US1933570A - Printing instrumentalities for typewriting machines - Google Patents

Description

F. H. TREGO 1,933,570

PRINTING INSTRUMENTALIT IES FOR TYPEWRITING M CHINES Nov. 7, 1933 Filed Feb. 4, 1931 5 Sheets-Sh eeti INVENTOR Fran/f H. 771990 W ATTORNEY L 'NOV. 7, 1933. F1 H, TREGQ 7 1,933,570

PRINTING INSTRUMENTALITIES FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed Feb. 4, i951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ,F/am/f H. 77690.

A'ITORNEY F. H. TREGO 1,933,570

PRINTLNG INSTRUMENTALITIES FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES I Nov. 7, 1933.

Filed Feb. 4, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3v F. H. TREGO Nov. 7, 1933.

PRINTING INSTRUMENTALITIES FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 4, 1931 NOV. 7, 1933. TREGQ- 1,933,570

PRINTING INSTRUMENTALITIES FOR TYPEWRITING- MACHINES Filed Feb. 4. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet S INVENTOR Fran/f H. 771. 90.

BY Q Z 4170mm? its Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PRINTING INSTRUMENTALITIE S FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Frank H. Trego, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Ralph C. Coxhead Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 4, 1931. Serial No. 513,270

25 Claims.

This invention relates to printing instrumentalities for typewriting machines and is in the nature of improvements which may be used with parts shown in my application, Serial No. 495,872, filed November 15, 1930.

The invention is shown as applied to the machine known as the Varityper in which there is provided a type shuttle which may be rotated through various angular distances, by the keylevers, to select the desired type, subsequent to which a hammer is operated to strike against the shuttle to print-on a work-sheet disposed between the shuttle and the hammer, and in which machine the carriage assists in restoring the hammer to normal.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate the operation of the machine. To this end the printing hammer is restored to normal or cocked by an electro-magnet, and the printing operation of the hammer is effected by a spring under the control of the keys.

A feature of the invention relates to means independent of the carriage and the escapement mechanism, whereby the hammer is held cocked against the action of its actuating spring.

Another feature of the invention relates to means under the control of the keys whereby the release of the hammer may be effected.

A further feature of the invention relates to means, including a switch operable by the hammer, to effect the energization of the electromagnet, to thereby restore the printing hammer or, in other words, cock it.

Still another feature of the invention relates to means to delaydzhe closing of the switch. until the hammer has printed so as to prevent a premature return of the hammer. This means is also effective to ,delay the opening of the switch so as to insure cocking of the hammer before the electro-magnet, which returns the hammer, is de-energized.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings which form part of the specification,

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional top plan view of a portion of the machine taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a skeleton side view showing the hammer printing, and the actuation of the switch initiated and about to be completed by the declosed;

Fig. 6 is a rear view showing the dog-rocker of the escapement mechanism operated and the hammer about to be released; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the loose dog and the hammer operated.

Similarreference characters represent similar parts throughout the several views.

The machine includes a main frame provided with tracks 22 upon which is'supported a carriage 23, to travel back and forth, through the 55 medium of anti-friction balls or rollers 24. The carriage is provided with feed rollers 25 and 26 by which a work-sheet 26 may be fed upwardly between a type carrier or shuttle 2'7 and a hammer 28, the latter being located behind the work- 7 sheet.

The type shuttle 27 is located in front of the work sheet and is supported on an anvil 30 secured to a shaft 31 suitably supported by a crossbar 32-and a plate 33 on the machine frame. 7-5 The shuttle 2'7 is actuated by a lever 34 connected to said shuttle by an upwardly extending finger 35 engaging a fin 36 which extends through a slot 37 in the anvil 30, the fin serving also tosupport the shuttle on the anvil.

The shuttle actuating lever 34 is secured to a sleeve 38 rotatably' supported on the shaft 31 and bearing on the cross bar.32. Said lever may be actuated in opposite directions about the axis of the shaft 31 in the usual manner by. means including two universal bars 40, one being associated with the set of key-levers 41 to the righthand side of the machine, the other (not shown) being associated with the set of key-levers to the left-hand side of the machine. Each universal bar is operable by its associated key-levers to actuate a frame 41, of which the universal bar forms a part, about a fulcrum 42to swing an upwardly extending arm 43 rearwardly to actuate the shuttle lever 34; a return spring 44 being 95 provided for the universal bar.

To assist in registering the selected types at the printing point, indexing devices or stops 5! are associated with the key-levers 41,- and actuable thereby against the action of return springs 51, to project the upper ends of the stops into the path of an arm 52 of the shuttleactuating lever 34, said lever when actuated striking the operated stop to arrest the type shuttle, with the selected type at the printing point.

The carriage 23 is connected by the usual rack 55 with a pinion 56 of the carriage escapement 57 which is actuable by a universal bar 58. The universal bar 58 is engageable by the rear ends of the key levers 41 and forms part of a frame 59 actuable about pivots 60 to swing downwardly a rearwardly extending arm 61 which operates a dog-rocker 62 (Fig. 3) about its pivot 63 to carry a fixed dog 64 into the path of the teeth 65 of an escapement wheel 66 secured-to a shaft 67'; the escapement wheel 66 having the usual one-way driving connection, with the carriage, including a spring-pressed pawl 68 (Fig. 2) on a disk 69 and a ratchet 70; the carriage being urged leftwardly by a spring drum 71 (Fig. 2) which is connected to the carriage 23 by a strap 72.

After the dog 64 has moved into the path of the teeth 65 of the escapement wheel, a loose dog 75 is swung about its pivot 76 out of engagement with the escapement wheel (see Fig. 6) by an arm 77 having a slot 78 into which extends a pin 79 from said loose dog. Upon the release of the loose dog it is carried upwardly as in Fig. 7 by a frame 80 pivotally supported on the escapement shaft 67, said frame being actuated by a spring 81. The pawl 75, as it is carried upwardly, is guided into the path of the next adjacent tooth of the escapement wheel, by the inclined slot 78, so that upon the subsequent release of the escapement wheel from the dog 64, the escapement wheel rotates and thus returns the loose dog to normal, thus effecting a single letter feeding movement of the carriage.

The hammer 28 (Figs. 1 and 2) is secured to a shaft supported on the main frame 20 by pivot screws 86. It is held cocked against the action of a spring 87 by a pawl 88 (Fig. 3) engaging a projection 89 on the hammer. Upon the release of the hammer from said pawl 88, in a manner hereinafter described, the spring 87 actuates it about the pivots 86 to strike against the shuttle 27.

In order to disengage the pawl 88 from the projection 89, when the hammer is to be operated, there is provided on the arm 61, of the escapement operating frame 59, an extension 90 which, upon the actuation of any one of the key levers 41, pulls downwardly a link 91 connected to an arm 92 secured to a shaft 93; the shaft 93 being supported on a bracket 94 secured to the main frame 20. The shaft 93 has secured thereto another arm 95 which is actuated, in a clockwise direction in Fig. 3, to swing the holding pawl 88 about its pivot 96, through the medium of an actuating pawl 97, pivotally supported on said arm 95, by a stud 98, as in Fig. 6, to release the hammer 28. Instantly after the release of the hammer from the pawl 88 the latter becomes released from the actuating pawl 97 and is snapped back to normal position by a spring 99, as in Fig. 7, where the pawl 88 is arrested against the hammer projection 89.

The release of the pawl 88 from the actuating pawl 97 is effected so that the pawl 88 may be in readiness to lock the hammer in its normalor cocked position should the hammer be restored (as hereinafter described) before the actuating pawl 97, since the return of the latter may be delayed by a slow removal of the finger from the depressed key lever. The actuating pawl 97 in returning to re-engage the holding pawl, may yield against the action of a spring 99 to snap behind a tooth 100 of the pawl 88. The spring 99 tends to hold the actuating pawl against a stop 101 by which its movement is limited relatively to the supporting arm 95.

The effective length of the link 91 may be varied to effect proper co-operation of the actuating pawl 97 with the holding pawl 88. To this end there are provided nuts 102 and 103 threaded on the link 91 and whereby the point of connection of said link with the extension 90 may be adjusted.

The hammer is returned or cooked, against the action of its spring 87, by an electro-magnet or solenoid 105, the coil 106 of which may be connected to a source of power by a manually controlled switch 107 so that when a switch 108 (Fig. 1) is closed by the hammer, as hereinafter described, an electric circuit is completed including a conductor 109, extending from the source of power, switch 107, coil 106, conductor 110, fixed contact 111 and movable contact 112 of switch 108, and conductor 113 which is also connected with the source of electric energy.

Upon the closing of the switch 108, which occurs after printing, the coil 106 is energized and it sucks in a plunger 114 to return the hammer from the position in Fig. 4 to the position in Fig. 1.

The connection between the plunger 114 and the hammer includes a lever 116, having a pinand- slot connection 117, 118 with the plunger 114, whereby said plunger may actuate said lever about a stud 119 on a fixed bracket 120 which may be secured to a flux frame 121 of the solenoid. The lever 116 draws forwardly a link 122 connected to an arm 123 secured to the hammer supporting shaft 85 to thus rock the latter and thereby return the hammer to normal where, it will be remembered, the latch 88 engages the extension 89 to hold the hammer against the action of the spring 87.

The switch 108 includes an actuable element 125 pivotally supported by a stud 126 upon a fixed bracket 127, and has mounted thereon, but suitably insulated therefrom, the switch contact 112. While the hammer is moving to its printing position an extension 128 thereon engages an arm 129 .to operate the element 125 about its pivot to initiate the closing operation'of the switch 108.

To guard against a premature return of the hammer 28, or, in other words, insure printing thereof, before the solenoid is energized to return said hammer, the operation of the switch or controlling means 108 is retarded so that, although its operation has been started by the hammer, it is not completed until after the printing has occurred. For this purpose the arm 129 is pivotally supported, by means of a stud 130, on the actuable element 125 of the switch; said arm 129 being actuable, when engaged by the hammer extension 128, about the pivot 130 and against the action oi a spring 131, the actuation of the element 125 being resisted by a weight 132 and a detent spring 133 having a roller 133 engaging one side of a nose 134 formed on the element 125. While the spring 131 recovers and overcomes the inertia of the weight 132. the element 125 is further rotated thereby. about its pivot 126 (Fi 4) to move the nose 134 to the lower side of the roller 133 whereupon the detent. becomes effective to continue the actuation of the element 125 and thus close the switch, as in Fig. 5, where the hammer is printing and is just about to be restored to normal by the solenoid which, it will be remembered, is energized by the closing of the switch 108.

Similarly, provision is made todelay the opening of the switch or controlling means 108 so as to insure latching of the hammer, against the action of its spring 87, before the solenoid is de-energized. As the hammer 28 returns, the extension 128 thereof actuates an arm 137 about a pivot 138 and against the action of the spring 131 to overcome the inertia of the weight 132. The return movement of the actuable element 125 is thus initiated while the latching ofthe hammer is taking place, and when the latter has been accomplished the detent 133, 133 acts to complete the action of the switch element 125 and thus open the switch to de-energize the solenoid 105. The contact 112 of the switch 108 is supported by a resilient member 139 so that the switch 108 may be kept closed for a time during the initial movement of the element 125 to open said switch.

The arms 129 and 137 are provided with set screws 140 and 141, respectively, whereby the points of contact of the arms 129 and 137 may be adjusted relatively to the hammer extension 128 to assist in timing the operation of the switch.

The spring 131 is connected between the arms 129 and 137 and tends to draw their operable ends towards each other. They are arrested, however, by stops 142 and 143 on the actuable element 125. The movement of said actuable element 125 may be limited in both directions by stops 144 and 145 on the bracket 127.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown, it should be understood that changes in the form, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of two co-operating elements, namely, a hammer and an anvil, a type shuttle associated with said elements, key-levers, a spring, means operable by said key-levers to render the spring eiTective to actuate one of said elements towards the other toprint, an electro-magnet and means operable by the key-levers whereby the electro-magnet is rendered efiective to return the operated one of said printing elements to normal against the action of said spring.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of two co-operating elements, namely, a hammer and an anvil, a type shuttle associated with said elements, key-levers, a spring under the control of said key-levers to actuate one of said elements towards the other to print, an electro-magnet to return the actuable element, an electric circuit for said electro-magnet, and a normally open switch in said circuit operable by the actuable element to close said switch to energize the electro-magnet to return the operable element.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of two co-operating elements, namely, a hammer and an anvil, a type shuttle associated with said elements, key levers, a spring under the control of said key-levers to actuate one of said elements towards the other to print, an electromagnet to return the actuable element, an electric circuit for said electro-magnet, a normally open switch in said circuit operable by the actuable element to close said switch to energize ments towards the other to print, an electromagnet to return the actuable element, an electric circuit for said electro-magnet, a normally open switch in said circuit'operable by the actuable element to close said switch to energize the electro-magnet to return the operable element, means operable by the actuable element to initiate the closing operation of the switch, and means to complete the closing operation of the switch.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of two co-operating elements, namely, a hammer and an anvil, a type shuttle associated with said elements, key-levers, a spring under the control of said key-levers to actuate one of said elements towards the other to print, an electro-magnet to return the actuable element, 'an electric circuit for said electro-magnet, a normally open switch in said circuit operable by the actuable element to close said switch to energize the electro-magnet to return the operablev element, means operable by the actuable element to retard the closing of the switch to insure printing by the two co-operating elements before the return of the actuable element is efiected.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of two co-operating elements, namely, a hammer and an anvil, a type shuttle associated with said elements, key-levers, a spring under the control of said key-levers to actuate one of said elements towards the other to print, an electromagnet to return the actuable element, an electric circuit for said electro-niagnet, a normally open switch in said circuit operable by the actuable element to close said switch to energize the electro-magnet to return the operable element, said switch being operable by and upon the return stroke of the actuable element, and a latch whereby the actuable element may be locked in its returned position before the switch is completely opened.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of two co-operating elements, namely, a hammer and an anvil, a type shuttle associated with said elements, key-levers, a spring under the control of said key-levers to actuate one of said elements towards the other to print, an electro-magnet to return the actuable element, an electric-circuit for said electro-magnet, a normally open switch in said circuit operable by the actuable element to close said switch to energize the electromagnet to return the operable element, switch actuating means operable by the actuable ele-- ment, and means to further actuate the switch actuating means to thereby open the switch after the actuable element has been completely restored.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of two co-operating elements, namely, a hammer and an anvil, a type shuttle associated with said said elements, key-levers, a spring under the control of said key levers to actuate one of said elements towards the other to print, an electromagnet to return the actuable element, an electric circuit for said electro-magnet, a normally open switch in said circuit operable by the actuable element to close said switch to energize the electro-magnet to return the actuable element, switch actuating means operable by the actuable element to start the closing operation of said switch, and a device to further operate theswitch actuating means to close the switch to efiect energization'of the electromagnet after printing to restore the actuable element, and a latch to lock the actuable element in its returned position, said switch actuating means being'also operable by the actuable element during the initial part of its return movement, said device being effective to further actuate the switch actuating means to open said switch, after the actuable element has been latched, to de-energize the electro-magnet.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of two co-operating elements, namely, a hammer and an anvil, a type shuttle associated with said elements, key-levers, means under the control of said key-levers to actuate one of said elements to effect printing, an electro-magnet, means operable by the electro-magnet to restore the actuable element, an electric circuit for said electro-magnet, said switch including a movablev member, means associated with said movable member tending to retard its operation, resilient means operable by the actuable element to initiate the operation of said movable element, and means to complete the operation of the movable member to close said switch, and thus effect energization of the electro-magnet to restore the hammer.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination of two co-operating elements, namely, a hammer and an anvil, a type shuttle associated with said elements, whereby. the printing may be effected, an electro-magnet connected to actuate one of said elements, an electric circuit for said electromagnet, a switch in said circuit whereby the electrical condition of said electro-magnet may be altered, resilient means operable by the actuable element to initiate the operation of said switch, means to retard the operation of said switch, and means to complete the operation of said switch after the complete operation of the actuable element.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including a hammer, a spring to actuate said hammer, means to restore said hammer, a latch to hold said hammer in normal position, key levers, a universal bar operable by said key-levers, means operable by the universal bar to actuate said latch to release said hammer, the latch actuating means when actuated through a predetermined distance disengaging the latch, and means to restore the latch after such disengagement so as to be ready to engage the hammer when, the latter is returned to normal.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including a hammer, a spring to actuate said hammer, means to restore said hammer, a latch to hold said hammer in normal position, key levers, a universal bar operable by said key-levers, means operable by the universal bar to actuate said latch to release said hammer, the last named means disengaging the latch when actuated through a predetermined distance, and means to restore the latch so as to be ready to engage the hammer when the latter is returned to normal, the, latch releasing means including a yieldable element to permit reengagement of the latch releasing means with said latch.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination of two co-operating elements, namely, a hammer and an anvil, a type shuttle associated with said elements, key-levers, means under the control of said key-levers to actuate one of said elementsclosing of the switch until the printing has been effected.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, carriage propelling means, printing instrumentalities including two co-operating elements, namely a stationary element and an actuable element, key-levers, a type carrier between the two co-operating elements, means operable by the key-levers to effect the setting of the type carrier, power'means, means operable by the key-levers to render said power meanseffective to actuate the operable element of the printing instrumentalities, an electro-magnet, an electric circuit for said electro-magnet, a normally open switch in said circuit, and means operable by said key-levers to effect the closing of said switch, said electro-magnet being also effective to energize the power means for the actuable element of the printing instrumentalities while said operable element is being returned to normal.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two cooperating elements, namely a stationary element and an actuable element, key-levers, a settable type carrier between said co-operating elements, means operable by the key-levers to set the type carrier, power means, means operable by the key-levers to render said power means effective to operate said actuable element, an electromagnet, an electric circuit for the electro-magnet, a normally open switch in said circuit, means operable by said key-levers to initiate the closing of said switch, and means to retard the closing of the switch so as to insure printing before the solenoid becomes effective to return said actuable element.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination of means including a selectively settable type carrier, a hammer to co-operate therewith, keylevers, power means to actuate the hammer, means operable by the key-levers to-render the power means effective, an electro-magnet to return said hammer to normal, an electric circuit for the electro-magnet, a normally open switch in said circuit, and means to effect the closing of said switch to energize the electro-magnet to return said hammer.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination of means including a selectively settable type carrier, a hammer to co-operate therewith, key-. levers, power means to actuate the hammer, means operable by the key-levers to render the power means effective, an electro-magnet to return said hammer to normal, an electric circuit for the electro-magnet, a normally open switch in said circuit, means to effect the closing of said switch to return the hammer by said electromagnet, and means to delay the closing of the switch to insure printing of said hammer before the solenoid starts to return it. I

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two cooperating elements, namely a stationary element and an actuable element, key-levers, a type carrier between the co-operating elements, means operable by the key-levers to effect the setting of the type carrier, power means to operate said actuable element, means operable by the keylevers to render the power means effective, electrically operated means to return the actuable element to normal, means to effect the operation of the electrically operated means, and means to delay the operation of the electrically operated means until the printing operation is completed.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination of. printing instrumentalities including two co-operating elements, namely a stationary element and an actuable element, key-levers, a type carrier between the co-operating elements, means operable by the key-levers to effect the setting of the type carrier, power means to operate said actuable element, means operable by the keylevers to render the power means efiective, electrically operatedmeans to return the actuable element to normal, controlling means for the electrically operated means by which it may be rendered ineifective, means to initiate the operation of the controlling means, and means to delay the operation of the controlling means so as to insure the complete return movement of the actuable element by the electrically operated means before it is rendered ineffective.

2D. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two co-operating elements, namely a stationary 'element and an actuable element, a selectively settable type carrier between the co-operating elements, power means to operate said actuable element, means to render the power means effective, power means including a solenoid to return the actuable element to normal, controlling means for the solenoid, said controlling means being operable by the actuable element on its effective movement to render the solenoid effective to return the actuable element, said controlling means being operable by the actuable element on its return stroke to render the solenoid ineffective, and means to retard the operation of the controlling means so that the actuable element may be completely returned before the solenoid is rendered effective and to insure the complete return of the actuable element before the solenoid is rendered inefiective.

21. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two co-operating elements, namely a stationary element and an actuable element, a selectively settable type carrier between the co-operating elements, a spring to operate said actuable element, a latch to normally hold the actuable element against the action of said spring, means to release the actuable element from the latch, an electrically operated device to return said actuable element to normal, controlling means for said electrically opera-ted device, means to actuate the controlling means to render said electrically operated device elf-active and ineffective, and means co-operating with the controlling means whereby the-electrically operated device is maintained effective until theactuable element has been returned to the latch against the action of said spring.

22. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two co-operating elements, namely a stationary element and an actuable element, a selectively settable type carrier associated with said elements, power meansv to operate said actuable element, means to render the power means efiective, an electric device to return the actuable element, a pivoted switch element to render the device efiective and inefiective, a stop for the switch element, a detent to hold the switch element against said stop, and a resilient device operable by said actuable element to start the closing operation of said switch element and to gradually overcome the holding action of the detent, the latter becoming finally effective to complete the operation of the switch element to close it after the printing operation and thus effect the operation of the electric device to return the actuable element.

23. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two co-operating elements, namely a stationary element and an actuable element, a selectively settable type carrier associated with said elements, power means to operate'said actuable element, means to render the power means efiective, an electric device to return the actuable element, a pivoted switch element to render the device effective and ineifective, means to actuate said switch to render the electric device eifective to return the actuable element to normal against the action of thepower means, means to hold the actuable element in its returned position, resilient means operable by the actuable element to start the opening operation of the switch element, and a detent tending to retard the operation of said switch so as to insure the return of the actuable element to the holding means before the switch is opened, the resilient device being I efiective to gradually overcome the retarding action of said detent, the latter becoming finally effective to open said switch to render the electric device ineffective.

24. In a typewriting machine, the combinaco-operating elements, namely a stationary element and an actuable element, a selectively set table type carrier associated with said elements,

tion of printing instrumentalities including two power means to operate the actuable element in one direction, an electric device 'to'operate the actuable elementin the opposite direction, a pivoted switch for said electric device, resilient means operable by the actuable element to start the operation of said switch, means tending to retard the operation of said switch to insure the completion of the operation of the actuable element before it is operated in theopposite direction, the retarding means becoming finally efiective to complete the operation of said switch.

25. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two co-operating elements, namely a stationary 'ele-' ment and an actuable element, a selectively settable type carrier associated with said elements, power means to operate the actuable element in one direction, an electric device to operate the 'actuable device in the opposite direction, a piv-

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