US1725231A - Pocket typewriter - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 20, 1929. l B, UNDERWQOD A 1,725231 v POCKET TYPEWRITER Filed Jan. 6, 1928 2 sheetssneet 1 ,WITNESSES 10 A55 7L 55 j] 7l INVENTOR.

' MQM Aug. 2o, A1929.

F196 mi WITNESSES J. B, UNDERWOOD Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOHN B. UNDERWOOD, oF GaAss VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

POCKET '.ryriawiuran.

Application flied JanuaryG, 1928. 'Serial No. 244,882.`

My invention relates to improvements in typewriters with folding parts; and the obf jects of the invention are, first, to provlde a typewriter of such convenientl size, that it may be placed ina small case and carrled in a pocket of a persons clothing; second, to vafford facilities for its ready adjustment for` writing; and third, to provide that it may be made to write on any suitable at 1o surface, such as the page of a book or sur face of a package;

One form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in` which -Figure 1 is a plan view of the entire mai l5 chine, unfolded; Fig.v 2L an end elevation of the machine, unfolded; Fig. 3, a plan view of fragment of the machine with obstructing parts removed to show the attachment of movable parts to the frame; Fig. 4, a vertical section of. the machine on the line 4 4,

Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a vertical section ofthe machine on thev line 5 5,'Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a fragmentary perspective view showing the carriage for supporting the keyboard; Fig. 7,

` a'fragmentary perspective view taken approximately between the lines57 7 and 5 5, Fig. 1f; and Fig. 8, a fragmentary perspective view of the guide rules on the line 8 8, Fig. 1. r

In-its operation, my machine diiers from that of the ty ewriter which has a movable carriage on which the sheet of paper, held in place against a roller, is carried along j as the Writing proceeds, in that the body portion of my machine travels across the paper, or other writing surface, when the machine is being operated. Said body portion,A

which includes the keyboard, type bars, ribbon mechanism, and other parts attached to 4o frame 10, (see Fig. 1), is caused to move, `as hereinafter described, across the writing surface over guide rule 11, which is held in alignment by margin rule 12. Margin rule 12 grips'the ed e of the paper by means of strip 13, hinge thereto and kept in contact therewith, by the .weight of the machine resting upon the paper. It will be observed that the frictional contact of guide rule l1, tud margin rule 12, with the surface of "5o .the paper, assist in holdin the machine in alignment. As the typist aces the machine ein a position for operating the keyboard, with the paper attached as described, it will be seen that the margin rule is at his left. In order to place the machine in position to begin a line pf writing, he shoves the body portion of the machine, attached to frame 10, toward his left, causing it to pass over margin rule'or line space rack bar 12 until said rule has reached a position slightl to the left of frame 10 center line. (See igs.- 1 and 7.) The lower face of frame 10 consistsV of two parallel plane surfaces meeting in a perpendicular offset on a line 7 7', Fig. 1, shown in detail in Fig. 7. This makesl room for frame l10 to pass over margin rule 12.v

Guide rule or letter space-rack bar 11 is made with oset or grooved edges sothat it will slide in ways 14, frame 10. (See Figsjli and 5.) In the upper surface of guide rule 11, is a rack of gear teeth 15, Fig.

v8. This rack engages pinion 16, (see Figs.

3 and 4), which is attached to shaft 17, said shaft carrying also ratchet Wheel 18 and 75 spiral spring 19, as shown.l Spiral spring 19 is secured to shaft 17 near pinion 16, and to plate 20 which is attached to frame 10. Ratchet wheel 18 is engaged by pawl 21 and itscarry-ing arm 22. lArm 22 may be caused 80 to Oscillate by downward movement of universal bar 23, (which movement results when a letter key is pressed as hereinafter described), and the tension of spiral spring 24 when the pressure on bar 23 is released. Now, it will be seen that when the bod portion mounted on frame 10, is shoved back to the position for starting a line of writing, spring 19 is wound. In such condition spring 19 has potential energy sufficient to propel, through pinion 16 and rack 15, the body portion of the machine along rule 11 to the right margin of the paper. However,

such reverse motion is controlled by means of ratchet wheel 18, ratchet arm 22, and ratchet 2l, as hereinbefore described. When ratchet arm 22 is caused to oscillate, the right hand movement referred to proceeds in steps, each step corresponding to a tooth in ratchet wheel 18, the combination of parts being so proportioned that each step is of proper length for a letter space in the writing line. It is not deemed necessary to describe in detail the ratchet arm combination, for it is practically the same as that used on many machines including typewriters in particular.I

The line shift, or means provided for shifting frame 10 to a 'new line after the line of writing has been'completed, is shown 110 separate pieces are shown in order to better illustrate the position of parts.) On the inner edge of margin r'ule 12 is a rack of gear teeth 28', which engage the lowerl portion of wheel 28. Wheel 28.is a combination ratchet pinion having an upper portion provided with ratchet teeth and a lower Aportion with cogs or teeth designed to engage those'of rack 28. Both thecogs and the ratchet 'teeth are-so designed with blunted tips as to rotate as a journal in circular "to permit said rule, -with its guides, to move 'cavity 29'.' Thiswheel is held in. place by screw 30, `the head of which also actsas a journal, as shown in Fig. 8. l Dog 31 fitted to slide in slot 32 and held in place by spring 33,"also engages the teeth of rack 28f as shown. It is intended that spring 33 shall be of such strength as tohold rule 12 in place and' at the same time elastic enough along margin'rule 11, if greater force is applied than thatrequired to keep the machine in alignment when writing. Dog 31 may be pressed against spring 33, and shoved over until its hooked portion engages the hooked portion of slot 32. In this position it is held away from engaging rack 28', thus permitting mar in rule 12 to be easily slid or removed. he rotation of wheel 28, which causes guide rule 11 to travel a-long margin rule 12, is'eiiected by its ratchet portion which engages dog 34, (shown only in Fig.v7) when' frame 10 is shoved back over margin rule 12, hereinbefore described.. The

'degree of rotation that wheel 28 will undergo, before the motion of frame 10 is arrested 3 whichv through by obstruction 7 7', will depend upon the o sition of dog 34. Dog 34 is secured tothe ower end of shaft 35. (See Fig. 5.) At the upper'end-of shaft 35, pointer 36 is secured. (See also Fig.` 1.) Pointer 36 may be placed in any one of three positions, connection with shaft 35, make it possi le to easily place dog 34 in a corresponding position. I dog 34 is placed in the position shown in Fig. 7, it will engage wheel 28 early enough in the movement, cause its rotation of suiiicient degree', topropel rule 11, carrying frame 10, down the writing page a distance-of three lines of writing. But, if dog 34 is placed in the position indicated bythe dotted lines, it will effect only s'uiicientmotion to propel rule 11-down the writing page a distance of two writing lines. The two line space is effected b an intermediate position Qf the pointer. d n case it is desired to shift to a new line when the machine is Writing near .the center of the page, guide rule 12 may be pressedfirmly against the surface of the writing page by one hand, and frame 10 forced up or down the page with the other. If the machine happens to be in a position in which wheel 28 is exposed to View, as in Fig. 1, said wheel may be rotated by means of the thumb or by use of a suitable wrench.

At this point it is convenient to call attention to strip 13, attached by hingesv 37 to the lower'surface of rule 12. (See Figs. 7 and 8.) This is a very thin strip, which `with rule 12 forms.a pairof jaws to. secure the paper firmly. When the machine has 'reached the limit. of rule 12, the writing page carrying the machine may be slid over -on the table or desk top, upon which it is laced, until rule 12 projects over the edge.l

trip 13, being thus released, drops open. While the operator holds the :machine firmly in placewith one hand, he may slide rule 12 further down the pagewith the other, disengaging do 31 if necessary. The machine may then e brought back on the table, and the-writing proceeded with as before. While this convenience requires only a short margin rule, the margin rule may be made long as the machine, since it may be 'easily removed when 'the machine is placed away in its case. When it is desired to use the machine for writing o n a package, or for writing in a book, guiderule l2 may be held in place by the hand or by thumb tacks.

I will now describe the operation of the keys, type bars, ribbon shift,A and other mechanism, making up the body portion of the maehinefand secured to frame 10. A number of type bar's -38 38, arrangedfradially on the arc of a circle, each carrying at its outer end a suitablelpiecev of type, are made to hinge on shafts 39 and 40, (see Figs. 1, 3, and 5) so that each of said type bars may be caused to impress its attached type upon an inked ribbon against the writing surface at a point X, numbered 41, said point being the center of a circle whose Aarc was referred to. Said type bars are operated through intermediatel bars 42, by key bars 43 44, to which are attached keys labeled with letters of the alphabet and other characters, as shown. It will be seen that the arrangement which provides an individual type bar for each character desired, makes it possible for the machine to write on a flat surface, thus satisfying an object oi' the machine. will disclose the compact arrangement of parts, a feature which satisfies another object ofthe invention. In order to facilitate compactness, the type bars are so arranged that the type rests in two rows on the arc shaped shelf. 45, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5; This arrangement permits the type pieces to lie closely adjacent to one another, but requires two styles of type bars each .style having'a separate shaft in order that the Reference to Fig; ,2,

type may be caused to strike the paper at a common point. Fig. 5, shows these two It will be observed that type bars 38 38 terminate at the shaft end in the form of pinions or cog wheels,`the teeth 'of which engage teeth at the ends of intermediate bars 42, which hinge on shaft 46 as shown. Bars 46 are held in alignment by guides 47, attached to frame 10. Said bars tend to swing on shaft 46 in a clockwise direction because of springs 47 attached to shafts 48 and 49, as'shown. If one of the intermediate bars 42 is caused to swing on its shaft 46 against the tensionof its attached sgpring 47, it will cause its engaged type bar 3 or 38 to swing on its shaft until the type of said bar strikes I' thel inked ribbon on the paper in a position shown lby the dotted lines. If now the force tending to swing intermediate bar 46 inan anticlockwise direction is released, spring 47 will draw said intermediate bar back to its previous position of rest on shelf 45.

By reference to Figs. 2 and 5, it will be seen that each key bar 43 44, is made to operate any one of three intermediate bars, depending on its longitudinal position as ef-4 fected by the position of carriage 50 51 (Fig. 6), to which all key bars are attached, the position of which carriage is controlled by shift keys 52 andtheir related mechanism, as shown -in Fig. 2. Figs. 2 and 5, show how bosses attached to the key bars engage the suitably hooked ends of intermediate bars 42. If carriage 50 51, is forced outward it will cause key bars 43 44 to disengage one set of intermediate bars and to engage a different set of intermediate bars; or if it is forced in the opposite direction it will cause said key bars to engage another set of intermediate bars. The manner in .which intermediate bars 42 engage key bars 43 44 laterally, is shown in Fig. 1 by the breaking away of the characters Y7, and H of the key labels. The hooked end of an intermediate bar 42 is also clearly shown by the one intermediate bar in Fig. 3.

The form of carriage 50 51 is shown in Fig. 6. It is really a combination of two carriages, one being carriage 50, attached to frame 10 through slot 57 by means of screw 58, and the other, sub-carriage 51, being attached to carriage 50 through slot 59 by means of screw 60. It may be seen that this arrangement permits carriage 50, carrying sub-carriage 51, to be moved in and out on frame 10 tothe limit of slots 57. This movement may be arrested at any one of three points, by means of shiftin mechanism shown best in Figs. 1- and 2. Ao sets of paris', 53, 55, 56,etc., are shown attached l to a common shaft 54, sothatthe operation of similar devics attached to'said shaft is simultaneous. If .one of the shift keys labeled FIG is pressed down, arm 53 carrying dog 55 and sprin 56, is brought over to the position shown y the dotted lines in Fig. 2.v D urin this operation the free'end of dog 55, whic is-attached at its outer end to carriage 50 by. means of pin 50', and at its free end to arm 53 by means of a pin through a slot, as shown, lis caused to raise against sprin 56 and disengage the center slot of boss (which serves also to support the journal of. shaft54) and to engage the last notch of said boss. The carriage is then in position to engage a set; of intermediate bars as previously ex lained.- Carriage 50 51 may be brought back' to Athe position previously occupied, by pressing one of the shift keys labeled CAP, or it may be brought further over to a new positlon, b more pressure' applied to one of said CA shift keys. In the latter position, the .key bars will engage a different set of intermediate bars; and in any one of the threepositions, carriage 50 51 will be held secure. This is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Attention has been called to the fact that of key bars which correspond to the keys labeled Z, X, C, V, B, N; M, Comma, and &, with other shift characters.

sub-carriage 51 containing said keys, may be shoved in'so that the keys will occupy a space within the area of frame 10. When this movement is effected. guides 44 on key bars 44y engage the hooked ends of the related intermediate bars 42, and are thus held secure. At this point we may call attention to iin 61, shown' only in Fig. 5. This tin is slotted to receive and guide intermediate bars 42, and lalso key bars 43. By means of studs 52 properlylocated with reference to fin 61, the keyf'barsare prevented from moving when carriage 50 is not in one of its three positions to secure proper contact between the key bars and intermediate bars.v

causing the machine to take a let-ter space as y hereinbcfore described. Vhen it is desired to place the machine away in its case, the space bar may be shoved in over frame 10 in a manner similar to that described for carriage 5l.

Vhen 1t is de? sired to lplace the machine away in its case,

The characters are impressed on the paper or other writing surface, by means, of an inked ribbon commonly used on typewriters in general. The ribbon arrangement is shown clearl in Figs. l1 Vand 3. Spools 64, carrying ribbon 65, rotate freely on shafts 66 unless thumb nut 66 is tightened down against the spool, in which case that spool will be secured to its shaft. The' ribbon passes over plate guidev 67 through its guards, as shown. This guide is swung by lhinges 67' to T bar' 68, the center arm of which fits and slides in ways 69 of frame 10. Hinged tothe ends of each side arm of T bar ,68, are bars 70, each containing a rack'A of ratchet teeth which engage ratchet wheels 71 attached to'spool` Shafts 66, as shown in Fig. 3. Ratchet wheel 7 lis prevented from turning in a reverse direction by pawl 72, as shown. l Bar 70 is held up to ratchet wheel 71 by springs 70. It will be seen, that if T bar 68 is caused to undergo the reciprocating motion described, bars 70 will also undergo a reciprocating motion, `and that this motion will cause ratchet Wheels 71, with shafts 66,

, to rotate. If one of the ribbon carrying spools A writers.

is held fast to its shaft by the thumb nut prov'ided,`while the other spool is allowed to play freely on its shaft, ribbon i'v-ill be wound Von the spool held secureand i'inwound from the one which is loose. This tight and loose spool,l feature is Vnot new, for it is to be found on other machines including type- Ribbon guide late 67 is held fiat against the writing sur ace by means of slide 75, Fig. 4, which is secured to` T bar 68 by screw 76 through slot 77. Slide 7 5 has a grooved boss 78 which engages the end of bar 73, which bar swings near its center onl scribed, bar 74 is caused to undergo a reciprocatino' motion' in turn transmitting an D l-n ru r oscillatory motion to bar m on Journal This -in turn transmits, through gi'ooved slide 7 5 reciprocating motion' to T bar 68 lforcing it in and out under the striking type,

whose action it will be recalled, is also controlled by arm 22. Both actions are syn- 1chronoiis with the movement 'of a pressed rey.

By referring to Fig. 1, itwill be seen that wlieu carriage 51 is slid in, that it lifts the end of bar 74 until arm 22 is disengaged, and then shoves said bar until bar 73 is turned on its axis to the position shown by the dotted lines. This movement is the same as that described for .the ribbon shift except that it is of greater magnitude, and the force is suiiicient to cause a movement of slide on T bar 68, when the T bar has reached its limit of movement defined by ways 69 of frame 10. As slide 75 movcsfalong T bar 68, that portion resting upon ribbon guide 67 at- 75', is iemovcd from contactfwith the ribbon guide, which now'tends to hinge upward because of ribbon tension. As a vfurther aid to this swinging movement of guide 67, link 76, attached to slide 5 and to guide 67, becomes taut. lVhcn' the movement is complete, guide .75 stands i-n the position of a plane perpendicular to that of tlie lower surface of frame 10. This is shown by dotted lines. lVith parts thus folded in, and

with margin rule 12 removed as herenbefore described, the machinev may now be placed in a small box or carrying case. It is ievidentvthat it-inay be unfolded again bysimply pulling out the 4parts .which were folded in.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desii'e to secure byV Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a typewriter, hav- A ing a movable body portion provided with a writing mechanism, of a guide rule having a rack of teeth exposed on its upper surf-ace, its lower surface making frictional contact with the writing surface, saidrule providing a complete supporting track for the movable body'portion, said body portion having ways to receive said guide rule, a

' pinion to receive said rack, a shaft carrying said pinion and supported in saidbody portion, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a typewriter, hav ing a movable body portion of a guide rule having arackof teeth, the movable body portion having ways to receive said guide rule and a pinion to receive said rack, said pinion being secured or Ajournaled to a shaft and having secured thereto and to said body portion a spring, said spring being the means of transmitting energy to rotate said pin'ion. to l propel said body portion across the writing Surface in the direction of the writing, substantially as described.

3. The combinatiomin a typewriter of the characterdescribed',A of a guide rule having perpindicular ways, a ratchet pinion secured thereto, the guide rule also having a slot and a dog fitted therein, with a margin rule, held in alignment by said perpendicular -ways, and having a rack to receive said pinion and said dog.

lol)

4. The combination, ina typewriter vof the character described, of a vmargin rule with a strip or plate hinged thereto and facing against the lower surface of said-margin rule, said strip being held in place against a sheet of paper by the weight offsaid margin .l the character describe of a guide rule havable dog commumcatin rule resting on sald sheetl of paper.

5. The combination, in a typewriter of the character described,`of a guide rule having perpendicular ways, a margin rule communicating with and h eld in alignment by said ways, with a body portion having its lower contact surface provided with ways communicating with said guide rule, said ,body portion having a recess to receive said margm rule, in thefmanner described.

6. The combination in a typewriter of ing per ndicular ways, a ratchet pinion secured t creto, with amar rule held in alignment by said perpendicular ways, and

- having a rack to receive said ratchet pinion,

and .with a -body portion having an adjustwith said ratchet pinion,` in the manner escribed.

7. In a device' of the character described,

' a number of straight type bars, each terminating' in a pinion, a circular shaft, on which the straight type bars are hinged, a number of bent type bars provided with cogs shaped so as to clear the circular-shaft hinging said straight'type bars, a' second circular shaft on which lthe bent type bars arehinged,

the two circular shafts being placedparallel their free ends to a common striking point,

as shown.

8. In a device of the character described, abody portion having mounted thereon, a movable bar, a shaft, a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft, said shaft carrying also a' pinion, a spring secured to saidfshaft and to said body portion, a ratchet arm .and a ratchet to control the movement of said ratchet wheel, and operated by said movable bar, al shiftable ribbon guide, linked bars connecting said ribbon guide and said ratchet arm, a shift key operatively connected to said movable bar,

in said shift key. i

In testimony whereof I aix m signature.

JOHN B. UNDE WOOD.

Aand a means of folding

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