US1268790A - Type-writing machine. - Google Patents

Description

' L. S. BURRIDGE, DECD.

r. o. BURRIDGE, EXECUTOR.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21. l9l4.

Patented June 4, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- J K WINES/saff- I/VVE/V 10/? L. S. BURRIDGE, DECD.

F. 0. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE R.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV.27, 1914. 1,268,790. Patented June 4, 1918.

2 EEEEEEEEEEEE 2- 14 w/w/m u\\\ LEE 8. BUR-BmGE, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y.; FRANCIS O. BURRIDGE,

or NEW YORK, INT. r2,

EXEGUTOR OF SAID LEE S. BURBIDGE, DECEASED, ASSIGNOE, BY 'MESNE ASSIGN- MEETS, 1'0 UNDERWOOD TYPEWBITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPO- BATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING} macnmn.

receaeo.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June t, 1mm

Application filed November 27, 1914. Serial No. 874,278.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'LEE S. BURRIDGE, a'

jects of the invention is to produce a practicable writing machine of the class adapted.

for use of travelers, and for other uses in which compactness and light weight are desiderata.' Ithas been proposed to have the upper portion of the machine fold down over the ke board, for compactness for travelers use {butaccording to the present invention, the machine, without the necessity of folding, is compact'as said machine even in folded form; thus avoiding thBDQCGSSlt) of using a folding mechanism, reducing expense, and increasin the durability and reliability of the mac ine.

To these ends I have devised a type action which permits-the platen to be placed at a verylow point in the machine. The typebars are small, and hence normally occupy very little room while on account of their small size they are comparatively strong and make clear imprints on the work-sheet, while beingv easy to operate by the keys. The type-bars lie normally in horizontal or cumbent positions, and may be placed over the key levers and very close thereto; the connections between the key levers and the type-bars being simple and not adding appreciably if any, to the height of the machine. These connections may be in the form of bell-cranks having slot-and-pin engagement with the key levers, and having link connections to the type-bars, of a sort to decrease the leverage of the keys on the type-bars substantially during theprinting strokes, thus rendering the touch of the ke s very agreeable. The eat difierence in t e width of the keyboard and in the width of the s stenr of the small type-bars is compensate for by converging the'links rearwardly to their points of attachment to the typebars; the bell-cranks being mounted in the same converging planes, to secure directness and ease of action, and avoid side strains or ,of bell-cranks and links,

binding cfi'ects upon the bell-cranks; and the type-bar segment is inclined rearwardly from the vertical, so that each point of pivotal connection between type-bars and link shall move approximately in the same converg ng plane as the link itself. Moreover, the link and bell-crank are normally at an obtuse angle to each other, to give an easy start to the key; and this relationship is preserved for the entire converging system I so that the action of a key at the side of the keyboard is as satisfactory as at the middle of the ke board. The whole device is very durab e, compact, and easily operated; simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and not liable to Iget out of order.

11 order to avoid too close convergence of the type-bar guiding-slots in the segment, these slots are cut radially to a center which is well beyond the printing center, so that successive slots in the segment are nearly parallel.

Although the type-bar arcis inclined rearwardly to about 30 degrees, the direction of shift of the platen at the case-shifting operation is made very nearly vertical, which is a desidera-tum.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation taken from front to rear of a typewriting machine embodying the present im rovements.

Fig. 1. is an elevation o a type-action at one side of the system.

Fig. 2 is a sectional front elevation to show the bell cranks and their mounts; some printin a lower case letter, a capital letter,

and a gure or character; the machine being preferably of the double case-shift class. These keys are mounted upon the forward endsof levers 2 of the second order, which extend rearwardly beneath the type-bars 3 and close thereto, and are fulcrumed at their rear ends upona transverse bar 4. Between its ends, each key lever has a pin or wrist 5, to enga e a slot 6 in an arm 7 of a bell crank. T e other arm 8 thereof is pivoted at its upper end at 9 to the forward end of link 10, whose rear end is pivoted at 11 to a short arm 12 which extends from the hub or rear portion of the type-bar 3. The bell cranks 7, 8, are fulcrumed upon studs 13, provided upon vertical plate-like brackets or mounts 14, secured upon the floor or base 15 of the typewriting machine.

The type-bars are arranged upon a segment 16, working in radial slots 17, and pivoted upon a curved fulcrum'rod or w1re 18. Each bar has a type-head 19, carrying three types 20, to strike rearwardly against platen 21, which is-shiftable to various points, as

shown in dotted lines, to bring the printing line into register with the different types on the type-bars.

The construction is such as to aiford an easy touch upon the keys and produce an exceedingly compact machine.- One of the factors which contribute to the easy touch, is the very obtuse angle formed by the bell crank arm 8 and the link 10 when in normal positions; whereby the leverage of the key upon the type-bar is rendered very great,

and whereby suchleverage decreases during Q the printing stroke and is least at the printing position, Fig. 3, thus making the key very eas to start, andserving to cushion the weig t of the operators hand at the conclusion of the printing stroke. This result is also favored by the hnk 10, when in printing position, Fig. 3, pulling in a line nearly radial to the type-bar pivot 18; the normal position of the pivot of the link to the short arm 12 of the type-bar favoring the easy start of the latter, and the positions of the parts when the type is near the platen favoring a quick blow of the typeand gradual arrest of the key.

It is, also to be noted that case of operati n, elearness of type impressions and-compactness of the machine are all aided by the construction of the type-bar system itself. For securing room or clearance for the types when in normal positions, type-bars are usually made of comparatively great length; but in the present instance,-the type-bars are made short, and each is swung through a substantially greaterarc than, is the usual practice, from the printing position to normal position, in order to give the required clearance. The shortness of the type-bar makes the touch flcn the key easy, and also enhances the el'arness of the type im ression on the sheet, and moreovercon uces greatly to the compactness of the machine; the types being directly back of the keywearer board, and the types in the middle of the system being preferably lower than the back row of keys, the distance from the keys to the type-segment being very short, and the platen, owin to the shortness of the typebars, being p aced very low in the machine, so that the entire height of the machine may be little, if any, greater than the height of the base portion of the usual form of typewriting machine made for travelers use.

To avoid the difiiculty due to the low position of the platen in the machine, of reading the printing line thereon, I arrange the printing line above the platen axis, or in other words, on the upper front side of the platen, where it is easi y seen by the operator, even though considerably below the level of the operators eye.

The type-bar segment is inclined rearwardly, preferably about 30 degrees from thevertical, so that the rearwardly swinging types strike the platen after they have passed their highest points, So that the platen is set a little lower than if the usual plan were pursued of placing the platen vertically over, the type-bar pivots; thus again reducing the height of the machine. The arrangement of the type-bar segment in a rearwardly inclined plane gives room for enough swing. of the types away from the printing point to enable-them to clear one another normally, and to have many of the bars in the middle of the system he about horizontally when in normal positions, so that said type-bars ma be closed to the underlying key levers, t us tending to produce compactness of the machine.

The keyboard is, of course, of standard width; but owin to the shortness of the type-bars, .the wi th of the type-bar system is very much less than customary, and far less'than the width of the keyboard, .or thesystem of key levers at their key ends. The problem of connecting up the members of the wide key-lever system to the members of the very narrow type-bar system, especially in a manner to avoid undue side-pull and resultant binding upon the type-bars and connections, is solved, partly by converging the links from the bell-cranks to the type-bars, and partly by the aforesaid rearward'inclination of the type-bar segment,

whereby each link extends in the general direction of the path taken by its rear pivot 11, so that undue sidewise stress upon the type-bar is avoided. The bell-cranks preferably have the same converging arrangement as the links, so that the pivots 11 of the type-bars work approximately in'the planes of their respective bell-cranks, thus making very easy actions, and particularly favoring the efiectiveness of the described normal obtuse arrangement of the links 10 and bell-crank arms 8 for the purpose speci-.

fied; undue side stress being avoided on the Lacegeo bell-cranks as well as on the links and typebars, and "the parts being compactly arran ed, easily made and assembled, and not liab e to get out of order.

The rear portion 2 of the key levers are also preferably converged in planes parallel with the planes of their respective bellcranks, the key levers being preferably mounted at their rear ends in a curve, Fig. 4, whose center is in rear of the key-lever system, so that the converging'portions 2 of the key levers shall be radial to the fulcrum bar 4, to avoid binding and simplify the manufacture. I'tiwill be understood that the pairs 8, 10 work in converging planes with which the paths of their respective pivots 11 nearly coincide, so that the effectiveness of the pairs 8, 10 at the sides of the system is substantially the same as the middle of the system, as illustrated at Fig. .1, notwithstanding the great discrepancy between the width of the type-bar system and the width of the keyboard; while the type-bars 3 are enabled to lie very near to the bottom 15 of the framework, and the position of the platen 21 is made correspondingly low, thus producing a practicable machine of very little height and otherwise of small dimensions.

The bell-crank arms 8 cross the key levers, the mounts 14 being below the key levers, and the links 10 above the key levers; and these links lie side-by-side with the typebars, and hence do not add to the height of the machine. The bell-cranks 7, 8 may be of substantially uniform size and shape, but mounted at different heights, those at the sides of the system being higher than those at the middle, and the pivots 13 forming a curvewhich may be approximately concentric with the printing center 22 or the type bar fulcrum wire 18, so that the relation of the parts 8 and 10 to the type-bars is substantially the same at the sides as at the middle of the system. The mounts 14 may be made of gradually increasing heights from the middle to the sides of the system, to bring the arms 8 up to their proper positions in all cases. The pins 5 on the key levers may be arranged at heights to correspond with the varying heights of the bell-cranks, and may be placed at varying distances from the fulcrum 4, so that the dip of the keys may be made uniform. The type-bars may travel through about 120 degrees from their normal cumbent substantially horizontal positions to their printin positions.

Two of the bell-cran s 7, 8 may be mounted upon each of the mounts 14, one bellcrank upon each face, Fig. 2, each pair of bell-cranks extending up between adjacent key levers, and the spaces between the alternate key levers being occupied by the bellcranks. This conduces to compactness of manufacture and reliability in use, as well as facility in removing and restoring parts of the machine for various purposes.

At Fig. 5 it will be seen that the slots 17 in the segment 16 radiate from a center 23 which is far above the printing center 22 which, at this figure, coincides with the center of the lower case or innermost type on the type-head 19; and that the bodies of the type-bars 3 are bent inwardly from their hub portions various extents, increasing as the outer sidesof the system are approached; and also that there are corresponding bends at the junctions of the bodies 3 of the typeheads 19. said bends occurring below the type-guide 25, which is preferably placed just at the printing point. It is desirable to place the type-bars closely together, and this is favored by making the type-bars short, permitting the use of ashort segment; but in order to avoid the consequent thinning of the walls ofthe segment, due to cutting successive slots at considerable angles to each other, the slots are cut radial to the remote center 23, so that successive slots are more nearly parallel, so that the pivotal points 11 on the rear ends of the type-bars shallnot be too close together, thus afi'ording room for the joints of the links 10 therewith. The type-bar fulcrum wire 18 may also be curved concentrically with the remote point 23 to which the slots are radial, so that each type-bar may work in a plane at right angles tothe axis of its fulcrum wire. I

Instead of arranging the printing point on the platen in the usual manner, at the intersection of the platen surface with a radial line which is at right angles to the plane of the type-bar pivot are, I arrange'the printing point well below said intersecting 1 point, Fig. 1, but higher than the axis of the platen, so that the printing line is a lit tle above the middle of the front side of the platen as illustrated, so that the platen shifts nearly in a vertical direction, which is a desideratum notwithstanding the fact that the arc of the type-bar segment is inclined well rearwardly for the purposes specified. The type-faces at Figs. 1 and 3 lie in a plane which is tangent to the platen at a point a little higher than the horizontal axis of the platen, but below the aforesaid intersecting point.

It will be perceived that if the types were placed on the type-bars in the usual position, they would be. when in printin position, in clined backwardly, substantial .y in parallel' ism with the inclined plane of the type-bar are, and accordingly the platen would stand a little lower than shown in the drawings, and the direction of the shifting movement would be parallel with said plane of the type-bar arc; but instead of their usual construction, the types are placed so that when in printing posih'on they stand about ver- 1 0 tical, notwithstanding the rearward inclination of said type-bar pivot arc plane, and moreover the direction of the shift is about vertical. This substantially vertical arrangement gives advantages, the types strikin a trifle above the horlzontal plane of the axis of the platen, and the platen being given a substantiallyvertical movement, which can be efiected by simple, inexpensive and compact mechanism, and the types standing nearly vertical when in printing position, so that the ribbon may stand accordingly, permittin the spools to have the usual vertical axes without the necessity of providing for the ribbon to make a troublesome backward cant at the printing point between the spools.

From the bottom end ofeach type-head extends a projection 26, which engages a spring finger 27, arranged near the platen, to be tensioned by each of the type-bars as it strikes the platen, and serving to start the type-bar promptly back toward normal posit1on. The projection 26 may be integral with the bar itself as illustrated, being an extension of the type-head 19, which fits in the channeled types.

Each key lever may be provided with a return spring 28, in the form of a coil which is Wholly mounted upon the lever itself,'be-

ing caught at its forward end on a lug 29 projecting down from the key lever, and at its rear end in a hole 30 at the back of the key lever. This spring, at a point between its ends, bears upon a saddle-bar 31, which extends horizontally across the machine, to be used by all the springs 28. By this means, the key levers are supported in norinal positions. The depression of each key tensionsits spring over the bar 31, Fig.3, and the recoil of the sprin returns the key lever to normal osition. This sprin is inexpensive to ma e and assemble, and maybe placed upon the lever before the latter is assembled at the machine, so that it is unnecessary, after assembling the levers, to catch the springs upon the usual hooks providedon the machine frame, thus saving expense. The key lever is detachably mounted on its fulcrum rod 4, and maybe easily inserted or removed without regard to the spring, which finds its own place and needs no attention from the machinist. The lug or projection 29 may be made very thin, so that it may be bent forwardly or backwardly to vary the tension of the adjoining spring 28. Variations may be resorted to withinthe scope of the invention, and portions of the im rovements may be used without others. aving thus described my invention, I claim:

, l. A typewritin machine comprising a keyboard of stan ard size at the front of the machine, a s stem of normally cumbent rearwardly striking type-bars in rear of the keyboard and each carrying a group of types machine, a system of normally cumbent naeareo of standard size, key-levers extending from the keyboard rearwardly and about horizontally beneath the type-bars and closely adjacent thereto, connections converging from the levers to the type-bars; said connections including converging sub-lev ers; the type-bars forming an arc-shaped group occupyin about 90 degrees, the pivots of the type-bars arranged m an are lying in a transverse plane inclined rearwardly about 30 degrees; the type-bars mounted to swing through about 120 degrees in their printing strokes, and the middle type-bars lying about level when at rest, with their types below the level of the highest keys, and the typebars being so short that the types lie closely together when at rest; and a cylindrical platen to whose surface said plane is about tangential; said platen arranged in juxtaposition to the horizontal plane of the highest bank of keys in said keyboard and in rear of the type-bar pivots, with the printing line on the upper front side of the platen, to be struck by the type-bars as they swing rearwardly and downwardly from their highest ositions. I V

2. A typewriting machine comprising a keyboard of standard size at the front of the machine, a system of normally cumbent rearwardly striking type-bars in rear of the keyboard and each carrying a group of t es of standard size, key-levers extending om the keyboard rearwardly and abou horizontally beneath the type-bars and closely adjacent thereto, connections converging from the levers to the type-bars; said connections including converging sub-levers; the type-bars forming an arc-shaped group occupying about 90 degrees, the pivots of the type-bars arranged in an are lying in a transverse plane inclined rearwardly about 30 degrees; the type-bars mounted to'swing through about 120 degrees in their printing strokes, and the middle type-barslyi about level when at rest, with their types be ow the level of the highest keys, and the type-bars being so short that the types lie closely together when at rest; and a cylindrical platen to whose surface said plane is about tangential; said platen arranged in juxtaposition to the horizontal plane of the highest bank of keys in said keyboard and in rear of the type-bar pivots, with the printing line on the upper front side of the platen, to be struck by the type-bars as they swing rearwardly .and downwardly from their.

highest positions;said key-levers converging at their rear ends and working in converging .planes, and said connections lyin approximately in the worhng planes of sai levers and approximately in the working planes of said type-bars respectively.

3. A typewriting machine comprising a keyboard of standard size at the front of the apee eo wardly triking type-bars in rear of the keyboard and each carrying a group of types of standard size, key-levers extendmg from the keyboard rearwardly and about horizontally all beneath the type-bars and closely adjacent thereto, connections converging from the levers to the type-bars; the type-bars forming an arc-shaped group occupying about 90 degrees, the pivots of the type-bars arranged in an arc lying in a transverse plane inclined rearwardly about 30 degrees; the type-bars mounted to swing through about 120 degrees in their printing strokes, and the middle type-bars lying about level when at rest, with their types below the level of the highest keys, and the type-bars being so short that the types lie closely together when at rest; and a cylindrical platen to whose surface said plane is about tangential; said .platen arranged in juxtaposition to the horizontal plane of the highest bank of keys in said keyboard and in rear of the type-bar pivots, with the printing line on the upper front side of the platen, to be struck by the type-bars as they swing rearwardly and downwardly from their highest positions; said connections lying approximately in the working planes of said key-levers and approximately in the working planes of said type-bars respectively, and including converging bell-cranks connected to said keylevers and working in the planes of said levers, and links converging rearwardly from said bell-cranks to said type-bars and workin nearly in the planes of movement of their respective'bell-cranks and type-bars.

4. A typewriting machine comprising a keyboard of standard size at the front of the machine, a system of normally cumbent rearwardly striking type-bars in rear of the keyboard and each carrying a group of types of standard size, key-levers extending from the keyboard rearwardly and about horizontally beneath the type-bars and closely adjacent thereto, connections converging from the levers to the type-bars; the typebars forming an arc-shaped group occupying about 90 degrees, the pivots of the type-bars arranged in an are lying in a transverse plane inclined rearwardly about 30 degrees; the type-bars mounted to swing through about 120 degrees in their printing strokes, and the middle type-bars lying about level when at rest, with their types below the level of the highest keys, and the type-bars being so short that the types lie closely together when at rest; and a cylindrical platen to whose surface said plane is about tangential; said plate arranged in juxtaposition to the horizontal plane of the highest bank of keys in said key-board and in rear of the type-bar pivots, with the printing line on the upper front side of the platen, to be struck by the type-bars as. they swing rearwardly and downwardly from their lnghest positions; said connections lying approximately in the working planes of said keylevers and approximately in the working planes of said type-bars respectively, and including converging bell-cranks connected to said key-levers and working in the planes of said levers, and links converging rearwardlyfrom said bell-cranks to said typebars and extending nearly in the direction of the planes of movement of their respective bell-cranks and type bars, said bellcranks and said links cooperating to alforcl a key-purchase which substantially diminishes during the printing stroke.

5. A typewriting machine comprising a keyboard at the front of the machine, a sys tem of normally cumbent rearwardly striking pivoted type-bars directly in rear of the Keyboard, levers of the second order converging from said keyboard rearwardly and fulcrumed at their rear ends; the type-bars Ill lying very close to the key-levers, pull links arms; said upwardly-extending arms 0011-.

nected at their upper ends to said links and extending down therefrom between the keylevers and fulcrumed at their lower portions, and said forwardly-extending arms directly engagin said levers to be depressed thereby, and said bell-cranks and links converging rearwardly to said type-bars. said upwardly extending arms inclining rearwardly from their fulcrums, to be nearly in line with said links when in normal positions.

6. A typewriting machine comprising a keyboard at the front of the machine, a system of normally cumbent rearwardly striking pivoted type-bars directly in rear of the keyboard, levers of the second order converging from said keyboard rearwardl and fulcrumed at their rear ends; thety'pears lyin very close to the key-levers, pull links exten ing forwardly from the rear ends of the type-bars, and bell-cranks to which the forward ends of said links are connected; said bell-cranks comprising upwardly-extendin arms and forwardly-extending arms; sai upwardly-extending arms connected at their upper ends to said links and extending down therefrom between the key-levers and fulcrumed at their lower portions, and said. forwardly-extending arms directly engaging said levers to be depressed thereby, and said bell-cranks and links converging rearwardly to said type-bars, said upwardly-extending arms inclining rearwardly from their fulcrums, to be nearly in line with said links when in normal positions, and said links being about radial to the type bar pivots when the type-bars are in printing positions.

7. The combination of a system of rear-' wardly striking type-bars ivoted at their rear ends and normally cum ent; said typebars pivoted in an arc; a system ofke operated bell-cranks mounted below t e type-bars; and pull links extending rearwardly from said bell-cranks to said typebars and pivoted to the latter; said system of bell-cranks being substantially wider than said system of type-bars and working 1n rearwardly converging planes, saidlinks extending substantially in said converglng planes, and said are being in a transverse plane that is inclined rearwardly about 30 degrees, to cause the general direction of movement of the rear end of each link to be approximatel in the direction of the length of the lin 8'. The combinationpf a system of rearwardly striking type-bars pivoted at their rear ends and normally cumbent; said typebars pivoted in an are; a system of keyoperated bell-cranks mounted below the type-bars; and pull links extending rearwardly from said bell-cranks to said typebars and pivoted to the latter; said system of bell-cranks being substantially wider than said system of type-bars'and working in rearwardly converging planes, said links extending substantially in said converging planes, and said are being in a transverse plane that is inclined rearwardly about 30 degrees, to cause, the general direction of movement of the rear end of each link to be approximately in the direction of the length of the link, and said link normally forming an obtuse angle with the arm of the bell-crank to which it is connected, to cooperate with said arm to diminish the leverage of thekey at the printing stroke.

9. The combination oi a system of rearwardly striking, normally cumbent typebars pivoted at their rear ends in an are which is in a transverse lane that inclinet rearwardly at an angle 0 about 30 degrees; a system of bell-cranks mounted below the type-bars; pull links extending rearwardly from said bell cranks to the type-bars and pivoted" to the latter; and a system of levers bearing keys at their forward ends and extending rearwardly beneath the type-bars and connected to said bell-cranks; the system of key-levers and the s stem of hellcranks being both substantially wider than the system of type-bars, and said key-levers converging at their rear portions; the bellcranks working in vertical planes which converge in accordance with the convergence of the key-levers, and the links extending in substantially said vertical planes; and the movements of the pivots of the links to the type-bars being nearly within said vertical converging planes, respectively.

10. The com ination of a system of rearwardly striking, normally cumbent typebars pivoted at their rear ends in an are which is in a transverse plane that inclines rearwardly at an angle of about 30 degrees; a system of bell-cranks mounted below the type-bars; pull links extending rearwardly from said bell-cranks to the type-bars and pivoted to the latter; and a system of levers bearing keys at their forward ends and ex tending rearwardly beneath the type-bars and connected to said bell-cranks; the system of key-levers and the system of bellcranks being both substantially wider than the system of type-bars, and said key-levers converging at their rear portions; the bellcranks working in vertical planes which converge in accordance with the convergence of the key-levers, and the links extending in substantially said vertical planes; and the movements of the pivots of the links to the type-bars being nearly withinsaid vertical converging planes, respectively, said bellcranks having arms to which the forward ends of said links are pivoted; said arms extending upwardly and rearwardly to the links and forming obtuse angles therewith.

11. The combination of a system of rearwardly striking type-bars, pivoted at their rear ends and normally cumbent; said typebars pivoted in an arc; a system of key-operated bell-cranks mounted. below the typebars; and pull vlinks extending rearwardly from said bell-cranks to said type-bars and pivoted to the latter; said system of bellcranks being substantially wider than said system of type-bars and working in rearwardly converging planes, said links extending substantially in said converging planes, and said are being in a transverse plane that is inclined rearwardly about 30 degrees, to cause the general direction of movement of the rear end of each link to be approximat'ely in the direction of the length of the link, and said link normally forming an obtuse angle with the arm of the bell-crank to which it is connected, to cooperate with said arm to diminish the leverage of the key at the printing stroke, said bell-crank arms being of substantially uniform size, and the bell-cranks being pivoted in an are about concentric with the type-bar pivot arc, so that the movements of the bell-cranks and links are substantially uniform for all the type-bars.

12. The combination of a system of rearwardly striking, normally cumbent typebars pivoted at their rear ends in an are which is in a transverse plane that inclines rearwardly at an angle of about 30 degrees; a system of bell-cranks mounted below the type-bars; pull links extending rearwardly from said bell-cranks to the type-bars and pivoted to the latter; and a system of lovers bearing keys at their forward ends and extending rearwardly beneath the type-bars and connected to said bell-cranks; the system naeavoo of key-levers and the system of bell-crank being both substantially wider than the system of type-bars, and said key-levers con-- verging at their rear ortions; the hellcranks working in vertica planes which converge in accordance with the convergence of the key-levers, and the links extending in substantially said vertical planes; and the movements of the pivots of the links to the n type-bars being nearly within said vertical converging planes respectively, said bellcranks having arms to which the forward ends of said links are pivoted; said arms extending upwardly and rearwardly to the links and forming obtuse angles therewith, said bell-crank arms being of substantially uniform size, and the bell-cranks being pivoted in an are about concentric with the type-bar pivot arc, so that the movements 2o of the bell-cranks and links are substantially uniform for all the type-bars.

13. The combination of a system of rearwardly striking type-bar's, key-levers extending beneath the type-bars, sub-levers between the key-levers and type-bars, and mounts whereon the sub-levers are pivoted; said sub-levers arranged in pairs, one pair on each of said-mounts, the members of the pair being on. o posite faces of the mount. so 14. The combination of a system of rearwardly striking type-bars, key-levers extending beneath the type-bars, sub-levers between the key-levers and type-bars, and mounts whereon the sub-levers are pivoted; said sub-levers arranged in pairs, one pair on each of said mounts, the members of the pair being on opposite faces of the'mount, said pairs occupying alternate spaces between the key levers,

15. The combination of a system of rearwardly striking type-bars pivoted in an arc, key-levers extending rearwardl beneath the type-bars, a system of bell-cran s, pull links extending from arms of said bell-cranks to said type-bars, said arms normally at obtuse angles to said links, to cooperate therewith in decreasing the leverage of the keys during the printing strokes, said bell-cranks of approximately uniform size, and mounted so in a curve approximately concentric with the curve of the type-bar pivots, and said key-levers having pin-and-slot connections to said bell-cranks at various heights on the key-levers to correspond with the positions of the belhcranks.

16. The combination with a system of key-levers, of a bar extending transversely of the system, and helical returning springs upon said levers, each spring connected at both ends to its lever and bearingbetween its ends against said bar, to be tensioned thereby upon the depression of the key.

17. The combination with a system of key levers, of a bar extending transversely of db the system, and helical ret 1.; springs upon said levers, each spring connected at both ends to its lever and bearing between its ends against said bar, to be tensioned thereby upon the depression of the key, each lever having a lug upon which one end 7o of the spring is caught, to afi'ord clearance for the spring when bending upon said bar, and said lug being bendable to adjust the tension of the spring.

18. A system of pivoted type-bars mounted with their pivots arranged in an arc, each type-bar having a type-head carrying a plurality of types, the bodies of the bars forming various angles with the type-heads at the inner ends of the latter, said arc so struck from a point far above or beyond the printing center, the type-bars swinging in planes radial to said point, and the bodies of the type-bars being variously bent inwardly from the hub portions thereof.

19. A system of pivoted type-bars mounted with their pivots arranged in an arc, each type-bar having a type-head carrying a plurality of types, the bodies of the bars forming various angles with the type-heads so at the inner ends of the latter, said are struck from a point far above or beyond the printing center, the type-bars swinging in planes radial to said point, and the bodies of the type-bars being variously bent inso wardly from the hub portions thereof, said t pe-bars working in slots in a segment, said s ots radial to said point, and a fulcrumwire concentric with said point on which thetype-bars are pivoted.

' 20. The combination of a system of rearwardly striking normally cumbent type bars pivoted at their rear ends in an are which is in a transverse lane that inclines rearwardly at an angle 0 about 30 degrees;

a system of bell-cranks mounted below the V type-bars; pull links extending rearwardly from said bell-cranks t0 the type-bars and pivoted to the latter; and a system of levers bearing keys at their forward ends and exno tending rearwardly beneath the type-bars and connected to said bell-cranks; the system of key-levers and the system of hellcranks being both substantially wider than the system of type-bars, and said key-levers converging at their rear portions; the'bellcranks Working in vertical planes which converge, in accordance with the conver ence of the key-levers, and the links exten ing in substantially said vertical planes; 1% and the movements of the pivots of the links to the type-bars being nearly Within said vertical ,converging planes, ries ectively, each type-bar having a type-head carrying a plurality of types, the bodies of the bars forming various angles with the type-heads ,at theinner ends of the latter, said are struck from a point far above or beyond the printing center, the type-bars swingmg in planes radial to said point, and-tho bodies 1% M rename of the type-bars being variously bent inlid wardly from the hub portions thereof.

21. The combination of a system of rearwardly striking type-bars pivoted at their rear ends and normally cumbent; said typebars pivoted in an are; a system of key-operated bell-cranks mounted below the typebars; and pull links extending rearwardly from said bell-cranks to said type-bars and pivoted to the latter; said s stem of hellcranks being substantially wider than said system of type-bars and working in rearwardly converging planes, said links extending substantially in said converging planes, and said are being in a transverse plane that is inclined rearwardly about 30 degrees, to cause the general direction of movement of the rear end of each link to be approximately in the direction of the length of the link, and said link normally forming an obtuse angle with the arm of the bell-crank to which it is connected, to cooperate with said arm to diminish the leverage of the key at the printing stroke, each type-bar having a type-head carrying a plu rality of types, the bodies of the bars form;

ing various angles with the type-heads at the inner ends of the latter, said are struck from a point far above or beyond the printing center, the type-bars swinging in planes radial to said point, and the bodies of the type-bars being variously bent inwardly from the hub portions thereof.

22. In a typewriting machine, com rising a keyboard at the front of the mac ine, a system of normally converging rearwardly striking type-bars directly in rear of the keyboard and each carrying a group of types, there being one type-bar for each type key on the'keyboard, depressible key-levers extending from the keyboard rearwardly and about horizontally beneath the type-bars and juxtaposed thereto, the system of typebars forming an arc-shaped group, the piv ots of the type-bars arranged in an are lying .in'a transverse plane inclined rearwardly about 30 degrees, the type-bars mounted to swing through about 120 degrees in their printing strokes, and themiddle type-bars lying about level when at rest, with their type nearly level with the highest keys, the type-bars lying compactly to ether in normal positions, and bein so s ort that they fill a segment or are 0' about 90 degrees, so that the outer type-bars swin in planes inclined atabout 45 degrees to t e horizontal, the width of the system of types being materially less than the width of the keyboard, and converging connections extending from-the type-bars to the key-levers, and including a system of sub-levers which converge rearwardly toward the type-bars.

23. In a typewriting machine, com rising a keyboard at the front of the mac ine a system of normally converging rearwardly war ly about 30 degrees, the type-bars mounted to swing through about 120 degrees in their printing strokes, and the middle type-bars lying about level when at rest, with their types nearly level with the high est keys, the type-bars lying compactly together in normal positions, and bein so short that they fill a segment or are of a out 90 degrees, so that the outer type-bars swing in planes inclined at about 45 degrees to the horizontal, the width of the system of t pes being materially less than the width 0 the keyboard, and converging connections extending from the type-bars to the key-levers, and including a system of sub-levers which converge rearwardly toward the type-bars, and are connected by converging links to the type-bars, each link moving approximately in the plane in which its ty e-bar swings and being inclined upwardly Fr to its rear end.

24. A typewriting machine comprising a keyboard at the front of the machine, a system of normally cumbent rearwardl striking type-bars directly in rear of the keyboard, said type-bars with their types lying about on a level with the keys, levers having om its front,

ltd

fulcrums and converging from said keyboard rearwardly and workin in substantively converging planes, an connecting trains extending from the rear ends of said type-bars forwardly and downwardly to points below the key-levers, said trains comprising bell-cranks forward of the type-bars and connected to saidlevers, and having "ire keyboard at the front of the machine, a system of normall cumbent rearwardly striking type-bars 1 irectly in rear of the keyboard and of substantively less width than the keyboard, levers converging from said keyboard rearwardly and working in substantively converging planes, bell-cranks forward of the type-bars and connected to said levers and converging rearwardly toward movement of their respectlve type are, said" their respective type-bars and swin 'ng in the planes of said levers respective y, and links extending from said bell-cranks and substantively converging rearwardly to said type-bars and lying nearly in the lanes of bell-cranks comprising arms to which said links are connected, each of said arms normally making an obtuse angle to its link to afford a substantively decreasing leverage of the key on its type-bar during the printing stroke.

26. A typewriting machine comprising a keyboard at the front of the machine, a system of normally oumbent rearwardly. strik-' ing type-bars directly in rear of the keyboard and of substantively less width than the keyboard, levers converging from said .keyboard rea'rwardly and working in substantively convergin planes, bell-cranks forward of thetypeare and connected to said levers and converging rearwardly toward their respective type-bars and swinging in the planes of said levers respectively, and links extending from said bell-cranks and substantively converging rearwardly to said type-bars and lying nearly in the planes of movement of their respective type-bars,

saidbell-cranks comprising .arms to which said links are connected, each of said arms normall making an obtuse angle to its. link to afi'or a substantively decreasing leverage of the key on its-type-bar durin the print- 'ing stroke, and said link ext/en in nearly radially to the type-bar pivot w an the type is in printing position.

27. A typewrlting machine comprising a keyboard at the front-of the machine, a sub-- stantively narrower system of normally cumbent rearwardlystrikin pivoted type-bars directly in rear of the eyboard, levers of the second order converging substantively from said keyboard rearwardly and ful-' crumed at their rearv ends; the type-bars lying very close to the key-levers, pull links extendin forwardl from the rear ends of the typears, and ell-cranks to which the forward ends of said links are connected; said bell-cranks comprising upwardly-extending arms and forwardly-extending arms; said upwardly-extending arms. con-i through substantive y more than ninety degrees, the type-bars at the center of the system lying normally in about horizontal positions, the arc of the type-bar pivots lying in a plane inclined rearwardly, the rinting line on the platen being higher t an. the

platen axis, butwell beneath a radial line drawn from the platen center at right angles to said'type-bar pivot-arc plane, and

the line of the type faces when in printing position being about vertical and tangent to the platen at said printing line, the d fferent types on the bars being designed to be brought into use b a relative shift between the bars and the p aten in a direction which is approximately vertical, to permit the arrangement of the ink ribbon about vertically on edge.

LEE s. BURRIDGE.

Witnesses:

W. 0. Wnsrrm, EDWARD 'S. L'nrcn.

Images