US1360747A - Typewriting-machine - Google Patents

Description

w. P. HELMOND.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED :APR.22. 1 919.

1,360,747. Patented NO 30, 1920.

UNITED STATES em OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. HELMO'ND, OFHARTFORD, CONNECTICUTQASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEVI YORK, N; Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING-VMAYCHINE.

" Application filed April 22,

T oaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM F. HEL- MOND, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hartford in the county of Hartford and State of lonnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting-Machines, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to typewriting-machines, and more particularly to the linespacing mechanism thereof, one of its objects being to provide an improved mecha nism, of a simple and compact form, suitable for use with machines of existing types.

The invention is herein illustrated as applied tojan Underwood typewriting machine, but is in no manner limited in its-application to a machine of any particular deswn.

l leretofor'e it has been customary to have a line-space detent engage the ratchet wheel at a point distant from that assumed by theratchet-wheel-actuating pawl at the end of its driving stroke. As a result of such arrangement, if a ratchet wheel having a different number of teeth were substituted for that previously in use, it was found necessary to change the detent and other parts, in order to get satisfactory-results. Assume, for. example, that a 33-toothe d ratchet was in use, and the detent was positioned at a distance of 13 teeth from the tooth of the actuating pawl. I If, then, a 3 l-toothed ratchet of the same size were substituted for the 33-toothed ratchet, the detent would not be properly positioned for use with the substituted ratchet. Obviously, a tooth-space of the 34z-t00th6d wheel is very little shorter than that of a 33-toothed wheel, but the position of the 13th tooth of the 3-l-toothed wheel would differ from that of the 13th tooth of the 33-toothed wheel by a distance equal to thirteen times the diiference between the tooth-spaces on the two wheels. The amount of the discrepancy would vary with the difference in the number of teeth on the ratchet-wheels and the distance of the effective end of the detent from the tooth of the actuating pawl.

In the present construction, the aforesaid difficulty is avoided, by so mounting the line-space detent that it will engage the notch of the ratchet-wheel immediately in advance of the notch occupied by the actu- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920. 1919. Serial 110,291,895.

ating pawl at the end of its driving stroke.

Moreover, by virtue of the arrangement of this detent, with reference to the ratchetwhe el, and the'balanced sprin used to press the detent against the ratchet-wheel, the pressure on the pivot or fulcrum of the detent is reduced, and the movement of the detent will depend more directly on the elasticity Qfthespring.

Provision is also made of an overthrowpawl or stop, mounted on a fixed pivot,and

it will be engaged thereby and moved into engagement with the ratchet-wheel at the end of the driving stroke of the actuating pawl. As a consequence of the proximity of the overthrow-pawl to and its actuation by the actuating pawl, the same overthrowpawl is adapted for use with ratchet-wheels having different numbers of teeth.

The overthrow-stop or-pawl' may be normally held in ineffective position by a spring, connected thereto at one end, which also serves to return the actuating slide to normal position. To th'isend, the spring may be attached at its other end to a plate adjustably secured on the slide.

The plate, adjustably secur'edon the slide, is also provided with a cushion or buffer, preferably of leather, adapted to engage a stop at the endof the return movement of the slide. This construction avoids noise upon stoppage of the slide in its return movement, and, by virtue of the adjusting means provided, the home or normal position of the slide may be fixed as desired.

It has also been-found desirable to provi de means for limiting the movement of the manually-operable lever for actuating the slide. For this purpose, provision may be made on each side of'the manually-operable lever of a device comprising a cylindrical member seated in a corresponding bearing in a bar underlying the lever, a toothed wheel coaxial with, and fixedly secured to, said cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical member eccentrically fixed on said toothed wheel, and a collar of resilient material, preferably of rubber, embracing the eccentrically-mounted cylindrical member.- The aforesaid device may be turned to different positions, and there held against rotation by means of a pin seated in the supporting bar, and engaging betweensuccessive teeth of the adjustable stops in'position, the cover-plate toothed wheel. The adjusting devices may also serve as spacers between the supportlng f barv and a cover or trim-plate overlying the manually-operable lever.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view, with parts broken away, of the platenframe of an Underwood machine, withmy invention applied thereto.

Fig." 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig- 1, showing the mechanism set for a 3-tooth movement of the platen.

i is a view, similar to Fig. 2, but-with theparts in different positions, showing the actuating pawl near the end of its stroke and r showing the position of the parts at the end of the driving stroke of the actuating pawl. @Fig. (iis a front view, partly in section, ofthe line-space lever and the. adjustable stops.

Fig. 7 is a view, showing, in separatedrelation, the elements of one of the adjusting devices. I 1 7 Fig. 8 is a plan view, showing one of the being removed- I K ln'order to effect a line-space movement of a work-sheet in use, finger-piece I, mounted on a lever 2, pivoted on the platen frame 3,

. is moved to the right, and the corresponding movement of lever 2 is transmitted bymeans of an arm ehforming a part thereof, to a slide 5 mounted in the platen frame. Pivoted at 6 on slide 5 is an actuating pawl 7 having a tooth 8 adapted to engage teeth 9 of a ratchet-wheel 10 mounted on a shaft 11 having suitable bearings insaid platen frame 3, and carrying a rotatable platen 12, which serves to support the work-sheet for engagement by the types. 1 i

' The extent of movement of the ratchetwheel 10 as a result of engagement of tooth 8 with the ratchet-teeth 9, is determined by means of a trip or shelf 13 on which the actuating pawl 7 rests. Said shelf 13 is carried by the usual slide 14 having a slotted portion embracing a pin 15, and said slide 14 provided with the usual recesses 16 adapted to be engaged by a suitably shaped projection 17 carried by a resilient detent member 18. At its forward end slide 14 may be pivoted to a lever 19 by which the position of shelf 13. may be adjusted.

For the purpose of holding said ratchet wheel 10 in proper line-space position, when not under the control of the actuating pawl 7, provisionis made of a detent lever 20 having a yoke at its forward endin which is mounted a roll 21 adapted to engage in the notches between successive teeth of the ratchet-wheel l0. Said detent lever is mounted on said pin 15, and is spring-pressed to hold roll 21 in engagement with the ratchet-wheel by means of a spring 22 coiled around said pin 15 and having an upper arm engaging a stop 23 on the platen-frame, and a lower arm hooked over said detent lever 20.

This arrangement of'the spring 22 obviates unnecessary pressure or friction on pin 15,

and serves tomake the movement of the der tent depend more directly on the elasticity of the spring than with the springs pretangential to said ratchet-wheel 10.

Much trouble has been experienced in the past with overthrow of. the ratchet-wheel as a result of quick movements of the lines )ace lever. To uard' a ainst suchaction provision is made in the present construction of an overthrow-pawl or stop 24: pivotally mounted on the platen-frame by meansof a screw 25. Said overthrow-pawl is provided with an arm 26 out of alinement. with the'main portion of saidoawl, and to this arm is attached a spring 2 7, by means of which the overthrow-pawl is 'normally held in inefiective position- At'the other end of said spring 27 it is connected to an ear 28 projecting from a plate 29 ad-- ed to engage'with stop23 on the platen:

frame. noise is avoided by the use of saidcushion, and that as a result of the adjustable mounting of plate 29 on slide 5, the forward normal position of said slide may be determined.

Overthrow-pawl 24; is also provided with an offset lug or ear 34:, normally lying in a recess 35 in the lower edge of actuating pawl '7. At one endof said recess 35 is a shoulder 36, which, upon driving movement of the actuating pawl 7, will engage lug 34 when the actuating pawl approaches the forward end of its driving movement and move overthrow-pawl 24 into the position shown in Fig. 5. adapted for use'with ratchet-wheels ofdif ferent numbers of teeth due to the location of the overthrow-pawlv in proximity to the This structure is also It will be seen that unnecessary a toothed wheeled) fixedly secured to portion.

38 and lying on the upper surface of bar 39, said parts 38 and 40 being coaxial, and a cylindrical member 41 fixed 'in eccentric position on wheel 40. 'Idounted on cylindrical members 41 are collars 42 of resilient material, preferably rubber, with which said lever 2' engages. MembersBS, 40 and 41 may be formed integrally, or separately and secured together in any suitable manner. Members 40 and 41 may also serve as spacers for thecover or trim-plate l3. In

order to securethe parts in assembled posi tion, the adjusting devices are provided with threaded openings l4 coaxial with the toothed'wheels 40,- and headed screws 45 and d6 engaging insaid openings 44. In-

order to adjust devices 87,=screws 45 and 46 are removed and devices 3Tturned to the desired position where they will be held against rotation-by means of pins 47 set in sockets in bar 89; and projecting between adjacent teeth of wheels 40'; The function of'collars 42' istoavoid unnecessary noise in operation.

Variations may scope of' the'invention, and portions of the improvements maybe used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim i 1'. In a typei vritcr, in combination, a platen-carriage. a platen rotatably mounted therein, a ratchet-wheel connected to said platen, an actuating pawl to engage said ratchet-wheel and thereby line-space said platen, an adjustable controlling element,

movably mountedon said carriage, to determine the effective length of stroke'of said actuating pawl, a detent. to engage said ratchet-wheel and thereby hold said platen in any line-space p osition,'said detent having its engaging element so positioned, relatively to said pawl, .aszto enter a tooth.- spaceadjacent that occupied by saidpawl atthe end of a linespacing-stroke; a balancedspring to 'yieldingly hold said detent in "e flecti'veposition, and a single bearing member projecting from said carriage, and servingas a guide for said pawl-controlling element,-a,retainer for "said spring, and'a pivot for said detent.

2.. Ina typewriting machine, the combination with a platen-carriage and a platen rotatably mounted therein, of a ratchetbe resorted to within the wheel operatively connected with said platen, an actuating pawl movably mounted on said carriage and capable of engaging said ratchet-wheel to linespace said platen, an overthrow-pawl movably mounted on said carriage, and means normally holding said overthrow-pawl in an ineffective position clear of said ratchet-wheel, said overthrow-pawl having a part lying in'the path of movement of a part of said actuating pawl and by which itniay be moved into effective position at the end of the stroke of said actuating pawl, the engaging relation between said overthrow-pawl and said ratchet-wheel being such that theformer constitutes a positive stop for the latter when in its effective relation.

In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, of a ratchetwheel connected therewith, aratchet-wheelactuating pawl, a slide on which said pawl is pivoted, an overthrow-stop mounted on a fixed pivot, an arm attached to said stop, but out of alinement therewith, and a spring,

connecting said slide and said arm, urging said slideto forward position and said stop to ineffective position.

d. In a'typewriting'machi-ne, the combination with a revoluble platen, of a line space ratchet-wheel therefor, a ratchetwheel-actuating pawl having a shoulder facing in the direction of its driving move- .ment, an overthrow stop mounted on a fixed pivot and normally held in ineffective position, a lug on said stop to be engaged by said shoulder to effect movement of said stop to effective position, said stop also serving to limit the advance movement of said actuating pawl, and a linespace detent positioned toengage-the notch of'the ratchet-wheel im; mediately "in advance of the notch occupied by the actuating pawl at the limit of its driving stroke;

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and a linespace ratchet-wheelconnected therewith, of means for controlling the movement of said ratchet-wheel including an actuating member, a ratchet-wheel-actuating pawl'pivoted on said actuating member and provided with a shoulder facing in the direction of the actuating movement, and a pivoted overthrow-pawl adapted to be engaged by said shoulder at the end of the actuating stroke to ,be swung into engagement with said ratchet-wheel tohold said'ratchet-wheel and actuating pawl against advance movement.

6. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a letter-spacing carriage, 'a platencarriage shifta'bly'mounted therein, a platen rotatably mounted in said platen-carriage, means for line spacing said platen comprising an actuating member movably mounted in said platen-carriage, an operatinglevei for saidactuating member, said lever being movably mounted in said letter-spacing car- 7 spacing means therefor including a manually-operable lever, and adjustable-means for limiting the movement of said lever comprising a member rotatable in a bearing in a fixed support, a disk fixed to said member and having openings arranged along the circumference of a circle, and a pin set'in v a socket in said fixed support and extending .into one oi SZLld. openlngs.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combi- I nation with a platen, of line-space mechanism therefor including a slide, a manuallyoperable lever for actuating said slide, and means for limiting the movementof said lever including a cylindrical member having a bearing in a fixed support, a toothedwheel fixedly connected with said cylindricalfmember, a pin held in position in said support to project between adjacent teeth of said toothed-wheel and holdthe same against rotation, a second cylindrical member eccentrically secured to said toothedwheel, and a collar of resilient material mounted on said eccentricallymounted member. 7 r j i L 9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of line-spacing. means therefor including a line-space lever and ad- 'justable means to determine the limits of its .movementiin both directions, comprising at mounted in a suitable bearing, a gear-wheel coaxial rwith said journal portion, a cylindrical portion eccentric with-respect to said journal portion and connected therewith, andmeans to engage between the teeth of said gear-wheel and prevent rotation thereof, and therebylock said eccentric portion in adjusted position to be engagedby said '7 leven. V

10. In a typewriting machine,the combination with a revoluble platen, of an actuating pawl, a slide for actuating the same, a

"manually-operable lever for. actuating said slide, a spring for returning said slide to normal position, a member comprising an earto which said spring is connected at one end, a holder, and a cushion of. resilient material in said holder, means whereby'said member'may be secured in adjusted position on said slide, and a stop to be engaged by said cushion on the return movement of said slide.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination vwith a revolubleplaten, of platen actuating means including a slide, a manually-operable lever for actuating said. slide, means including 'a spring to return sald slide and consequently said lever to normal position, means, including a cushion of resilient-mate'rial adjustably mounted on said n slide and a fiXed'stop, to determine the forward limit of movement of said slide, and means for limiting the movement of said lever comprising eccentrically-mounted cylindrical stop members and meansto hold the same in adjusted position.

12. In a typewriting machineflh combina tion, a platen, a carriage ,in which said platen is mounted, a ratchet-wheel operative ly connected to said platen, a line-spacing pawl therefor, an actuating member ror said pawl movably mounted in said. carriage, an overthrow-stop movably mounted said stop and actuating member,fiand tendv in said carriage, a spring connecting said stop and actuating member, and tending to move each to and hold it in its normal ineffective position, and. a part controlled in its movements by saidactnating member to engage said stop at the end of'a line-spacing "stroke of said'pawl to move said stop to. its efi ective position. Y

' each end'of the path of'said lever a member comprising a cylindrical journal portion 14:. In a typewriting machine, ;in combination, a platen, a carriage in which said platen is mounted, a ratchet-wheel; operatively connected to said platen, a line-spacing pawl therefor, an actuating member for said pawl movably mounted in said carriage, an overthrow-stop movably mounted in said carriage, a spring connecting said stop and-actuating member, and tending to move each to and hold it ;in its normal ineffective position, and a part carried by said pawl to engage said stopiat the end of aline spacing strokethereofirto move said stop to its effective position, the engaging parts of said pawl and stop being so related as to cause each to be held in close engagementwith said ratchet-wheel, at the completion ofaline-spacing rotation of said platen. I

15. In a typewriting-machine, in combination, a platen-carriage, a platen-rotatably [mounted therein, and line-spacing .mechanism therefor comprising 'aratchet-wheel connectedto said platen, an actuating member movably, mounted in said carriage, a line-space pawl pivoted to said actuating member and providedwith a shoulder facing in the' directio'n' of actuating movement and an overthrow-pawl, movably mounted insaid carriage, having a part to be engaged by said shoulder and by which it may be moved into effective relation at the end of a stroke of said line-space pawl to prevent further movement of said ratchetwheel and platen. V

16. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage, a platen rotatably mounted therein, line-spacing means therefor com prising an operating member movably mounted in said carriage, and an adjustable stop for limiting the movement of said operating member, said stop comprising a member rotatably mounted in said carriage, a toothed portion concentric with its axis, a stop portion eccentric therewith, and a pin settable an opening in said carriage to engage between any two teeth of said toothed portion and maintain said movement-limiting stop in an adjusted position. 17. In a typewriter, in combination, a platen-carriage, a platen rotatably mounted therein, a ratchet-wheel connected to said platen, an actuating pawl to engage said ratchet-wheel and thereby line-space said platen, an adjustable controlling element, movably mounted on said carriage, to determine the effective length of stroke of said actuating pawl, a detent to engage said ratchet-wheel and thereby hold said platen in any line-space position, said detent having its engaging element so positioned, relatively to said pawl, as to enter a toothspace adjacent that occupied by said pawl at the end of a line-spacing stroke, a balanced spring to yieldingly hold said detent in effective position, and a single bearingmember projecting from said carriage, and serving as a guide for said pawl-controlling element, a retainer for said spring, and a pivot for said detent, said spring comprising a coiled portion surrounding said retainer, and two end-portions extending outwardly therefrom in the same general direction as said pawl, said end-portions being connected at closely-neighboring points with said detent and said carriage, respectively. WILLIAM F. HELMOND. Vitnesses:

J. J. BAsKERvILLn, \VILLIAM P. SMITH.

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