US1798707A - Typewriter word counter - Google Patents

Description

March 31,1931. 1113mm l,798;707

TYPEWRITER WORD COUNTER Filed April 30, 1927 Af/amey Y Patented Mar. 31, 1931 warren srA'rEs PATENT omen JESS E A. B. SMITH, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TQ UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE T Y IEWRITER WORD COUNTER Application filed April 30,

This invention relates generallyto wordcounters for typewriting machines, as, for example, counters for the words of telegraph messages. V

VVordcounters have been proposed in which two universal counting bars are displaceably mounted under typewriter keylevers to be depressed thereby. The depression of one of said counting bars, upon typing 10 the first letter of a word, is arranged to set up an actuating or potentially operative condition in registeroperatingmechanism, and the subsequent depression of the other counting bar, upon operation of the space-bar or other desired elements of the keyboard, is effective to release said mechanism from said condition and 'restoreit to normal starting position, the arrangement being for said mechanism to advance the units wheel of the register one figure or step concomitantly with the depression of one or the other of said counting bars. It has been found that, as

heretofore constructed, such word-counters can be misoperated by holding down the space-bar and striking one of the letter-keys, eachdepression of which will be counted as a word as lon as the space-key is held down. An object of this invention is to overcome this weakness.

According to my invention, a register is operatively connected with an actuating mechanism including a pawl, an actuator or lever carrying said pawl, a latch and two universal counting bars displaceably mounted under the key-levers of a typewriting machine to which the word-counter is attached. One of the counting bars is depressed upon typing the first letter of a word, and swings the actuator operatively connected to the counting bars against spring-tension, so as to move the pawl backwardly, i. e,, counterclockwise far enough to let it engage behind a tooth in a usual ratchet-wheel of the register one full step or tooth to the rear of the normal starting position of the pawl. The latch automatically latches the counting bar and actuator in this position, so that typing of other letters in the word do not affect the actuator. Subsequent operation of the space-, bar or any other desired element of the key- 1927. serial No. 187,790.

board may be arranged to depress the other universal counting bar, which is effective to move a rocking arm to release said latch,

and drive pawl swing'back to normal'position, and the pawl moves the ratchet-wheel ahead one step. A link operatively connects the last-named or release counting bar with mechanism carried by the carriage, so as to depress the bar automatically upon return of the carriage to the right, which makes unnecessary operation of the space-bar to count the last word typed in a line. The first bar is thus a setting bar, and the other a release bar for theactuator, the bars being necessarily operated in proper sequence or both together, to effect a counting movement of the actuator.

o It is a feature of my invention to employ means operativelyconnected with the space bar and certain other keyboard elements to 7 control the actuator in such a way that the latter cannot operate the register as long as the space-bar is held down, thereby safeguarding the register against being misoperated while holding the space-bar down,whi -h has been possible heretofore. This is simply and positively accomplished by having a branch on the latch-releasing rocking arm more upbehind the actuator as the latch is released, i I Another feature of'the invention resides 1n the construction for countii'ig each typed numeral as a'whcle wordby'having thevnumeral-key-lever engage and depress both universal counting bars at the same time, and

swing the actuator to initial register-open ating ,positiorn'and simultaneously move the actuator-latch to meifectwe position, and also hold the actuator stationary against ackey is released, whereupon the actuatorfis made effective for movingthe units, wheel of the register ahead one unit or figure. 1

Still another feature of the invention're sides in means for safeguarding the re ister against control by. movement of the p atenit are allowed to rise, whereupon the actuator .tion of its'return spring until the numeral carriage before the latter is returned all the way to the right for beginning a new line of typing by locking a connection between the carriage and the releasinguniversal counting bar against operation until the carriage is fully returned to the right.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

: In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1' is, a, fragmentary cross-sectional View, front to rear,'of an Underwood typewritingmachine having the present invention attached thereto.

F igure 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of a typewriter-keyboard, showing mecha nism of the present invention in normal starting position to be operated by keyboard elements of the typewriting machine.

7 latorT'stop 25. Upon depression of the main frame 10 d be, connected by. a link 23 stop'27 on the platen-carriage 26 Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view; front torear, of mechanism of the invention disposed in normal position and enclosedin a case with register for actuating. the latter.

Figure 4 a partial side view of the mechanism of Figure 3, shown inthe position it takes after the first'lctter of an ordinary word is typed.

Figure 5 is a partial side view of the mechanism of Figure 4, in the position it takes when the space-bar is fully depressed immediately following. the typing a word.

Figure. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of mechanism arranged for operating the releasing universal countinglnir lay return of the carriage to the right.

Figure 7 is a partial top view of the mechanism shown in Figured Atypewriting machineto whiclrthe present invention may be attached main frame 10 carrying a fulcrum rod 11 on which are pivoted key-levers, generally designated as 12, and which may include alphabet keylevers 13, numeral key-levers 14,21 tabulator key-lever15 and levers for other characterprinting keys (not shown). A. space-bar 16 is secured to a pairof levers 17, onlv one of la 119.5 Z

\'vhich isshown, pivoted on a rock-shaft 1S. Springs 19 and 20 return the space-bar and key-levers respectively to normal position after being depressed. A p-piece 21 on osed b ow the space-bar to limit the depression of the lattel-t, and. a stop-piece '22 on the space-bar engages under an ofl-set porticn of the main frame to limit the return movement of the space-bar. The tabulator key -lever 15 may to a laterallypivoted column-tabulating mechanism, generally designated as 24, which carries a tabuthe tabu-. lator key-lever 15, a spring-moved platencarriage 26 is released from a letter-spacing escapement-mechanism (not shown) and the stop isswung into the path of a ceunternd arrests Strikii the movement of the latter to the actuates the letter-spacing mechanism by means of an arm 32 on the snaft 18 and other known interponents (not shown). Hence, the parts described above may be the same as those in an Underwood typewriting machine.

Typewriter-word-counters of the class to which the present invention relates usually employ two depressible universal, counting. bars arranged to be swung downwardly byv the depression of keys and other elements of the keyboard. Depression of one of these universal counting bars sets up or establishes an actuating condition in a register-Operating mechanism, and'deprcssion of the other counting bar releases said register-operating mechanism and permits the'latter to operate the register and also to be automatically rein starting or normally ineffective position by spriz'ig action.

In the present device a universal counting bar 40 is supported on inverted L-shapcd members 41, onlv one of which is shown in the drawings. The, lower end of such a member 41 is pivotally fastened to the forward end of an arm 42 fixed; on laterally disposed rock-shaft 43 whose left end may be journaled in a supporting member (not shown), w rich may be an integral projection upon or fastened in any suitable way to the left side of the main frame. The right end of the shaft 48 is journaled in a wall 44 of ahousing or case 45, which. may befastencd to the right side of the main frame 10in any suitable way for enclosing a register 46 and certain registcnoperating mechanism to be presently described.

A. second universal counting bar 50 is supported on two or more inverted L-shapcd members 51, only one of which is shown in the drawings. The lower end of such a member 51 may he pivotally fastened to the forward endof, an arm ofl'fixcd on a rockshaft 53 laterally disposed in front of the bers 51. In like manner, a flatly disposed 42 through which the shaft link 57 may loosely connect each of the members 41 with therod 55, havingan upturned car 58 on its rear end, this structure permitting the counting bar 50 to be depressed without striking the links57. I

Usually, in word-counters of this class, various arrangements of series of teeth and notches, and the like, i. e., serrations, providing spaces, and shoulders or teeth upon the universal counting bars, have been pro posed for counting words or word equivalents in different kinds of typed matter. It can be readily seen by those skilled in the art, as this application proceeds, that teeth and notches upon the universal counting bars of this device can be suitably positioned for counting typed words and word equivalents in different ways without departing from the scope of this invention. As illustrated in Figure teeth 60 in the counting bar 40 may be positioned to be engaged by the key-levers 13, which are depressed when typing letters and also by the key-levers 14, whose depression types numerals and other characters, each of which it may be desired to count as a word, as when typing telegraph messages. In the edge of the counting bar 50, teeth 61 may be positioned to be engaged by the key-levers 14 and the tabulator-key 15. It will be noted that a deep notch 62 in the counting bar 50 is positioned to register with each superjacent key-lever 13so that depression of the latter will not affect the counting bar 50. Certain teeth of the counting bar 50, as shown at 63, may have different heights to compensate for varying distances moved by the key-levers upon being depressed in typing. For a like reason, the teeth of the counting bar 40 may be arranged in varying heights, when desired. To provide for the shaft 53 to be rocked by depres sion of the space-bar 16, a short lateral pin ()4 is fixed in the arm 52 so as to be disposed below the space-bar-lever 17 Mechanism for operatively transmitting to the register 46 rocking motion of the shafts 43 and 53 caused by depression of the several elements 31 of the keyboard is mounted in the case 45. A drive pawl operatively engages a ratchet-wheel 71, which may befastened to the units wheel or disk of the register 46. The pawl 70 is pivoted on a pin 72 in the forward end 'of a lower member 73 of a substantially Z-shaped member 74, hereinafter called the actuator, which may be pivoted about a shoulderscrew 7 5 in the wall 44 and be spaced away from the latter by a collar 7 6. The pivot of the actuator 74 is preferably positioned adjacent the lower end of an upright portion 7 of the actuator. A spacing collar 78 1s placed between the pawl 70 and the member 73 andaround the pin 72, and a. coil-spring ,7 9 is wound around the collar 78 and has one end engaged behind the pawl 70 and the other end engaged over the top of the m'fember 73, so as to constantly urge the pawl 70 against the ratchet-wheel 71. A stop pin 80, fastened in the lower end of'the pawl 70 The forward actuator-member 73 and the pawl 70, supported thereon, are normally urged upwardly by a contractile spring 82,

which has its upper end fastened to an upper rear projecting arm 83 of the actuator 74,and,

its lower end to a forwardly-extending arm 84 of a rocking member 85,.fast on the shaft 43. The rocking member 85 has an upwardlyextending arm 86, to which is pivotally fas tened the rear end of a stifi link 87,'whose I front end is pivotally connected to the actus ator 74 above its pivot 75, inorder to positively provide simultaneous rocking of both 74 and 857 The spring 82 urgesthe rocking member and the actuator 74 counterclOck-j wise, and a pin 88 is fastened in theiend wall 44, to engage with and arrest the member 85, and the actuator connected to the latter is normally held inactive thereby in a position that will maintain the driving end of the pawl 7 0, carried by the actuator, against a'tooth in the ratchet-wheel 71, as shown in-Figures2 and 3. In such, position of the pawl, afi'gure (not shown), on each of the register-wheels of the register 46, will be disposed in front of a window 89 inthe case 45. r

When an alphabet-key and its key-lever 13 word, the key-lever strikes against a tooth 60 of the counting bar 40 and swings the latter downwardly, thereby rocking clockwise the tuator, and below the pivot'thereof, is swung '100 are depressed in typing the first letter. of a past alatch 91, pivoted ona screw 92 positioned forwardly from the lug 90 and held fast in the wall 44. A coil-spring 93 urges the latch '91 upwardly behind the lug 90, thereby preventing the returnto starting positi on of the actuator 7 4and also the counting bar 40, which is positively connected to the actuator by means of the mentioned link 87.

This movement of the actuator swings the driving end of the pawl 7 O downwardlybelow the tooth of the ratchet-wheel next below the starting position of the pawl, so that the actuator and pawl both occupy what may be termed a potentially operative position, as

shown in Figure 4. A'detent-pawl' 94, of any suitable construction, may be employed to prevent backward rotation of the ratchetwheel 71 during the describedmovement of the pawl; To permit the rocking member .85 toybe rocked without interfering. with the shaft 53, a portion of the member 85: is, cut away at95. K

The-counting bar 40 being latched in its depressed .or operated position by the typing ofJtheifirst'letter ofa word, typing of the re.-

' 17, striking the pin 64 in the arm 52 rocks the shaft 53 clockwise. The right end of the shaft has fixed thereto a forwardly-extending rocking bar 96. Areleasing pin 97, fast in the latch 91, is positioned to be moved up against the bottom edge of the bar 96 when thelatch is swung upwardly into latching engagement with the actuator 74. This arrangement permits depression of, the spaceb-ar 16 to cause the bar 96 to press the latch 91' downwardly out ofengagement with the actuator 74.. By the same unlatching move ment of the bar 96,.an upwardly-extending integral'arm 98 thereof having a laterally-disposed integral finger 99 is swung clockwise to'bring the finger into engagement against the rear endof an upwardly and rearwardly e'xtendin stop-piece 100 held by a shoulderscrew 101 on the actuator 74, as shown in lire-5., The actuator, therefore, is held stationary and is ineffective for operating the register 46jwhile the space-bar is depressed. Upon releasing the space-bar, theibar 96 is swung counterclockwise to normalposition agai'nst'a stop-pin102 in the wall 44 by a spring 103 fastened to the bar 96 and to a pin 104 in the wall 44. Atflthe same time, the

spring 82swings the actuator-member 7 3 and the pawl 70 up to normal starting position,

' and rotates the ratchet-wheel 71 one step that the pawl disposed, as shown 11] Figure 0,

ahead. It will be noted from inspection of Figure 5 that the actuator-shoulder or lug 90 moves farenough to the right between the instant of releasing the latch 91 and the engagement of the finger-99 against the stoppiece 100 to be free from interference with the latch as the latter is raised to normal position upon releasing the space-bar 16. i

A nuIneraLkey-leVer 14, upon being depressed,engages against atooth in each of the universal counting bars 40 and 50, which teeth may be arrangedso as to cause the rockingof both shafts 43 and-53 to such anextent is swung downwardly to be 7 one toothspace below its starting position. Upon release of the numeral-keydever, the ratchet- 5 wheel will be advanced one step, thus count.-

. ing a nume-ral or other desired typed characterasaz word. It is apparent that when a numeral key is operated, the stop piece 100 and finger 99 pass each otherwithout functioning. In doing-'fastwork, a typist may inadvertently strike the space-bar 16 while the register 'isin its normal position. In such case, the'finger 99 will be swung over and past the stop-piece 100 closely adjacent the outer normal position, the outer end of they stop 1c piece 100, upon swinging clockwise with t act-uator7 4, will strike against the lower surface of the finger-99. To'guard against this possible engagement of the finger on the stop-piece stopping or retardingv rapid operation of the alphabet-keys, the-stop-piece 100 is pivotally mounted on the screw 101, and is yieldingly held in normal operative position against a pin105 fast in the actuator 74 by a light coil-spring 106 around the screw 101, and-may readily more out of the way of the finger when the latter is ahead.

,It is desiral'ile to automatically depress the counting bar 50 to count the last word typed in a line before returning the carriage, w1th out operating the space-bar, which latter operationan operative might forget, from lack of habit of doing so, since it is not usually done in ordinary typing in which the words are not counted. To this end, an upwardlyextending link 110 has an elongated closed slot 111 in its lower end engaging about a pin 112 fast in a lug 113 on the counting bar 50. The upper end of the link 110 is pivotally fastened to an arm 114 adjustably secured by a set-screw 115 to a laterally-disposed splined rock-shaft 116, which also serves as a margin stop-red for the typewriter, and which carries a margin gage-device 117 including a cam-faced tappet 118 mounted on a rearwardly-extending arm 1.19 splined on the shaft 116. The construction of the margin gage 117 may be substantially the same as that described in the patent to F, A. Hart, No. 1,237,641, except as otherwise noted hereinafter.

According to this construction, a marginal stop-lock may engage the tooth 108 of the lock-bar 109. on the typewriter-frame in order to locate the stop 117 in a fixed position, which will determine the initial. 4])OS1- tion for the carriage attained by the same in traveling toward the right. 7

A forwardlyextending L-shaped piece 190 is fixed on the front of the carriage 26 in such manner as to extend over the marginstop-lock bar and carries a downwardlydepending cam-piece 121 arranged for enintentionally actuated downwardly before the carriage has been fully returned to initial position at the limit of its rightward travel, a notch 124 is made in the rear side of the tappet 118, and a latch 125 is pivoted about a screw 126 in the margin gage 117 to be nor-.

mally pressed by a spring 127 into the'notch, thereby controlling the counter by prevent ing the downward movement of the arm 119 and the link 110 until the latch is released. Just before the stops 122 and 123 are engaged, a forward end 128 of the L-shaped piece 120 engages an upturned lip 129 of the latch 125, and swings the latter out of latching engagement with the tappet, thereby permitting the arm 119, which carries the tappet, to be swung downwardly. The pin 112 is normally disposed in the upper end of the slot 111, which permits the counting bar to be depressed by the space-bar 16 at any position of the carriage 26. 7

Since it can be readily seen that the register disclosed herein can be equipped with such devices as "overthrow-preventing pawls, clearing-out keys, etc., of any suitable design, without ali'ecting the scope of my invention, it is not considered necessary to show such devices in the drawings, especially as such devices are Well known in the art. 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, I claim! i 1. A word-counter for a typewriting machine having alphabet-keys and aspace-bar, including a register, a spring-driven actuator therefor, means controlled by said keys for moving said actuator against its spring to an advanced position for operating said register upon its return movement, a latch for latching said actuator in its advanced position, means controlled by the depression of said space-bar for releasing said actuator from its latched condition, and a stop controlled by said space-bar forpreventing'the return of said actuator and the operation of said register until said space-baris released.

2. In a word-counter for a typewriting machine having a keyboard, a register, springurged actuating mechanism therefor normally disposed in an ineffective position, means including keyboard elements for moving said mechanism to potentially effective register- 0 erating' position and looking it, means incliiding other keyboard elements movable to a position effective for releasing said mechanism so that it may operate to actuatesaid register, and means to operate concurrently with said releasing means to hold said actuating mechanism from operating until after said'keyboard means is released. y V

'3. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, a margin-stop rod, 2. laterally-adjustable margin-stop on: said rod, a word-counter, and means normally locked but effective to rotate said rod whereby to control said word-counter upon movement of said carriage wheniresaid word-counter.

turned to the right against said stop which I first unlocks and next rotates said rod.

4. In a word-counter of the ClZISS'dGSCllbQCl, a register, a spring-urged actuator therefor, meansfor moving said actuatorto a potentially eifective positionw'hereby it is effective upon return movement by its spring to actuate said register, a latch for latchii'lg said actuator in'said potentially effective position, and a (lisplaceable member arranged to be moved to an operativeposition for disengaging'said latch, said memberhaving an arm for controlling thereturn movement of said actuator. I I 5. Ina typewriting machine, a carriage a rotatable margin-stop rod, a margin-stop adjustable lengthwise of said rod for arresting'and determining the limit of the rightward travel of said carriage, a word-counter controlled by rotary movement of said rod, a latch for normally holding said stop-rod fixed against rotation, means effective to release said latch upon moving said carriage adjacent the limit of its. rightward travel, and means rendered effective by movement of said carriage innnediately after releasing said latch for rotating said rod in order to control 7 6. A word-counter for a typewriting machine having alphabet key levers and a spacebar, lncluding a reglster, a unlversal countmeans for holding saidmechanism in its set position, means controlled by operation of saidsecond-named counting bar for releasing saidmechanism in order to permit the same to operate said register, and instrumentalities operative with said secondenamed counting bar and mechanism to" prevent the operation of said register while said space bar is in depressed position. i

7. A word-counter for a typewriting machine having a keyboard provided-with a space-bar, lIlClLldll'lg, a register, normally in effective operating mechanism for said register, keyboard-element-operated instrumentalities for rendering said mechanism eficc tive to operate, and instrumentalities operative to said space-bar and operating mechanism for controlling the operation of said register and effective to prevent said operation of the same upon typing a word until said space-bar is both depressed and also'released thereafter.

.. 8. In a word-counter for a typewritingmachine, a register, a pivoted spring driven actuator therefor, means controlled by keyboard-elements 'of' said machine, operative, upon'typing the first letter of a word, to move said actuatorto aninitial operative position,

rendering the actuator effective to operate said register upon its return to normal ineffective position, a latch for latching said actuator in said initially effective position, a displaceably-mounted member operatively connected to a keyboard-element which is nor mally operated after typing said word, said member beingefi'ective upon operative movement to release said latch, and instrumentalities for controlling operative movement of said actuator upon release of said latch, said instrumentalities including a stop-piece projecting from said actuatorand an arm on said member effective to be moved up against the end of said stop-piece when said actuator is in said effective position, said arm being positioned to pass by said stop-piece in such'manner as to clear the latter when said actuator is in its normal ineffective position, whereby the operation. of said last-named keyboardelen'ient before the typing of a letter will be independent of said actuator.

9. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, a marginal stop-rod, a swingable marginal stopmember associated therewith, means normally latching said stop-member against rotary movement, means operated by move.- ment of said carriage rightwardly to the limit of its travel corresponding to the location of said marginal stop-member for rotating said rod in one direction, a word-counter, a displa ceably-mounted universal countingbar disposed under keyboard-elements of said machine for controlling the operation of said counter thereby, and a connection between said rod and said counting bar to permit said carriage to control said counter, said connection including a projecting'arm fast on said rod, a link pivotally fastened to said arm and extending downwardly therefrom adjacent said bar, said link havinga'lengthwise closed slot inits lower end, and a pin fast in said counting bar and extending through the upper end of said slot, whereby rotary move ment of said rod will depress said counting bar and control said counter, said slot-andpin-arrangement permitting operative movement of said counting bar independently of said link, and preventing improper countercontrolling movement of said link independently of said carriage.

10. In a typewritmg machine, a carriage,

a rotatable marginal stop-rod, a \vord-coun- V ter, a'universal counting bar displaceably mounted under keyboard-elements of said machine for controlling said counter, means normally locking said rod against rotation, said locking means being releasable to free said rod, means operated by lateral movement of said carriage for releasing and rotating said rod, and a positive connection extending from said rod to said counting bar uniformly effective to afford control of said counter by said carriage, whereby improper control of said counter by manipulation of said connectionby means outside of said ourriage 1s safeguarded.

11. In a typewriting machine, a carriage,

a marginal stop-rod normally held against movement, a word-counter, a universalcounting bar displaceably mounted under keyboard-elements of. said machine for controlling said counter, means for moving said rod upon predetermined lateral movement of said carriage, and a positive connection between said rod and said counting bar uniformly effective to afford control of said counter by said carriage in such manner as to bar imkeyboard-controlled means for swinging said actuator inone direction of rotation and n'ioving the latter and said pawl to an efiective position to advance said register one step or number upon return movement of said actuator by its spring, a latch pivoted in spaced relation from said actuator and disposed adjacent said shoulder for engaging thelatter and holding said actuator in said effective osition, a lateral pin fast in said latch, apivoted member controlled by a keyboard-element for swinging said latch away fromand out of engagement with, said ac tuator, stop-piece on said actuator spaced from the pivot thereof, and a projecting arm on said member having a lateral finger disposed for engaging said stop-piece immediately after said latch is moved to ineflective position, said spring being effective to swing said actuator far enough in a reversedirection of rotation during the interval between disengaging said latch. and engaging said finger against said stop-piece to move said shoulder clear of said latch and leave said actuator free torbe returned to normal under control of said arm which is operatively connected to said keyboard-element.

13. In a typewriting machine having a carriage, the combination with a wordcounter, of a stop-rod movable in predetermined manner to operate said word-counter, a displacea-ble lock so related to said rod as to normally lock saidrod against the predetermined movement, and means associated with said carriage for displacing and thereby releasing said lock upon return of slid carriage to initial position to begin a new line, there being means to operate saidwordcounter through said movement of said rod 1 upon release otsaid lock 14. In atypeivritingmachine having typekeys and a space-key, the combination with a word-counter, of a reciprocatory driver therefor, means to enable the type-keys and the space-key to co-operate to advance said driver. and means to enable said space-key when held depressed to prevent the operation or" said counter by any of the type-keys so long as the space-key is held depressed.

15. In a typeivriting machine having typekeys and also havin a spacekey, the combination with a word-counter, of means rendering the space-key co-operative with said type-keys to operate word-counter, and means effective while'in the depressed position of said space-key to prevent operation of the Word-counter by operation of said type-keys and also eiiective to permit operaion of said word-counter during the up.

stroke of said space-key to normal position.

16. In a typewriting machine having typekeys and also having a space-key, the combination with a word-counter, of means movable by said type-keys into potential operative relation to said word-counter, auxiliary means operable by actuation of said space key for rendering said movable means efi'ective to operate said Word-counter, and additioual means operating after said last-named means to prevent operation of the Wordcounter during the depression of the spacekey.

machine, a register, a spring-driven actuator therefor, means for moving said actuator upon typing the first letter of a word to a potentially operative position, a latch for holding said actuator in said position, keyboard-elements for controlling said means, and additional means controlled by other keyboard-elements to act upon their move ment in one direction, to release said latch and hold said actuator from operation of said register and to act upon their return movement to release said actuator to operate said register. v v

18. In a Word-counter for a typewrltlng machine, a register, a pivoted spring-driven actuator therefor having a projecting member, keyboard-elements, means controlled by some keyboard-elements of said machine for moving said actuator to an initially-efi'ective position, upon typing the first letter of a Word, for operating said register upon return to its ineffective position, a latch for holding said actuator in said initially-eflective position, a rocking member effective for releasing said latch upon being rocked in one direction by other keyboard-elements which are normally operated after typing the Word, a proj ecting arm on said rocking member disposed in the rear of sald pro ect1ng actuatormember, a laterally-extending finger on said arm, and a stop-piece yieldingly mounted on said actuator-member to be engaged by said 17. In a word-counter for a typewriting finger for controlling the return movement to ineii'ective position of said actuator. V

19. In a word-counter for typeWriting ma-' chines, a register, a spring-driven actuatorfor said register, means including keyboard elements effective upon typing the first letter of a Word to advance said actuator to a potentially effective position for operating said register upon its return movement, a springpressed latch for holding said actuator in said potential operating position, means including another keyboard element normally operative after said Word is typed and effective to release said latch, a stop piece on said actuator, an arm on said latch release mechanism cooperative with said stop piece so as to hold the actuator until after the release of said last mentioned keyboard element.

20. In a typewriting machine having typekeys and also having another key-board element operable normally after a typed Word, the combination With a Word counter, of means rendering said key-board element cooperative with said type-keys after being pressed and released to operate said Wordcounter, and additional means effective,- While said key-board element is held in'its depressed position, to prevent the operation of said word counter by said type keys.

21. A typewriter word counter comprising an actuator and means for automatically setting the same for actuating the counter when an alphabet key is actuated, means including a reciprocable element of the typewriter for releasing said set actuator and means for stopping a second setting of said actuatoruutil said reciprocable element has received its reciprocable movement.

22. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, a word-counter and type-keys, means movable by said keys into a potential operative relation to said Word counter, means operated by said carriage near the end of a line movement to operate on said Word counter and means effective to prevent operation of said- W0rd-counter by the movement of said carriage except near the end of said line movement.

' JESSE A. B. SMITH.

Images