US1077675A - Type-writer. - Google Patents

Description

M.- o. GRAWLEY.

. A' TYPE WRITER.

y APBLIogxTIQN FILED 1326.21, 1909 Patented* Novr. 4; 1913.

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JZ E i NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

MANSFIELD c. cimwrnm'or sAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNoR 'ro ADDOGRAPH ooMPANY, A CORPORATION or OALIFORNIA.

TYPE-WRITER.

T o all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, MANSFIELD C. CRA'w- LEY, citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and 'State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements inA Type-lVriters, of which 'the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to typewriters, and pertains especially to electrically-operated typewriters.

The object of my invention is to provide a durable, reliable electrically-operated, visible typewriting machine which will particularly combine ,certain simple mechanical' and electrical features whereby the type-bars of the typewriter may be actuated 1n proper sequence and with great rapidity by a very light pressure upon the keys; and which will provide a manually-operated selective mech.'- anism in combination with a-single electrical ower unitor actuator to act-nate the typears, the type-bars being electrically operated after the manual selection or preparation has been made.

It includes other'objects and advantages which will be apparent hereinafter.

l'The invention consists of the parts and Figure 1 is a plan of the machine. Fig. 2

is a centralvertical section. Fig. 3 is a front View omitting portion of the key elements.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the type-bar action. Fig. 5 is a perspective vlew'of the .type-bar and ribbon guides.

Fig. 6 shows the coupler in tripped position.

In a machine which I have built embodying the invention, I employ a main supporting' frame A.' of suitable design and proportion, in the forward extension of which are character indicating keys 2 secured to the outer end of levers 3, which latter are fulcrumed upon a transverse bar 4. There are as many key-levers -3 provided as are necessary to'select any of the type-bars 5 which arel journaled at gupon adgustable hangers 6 detachablyfsecured to the segment 7 Figs. 2 and 4. f v .It is understood thatl a description of one key and its connecting parts will apply to all thekeys and characters of the machine. A11 important testureaf this ievehtiee is' Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Decemher'21, 1909.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Serial No. 534,284.

the provision of selecting Imechanism by means of which the initial selection or preparation of a certain type-bar 1s performed.

As here shown, 9 is a bar pivoted to a lever` 3 at 8 andworking through a guide ring 10. The upper beveled end of each bar 9 is adapted',I when a key 2 is slightly depressed, t engage a coupler l1 pivoted at 12 to the inner end of a type-bar 5, and sustained at its outer free end by 'a spring 13, or its equivalent, and when the coupler 11 is uplifted by the bar 9 it is carried 'into operative position with a push bar 1G, to be hereinafter described. Each bar 9 with its'v lever 3 is normally held in the lowermost position by a spring 14 which retains the'"bar 9 seated in the guide ring 10. Each coupler 11 being pivoted at 12 to its respective type-bar will, when raised by its bar 9, present' al concaved face 15 to the semicircular push-'bar the lforward ends of the slide rods 17 ,t an

adapted when slid forward to engage the] coupler 11 and thereby swing `the type-bar 5- upwardly about its lpivot 5 -to cause the type-bar to print. The moment the type has struck the platen 33, the bar 5 is quickly retracted by the coupler sustaining spring 13.

18 represents an electro-magnet for operating the push bar 16, and,Y 17 are rods which carry bar 16 and connect to the armature 19 of the magnet 18. Rods 17 are slidable through a brace 20 which carries the magnet. The magnet 18 is connected to batteries 21 by suitable wires 22,-23 tirough which a current may be sent tolenergize the magnet .when the normally open contacts 24 of the circuit wires are closed.

The closing of the circuit is accomplished from the key-lever 3 and subsequent to the positioning of the coupler 11 in the path of the push bar 1G through the .instrumentality 'of a pivotedfoot-piece 25 loosely fulcrumed on the end vof each lever 3 and which is adapted to engage ya cross-bar 2G, Figs. 2 and 3, of a frame 27 pivoted at 28.

Upon the free, lower end of the pivoted frame 27is an adjustable screw 29 adapted when the lever 3 is actuatedA to strike the lower contact 24 and close the circuit, thereby energizing the magnet-18 and impelling' the push bar-16 against the face 15 of the coupler 11 which has been elevated by the I' selector bar 9 at the initial movement of the key 2; the operation of the push bar 16 causes the type-face on the particular typebar 5 to print.

The type ribbon is moved into and out of operative position between the uplifted type and the platen each time a key is Struck, by the following means: `When the push bar 16 hits the coupler 11 it swings the type-bar 5 to the printing position and simultaneously oscillates a hell-crank 30 fulcrunled at 3l on the end of a link which is mounted in suitable manner on the brace Q0. Referring to Figs. 2 land 5, the bell-crank 30 is illustrated as havingone arm connected with a ribbon guide 323, Which latter is slidably guided by a type-bar guide 3l secured to a web 35 of the sector 7, and by this means if the ribbon (not shown) is elevated just before the type-bar strikes the platen 33', and is lowered as the push bar 16 is retracted to its idle or rear position by appropriate means, as the tension springs 3G,

rFig. 1;l these springs having one end connected to the slide rods 17 and the other end to posts 3T on brace 20. Thus it is seen that the keys 2 are manually operated and the type are electrically operated; and since the burden of manually impelling the typebar 5 avoided, and the resistance and weight thereof are entirely removed from any connection with the key-lever, this lever is very easily depressed; and as the peculiar design of elements embodied in my invention requires a very short stroke of the key, the expert operator may attain, fory these reasons, a maximum speed and with a minimum physical exertion.

In order to insure a breaking of the magnet-energizing circuit 22-23 by means independent of the lever 3 so that a Series of keys 2 may be successively and rapidly depressed, and even while pressure remains on more than one key, the slide rods 1T carrying the push bar 16 have fastened to them del'ienfling arms 38, secured to the forward ends of which is a transversely extending plate or trip 3f) of such length as to encounter, when carried forward by the rods 1T, any of the several pivoted foot-pieces 25, thereby unlatehing thel previously actuated member 25 from the cross-bar 26, allowing frame 2T to tall under the action ot gravity and spring 2G', and consequently opening the circuit at switch 24. and deinergizing magnet 18. This circuit breaking action, it will be seen, occurs immediately the type has struck the platen, and regardless as to whether the operator has released his pressure. on the key 2 or not. Preferably the member )5 is so balanced that at'ter itl has bren uulatched it. tilts back so as to clear the bar Ztl as trame Q7 falls, Fig. 4; the member 25 again assuming au upright position when it rests upon the bottom of the trame .\l o, in order that the same coupler l1 will not be hit when the push bar 1G moves forward again following thc` depression ot another key, each coupler is adapted, after being struck by the push bar, to fly toi-ward and upward as its type-bar 5 is carried upward'to print, and when the circuit is broken, retraciing the push bar. the type-bar :7, in falling back. arries the lug lla on the coupler forward of the end ot the bar il. provided the key to which this particular bar 9 is attached, is still depressed. This is shown graphically in Fig. G. lnless there was some means tor thus disconnecting the coupler 'from the push bar and taking it out of operative range of the push bar. confusion would `"suit by the operation ot more than one type.-luu. By the provision here made, the type-bars are allowed to tall back after each imprint: 'Far enough so as to be out ot' interference one with the other in the. rapid successive action of the type-bars. ()t` course, the moment the pressure on the key is released, the bar tl is pulled down so as to come bcneath the lug 1ln again, as shown in ["ig. 2, ready for the next operation ot this key.

The operation of the machine is as t'ollows: depression ot' a key 2 rocks` itsI le.'er 5l and carries the bar t) up into engagement [with and lifts a type-bar coupler 1l into alinement with the push bar lt. The de- }ress'on et' key Q also lifts its foot-piece 25, which latter in turn hits cross-bar '21). rocks trame 27. and closes the circuit through wires at Ell, thereby energizing magnet 1S which attracts its armature and moves the universal push bar lt forward. The coupler 1l is elevated in time to he in proper position to be hit by the actuator lo which is impelled at thel instantV the circuit is closed, and the type.- on the typcrbar 3 makes the desired imprintV on the paper ou the platen. oincideHt. however, with the, advance ot' the push bar ttl, the ribbon guide 253 is elevated by the bell-crank Il() to printing position, and it is lowered iu uniscn with the return ot' the push bar, thus rendering the printing risible. 'l`he instant he platen is struck by the type-bar` the trip 'iti engages the foot-piece 23 and releasesI it t'rom bar 2G, allowing trame 2T to t'all` and breaking the circuit in contacts 2l: and the push bar is returned to idle pesitiou by itsI springs 36, allowing the spring),l lil to retract theI coupler ll and the type-bar 5.

ln order to provide 'for any adjustment which may be necessary to comluursate t'or the wear ot' the journal 5 of the type-bal' 5, so that the type on the bar will always print. in proper line, the rear end ot' the hanger t3 is formed with a semicircular bess t3, Fig. 4, adapted to seat and rock in a corresponding groove on tln` under side ott the sector 7. Passing through the'sector and .screwing into the hanger (3 is a draw-screw 40 adapted 'tol'holdthe' hanger yand reacting against this screw isan adjusting set-screw 41 threaded inthe sector =7 and-bearing-loose .on the hanger 6. Byunscrewing the drawvto eliminatererron'both oft e operator 'and theroperationl i* j In my machine 'the `\"o}era.tor simpl-y presses a key to close a circuit a'nd the typear is operated clectrically;the=circuit be;l ing broken automatically and the type re-n` turned to. initial position independent of the operator, and So quickly, that experience shows that the keys cannot be struck `successively -so fast as to-'cause an interference of one type-bar or typeface,'with another. The keys do not have to be struck a blow; they-,inlay bepushed dow-n ever so lightly'. They. do not have to be quickly releasedcither'; the retraction of the type-bar being accomplished automatically, as we have seen. All that is necessary is that two or more keys are not depressed simultaneously, and as long as characters do not have to be duplicated the several keys may be depressed successively and held down, yet each key will cause a erfect printing action to take place.

' n the event Wear occurs in the jaws 34 of the type-bar guide 34, the jaws are made slightly springy and are provided vwith' a limiting set-screw 45 and a draw-screw 46, Which latter tends to draw the jaws together. By this means the jaws 34: may be gradually adjusted to compensate for any wear either on the guide or on the type-bars The segmental 'guide' is important .in

that it consists of a segmental bar slotted so as to 'form guides and a lateral support for each one of the type-bars 5.

Having thus descrl ed my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 1. In an electrical ty ewriter, the combination of a pivoted key ar, a sliding rod directly pivoted on and carried by the key bar,

i a push bar,'a pivoted type bar, a coupler pivoted directly to the type bar and arranged in the path of the sliding rod, so that when the latter is reciprocated the coupler is positioned in the path of the push bar, and electrical means controlled by the key bar whereby on the depression of the key bar the push bar is operated to actuate the type bar. s

2. In anjelectrical typewriter, the combinatio/n of a pivoted key bar, a sliding rod directly pivoted onrand carried by the key bar, a push bar, a pivoted type bar, a coupler pivotcd directly 'to the type bar and arranged in the path of the sliding rod, so that when the latter is reciprocated the coupler ispositicned in the path of the push bar, electrical means controlled by the key bar whereby on the depression of the key bar the push bar is operated to actuate the type bar, and means independento the movement ofthe key bar for disrupting the electrical connections whereby the type bar may returnto initial position, independent of theA movement of the key bar.

3. In an electrical typewriter, the combi? nation of a pivoted key bar, a. sliding rod directly pivoted on :and carried by the key bar, a push bar,.a pivoted type bar, a. couplerpivoted directly to the type bar and arranged in the-path of the sliding rod, so that when the latter is reciprocated the coupler is positioned in the path of the push bar, electrical means controlled by the key bar whereby` on the depression of the key bar the push bar is operated to actuate the type bar,

and means operatively connected to the power bar'for disrupting the. electrical `oon-f nections.

4, In a typewriting machine, thecombin natlonoia series of movable type-bars, u

key for each type-bar, means including asingle electrically operated actuator common p to all the type-bars for operating 'any typebar on the depression of a corresponding key, means controlled by said actuator for disconnecting the saine from the control of `the key after the type-bar has been moved to printing position, and independent of .whether pressure on the key has been released or not, and a movable ribbon guideA operated directly by said actuator.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a pivoted type-bar, a coupler member carried thereby, an actuator bar, a keylevel-,means on the key-lever for moving the coupler into operative position with. respect to the actuator-bar, electrically controlled mechanism controlled by the key-lever 'for operating the actuator-bar, means operated by the actuator` har operating means for disconnecting the coupler, a platen,- and a movable ribbon guide operative directly by the actuator bar which controls the key-bar.

6. In an electrical typewriter, the combicoupler thereon,'a key-lever, an actuator, a ribbon uide actuated thereby, a circuit, a magnet in the circuit, means whereby on the energizing of the magnet the actuator is operated, a switch in the circuit, and means controlled by the key-lever for closing the rac `nati0n ot a pivoted type-bar, a pivoted switch, said ,means including a rocking,

frame pivotally mounted at its upper end and having its opposite end positioned near said Switch and noi'ided with a Contact, and a piv'oted foonpiece on the key-lever.

7. In an electrical typewriter, the c0n1bination of a Ypivoted type-bar, a pivoted coupler thereon, a key-lever, an actuater, a ribbon guide actuated thereby, a circuit, a magnet'in the circuit, means whereby on the energizing of the magnet. the actuator is operated, a switch in the circuit, means controlled by the key-lever for closing the switch, said means including a rocking trame pivotally mounted at its upper end and having its opposite end positioned. near said switch and provided with a contact, and a pivot'ed foot piece on the key-lever, and means independent of the key-lever for opening the switcn, n

8. l'n an electrical typemiter, the combination oi a piroted type-bar, a pivoted coupler thereon, a l e 1-le\'er, an actuator, a ribbon guide actuated thereby, a circuit, a magnet in the circuit, means whereby on the energizing of the magnet. the actuator' is operated, a switch in the circuit, and means controlled by the key-lever for closing the switch, Said last-named means includingl a piroted switch closer, and a foot piece pivoted on the rear end of the key-lever having an upper portion engageable with said switch closer.

9. In an electrical typewriter, the combination of a pivoted type-bar, a pivnted coupler thereon, a` key-lever, an actuator, a circuit, a magnet in the circuit, means whereby on the energizingof the magnet the actuator is operated, a switch in the circuit., means controlled by the key-lever for closing the switch, said last-named means including a piroted switch closer, and a footpiece -piroted on the rear end ol the keylever having an upper portion engageahle with said switch closer, and means operative by the actuator for engaging the trip member torrelease it from said swit ch closer.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand in the presence ot' two eubacribing witnesses.

M AN SF] ELD C. (-RiUVLllY.

fitnessest CHARLES A. Pnxrmnn, CnAluacs E111-miran.

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