US2007229A - Printing instrumentality for typewriting machines - Google Patents

Description

F. H. TREGO July 9, 1935.

PRINTING INSTRUMENTALITY FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed March 24, 1951 3 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fra/7k H. Te

BY W g A ITORNEY Patented July 9, 193.5

V2,007,229 l rnm'rmc wmsrimini:N'rALrrr nonv PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITING MACHINES Frank n. 'r1-ego, New York, N.A mesne assignments, to Ralph poration, New York,

Delaware Application March 24,

12 Claims.

. This invention relates to typewriting machines and more particularly to printing instrumentali- V' ties therefor.

The invention is shown as applied to the Varityper writing machine, which machine includes a type carrier operable about an axis, by means including an actuator, under the control of key levers, to locate a selected one of a plurality of types at the printing point. Indexing devicesare settable by the key levers and are engaged by the actuator to register the selected type at the printing point. A hammer is then operated to co-operate with the type carrier and thus print on an interposed work sheet.

The present invention is in the nature of improvements which may be used with some of the devices disclosed in my application, Serial No. 495,872, iiled Nov. 15, 1930 and in which the hammer is operatedby an electro-magnet, under thecontrol of the key levers, to facilitate the operation of the machine.

An object of this invention, in which the hammer is also actuated by an electro-magnet, is to .prevent premature actuation of the hammer; or,

in other words, to insure against operation of the hammer before the selected type of the type carrier or shuttlereaches the printing point.

To this end there is provided a normally open switch which is electrically connected with the electro-magnet. Said switch, in the present form of the invention, is carried by the shuttle and is operated by the active one of the indexing devices as said actuator approaches the latter.

Provision is made to render the electro-magnet ineifective so that the hammer may be restored to normal without delay which may otherwise be caused by holding closed the switch associated with the shuttle actuator. For this purpose there is 4provided a normally closed switch in the electricv circuit of the electro-magnet. The operation of said switch, to open it, is started by the hammer, and is delayed and then completed by suitable means, so as to prevent a premature -return o f the hammer, and to insure immediate return of the hammer after printing. jOther features and kadvantages will hereinafter appear. A a l In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of-themachine; Fig. 2 is atop plan lview ofv a portion kof the machine showing the shuttle actuator and its vassociated parts in normal position. l

l-Fig. 3 lis a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the type shuttle actuated and the switch,'associated Y., assignor, by C. Coxhead Cor- N. Y., a corporation of 1931, Serial No. 524,816

(Cl. IS7-49) with the shuttle actuator, operated by the latter and the indexing device.

Fig. 4 is a detail, vertical section, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the type shuttle actuator and the associated switch.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the carriage escapement mechanism and the switch associated therewith.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a modified electric circuit.

Similar reference characters represent similar parts throughout the various views.

The machine includes a main frame l5 having thereon a track I6 upon which is supported a carriage I1 to travel back and forth through the medium of yanti-friction balls or rollers I8, said carriage being urged in a letter space direction by the usual spring drum, not shown, to which it is connected by a strap I9. The carriage is provided with feed rollers -20 and 2| by which 'a work-sheet 22 may be fed upwardly between a `type carrier or shuttle 23 and a hammer 24, the latter being located behind the work-sheet.

The type shuttle 23, which is located in front of the work sheet, is supported on an anvil 25 secured to 'a shaft 25a suitably supported by a cross-bar 2B and a. plate 21 on the machine frame I5. 'I'he type shuttle is operable by an actuator or lever 28 connected to said shuttle by an upwardly extending finger 29 engaging a iin 30 which extends througha slot 3l, in the anvil 24, the fin serving also to support the shuttle on the anvil.

The shuttle actuating lever 28 is secured to a sleeve `32 rotatable about the shaft 25 and resting on the cross-bar 2B. The shuttle actuator 28 may be operated in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2), from a central position, in a manner described in the above mentioned application, or in the usual manner by means of two universal bars 33, only one being illustrated. Key levers 34 are divided into two groups, one group at each side of the middle of the machine; each group being associated with one` of the universal bars. Upon the depression of any one of the key levers 34, about its fulcrum 34a the rear end thereof engages the universal bar 23 to swing it upwardly about a shaft 35. Each universal bar has anl upwardlyv extending arm 36, the lfree/end of which engages the actuator-28 to operate the latter to vactuate the type shuttle.

To accurately-register the selected' types of said shuttle at the printing point, indexing devices or stops 48 are provided, one associated with each key-lever 94, each being operable, by its key lever, against the action of a return spring 4|, to project the upper end into the path oi' an arm 42 of the shuttle actuator 28.

The carriage I1 is connected by the usual rack 45 with a pinion 48 of the carriage escapement 41 which is actuable by a universal bar 48 engaged by the rear end of the key levers 94. The universal bar 49 rocks a shaft 58 having secured thereto a rearwardly extending armwhich operates a dog-rocker 52 about its pivot 58 (Fig. 5) to carry a fixed dog 54 into the path of the teeth 55 of an escapement wheel 58 secured to a shaft 51, the escapement wheel having the usual one-way driving connection including a springpressed pawl 58, on a disk 59 secured to the pinion 48 which is loosely supported on the shaft 51. The one-way driving connection further includes a ratchet 88, connected to the shaft 51, and engaged by the pawl 58.

After the dog 54 has entered the path of the teeth of said escapement wheel a loose dog 8| is swung, about its pivot 82, out oi' engagement with the escapement wheel, by an arm 89 of the dog rocker 52, said arm being provided with a slot 84 into which extends a pin |85 from said loose dog. Upon the release of the loose dog from the escapement wheel, it is carried upwardly by a frame 88 pivotally supported on the escapement shaft 51, said frame being actuated by the printing hammer through the connecting pin 81, the hammer being operated, to print, in a manner hereinafter described. 'I'he dog 8|, as it is carried upwardly, is guided into the path of the next adjacent tooth of the escapement wheel by the inclined slot 84 so that upon the release of the escapement wheel from the dog 54 the escapement wheel, by its movement, returns the loose dog to normal, thus completing the letter feeding movement of the carriage.

The means to actuate the printing hammer 24 includes a solenoid 18 (Fig. 1) which is connected in circuit with a source of power 12 (Fig. 6), a

n conductor 13, a hand switch 14, a conductor 15,

a normally open switch 15, a normally closed switch 18 and a conductor 11. The electric circuit further includes a conductor 18, a contact segment; 19, a switch 88 associated with the type shuttle actuator 28, a conductor 8| and ground 82, which may be' the main frame of the machine.

The solenoid 18 is energized by the actuation of any one of the key levers, in a manner hereinafter described, to draw the plunger 85 into the coil 88 of said solenoid, to actuate the hammer 24 about the axis of a shaft 81, the plunger being connected to the hammer 24 through the medium of a link 88 connected to a downwardly extending arm 89 secured to the hammer 24. After the printing operation the solenoid is deenergized, in a manner vhereinafter described, and the hammer is subsequently restored to normal by a spring 98 connected to the hammer arm 89.

To energize the solenoid 18 the circuit is first conditioned by closing the switch 15 by the actuation of any one of the key levers 34, which key levers, it will be remembered, actuate the dog rocker 52 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 5), through the medium of the universal bar 49 and the arm 5|. The dog rocker carries a movable contact 92, of the switch 15, into engagement with a xed contact 98 to close said switch 15; this operation preceding the closing of the switch The completion of the circuit closing operation takes place during the latter part of the actuation of the type shuttle, irrespective of the angular distance traveled by the latter. For this purpose the switch 88 is carried by the shuttle actuator 28 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) and comprises two contact elements 95 and 98, the element 98 being secured to the actuator 28 by a bolt 91; said contact element and bolt being suitably insulated from the actuator by washers 98 and a sleeve 98 oi insulating material.

The other contact element is secured to a headed stud |88 pivotaliy supported on the actuator 28; the upper end of the stud having secured thereto a collar |8| from which extends a flat spring |82- engaging between two projections |88 of the actuator to hold the pivoted switch element 98 in a central position with reference to the actuator 28.

During the initial part of the operation o! the actuator 28, in either direction from its normal position in Fig. 2, there is no motion oi' the switch element 98 about its pivot. As soon as said switch element reaches the actuated one of the indexing devices 48 it is obstructed thereby and a further movement of the actuator 28, until it also reaches the set indexing device (Fig. 3), causes the switch element or lever 98 to be actuated about the axis of the stud |89, against the action of the spring |82, to carry a contact |84, of the switch element 98, into engagement with a contact |85, of the ilxed, switch element 95, thus closing the circuit to energize the solenoid 18 and thereby actuate the printing hammer 24 as previously described. The element or lever 98 and the spring |82 also tend to push the lever 28 away from the eil'ective indexing pin to hasten the return of the shuttle lever 28, thus expediting the operation of the machine. It will be understood when the shuttle actuator moves clockwise from its central position in Fig. 2 that the switch 88 is closed by contacts |88 and |81.

Electrical connection is maintained between the movable switch 88 and the fixed conductor 18 by a head |88, on the bolt 91, which has sliding contact with the contact segment 19 to engage it in all positions oi' the actuator 28; said segment being connected to the conductor 18 and being insulated from the machine frame by a block |89 of insulating material.

|I'he switch 18 includes a fixed contact ||5 on a block 8 of insulating material (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) mounted on a bracket ||1 secured to the main frame I5, the contact ||5 being connected to the contact 93 of the previously described switch 15, by a conductor ||8. Co-operating with the contact 5 is another contact ||9 supported on a bell-crank lever |28 pivoted by a screw or stud |2| on the bracket |1. A detent spring |22 secured to the bracket |1, acts through the medium of a roller |29 on one side of a nose |24 of the bell crank lever |28 to hold the switchclosed as in Fig. 5.

The operation of the switch 18 is initiated by the hammer during its actuation to the printing point, through the medium of the dog carrying frame 88; the frame 88 being provided with a lug |25 which engages a linger 28 of the switch lever |28 to swing the latter about its pivot 82 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 5) until the point of the nose |24 wipes past the roller |29, o! the detent |22, the switch 18 remaining closed although the switch lever |28 has been partially actuated; the contact ||9 being slidably supported for this purpose on the switch lever |28 aco-mao g and being urged toward the contact ||5 by a spring, (not shown). The contact ||9 is supported in a block |21 of insulatingv material which is suitably attached to the switch lever |20.

It should be understood that the yprinting of the hammer has taken place when the switch 15 is partially operated as above described and the switch is still closed. Instantly after printing, however, the spring |22 acts to complete the operation of the switch lever |20 to. open the switch 10 to break the circuit and thus de-energize the solenoid to permit the return of the hammer 2l. Upon the return of the hammer to normal the dog'carrying frame 56 is returned therewith and the lug |25 engages a finger |28 of the switch lever |20 to start its return stroke, which return stroke is completed by the spring |22 vto close the switch 15., Before the closing of the switch 15 is effected, however, the switch 15s is opened by lthe return ofthe dog rocker 52 to normal.

kIt should be understood that it is a feature of the normally open switch 15", in the circuit, to guard against actuation of the hammer by an accidental closing of the switch associated with the shuttle actuator v28, or, in other words, to insure against operation of the hammer 24 except when a key lever is operated.

Due to the fact that the source of energy 12 and the conductor B0 are grounded on the machine frame I5, it is advantageous to employ the switch |53 in the circuit, because it provides a means to prevent a shock to the operator while the machine is at rest and the power switch 14 is closed. v

In a simplified form of the invention the switches 15a and 16 may be excluded from the circuit as indicated in Fig. 7 where the conductor 15 is connected directly to the solenoid 10. It will be understood that in this form of the invention care must be exercised to remove the fingers from the key levers as quickly as possible soas to prevent heating of the solenoid coil 86 and Aso as not to retard the operation of the machine.' In this arrangement, however, grounding the source of energy 12 and the conductor 80 on the machine frame is avoided; the conductor 80 being connected directly with4 the source of energy.

While certain preferred'embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that changes in the form, arrangement, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made withoutdepai'ting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

l. a typewriting machine, the combination of printing ate the type v, carrier, key levers to operate the actuating means, means operable by the key levers while operating the actuating means to prepare the first mentioned means for a subsequent actuation, and a device amoeiated with the preparing means and operable by the actuating means for the type carrier to effect the actuation of the nist-mentioned means to thus actuate the co-operative element.

2. In a typewritlng machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including a type carrier, and a co-operative element, means to actuate the type carrier, means to locate the type carrier with respect to the co-operating element. electric means to actuate the co-operative element, means associated with the locating means instrumentalities including a. typev lcarrier, and a co-operative' element, means to -operate lthe lcooperative element means to actuto effect the actuation of the electric means, and means to render the electric means ineiective after the printing operation while the associated means is still actuated.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instnmientalities including a type carrier, and a cci-operative element, a fixed anvil to support thev type carrier, a rod to support said anvil, an operating lever pivoted to swing about saidl rod and 'actuable in opposite directions thereon to actuate the type carrier, means including key levers to actuate said operating lever, indexing devices with. which said operating lever co-operates to register the selected type at the printing point, an electro-magnet to actuate the co-operative element, and a normally open switch electrically connected with Isaid electromagnet, said switch including a fixed contact element and a pivoted contact element normally in a central position and adapted to swing in opposite directions to either of two effective positions, both of the switch elements being supported on the actuating lever, the pivoted contact element being carried bodily with the actuating lever when the latter is operated, said pivoted element being operated about its pivot by the active indexing device as the actuating lever approaches it to cause said pivoted element to engage the xed element and thus render the electro-magnet eiective.

4. In a. typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including a type carrier, and a cao-operative element, an actuator for the type carrier, key levers, means actuable by the key levers to operate said actuator, an electro-magnet to operate the co-operative element, means operable by the key levers to set up a condition affecting the electro-magnet for yfuture operation. means operable by said actuator while the operable means is in its active position to effect the operation of the electro-magnet, means to render the electromagnet ineffective after it has operated said co-operative element, and means operable by the key levers to eiect actuation of the last mentioned means.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including a type carrier, and a co-operative element, an actuator for the type carrier, key levers, means actuable by the key levers to operate said actuator, an electro-magnet to operate the co-operative element, means operable by the key levers to set up a condition aiecting theelectro-magnet for operation, means operable by said actuator to effeet the operation of the electro-magnet while the operable .means is in its active position, a normally closed switch electrically connected with the electro-magnet, manual means operable i by the key levers during the active stroke of the -co-operative element to initiate thefoperation of said switch, automatic .means effective subsequent to the actuation of the manual means to complete the actuation of said switch to open it after the printing operation of the co-operative element to render the electro-magnet ineffective, and means to return said cio-operative element.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination -of printing instrumentalities including a type carmeans for-subsequent actuation. ciated with the locating means to effect the actuation of the operating means while the conditioning means is in its set position.

'1. In a typewriting machine, the combination or printing instrumentalities including a type carrier and a co-operative element, means including key levers to actuate the type carrier. indexing devices operable bythe key levers to locate the type Vcarrier with respect to the co-operating element, operating means to actuate one of said elements to print against the other, means settable by the key levers to condition the operating means for subsequent actuation. means associated with the locating means to eil'ect the actuation of the operating means while the conditioning means is in its set position, and means whereby said operating means is rendered ineffective after printing in case the settable means is still in its set position.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including a type' carrier and a cooperative element, key-levers, means including a lever operable by said key levers in opposite directions from a normal position to actuate the type carrier, means to .locate the type carrier with respect to the co-operating element, an electric device to actuate one oi' said elements to print against the other, a carriage, escapement mechanism for said carriage, means operable by the key-levers to actuate said escapement, a switch operable by the escapement to close said switch to thus establish a condition ail'ecting the electric device for subsequent operation thereof, and a switch associated with the locating means to eiIect the actuation of the electric device while the flrst mentioned switch is closed.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including a type carrier and a co-operative element, means including a lever operable in opposite directions from a normal position to actuate the type carrier, means to locate the type carrier with respect to the co-operating element, an electric device to actuate one of said elements to print against the other, a carriage, escapement mechanism for said carriage, key-levers, means operable by the keylevers to actuate said escapement, a switch operable by the operable means upon the operation of the latter by any one of the key levers to establish a condition to permit future operation of the electric device, a second switch co-operating with the locating means to eiect the actuation of the electric device while the nrst mentioned switch is closed. and a third switch which is connected with the escapement mechanism and is operable thereby toiopen said third switch to render the electric device ineffective to permit the return of the actuated printing element while the other two switches are closed.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination ota type carrier and an element to co-operate therewith to print on an interposed work sheet,

shaver to actuan said type carrier to se: the

ected type at the co-operative elementI means to actuate said lever in opposite directions i'rom a central position, two sets oi indexing devices one at each side of the central position oi said lever to arrest the latter. a single element pivoted on said lever and extending beyond both sides oi' said lever so as to engage the active indexing device prior to said lever and so as to be operable in opposite directions on said lever by the indexing devices oi' the two sets, and a spring secured to said element. two members on said lever between which the free end of the spring engages to return aoomaa said spring hasten the yreturn of the actuating lever from its eilective positions in central position.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including a type carrier, and a co-operative element, means including a lever operable in opposite directions from a normal position to actuate the type carrier, means to be engaged by said lever to locate the type carrier with respect to the co-operative element, a single device pivotally supported on said lever and co-operating with the locating means to eil'ect the actuation of the co-operative element, said device extending beyond the side edges of said lever. so as to engage the locating means prior to said lever and being operable irrespective of the direction in which said lever is moved, a ilat spring secured at one end to said device and effective in two directions to return said device from opposite sides to a normal position, and means on said lever to constrain the other end of said spring.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a rotatable type carrier, an element to co-operate therewith to print on an interposed work sheet, a ilat horizontally disposed actuator for the type carrier, key levers, means operable by the key levers to operate said actuator, electric means to effect the actuation of the co-operating element, indexing devices operable by said key levers to be engaged by the actuator, means to render the electric means eil'ective, the last named means including a switch supported on the actuator, the switch comprising a xed contact element and a pivoted contact element on said actuator, a stu'd to secure the ilxed contact to said actuator, the pivoted contact element being operable by the combined action oi' the actuator and the active indexing pin, a main frame, a fixed contact plate on said main frame and located under said actuator, said stud oi the fixed contact element extending downwardly into engagement with said plate and engaging it in any one of the various positions of the actuator, means to insulate said contact element and said stud from said actuator, and means to insulate said plate from said frame.

FRANK H. TREGO.

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