US1141525A - Stencil-writing attachment for type-writing machines. - Google Patents

Description

F. W. BUFFUM.

STENCIL WRITING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION HLED AUG. I7 1914.

Patented June 1, 1915.

2 SHEETS SHEEY 1- #lllilllillllli Hlllllllllll F. W. SUFFUM. STENCJL wnmm: ATTACHMENT FUR TYPE wmrms MACHENES. APPLICATION FiLED AUG. If IQM.

1,141,525, Patented hum 1, 1915.

FRANK W. BUFFU'EZ, OF LOUISIANA, MISSOURI.

SmCIL-WRFDING ATTACHMENT FOB TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Application field August 17, 1914. Serial No. 857,233.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK W. Barron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisiana, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stencil- Writing Attachments for Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to stencil-writing attachments for typewriting machines.

The blanks that are to be made into stencils with my improved attachment are the well-known type of paper stencil blanks, such as are widely used in automatic stencil machines, and which have a thin paper sight, upon which the stencil is written, that is surrounded by a comparatively thick, stiff cardboard margin or frame. This blank must be placed in the machine in such a manner that it can be fed or line-spaced in a straight line, as the stilf cardboard frame thereof will not permit of its being bent or curved transversely around the usual round platen of a typewriting machine. In all typewriting machines that have two or more rinting characters arranged on each type r it is neces ary to employ shift keys to shift the platen with relation to the type bars, or to shift the type bars with relation to the platen, in order that the desired printing character will engage the laten at the proper printing position. ertical feed slnncil attachments have heretofore been used, but it has been found in practice that when used on a. shift key machine the character or characters on the type'bars that are shifted out of operative position b means of the shift key will engage the thic cardboard frame of the stencil when printing the bottom and top lines of said stencil, and thus prevent the desired character from making a perfect impression on the sight of the stencil.

One object of my present invention is to overcome this objection, and to this end I have devised a simple and reliable means, whereby the stencil-supporting or carrying frame is automatically rocked whenever the shift key of the machine is depressed, so that the thick margin or cardboard frame of the stencil blank is moved to such a positlon that the ino erative type on the type bars will not toucli the same during the operation of printing on the stencil.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described that can be readily attached to or detached from the typewritmg machine with which the same is used. Other ob ects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a front elevational view of a typewriting machine equipped with a stencil-writin constructed in accordance wit my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of said machine. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the stencil in operative position. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views, illustrating the position assumed by the stencil and its carrier when the shift keys of the machine are actuated. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are detail sectional views taken on the lines 8-8, 99, and 1010, respectively, of Fig. 5; and Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 11-11 of Fig. 3.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, my improved stencil attachment is shown as applied to the well-known Remington Junior typewriting machine, but I wish it to be understood that my broad idea is not limited to use with such machine, for my invention is capable of being applied to various other types of typewriting machines without departing from the spirit thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates the main frame of the typewriting machine, B the pinion, C the type bar-carrying frame or support. D the type bars and E the character-printing keys. In the machine herein shown each of the type bars D is provided with three printing characters (I, d and d. When the parts of the machine are in the position shown in Fig. 2 depression of the keys E, which are pivotally mounted on a stationary shaft '20, through the medium of the link e, lever c and link e", will cause the center printing attachment character :1 to engage the platen B opposite the center thereof and make an imprwion on a paper or card that is interposed between said platen and said printing character.

When it is desired to print the uppermost character d on the type bar D a shift key F. which is mounted on a stationary pivot 21, is depressed, and, through the medium of the bell crank lever f, the F and lever f that is pivotally"connected at 24 to the type bar support C, said support kill be rocked downwardly on its pivot 0 so as to lower the pivot point 22 of the type bar D to such a, position with respect to the platen B that the character d will lie opposite the center of said platen whenever the key E is depressed. If it is desired to print the lowermost character d a shift key G, that is mounted on a stationary pivot 23, is depremed, and, throughthe medium of the link 9', bell crank lever g and link 9 that is connected to the lever f on the support C, said support will be rocked upwardly on its pivot point c'so as to raise the pivot point 22 of the type bar D to such a position with respect to the platen B' that the printing character d will lie opposite the center of said platen whenever the key E is depressed.

The mechanism just described all forms part of the standard Remington Junior typewriting machine, and is only herein referred to in so far as the shifting mechanism has any bearing on the stencil attachment to be hereinafter described, and it is to be here understood that my improved attachment is not limited to use with a machine having this exact shifting means, as various other means could be employed for changing the relative position of the type bars and platenin a shift key machine, without departing from the spirit of my invention. A

The stencil carrier consists of a frame H that lies across the front of the platen B and is pivotally mounted at each end as at 1 to brackets '2 that are secured to the end portions 3 of the platen carriage 4. The frame H is cut out in its central portion so as to leave a substantially rectangular opening therein whose .top and bottom edges are formed by integral tie members 5 and 6 of said frame and whose side edges are formed by a pair of vertically disposed stencil guide members 7 that are secured to said frame. Each of the stencil guide members 7 consists of a flat portion 7 that is connected to the frame H and an inwardly projecting channel-shaped portion 7 that is adapted to receive the side edges of the stencil blank S shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Part of the channel-shaped portion 7 is cut away a short distance downwardly from the top of the guide 7, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 5, so that the stencil blank S can be readily inserted into or removed from operative position in the guide 7.

In order to hold the stencil tightly against the platen B of the typewriting machine, a spring-pressed roller 8 is arranged on each of the stencil guides 7, said guides being cut away at a point adjacent said roller, as shown clearly in Fig. 11, so that said roller bears directly against the frame a of the stencil and said frame bears directly against said platen. By simply rotating the platen in the usual manner, the stencil S will be fed vertically between the guides 7, and thus space the lines of the printing thereon as desired. The front face of the channelshapcd portion 7" of each of the guides 7 is preferably bent rearwardly at the extreme lower end thereof, so as to form a flange 7 that acts as a positive stop, to limit the downward movement of the stencil S when the same is placed in the machine.

Referring now to Fig. 5, which shows a stencil blank in position to be printed on, it will be noted that the center printing character (1 of the type bar D is in printing position, that is, opposite the center of the platen B. If it is desired to print the lowermost character of, the type bar D must be raised vertically so that said character d will lie opposite the center of the platen, a means for shifting said type bar having been heretofore described.

If the stencil S were to remain in the vertical position shown in Fig. 5, when shifting the type bar D upwardly, the uppermost character 0! would come into contact with the thick frame 8' of the stencil, and thus prevent the character cl from making a per feet impression on the thin printing portion or sight 8" of said stencil. Therefore, I have devised means whereby whenever the shift key of the machine is actuated to change the position of the type bar D with respect to the platen B, the stencil and its supporting frame will be rocked so that the thick marginal frame 8' is moved laterally out of the path of the printing characters on the type bar D that are not in use, and thus will not interfere with the operation of printing on the sight 8 of the stencil.

The means I prefer to use to change the augularity of the stencil S, whenever one of the shift keys is depressed, consists of a bar 9 secured to one side of the frame H, by means of suitable brackets 10, and a member 11 that connects said bar to the type bar-carrying frame C, so that whenever said frame C is actuated by one of the shift keys F or G the member 11 will be actuated. and thus cause the stencil-carryin, frame H to be rocked on its pivots 11.

In the form of my invention herein shown the member 11 consists of a horizontally disposed bar having an upright extension 12 at the forward end thereof that is provided with a bifurcated portion 13 that partially surrounds and slidingly engages the bar 9, said-member having at its rear end a projection 14 that extends upwardly and inwardly, and which is bifurcated on its inner end so as to positively engage a. member 15 that is secured to the type bar supporting frame C. In order to prevent the member 11 from becoming displaced a slot 16 formed adjacent the rear end thereof coiiperates with a. pin 17 arranged in the stationary part of the heme A of the machine.

From the foregoing it will be seen that whenever the type-bar-supporting frame C is actuated by the shift key F so as to print the character (1' on the type bar D, said supframe will be moved downwardly and the member 15 thereon will be moved rearwardly, carrying with it the sliding member 11, which, in turn, moves the bar 9 rearwardly, and thus causes the stencil frame H to rock about its pivots 1-1 and assume the angular position shown in Fig. 7. When the shift key G is depressed the typebar-carrying support C is swung upwardly to print the character d", the member 15 at this time moving forwardly and sliding the member 11, which, in turn, moves the bar 9 forwardly, rocking the stencil frame H into the position shown in Fig. 6, so that the printing character (1 will not contact with the thick portion 8' of the stencil S.

In order to aid the operator of the machine to make stencils in which the different lines of printing thereon begin at the same place in different stencils, I have arranged a scale 13 on the bar 9 that cofiperates with the bifurcated portion 13 of the member 11 as a pointer, so as to indicate to the operator the different positions of the stencil desired when printing different lines.

While I have herein shown the stencilcarrying frame as being actuated by the movement of the type bar support C, it is obvious that the frame H could be directly connected with the shift keys of the machine or controlled by a separate key, or said frame could be actuated by anv other part of the machine that is necessarily in motion at the time the relative position of the platen and printing characters is changed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A stencihwriting attachment for typewriting machines comprising a pivotally mounted holder for holding the stencil in operative position adjacent the platen of the machine. and means for automatically rocking said holder when certain characters on the type bars are placed in printing position.

2. A card-writing attachment for typewriting machines comprising a shiftable holder for retaining the card in operative position adjacent the platen of the machine, and means for automatically changing the angularity of said holder with respect to said platen when it is desired to print certain characters on said card.

3. A- device of the character described comprising a rigid frame that lies across the front face of the platen of a shift key typewriter, for retaining said frame in an approximately vertical position when normally printing on the typewriter, and means for bodily moving said frame out of its vertical position when printing with the shift key of the typewriter operative.

4. In a stencil-writing attachment for machines, the combination of a typewriter provided with a shift key, a frame for holding the stencil in operative position adjacent the platen of the typewriter, anda connection between said frame and said shift key, whereby whenever said shift key is actuated, the osition of said frame with respect to sai platen will be chanfid.

5. a stencil-writing attachment for machines, the combination of a typewriter a movable support for the type bars thereo a frame mounted on said machine that holds the stencil in operative position adjacent the platen, and a. hnk connecting said frame to said movable support.

6. In a stencil-writing attachment for typewriting machines, the combination of a typewriter ha one set of print' keys that controls a p urality of sets of printing characters, shift keys for placing any desired set of printing characters under the control of saidkeys, a shiftable flame that is adapted to hold the stencil adjacent the platen in position to be printed on by said printing characters, and a connection between said shift keys and said frame.

7. In a stencil-writing attachment for typewriting machines, the combination of a shlft key typewriter, a frame mounted thereon that is adapted to normally hold the stencil in an approximately vertical position adjacent the printing side of the platen, and means whereby whenever the shift key of said typewriter is actuated said frame is automatically moved out of its vertical position.

8. In a stencil-writing attachment for typewrit-ing machines, a rigid rockable frame mounted on the machine for holding the stencil adjacent the platen in position to be printed on, and a key-controlled means for bodily rocking said frame.

9. In a typewriting machine, a card-feeding device arranged on the carriage thereof and which is adapted to hold a flat card in position to be printed on, type bars, each of which is provided with a plurality of printing characters, means for selecting the character which it is desired to print, and means controlled by said selecting means whereby said feeding device is rocked whenever said selecting means is actuated.

10. In a typewriting machine, a rigid rockable card-feeding device arranged on the carriage thereof, means for changing the relationship between the platen and the type bars of the machine, and means whereby said card-feeding device is rocked bodily whenever said changing means is actuated.

11. In a typewriting machine, a pair of rigid, spaced, grooved guides that are adapt ed to hold a card in a vertically-disposed printing position adjacent the platen of the machine, and means for rocking said guides as difl'erent characters on a type bar are placed in printing position.

12. In a typewriting machine, a platen, type bars, a support for said type bars, means for moving said support so as to change the position of said type bars'with respect to said platen, a rockable frame mounted on said machine so as to hold a card in printing position adjacent said platen, and a member having one end connected to said type bar support and its opposite end connected to said stencil frame.

13. In a shift-key typewriting machine, a card holder shiftably mounted on the carriage of the machine, and means connecting said card holder with an element that is moved whenever the shift key of the machine is actuated, so as to change the position of said card-holder with respect to the platen of the machine.

1;. In a typewriting machine, a longitudinally movable carriage provided with a platen, a stencil holder pivotally mounted on said carriage, a longitudinally extending bar secured to said holder, a rocking type bar support, and a member having one end connected to said support and its opposite end in sliding engagement with said longitudinally extending bar.

15. In a typewriting machine, a frame, a longitudinally movable carriage rovided with a platen and which is mounte on said frame, a stencil holder pivotally mounted on said carriage, alongitudinally extending bar secured to said holder, a rocking type bar support, and a member slidably mounted on said frame, and having one end connected to said support and its op osite end in engagement with said longitu inally extendin bar.

16. a typewriting machine, a longitudinally movable carriage provided with a platen, a stencil holder pivotally mounted on said carriage, a longitudinally extending bar having graduations thereon and se cured to said holder, a rocking type bar support. and a member having one end connected to said support and its opposite end in sliding engagement with said longitudinally extending bar.

17. In a shift key typewriter, a cardcarrying fra-me pivotally mounted on brackets that are secured to the end portions of the platen carriage of the machine, a longitudinally extending bar secured to said frame, a member slldingly mounted on a stationary part of the machine and having a bifurcated end that partially surrounds said bar, and means on the opposite end of said member for connection with a member that is moved whenever the shift key of the typewriter is actuated.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this fourteenth day of August 1914.

F RANK W. BUFFUM.

Witnesses:

Gnoncn R. LADSON, Gnoncs Baxnwmm.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents.

.It is hereby (ortifiod that 1 Letters Patent No. 1,141,525, granted June 1, 1915,

upon the application of Frank W. Bufl'um, of Louisiana, iilissouri, for an improve ment in Steml-VVribing Atlnvhmcnts for Type-Writing Mzu-hinns, an error appear-s in the pi hind specifimtiun ri'quiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 34, for 111' word inion read plrrlru; and that. the Said Letters Patent shouid 119 read with Lhiscorreution therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of June, A. D., 1915.

J. T. NrlVi/TON,

Actimg Commissioner of Patents.

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