US1749079A - Typewriter word register - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1930. LLQRENS 1,749,079

TYPEWRITER WORD REGISTER Filed April 16, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 4, 1930. LLQRENS 1,749,079

TYPEWRITER WORD REGI STER Filed April 16, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 4, 1930. L. M. LLORENS TYPEWRITER WORD REGISTER Filed April 16. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mm Um Qw March 4, 1930. o s 1,749,079

TYPEWRITER WORD REGI STER Filed April 16. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 4, 1930. L o s TYPEWRITER WORD REGISTER 5 Sheds-Sheet 5 Filed April 16, 1925 Patented Mar. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS M. LLORENS, 01 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AS SIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC WORD COUNTER, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TYPEWBITER WORD REGISTER Application filed April 16, 1825. Serial No. 28,550.

This invention relates to typewriting machines and especially to a word counting register combinable with and operative bysuch machines to enable the automatic counting of 5 actions of certain elements of the typewriter, such as the letter keys, the figure keys and special character keys, which latter may vary in different keyboards.

In my present invention I employ a mechanism including an actuator of the same general type as that disclosed in my application filed Aug. 28, 1924, now Patent No 1,604,223.

and in which an actuator, of semi-automatic action, is set or prepared for action upon a totalizer by any writing key depressed, ex-

cepting punctuation keys not to be counted as words, and which actuator is subsequently released to automatically function when one of a given group of keylevers, or other selected levers, is struck following pompletion of a word, number or certain symbol writing.

Such release keys and levers, in thepresent instance, include the space bar, the tabulator keys, and the ordinary punctuation keys.

An object is to provide for a counting of a word by a carriage action, in event of omission, by the typist, to touch some other key which would effect a count, precedent to return of the carriage, and in this connection an object is to provide means cooperative with the margin release finger piece of a certain machine, namely the Remington; though this combination may be adapted to other types.

An object is to provide a cut out key which is set and locked by a nearly straight down finger push which greatly facilitates its operation by the typist when it is desired to wholly negate the counter from any action by the typewriting machine. In this connection it is also an object to provide for the action of the cut out key to render a clear key and the add key of the counter ineftective so long as the cut out key is locked.

In certain cases it may be desirable to provide for stroke of a keylever in lower case without a release or counting action, as when the diagonal bar, is in lower case position, and yet to accomplish such release or count by the same keylever when a shift key has raised the typewriter carriage to an upper position for upper case character, as when the bar, is below the question mark, Therefore, I provide means operative by and with a shift lever action to render desired upper position character keys effective in securing a counting" action.

An object is to provide for the mounting of the counting mechanism and its associated action, upon a given make typewriter by means which are attachable to the regular organization without specially drilling or otherwise altering.

An object is to provide for such an action of the counting means as to prevent a word 'count at any time desired, and this without disturbing the registered count shown" by the counter. lln other words, means are provided to unlock the prepared actuator so that the mistake stroke of a keylever will not be counted.

Wherewithal, an object is to provide a word register which is of reliable and accurate action, is inexpensive in structure, substantial, of light operative resistance, and can be easily louilt into or added as an attachment to, a given typewriter machine.

Further objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following specification of one embodiment of apparatus of the in vention; it being understood that other modifications, variations and adaptations may he resorted to within the spirit of the invention and its scope as is here claimed.

Figure l is perspective and elevation, in diagrammatic relation, of the word register as adapted to the Remington typewriter machine.

Fi ure 2' is a plan and sectional detail of the rnargin release and a release thrust rod associated therewith.

Figure 3 is a plan of a typewriter keyboard, in part, and the associated word register.

Figure 4- is a detail, in plan, of the shift means of the release bar.

Figure 5 is a perspective of a snap hook connecting related parts.

Figure 6 is a right hand, side elevation of register mechanism; normal position, and

pressed.

Fi ure 11 is a cross-section on line 1 111 of Figure 10:-

Figure 12 is a longitudinal, vertical section of the register showing the cut out key depressed and locked, and holding down setting and releasing levers and the actuator.

Figure 13 shows, in elevation, the actuator set for action upon the totalizer.

Figure 14 shows the register mechanism in fully 0 en or released position, immediately fol owing a counting operation of the actuator.

Figure 15 is a front end elevation of the register.

' as Figure 16 is a rear. end elevation of the resten igure 17 is a perspective of portions of elements cooperative for unlocking action of the actuator.

80 The embodiment has a base plate 2 on which are side frame plates 3 and 4 which are generally similar and have windows 5 in which play some of the register parts. The mechanismwithin the frame is preferably on- $5 closed by a box 6 which also covers the shanks of a clearing key C and an adding key A extending in front of the box to be easily accessible at one end of the typewriter with which the register is combined.

The inner edge of the plate 2 is off-set and has an upturned flange 2 to be positioned against the inner face of the usual machine frame F which, in the present type, has a pair of axis screws S'-R on which are respectively pivoted theusual space bar rock shaft S and ribbon shift rail rock shaft R. On the screws S'R are clam nuts 7 securing the flange 2 in place t at the base 2 extends out under the frame F.

50 The rock shaft S extends under the forward arms of the usual keyboard levers K and to it are attached the space bar levers L.

Loose on the rock-shaft R is a bracket 15 carrying one end of a bar 16 lying parallel to the shaft R and having on its other end a bracket 17 also loose. The bar 16 thus may tilt freely on the shaft R and comprises means for controlling word registering, operative by certain keyboard elements of the ty ewriting machine.

fidounted on rock-shaft S are loose brackets 18 carrying a bar 19 which is universal to the keyboard writing levers and is operable by all of them, excepting the keys of the punctuation marks This as one word. In this system of counting the bar 16 has teeth 16" so disposed as to be engaged onl by the punctuation keylevers- The bar 16 has one arm 15 attached to a bowed link 11, under shaft R, which is attached loosely to a bell crank 12 secured by a screw 14 on a sleeve or hollow shaft 13 which is loose on an inner shaft 10; these shafts 10-13 passing under the frame F and into the side walls 3-4 of the register frame.

One of the bracket arms 18 of bar 19 is attached by a link 18 to a forwardly extending lever arm 10 secured on the central shaft 10 which projects beyond the sleeve shaft 13.

The actions of the universal bar 19 and the release bar 16 control operation of a suitable totalizing apparatus.

This is shown as having a clearing s indle 20 provided with a pinion 21 engage by a segment of a gear 22 pivoted on a stud 23, Fi 7, an arm 24 of the segment 22 being attached to a spring 25 normally retracting the segment. A compound lever device is employed to operate the segment and includes the clearing key 0 which is pivoted at 26 on the register wall 4 and has a leg C attached to spring 25. When the key C is de ressed to position of Fig. 10, it enga es a ro er 22 on the segment and swings t e se ment 22 up and spins the pinion 21 a fulT revolution. The counting totalizer, which is not specifically here claimed, has a series of di it wheels 30 which are spaced along the spin le 20 and have rigid ratchet wheels 31 and star wheels 31". Each wheel 30 has a carry over awl 33 (Figs. 8 and 10). When the spind e 20 is turned the wheels 30 are all turned to a zero position at a window 36 in the box, by suitable means, not here disclosed, but of the type shown in my previously alluded to patent.

Check means are provided to prevent any over-throw of the wheels 30 when the are spun to the clear position, and here inc udes a tumbler 37 having rigid stop hooks 38. The tumbler is mounted on a cross pivot 61 in the plates 3-4 and a spring 40 normally pulls the hooks back from the orbit of the pawls 33.

When the clearing key C is pressed segment 22 swings around and carries a lug 41 up against a cam face 42 of the tumbler and this is tilted in so that when the pawls 33 get to stop hooks 38, these are in stopping position and stop the wheels 30 at zero position.

The totah'aer actuating means Just under the wheels 30 is a cross-pin 45, Fig. 12, and on this is pivoted a series of clicks 50 each having at its upper end a centering wedge 50 to engage in the successive notches of the respective star Wheel 31* of its wheel 30 so as to quickly press each wheel digit to a true indicating position under the .window 36. Each click 50 has a spring 51 and prevent the clicks from releasing the star ratchet 31.

wheels 31.

The first (or unit) ratchet wheel 31, Fig. 14 is engageable and operated by an actuator which includes a feed pawl 55 which is pivoted on a pin 56 and pressed,toward its wheel 31, by a spring 57, all on a setting lever 65. The feed pawl 55 has a prong 58 extending under a push-pin 54 which is attached to a cut out device, later described. The prong 58 is normally pressed up against the pushpin 54 by spring 57 and when the prong is so engaged the pawl 55 isheld back away from the unit wheel ratchet 31 but it the supporting pivot 56 moves down, with setting lever 65, then the pawl is pressed by its spring 57 in to engage the ratchet wheel.

A latch 60, Fig.- 17, is pivoted on a cross pivot 61 just above the bottom of the plate 2 and has a notch to take over the pin 56 and also has a tail 60 under a release lever 70.

The setting lever 65 is secured at its huh on the inner end of the inner shaft 10 Figs. 13, 14, and 16, and when anywriting key lever of the typewriting machine is depressed in word, number or special character writing, the setting lever sweeps down and carries with it the actuating pawl 55 and its pin 56.

which projects under the nose of the latch 60, which latter is snapped over the pin 56 by action of a spring 66. As the pawl moves down it presses into engagement with the At this time the setting lever 65 is tensioning an actuating spring 53, Fig. 13. The lever 65 thus is an actuating means.

Thus a depression of the universalbar 19 rocks shaft 10 and the lever 65 is tipped down to set the pawl 55, carried by it, "for action upon the totalizer and this will be effected when any typewriter element is operated that will tilt the release bar 16 or the hollow shah; 13. This shaft has lever 70 which is swung up by a spring 71. Thus when "the hollow shaft 13 is rocked to press the lever 70 down this latter will engage the tail 60 of the latch 60 and tip the latch ofi the pin 56 and allow spring 53 to actuate the pawl 55 and the engaged ratchet 31 and first wheel 30 (or additional wheels in a carry-over action), giving one tenth revolution at a step.

While the actuator-lever 65 is in lower position it serves to unlock the clicks so that they may yieldas the count is made. To that end the cross-bar 49 is tilted down by the near end of the lever 65 which is slotted at 65 to receive the bar 49, and will hold the bar in upper click locking position to prevent overthrow by rotation.

When a letter key is depressed the book 60 locks the lever 65 and ratchet prepared for action, but when a special key is struck both the bars 1619 move down concurrently and thehook is held out by the release lever 70 WlllCll prevents the hook from locking the actuator and this immediately moves up and eflects a count of the stroke.

In some cases it is desirable to manually add to the totalizer count and I provide means for such purpose. This includes the add key A which is pivoted at 7 3 (Fi 6) on plate 4 and has'a lateral horn 77 hel just above the setting lever and lever by a spring 78 attached to key A. Pressing down the adding key depresses concurrently the levers 6570 and as the lever A is released the actuator gives the unit counter a tenth of a turn.

The cut-out device includes a key 4) slotted at 80 to ride across a fixed pin 81, Figs. 12-14; the upper end of the slot being hooked at 82' so as to lock the key 0 under the pin 81, when depressed. The key 0 is mounted on push-pin 54 which is fixed on a lever 82, and as this goes down it depresses the setting and releasing levers 6570. A. spring 81- (Fig. 16) attached to push-pin 54 serves to lift the key U and its parts including lever 82 which is pivoted on a screw 83 on plate 4 and has a foot 82 to swing against roller 48 and depress the click lock 49 to allow the star wheels to spin. The swinging end of the lever 82 has a cam face 82 (Figs. 10 and 14) engaged by a roller 82 on the inner face of the clearing lever C, Fig. 10. Thus the clear lever tilts the foot to unlock the clicks 50. 1t also, by action of pin 54, releases the set lever 65 The l ver 82 has a lug or roller 82*, Fig. 7, on its end to move down behind the heel, hearing roller 22 of the segment 22 to lock it against action of the clear key-lever C While the cut out key is down. The add key, too, is out of commission when the cut-out key is locked down.

The counter can be entirely neutralized from typewriter action by merely pressing down the cut-out key until it hooks under the retainer 81. To restore the counter for machine action it is only necessary to tilt the key 1) out of the locked position. When in cut-out position the hars 16-19 are held down below touch of the keyboard A simple down thrust of the cut out key will trip off the set lever and therefore negative an error not to be counted, and also when a word is divided at the end of a line.

When the clearing key C is depressed to clear the totalizer it also unlocks the possibly locked lever 65 and its pawl 55. This is done by roller 82 engaging the lever arm 82 which carries push pin 54 down on levers 657O and so trips off the holding latch 60. The clearing key C does not act to unlock the set out out key 0, and this latter both cuts out and cuts in the counter as a whole.

The typist, counting words writen, learns to strike the space bar at the end of a line so as to release the set actuator if the last stroke completed a word at the end of a line. But I provide means operated by the return of the carriage, a part of which is shown at M, to insure register of the finished word should the typist fail to count by the space bar. The carriage has fixed and adjustable left hand margin stops P and P designed to en age a central marginal release member slidably mounted on a front fixed part X of the typewriting machine.

This member E is'engageable and thrust sidewise by a thrust rod 90, axially movable below the part X, and being operative on a wire link 92, as through a bell crank 89, which is attached to a lever arm 93, Fig. 1. This arm is pivoted on pin 94 and has an L- end 93 attached by a link 95 to crank 12, which as stated is fixed on hollow shaft 13. The effort of spring 71 on lever serves to push the link 92 upward and the thrust link 90 left endwise. Hence the actuating pawllever 5565, havin previously been set by a writing stroke 0 a keyboard element, the engagement of the margin release E by a stop PP will react on the link 92 and this will cause the lever 12 to be pulled over in a releasing action of shaft 13 and a count efl'ected.

The space bar actuation of the releasing means is accomplished as follows: One of the space bar levers L, Fig. 1, in moving down will engage an arm 96, here connected to lever 93.

Since it may be necessary to operate the release bar 16 by a keyboard keylever K in only one case writing position means are provided to render the predetermined keys effective on one kind of case strokes but ineffective on the other case strokes. For instance in a Remington here concerned the is in upper case above the diagonal bar and only the Q mark stroke is utilized as a release action by its key. Therefore, I here mount the bar 16 for lateral shift when the shift key means is actuated to lift the carriage. This means includes the usual shift lever frame D to which is attached a lift post D. To this post I attach a link 98, Figs. 1 and 5, which is having an arm 100 with its end dis osed against the near side of lever 15, which is pressed against the arm 100 by a helical spring 101 arranged, conveniently, on rockshaft B.

When the carriage is shifted to upper case writing position the lever 100 moves over and presses the bar 16 to a position in which one of its lugs 16 will take a place beneath the lever and the release or count effecting bar 16 will tip down with the lever when the mark is written. The other lugs on the bar 16 have coaction with the other punctuation keys in either position of the bar endwise, as their length is sufiicient for the bar shift.

When a tabulator key TAB is depressed it moves a reach link 102, Figs-1 and 3. which is provided with a finger 103 movable against a striker 104 which is attached to arm 17 of bar 16. Therefore, the tabulator keys effect a count by the totalizer.

Practically the entire registering organization is shown in its applied position Fig. 1, the side frame of the typewritin machine being omitted as confusing. e chart of characters above the universal bar 19 clearly shows the relation of the bar lugs to the several keyboard keys. Keys effective ("1 the release bar 16 are similarly graphed. Push.

rod 90 is never pushed far enough to make the release key E lock the key board.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typewriter, a centrally disposed shiftable margin release fin er member a stationary front bar on whic said mem er is mounted, and a word registering mechanism controlled by said member and including a thrust rod pressing said member in one direction and which is repressed by carriage action on said member.

2. A typewriter word register including a totalizer, an actuating pawl therefor, a setting lever on which the pawl is pivoted, a spring means for actuating said pawl and lever in driving action upon the totalizer, keyboard key controlled means for preparing said lever and pawl for action on the totalizer, a setting-lever latch, and typewriter operative means for tripping the latch to release said pawl and lever for actuating effect, said settlng lever having a shaft extended from the totalizer and being connected to an universal comb bar.

3. In a typewriter word register, an actuator release device including a release shaft, a shiftable, operating member connected to said shaft, means attached to a tabulator element and operating said member, said operating member comprising a bracket bar pivoted on a support, independently of said shaft, and sliding thereon and having a lug engageable by the said means.

4. A typewriter word register including a totalizer, a machine operated rock shaft,

snapped into a slotted arm 99 of a bell crank a setting lever on said shaft, a latch to hold the lever set, an actuating spring forthe lever, a feed pawl yieldingly mounted on the lever, and a cut out key for engaging the pawl and said lever to render them inoperative by the machine action,

5. A typewriter word register including a totalizer, a machine operated rock shaft, a setting lever on said shaft, a latch to hold the lever set, an actuating spring for the lever, a feed pawl yieldingly mounted on the lever, cut out means engageable with the pawl, lockable positioning clicks for the totalizer controlled by said lever, and means for unlocking the clicks.

6. A totalizer shaft carrying a loose sleeve, a lever fixed on the shaft, a bell-crank fixed on the sleeve, a rock-shaft and a key actuated comb laterally yieldable and pivoted on the shaft, a sliding and pivotal link connected to the bell crank, and an universal comb connected by a link to the said lever whereby said totalizer shaft and sleeve are operated one relative to the other.

7. In a typewriter word register, a totalizer, a stationary shaft, a bar pivotally and slidably mounted on said shaft, and means operative by the shift keys of the typewriter to shift the bar and render the totalizer effective, at will, by a given keyboard writing device when a shift has been made by the shift keys.

8. In a typewriter word register, a totalizer, a stationary shaft, a comb bar slidingly and pivotally mounted on the shaft, means operative by shift keys of the typewriter to slide the bar on the shaft to an effective position for action on the totalizer, and keyboard means for oscillating the said bar while held in the effective position by said shift key operative means.

9. .In a typewriter word register, a totalizer, a stationary shaft, a comb bar slidingly and pivotally mounted on the shaft, means operative-by shift keys of the typewriter to slide the bar on the shaft, keyboard means for oscillating said bar while held by said operative means. and means for automatically restoring the bar to its normal position for oscillation on the shaft.

10. In a typewriter word register, a total izer actuator release means including a pivoted and sliding bar depressible by key leoperative on said lever when the bar is tilted,

and means connected to the case-shift action of the typewriter to shift the bar, said bar being operatively free of the last named means, and which last means includes a bell crank lever having an arm swinging against the near end of said bar.

LOUIS M. LLO-RENS.

Images