles therefrom; the upper face of the toe being adapted to engage the stops s, s', 4before described. The spring w bears against the toe so as to keep the holder in normal contact with the lug a4. In Figs. S to l2 the normal position of the holders is indicated by dotted lines; the full lines representing the position of the holders at the instant of printing.- Fig. 8 represents side and planv views Vof the front central type-holder and the contiguous portion ofthe working-arm a; Fig. 12 shows the corresponding rear central type-holder; Fig. 10 the central left lateral holder, and Figs. 9 and 11 the front and rear left diagonal holders. It will be seen that all the holders are so arranged and jointed to the arms a that the angular movements of the former are substantially alike while in contact with the stops s or s.

The following describes the manner of mounting and operating the ink ribbon: This ribbon r I prefer to make narrow, say from three-eighths inch to one-half rinch wide, the same being arranged to wind from one tension spool or arbor r4 to the other. The spools are mounted to revolve in a tilting shallow frame or casing e located at the center and on top of the front portion of the table b. vAs drawn, each spool is provided at the bottom with a ratchet-wheel 'u into which the click-pawls h engage; the pawls being jointed to a bracket or stand h fixed to the table; the stand is provided-with two rear wardly extending 'arms e4 in which the ribbon-frame is jointed and adapted to vibrate; said movement being effected through the medium of a short bottom arm e3 of the frame to which is jointed a link e' connectedat the bottom ofthe machine with a .transverse bar c2 in engagement with the under side of the series of key-levers 7.o. The bottom a of the ribbon-frame extends rearwardly to or nearly to the cylinder c; said extension is quite narrow and cut away at u at its outer end (see Fig. 3) to permit the passage of the typeholders. It is also. provided with short vertical guides r', r2, for leading the ribbon to the cylinder, as clearly shown in said Fig. 3.

`From the foregoing it is apparent that the act of depressing any of the keys' tilts the ribbon upwardly into position contiguous to the cylinder, as shown by full lines in Figs. 1,

`2, 4, and 6; it being automatically returned.

to its 4normal position, shown by dotted lines, by means of aspring Ae8 upon removing pressnre from the key. When in the last-named position it isclear that the entire printing is j` exposed.

The two vertical guides g fixed to the plate "b contiguous to the stop or contact recess s fio are arranged to freely receive the holders d `and at the same time prevent them from moving laterally, thus increasing., the efficiency of the machine; Fig. 7 shows a plan view of said parts in enlarged scale. The guides are so constructed that the ink-ribbon is exterior to and moves up and down past them `without touching.

I would add that the ribpbon-spools are rotated intermittingly by means of the pawls h combined with thev toothed wheels v. By referring to Fig. 13 it will be seen that the left pawl is working to V `wind the ribbon upon the corresponding spool, the other pawl meanwhile being idle. The tilting of the ribbon-frame, tbc., causes the pawl to slip from tooth to tooth, the rotation being eected during the upward movenient of the wheel. After the spool has been ,filled the corresponding pawl is lifted and y the other one dropped into gear, thereby re- .lso

versing the operation before described and resulting in iinwinding the ribbon from the filled spool onto the empty one.

The operation of a type-writing machine provided with my improvements may be described substantially as follows, assuming first, however, that the machine is also pro' vided with the usual co-operating or adjunctive devices for receiving and feeding the palso . in Fig. l.

.. per, propelling and releasing the carriage, im-

pression roll, keys, dto. The paper p is next introduced and wrapped partly around the cylinder, the lower stop s being already advanced into position. Now,iipon striking a key c the corresponding arm a. is instantly elevated to anearly horizontal position which causes the toe of the holder a to engage the stop, thus arresting the arms movement and at the same time rapidly swing the upper printing characterv rearwardly into engagement with the ribbon,thereby printing or making an impression upon the paper, as shown Upon releasing the finger from the keya spring k2 returns the key and typeholder to the normal position, or as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l. I would further state that the act of depressing the key operates also to elevate or tilt the ink-ribbon and its frame to the full-line position, Fig. l, preparatory to being struck by the printing type; saidframe, &c., dropping to the dotted line position through the medium of the spiral spring ef `The vibratory movement of the ribbon-frame advances the ribbon intermittingly, by the means before described. Thus it is obvious that the several lines of printing are continuously exposed and the character last printed is uncovered and exposed as soon as formed; it being keptin mind that the ribbon extends longitudinally of the cylinder but a short distance, say one-half an inch or less. l

In order to print from the lower case types o the lower stop s' is forced rearwardly (Fig. 2) by means of the key h4 or other suitable mechanism after which the printing is accomplished as just described, the typeliolder toes then engaging with the Upper or fixed stop s', as shown in Figs. 2,4 and 5. It

willv be-apparent that the upwardly extending stationai'y side guides g, having a wellrounded mouth, serve to keep the holders d in position laterally while the impression is being made, thus producing better work by reason of the superior alignment, as before stated. Y

In lieu of employing two stops s, s', one of which is movable, I may use a single fixed stop s' and move the cylinder c vertically.l Such an arrangement I have represented ,in Fig. 6, wherein the sliding carriage m is also provided with swinging arms m2 in which the cylinder andfeed rolls are journaled;` As

drawn a spring Z4 maintains the cylinder in the elevated position to receive the impression from the upper-case types. In order to print from` the lower-case characters o the fected through the medium of the bar c5, resting upon the top of the arms m2, and link Z attached thereto and connected say with a` -cylinder is first depressed to the dotted line position, Fig. 6; said movement being'ef- IOO key-leveras 104, adapted tobe manipulated by the finger of the operator. It may be added that'the extreme vertical movement of the cylinder is just equal to the distance from center to center between the` types 0,0', of the holder; said distance being also equal to the space between the two stops s, s', vertically. f

Y I claim as my invention and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent- 1. In a type-writing machine the combination with an impression surface of a type-lever-,a type-carrying arm pivoted to the end of said'lever, means for moving the type-lever, and means for arresting the movement thereof and thereby imparting to the type'- carrying arm a printing stroke, causing itto t strike the impression surface at a point in view of the operator, substantially as .described.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combina-- tion with aimpression surface, of a type-lever,

a type-carrying arm pivoted at the end of said lever, a stop in the path of movement of said lever adapted to ari'est the same and to inlpart to said type carrying arma printing stroke in va direction approximately perpendicular to the impression surface, so thatthe type strikes the latter at a point in view of the operator, substantially as described.

3. In a type-writing machine the combination with an impression surface, of a type1e.

ver, -a type-carrying varm pivoted at the end of said lever, a 'stop in the path of `movementof said lever adapted to arrest the same Aand` thereby impart to said type-carrying arm a printing stroke, and a spring for returning said type-arm to its .normal position after each stroke, substantially as described.

4. In a type-writing machine a series of type-levers and actuating mechanism theref for, type-carrying arms pivoted to the endsof said levers, yeach arm carrying a plurality of characters, means for arresting the movement of the type-levers and swinging the type arms tothe printing point, and means for changing the relative positions of the cylinders and type-arms to `brin g dierent characters to the common printing point, substantially as described.

5. The combnation'with the impression cylin-der, a series of type-levers and actuatingl printing position, substantially as described. y

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder, key-levers, &;c., an ink-ribbon and mechanisms actuated by the key-levers for feeding and intermittingly moving it up and down in front of the cylinder, of a series of levers connected with and actuated by said keys, a yielding arm provided wi-th two printing characters or types jointed to the external end of said levers, a'l fixed stop, for engaging the several type-arms i to swing them into position for printing from one of said types, a movable stop, arranged to arrest the levers so as to print from the other i series of types, and means for moving the f -stopintoand out of posi-tion,substantially as set '.forth.

7. In a type-writing machine the combination with the -impression cylinder of an inking ribbon and operating mechanism therefor, the inking ribbon being carried forward to the printing point at the fron-t of the cylind'ervin a narrow loop, said loop in its normal position exposing the common impression or printing point, mechanism operated by the key-levers for oscillating said loop to shift it t0 the printing point, aseries of type-levers and actuating mechanism therefor, type-carrying arms pivoted to the ends of said levers, means for arresting the type-le-vers-and swinging the type-carrying arms upwardly with the loop to the printing point, substantially as def scri-bed.

8. In a type-writing machine the combina- -tion with a pi'voted type-arm having a toe or projection thereon, of a stop formed with a bevel-sided recess therein, in which said toe or projection engages to swing the free endof said type arm to a printing point, substantially as described. y

9. In a type-writing machine provided with an impression cylinder, ink-ribbon and suitable cooperating devices, the combination therewith of a series of swinging operating levers a arranged in a circular or oval form, key-levers connected therewith for actuating the same, a series of yielding type-holders av jointed to the outer or free ends ot' the levers d', and a common stop, or stops, arranged to engage the several holders a, constructed and adapted for operation substantially` as described and for the purpose-set forth.

In testimony whereof I have aflXed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ADOLPHUS T. VIGNERON. Witnesses:

GEo. H. REMINGTON, IDA M. WARREN.

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