US2093578A - Typewriting machine - Google Patents

Description

J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRI'TING MACHINE Sept. 21, 1937.

Filed Oct. 15, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sent. 21, 1937.

J. A. B. SMITH 2,093,578

TYPEWRITING umcnma riled Oct. 15, 1955 s Sheets-Shee t 2 ATTQ RN EY.

Patented Sept. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES TYPE-WRITING MACHINE Jesse A. B. Smith, Stamford,- Conn., assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 15, 1935, Serial No. 45,061

14 Claims. (01. 197-126) This invention relates to typewriting manifolding.

Much time has been lost in the handling of individual letter sheets. This invention utilizes a roll of continuous carbon paper, single or mul-' tiple, in combination with a carbon holder, which typing operations. The duplicating strips are retained in' position so that succeeding groups of work-sheets1ianbe A assembled in proper relation to the duplicating strips, with a minimum of handling; the retaining means permitting the worn out portions of the carbon sheets to be withdrawn.

Another object is to provide improved means for quickly and positively aligning the work sheets in proper relation to the duplicating strips. A further object is to provide means whereby a copy of an envelope address can readily be made on the ofiice or file" copy, to prove the accuracy of the envelope address.

' According to the present improvements, a supply spool of carbon web, of the'desired number of plies, is mounted upon a rear extension of the carriage of the typewriter. Upon a flexible work-.

3 ing off from the supply spool at this inserting laid upon an intercalating table, which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the delivery side of the platen. The band retains the carbon plies, whose leading ends are then clipped forwardly, so that a work-sheet may be laid upon the leading portion of the carrier. The work-sheet is set down to a gage. .The gage consists of two stops,

one at eachside of the carbon-path, to permit the relatively narrow carbons to advance past the stops. Then the lowest carbon-ply is laid back upon the work-sheet. Then a second sheet, is laid upon said lowest carbon-ply. Then the'second carbon is laid over upon the second workr0 sheet, and so on. The intercalated sheets, with the carrier, are then rolled backwardly into the machine, to bring them to position to receive the first line of typing. I

After typing the page, the assemblage is ad 55 vanced far enough for the work-sheets to clear the bottom rolls (the top rolls having been cast operation. The leading portion of the carrier is ofi), and then the work-sheets are withdrawn from the machine. Fresh sheets are inserted as before. when the carbon is worn, the carrier is temporarily clamped to the work-table, while the carbon-plies are pulled forwardly and the 5 worn portion is torn off by a knife.

An envelope to accompany the typed letter, may be inserted with its bottom resting upon the side 'stops below the top edge of the band or clip, and a small carbon-sheet may be placed between 10 the envelope and the original work-sheet, and the address that is typed upon the envelope will be duplicated upon the work sheet or sheets.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is an end view, partially in section, of the manifol'ding attachment as applied to Underwood standard typewriter.

Figure 2 is a perspective of the guide 'or holder 20 for the duplicating strips and work-sheets.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the work holder -taken through A-A of Figure 2, showing two duplicating strips in position.

Figure 4 is a perspective of the invention. 25 Figure 5 is a sectional end .view of the knife in cutting position.

Figure 6' is a perspective illustrating the method of removing the used carbon strips preparatory to cutting them, with portions of the strips torn away to illustrate details'oi the invention.

Figure 'I is an end view showing how the slack of the duplicating strip roll might tend to loop around the roller as the work-sheets are brought into typing position. V

Figure 8 illustrates a weighted roller to overcome the condition illustrated by Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a perspective of-a removable work rack or support.

Figure 10 is an end view' showing the weighted 40 roll in position and the work-rack in use.

Figure 11 is a perspective illustrating an addressed envelope in position in the work holder l so that the typewritten address will appear on slightly narrower than the work-sheets with which it is to be used is mounted on a shaft 22,

and supported between rearwardly and upwardly projecting arms 23 which may be secured to the carriage frame 24 by means of the brackets 25 which support the tabular rack 26. To facilitate the removal of the carbon roll and shaft one arm 23 may be formed with a hole 21 to loosely journal one end of roll shaft 22, while the other arm may have a suitable round bottom slot 28 to cradle a reduced diameter end of the roll shaft. The carbon roll is preferably adjustable laterally on the roll shaft, in which case means such as the collars 29 and set-screws 30 may be used to fix the roll firmly to the shaft. Lateral movement of the roll shaft relative to the brackets is prevented by forming .the'end engaging .the bracket-slot 29 of suitably smaller diameter than the remainder of the shaft'so that a shoulder 3| will engage the inner wall of the bracket. At the opposite end a detent gear 32 suitably fixed to the shaft 22 engages the detent spring 33, which serves to prevent the accl-l dental rotation of roll 2|, and also urges the shoulder formed in the shaft against the inside wall of the bracket.

Intermediate their ends, the arms 23' carry a transverse rod 34 parallel to shaft 22- and secured by means such as a screw 35 at one or both arms. An inverted L-shaped guard 36, having a forwardly projecting horizontal member and a 35 downwardly projecting vertical member, is secured to red 34 so as to overlie the latter and I serve as a guard to prevent the slack carbon paper 31 from encountering the fixed frame 38 of the machine.

ii) The carbonpaper and work-sheet holder, Figure 2, is composed of a substantially rectangular back-sheet 39 of heavy paper or other durable, flexible material, preferably about two or three inches longer than the work-sheets or stationery l9, and slightly wider, except for the lower two or three inches, which increase about one half inch in width on each side. A rectangular front member 40, which may be of stiff cloth, has dimensions approximately equal to the lower portion of the back-sheet, and is fastenedthereto by staples 4|, as illustrated, or by suitable stitching or adhesive. The inner edges of the fastening should be in parallel relation to each other and to the edges of the holder.

The front member 40 is so located as to have its lower edge parallel to, and about /2" above the lower edge of the back-sheet. The fasteners 4| for securing the front and back members 40,

39 are so placed as to leave the upper half inch 60 of the front member free, forming a flap 42 to facilitate the insertion of the front sheets; with the distance between the inner edges of the fasteners suitable to prevent the passage of the work-sheets, they, therefore, resting on the upper edges of the fastening devices, which, being parallel to the lower edge of the holder, position the work-sheets in rectilinear alignment.

The carbon paper holder 39, 40 is substantially a sleeve, which in use is slipped over the carbon paper, back-sheet uppermost, with the carbon coated side facing the back-sheet. The carbon sheets 43 are drawn through the holder until'the leading edges are even with the lower edge of the holder.

The holder with the carbons in place, may now helical spring.

be inserted into the machine from the rear in the usual manner and rolled forward until the upper part of the front unit isabout ti" above the upto permit the used carbons to be withdrawn therefrom without removing the unit from the machine.

To this end I employ a pair of clamps 44 mounted on a transverse shaft 48 disposed within the curved upper portion 43 of the paper table l4, and journalled in rearwardly and upwardly extending brackets 41 secured to a transverse member 43 fixed to the platen frame. The clamps 44 are forwardly and downwardly extending metal tongues with inwardly pointing extremities 49 carrying gripping sleeves 49* of rubher or similar material. The clamps are fixed to the shaft and so located that the gripping extremities can engage the extending sides at the lower portion of the work holder.

A helical spring ill, one end engaging the bracket 41 as at II and the other end inserted in a suitable hole 52 in an arm 53 fixed to shaft 45, urges the shaft in a clockwise direction. A manually operable lever 54, the front end of which is formed into a finger-piece, is suitably pivoted intermediate its ends on a projection vi5 from bracket 41. The rear end of lever 54 has fixed thereto'an inwardly projecting pin 56 to engage suitably curved notches 51, 58, formed in the forward edge, of arm 53.

With the lever 54 raised so that pin 56 engages the outer notch 58, the grips 49 will be raised clear of the work-sheets and carbon holder, as shownin Figure 1. when it is desirable to anchor the carbon holder, as when fresh carbon sheets are to be drawn into position, the platen I0 is rotated so as to bring the extended edges of the holder into position between the clamps and the paper-table, and the lever 54 is depressed to throw pin 56 into engagement with the inner notch 51 of arm 53, thus rotating shaft counterclockwise against the tension of helical 'spring and suitably pressing the grips 49 against the carbon holder to anchor it.

One of the clamps 44, preferably the left-hand one, may carry a suitable upwardly projecting guide 59 at its hub end, to contact the extended edge of the carbon paper holder and act as a side-edge guide. Accidental transverse shifting of the clamp. mounting rod 45 is prevented by a suitable collar 60 at the extremity opposite the Each end of the platen frame I i is formed with a horizontal plane upper surface on which a plate BI is secured, as by screws. Intermediate its extremities, but toward the rear, plate Si is formed with a pair of integral, oppositely disposed lugs 62 extending upward, and suitably drilled to receive a continuous shaft; A leaf spring 63 riveted to plate 9| has its free end extending between the lugs.

The upper or auxiliary feed-rollers 64 ar mounted on a bar 35 which engages a pair of rearwardly extending arms 33, the extremities of which are outwardly bentto form shafts suitable for journalling in the bearing surfaces formed in the lugs 82.

The shaft extremity of each arm has secured thereto, as by set-screws, an eccentric collar 61 latter are being inserted into the lug bearings.

The collars are of sufficient width topermit ready rotation of the feed-roll shaft assembly, but to prevent its excessive lateral shifting. Each collar is shaped to act as a cam which its associated leaf spring engages so as to yieldably retain the feed-roll shaft assembly in either its operative or inoperative position, as determined by the operator.

A knife bar 68 having a rear cutting edge against which to tear the used carbon paper is secured to the upper feed-roll shaft supporting arms with its forward edge close to but suitably clearing the upper feed-rolls.

The rear edge of the assembly, when the latter is being rolled back into writing position, is liable to carry over the top of the carbon roll, looping the slack carbon paper in some such manner as shown by Figure '7. To overcome this condition,

I use an idler spool 69, having suitably flanged ends, to ride on the carbon paper between the carbon roll and the carbon holder assembly. The spool may be of vwood'or other light material, as it weight isused merely to draw the end of the carbon holder assembly downward over the edge of the paper table so as to-clear the carbon roll, and to prevent the formation of slack on the carbon roll.

A simple rack is formed by an upwardly and rearwardly extending cross-bar Ill onwhich are secured metal strips 1 l, shapedto form a skeleton table surface on which the work-sheets may rest,

the front portion of the strips being curved around the platen, with rearwardly extending continuations having curved extremities to act as ;a guide to preclude the interference of the worksheets and carbon holder with the carbon paper roll.

For mounting the rack, the upper pressure roller shaft support plate BI is modified to include an upwardly extending rear bracket 12. A rivet 13 having a neck and head I3 disposed behind the bracket secures a front plate spring 14, which at its upper portion is formed with a suitable reacts as'a positive aligning means.

slots.

"contact with the top of the staples.

cess to engage a ball 15 and urge it into an adjacent hole 16 drilled through the bracket. The hole diameter is slightly smaller than that of the after which a downward pressure will seat the slots and bring the holes 18 to a position where the projecting balls 15 will engage the lower end of the holes and serve as a yieldable lock, as illustrated by Figure '9.

After the carbonpaper holder has been slipped over the carbon sheetsand inserted into the ma chine, as previously explained, the work-sheets 19 may be inserted from the front, and interleaved with the carbons, with their lower edge against the top of the staples or stitching, which The original or outer work-sheet is placed behind the extended front flap, and will also be positively aligned by The as sembly is then rolled back into writing position.

After typing, the unit is rolled forward until the upper flap is about above the wing scales, after which the original and copies of the work-sheets may be removed, leaving the holder 39 in position for the next insertion of the unit returned to writing position, in which case a carbon impression 8| of the envelope address is made on the manifold copies. Rolling the unit forward again makes it possible to remove the work.

When a fresh supply of carbon is required, the work-sheets having previously been removed,'the carbon holder with the carbons is rolled back until the extended lower portion of the holder is beneath the grips 49. The grips are brought into operating position by a downward pressure on lever-.54 and the usual paper feed-rolls are unlocked. The leading edges of the carbon paper may then be grasped by the operator, as illustrated by Figure 6, and a fresh supply drawn into position.

The used portions of the carbon sheets are torn off against the knife 68, as illustrated by Figure 5, and the holder is again ready for use.

-In operation, some of the multiple-ply carbonweb is drawn off from the spool, and the leading end of the web is threaded through the carbon clip or band 40, and drawn up to the top of the backing sheet 39. The latter, with its loosely clipped carbons, is then introduced top-end first downwardly in rear of the platen, and the latter is rolled forwardly until the band or looseclip 40 rises at the front of the platen. Then the upper or leading end portions ofthe carbonplies are swung forwardly and laid over the platen. The firstwork-sheet I9 is then laid upon the leading end portion of the backing sheet 39, and the bottom end of the work-sheet drops to the printing-line gage, which consists of the opposite stops ll at the upper portion of the carbon-clip. The bottom corners of the work-sheet rest upon these stops; the latter being separated sufficiently to admit the narrow carbon-webs. Thus the position' of the work-sheet may pass freely between the stops.

Then the rear or under carbon-leaf is laid back and, down upon the said work-sheet. Then a second work-sheet is deposited in the machine, overlying said under carbon, and also resting upon said gage 4|. Then the second carbon is laid back upon the second work-sheet. Then the third (or original) work-sheet is introduced and laid back upon the second carbon. Thus the work-sheets and carbons are interleaved. The device ll forms a support against which the combined backing sheet and carbon-clip may rest at such operation.

Then the platen is. rolled backwardly, to carry the backing sheet 39 in reverse direction around the platen, together with the band or carbon clip 40, and the carbon-plies and work-sheets, as a unit. Thus the work-sheets are brought to proper position for beginning the first line of typing. The work-sheets are held at their bottom edges by the upper lip of the carbon-clip, and conducted thereby between the platen and the feed-rolls; the latter thereupon serving to' hold the intercalated sheets against the platen, Figure 1.

After the typing is completed, the platen is rolled forwardly to bring the work-sheets to releasing or delivery position. For this purpose is gaged by the stops, whereas the carbon-webs the clip or band 40 is brought up to its former station at the front of the platen (see Figure 4), and the top rolls 64 are cast off, while the carbons and backing sheet 39 remain in the grip of the bottom rolls l9. At this stage there is no further reason to retain the work-sheets in the machine, and they are grasped by their leading ends and withdrawn, Figure 4. The carbons may again be flipped forwardly over the front of the platen, and fresh work-sheets may be intercalated with the carbons as before.

During the insertion and typing of the sheets, the clamps 4i'i may remain cast off. But when the leading portions of the carbons have become worn, the clamps may be swung down against the side tongues 82, to hold the combined backing sheet and carbon-clips, while the operator pulls the multiple-ply carbon-web through the clip, and tears 011 the used carbon.

From the lower portion of each of the intercalating table-frames ll, there may be extended upwardly and rearwardly a guard 83, overlying the intercalated sheets in their movements to and from the platen, and at their rear ends these guards may arch at 84 over the guide 36, 36, to prevent accidental upward fouling of the pack.

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:

l. A manifolding assemblage for a front-strike, revoluble platen typewriting machine, including, in combination, a supply of carbonweb arranged behind said platen, and a carbon-web and workpiece holder having a backing sheet, and a transverse band having end attachments to the backing-sheet margins to form a fiat sleeve, at the lower portion of the backing sheet, affording an opening through which the carbon-web is threaded, said holder with the inserted carbonweb being run into the machine into position for interleavement of work-pieces with the carhon-web, said sleeve-opening and carbon-web being narrower than said work-pieces, said end attachments of, the band forming lower-edge gages to engage the work-piece margins that extend beyond the carbon-web, whereby said workpieces may be collated by means of said holder.

2. A manifolding assemblage for a front-strike, revoluble platen typewriting machine, including, in combination, a supply of carbon-web arranged behind said platen, and a carbon-web and work-piece holder having a backing sheet, and a transverse band having end attachments to the backing-sheet margins to form a flat sleeve, at the lower portion of the backing sheet, affording an opening through which the carbon-web is threaded, said holder with the inserted carbonweb being run into the machine into position for interleavement of workpieces with the carbonweb, said sleeve-opening and carbon-web being narrower than said work-pieces, said end attachments of the band forming lower-edge gages to engage the work-piecemargins that extend beyond the carbon-web, whereby said work-pieces may be collated by means of said holder, said sleeve being of sufificient length so that both the backing sheet and transverse band are confinable between the platen and the bottom feedrolls when the said carbon-web and work-piece holder is in work-piece-receiving position, whereby the said holder may be drawn smoothlyaround the platen to bring the interleaved workpieces and carbon-web into printing position 76 without the loss of alignment thereof, said band being extended above said attachments, to form a transverse flap for clipping the outermost work-piece. w

3. For a front-strike, revoluble platen typewriting machine having a rear-insertion papertable behind the platen, a manifolding assemblage including, in combination, a transfer web, means for paying off said web from a supply behind said platen, and a web-riding work-piece gage and holder, said holder including a flexible back sheet and a substantially shorter flexible front sheet, said back and front sheets having marginal attachments to form a sleeve at the bottom of the holder through which the transfer web is threaded, said attachments also forming bottom-edge gages for work-pieces interleaved with the transfer web, said holder having margins at its lower portion extending beyond said transfer web so as to be engageable by side clamps to clamp the holder against said rear paper-table preparatory to paying off a fresh portion of transfer web. I

4. The combination with a typewriter-carriage having end-members, a revoluble platen and a rear paper-table, and a carbon-roll supported behind said paper-table, of a sheet-collating support including a cross-bar attached to said endmembers in front of said rear paper-table, and a plurality of strips secured transversely to said cross-bar to overlie the top side of said c-oss-bar to form the collating surface, each strip having a lower end-portion'bent reflexly back toward the under side of the bar and beyond the latter to form a guide cooperating with said rear papertable to guide the incoming carbons.

5. In a typewriting machine comprising a frame, a shiitable carriage-frame, suitable supports to carry a roll of transfer material in fixed relation to said carriage-frame, key-bars and associated type-bars, and a revoluble platen to receive a flexible holder through which sheets of said transfer material may pass, said holder additionally serving as a guide for the front insertion of work-sheets, means under control of the operator to engage said holder in such'manner as to permit the passage of the transfer material therethrough while preventing the movement of said holder.

6. In a. typewriting machine to'co-operate with manifolding means including a roll of continuous single or multi-ply transfer sheets and a holder to pass such transfer sheets between its front and rear members and additionally to serve as a guide for the front insertion of work-sheets, locking means which under the control of the operator will engage said holder so as to permit the pas-- sage of said transfer sheets therethrough while preventing the movement of said holder, said means comprising a plurality of detent-members mounted on a journ'aled shaft, means to rotate said shaft so as to bring said detent-members into or out of engagement with said holder, and locking means to retain said detent-members in either an operative or inoperative position.

7. For use with a typewriting machine having a paper-feeding platen, manifolding equipment including the combination of -a roll from which a length of transfer web feedable around said platen is paid off to hang in a loop between said roll and platen, said roll being looked after the web is paid off, said loop rising and falling extensively'consonantly with advance and return of the paid-off web-portion for typing on sheets successively placed on said platen, and a free idler arranged to hang in said loop and follow its rise and fall so as to prevent the slackening 1 ofusaid transfer web on said locked transfer-web 8. As an article of manufacture, a holder for 5 transfer sheets and work-sheets for use in manifolding typewritten material, said holder arrangedto receive the free end of a transfer web to be introduced therewith around the platen of a typewriting machine, after which introduction the stationery or other work-sheets may be positioned in said holder-by front insertion and moved with said holder into typing position;

' said holder comprising a flexible back sheet, and Y a substantially shorter flexiblefront sheet, said front and backsheets being attached together at their margins to form a sleeve through which the transfer web is threaded, the attachments also forming bottom-edge gages for work-pieces interleaved with the transfer web, the width of go the holder at its lower portion being substantially greater than the transfer web to form margins, laterally outside of the sleeve, for clamping the holder preparatory "to advancing the .web'

' therethrough. 2 9. An intercalating device including a backing sheet having a front band, means for supporting "the backing sheet for typing, and a carbon-spool mounted on said supporting means, the leading end of the carbon being. led over the backing 30 sheet and under the band to be loosely clipped thereby, saidsheet having within the side margins of the band opposite stops to gage the bottom ends of thework-sheets intercalated with the carbon-plies.

10. An intercalating device including a backr 45 hand projecting above said stops, to form a lip to guide the insertion of the work-sheets.

'11. The combination of a typewriting carriage having a platen, an intercalating table extending rearwardly from the delivery side of the platen, a backing sheet having a front carbon-confining band and side stops within the side margins of the band, and a carbon-spool mounted on said carriage at the rear of the intercalating table. 5 12. The combination of atypewriting carriage having a platen, an intercalating table extendin rearwardly from the delivery side of the platen, a backing sheet having a front carbon-confining band and side stops within the band, and a car- 10 hon-spool mounted on said carriage at the rear of the intercaiating table, said backing sheet having opposite side extensions, and releasable clamps mounted upon the carriage to engage said extensions to hold the backing sheet while the worn carbon is pulled through the clip. 13. The combination, in-a front-strike typewriting machine, of a carriage having a platen and a rear insertion table, an intercalating table extending rearwardly from the delivery side of 2 the platen, a backing sheet having a front carbonconflning band forming a clip andsideworkpiece-collating-stops within the band, a carbonspool mounted on said carriage at the rear ofthe intercalating table, said backing sheet having opposite side extensions, releasable clampsmounted upon the carriage to engage said exten sions to hold the backing sheet against the rear insertion table while the carbon is pulled through the clip for discarding the worn carbon, and a knife movable to and from an operative position near the delivery side of the platen, for severing the worn portion of the carbon, subsequently to being pulled through the clip.

;14. The combination of a typewriterecarriage having a platen, an intercalating table extending upwardly and rearwardly from the delivery side of the platen, a rear paper-table, a backing sheet having a front carbon-confining band and side stops within the margins of the band, to gage the bottom ends of work-sheets intercalated with the carbon-plies, a carbon-spool mounted on said carriage at the rear of the intercalating table, and a guard between theintercalating table and the introductory side of the platen, said guard 4 arching over the rear paper-table for directing the incoming carbons over the latter.

" JESSEA.B.BMITH.

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