US1530916A - Typewriting machine - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1925. 1,530,916

J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Alia/way Mire 24. 1925.

J. A. B"; SMITH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Jan." 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Affor/IQM stares PATENT @FFECE.

JESSE A. B. FJ'IYZITEZ, GE STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNO'R T0 UNDEBWODD TYPE- VVRITEIR, COIEPANY, 013 NEW' YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWBITING MACHINE.

Application filed January 20, 1823.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn A. B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in Stamford, in the county of Fairlield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful 1m arovenients in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to typewriting machines. More particularly, the invention relates to so-call d billing machines in which provision is made for feeding a succession of bill-forms or form-sections in a continuous web, and in a plurality of plies ordinarily fan-folded, through a carbon-carrier, for interleavemcnt of carbon-sheets with the web-plies; and in which the carbon-carrier, on a table attached to the platen-carriage at the rear of the latter, has line-feed movement with the web toward the platen, and has movement rearward on the table for clearing carbons of the leading or written form-sections and for bringing them into interleavement with succeeding form-sections, at the completion of the writing on the leading form section. A machine of this general class is shown in United States Letters Patent to Wernery 8: Smith, No. 1,132,055, dated March 16, 1915. In the ma chine therein shown, the table is also provided, above the printing line, with a gage arm or extension thereon for receiving the leading or typewritten form-section of the web and for locating the leading edge thereof preliminary to severance of such leading form-section from the rest of the web; and the platen is on a frame which may be swung by and with such gage and paper support to a position in which the grip on the carbons is relaxed to permit rearward movement of the carbon-carrier while the webplies are held pinched to the gage; a knife edge being provided, against which the web my be drawn for severing the leading form-section therefrom. In the patent referred to, he carbon-sheets are held by blades which project into the fan-folds, in alternate or staggered relation, from opposite sides of the carrier.

it is often desirable that several of the plies of the leading form-section remain united to each other, after being severed from the rest of the web, until they are split apart, at their side edges, for distribution, mailing and filing. @ne of the plies,

Serial No. 613,824..

however, is commonly an oflice record-sheet of all the individual bills, and it will be more convenient; at times to file or keep this sheet integral than to cut the same into individual bill-lengths. If, however, this record-ply of the fan-fold web is to be left unitary, it must be split from the other plies so that the leading form-sections of the latter may be lifted from the recordply in the operation of severing and removing them from the rest of the web.

An object of the invention is the provision of means for splitting the record-ply, lengthwise of the web, from the other plies, while maintaining the fan-fold connection of the other plies, one to the other, during the feed of the web through the machine. In the preferred form of the invention, the blade which holds to the carrier the carbonsheet' between the record-ply and the ply next thereto, is used as the means for splitting the record-ply from the other plies, and, for this purpose, is extended at its free end, beyond the line of the corresponding side edge of the web, to form a paper-splitter; the other blades, however, terminating at their free ends within the lines of the side edges of the web. Rearward movement of the carrier, therefore, causes the record-ply to be split from the others, but leaves the others as a fan-fold.

Another obj cct of the invention is the pro vision of means whereby the record-ply may be fed over the papersupporting arm or gage beyond the printing line, and beyond the leading edges of the other plies on such arm, without fouling; and whereby, with out insertion of the fingers between the plies, all the plies may be pinched together against the front of the supporting arm or gage, with the record-ply folded around the end of such arm and against the rear face thereof, to provide a firm grip on all the plies; so that, in. the operations involved in clearing the carbons from the leading form-section and in gaging or setting the web for writing on a fresh form-section, the record-ply may not be torn or injured.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the platencarriage, carbon-carrier-table, and attachments embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, partly cross-sectional, on the line 22 of Figure 1; the platen and the platen-frame being in normal or working position.

Figure 3 is a 'iew similar to Figure 2, except that the platen-frame has been swung to carbon-releasing position, and the carboncarrier-table is omitted.

A fan-fold web, shown as four plies, 10 10 and 10 is led up from a suitable holder, over and around a rail 11, carried by brackets 12 on the rear of carboncarri-er-table 13; guards 14 for the side edges of the web being adjustably secured by setscrews 15 to the rail 11. From the rail 11 the web passes forward to the carbon-carrier 16. The carbon-carrier comprises a plate 17, mounted to be slid forward and rearward on rails 18 on the table 13. Se cured to the plate 17, at each side thereof, is a block 19, having steps 20 thereon. Blades 21 are secured, each by one end thereof, to one of the steps 20. The blades on one of the blocks 19 are staggered or alternated, with respect to the blades on the other block; and the free ends of each of the blades, encep the upper blade, terminate, as indicated at 22, in Figure 1, within the folds or side edges 28 of the fanfolded web. The free end of the upper blade 21, as shown at 24, Figure 1, projects beyond the right-hand edge of the web, so that, when the carbon-carrier is moved rearward on the table, a knife-edge 25 on the blade 21 will serve to sever the upper ply of the fan-fold web from the hex underlying ply. To each blade 21 and 21 is secured the rear end of one of the carbonsheets 26. These carbons are interleaved with the web-plies, and extend forward from the blades, as shown in Figure 2.

A rail 27 defines the forward end of the carbon-carrier-table, and this rail is secured to brackets 28 on the usual cross-piece 29 of the platen-carriage, so that the carboirtable may have movements in letter-feed and return directions with the platen-carriage. The rear end of the carbon-table may be supported on a runway (not shown). From the carbon-carriage, the web-plies, with the interleaved carbon-sheets, pass forward around a rail 30, carried by brackets 31 on the platen-carriage. Guards 32 on the carbon-carriage and other guards SS, adjustably secured to the rail on the platencarriage, serve to guide the side edges of the web. From the rail 30, the web and interleaved carbons pass downward around the platen 34 between the latter and the usual paper table and apron 85 to the front of the platen; whence they are led upward across the printing line and over a front paper-table 36, carried by the platen-frame. lhe rear paper table and apron 35 carries the usual front and rear and 38, in engagement with feed-rolls the platen when the parts are in writing position.

The axle 39 of the platen is journaled in a frame consisting of side members 40, fixed to a rock-shaft 42, journaled in side plates 48 of the platen-carriage; so that the platen-frame with the platen and front table 86 may be swung between Figure 2, or writing, position and Figure 3, or carbon-releasing, position. For effecting rotation of the platen in line-feed and reverse directions, the platen-axle 39 has fast thereto, at each end thereof, a pinion 44, in mesh with pinions 45, loosely mounted on the shaft 42; and the pinions 45, in turn, in mesh with pinions 46, fast to stub-shafts 47, journaled in the side plates 43 of the carriage. The stub-shafts 47 carry the usual knobs 48; and the left-hand stub-shaft 47 carries the usual line-space-ratchet-wheel (not shown). This ratchet-wheel is turned by a pawl (not shown), on a slide 49, having forward and rearward movement on the frame of the platen-carriage. One arm 50 of a bell-crank line-space lever serves to throw back the slide 49 to effect a line space movement of the platen through the ratchet-wheel (not shown), pinion 46, pinion 45, pinion 44 and platen-axle S9. The other arm 51 of the line-space lever carries the usual finger-piece 52. The slide 49 and line-space lever are returned to normal position by a spring (not shown). Since the pinions 45 are on the rock-shaft 42, which serves as the pivot for the swinging platen-frame, it follows that the platen, whether in Figure 2 or Figure 3 position, may be turned by the knobs 48, or by the line-space mechanism.

hen the platen-frame is in Figure 2 position, it is supported at its rear by the rail 80, by means of fingers or extensions 53 on the side plates 40 of the swinging frame. The rail 30 is a rock-shaft, to which are made fast, one at each end thereof, hooks 54, for engagement with pins 55, set into the side plates 40 of the swinging frame. lVhen the frame is swung from F i 'ure 8 back to Figure 2 position, the hooks 54 are rocked back until the noses 56 thereof are free to be snapped over the pins 55, to lock the swinging frame in its Figure 2 position. This operation is effected by coil-springs 57, one on each end of the shaft 30; each of these coil-springs being secured at one end to the carriage frame, and at its other end to collar 58, fast to the shaft 3\. The swinging fran'ie is, therefore, automatically locked in writing position when swung down from ure 3 position. For unlockin the swinging frame, to permit the same to be swung to Figure 3 position, one of the hooks 54 is extended upward in the form of a finger 58*, having a finger-piece 59 thereon.

The front paper-table 36 is extended upward and rearward in the form of an arm the end of which may serve as a gage tor the leading edges of the web-plies. This web-supporting arm or extension 60 is ureterably slidably adjustable on the table 36, so to be set for web-forms of dilierent lengths. For this purpose, it is in two sections, 60 and 60, one of which is slotted at (31, and the other oi which carries pins 62, set into the slot. Gne of these pins may be in the form of a set screw or thumbscrew, threaded into the arm-section 6t", and having head 63 adapted to be turned against the arm-section 60 to hold the latter in adjusted position. The upper end of the arm-piece 6O carries a cross-piece 6%, preferably of round or cylindrical surface, to prevent tearing or cutting of the upper web-ply 10 led thereover. Carried by cars or brackets 65, fast to the rockshait i2, is the usual blade or cutter 66, against which the web-plies may be drawn in Figure 2 position, to sever the formlengths thereof.

In operation, after the typewriting has been eiteeted on the leading form, said form is advanced to register its lower edge with the severing knife. The leading edges of the leading forms are then pinched by the lingers against the extension-arm 6060", the hooks 5 1- are released; and the platen-frame is swung from Figure 2 to Figure 3 posi tion, thus releasing the grip of the platen on the web and interleaved carbons. The web ply 10 is held tightly around the crosspieee (B l, which serves as a snubbing bar, and the ends of the other plies are pinched to the gage-piece beyond the ends of the carbons, while the carbon carriage, by means of an arm ($7 thereon, is thrust rearward, drawthe carbons rearward along, and relatively to, the web, to introduce the carbons into succeeding web-forms and to clear the same of the leading typewritten fornrsections. The rearward movement out the ear hon-carrier causes the knife-edge 23 of the upper blade 21 thereon to split the upper ply 10 of the tan-told web from the other plies ot the web. This accomplished, and with the written form-sections still gripped to the gage, the platen-frame is swung by the gage back to Figure 2 position. The web-ply 10, which is the top ply at the carbon-carrier, but which is the underneath ply on the trout table 36, and which has been split, as aforesaid, from the other plies ot the web, may then be released by the lingers, and the other plies, 10 10 and 10 gripped together, lrawn against the blade 66, to sever the same from the rest of their respective plies. The three lower plies, 10, 10, 10, as severed from the web, present a tan- ?told and may remain in such tan-folded condition until themselves separated from one another for distribution. The ply 10, uncut by the knife 66, will be left on the table 36, and will. be fed therealong and over the up per end piece (ll of the gage-extension, as the succeeding form-section is written, and as the web is stepped forward from one formsection to another. Any desired typewritten length of the ply 10, which length may include a considerable number of form-sections, may be allowed to accumulate beyond the eXtension-end-piece 6i; and, if desired, a receptacle may be provided for receiving such typewritten, unsevered length of the web-ply 10.

Assuming, as indicated in Figure :2, that one or more form-lengths oi the ply 1O have passed the end piece 6% of the gage-extension, and assuming that the leading forms of the other plies have. been typewritten and engaged by the severing knife, and are ready to be removed, the several plies of web are preferably gripped, as indicated in Figure 3, prelin'iinary to being swung from Figure 2 to Figure 3 position. That is to say, one finger is placed on top of the gage, with the plies all between the same and the gage, and the other finger holds the ply 10 to the back of the gage, the latter ply being thus made to encircle the end rail 64: on the gage or extension. With the web-plies thus gripped, the platen-frame is swung to carbon-releasing position.

To hold the web-plies against rearward movement with the carbons, it is thus unnecessary to insert any part oi the hand between the gage and that portion of the web which is past the rail 64v ln gripping the ply 10 around the end of the gage or sup porting linger 60-60 the ply 10 might be out or torn if the gage or supporting tinger presented a sharp or narrow end edge. The enlarged curved or cylindrical crosspiece 6-l, however, as above mentioned, eliminates such passibility of injury to the web. This cross-piece i l may be present, and will have the same function of protecting the ply 10, even when the several plies 10, 10 10 and 10 are separate throughout their length, instead of being a fan-told. It will be understood that, whenever, at any time, it is desired to sever the typewritten portion of the ply 10 from the rest of that ply, it may be drawn against the knife 66 in the same manner as are the other web-plies, and that it may be severed in the same operation in which the other plies are severed, or in a separate operation.

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

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, a platen, means for feeding a continuous Web to and around the platen, an arm beyond the printing line extending lengthwise of the path or" the typewritten portion of the Web, and a cross-piece on the end of the arm for supporting the Web clear of the rest of the apparatus; said arnl being adjustable in length to accord to form-sections of different lengths in the Web.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revolnble platen and a carbonearrier shifteble toward and from the platen, of a Web-slitter on the carbon-carrier to sever longitudinally a ply of a fan-fold web as the carbon-carrier is moved to the rear, a transverse knife to out 01f typed sections of the fan-fold Web and serving as a gage, and a transverse web-snubbing bar at the delivery side of the platen forming an anchorage for the gaged \veb Wrapped thereover and resisting the backward drag of the slitter and the shifting carbons upon the Web. and preventing accidental shifting of the web away from its gaged position.

JESSE A. 13. SBHTH. lVitnesses EnrrI-I B. LmnEY, JJGNNIE P. Tnonxn.

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