US2147051A - Business machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1939. R MULLER 2,147,051

' BUSINESS MACHINE Original Filed June 1, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ROM L. my

ATTO RN EYS Feb. 14, 1939. R. L. MULLER BUSINESS MACHINE Fig. 4. 8

SSheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Feb. 14,1939. 1 RLMULLER 2,147,051

BUSINESS MACHINE Original Filed June 1, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BY LI. 727/81 Min, M, v ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 14, 1939 BUSINESS MACHINE Robert L. Muller, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Burroughs Adding Machine Company, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Detroit,

Application June 1, 1936, Serial No. 82,731 Renewed December 24, 1937 24 Claims.

This invention relates to a line finding device for business machines and more particularly to a directly visible line finder especially adapted to a Burroughs high keyboard bookkeeping machine. It has been customary with a machine of this type to sight a line finder by indirect means such as lights and reflecting mirrors. This was necessitated by the fact that the platen in this type of machine is positioned in back of and below the key-board so that when a sheet is inserted under the platen, the printing line cannot be observed by the operator and the sheet cannot be adjusted readily for correct alignment.

Therefore, it is a general object of my invention to provide an improved line finding device.

Another object is to provide a line finding device for use on a machine of the high keyboard type that is directly visible to the operator during line finding operations. I

, A further object is to provide/a directly visible line finding device suitable for a machine of the high keyboard type having a front feed paper carriage and operable, without adjustment, upon sheets varying as to size and form.

Still another object is to provide a directly visible line finding device that is adapted to facilitate the insertion of a journal sheet from the front or rear.

A further object isto provide a sheet end signal controlled line finding device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be more apparent from the following specification, in which one embodiment is illustrated. The invention is illustrated and described as applied to a Burroughs high keyboard bookkeeping machine of the type disclosed in the copending United States applications Serial Nos. 469,957 and 745,066, filed by Robert Muller and in the Burroughs British Patent No. 382,613 of July 23, 1930, and wherein is shown and described Burroughs high keyboard machines --having front feed means and means for automatically and manually opening and closing the paper throat and front feed means. It will be understood that the directly visible line finder comprising the present invention is adaptable to both the manually and automatically operated throwback carriages, and is applicable to'the entire general class of business ma- 7 chines of which the high keyboard machine is but one formg V In the drawings- Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a Burroughs high keyboard machine and illustrating the line finding device in aligning position;

Fig. 2 is a partial right side elevation illustrating the paper carriage with the right-hand side plates removed and showing the relative positions of the parts when in printing position with the line finder in inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is also a partial right side elevation illustrating the paper carriage with the right-hand side plates removed and showing the relative positions of the parts in throwback position and the line finding means in operating or line finding position.

Fig. 4 is a left side elevation illustrating the means for moving the carriage to open throat position.

Fig. 5 is a partial right side elevation of the paper carriage illustrating the line finding device in combination with a sheet end signal device.

Machine generally Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated the Burroughs high keyboard machine of the type shown in the aforesaid applications and British patent and having the usual platen I 0 mounted in a platen supporting frame. II and the customary feed rolls I2- The platen is movable from a printing position relative to the printing mechanismof the machine, as shown in Fig. 2, to a front-feed position as shown in Fig. 3. When the platen is in its front-feed position the feed or pressure rolls l2 are disengaged therefrom as shown in Fig. 3, and the platen may be said to be in front-feed position where the throat for receiving the papers is open. A frontfeed paper table I3 is provided which is adapted to receive and guidea work sheet l4 into frontfed position and to assist in holding it as will presently appear. This table is pivotally mounted at I5 on the carriage frame I6 so that it normally tends to move counterclockwise, but its counterclockwise movement is limited, when the platen is in front-feed position, by a rubber bumper I'l. As the platen is returned to printing position, the edge. of one of the plates ll of the platen frame engages rollers I 9 on the table so as to swing the table to a substantially vertical position where the lower edge of the table assists in holding the inserted sheet about the platen.

Means are also provided for automatically opening and closing the front feed throat and for moving the platen to and from printing position in the illustrated type of machine, as is disclosed in said applications and British patent and will finder for indicating the printing line. The line now be briefly described. As the machine is given a cycle of operation a cam 20 on the motor op- ,erated shaft 2| is rotated clockwise into engagement with a stud 22 carried by a lever 23 that is pivoted at 24 to the machine, thereby rocking the lever 23 counterclockwise and'tensioning a spring 25 which constantly urges the lever 23 in a clockwise direction. As lever 23 is rocked counterclockwise, a slide 26 connected thereto by a link 21 is drawn downwardly where it is held by a latch 28 adapted to be engaged and released by a stud 28 carried by a ball 28. Upon being released, the slide 26 is moved upwardly by the spring 25. The upward movement of the slide 26 raises a bail 28 carried by a pair of levers 29 to rock the levers 29 clockwise. The forward ends of levers 29 are connected to arms 30 fixed to a shaft 36*, which is rocked counterclockwise by levers 23, thereby raising the platen l0, its frame and the table l3 to open throat or front feed position. As the platen frame II is returned counterclockwise (Fig. 2) into printing position, the table |3 moves in a clockwise direction into a more nearly vertical or closed throat position by the engagement of the rollers IS with the curved edges of the platen supporting frames I.

The machine also provides for automatic line spacing for each transaction in the well known manner as well as for automatic movement of the platen lfland table I3 to and from open throat position, as was briefly described above.

The visible line finding device is especially adapted to aligning ledger or work sheets to the desired printing line, but at the same time it is equally well adapted for the alignment of journal sheets. The work sheets are usually inserted and withdrawn after each line of printing, while the journal sheet remains around the platen for a continuous record of all items entered on the work sheet. The line finding device embodying my invention will first be described in connection with the alignment of a work sheet.

Line finder-front feed insertion of work sheet With the platen II] in front feed or open throat position and with the table l3 in' forward or open throat position, as shown in Fig. 3, the work sheet I4 is placed upon the table l3 and then.

moved downwardly between the platen l0 and the feed rolls |2,into printing position. In this posito a visible and more vertical position by my aligning device which provides an aligning means in relation to which the work sheet may be vertically adjusted by the operator into correct alignment for the next printing line.

This aligning device comprises a blade 3| which extends across the width of the carriage (Fig. 1)

and which is formed with and supported by integral left and'right arms 32 and 33, the arms being pivoted to the table |3 at 34. The arms terminate in finger levers 35 and 36 at their upper ends for moving the blade 3| to the operative or aligning position '(Fig. 3). To move the line finder to operative or line finding position, the finger levers 35 and 36 are moved manually counterclockwise thereby causing the blade 3| to move counterclockwise about pivots 34 until the forward portion of the work sheet has been raised to a substantially vertical position with the rearward edge of the blade 3| serving as the line finding device may. be latched in this position while the operator adjusts the sheet vertically until the rearward edge of the blade extends just under the previous line of figures as in Fig. 1. When this alignment is achieved the work sheet is in aligned position for'printing the next transaction on the line below the one sighted with the aligning blade. The blade 3| is preferably notched as at 31 in order that a set of figures may be observed below the line finder during line finding operations. This insures that the edge of the line finder is aligned with the last printing line and precludes any possibility of error.

The means for releasably latching the blade 3| in operative or aligning position comprises a stud 38 located on a rearwardly extending portion 39 ofthe blade supporting arm and is adapted to slide in a T-shaped slot 40, the vertical portion of which is arcuate, formed in a lever or latch 4| pivoted to table l3 at 42. A tension spring 43 (Fig. 3) attached to the stud38 and to a lever 44 pivoteda't 42 to the table l3 constantly urges blade 3| clockwise out of aligning position and the stud 38 downwardly toward the lower end of the T- shaped slot 40. Another spring 45, tensioned between a stud 46 located on the central portion of latch 4| and a stud 41 located on the forward end of the lever 44, urges lever 44 clockwise. Lever 44 is limited in this movement by a circular opening 48 therein through which extends a fixed limiting stud 49 carried by the table l3.

When the machine is in open throat position, the lever 44 is maintained in counterclockwise position against the clockwise urge of spring 45 by a stud 54 carried by a lever 52. Consequently, when line finder 3| is moved counterclockwise to line finding position stud 38 will rise to the horizontal portion of T-slot 40, whereupon the spring 45 may rock the latch 4| counterclockwise 'until stud 38 reaches the rear end of the horizontal portion of T-slot (Fig. 3) and thereby latch line finder 3| in operative or line finding position.

After the work sheet has been adjusted to the correct printing line, the aligning blade 3| may be. either manually or automatically caused to move to inactive position. To manually release the blade 3|, an upwardly extending handle portion 50 of the latch 4| is moved rearwardly by the operator so as to move the latch 4| in a clockwise direction until the stud 38 enters the vertical portion of the T-shaped slot and has been restored under the urge of the spring 43 from its latched position in the horizontal portion to its normal position in the vertical portion of'the slot, thereby returning the blade 3| to inoperative position.

Automatic release of blade 3| to inoperative position is accomplished when the throat is closed and the platen is returned to printing position. As the platen frame II is moved counterclockwisefrom the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 2, a rod 5| carried by the platen frame engages the lever 52 pivoted at 53 to the carriage frame I6 and rocks lever 52 causing the stud 54 thereon to move upwardly and permit lever 44 to rock clockwise.

As this occurs a forward edge of a'notch 55 of the lever 44 engages the stud 46 to move latch 4| clockwise until the stud 38 enters the vertical portion of T-slot 4|] and is returned by the spring Y44 and latch 4|.

position by the operator, but after the proper alignment of the work sheet it may be manually or automatically released. The manual release is especially desirable and necessary when it is found that a wrong work sheet has been inserted and that it is necessary to remove the same.

When the carriage and its associated parts are in printing position (Fig. 2) lever 44 is maintained approximately in the central position of its limited movement by stud 54 carried by lever 52. With the platen in this position, lever 44 holds latch 4|. in released position through the spring 45. That is, should the aligning blade 3| be moved counterclockwise into aligning position, the stud 38 will not slide into the horizontal portion of the T-shaped slot 4|] so as to latch the blade in aligning position.

When the platen frame H is returned to front feed position (Fig. 3), rod 5| carried by the platen frame I moves rearwardly and allows the lever 52 to move counterclockwise about its pivot, thereby causing the stud 54 to move lever 44 counterclockwise. This movement of lever 44 causes the forward side of the notch 55 to move away from the stud 46 and causes the spring 45 to exert a counterclockwise urge on latch 4|. The stud 38 at this time is in the vertical portion of the T-slot 40 and prevents relative =-movement between lever Then, when the aligning blade 3| is brought into aligning position, after the work sheet has been inserted into the open throat, and stud 38 is raised and enters the upper horizontal portion of the T-shaped slot, latch 4| will be permitted to be moved forwardly or counterclockwise by the spring 45, causing the stud 38 to be latched in the rearward end of the horizontal portion of the T-shaped slot as shown in Fig. 3 and the stud 46 to again contact the forward side of the notch Line finder-Frmt fed journal sheet Although the line finding mechanism operates substantially in the same manner in the alignment of a journal sheet as in the alignment of a work sheet, the insertion of the journal sheet at the front or rear presents slight variations in the operation and handling of the machine. To

adjust the machine for the insertionof the journal sheet through the open throat at the front of the carriage, the carriage is moved to open; throat position of Fig. 3 and then a paper pana lever 55 fastened on shaft 6|. The paper pan 6!] presses the journal sheet against the platen and aids in maintaining the journal sheet in fixed position during the insertion of work sheets 'when the feed rolls are disengaged from the platen and in open throat position.

To swing the paper pan 60 out of contact with the platen; a hand lever 56, pivted to the side of a journal table 54 as at 61 is manually rocked rearwardly or clockwise. Lever 66 has an integral arm which engages astud 58 carried by a lever 69 pivoted on shaft GI, and rocks lever 69 counterclockwise until stud 58 is received in a notch 10 of lever 65 to thereby latch lever 69 in counterclockwise direction. Another lever H, fixed to the shaft BI, is yieldingly connected by The forward portion of the paper pan.

a spring I2 to lever 69, whereby movement. of lever 66 will rock shaft 6| so as to move the paper pan 50 counterclockwise out of engagement with the platen. With the paper pan 50 in inactive dot-dash position (Fig. the journal sheet is easily inserted at the front and fed down between the platen l0 and the feed rolls l2, rearwardly over the pan 60, and onto the journal table 64. At this point the forward portion of the journal sheet is resting with its printed surface downward on the table l3. Similar to the operation in aligning work sheets, the blade 3| is now moved counterclockwise, thereby raising the forward portion of the journal sheet to a vertical position where it is aligned by the operator to the desired printing line by means of the rearward edge of the blade 3|.

'After the journal sheet is properly aligned, finger lever 66 is then manually released by rocking it counterclockwise to release the stud 68 from the notch and to permit the paper pan 60 to move clockwise, thereby forcing the journal sheet into engagement with the platen. As the lever 66 is rocked counterclockwise the lever 69 also moves clockwise, thereby permitting arm to.do likewise and allowing the shaft 6| to rotate so as to move the pan 60 into contact with the journal sheet. The forward portion of the sheet may then be placed under a blade 13 carried by lever 52 and then under a spring-pressed feed roll 14 (Fig. 3) so as to prevent interference with the work sheet.

Line finder-Rear fed journal sheet When the journal sheet is to be inserted from the rear of the machine, such being the case when a continuous roll journal is used, certain elements of the machine must be moved out of active position to provide a clear pathway for the sheet in its passage into the correct aligned printing position around the platen. With the machine in open throat position, the paper pan 60 is moved away from the platen to the inoperative dash dot position of Fig. 5, by moving the hand lever 65 clockwise and latching the same, this operation being the same as previously described for front feed insertion of the journal sheet. The blade I3 is removed to inoperative position, that is, rearwardly, by depressing a slide 15 (Figs. 2 and 3) slidably mounted on lever 52 by means ofstuds 16 which project from lever 52 and extend into 'slots 11. A spring 18 tensioned between the lever 52 and the slide 15 normally urges the slide in a forward direction to maintain a hooked end I9 of slide 15 in locked engagement with the shaft 5| when in open throat position. Depression of.

the slide 15 causes the hooked end 19 to become disengaged from shaft 5| so that the blade 13 and the lever 52 may be freely moved rearward or clockwise.

After the paper pan 60 and the blade 13 have been removed to inoperative position, the journal sheet is inserted from the rear and moved forward under the platen where its forward edge is guided upwardly in front of the platen by a shield 80. Further progress of the journal sheet, however, may be interfered with by contact with the line finder which is in its normal inactive position. To prevent such interference the line finder 3| may be manually removed from its normal inactive position, in a clockwise direction moved forward by'the operator until its forward edge passes above the line finder 3|. The line finder 3| is yieldingly held against movement beyond its normal inactive position of Figs. 1 and 5 by a bell crank lever 8| pivoted at 34 and urged counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1,

against a limit stud 82 by a spring 83. The upper arm 85 of this lever is in the path of a stud 84 on an extension of one of the side arms which carries the line finder 3|. When the line finder is in its normal position the stud 84 contacts the lever 85. When it is desired to move the line finder beyond normal the finger piece 35 is pushed rearwardly. This finger piece is fixed to one of the side arms that supports the line finder and is formed at a more vertical angle than the finger piece 36. As the operator pushes on the finger piece 35 the line finder is moved beyond normal in a clockwise direction, the stud 84 engaging arm 85 and rocking bell crank 8| against the tension of spring 83.

With the blade in this retracted position, the journal sheet is moved further forward until its forward portion is passed over the line finder 3| at which point the linefinder may be released to normal inoperative position. Then the line finder may be moved counterclockwise to aligning position so as to raise the forward end portion of the journal sheet to a vertical position for alignment to the correct printing line.

Since the lever 52 is moved to the rearward po sition for the rear insertion of a journal sheet, the stud 54 of the lever 52 is not actively positioned to contact the lever 44 so as to cause the latching of the line finder in aligning position as it is in front feed insertion. The line finder 3| is latched in operative position without the use of the lever 52 and its stud 54 because as the line finder 3| is moved counterclockwise to aligning position against the journal sheet,- the spring 43 urges the lever 44 in a clockwise direction which in turn urges the latch 4| also in a'clockwise direction so that the stud 38 slides up the vertical portion of the T slot 48 and into the forward end of the horizontal portion instead of the rearward end portion as in the case of front insertion of a journal sheet.

After the journal sheet has been aligned into correct printing line, the paper pan '68 isreleased to engage the journal sheet and hold it against the platen by moving the finger lever 66 counter-- clockwise. The lever 52 carrying the blade 13, is manually returned to active forward position where its stud 54 engages the lever 44 to release the stud 38 from its latched position in the forward end portion of the T-shaped slot 48 and to enable the line finder 3| to return to inoperative position. The line finder 3| may also be returned to normal position'manually by moving the handle portion 5|] of the lever 4| in a counterclockwise direction to disengage the stud 38 from its latched position before returning the lever 52 to active forward position. The forward portion of the journal sheet may then be placed under the auxiliary feed roll 14.

' Sheet end signal There is also provided in the present invention a sheet end signal device which is adapted to prevent latching of line finder 3| in aligning position when the journal sheet nears its last printing line. In other words, the line finder is combined with a sheet end-.lock in such a way that when the operator rocks the line finder 3| into aligning position, it will not be latched therein in position as is usually the case, but will return immediately to inoperative position, thereby warning the operator that a new journal sheet is re quired. For this purpose a pawl or sensing means 86 (Fig. 5) is journaled on a shaft 81 and has an upper arm 88 in constant engagement with the forked end 89 of a lever 90. Lever 9|] is pivotally mounted on the shaft 5| and has a forwardly extending arm 9| carrying a stud 92 in position to be received in a notch 93 in a curved and downwardly extending arm 94 of the latch 4|. A spring 95 tensioned between shaft 8] and the lever 96 urges lever 90 in a clockwise direction and, thereby through the arm 88 urges the pawl 86 counterclockwise toward pan 6|] and into engagement with the journal sheet 62. After the journal sheet has been fed out of contact with the pawl 86, the pawl, under the urge of spring 95 drops counterclockwise into a slot provided for this purpose in the paper pan 68. Simultaneously, lever 99 is rocked clockwise so that stud 92 engages the notched arm 94 of the latch 4| with the result that the latch 4| is locked in inoperative position so that the line finder 3| cannot be latched in aligning position, although it may be moved thereto.

It is desirable that the operator be able to latch the line finder in aligning position even though the rearward edge of the journal sheet has passed the pawl 88 as when the operator wishes to print on the line below that in printing position when the sensing pawl 86 drops. To return the lever 9|] and the pawl 86 to inoperative position, there is provided a lever 96 which is fixed on the shaft 8'! and has a slot 91 through which extends shaft 5| so that lever 96 may be moved in a definite limited space. As lever 96 is moved counterclock- Wise a stud 98 on the lever 96 engages lever 90 to move the same counterclockwise so as to disengage lever 98 from latch 4| and to rock pawl 80 clockwise into normal raised position. The line finder may be latched in operative aligning position while lever 98 is manually held in counterclockwise position. The counterclockwise movement of lever 90 is limited by a stud 99 engaging lever' 99.

When a new journal sheet is to be inserted in the machine and it is, therefore, necessary to clear the pathway for insertion of the sheet, and with machine in the open throat position of Fig. 5 both the paper pan 68 and the pawl 86 may be moved to inactive position in one operation merely by moving the hand lever 66 in a clockwise direction without the additional manipulation of the lever 96 as above described. As the shaft 6| is turned counterclockwise so as to rock the paper pan 60 in the same direction to inoperative position, a cam I00, fixed on the shaft BI, is also rocked counterclockwise and engages a lug |8| carried by the pawl 86 so as to pivot the pawl to inactive position. Thus, by the one movement of the lever 66, the paper pan 60 is lowered and the pawl 86 is raised to their respective inefiective positions. The pawl 86 is also latched in its inefi'ective position by the same latching means which maintains the paper pan in inactive position.

Although the foregoing description has set forth one form of line finding device as applied to a Burroughs high keyboard bookkeeping machine, it will be apparent that the invention may be applied to different types of business machines. It will also be understood that changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a business machine, a platen, a frontfeed chute for receiving and guiding a sheet under the platen to printing position, said chut'e being movable relative to said platen from a sheet-receiving to a sheet-holding position and vice versa, a line finding device pivotally carried by said chute and movable independently thereof to and from line finding position, means for moving the line findingdevice to linefinding position while said chute remains in sheet-receiving position, means for releasably holding said line-finding device in line-finding position, and. means for returning said line finding device to inoperative position in so far as line finding is concerned.

2. In a business machine, a platen, a front-feed chute above and forward of said platen for receiving and guiding a sheet under the platen to printing position, said chute being movable relative to said platen from a sheet-receiving to a sheetholding position and vice versa, a line finding device pivoted to said chute and movable independently thereof to and from line finding position, manual means for moving the line finding device to line finding position while said chute remains in sheet-receiving position, means for releasably holding said line-finding device in linefinding position, and automatic means for returning said line finding device to inoperative position in so far as line finding is concerned.

3. In a,business machine, a platen, a front-feed chute for receiving and guiding a sheet to printing position, said chute being movable relative to said platen from a sheet-receiving to a sheetholding position and vice versa, a line finding device pivoted to said chute and movable independently thereof to and from line finding position, means urging 'said line-finding device to a position Where it is inactive for line finding, means for moving the line finding device to line finding position, means for latching the line finding device in line finding position and means automatically operable for releasing said latch to permit said line finding device to return auto- ,matically to inactive position in so far as line finding is concerned.

4. In a business machine,a platen, front-feed means movable to and from front-feed position for receiving and guiding a front-fed sheet to printing position, a line finding device pivoted to said front-feed means for movement therewith and movement independently thereof to and from line finding position, means for moving the line finding device to line finding position, means for latching the line finding device in line finding position, and means automatically operable upon movement of said front-feed means to closed throat position for causing said line finding device to return to inoperative position.

5. In a business machine, a platen, a frontfeed means for receiving and guiding a sheet to printing position, a line finding device, means for moving said line finding device to line finding position, latching means adapted to latch the line finding device in line finding position, a sheet controlled means governed by the presence of a sheet in contact with a portion of said means, and connections between said latch and said sheet controlled means adapted to prevent the latching of the line finder in 'line finding position when a to printing position, a line finding device, means for moving said line finding device to line finding position, latching means adapted to latch the line finding device in line finding position, a sheet end signal means, connections governed by said sheet end signal means adapted toprevent the latching of the line finder in line finding position when said sheet end signal is in one position, means for moving the sheet end signal means from said position to permit the latching of the line finding device in line finding position, and means for releasing said latch to permit said line finding device to move to inoperative position.

7. In a business machine having front-feed means movable to open and closed throat position for receiving and guiding a front-fed sheet to printing position, a line finding device, means for moving said line finding device to line finding position, latching means adapted to latch the line finding device in line finding position, a sheet end signal device, connections governed by said sheet end signal device adapted to maintain the said latching means in inoperable position when said signal device is in one position, means for moving the sheet end signal device from said position to permit the latching of said line finding device in line finding position, and means automatically operable upon closing of said throat to release said latch to permit said line finding device to move to inoperative position,

8. In a business machine, a front-feed means adapted to be moved to and from open throat position, a line finding device pivoted to said front- I feed means comprising a blade extending laterally of the machine and adapted to be used in aligning a sheet to the correct printing line by the adjustment of the sheet relative to the rear edge of the blade, means for moving said blade to line finding position while said front-feed means used in aligning a sheet to the correct printing line, means normally urging said line finder to inoperative position, means yielding limiting said Ilatter means, and means for moving said blade in one direction to line finding position, said blade being movable in the other direction against said yielding means.

10. In a business machine, a platen frame, a platen supported by said frame, a front-feed paper table, a pivoted line finding device pivoted to said'table comprising a blade extending laterally of the machine in front of said platen'and adapted to be used in aligning a sheet to the correct printing line, means normally urging said line finder to inoperative position, means yieldingly limiting said latter means, and means for moving said blade in one direction to line finding position, said blade being movable in the other direction against said yielding means.

11. In a business machine, a platen frame, a platen supported by said frame, a front-feed paper table adapted to support and guide a paper sheet, a line finding device pivoted to said table comprising a blade extending laterally of the machine in front of said platen and adapted to align a, sheet to the correct printing line, means for moving theblade to line finding position, latching means adapted to latch the line finding device in line finding position, means for releasing said latch to permit said line finder to return to inoperative position, a sheet end signal device, and connections governed by said sheet end signal device adapted to prevent the latching of the line finding device in line finding position when said signal device is in one position.

12. In a business machine," a platen frame, a platen supported by said frame, a front-feed paper table adapted to support and guide a Paper sheet, a line finding device pivoted to said table comprising a blade extending laterally of the machine in front of said platen and adapted to align a sheet to the correct printing line, means for moving the blade to line finding position, latching means adapted to latch the line finding device in line finding position, a sheet end signal device, connections thereto adapted when in one position to prevent the latching of the line finding device in line findingposition, means for moving said sheet end signal device out of said p0sition to permit the latching of the line finding device in sheet aligning position, and means for releasing said latch to permit said line finding device to move to inoperative position.

1 3. In a business machine, a platen frame, a platen supported by said frame, front-feed means including a paper table adapted to support and "guide a paper sheet, a line finding device pivoted to said table comprising a blade extending laterally of the machine in front of said platen and adapted to align a sheet to the correct printing line, means to move the blade to line finding position, latching means adapted to latch the line finding device in line finding position, a sheet end signal device adapted to engage the latching means so as to disable said latch when said device is in one position, means for latching said sheet end signal device in ineffective position to permit the latching of the line finding device in sheet aligningpositiom'and means for releasing said latch to permit said line finding device to return I to inoperative position.

14. In a business machine, a platen adapted to 'be moved to and from printingposition, a frontfeed means for receiving and guiding a sheet to printing position, a paper pan adapted to support a sheet during insertion and to maintain the same against the platen when in operative position, means for moving said pan to inoperative position, a line finding device adapted to align a sheet to the correct printing line, means for moving the line finding device to line finding position, means adapted to latch the line finding device in line finding position, a sheet end signal device adapted to prevent the latching of the line finding device in line finding position when inone position, a single means cooperating with. the paper pan moving means and said sheet end signal device whereby said paper pan and said sheet end signal device are moved simultaneously, and means for releasing said latching means to permit said line finding device to return toinoperative position.

15. In a business machine, a platen adapted to be moved toand from printing position, a front-feed means including a paper table adapted to support and guide a paper sheet, a line finding device pivoted to said table comprising a blade extending laterally of the machine in front of said platen and adapted to align a sheet to the correct printing line, means for moving said blade to line findingposition, latching means adapted to latch the line finding device in line finding position, a sheet end signal -device adapted to prevent the operation of said latching means, a paper pan adapted to support a sheet during insertion and to maintain the same against the platen when in active position, latchable means for moving said pan to inactive position, a single means cooperating with the paper pan moving means and said sheet end signal device whereby said paper pan and said sheet end signal device are moved simultaneously, and means for releasing said latch to permit the line finding device to return to inoperative position.

16. In a business machine, a platen, a frontfeed chute movable to and from front-feed position relative to said platen for receiving and guiding a sheet under the platen to printing posi-' tion, a line fin'ding device movable independently of said chute to and from line finding position, means for moving said line finding device to line finding position while said chute is in the frontfeed position, means for releasably holding said line-finding device in line-finding position and automatic means for returning said line finding device to inoperative position.

17. A machine of the class described having a finder normally occupying a position where it is inactive for line finding, means for moving said line finder to a line-finding position independently of said front-feed means and while said front-feed means is in front-feed position, holding means for releasably holding said line finder in line-finding position said line finder having portions acting, when so moved, to move the upper end of an inserted work sheet to a substantially vertical position and to releasably hold said sheet about said platen to enablesaid sheet to be adjusted to line position and to be held in such position by said line finder, and means operable to close said throat to grip said work sheet as'so held and to then cause said line finder to be moved automatically to inactive position.

18. A machine of the class described having a platen, front-feed means for receiving and holding a work sheet in front-fed position relative to said platen, said front-feed means providing a throat that is movable from a closed, to an open-'- throat position and vice versa and having portions that enable a sheet to be positioned face forward in said throat 'while it is open, a line finder urged to a position where it is inactive for line finding, means for moving said line finder to a line-finding position independently of said front-feed means, said line finder having portions acting, when so moved, to move the upper end of an inserted work sheet to a substantially vertical position and to releasably hold said sheet about said platen to enable said sheet to be ad- :iusted to line position and to be held in such position by said line finder, means for holding said line finder in line-finding position, and means operable to close said throat to grip said work sheet as so held and to subsequently disable ing a work sheet in front-fed position relative to said platen, said front-feed means providing. a throat that is movable from a closed to an openthroat position and vice versa and having portions that enable a sheet to be positioned face forward in said throat while it is open, a line finder urged to a position where it is inactive for line finding, means-for moving said line finder to a line-finding position independently of said front-feed means, said line finder having portions acting, when so moved, to move the upper end of an inserted work sheet to a substantially vertical position and to releasably hold said sheet about said platen to enable said sheet to be adjusted to line position and to be held in such position -by 'said line finder, means for holding said line finder in linefinding position, and means operable to close said throat to grip said work sheet as so held and to subsequently disable said line-finderholding means, the disabling portion of said means acting to maintain said holding means disabled until said throat is again opened.

20. A machine of the class described having a platen, front-feed means for receiving and holding a work sheet in front-fed position relative to said platen, said front-feed means providing a throat that is movable from a closed to an openthroat position and vice versa and having a paper chute that enables a sheet to be placed face downward in an inclined position in said throat while it is open, said chute being movable from a sheetreceiving to a sheet-holding position and vice versa, a line finder normally occupying a position where it is inactive for line finding, means for moving said line finder to a line-finding position independently of said paper chute, said line finder having portions acting, when so moved, to move the upper end of an inserted work sheet to a substantially vertical position and to releasably hold said sheet about said platen to .enable said sheet to be adjusted to line position and to be held in such position by said line finder, holding means for releasably holding the line-finder in line-finding position and means operable to close said throat to grip said work sheet, to move said chute from sheet-receiving to sheet-holding position, and to cause said line finderto be moved automatically to inactive position.

21. A machine of the class described having a printing mechanism, a platen movable from a printing position relative to said printing mechanism to a front-feed position and vice versa,

front-feed means associated with said platen for enabling a work sheet to be received and held in front-fed position relative to said platen, said front-feed means providing a throat that is movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa and having portions enabling a sheet to be placed face forward in said throat while it is open, a line finder normally occupying a position where it is inactive for line finding, means for moving said line finder to a line-finding position independently of said front-feed means and while said front-feed means is in front-feed position, hOlding means for releasably holding said line finder in line-finding position, said line finder:

having portions acting, when so moved, to move the upper end' of an inserted work sheet to a substantially vertical position and to releasably hold saidsheet about said platen to enable said sheet to be moved to, and to be held by said line finder, in line position, and means for closing said frontieed throat and moving said platen to printing position including means operating automatically after said front-feed throat has been closed to cause said line finder to be moved to its inactive position. I

22. A machine of the class described having a printing mechanism, a platen movable from a printing position relative to said printing mechanism to a front-feed position and vice versa,

front-feed meansassociated with said platen for enabling a work sheet to be received and held in front-fed position relative to said platen, said the upper end of an inserted work sheet to a substantially vertical position and to releasably hold said sheet about said platen to enable said sheet to be moved to and to be held by said line finder,

in line position, holding means for holding said line finder in line-finding position, and means for closing said front-feed throat and moving said platen to printing position including means operating automatically after said front-feed throat has been closed to disable said line-finder holding means to free said line finder for movement to inactive position.

23. A machine of the class described having a printing mechanism, a platen movable from a printing position relative to said printing mechanism. to a front-feed position and vice versa, front-feed means associated with said platen for enabling a work sheet to be received and held in front-fed position relative to said platen, said front-feed means providing a throat that is movable from closed to open-throat position and vice versa and having portions enabling a sheet to be placed face forward in said throat while it is open, a line finder urged to a position where it is inactive for line finding, means formoving said line finder to a line-finding position independently of said front-feed means, said line finder having portions acting, when so moved, to move, the upper end of an inserted work sheet to substantially vertical position and to releasably hold said sheet about said platen to enable said sheet to be moved to, and to be held by said line finder, in line position, holding means for holding said line finder in line-finding position, and means for closing said front-feed throat and moving said platen to printing position including means operating automatically after said front-feed throat has been, closed to disable said line-finder holdingmeans' and to maintain it disabled until said platen is moved to front-feed position.

24. A machine of the class described having a printing mechanism, a platen movable from a printing position relative to said printing mechanism to a front-feed position and vice versa, front-feed means associated with said platen for enabling a work sheet tobe received and held in front-fed position relative to said platen, said front-feed means providing a throat that is movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa and having a paper chute enabling a sheet to be placed face downward in an inclined position in said throat while it is open, said chute being movable from sheet-receiving to sheetholding position and vice versa, a line finder normally occupying a position where it isinactive for line finding, means for moving said line finder to line-finding position independently of said releasably hold said sheet about said platen to enable said sheet to be moved to, and to be held by said line finder, in line position, and means for closing said front-feed throat and moving said platento printing position and said chute from sheet-receiving to sheet-holding position including means operating automatically after said front-feed throat has been closed to cause said 5 line finder to be moved to its inactive position.

ROBERT L. MULLER.

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