US1417737A - Typewriting machine - Google Patents

Description

F. W. HILLARD.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED MAR.26. 1921.

1,417,737. Patented May 30, 1922. v

4 SHEETSSHEET 37 iw20g 20 BY ATTORN EYSCIW F. W. HILLARD.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.26.1921.

Patented May 30, 1922 4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

mm m k% W Z mu NR 4 w i Q v p K Q F. W. HILLARD.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1921.

Patented May 30, 1922.

4 SHEEAT'SSHEET 3- Patented May 30, 1922.

A w n w/ m W m Ja n d r JPAHTENT' OFFICE.

FREDERIC Wi HILLARD, OF TOTTENVILLE. NEW YORK.

, TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filed March 26', 1921.

To 117/ whom it may concern Be it known that l, FHEDEIHO \V. Hm min). a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of 'lottenville. in the county of Richmond and State of New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in .l vpewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention herein is an improvement in several particulars in feeding worksheets, envelopesindex cards. etc., in typewriters. This part of the invention is particularly directed to improvement of the deflector feed-plate or work-apron, and,the combination therewith of a new platen linetinding and letter-imlicating or registering scale. .\l to the use of said parts in combination with the wing scales. Also to a new method of holding. controlling and operating. said improved apron and line-tinding and letter-registering scale: and to a new method of operating these parts in combination with the said wing scales and with the variable line spacing mechanism; and to the combination and method of operation therewith, of other parts of the machine. By way of illustration 1 have shown the present invention as applied to the type of machine shown in my l nited States Patent No. 1.296.957.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a front view of the carriage in its lifted position, together with the carriage race-wa vs and the type bar segment and the wing scales and a section of the machine frame on which the parts are mounted.

Figure 2- is a perspective view of my new deflector apron or feed plate. as seen from the inner or work side. i. e.. the face of the apron next the platen or printing cylinder. This figure also shows the. adjustable pivotal supports for the deflector apron.

Figure 3 is a cross section, on lines a.-(t in Figure 1. This figure illustrates my new deflector apron in cross section and the adjustable spring pressure means for the platen linefinding and letter-registering scale.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section of the cylinder and paper feeding devices.

This view shows my new deflector apron and platen line-finding and letter-registering scale.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1922. Serial No. 455,928.

I Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Figure 4 excepting that the feed rolls are released. I l igures 6 and T are shown particularlv to illustratethe useof my new feed-plate and plateir line-finding and letter-indicating scale. in connection with the wing scales.

ligure 6 illustrates the lower case carriage position. the line-finding scale being well below the wing scales.

Figure 1 shows the. position of the scale when the platen has been raised into the upper case pr nting position. Here the line.- finding scale. is raised up into full view for registering purposes. being at the level of the wing scales.

Figure 1s afrontview of the carriage and the wing scales. together with a portion of the machine frame to which thev are ata l It I "I I I tached. 'lhe taiiiageas in the upper case printing position. as illustrated in Figure t. This view shows how the line-finding and lettera'egistering scale registers with the Wlllg scales. both vertically for linetinding and laterally for letter-registering.

FigureS) is a side view of the carriage showing in dotted lines its lifted or obser- This dotted line view illustrates the same lifted or observatii'in positionas is shown in front View in Figure 1.

Figure 10 is an enlarged side View of a clearance device for throwing the wing scales out of the path of the carriage when the latter is raised to observation position, or lowered therefrom.

In the structure, to which, by Way of illus tration, I have applied my invention, there are two sets of feed rolls, known respectively. as the rear feed rolls 2, and the front feed rolls 3, and these rolls are spaced apart a distance which is considerable in proportion to the circumference of the cyl inder 1. The double sets of feed rolls constitute an unusually eflicient paper feed, much more so than where a single set only of feed rolls is employed, such as is coniinonly found in the old type of blind writ mg machines.

In the structure where the double set of feed rolls is used, there must, in developing a proper feed mechanism, be taken into consideration the fact that, owing to the cylindrical form of the printing cylinder, the work sheets necessarily have to be defiected in being fed forward from the rear vation position.

feed rolls, in a direction which conforms to the surface of the cylinder. This is necessary in order to pro erly direct the forward edge of the work slieets into the bightbetween the cylinder and the forward set of feed rolls. When the work sheets are thus deflected, as the cylinder is rotated, the sheets will be guided between the forwar feed rolls and the cylinder.

\Vith these conditions in mind. it will be understood thatif any braking or frictional resistance is opposed to the forward feeding movement of the work sheets in passing from the rear feed rolls to the front feed rolls, such resistance will have a detrimental effect on the correct feeding of the work sheets. Such braking resistance will result in the tendency to slow up the movement of the work sheets between the two sets of feed rolls, and especially as to the outer sheet or sheets, with respect to the movement of the inner sheet or sheets, when carbon copies are bein typed. Also this braking effect will continue its detrimental effect,

even after the sheets have been engaged by both sets of feed rolls. Heretofore, a brake or frictional retardation has been caused by the type of deflector apron or paper-deflecting feed plate which has been employed to deflect the course of the paper after it leaves the rear feed rolls, and to guide such paper in position to engage between the forward rolls and the cylinder 1.

One of the main ob ects of my invention is to remove the difliculties encountered in.

the use of the loosely mounted unpivoted deflector apron of general prior use, by so pivoting, forming, mounting, controlling and operating my deflector apron or feed plate 15 as to entirely eliminate its character as a friction brake, and as a loosely mounted unpivoted thing.

Another object of the invention is to apply to the apron 15, in connection with the lifting platen carriage 16, means whereby the operator of the machine may note the position of the lower edge of the work sheet with respect to the printing line as the edge approaches the line, and before the work sheet has become disengaged from the front feed rolls 3. This end is attained by placing inspection slots or observation windows 17 in the deflector apron 15 extending rearwardly so that the lower edge of the paper comes into view through the openings 17 when the carriage is raised, before such edge reaches the line of engagement with the front feed rolls 3, and by marking an indicating line 7'7 (Figure 1) at a predetermined number of line spaces below the printing line, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In carrying out my invention I provide a means of mounting the apron 15 independently of the feed roll release mechanism.

This is accomplished by pivoting the apron at either end on pivots 18 at its rear edge, free of the printing cylinder and in supporting arms 19. The arms 19 are adjustably mounted on the platen carriage 16. The apron 15 is so formed that it is free of the printing cylinder at all points excepting the extreme front edge, which carries the platen line finding, letter-registering graduations scale 20.

In still further carrying out the invention, I provide for resiliently maintaining the front edge of the apron (formed by the said scale 20), in engagement with the work sheet under such pressure that, when the feed rolls 2 and 3 are released for purposes of adjusting the work sheets, the latter will be maint-alned in adjusted position. The pressure exerted on the work sheets by the apron 15 is unaffected in any way by the releasing and re-en-gaging movements of the feed rolls with the platen, and is so light that the work sheet will readily move under the feeding motion of the platen, and correctly transmit such motion to the feed rolls. Thus while the apron 15 serves to hold the paper during periods of adjustment, no substantial resistance is afforded to the ready feeding of the paper, and particularly it is not constituted into a friction brake by the engagement of the feed rolls with the platen, as was the case in the use of the unpivoted deflector aprons of prior use.

This result is attained by mounting the apron independently of the feed rolls and their release mechanism, and by providing resilient springs or pressure fingers 21 which alone serve to resiliently hold the platen line-finding scale 20 against the work sheet. These pressure springs are mounted one at each end of the scale. As shown, they are mounted on the shaft 6. This shaft has no movement. with respect to the carriage. These fingers or springs 21 are independent of each other, and of any movement of said release mechanism. They are capable of adjustment relatively to each other, and to the apron 15, whereby the desired tension on either end of the apron 15 may be attained and whereby the tension of the one spring finger 21 may be adjusted relatively to that of the other to equalize the pressure at both ends of the scale 20.

A further object is to allow movement of the feed rolls into and out of engagement with the work sheets, without affecting the apron in any way.

To this end, the apron 15 is provided with openings 7 and 8 through which the feed rollers 2 and 3 freely extend into engagement with the work sheets on the laten 1, the construction being such that neither the rolls nor any part of their carrying mechanism impinges upon or exerts any pressure upon any part of the apron 15 or its supporting means. In other words, the feed rolls 2 and 3 come into engagement with the printing cylinder 1 and are disengaged therefrom, just as freely as though the deflector apron 15 had no existence; and conversely the apron 15 and its platen linefinding and letter registering scale 20 are wholly unaffected by the said movement of the feed rolls 2 and 3, the line-finding scale 20 continuing its spring pressure upon the platen just the same and with equal pressure, whether the feed rolls be released or engaged with the work sheets and platen. Preferably the rollers 2 and 3 are, in my improved apron 15, spaced apart by tubings .11 and 12. These tubings are preferably split at ll and 12 (see Figure 4) and spring compressed so as to cause tlem to hug tightly on their shafts 9 and 10. l

The platen line-finding, letter-indicating and 'msitiml-linding scale 20, is one of the achievements resulting from my improved, adjustably and pivotally mounted deflector apron or paper feeding plate 15. The platen linwfinding and letter-indicating scale 20 must of necessity be a thing of precision. It must correctly and precisely indicate the base line of the printed characters. In practice the platen scale 20 is adjustable circumferentially of the platen, so that it may be caused to precisely register the second base line below the printing line, and it is adjustable laterally of the platen .so that its zero point (at the left end of the platen) and all of its succeeding graduations to the right hand end of the platen, may be caused to register and correspond with the zero point (at theright side) and all succeeding graduations toward the left side of the machine, on the usual front scale 22, of the typewriter, as indicated by the usual carriage pointer 23 for the front scale. It is to be noted that my new platen linefinding scale is graduated from the zero point starting at the left end of the scale, toward the right, whereas the reverse is true of the regular front scale in general use. The reason for this reversal of graduations is that my platen line-finding scale 20, being mounted on the carriage 16 and partaking of the feeding movement thereof, from right to left, as the typewriting progresses, must, obviously register the zero point or the starting point for the first letter at the left end of the line of typewriting (for the reason that the typewriting beginsat the left end of the line of print). The graduations on the front scale 22, on the other hand, begin at the right end of the scale, because that scale is stationary and and the pointer 23, mounted on the carriage and moving therewith from right to left, is the moving member which indicates the notations on the front scale. s

It is obvious that my herein described "tial positioning for the line-finding and for lateral adjustment,relatively to the platen, for-correctly indicating the position of each lctter in the line, and for indicating by the ,zero mark (0) and all succeeding graduations (10, 20, 30, etc., and the intermediate graduations) theexact position of each lettcr in the printed line, corresponding with the particular graduation on the front scale (0, ll), 20, 30, etc. and intermediate graduations), which is indicated by the carriage pointer.

The adjusting means thus provided comprise the rectangular, punched out holes 22, provided in the carrying arms 19. The screws 23, having enlarged washers 24, pass through the rectangular holes 22 in the arms 19 and thence through holes slightly larger than the bodies of the screws 23, bored through the sheet steel frame 25, of the inner or platen carriage 16. On the far side of the frame 25, the screws 23 thread into nuts 26, thus binding the said parts together. It will be readily seen that the rectangular punched holes 22' provide adjustments, both lateral and longitudinal, as above described.

In adjusting the deflector feed plate 15 so as to cause the scale 20 to register with thesecond line below the printing line, a line of lettersis first written on the platen and the platen is then spaced backward two spaces. The scale 20 is then adjusted up to such line of printed letters by adjusting the plate 15 transversely for the purpose. Then the scale is adjusted longitudinally along the line, so as to cause the first letter in the line to register with the corresponding graduation on scale 20.

For instance if the first letter was typewritten at graduation 10 on the front scale 22, then the platen scale 20 will be adjusted longitudinally to bring its graduation 10 to the same first letter in the line. vHaving thus adjusted the scale 20, both laterally and longitudinally, to proper registering position for the printing line and the letters thereon, the screws 2-3 are tightened up in nuts 26, thus securely locking the adjustedscale in position.

Then one of the spring fingers 21 is ad-' justed to proper tension at one end of scale 20. This is done by first loosening one of the binding screws 27 of the binding collar 28, and then turning the loosened collar 28 about fixed shaft 6, either clock wise or anticlock wise as may be desired, to strengthen or weaken the pressure of spring finger 21 on the apron 15 and scale 20, or by bending the spring finger. Then, after the first spring 21 has been thus adjustedtoproper tensio n,-the other spring 21 at the opposite end of the feed plate 15. will beadjustedto a similar tension and screw clamped in adjusted position as inthe first case.

It will now be clearthat my herein improved device comprisesa deflector. apron adjustably mounted at therear on pivotal bearings. swin ing forwardly thereon free of the platen but adjacent thereto and. at its front edge. provided with a platen lineiinding, letter-indicating scale, with spring pressure meansto press the scale. to the platen. to hold the work sheets thereat by lightspring pressure. independently of'the feed rolls. and that observation windows or inspection slots are provided in the deflector plate. intermediately between the pivotal bearings and the front edge. Also that there are two sets of feed rolls as usual, the one set provided rearwardly of said observation windows or inspection slots and the other set forwardly thereof. Also that'all of said feed rolls are provided with relatively powerful spring pressure means as usual, to press the feed rolls and the work sheets thereunder, to the platen. Also that the usual releasing means are provided to re lease the feed rolls from the platen, and that by my invention such feed roll. releasing means are wholly independent of the deflector apron and its spring pressure means.

That therefore the bottom edge of the work sheets can be brought to the observation point in the inspection slots, free of the rear feed rolls, since escaped therefrom, but still under control of the forward feed rolls, whereby they can be fed rea-rwardly again, under control of and driven by'the forward rolls into re-engagement between the bight of the rear feed rolls and the platen. Also that upon release of the feed rolls the work sheet will be held by the light spring pressure of the platen line-finding, letter-indiblack lines, in practice, on the feed plates 7-7, thus raphically showing the operator that, w en the bottom edge of the work sheet is at theline marked 7- 7, the rinting line b is at a predetermined num er of line spaces above the bottom edge of the work sheet.

The line 7-7 or. other marks thereat to be of use, must be,accurately placed and held. This is so-as to give reliable inform'ation as to'the exact number of lines that may still be written before the work sheet shall have been fed so far forward that the bottom edge will have escaped from beneath the scale 20. The lower'edge must be retamed beneath the scale for safety, even if it be but-just barely so held. The information on this point, is quickly andreliably learned by use of my feedv plate 15, observation windows 17 therein and indicating line C.

Not only could such line not be accurately marked on the loosely mounted feed plate in general use, but, whereas I canso mark the line on the herein pivoted feed plate, I can also apply it to great advantage herein, as above indicated with the platen line finding scale 20. That is to say, in my present device the line C is accurately and definitely placed a pre-determined number of lines below the printing line. Said line is indicated by reference character 5 in Figure 4, and the scale 20 is definitely and accurately placed two lines below said printing line 6. Hence if the lower edge of the work sheet be brought to a position just slightly below the'line C, the operator is assured thereby that the pro-determined number of lines can still be written on the sheet, before the bottom edge passes above the scale 20, and control is lost.

If the lower edge of the sheet comes'just to line C, or a bit above, and it is still desired to print an extra line, my variable line spacing device, indicated by reference Figure 44 (Figures 1 and 8), can be brought into play to shift the platen rearwardly slightly, so as to bring the lower edge back, just below the line C. This merely crowds the line spacing slightly, at the point where the platen is thus rolled back, by the released variable line spacer 44 thereby maintaining the bottom edge beneath the scale 20 for the extra line of writing.

The said variable line spacer 44, is another invention described and claimed by me in my other pending application Serial Number 442,181 filed Feb. 3, 1921. If desired, the usual well known Underwood variable line spacer (not shown) may be used to accomplish the same result.

Allthese described modes of operation can be accomplished with my herein pivoted'and scale carrying deflector feed plate 15, when taken in conjunction with the observation windows 17 and their registering marks C.

The platen line-finding scale 20, wing scales 30 (or any other style of wing scales),

and variable line spacer 44 (or other variable line spacer) can be most advantageously employed together, as a working combination to be used for many purposes. The following is an example.

lVhere the original work sheet and a num ber of carbon copies are all made at the same time, the line spacing on the original sheet is somewhat wider than on the carbon copy next the platen. This is because of the combined thickness of the stack of work sheets on the platen. That is to say, the diameter of the platen. where the inner work sheet lies, is somewhat smaller than the. diameter at the outer or original work sheet. This for the reason that the thickness of the stack of work sheets and carbon papers must be added to that of the platen, in arriving at the diameter at the surface of the outer or original work sheet.

In the case illustrated therefore, if the stack of sheets be removed, and then the original work sheet reinserted upon and next to the platen, and a lin of writing thereon registered with platen scale 20, and then the platen be spaced up two spaces, to bring said line to the printing point, the said line can be re-written, the re-written letters fitting directly upon those first written. But succeeding lines, if line spaced to bring them to the printing line, bythe regular line spacer, will gradually depart more and more from correct registration with the wing scales and printing line, for the reason above explained. But the writing lines will never.- theless all remain parallel with the wing scales, since they are all parallel with each other, and one of them was lined up with the. platen scale 20.

Hence in this case, all that is necessary to do when the succeeding'lines begin to thus run off from registration with the wing scales at the printing line, is to release the variable line spacer and re-register such succeeding lines with the wing scales thereby. Thereupon the line so registered and the letters therein will all register correctly with the wing scales and printing line, because one line was previously so registered with the platen scale.

My wing scales 30 shown herein (Figures 1 and 8) are employed in conjunction with my new linefinding and letter indicating scale. 20. The improvement consists in cutting away the middle section 30 of the upper graduated edge of the wing scales 30 (Figures 1 and 8). The purpose of doing this is so that the platenline-finding and letter-registering scale 20 may be seen by the operator, through the cut away portions of the wing scales, as shown in Figure 8. Preferably the wing scales may be graduated, for letter indicating, below the cut away portions as shown in Figures 1 and 8. In Figure 8 the carriage is in its normal upper case writing position, or that for writing upper case or capital letters. This same capital letter writing position is also shown in FigureT, which is a sectional side view.

Comparing Figure 7 with Figure 6 the latter is a sectional side view, similar to Figure 7 excepting that Figure 6 shows the carriage in its lowen case printing position. The wing scales 3() are of the usual Underwood structure, excepting for the cut away portions shown in Figure 8 and discussed above. They are spring pressed toward the platen by springs 32, and such movement toward the platen is arrested by the engagement of their stop fingers 39 with the segment 40. Thus, they are provided with a vibratory horizontal movement but are not arranged for vertical movement. Hence, the platen scale 20, which is movable vertically with the carriage from lower case printing position to upper case one and vice versa, is shiftable vertically relatively to the wing s -ales. In the lower case printing position, as shown in Figure 6, it is considerably below the wing scales.

In this case the scale 20 is out of convenient view of the operator and of little use in setting the work sheets to the printing line. and properly registering the letters and words with the type characters for re-printing and corrections. But when the carriage is shifted up to upper case printing position, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the scale is in full view of the operator and the work sheets can be adjusted thereto with great facility, particularly in connection with myimproved wing scales 30. Of course the scale 20 is also adapted for the same use, when the carriage is brought to upper case position, in connection with the usual wing scales.

I believe myself to be the first to have thus provided a scale mounted on and movable longitudinally with the carriage in its letter space-feeding movement, whereby it becomes a letter-registering scale, and also movable vertically with the platen carriage, or trans versely of said letter space feeding movement, in the shifting movement of the carriage from one case printing position. where said scale is out of convenient view of the operator, to another case printing one where the said scale is in such view and can be employed for line-setting and letter-setting of the work sheets. This invention is of much utility and I therefore intend to claim itbroadly.

Further, this feature of the platen scale brought into convenient view by the shifting of the carriage to upper case position, is ap plicable to other typewriters, not provided with my lifting carriage invention, and this makes it of very wide application and of much value.

It is desirable to lock the carriage in upper case position so that the operator will have both hands free for setting and adjusting thework sheets, by aid of platen scale 20, which is brought into full view by the shifting of the carriage to upper case position, as before described. This is accomplished in the usual manner by locking down the usual shiftkey lock, (not shown) the carriage then remaining locked in upper case printing position until released by the op.- erator, upon depression of the left hand carriage shift key as usual. Itis believed unnecessary to illustrate such means for looking the carriage in upper case position and thereafter releasing it b the shift key from such locked position. t uch means are common to all late style Underwood typewriters and are well known by all operators of those machines.

When the carriage is thus locked in upper case printing position and it is desired to adjust the work sheets or move them by hand on the platen 1, the usual release key 53 is depressed. as is well known and commonly done, thus disengaging the feed rolls 2 and 3 from the cylinder, as shown in Figures 3, and 5. Also generally the paper fingers are thrown up, although this is not essential. Then the work sheets having been moved or adjusted as desired, the release key 53 is released, and the feed rolls'Q and 3 restored by their spring pressure means to re-engagement with the cylinder, as shown in Figure 7.

In Figure 4 the point indicated by the reference character b is, as above pointed out, the printing point. In m improved device the work sheets are hel by scale 20 and the paper fingers 38 and their feed rolls 41, to within very nearly two line spaces from the foot of the sheets, the work sheets being protected from displacement to that point by being caught under the scale 20.

Hence in my improved deflector feed plate 15 and platen scale 20 the writing can be done nearer the bottom of the work sheets or cards, etc., than was possible with former paper feeding devices. This is obviously a great advantage.

In my improved structure. when the printed line or the line on the work sheet requiring to be written on, has been set to register with the platen line-finding and letter-registering scale 20, such line is precisely two line spaces below the printing llne. Therefore by then ratcheting the platen ahead two spaces, by the platen knob 43 or by the usual line space lever (not shown), the set line will be brought to the exact writing line.

Also, when the printed line of the work sheet has been so set, the variable line spacer may be unlocked and the platen rolled up until the printed line registers with the wing scales 30. Any line on the work sheet may then, in this manner, by aid of the variable line spacer and the wing scales, be brought to the printing line. That is to say, one line can first be set by the platen scale 20, throughout the entire width of the platen, and then, owing to the perfection of the paper feed with my herein improvements, and the consequent freedom from slipping between the work sheet or sheets and the platen, all other lines on the work sheets will be squared thereby for corrections, etc., without any resetting. This can all be done either by turning the platen to any desired position 1) hand by the knob43 or by line spacing wit the usual line spacer lever (not shown) or by releasing the variable line spacer and then turning the platen by hand to bring the desired-line to the printing point.

I have hereinbefore described the shifting of the platen carriage to upper case printing position and the means for looking it therein, and have discussed the advantages arising therefrom in bringing the platen scale 20 into line and registration with the wing scales'30 or the usual wing scales as the case may be, and have illustrated in Figure 8 how the said scale 20 is thus brought into line and registration with the wing scales 30.

The platen line-finding and letter-registering scale 20 may be brought into a still better position for registering the work sheets and their typewritten lines, ruled lines, etc., with said platen scale by raising the carriage into the lifted position shown in Figures 1 and 9; and means are provided at said better position, for locking the lifted carriage in this latter position for scale registration.whereby both hands of the operator are left free for manipulation and adjustment of the work sheets. I will now describe these features, reference being particularly made to Figures 1 and 9.

In Figure 9 the carriage is shown in full lines in normal writing position and in dotted lines'in lifted and locked position.

The printing point is indicated in Figure 1. by the reference character I), and in Figure 9 the same reference character indicates the printing point. But in the latter figure I have drawn the visual lines B from the operator to various points, the uppermost visual line illustrating graphically how directly in said visual line, the printing line is, in the raised position of the carriage.

In Figure 1 the reference character C indicates the registration line, marked on the deflector plate 7-7, above discussed. The

same reference character C, in Figure 9 indicates the 'same registration point, at the observation windows or inspection slots 17. It will be seen from Figure 9 that the said marked registration line 7--7'is also fairly within the visual line of the operator (middle visual line B).

It will also be noted that the light, in the dotted line lifted position of the printing line in Figure 9 is always good, since the line is at the top of the printing cylinder. On the other hand, at the printing point, I),

' in the full line normal writing position, the

which is brought into full view by the that the printing line in said normal writing position is at an acute angle to the visual line. marked B. The obliquity of said angle is graphically illustrated in enlarged view Figure 4. It is the oblique angle of the radial line b and visual line B forming an angle at the printing point.

Hence, both from the better light and more direct visipn, the lifted position of the carriage is the? better one for setting the printed line to scale 20 and registering the letters therewith, where the lifting of the carriage is possible.

I show means for locking up the lifted carriage in Figure 9, such means being generally similar to the locking means shown in my former Patent No. 1,296,957, (excepting that lock 45 is an improvement over my said prior patent) and means are provided for frictionally locking up the carriage in two positions: These improvements I shall claim in another application for patent which I am about to file.' The locking means is briefly described here for purposes of clearness of understanding only. Broadly stated, the carriage 16 is locked up b the engagement of rod 51 in notch 52. ence the carriage 16 and its scale 20 are locked up by the provided means and the operator is free to use both hands in adjusting the work sheets and registering them with the platen scale 20, when the feed rolls 2 and 3 have been released by depression of the release key 53. This release key and its operating means for releasing the feed rolls 2 and 3, in order to adjust and register the paper with the wing scales 30 or the usual wing scales, and with the platen scale 20, are so well known that no detailed description is believed necessary. I employ such release key in releasing the feed rolls 2 and3 in all cases.

The lock for holding the carriage raised includes the rod 51 (Figure 9) which has to be bent backward between supporting arms 55, and snapped over the overhanging top '54, the rod 51 and its carrying arms 55 being resilient, and rod 51 snapped over the overhanging top at an intermediate point, so that it springs rearward under the push of the operator and then snaps forward into the notch 52. Therefore although the carriage overhangs forwardly and tends to drop down under the influence of gravity, the force of gravity on the forwardly overhanging weight of the carriage, is insufficient to again bend rod 51 rearwardly as is necessary to enable it to escape from the notch 52. But when the operator adds her pull to the said influence of gravity the resistance of rod 51 is overcome and the rod is snapped back over overhang 54, and then the carriage is free to be lowered.

In addition to a-djustably mounting collars 28 and their spring fingers 2]. on rod 6, as above described, I may also mount thereon clearance devices and protecting devices, to

come into play when the platen carriage 1G is raised or lowered, and for guarding exposed parts when the carriage is lifted. I show one such clearance device herein, namely the front roll-guard 29 (Figures 1 and 10) for clearance of wing scales 30.

This clearance guard 29 is formed of sheet metal. One end is curled around to form a yoke adapted to fit over support-rod 6. The outer portion of this yoked end, is bored out to take in bindingscrew 31, the inner end, in line therewith, being bored and threaded to take in the threaded end of screw 31, the sheet metal being folded back at this point for the screw thread, in order to form a longer threaded bearing. At its opposite or free end, the guard is cylindrically curved to about the radius of front roll 3, or of slightly larger radius, as shown in Figure 10. It is thus curved so that its curved free end will clear the wing scale, in the lifting and lowering movements of the carriage, the bellied portion of the free curved end, serving as the pusher means for swinging the wing scale forward against the impulse of its spring 32, free of the front roller 3.

As will-be understood from Fig. 10, the guard 29 is first slipped around the supportrod 6, the screw 31 being removed.

Then the screw 31 is inserted in the guard 29 and screwed in until it holds the guard lightly clamped to the rod 6. Then the guard is adjusted into the proper position shown in Figure 10 and securely clamped therein by tightening up screw 31. In this position the bellied portion projects slightly forward of the feed roll 3 (shown in dotted lines in Figure 10), thereby serving, in the lifting and lowering movements of the car riage, to swing the wing scale forward, free of the feed roll. If it were not for this clearance device, the wing scale would hit into the rubber covering of roll 3 and thus prevent or seriously interfere with the proper lowering movements of the carriage.

The former clearance device shown in my Patent, 1,296,957 was riveted upon the deflector feed plate and served to throw for ward the wing scales to clear the front roll. This device took too much room and was liable to cause interferences during the feeding movement of the paper carriage. It was also hard to rivet the guard onto the feed plate, leaving the inside surface so smooth as not to catch the work sheets. Besides the feed plates were very apt to be bent out of shape by the riveting. Also, in different machines the platen 1 and feed rolls 3 are adjustable forward or back for alignment purposes withthe type bars and their type characters (not shown) as is well known. Hence there had to be corresponding adjustment of guard 33 on deflector plate 4:, which was extremely difficult and expensive.

style guard 29 (Figures 1 and 10) obviates My new from interfering with all these difficulties. It can be adjusted instantly without removal of the deflector plate from the carriage. With the former device such removal was necessary, andthat gener may also be utilized for other purposes.

That is to say, guards adjustably mounted on support rod 6. For example, if it be found desirable to protect scale plate springs 21 from possible injury, while the carriageis lifted, I may prolong the inner threaded end (i. e., that facing the deflector feed plate 15) of adjustable binding collar 28, into a finger 47, reaching forward, so as to extend over and thus protect the springs 21, as shown in Figure 3. In that case each collar 28 should be provided with its finger 47, to individually protect its spring finger. The finger 47 could be bent toward and from the spring 21', to properly position it, corresponding to whatever position the collar 28 might be adjusted into on rod 6, for giving the desired tension to springs 21. 1

I can also, if desired, employ finger 47, by extending it still farther forward and curving it over scale 20, into a guard to protect the printing ribbon from catching under the lower end of paper finger 38, in thelowering of the lifted carriage back to normal, writing position (see Figures 1 and 8). In this case the finger 47 should be referably made broader, so as to protect nger 38 in any adjusted position in line with the printing ribbon.

Or I may make an independent guard of the character of front roll guard 29, to thus protect the printing ribbon 35 from the paper finger 38 in the lowering movements of the carriage. But I prefer to employ another style of guard for such protection of the printing ribbon. This said other device consists of the overlapping end 37 on the left hand scale brace 36 (see Figures 1, 2 and 8).

I solder brace 36 onto the left hand end of scale 20, with its front edge 37 overlapping the'front of the scale. ThlS overlapping end 37 serves to prevent the printing ribbon 35 tending end of paper paper finger is so ad'usted as to be in line with the printing rib on in the lifting and lowering movements of the carriage,

If it were not for this overlappingpart 37 the said lower end of the left hand pa er fin-, ger 38 (Figure 8) or of the regular riderwood paper finger (not shown) would be apt to catch over the ribbon 35, during the lower the downwardly ex-, finger 38, when, said" ing movement of the carriage, and thus block the movement of the carriage.

The advantage of the clearance device 37, for the scale 20, over the clearance device 29, is the greater simplicity of the former, and also resides in the fact that the clearance device, being integral with the scale, is always in correct adjustment therewith. I have employed the device 29 as a scale clearance guard, and find that it operates well as such, but the adjustment has to be rather close, as the room is uite limited. Hence I prefer clearance device 37 for the scale.

By the term normal printing level I mean the lower case printing level. This is in the case where the carriage is, as shown herein, a shifting-carriage and adapted to print at two levels, i.e.,-the lower case or small letter one and the upper case or capital letter one. The lower case or small letter printing position is the normal one. I employ the term wing scales herein, as having a broad meaning. These scalesare the ones that are mounted, not onthe carriage, but on a stationary support, Hence usually they do not partake of the up and down shifting movements of the carriage, as does my platen scale. The term wing scale is not intended as indicating the particular form of the scales but is employed because two such scales are generally used, one at each side of the printing point. p

I use herein the terms longitudinal and longitudinally, and transverse and transversely. I will define these terms as employed herein and in the accompanying claims, as follows:by the terms longitudinal and longitudinally, I mean in a direction lengthwise of the platen and its carscale in the lowering movement of the carriage. This device may be also employed to 'revent interference of the paper finger. wit the printing ribbon in the lowering of the carriage. It may also be employed, as

illustrated in Figure 3,'to guard the tension springs that press the platen scale to the platen, soas to hold the work sheets gently thereagainst.

Another clearance device is the scale guard 37 (Figure 2) that serves to prevent riage. The terms transverse and trans- 1 interference between the. paper finger and the printing ribbon in the lowering movements of the carriage.

Thus all such clearance devices are associated parts of the work sheet holding. feeding and controlling means described and claimed herein.

1. In a visible writing typewriter the combination with the carriage and its platen, of a rear feed roll device. a front feed roll device. and a deflector apron. means for pivoting and controlling the deflector apron wholly independently of said feed roll devices, and means for normally spring-pressing the deflector apron to the platen. said spring pressure. means exerting its pressure on the deflector apron to thereby hold it at the platen wholly independently of the position of the feed roll devices.

2. In a front strike typewriter paper feed, the combination with the carriage and its platen, of a rear feed roll device. a front feed roll device and a deflector apron. means for pivotally mounting and controlling the deflector apron wholly independently of the feed roll devices. said deflector apron hearing on the platen at its front edge and positioned to deflect the work sheets from said rear rolls to said front rolls. and spring pressure means to maintain the front edge at the platen in all positions of the feed roll devices and wholly independent thereof.

3. In a front strike typewriter paper feed. the combination with the. carriage and its platen. of a rear feed roll device. a front roll device. and a deflector apron pivotally and adjnstably mounted at the rear of'the feed roll devices and independently there of and having at its front edge. a platen line-finding and letter-registering scale. and spring pressure means to press the scale to the platen. the deflector apron being swung on its pivots clear of the platen at all points save at the scale.

4. In a front strike typewriter paper feed. the combination with a carriage liftable into observation position and its platen. of a rear feed roll device. a front feed roll device and a deflector apron pivotally mounted at the rear of said first mentioned device and hearing at its front edge on the platen in front of said last mentioned device. spring pressure means to cause it to so hear, an observation window in the apron between said rear and front roll devices and a marked registration line at said window. registering a preiletermined number of lines to the printing line.

'5. In a front strike typewriter paper feed. the combination with a carriage movable into observation position and its platen. of a rear feed roll device. a front. feed roll device. and a deflector apron and means for pivotally mounting said a )IOll at the rear of saidv first mentioned device for movement toward and away from the platen independently of said feed roll devices, said apron having at its front edge, in front of said last mentioned device, a platen line-finding and letter-registering scale, spring pressure means to cause the scale to press on the platen, and an observation window in the apron between the said rear and front roll devices.

6. In a front strike typewriter paper feed, the combination with the carriage and its platen, of a rear feed roll device, a front feed roll device, and a deflector apron pivotally mounted at the rear of said first mentioned device and having at its front edge, in front of said last mentioned device, a platen line-finding and letter-registering scale, spring pressure means to cause the scale to press on the platen, an observation window in the apron between the said rear and front roll devices, and marked registration line at the window registering a predetermined number of lines to the printing line.

7. In a typewriter having a longitudinally feeding and transversely shifting platen carriage the combination with a wing scale. of a platen scale which partakes of the longitudinal movements of the carriage and is shiftable transversely therewith into various positions relatively to the wing scale.

8. In a front strike typewriter. the .Combination with a shifting platen carriage. of a pair of wing scales mounted on a stationary support and set at the level of the printing line, one at each side of the printing point, a platen scale mounted on and movable with the 'arriage. set atthe platen below the printing line and normally below the wing scales. and carriage shifting means to lift the platen from its normal lower case position to upper case printing posit-ion. said means serving to also lift the platen scale to the level of the wing scales.

9. In a typewriter, the combination of a wing scale. and a platen scale movable longitudinally and also transversely relatively to the wing scale into various positions relatively to the wing scale.

10. In a front strike typewriter. the collibination with a shifting platen carriage. of a pair of wing scales mounted on a stationary support and set at the level of the printing line. one at each side of the printing point. a platen scale mounted on and movable with the carriage. set at the platen below the printing line and normally below the wing scales. and carriage shifting means to lift the platen from its normal lower case position to upper case printing position. said means serving to also lift the platen scale to the level of the wing scales. and locking means etl'ective for maintaining the carriage in upper case position and the platen scale in line with the wing scales,

wing scales mounted on a stationary support and set at the level of the printingline, a platen scale mounted on and movable with the carriage, set at the laten below the printing line and normal y below the wing scales, carriage shifting means to lift the platen from its normal lower case-position to upper case printing position, said means serving to also lift the laten scale to the level of the wing scales, locking means for maintaining the carriage in upper case position and releasing means for said work sheet feeding devices to permit of convenient adjustment of the work sheets.

12. In a front strike typewriter, the combination with a shifting platen carriage, of a pair of wing scales mounted on a stationary support and set at the level of the printing line, one at each side of the printing point, a platen scale mounted on and movable with the carriage, set at the platen below the printing line and normally below the wing scales, and carriage shifting means to lift the platen from its normal lower case position to upper case printing position, said means serving to also lift the platen scale to the level of the wing scales, and means to lift the carriage to an observation position with the platen scale in view at a level hi her than the wing scales.

13. In a front strike typewriter, the com bination with a shifting platen carriage, of a pair of wing scales mounted on a stationary support and set at the level of the printing line, one at each side of the printing point, a platen scale mounted on and movable with the carriage, set at the platen below the printing line and normally below the wing scales, and carriage shifting means to lift the platen from its normal lower case position to upper case printing position, said means serving to also lift the platen scale to the level of the wing scales, means to lift the carriage to an observation position with the platen scale at a higher level than the wing scales and locking means to maintain the carriage and its platen scale in said observation position against the influence of gravity, for convenience of adjustment of the work sheets.

14. In a front strike typewriter paper feed the combination with the carriage and its platen, of a rear feed roll device, a front feed roll device, and a deflector apron pivotally mounted at the rear of said first mentioned device and hearing at its front edge, in front of said last mentioned device a platen scale, spring pressure means to press the scale to the platen, an inspection slot in the apron between the said rear and front roll devices and means to lift the carriage into observation position to bring the inspection slot into view of the operator.

15. In a typewriting machine, in combination with the platen, a deflector feed plate supported adjacent thereto, said. plate having one or'more inspection Slots to permit observation-of the bottom ed e of the work sheet carried intermediate the platen and the plate, feed rolls disposed forwardly of the slots, for retaining the work sheet in position when its bottom edge is at observation position in the'slots, said plate being mounted on adjustable ivots rearwardly of said slots, swinging t ereon free of the platen excepting at its front edge, carrying a line-findin letter-registering scale at said front edge orwardly of the feed rolls, and spring pressure means to press the scale to the platen and to therebyaid said front rolls in holding the, Work sheet to the platen when the bottom edge of the work sheet is at observation position in the slots, and means for liftingI the carriage to observation position. 16. n a front strike typewriter, a pair of stationarily mounted wing scales, set at the normal printinglevel, a platen carriage having a platen scale mounted thereon below the printing level, and carriage shifting means to shift the platen up and down to upper case and to normal lower case printing levels, .said shifting means serving to also'shift the platen scale up and down with the platen and relatively to the wing scales.

17. In a front strike typewriter, a pair of stationarily mounted wing scales, set atthe normal printing level, a platen carriage having a platen scale mounted thereon below the printing level, and carriage shifting means to shift the platen up and down to upper case and to normal lower case printing levels, said shifting means serving to also shift the platen scale up and down with the platen and relatively to the wing scales and toalign the platen scale with the wing scales in the upper case position of the platen.

18. In a front strike typewriter, a pair of stationarily mounted wing scales, set at the normal printing level, a platen carriage.having a platen scale mounted thereon below the printing level, and carriage shifting means to'shift the platen up and down to upper case and to normal lower case printing levels, said platen scale being thereby 1 brought substantially to the level of the wing scales when thecarriage is lifted to upper case position.

19. In a front strike typewriter. a pair of stationarily mounted wing scales, set at the 1 normal printing level, a platen carriage having a platen scale pivotally mounted there on and spring pressed to the platen below the printing level, and carriage shifting ils iii

means to shift the platen up and down to upper case and to normal lower case printing levels, said platen scale being thereby brought substantially to the level of the wing scales when the carriage is lifted to upper case position.

20. In a front strike typewriter, a pair of stationarily mounted wing scales, set at the normal printing level, a platen carriage having a platen scale pivotally mounted thereon and spring pressed to the platen below the printing level, and carniage shifting means to shift the platen up and down to upper case and to normal lower case printing levels, said platen scale being thereby brought substantially to the level of the wing scaleswhen the carriage is lifted to upper case position and the wing scales being centrally recessed at their upper graduated edges, for observation therethrough of the platen scale when the platen is in the upper case position.

21. In a front strike typewriter, a pair of stationarily mounted wing scales, set at the normal printing level, a platen carriage having a platen scale pivotally mounted thereon and spring pressed to the platen below the printing level, and carriage shifting means to shift the platen up and down to upper case and to normal lower case printing levels, said platen scale being thereby brought substantially to the level of the wing scales when the carriage is lifted to upper case position, and locking means to maintain the platen in upper case position and the platen scale substantially at the level of the wing scales.

22. In a front strike typewriter, a pair of stationarily mounted wing scales, set at the normal printing level, a platen carriage having a platen scale pivotally mounted thereon and spring pressed to the platen below the printing level, and carriage shifting means to shift the platen up and down to upper case and to normal lower case printing levels, said platen scale being thereby brought substantially to the level of the wing scales when the carriage is lifted to upper case position and means to lift the carriage to an observation position and to thereby lift the platen scale to a level above the level of the wing scales.

23. In a front strike typewriter, a pair of stationarily mounted wing scales, set at the normal printing level, a platen carriage having a platen scale pivotally mounted thereon and spring pressed to the platen below the printing level, and carriage shifting means to shift the platen up and down to upper case and to normal lower case printing levels, said platen scale being thereby brought substantially to the level of the wing scales when the carriage is lifted to upper case position, means to lift the carriage to an observation position and to therebyvlift the platen scale to a level above the level of the wing scales, and means for locking the car- 7 riage and platen scale in said observation position, for convenience of adjustment of the work sheets on the platen.

24. In a front strike typewriter, the combination with the platen carriage and platen, of a line-finding, letter-registering platen scale, mounted on the carriage and aligned with the platen at a level below the printing point, a pair of wing scales mounted on a stationary support at the front of the platen and set at the level of theprinting point, and a variable line spacing mechanism, whereby, when a line on a work sheet is registered with the platen scale, that line and all other parallel parts of the work sheet can be registered at the printing level by aligning the same with the wing scales, and means operated by the variable line spacing mechanism for thus registering the desired part of the work sheet with the wing scales.

25. In a front strike typewriter, the combination with the platen carriage and platen, of a deflector apron pivotally mounted rearwardly on the carriage below the platen and bearing at its front edge a line-finding letter-registering platen, scale, spring pressed to the platen and aligned therewith two line spaces below the printing level, a pair of wing scales mounted on a stationary support at the front of the platen and set at the evel of the printing point, and a variable line spacing mechanism, whereby when a line on a work sheet is registered with the platen scale, that line and all other parallel parts of the work sheet can be registered at the printing level by aligning the same with the wing scales, and means operated by the variable line spacing mechanism for thus registering the desired part of the work sheet with the wing scales.

26. In a front strike typewriter, the combination with the platen carriage and platen, of a deflector apron pivotally mounted rearwardly on the carriage below the platen and bearing at its front edge a line-finding, letter-registering platen-scale, spring pressed to the platen and aligned therewith two line spaces below the printing level, a pair of wing scales mounted on a stationary support at the front of the platen and set at the level of the printing point, a regular line spacing mechanism and a variable line spacing mechanism. whereby when a line on a work sheet is registered with the platen scale, it can be brought to the printing level by the regular line spacing mechanism and whereby all irregular lines can be brought to the printing level by registering them with the wing scales, by means of the variable line spacing mechanism, and means for operating either the regular or the variable line spacing mechanisms at will.

27. In a front strike typewriter, the combination with the carriage and its platen,

carriage 1n its downward movement from observation position to normal position, of a clearance device adapted to press said interfering device forward but of the interfering position to prevent interference, said clearance device comprising a metal piece yoked over and clamped upon a supporting rod beneath the platen and provided with an arm extendin into the path of the interfering device and being curved near the end of the arm, so as to engage and press forward the interfering device-in said lowering movementof the carriage.

28. In a front strike typewriter, the combination with the carriage and its platen,

adapted to be lifted to an observation position at a'predetermined point in its line of travel, and a wing scale pivotally mounted on a fixed support in front of the platen for movement toward and from the platen and normally in position to interfere with the carriage in its downward movement from observation position to normal position, of a clearance device adapted to press the wing scale forward out of its interfering position during said downward movement of the carriage, saidclearance deviw comprising a metal piece yoked over and clamped upon 'a supporting rod beneath the platen and provided with an arm extending into the path of the wing scale and being curved near the end of the arm so as to engage and press forward the wing scale in the said lowering movement of the carriage.

FREDERIC W. HILLARDQ Witnesses:

I Gno. N. CHADWIGK,

LILY B. TOMPKINS.

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