US1227015A - Type-writing machine. - Google Patents

Description

B. c. STICK NE-YL TYPE WRITING MACHINE. -APPLICAT|ON FILED AUG-4, I914.

lNVENTOR:

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

II. N N WW W ITNESSES:

WITNESSES:

B. C. STICKNEYI TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.4. 1914.

' 1,227,01 5. Patented May 22, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

gzflgw FIG. 3. mvmhon;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

:BUBN AM c. STICKNEY, or nmzmsn'rnyimw' JERSEY, assienor. r

'rYrEwm'rEacoMrANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A coaroaerroaz Specification of Letters Patent.

TYPE-'WRITING MACHINE.

Pater: ted May 22, 1917.

A pplicatiqn filed August 4, 1914. Serial No. 854,929.

Tooll whom ito'nag concern:

Be it knownthat I, BU-RNHAM OQS'r roK- 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-Writing Machines, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to' type actions for typewriting machines, in which the typebars strike upon a visiblesideof the platen,

as for instance, on thefront thereof- The object of the invention is to producea highly. compact machine of this class,'particularly with aview to reducing theheight of the machine to permit it to' be packed in a satchel or small case, for the use of travelers.

.The invention is illustrat'ed'in connection:

with a platen in which the printing line is on the front side. The types are mounted upon type-bars pivoted in an are 'below the platen. The type-bars may be of the short variety, three types being preferably placed upon each ban-so as to permit fewer-bars to be used, and otherwise to vc'onduce to compactness. The platen may be'shifted up and down inany usual manner; although the type-bars may be, shifted up and down instead of the platen; or'the platen may be connected to the type-bars by forwardly extending connections. These connections may comprise bell-cranks, or sub-levers, and by reason of their arrangement behind the typebars present arr-"advantage over pr or machines, in which the bell-cranks. were ar-.

ranged below the type-bars, and added to the height of the machine. The construction may be such that the only.v portions that extend beneath the type-bar segment are the 5.0

key levers themselves, whereby the'height of the machine may be substantially reduced.

' The key levers are. preferably. connected up to the type-bars in-such' a manner that considerable movement'of the key is us'ed'in front-strike writing machine starting thetype-bar, and that the speed of .the latter is accelerated when it strikes the platen. To this end, the key lever is made in elbow form, and at the bend. of the elbow is pivoted upon thefhorizontal arm of a bell-- crank, the latter having an upright arm which is connected by a forwardly extend ing linkdirectly to the type-bar. The keylever comprlses an arm extending upwardly from said pivot, and the upper end of said arm is pivoted to an idlelink, which is so related to the bell crank that. the desired acceleration'of the type-bar is effected.

Another feature of the invention isan arrangement whereby the height of chine is still further reduced; and this feature may be used in connection with other forms of key levers. Thebank of key levers lsplaced preferably one level higher than the ma- 7 .the middle of the type-bar system. The low-' est type-bars; are at the centerof the typebar system, andf'the middle key levers are bowed or. bentconsiderably to one side, to

middle type-bars may lie. When any, key is depressed, its key lever will descend but. little, any, below the bottom of the type-- bar basket, and hence material reduction form an opening or well within which said may. be efiected in the height 'of the machine.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagramto illustrate the type-bars may be shifted up and down for securing capitals and figures.

' Fig. 2 is a sectionalside elevation of a improvements. I

Fig; 3 is a plan of the key-leverand typebar systems, showing the well formed by bowing or bending the middle kev levers to permit the middle type-bars to sink below the upper edges of the key-levers. Fig. '4 is-a diagrammatic front elevation illustrating how most of the type-bars may be allowed to sink below the level of. the upper bank ofvkeys. Keys 1, which may be arranged inthree banks, are preferably mounted on stems 2 rising-from the'frontends of levers or kevbars 3,-which are in the form of elbows,- each that ' embodying my comprising an upstanding arm 4 at its rear end. Each v key lever is pivoted at its elbow atfr to a guide-link which may constitute ,able .way; as for instance. they maybe mounted on a fulcrum rod 1 1, fixedin a segment 15. and may strike rearwardly against the platen 16, which maybe shiftable up and: down. as indicatedin dotted lines at Fig. 2- to enable different types to print;

three types 17 being shownaon each type-' bar.

At its upper end. each of the arms 4 of the key levers is pivoted at 18 to an idle or guide link 19. These idle links 19 may-be shorter than the arm 6 of the bell-cranks, and may extend upwardly and forwardly from a.

horizontal pivot rod 20 fixed in the machine. It will be seen that the arm 4: operates as a link between 19 and 6. and is capable of nearly parallel up and down motion upon said members 19 and 6: but, owing to the fact that the link 19 is short so that' it moves in a forwardly and downwardly inclined path. the upper end of lswings forwardly as well'as downwardly at the beginning of the down stroke of the key. whereby the front end of the key lever 3 is given a downward tip at this time. so that the key 1 descends about one'half of its stroke while the type-bar 13 is makingthe first one fourth of its printing stroke. to reach the position 13. Fig. 2. thus affording: an easy start to the key.

i The idle or guide link 19 is so short that during the subsequent portion of the printing stroke of the key. the pivot 18 moves down in'nearly a vertical path, and hence all portions of the structure 1. 2. 3 and 4 which are mounted upon the members 19 and 6 move down very nearly in. parallelism. so that the speed of the key itself relatively to the speed ofthe type-bar is reduced: or. in other words. the speed of the type arm is accelerated.

At 1 is shown the position of the key when the type is at 13. At 1 is shown the key position when the type has made onehalf of its stroke as at 13*; the key at this time having made three-fourths or more of its stroke. I v

During the final portion of the key stroke the path of the pivot 18 may be downwardly. and a trifle to the rear. in comparis on with the downward path of the pivot 5 thereby rocking the upper portion of the arm 4 rearwardly as said arm descends and tending thereby to tip upthe front portion of the key lever, and effect a relative lift of the key 1, or in other words,

to retard the descent of said key. so that the proportional movement of the type-barat this time is much more rapid than the movement of the key. The type-bar is shown at 13 as having made three-fourths of its stroke, while the key is shown at 19 as having made three-fourths of its own stroke; and the last fourth of the stroke of the type-bar is made during a very short final movement of the key. This relative-reduction in the speed ofthe key tends to cushion the stroke, that is. to avoid jar to'the finger of the operator when the key isfinally ar rested by the contact of the type with the platen. AtFig. 2. the printing positions of the parts arealso shown. in dotted lines! The key is mounted to float upon "links 6 and 19, and connection is made from the type-bar to some portion of that linkage a which comprises members 6, 1 and 19. In

the particularconstruction shown, connection is'made from the type-bar directly :to arm 7 connected to the link 6, althoughthe scope of the. invention is not limited to that particular arrangement. The bell-crank comprising the'arnr'i'and link 6 forms an interponent through which the movement of the key lever is transmitted 'to the link 10 and type-bar. 1

One of the features of the linkage is that it comprises an upstanding arm 4 provided upon the key-lever; and that said arm is guided up and down by links, whereby the key-lever or key-bar as a whole is given anup-and-down floatingmovement. The typebar is connected by a link 10 and arm 7 to one member of the linkage G. l. 19. whereby the up-and-down bodily movements of the keyle er are converted into forward and backward movements of the type-bar link 10.

As seen best at Fig.3. the/two middle keys-levers in' thc system are bowed between their front and rear portions to form an opening. clearance or well QL'wit'hin which sink the middle type-bars 13 when in normal positionscz said type-bars being preferably arranged to swing down through more than 90 degrees from the printing positions. in order to make clearance for the types when in normal positions, 'to permit short type-- bars to be used. The middle key-levers may be bowed far enough to leave a clear space beneath nearly all of-the types in the system, as at Fig.3.s'o that'as many type-bars as may be desired maylie down inthe space 21, left by bowing said levers. The bowing, of the middle levers may be carried back- A as far as necessary. In the present instance,

it is illustrated as'not carried back ofthe entire type bar, since only the forwardpor-' tions of'the type-bars extend down in. the op'eni11g,o\ving to the normal inclination of the type-bar forward and downward from its pivot. Each of the middle key-levers may therefore comprise a forwardly and rearwardly extending key-bearing portion 3, a laterally extending portion 3 a rearwardly extending portion 3 very much oll-set from the main portion 3 of the lever, a lateral rehirnportion 3 and arear main portion 3,

:- standing arm 4'. Suitable guide-combs 22 my be providedfor the front ends of the Myers, 23 for the rearends, and24l for the upper ends of arms-4c.

The two. key-downs adjoining the middle l'clft't'ii may be bowed or bent in the same the bowing need. not be so much .1 om the main body of the lever. The pair of levers may be bowed stilhless, ind, so on, the bowed portions forming anest, as seen at Fig. 3. The outside levers neednot be bowed; but at suitable points all: be bent inwardly at their rear portions, at? so that the rear portions 3 of all s may be about parallel and form systein' of aboutthe same width as the tem of type-bars at their fulcrums or vots on the rod H. The links may work in substantially parallel vertical 7 planes; as seen at .Fig. 3. and owing to the described arrangenient there is little or no liability of-side strain or binding of any of .the parts. The outside keys are oil-set considerably from the rear portions. of their l ey-lev -:rs, but this willnot be an objection, owing to the fact that each key-lever moves bodily up and down throughout all portions, a-ndis mounted upon freely'moving guide links, and provided with suitable guides particularly those near the keys themselves. The type basket 23 may belof suitable flexible material, as customary in. this art,

' and maybe properly supported to underlie '49.. the type-bars 13. including those which exj tend down into the opening or well 21 111 the key-lever system, as will be understood from v Fig. 2. .r r p At Fig. 1 the type system is indicated as being movable up and down to enable diffrent types toprint, the segment 15 shiftray be usedqwithout others.

m the rear end of which is formed-thethe invention, and portionsof the s described my invention,

a. tyne ba for type risng ermine COPY machines, in combination, a rearwardlystriking type-bar, a, key lever havlng a free arm extending forwardly from its fulcrum and provided at its forward end with a key, 7 said lever depressible throughout its length in nearly. parallel planes, actuating meaiis for "said type bar, operating means between said key lever and type baractuating means,

and means whereby said key lever is given a forwardly accentuatmg oscillatory movement about its fulcrum when its keyis'depressed, whereby the. speed of the key rela tive to the speed of the type-bar modified,

to ease the initialandfinal portions ofits I stroke.

2. In a type-bara'ction for typewrit-ing machines, in combination, a .rearwardlystriking type-bar, a key lever having'a free arm extending forwardly from its fulcrum and provided at its forward .end with a key,

said lever depressible throughout its length in nearly parallel planes, actuating means for said typebar,'operating means between said key lever r and actuating means, and

means connectedv with said key lever where by the latter, when the key is depressed, 1s

givena forwardly accentuating oscillatory 1 movement about its fulcrum, whereby, the

speed of the ,key relative to the. Speed of the type-bar is modified, to ease the initial and final portions ofits stroke. a i

3. In a'type-bar action machines, in combination, a rearwardlys striking type-bar, a-key .lever, means -to guide the key lever and cause it to-be depressed throughout its'length in nearly parallel planes, the fulcrum ofthe lever being carried downward as the lever is depressed,

actuating means for-said type-ban: operating means between said key lever and type-baractuating means, a yert-ical ektensionlfor said key lever, "and alink pivoted to said eX- ten'sion and having a fixed fulcrum, said link arranged to imparta forwardly 'RQCQHt-Uiltt mg oscillatory movement to said lever about its fulcrum during -"-S211Cl first-mentioned,

for typewritmg' movement of the lever,zto ease theinitial and final portionsof the levers stroke.

'4. In a type-bar action. for "typewritingmachines, in combination, a swinging typebar, a horizontal key lever ;d epressible throughout its length, actuating means be tween said lever and type-bar for operating the latterby the downward movement of the lever at its point of'conuection with said means, and means for oscillating said lever about said point ofconnection as a'fulcrum coincidently"withysaid depression- Of the leyer, to accelerate the speed of movement of said type-bar toward. the end of its. stroke relativ' ely' to the-speed of mo'vemcnt of said leverl 5 .,Ina

type-bar action for typewriting mach'ines,- in ctnnbmation,aswingingfi pe bar," a" 'liorizontal. keyf lever depressed and actuated by the downward movement of the lever at its point of connection with the bell crank, a-link connecting said bell crank and type-bar to actuate the latter by the former, and means for oscillating said key lever coincidently with its depression to accelerate the speed of movement of said typebar toward the end of its stroke relatively to the speed of movement of said key lever.

7. In a type-bar action for typewriting machines, in combination, a swinging typebar, a horizontal key lever. depressible throughout its length, a bell crank pivoted to said lever to support and guide the. latter and actuated by the downward movement of the lever at its point of connection with the bell crank, a link connecting said bell crank and type-bar to actuate the latter by the former. and pivotal means operating through a smaller arc than said bell crank, to oscillate said key lever coincidently with its depression, thereby accelerating the speed of movement of said type-bar toward the end of its stroke relatively to the speed of moveiont of said key lever. v

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a series ofrearwairdly striking type-bars, a series of horizontal key levers each depressible throughoperating with said bell cranks 'out itslength, a series of bell cranks pivotally'supportingand guiding said key levers and located behind said type-bars, means coto cause the key levers to be depressedthroughout their length when their keys are depressed, and a,

series of links connecting said bell cranks 'aml'tyqm-bars to actuate the latter by the former. v

1 9. The combination with a system of typebars. of a system ofkey levers extending back beneath the type-bars and connected thereto. said system of key levers having an openingwithin which some of the type-bars normally project below the upper level of' the type-bars at said opening, to effect economy in the height of the machine.

ltlfiln a front-strikewriting machine, the combination with type-bars. of key levers extending rearwardly beyond tlie type-bars and having upstanding arms at their rear ends, said arms forming portions of linkkey levers key lever.

11. In a type-bar action for typewriting machines, a rearwardly striking type-bar, a depressible horizontal key lever having a shifting f'ulcrum,-means for controlling and guiding the key lever to cause abodily .downward movement thereof of nearly equal extent throughout its length when the key is depressed, a link extending rearwardly from the type-bar and operable by a forward thrust thereon to actuate said type-bar, and a swinging operative connection between said key lever and link.

12. In a front-strike writing machine, the combination with type-bars, of depressible extending rearwardly beyond the type-bars, linkages connected to the key le' vers and guiding them in their up and down movements, the key levers having upstandating connection between each type-bar and its key lever and linkage.

, 13. In a front-strike writing machine, the

combination with type-bars, of depressible key levers extendingrearwardly beyond the type-bars, linkages connected to the key levers, and guiding them in their up and down movements, the key levers having upstanding arms at their rear ends, said arms forming portions of the linkages, each key lever being connected through its linkage to the type-bar for operating the latter.

14. In a front-strike writing machine. the combination with type-bars. of depressiblc key levers extending rearwardly beyond the type-bars, linkages connected to the key levers and guiding them in their up and down movements. the key levers having upstanding arms at their rear ends forming portions of the linkagesreach key lever being connected through its linkage to the typebar for operating the latter by the downward movement of the lever at a point of connection with a linkage. the key lever and linkage being so arranged that the movement of the forward end of the key lever relative to the movement at said point of connection to the linkage is comparatively stroke and decreases during the type-stroke to thereby acceleratethe stroke of the typebar. I i

15. In a front-strike writing machine. the

' great during the initial portion of the typecombination with typc-bars. ot' dcprcssiblc key levers extending rearwardly beyond the type-bars, and linkages connected to the key levers and guiding them in their up and down movements. the key levers having upstanding arms at their rear ends forming BEST AVAILABLE cop portions of the linkages, each linkage comeprising a .bell crank, 'one farm of which is --.conne,cted totthe type-ban I combination withtype-bars, of depressible key levers extending rearwardly beyond the "type-bars, linkages connectedfto the key le vers and -guiding them in their up and down movements, the key, levers having upstanding arms at theirrear" ends formingporand its. key leverand linkage, and fixed guides for. the upper rear portions,' the lower rearxpOrtiQnsa-nd the front portions of the key levers. Y t f,

17. In. a frontestrike writingmachine, the combinationwith type-bars, of depressible key levers extending,rearwardly beyond thetype-bars, linkages connected meet key le ve'rs and guiding them in theirup down movements, the key levers havingnpstanch ing arms at their ends forniing porl tions of the linkages, angl ineansforining an operative connection.between each type-- and key lever and linkage, and fixed guiefor the upper rear portions, the lower rear portions and the front portions of the key levers. I 1

19. In a type-bar action for typewrlting 1naohines, the combination with a key lever, of a support .on whichthe keyleveris fulcrunied, said support shii'table up and down to permit the key lever to move bodily ldownwnrd whenthe key is'depressed, a typebar, means whereby the bodily movement of th'e key lever is effective to actuate the typebar. and guiding means for the key lever to cause a tilting movement thereof about its fulcrum in combination with said bodily movement. the degree of said tilting move-- ment relative to said bodily movement be ing variable during the type-stroke to control the relative speed of the type-bar and key. i 20. In a'type-bar action for ty'pevvrit ng niachinesgthe combination with a key lever and sii type-bar oi an inteiponent on which thekey lever is fulcrnnied, means cooperatmg with said interponent to guide the keyv v ,16; Ina front-strike writing machine, the

tions ofthe linkages, means forming an 019- '4 erative connection between each type-bah bar and its key lever linkagflsaidkey lever system having an openingj'for-elear ance, within which some o flth'e type-bar's" to economize the height of the key lethe type-bar to actuate" theiatter, eaid ofa bell-crank on one arm of which the. key

lever and cause's'aid into onen't' to be moved downwardly at said fu crl'il'n'f by the key lever-when itsfkey is depressed, and means to transmit said downward movement mentioned means arranged to cams-e an osci 1 lati'n g movement of the ke 'le'ves' about its fulcrum, whereby the spee of the key relative tothat of the type-bar is increased during the initial. portionof the-type stroke, and reduced during the finalportion of the type! stroke. p I

21. In atype-bar action for typew'riting machinesthe eom binatich with a: key lever,-, of abell-crank' on onearni of which" the key lever is fulcr IHIGCLiElQHiiS cooperating with the bellcran to guide the keylevenand .ea'nse itto'b'e moved bodily downward and;

swingthe bell-crank when the key is depressed, a type-bar, and 'means connecting the other arm of the bell-crank to thety ebar to transmit the motion'of the bell'crank to thetypebar to actuate the latter.

, 22. In a type-bar action for typewriting machines,.the combinationwith a"key lever,., 0

lever is fnljcrumed, means cooperatingawit the bell-crank to guide the; key. a er and cause it to be. moved bodily down-Lard. and swing thebell-crank when the .key is de- 5,

.' pressed, 'a type-bar, and means connecting the'other armhf the bell-crank to the type-' bar to transmit the motion of thebell-crank' to thetype-ba-r to "actuate the, latter, said i-gn'iding means arranged to ose illate the key lever ahoutitsfulcrnm on theoelhcrank during the depression ,ofthe key lever, and thereby variably control the speed of the key relative to the type-bar. i

23; -In a'typebar action-for typewriting 5" machines, the combination with a type-bar, of means to actuate the type-bar comprising a key lever having a key located in front. of the type-bar, said lever extending rear wardly beyond the type-bar, a'support-on which the key lever is :t'nlci'umed, saidsupport shifta-ble up and down 'topermit the. key lever to be carried downward bodily when thekey is depressed, said lever having 4 at its rear end an upstanding arm, and guid- '11s ing means connected-to said arm and arranged to swing the arm forwardly during the initial portion oi the type-stroke, where by a tilting movement of the key lever about I its fulcrum is effectedin combination with 12g its'bodily downward movement, to permit a slow movement of the type-bar relatively to the key at thebeginning of the type stroke. i

24. in a typebar action, for typewriting machines, the combination with a rear-, wardly striking type-bar, of a key located forward of the type-bar, a key bar'carrying said key and extending rearwardly beyond the end of the type-bar, meansto support and guide thcQsa'hlkey bar and cause it to be wd bodilydownwardwrhcn the key is depressed; a thrust linkglalnlincans to transinit said increment, oi the key bar to the 5 thrust link and impart a forward thrust thereto. 'thelink being operable by said forward thrust to actuate the type-bar.

25,111 a type-bag action-Jo]: typewriting nmchines. the combinationwith a type-bar,

I0 of'a Key locat kq 'ward of the type-bane kejzlwbar gnu! key and extending BEST AVAILABLE COP 'rearwardly beyond.the -type-bar, .a bellcrank hayingl an atin toxwhich said; key bar is piyot'ed',sa;id arm having an up and down l5 motement atits point of connection with project below the upper level of the key levers, to effect economy in the height of the machine.

2S.- The combination with a system of the bar, means cooperating with said bellcrank to guide the" key bar and cause a bodily dow'mrard fiiiovenient of the bar when the key is depressed, said bell-crank comprising 7 l y an arm haying a forward and rearward movement, and a'link connecting said lastnamed arm with thetype-bar for actuating the latter.

'26. The combination with a system of type-bars, of a system of key le ers'comprising a set of keys located in front of the type-bars. said key levers extending rearwardly beneath the type-bars and connected thereto, the mner key levers being (ifi'set laterally to provide an opening within' which some of the type-bars normallyi project, whereby the height of the space required beneath the type-bars for the key leyers, is reduced, to effect economy in the height of the machine.

27. The combination with a system of type-bars arranged to swing upwardly and rearwardly to a'common printing center, the type-bars normally lying in an arc with the central type-bars 'at a lower elevation than "the outlying typ'e-bars, of a system of key levers comprising a set of keys located in front of the type-bars, said levers extending rearwardly beyond the type-bars,'the inner key levers being offset laterally to provide an opening in the system of levers, into which opening the inner type-bars normally project below the upper level of the key levers, to effect economy in the height of the-j machine, the outlying key levers gbeing oiiset inwardly to reduce the width of the system of key levers in rear of the type-bars BUR-NHAM C. STICKNEY.

Vitnesses F. E. ALEXANDER, E. A. RENNIE.

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