US1163791A - Type-writing machine. - Google Patents

Description

B. C. STICKNEY.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 7. 1915.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT UFFTCE.

BURNHAM C. STICKNEY, 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY. ASSIGNOR TO UNDERW'OOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14,1915.

Application filed July 7, 1915. Serial No. 38,419.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURNHAM C. STICK- NEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-\Vriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to typewriting machines of the class in which a single carriage is movable from one type system to another type system, one system having a separate printing zone from the other.

The invention relates to the means by which the carriage is given letter-feeding movements when cooperating with said type systems.

The principal object of the invention is to provide simple, inexpensive and etiicient means for feeding the carriage.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple means for securing greater letter-spacing movements of the carriage when cooperating with one type system than when cooperating with the other.

According to the present improvements, each keyboard operates a universal bar. and the universal bars are connected to a single escapement, the escapement comprising the usual letter-feeding dogs and escapement wheel. The universal bar may in each instance be engaged directly by the type-bars, as usual in the Underwood typewriting machine, and the universal bars may be pivoted to arms mounted upon a single transverse horizontal rock shaft, so that any key in either system can rock said shaft. This rock shaft may have, preferably at a point between the two type systems, an arm to engage the dog rocker of the escapement mechanism, so that when any key in either keyboard is operated, said dog rocker is rocked and the carriage, no matter what its position, is fed a letter-space. Each keyboard includes a spacekey, and each space-key can operate the common escapement mechanism, and hence either space-key can be used to space the carriage, regardless of its position. Upon the typewriter carriage is mounted a double-length rack device for cooperation with said escapement wheel; said rack device being hinged upon the carriage so as to be releasable by the usual release key.

One feature of the present impro ements is the provision of means for effecting greater letter-feeding movements of the carriage when cooperating with one type system. than when coopenting with the other, and to this end, the rack device on the carriage comprises two racks, placed substan tially end to end. one operating a relatively small pinion, and the other operating a relatively large pinion. both of said pinions coo erati e with said escapement wheel. hen the small pinion is in use, the feeding movements of the typewriter carriage are relatively short; when the large pinion is in use. said feeding movements are relatively long. This variation is of advantage in many cases, as for instance, where small types are used in one type system and larger types in the other type system. Said pinions may be rigidly connected together, and the pair may have the usual pawl-and ratchet connection to the escapement wheel. The remaining details of the escapement mechanism maybe of the type usual in the Underwood typewriting machine.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a front perspective view, showing the two universal bars and the single cscapement mechanism operated thereby. Fig. 3 is a part sectional end elevation View of the machine.

The mechanism shown is that common to the commercial Underwood machine. except as modified to embody the principles of my invention.

As shown. two machine frames A and B are supported on a common base 4. each frame having mounted therein a separate type s stem. A roller platen 5. which may be brought into position to cooperate with either type s stem. is mounted in a platen frame 6 shiftable to upper and lower case positions in the carria e 7. The carriage is mounted to tra el on front and rear guide rails. the rear guide rail 8 being fixed to end standards 9 of the machine frame. and intermediate standards 10. The rail 8 and standards 10 may form part of the means for rigidly uniting the frames A and B.

Each of the type systems comprises a set of type-bars 11 jcurnaled on a fulcrum rod 12 to swing upwardly and rearwardly and cause the types 13 to strike against the front face of the platen. The types are actuated by keys 14 on ke levers 15, fulcrumed at 16, said levers connected through hellcranks 17 to the type-bars. The carriage is driven in letter feed direction by a spring drum 18 connected through a band 19 to the carriage. The letter-feed travel of the carriage is controlled by a single escapement mechanism arranged to be operated by the keys of either type system. Said escapement mechanismcomprises an escapement wheel 20 and escapement dogs 21, which control the rotation of said wheel, said dogs being carried by a dog rocker 22.

- The escapement mechanism is preferably located about midway between-the two type systems, as measured in the direction of the carriage travel; and as shown, said mechanism is mounted on a frame or bracket 2O which bridges the standards 10 and may be fixed thereto.

A driving connection between the carriage and the escapement wheel 20 is pro vided by means of a double length rack device comprising racks 24 and 25 which may he rigidly united, as by a connecting bar 23, said racks arranged to drive respectively, escapement pinions 26 and 27. Said pinions may be rigidly connected together and may have a one-way driving connection with the escapement wheel 20, through a pawl 28 on said wheel. The rack device may be carried on swinging arms 29 journaled on the carriage, and may be lifted by a key 30 to disengage the racks from the escapement pinions and permit movement of the carriage in either direction, independently of the escapement mechanism.

The racks 24 and 25 are so positioned that while the platen is in position to cooperate with the left-hand set of types, the rack 24 runs in mesh with its pinion 26, and when the platen is in position to cooperate with the right-hand set of ty es, the rack 25 engages its pinion 27. The two escapement pinions 26 and 27 may be of different die ameters, so that the letter-feed movements of the carriage when cooperating with one type system. are reater than when cooperating with the other type system. thereby permitting larger types to be used in one set than in the other. As the angular rotation of the escapement wheel 20 is the same for each letter-space rotation. the width of the letter-spaces will obviously be proportional to the diameters of the escapement pinions 26, 27. which rotate with the wheel 20. Thus, with the construction shown, the letter-spaces for the right-hand set of types will be wider than for the left-hand set. Obviously, this arrangement could be re versed. or by making the escapement pinions of the same diameter, or employing 23 single escapement pinion and rack, the letter-spaces could be made eoual for both type systems.

The means for actuating the escapement dogs comprises universal bars 31, one for each set of types, each universal bar lying in the path of shoulders 32 on the type-bars, whereby at each ty e stroke, a universal bar is moved rearwardly. Each universal bar is supported and guided at its front end by a tongue 31 thereon, working in a slot in the type-bar segment 33, and at its rear end is pivotally connected to rock arms 34, one or both of said arms being fixed to a rock shaft 35, supported on standards 36. The rock shaft 35 carries an arm 37, which projects upwardly in front of the dog rocker 22. so that as the shaft 35 is rocked by a universal bar at each type stroke, the dog rocker is actuated and the dogs operated in the well-known manner to permit rotation of the escapement wheel 20. The universal bars and parts connected thereto, may be returned by springs 38. A space-bar 39 is provided in connection with each type system. Each space-bar is connected to a rock shaft 40, carrying a rearwardly extending arm 41, underlying an arm 42 on the rock shaft 35, whereby said shaft is rocked and the escapement operated at each depression of a space-bar. Either space-bar may be used to letter-space the carriage, while the latter is in either printing zone.

The platen may be shifted to upper case position by means of a shift key or keys, which operate the platen-shifting frame 43, comprising a shift rail 44, on which runs a roll 45 on the platen frame. The illustration of the shift keys and various other mechanisms and adjuncts common to the Underwocd machine, and which may be employed in machines embodying the present invention, is omitted as being unnecessary to a full understanding of the invention.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A typewriting machine comprising. in combination, separate type systems ha ing separate printing fields, a paper carriage movable to bring a work-sheet thereon into either printing field, means to drive the carriage, and a single escapement device operable to control the letter-feed travel of the carria e while the work-sheet is in either printing field, said escapement device controlled by the keys of either type system.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of two sets of types, a separate set of keys for eachtype set, the sets of types printing in separate zones, and Work-piece feeding means comprising an escapement device to control the letter-space movements of the work-pieces, said escapement device being controlled and actuated by the keys of both sets.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with separate type systems having separate printing fields and arranged side by side, said systems each comprising a set of type-keys and types arranged to swing to a common printing center, of a carriage, a motor to drive the carriage, said carriage shiftable from one printing field to the other, and letter-feed mechanism controlling the letter-feed movements of the carriage, said mechanism comprising a single escapement device under the control of both sets of keys.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with type systems, one system having a separate printing zone and a separate set of keys from the other system, of a paper carriage movable from one printing zone to the other, a motor to drive the carriage, a single escapement mechanism to control the letter-space movements of the carriage while at either printing zone, said escapement mechanism operable by the keys of either set, and means associated with said escapement for enabling greater letter-space movements of the carriage when the latter is in one printing zone than when it is in the other printing zone.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of separate type systems, each comprising a set of keys and types operated thereby, the types of one set operating in a separate printing zone from the types of the other set, a carriage, means to drive the carriage, an escapement device operated and controlled by the keys of either set, and driving connections between the escapement device and the carriage, said connections arranged to permit the carriage to move through greater letter-space distances when the escapement is operated by the keys of one set than when it is operated by the keys of the other set.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with separate type systems, each comprising a set of keys and types operated thereby, the types of one system having a separate printing zone from those of the other type system, of a paper carriage shiftable to bring a work-piece thereon to either printing zone, a motor to drive the carriage, a toothed escapement wheel, means for driving said wheel from the carriage, escapement dogs cooperating with said wheel, and means controlled by the keys of both sets for actuating said dogs and thereby permitting the escapement wheel to rotate a dis tance of one tooth at each operation of a key, for effectingletter-space movements of the carriage 7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with separate type systems, each comprising a set of keys and types operated thereby, the types of one system having a separate printing zone from those of the other type system. of a paper carriage shiftable to bring a work-piece thereon to either printing zone, a motor to drive the carriage, a toothed escapement wheel, means for driving said wheel from the carriage, escapement dogs cooperating with said wheel, and means controlled by the keys of both sets for actuating said dogs and thereby permitting the escapement wheel to rotate a distance of one tooth at each operation of a key, for effecting letter-space movements of the carriage, the means for driving the escapement wheel being arranged to permit the carriage to move through a greater distance at each rotation of the escapmement wheel while the carriage is at one printing zone than While it is at the other printing zone, whereby the letter-space distances for one set of types are greater than for the other set.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with separate type systems, each comprising a set of keys and types operated thereby, the types of one system having a separate printing zone from those of the other type system, of a paper carriage shiftable to bring a work-piece thereon to either printing zone, a motor to drive the carriage, an escapement wheel, escapement pinions connected to drive said wheel, racks on the carriage to run in mesh with the respective escapement pinions for driving said wheel, said racks so arranged that one rack is operative while the carriage is in one printing zone and the other rack is operative while the carriage is in the other printing zone, and means operated by the keys of both sets to permit the escapement wheel to rotate a fixed angular distance at each operation of a type key for letter-feeding the carriage, said pinions being of different diameters, whereby the letter-space movements of the carriage, while driving through one of said racks, are greater than the letterspace movements while driving through the other rack.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with separate type systems, each comprising a set of keys and types operated thereby, the types of one system having a separate printing zone from those of the other type system, of a paper carriage shittable to bring a work-piece thereon to either printing zone, a motor to drive the carriage, means to control the letter-feed movements of the carriage, said means comprising universal bars, one of said bars actuated by the keys of one set, and the other actuated by the keys of the other set, escapement mechanism including an escapement wheel and cooperating dogs, and means operable by both said universal bars for actuating the dogs to cause letter-feed movements of the carriage.

10. In a'typewriting machine, the combination with separate type systems, each comprising a set 01"- keys and types operated thereby, the types of one system having a separate printing zone from those of the other type system, of a paper carriage shiftable to bring a Work-piece thereon to either printing zone, a motor to drive the carriage, means to control the letter-feed movements of the carriage, said means comprising universal bars, one of said bars actuated by the keys of one set and the other actuated by the keys of the other set, escapement mechanism including an escapement wheel and cooperating dogs, means operable by both said universal bars for actuating the dogs, escapement pinions arranged to drive said escapement wheel, a rack device comprising a rack to drive one pinion when the carriage is at one printing zone and a rack to drive the other pinion while the carriage is at the other printing zone, and a key to lift said rack device and disengage the racks from said pinions to permit movement of the carriage independently of the escapement mechanism, one of said pinions being of greater diameter than the other pinion, to effect greater letter-space movements of the carriage when the types of one set are operated than when the types of the other set are operated.

11. A typewriting machine comprising, in combination, separate type systems, each system comprising a set of keys and a set of type-bars actuated thereby, universal bars, one associated with each set of typebars and lying in the path of the type-bars to be actuated thereby, a carriage, means to drive the carriage, an escapement mechanism to control the letter-feed movements of the carriage, a rock shaft arranged to be operated by either universal bar, and means operated by said rock shaft to actuate the escapement mechanism for effecting a letterteed movement of the carriage when a type key of either set is actuated.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of separate type systems, each comprising keys and type-bars actuated thereby, the type'bars of one set having a separate printing zone from those of the other set, a carriage shittable from one printing zone to the other, means to drive the carriage, spacekeys, one associated with each type system, and means operable by each space-key to eii ect letter-space movements of the carriage while at either printing zone.

13. The combination of a carriage, a single escapement mechanism, connecting devices for efiecting diflerent connections between the carriage and escapement'mechanism, one of said connecting devices operable point, the escapement mechanism being unv der the control of the keys ofone set while connected to the carriage through one of said devices, and under the control of the keys of the other set when connected to the carriage through the other of said devices.

14:. 'ihe combination of a paper carriage, means to drive the carriage, an escapement mechanism to control the letter-feed movements of the carriage, connecting means between the carriage and escapement mechanism, said connecting means comprising alternatively active racks and pinions to cooperate therewith, one rack and pinion arranged to permit movement of the carriage through a greater distance at each operation of the escapement than is permitted when the carriage is connected through the other rack and pinion, and a key for lifting both racks simultaneously, so as to disengage the active rack from its pinion, thereby to permit movement of the carriage independently of the escapement mechanism.

15. A typewriting machine, comprising, in combination, a plurality or" separate type systems, each system having its individual printing center and comprising a set of keys and a set of type-bars actuated thereby, universal bars, one associated with each type-system and controlled by the keys of said system, a carriage, means to drive the carriage, an escapement mechanism controlling the letter-ieed movement of the carriage, and an actuating device arranged to be operated by either universal bar, said actuating device operable to actuate the escapement mechanism for eiiecting a letterfeed movement of the carriage when a type key of either set is actuated.

16. A typewriting machine, comprising a plurality of separate type systems, each system having its individual printing center and including a set of keys and a set of typebars actuated thereby, universal bars, one lying in thepath of the type-bars of each set, to be actuated by the individual bars of the set, a carriage, means to drive the carriage, an escapement device to control the letter-feed movements of the carriage, and anactuator for said escapement device arranged to be operated by either universal bar, for eliecting a letter-feed movement of the carriage at each operation of a type key of either set.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination of separate type systems, each comprising a set of keys and type-bars actuated thereby, the type-bars of one set having a separate printing zone from those in the other set, a carriage shiftable from one printing zone to the other, means to drive the carriage, space-keys, one associated with each type system, and a single escapement device under the control of both space-keys, and operable by each space-key to cause letter-teed movements or the carriage while the latter is at either printing zone.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination of separate type systems, each comprising a set of keys and type-bars actuated thereby, the type-bars of one set having a separate printing zone from those in the other set, a carriage shit'table from one printing zone to the other, means to drive the carriage, space-keys, one associated with each type system, and a single escapement device under the control of both space-keys, and operable by each space-key to cause letter-Ieed movements of the carriage while the latter is at either printing zone, said escapement device also controlled and operated by the keys of both type systems.

15). In a typewriting machine, the combination of separate type systems, each comprising a set of keys and types actuated thereby, each system having a separate printing zone, an escapement mechanism located at an intermediate position between said type systems, and means whereby said escapement mechanism may be controlled and operated by the keys of either system.

20. In a multiplex-typewriting machine, the combination of keyboards arranged side by side, sets of types, one set for each keyboard, the types of each set being individual to the keys of their keyboard for operation thereby, a carriage shit'table into positions corresponding to the sets of types to cooperate with any one of said sets of types, a single letter-feed mechanism to control the letter-feed movements of the carriage, and separate means for each of said carriage positions to operatively connect the carriage to said letter-feed mechanism, the extent of the individual letter-teed movements of the carriage effected by the operation of the keys of one set being greater than those effected by the operation of the keys of another set.

21. In a multipleX-typewriting machine, the combination of a multiple-length track, a carriage mounted to travel thereon, a keyactuated device for effecting a step-by-step letter-feed movement of the carriage, and means whereby the extent of movement of the carriage at each step controlled by said device during the carriage travel over one predetermined length of track is different from the extent of movement at each step controlled by said device during the travel of the carriage over another predetermined length of the track.

22. In a typewriting machine, the combination, with a carriage track, of a carriage having different definite stages of travel during a single complete run from one end of said track to the other, a single letterfeed mechanism for effecting sLep-by-step letter-feed movements of the carriage throughout all of the difierent stages of its travel, and means whereby the carriage is caused to move through a greater distance at each step during one stage of travel than during another.

In a multipleX-typewriting machine, the combination of a plurality of keyboards arranged side by side, separate sets or types, one for each keyboard, the types of each set being individual to the keys of its keyboard for operation thereby, a multiplelength track, a carriage traveling thereon, and shiftable along said track into position to cooperate with either of said sets of types, an escapement mechanism located substantially midway between the sets of types as measured in the direction of the carriage travel, and means whereby said escapement mechanism is operative by the keys of one set to efi'ect letter-feed movements of the carriage while in the printing zone for the types of said set, said escapement mechanism operable by the keys of the other set while the carriage is in the printing zone for the types of said other set.

2t. In a niultiplex-typewriting machine, the combination of a plurality of keyboards arranged side by side, separate sets of types, one for each keyboard, the types of each set being individual to the keys of its keyboard for operation thereby, a multiple-length track, a carriage traveling thereon, and shift-able along said track into position to cooperate with either of said sets of types, an escapement mechanism located substantially midway between the sets of types as measured in the direction of the carriage travel, and means whereby said escapement mechanism is operative by the keys of one set to ei'iect letter-feed movements of the carriage while in the printing zone for the types of said set, said escapement mechanism operable by the keys of the other set while the carriage is in the printing zone for the types of said other set, the carriage having connections with the escapement mechanism while in one printing zone for effecting wider letter-space movements than those effected by said mechanism while the carriage is in the other printing zone.

25. A typewriting machine, comprising a plurality of keyboards; a plurality of systems of alphabetical types, the types in one system being operable independently of those in the other system; a paper-carrier adjustable to cooperate with either typesystem; and a single escapement mechanism operated by the keys of either keyboard for eiiecting letter-feeding movement of said paper-carrier when in cooperative relation to the corresponding type-system.

26. A typewriting machine, comprising a plurality of type-systems, each system having its individual printing center, and the types in one system being operable inclependently of those in the other system; a set of keys for operating each type-system; a paper-carrier adjustable to either printing center; and a single escapement mechanism operated by either set of keys for elfecting letter-feeding movement of said paper-carrier when in cooperative relation to the cor responding type-system.

27. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having different definite stages of travel throughout a single complete run; and a single key-actuated escape- Inent mechanism cooperative with said carriage during its entire run, to control the step-bystep, letter-feeding movements of said carriage during each of said stages, said movements differing in extent from one another for each individual stage.

28. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having different definite stages of travel throughout a single complete run; a single escapement mechanism cooperative with said carriage during its entire run, to control the step-by-step, letterfeeding movements of said carriage during each of said stages, said movements differing in extent from one another for each individual stage; and a separate key-actuated device for each individual stage connected to operate said escapement mechanism.

29. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage; and a single key-actuated escapement mechanism for necessarily effecting a step-by-step, letter-feeding movement of said carriage of one extent for solely a predetermined portion of its run, and for necessarily effecting a step-by-step, letter-feeding movement of different extent from the first-named movement during solely the remainder of such run.

30. The combination, with a paper-carrier, and driving mechanism therefor; of a single escapement mechanism to control the letter-feed movements of the paper-carrier; and a plurality of selective connections between said escapement mechanism and said paper-carrier, each comprising a rack and an associated pinion, said racks being arranged substantially end to end.

31. The combination with a paper-carrier, and driving mechanism therefor; of a single escapement mechanism to control the letter-feed movements of the paper-carrier; and a plurality of selective connections between said escapement mechanism and said paper-carrier, each comprising a "ack and an associated pinion, said racks being arranged substantially end to end, and said pinions being of different diameters, thereby to vary the extent of the letter-feed movements of said paper-carrier.

32. The combination, with a paper-ear rier, and driving mechanism therefor; of a single escapement mechanism to control the letter-feed movements of the paper-carrier; a plurality of selective connections between said escapement mechanism and said papercarrier, each comprising a rack and an associated pinion, said racks being arranged and connected substantially end to end; and a key for lifting both racks simultaneously, so as to release the rack of the selected connection from engagement with the corresponding pinion.

33. The combination, with a paper-carrier, and driving mechanism therefor; of a single escapement mechanism to control the letter feed movements of the paper-carrier; a plurality of selective connections between said escapement mechanism and said papercarrier, each comprising a rack and an associated pinion, said racks being arranged and connected substantially end to end, and said pinions being of different diameters, thereby to vary the extent of the letterfeed movements of said paper-carrier; and a key for lifting both racks simultaneously, so as to release the rack of the selected connection from engagement with the corresponding pinion.

34. The combination, With a multiplelcngth track, a carriage arranged to travel from end to end thereof, and driving mechanism for said carriage; of a single escapement mechanism for controlling the letterfeed movements of the carriage throughout its entire travel; and a connection between said carriage and said escapement mechanism comprising a multiple-section rack, one section for each length of said track, and a separate pinion for each rack section, said rack sections being ar'anged substantially in endwise alinement and being selectively engageable with their associated pinions.

35. The combination, with a multiplelength track, a carriage arranged to travel from end to end thereof, and driving mechanism forsaid carriage; of a single escapement mechanism for controlling the letterfeed movements of the carriage throughout its entire travel; and a connection between said carriage and said escapement mechanism comprising a multiplesection rack, one section for each length of said track, and a separate pinion for each rack section, said rack sections being arranged substantially in endwise alinement and being selectively engageable with their associated pinions, and said pinions being of different diameters, thereby to vary the extent of the letter-feed movements of said carriage.

36. In a typewriting machine, the combination, with a plurality of keyboards arranged side by side, and asystem of types for the keys of each keyboard, each-system of types having its individual printing center; of a multiple-length track; a letterfeeding carriage adjustable thereon to position to cooperate With any one of said type-systems; and a single escapement mechanism operated by the keys of all of the keyboards, for effecting letter-feeding movement of said carriage when in cooperative relation to the corresponding type-system.

BURN HAM C. STICKNEY.

Witnesses:

W. O. WESTPHAL, JULIUS DUCKSTINE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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