US2200767A - Typewriting machine - Google Patents

Description

May 14,1940.`

C.` H. BEDERBECKE TYPEVYVRITING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet l l Ln May 14, 1940-r c. H. BEIDERBECKE `2.200.767

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1953 '7 sheets-sheet 2 2 :yVENTOR ATTORNEY May 14, 19404 c. H. BEIDERBE'CKE 2.200767 TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed June 22, 193s 7 sheets-smeet s May 14, 1940.* H

c. H. BEIDERBECKE 2.200,76?

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4' INVENTOR May 14, 1940;

C. H. BEIDERBECKE TYBEWRITING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1958 FIG, 6

'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 AT'ToRNEY v May 14 1940 I c. H. BEIDERBECKE TYPEWRITING MACHINE Fiied June 22,1938

'7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ATTORNEY n ."lr.

May 14,` 1940. C. H. BEIDR'BECK'E 2,200,707

TYPEWRITING MACHINE 4xfiledxnne 22, 1950 7 Vsheets-sheet 'r lINYENTOIR Patented May 14, 1940 Y l y A UNITED srATEs PATENT OFFICE Y 2,200,767 t i Charles H. Beiderbecke, Lyons, N. Y., assigner i to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Yori:

` Application June zz. 193s, semina. 215,110

` 15 Claims. (Cl. 1237-126) This invention relates to continuous billing Fig. 10 is a detail view of the knife supporting machines. arms and latch mechanism therefor:

The broad object of the present invention is Fig. 1l is a large scale vertical section on the to improve continuous billing machines. line il--II in Fig. 1;

5 An object is to provide a billing machine in Fig. 12 is a large scale vertical section showing 5 which the carriage of. the typewrlting machine in detail the meansl for adjusting the marginal is relieved of the weight of the forms carrier an guides on the paper table. carbon sheet controlling device. Fig. 13 is a large scale section on the line |3-,I 3

Another object is to provide a forms carrier in Fig. 5.

which is relatively simple in construction and The numeral 20 in Figs. 1 and 2 designates a. 10

operated by foot power thereby relieving the suitable desk which may be made of either wood operators hands of much of the work ordinarily or metal, but itis here shown as made of sheet required to effect a displacement ofthe carbon metal for convenience in description. The desk' sheets relative to the forms. 201s of more or less conventional design, having a l5 An object is to provide an improved plate corner recess 2| to provide adepressed support 15` displacing mechanism. for the typewriter 22. The typewriting machine Another Objectis to provide means to prevent here shown is the well -known International displacement of the platen to non-typing posipower operated typewriter which was formerly tion except when the carriage has been aligned known as the Electromatic. Since this mawith the forms carrier. chine is now well known in the art and its mech- 20 An object iS t0 provide means t0 automatically anisms have been described in numerous patents,

bring the carriage into alignment with the forms only a very brief general description, such as will carrier. enable those skilled in the art to understand the A further Object is to provide a forms carrier present invention, will be given herein.

adapted to'use carbon sheets in roll form where- The type bars 23 (Fig. 8) are pivotally mounted 25 by the pack 0f Continuous fOrmS may be kept on the Iusual wire segment 24 by means `of a supplied with fresh carbon sheets without recurved fuicrum wire 25. Each of the type bars is threading the fOrmS' except at relatively long ln- -ordinarily locked in the position of Fig. 8 by tervals. means of toggle links 26. One of the toggle links,

Further objects of the instant invention reside i the one which is pivoted to the type bar 23, is 30 l in any novel feature 0f GODStl'uCtOn 0r QDeratiOn connected by a link 21 to a sub-lever 28 pivoted or novel combination oi parts present in the emon a fulcruxn wire 29. 'I'he latter is supported in bodiment of the accompanying drawings whether a frame 30 which is mounted in the framework within or without the scope of the appended comprising the base of the machine. Pivotallyl claims and irrespective of other specic statemounted on rods 3l supported in the framework 35 ments as to the scope of the invention contained of the machine are cam units 32 connected by herein. links, like 33,. to the sub-levers 28. Each cam In the draWingSI unit has a cam 34 which, in the-case of those Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine; keys 35 (Figs. 1 and 8) which control the opera- 40 Fig, 2 is a vertical section substantially on the tion of the type bars, have two lobes, as in Pat- 40 line 2--2 0f Fiati; ent No. 1,777,055. Each key 35 has an arm 35a Fig. 3 is a large Iscale plan view ,of vthe forms integral therewith having a slotted connection carrier; to a trip lever 36 in the -associated cam unit. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of, the carbon mil When any key 35 is depressed, it operates its carriers. 4trip lever 35 through the arm 35a, allowing the 45 Fig. 5 is a iront elevati n oi one' of the carbon cam 34 of the associated cam unit 32 to rotate a roll carriers; j slight amount just suflicient to cause the cam Fig. 6 is a large scale rear view of the partial unit to be operatively engaged by the constantly carriage return mechanism; rotating power roller 31. The'lobe oi' the cam ,-,0 Fig. 7 is a large Vscale elevation of therightY 34, in cooperation with 'the power roller 31, causes 50 hand end of the carriagewith reference t0 Fig. 1: thecaln unit 32 tobe rocked in a'clockwise or a Fig. 8 is a large scale vertical section substancounterclockwise direction, depending upon tially on line 8-3 in Fig. 1; whether the operative cam unit is on the left Fig. 9 is a vperspective diagrammatic view ofhand rod 3l or the right hand rod Fig. 8. This the carriage return mechanism; causes the 'associated link 33 to become drawn 55 3? aaoeyrer front and rear rails 4l, 42, respectively. The

platen 43 is rotatably mounted on the carriage by means hereinafter to be described. The usual escapement mechanism is provided comprising a pair of escapement pawls 44 cooperating with the usual escapement rack 45 secured to the under side of the channel-shaped member 39. The escapement mechanism is of the same type disclosed in Patent No. 1,994,544, and is operated by means of a lever 46 pivoted on a bracket 41 secured to the rear rail 42. The lever 46 has a link connection 48 toa universal bar frame 49 having an arcuate portion 49a engaged by the type bars when they effect an impression.

The platen 43 is displaceably mounted on the carriage whereby it may be moved from a typing to a non-typing position for the purpose of permitting a pack of continuous forms with interleaved carbon sheets to be straightened for the purpose of effecting a displacement between the carbon sheets and the forms. 'I'he object of this feature is to enable the carbon sheets to be used repeatedly until exhausted. The platen is rotatably mounted on curved arms 50 (Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8) which are pivotally mounted on studs 5I carried by extension plates 52 secured to the carriage end plates 38. The arms 50 are integrally joined close to the platen by means of a tube 53 which may be welded or brazed or other wise secured to the arms 50. l

The platen-supporting arms 59 are latched in the position shown in Figs. 2, 'l and 8 by means of two similar latches 54, 55 secured to the opposite ends of a rod 56 rotatably mounted on the arms 50. The latches 54, 55 cooperate with oilset latch lugs 51a (Fig. 7) on latch plates 51 adjustably secured to the end plates 38 of the carriage. Springs 58, anchored to pins carried by the latches 54, 55 and the arms 58, hold the latches 54, 55 irl-engagement with the lugs 51a, thereby retaining the platen in the typing position shown i`n Figs. 2, 'l and 8.

In order to disengage the latches to permit raising the platen to its non-typing position there is provided a release lever 59 (Figs. 1, 2 and 7) which ispivotally mounted on rod 56. The lever 59 has a pin 59a (Fig. '7) in the plane of an arm 54a, formed in the right hand latch 54. When the lever 59 is raised by hand, that is, rocked clockwise in Fig. 7, the pin 59a` causes the latch 54, rod56, and latch 55 to be rocked clockwise as a unit to disconnect the latches from the latch lugs 51a. With further movement of the lever 59 the platen will be raised to an inoperative position.

The arms 58 supporting the platen 43 may be swung in' an arc of approximately sixty degrees and are limited in their clockwise movement (Fig. 7) by means of bent-over lugs 52a formed in the extension plates 52. 'I'he arms 5.0 are yieldin'gly held in engagement with the lugs 52a by means of torsion springs 60 coiled around the the studs 5I and hooked around the arms 60 and plates 52, respectively. These torsion springs 60 partly counterbalance the weight of the platen and the arms 50 whereby relatively little eiort is required to raise the platen to a non-typing position.

For reasons which will be explained hereinafter, it is desirable that the platen be locked in its typing position except when the carriage is at a predetermined point. For this purpose the liever 59 has an arm 59h (Figs. 2 and 7) formed with an arcuate slot 59c embracing the stud 5l. Secured to the base of the machine at therear of the carriage is an angle strip 6l which extends parallel with rear rail 42. One flange of angle strip 6i extends vertically and is beveled so as to just barely, clear one edge of the arm 59h. The angle strip/ has a slot 6| a formed 'in the vertical ilange in such a position that, when the carriage is centered, as in Fig. l, the slot Gla. will be directly opposite the lever` 59h, thereby permitting the arm 59h to pass through the slot. when the carriage is in a central position, the lever 59 may be rocked in a clockwise direction (Fig. 7) to displace the platen as described above. lin any other position of the carriage, however, the vertical ange of the angle strip 6I will block movement of the lever 59 in a clockwise direction and thereby prevent displacing the platen to non-typing position. While the platen is in displaced position, the arm 59h in slot Gla locks the carriage against accidental movement.

The carriage return mechanism has the same general construction as the one described in Patents No. 1,753,450 and No. 1,955,614, but is herein modied to provide for moving the carriage to an intermediate position, namely, the central position mentioned above. Fig. 9 is a perspective viewshowing parts of the carriage and the carriage return mechanism in more or less diagrammatic form. The carriage return key 62 (see Figs. 1 and 8 also) is pivoted on the left hand rod 3l (Fig. 8) and has an arm 62a controlling a cam unit '63 which is generally similar to the cam units 32 except that the cam unit 63 is provided with a single-.lobe cam 64 instead of a double-lobe cam.

The reference numeral 65 in Fig. 9 generally designates a friction clutch mechanism substan-` tially identical with the one described in Patent No. 1,753,450 which, when engaged, causes a tape drum 86 (Fig. 9) to be rotated in such a direction as to wind the carriage return tape 61. The tape 61 passes over a pulley 68 mounted on a fixed part of the framework and thence underneath the channel-shaped member 39 to a pulley G9 mounted on one arm of a bell crank 19. The latter is pivoted on a bracket 1I secured to the top surface of thejchannel-shaped member` 39, the arm of the lever 10 having the pulleyI 69 extending downwardly through an opening in the channel-shaped member. After passing over the pulley 69 the tape 61 is anchored to the underside of the channel-shaped member 39.

The clutch 65 is controlled by toggle links 12 (Fig. 9) which vinterconnect a relatively fixed bracket 13 secured to the base of the machine and a clutch operating lever 14. One of the toggle links has an arm 12a connected by a link 15 to the cam unit 63. Whenever the carriage return key 62 is depressed, the cam 64 of the cam unit 63 is caused to operatively engage the power roller 3l whereby the latter rotates the cam unit 63. in a. clockwise direction (Fig. 8). This causes the link 'I5 to be drawn downwardly to straighten the toggle comprising links 12 and move the toggle Thus.-

slightly over dead center position. The straight- '(5 other arm ofthe bell crank 18 is connected by a link 88 to one arm of a three-armed lever 8| pivotally mounted on a xed part voi the framework. One of the other arms ofthe lever 8| is connected by a link 82 (see Fig. 6 also) to a trip lever 83 pivotally mounted at 84 on the rear rail 42. 'The Y trip lever 84 has an inclined surface 83a designed to act as a cam surface. Secured'in the end platesq38 of the carriage is the usual marginal .stop rack 85 on which4 the right and left hand marginal stops 86, 81, respectively, are adj'ustably mounted.

When the carriage return key 62 is depressed to effect the engagement oi the clutch 65 and cause the carriage to bc returned, ythe lever 18 is rocked counterclockwise in Fig. 9. This causes the link 82 to movedownwardly and to theright in Fig. 9 or to the left in Fig. 6, thereby rocking the lever 83 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 6).

'I'his raises the inclined -cam surface'83a. into the path of movement of the downwardly projecting part 81a of the left hand marginal stop 81.

Eventually when the carriage is close tothe left hand marginal position, the projection 81g will strike the cam Surface 83a and rock the lever 84 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 6). This causes the link 82 to be drawn to the right in Fig. 6 or upwardly and to the leftin Fig. 9with the result that the lever 1,8 is rocked in a clockwise direction (Fig. 9) and the arm thereof cooperating with the arm 12a will bend the toggle comprising link 12 and eiect disengagement of the clutch 65 in the manner described in Pat,- ent 1,753,450.

The 'carriagev is arrested on the left hand marginal position by the engagement of the Aprojection 81a. on th left hand marginal stop 81 with a lug 88a formed in the usual tabular lever 88 forming part of the tabulating mechanism. By

similar cooperation with vthedownwardly pro- -jecting portion 86a of 'the right hand marginal stop 86 with the lug 88a the carriage isarrested in the right hand marginal position. The tabul lating mechanism is substantially identical with the one described in Patent No. 1,935,436 and,- since it is not directly involved herein. will not be described. Insofar as an understandingvof the carriage return mechanism is concerned, the tabular lever `88 may be considered as ilxed wherebylug 88a remains' in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 9.,'

` For the purpose of arresting4 the carriage in an intermediate' position there is provided an `intermediate marginal-stop 89 (Figs. 6 and 9) which 'may be adjustably mounted upon marginal stop rack 85V in the same general way as with the tips of the teeth. The stop 89 has an o'set lug 89a (see'Fg. 9)y having the sameffunc.- tion as the projection 81a.

Mounted on the rear rail 42 is a plate 98 formed with alug 98a on which is pivoted an arm 9|. This arm as shown in Figs. 6 and 9, extends horizontally along the top of the rear rail 42 to a point just under the lug 88a and is designed to be raised, that is, rocked counterclockwise in Fig. 6 to bring the right hand end of arm 9| into the path of movement of the lug 89a. When the arm 9| is in the raised position, it forms an obstruction for the carriage 'by cooperation, with the lug 88a.l to positively arrest.

,the carriage in an intermediate position.

A pin 9|a (Fig.- 9) on the arm 9| is embraced mounted `at 9 3 (Fig. 6) on a lever 94 which is pivotally mounted ona stud 95 on plate 98. Lever 94 has an oiset lug 94a having a hole through which link 82 passes (Fig. 7)'. The stud 95 (Fig. 9) is embraced bya slot formed in the lever 94 and a spring 96, anchored to the lever 94 and to a relatively fixed part carried by the rear rail 42, holds the lever 94 in the position shown in Fig. 6. The lever 92 is somewhat longer `.by a slot in a somewhat similar arm 92 pivotally than the arm 9| so as toproject to the left of the lug 88a (Fig. 9) or to the right (Fig. 6) several letter spaces distance. Like the lever 9|, the right hand end (Fig. 6) of lever 92 will take a position in the path of movement of the lug 89a. whenever the lever 9| is raised, owing to the fact that the lever 92 is slidably mounted on the lever 9| by means of the pin 9|a. However, due to the fact that arm 82 is somewhat longer than arm 9|,

the lug 89a will engage the end of arm 92 before said lug strikes the end of arm 9|.

, The movement of arm 92 relative to arm 9|- is utilized to disengage the carriage return clutch. For this purpose, there is mounted. upon link 82 (Figs. 6 and 9) a collar 91. When the link 82 isdrawn to the left in Fig. 6, as described above, the collar191 is brought into contact with the lug 94a onlever 94 through which the link 82 passes. `When the lug 89a strokes the end of arm 92, said arm is moved longitudinally to the left in Fig. 6, thereby rocking the lever 94 in a counterclockwise direction. This movement, by the engagement of the lug 94a with the collar 91. pushes the link 82 to the right in Fig. 6 and thereby effects disengagement of the carriage return clutch, in the same fashion as the lever 83.

The levers 9|, 92 are raised intocooperation with the lugl89a by means of a system of levers and links connected to the carriage return key This lever system is shown in Figs. 6 to 9; Secured to a xed part of the framework under-v neath the keyboard is a bracket 98 (Fig. 8) on which is pivotally mounted, adjacent the carriage return key, a lever 99. The latter has a pin and `slot connection to the carriage return key whereby lever 99 is rocked in a clockwise direction (Fig. 8) whenever the carriage return key is depressed. The lever 99 is'connected ,by means of a horizontal link |88 to .a bellerank |8| pivotally mounted on a bracket |82 secured to the -framework of the machine. Bell crank |8| is |82a with the y l2a will elevate both of the arms 9|, 92 to bring the free ends thereof into position to be engaged by the lug 89a on the intermediate marginal stop 89.

5 When it is desired to return the carriage to the left hand marginal position preparatory to beginning a new line of typing, the carriage return key 62 is merelydepressed and released immediately. Thus, while this operation results in elevating the free ends of the arms 9|, 92 as described, the immediatevrelease of the carriage return key permits the arms 9|, 92 to fall back to the positions shown in Figs. 6 and 9. When itis 'desired to centralize the carriage in preparation for lifting the platen to its non-typing position, the carriage return key is held depressed by hand. This causes the arms 9|, 92 to be held in elevated position whereby, eventually, lug 89a. will strike the end of lever 92 and move it to the left (Fig. 6) or to the right (Fig. 9) and effect the disengagement of the carriage return clutchv65. In order to absorb the shock resulting when lug 89a strikes the end of arm 9|, the plate 90 is slidably mounted on studs 90b, 90o (Fig. 6) the studs projecting through aligned lslots in thc plate. A heavy coil spring 90d, anchored to a pin 90e carried by plate 90 and to stud 90e, normally holds the plate in the position of Fig. 6 with the left hand ends of the slots engaging the studs 90b, 90o. Obviously this construction permits the plate 90 to yield to the left in Fig. 6 when lug 89a strikes arm 9|.

If it should happen that the carriage occupies a position with the lug 89a within a few letterspaces distance from the lug 88a the lug 89a will be over the end of the arm 92 and prevent this arm from rising its full extent. However, the parts are so proportioned that while arm 92 is obstructed from moving more than a small amount, the carriage return key 62 may, nevertheless, be depressed suiiiciently to cause engagement of the clutch by releasing the cam unit 63 for operation. This causes a full return of the carriage tothe lef-t hand marginal position.

The platen 43 is, as usually the case with power operated carriage return mechanisms, automatically line spaced each time thecarriage is returned. The means by which the platen is line spaced is described in .Patent No. 1,957,322; consequently a detailed description herein will be unnecessary. With reference to Figs. 8 and 9, the lever 10 is rocked with each operation of the carriage return mechanism owing to the fact that the tape01 passes over the pulley 69 and is anchored to the channel-shaped member 39 joining the carriage in the plates 38. This operation takes place before the carriage starts to move.

Thelever 10 (Fig. 9) has one of its arms 30 slotted to embrace'a lug formed in a slide |03 mounted for vertical movement on the left hand carriage end plate 38. I'his slide carries a pivoted dog |04 lwhich engages the usual line space ratchet |05 (Figl) whereby, each time the slide |03 is drawn downwardly, the platen will berotated an extent dependent upon the setting of the usual line space control lever |06` The paper table consists of a partly at and partly cylindricalplate of sheet metal which has riveted at its ends triangular plates |08 pivotally mounted on the studs 5l which pivotally support the platen arms 50. The edges of the plate |01 are formed with longitudinal flanges l01a which stiffen the plate. Springs |09,l (Fig. 8) anchored to studs carried by the plates |00 and to ends of the marginal stop rack 85, tend to rock the plates |01, |08 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 8). Movement in this direction, however, is limited by studs |l0 on the carriage or otherwise fastened U-shaped pieces ll2, the

arms of which project through the slots l01b (Fig. l1) and maintain the side guidesv l ll parallel 'and at right angles to the platen. However, the U-shaped members ll2 lit the slots l01b slightly loosely to permit the side` guides l| I to be adjusted longitudinally of the paper table For the purpose of securing the side guides lll in their adjusted positions there are provided thumb' screws ll3 which loosely pass through holes in theside guides lll and elements |l2 and are threaded into washers lll. To prevent thewashers from rotating when the thumb screws l|3 are tightened for the purpose of clamping the side guides lll in adjusted position, each of the washers is milled to provide a rib (Fig. 12) which vprojects sligh`tly.into the slots l01b. 'I'he ribs do not fit the slots |01b very tightly, therefore the washers do not interfere with the adjustment of the side guides lll longitudinally of the paper table |01.

For reasons which will be apparent herdnafter, it is desirable that means be provide to relieve the platen and the usual pressure rollers lll5, .l I6 (Figs. 7 and 8) from the tension caused by the weight of the continuous forms hanging from the rear edge of the paper table |01. For this purpose, the side guides lll are.provided with slots Illa (Figs. 7, 8 and 11) which are placed at an angle to the surface of the paper table |01. A rod ||6 is loosely mounted at its ends in the'slots llla, the rod being shouldered to form reduced portions which are loosely embraced by the slots. The rod I6 rests on the topmost web of a pack of continuous forms interleaved with carbon sheets, as shown in Fig. 1.

During the typing of the forms, the rod lll does not interfere with the free linespacing movement of the forms toward the introductory side of the platen, owing to the tendency of the forms to vlift the rod and move it diagonally away from the paper table |01. However, when the platen is raised and the leading ends of the forms are released, the weight of the forms tends tol drag the leading ends of the forms rearwardly over the paper table. `This tends Vto move the rod |l6 closer to the paper table |01 whereby the rod, vin consequence of its own weight and the friction between 'the rod andthe forms, tends to .clamp the forms' and prevent the forms from slipping oft the papertable.

The feed rollers ll5, llB' (Figs. 7 and 8)l are mounted upon the paper deflector ll1 which sacara? 1 |20 is a `plunger |2| having a shouldered portionA at the upperv end projecting `loosely `through a hole in' the arm IIB,` A compression spring |22, seated on a shoulder on `the upper end of the sleeve |20 and bearing against a mushroomshaped head on. the upper endof plunger |2|, tends to press the paper table upwardly into engagementwith the platen.

Also loosely `pivotally mounted upon rod ||9 is a form-severing knife and front side guide assembly, one end of which is shown in Fig. 10. This assembly includes two arms |23 (see Figs. 7 and 8 also) each of which is located adjacent one of the carriage end plates 38. The arms |23 project upwardly above and-in front of the platen and are rigidly joined together by a rod |24 hav-v ing a longitudinal slot in which is pressed a ser rated knife|25 (see Fig. 1 also). Adjustably slidably mounted on the rod |24is a pair of front side guides comprising a hub |26 to which is secured an oblong guide plate |21. The hubs |26 are slotted to accommodate the serrated knife |25 which prevents rotation of the side guides upon the rod |24.

thumb screws |28 threaded into holes in the hubs. Normally, springs |23a connected to the arms |23 (Fig. 10) and to studs carried by the carriage end plates 38 hold the arms |23 against stop pins |29 also carried by the end'plates 38. i i

The knife |25 normally occupies a position very close to the platen (Fig. 7) and is locked in this position by means of latches |30 (Fig. 10) pivotally mountedcn studs |3| carried by the arms |23. Torsion springsll32, hooked around pins carried by the latches` |30 and through holes in the'pins |3I, tend to urge the latches |30 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 10). 'Ihe lower ends of the latches are hook-shaped, as at |30a in Figs. 7 and 10. so as to partly surround sleeves |33 forming part of the platen assembly. It is evident that the hook-shaped portions |30a of latches |30 prevent rocking the knife and side guide assembly away from the platen (Fig. 10).

When it is desired to manipulate forms wrapped around the platen to correct skewing of the forms or for any other reason, the latches |30 at each end of the carriage may be pressed rearwardly of the machine or to the left in Fig. 10, vthereby rocking the` hook-shaped portions' |30a downwardly far enough to disengage them from the sleeves |33 and permit the knife and side guide assembly to be rocked clockwise (Fig. 10) or counterclockwise (Fig. 7) away from the platen.

A forms carrier is provided for supporting and guiding the pack of continuous forms and rolls of carbon paper. The construction of the forms carrier is shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The forms carrier is pivotally mounted in the desk 20 whereby it may be operated and controlled by means of the operators feet. Beneath the typewriter -22 the desk is provided with a U-shaped partition plate |34 (Figs. 1 and 2) which provides a space for the operators legs. Spaced from the side walls of the partition plate |34 are the left hand side panel |35 and the central partition panel |36 of4 The side guides |26 are se# cured in their adjusted positions by means ofA the desk, providing a narrow vertical space on each side of the space for the operators feet.

Within thetwo spaces between the panels |34, |35 and the side walls of the plate |34 is pivotally mounted a framework which-includes a pair of angle` strips. |31 pivotally mounted on the panels |35, |36 by means of studs |38 (Fig. 2) carried byanged support members |39 secured to the panels |35, |36. The angle'strips |31 extend upwardly and rearwardly of the pivots |38 into the relatively large space behind the typewriter formed by the rear wall of the plate |34 and the rear halves of panels |35, |36. This space is open at the bottom and at the rear of the desk, `but is covered by a part of the desk top |40a which is hinged at |4| to the remainder of the desktop |40. The hinged portion |40a. may beraised and folded back upon the remainder of the desk top |40 to provide access to the forms carrier in replacing the carbon rolls and threading the forms. The partition plate |34 terminates at the level of the corner recess 2| to permit the pack of forms to pass from the forms carrier to the carriage.

At their upperv rear ends the angle strips |31 are rigidly joined by an angle strip |42 which may be welded or brazed to the angle strips |31. The angle strips |31 are also joined by `means of a tie rod |43. Secured to the angle strips |31 approximately two-thirds of the length of the angle strips from the studs |38 are arms |44 which are bolted securely to the angle strips by means of bolts |45. A second tie rod |46 rigidly inter-connects the links |44. i

Normally the framework so far described is held in the elevated position shown in Fig. 2 by means of latches, like |41 (Fig. 2) pivoted on l studs |48 carried by hanged elements |49, like |39, secured to the panels |35, |36. These latches engage studs |50 on angle strips |31. In order to secure quiet operation of the latches |41, the studs |50 are provided with short sections of rubber tubing which prevent the clicking noise commonly experienced with latching mechanisms of this type. In order to reduce wear on the sections of tubing, the latches |41 are provided with brackets |41a which are wide enough to reduce the indentation of the rubber Which would occur if the relatively thin edges of the latches were permitted to rub on` the rubber. The latches |41 are released by means of a foot trea'dle |5| (Fig. 2) which is formed from a narrow strip of sheet metal with marginal stiffening flanges and pivoted at its corners to two arms |52 which in turn are pivoted on studs |53 carried by hanged members |54 secured to the panels |35, |36. Secured to the angle strips |31 at the pivot point |38 are arms |55 connected by means of links |56 to the arms |52. The links |56 are extended beyond the point of pivoting to the arms |52 and to these links are attached spring anchor rods |51. Springs |58 anchored to the rods |51 and hook bolts |59 counterbalance a very large share of the weight of the parts pivoted on the studs |38. The hook bolts |59 are located in' holes on brackets |60 secured to the panels |35, |36.

The springs |58 are adjusted in tension so as to o permit the framework, of which the members |31 are part, to drop of its own weight when latches described. The carbon roll carriers the pedal |5| in a clockwise direction relative to the arms |52 by pressurevof the operators feet on the rear edge of the pedal. Springs |62 connected to the links |6| and to xed partsof the desk hold the latches |41 against flanged stop members |63 secured to the panels |35, |36.

Adjustably mounted on the tie rods |43, |46 are two carbon roll carriers |65 best illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5 on each of which is mounted a roll of carbon paper |64 by means hereinafter to be |65 are formed from nat sheet metal plates provided with narrow stiifening flanges along'each edge. One of the anges |65a of each carrier has holes through which lossely pass the rods |43, |46 and while the other flange has two hubs riveted tov the flanges |65a through which the rods |43, |46 pass. Thumb screws |61 secured into holes in the hubs |66 provide a means whereby the carbon roll carriers |65 may be adjustably secured in any desired position along the rods |43, |46. Securedto the top face of each carbon roll carrier |65 is a pair of brackets |68, |69 in which the carbon rolls |64 are rotatably mounted. As shown in Fig. 5, the brackets |68 are single armed and provided with pvoted spring pressed latches. |68a which cooperate with the axles |10 on which the carbon" rolls |64 are mounted, the axles resting in a notch formed in the bracket |68.' The brackets |69 are double-armed and rotatably support stub shafts |1| (Figs. 4 and 13) to which are pinned collars |12, each collar being located between the arms of the bracket |69 as shown in Fig. 13. The stub shafts |1| are provided with enlarged portions |1|a having transverseslots |1|b. Each stub shaft |1| also has a bore |1|c adapted to receive a reduced portion formed in the end of the axle |10. The axle |10 is also transversely slotted to form a key or spline |1|d which ts in the transverse slot |1|b in the stub shaft |1| whereby the axle |10 and the stub shaft |1| are coupled together. Cooperatingwith each collar |12 (Figs. 5 and 13) are two brake members |13 which are pivoted on a common pin |14 mounted on the arms of the bracket |69. At their free ends the brake members |13 are interconnected by a spring |15 and are curved so as to partly conform to the curvature of the collar |12. 'Ihus the carbon rolls |64 mounted on the rods |10 are frictionally restrained from rotation.

Each ofthe carbon roll Camiers |65 (Figs. 3 to 5) is provided with a pair of posts |16 located l adjacent the edges of the carbon strips unwound from the rolls |64. At this point it is desired to explain that each roll |64 comprises a plurality of superposed webs impregnated with carbon material. Mounted on the posts |16 are the carbon turning members |11 which consist in each case of'rods bent in the form of a triangle to provide a carbon sheet turning bar |11a and a separating bar |11b, with the turning bar |11a forming an angle of forty-five degrees with the separating bar |11b. l

At the ends of the separating -bar |11b there is secured to the bends in the carbon turning members |11 grooved bushings |11c, the bushings being welded or brazed to the carbon turning member. The bushings |11.c fit loosely over the posts |16 whereby the carbon turning members may be stacked upon the posts, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and clamped in place by means of thumb screws |18. The bushings |11c are of such thickness and the posts |16 are so designed that the carbon turning members may be stacked in an interleaved,relationship'fbest shown yin Figs.,` 4

vand 5, whereby-any given carbon turning mem-` ber mounted o n one-pair ofposts |16 extends between a similar pairof such members located on the opposite pairof posts |16. This construction is necessary when fanfolded continuous forms are used, owing to the fact that such forms have longitudinal folds and it is necessary that the carbon turning members project into these folds and wholly supported at the open side of the fold.

The' front and rear or shorter marginal anges |651) (Figs. 3 to 5) of the carbon roll carriers |65 support side guides |19 which are in the formof angularbrackets attached to the ends of the anges |65b by means of screws |80. Slots in the side guides |19 permit the guides |19 to be adjusted transversely of the pack of continuous forms to guide the edges thereof. n

With reference to Figs.A 3 to 5, the individual plies of carbon webs |64a leading from the rolls |64 are separated by means of the separating bars |11b of the form guides |11. From the separating bars I11b the individual webs pass in between the open sides of the folds of the forms vwhich are designated |81 in Figs. 1 and 3, and

led over the turning bars |11a which deflect the webs parallel with the edges of the forms |8| as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3 the continuous forms are shown as of the well known fanfold type in which the forms are made from a relatively wide 'strip folded longitudinally a plurality of times so as to have alternate folds ,cooperating with the ends of alternate carbon turning members |11, with the carbon webs |64a introduced at the open sides of the folds. Since it is well known in the art how to load a forms carrier employing carbon rolls in a billing .machine utilizing fanfold forms, this operation will not be described herein.

In order to relieve the friction of the forms upon the front and rear edges of the carbon carriers |65 from which the forms hang, there is provided a. pair of guide rollers |82 having the ends thereof reduced and loosely seated in holes carried by the side guides |19. These rods are not shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in order to avoid confusion, but appear in Figs. 1 and 3. front side guides |19, that is, those nearest the typewriter with reference to Fig. 2, are provided withk two of the guide rods |82 between which the pack of forms passes, whereby, when the forms carrier is in the position of Fig. 2 and the Slack in the forms there shown has been completely taken up, spreading of the top webs of the forms, which would tend to lift the guides |11, is prevented.

The forms are placed in a box |83 (Fig. 2) secured tothe lower edges of the panels |34, |36 whereby the forms are supported as clo to the oor as possible so as to allow ample space for the forms carrier to oscillate. In order to limit movement 'of the forms carrier and reduce shock due to its stoppage, there are secured to the ends of the arms |31 rubber cushions |84 like the feet usually attached to typewriter bases. These cushions strike at rubber pads |85 cemented or otherwise secured to the bottom of the box near the side Walls. If desired, the box |83 may be provided with adjustable side plates |86 slidably mounted in slots in the floor of the box in much the same fashion as the side guides for the purpose of holding the forms in the box in alignment with the 'forms carrier.

The operation of the machine will now be explained in detail.

The

- the paper table |01 and the form guides |82 nearest the typewriter. As the typing of the forms proceeds this slack is gradually taken up whereby, when the last line of the form has been typed, there may be very little slack remaining.

'Ihe n'ext operation is to effect a displacement between the carbon sheets and the forms to shift the active portions of the carbon sheets from cooperation with the first set of forms to cooperation with the second set of forms. At this point it is desired to state that in accordance with custom in this art, the leading .edges of the car-i bon sheets 'may terminate a short distance from the leading edges of the first forms or are sodesigned that the leading edges of the rst set of forms may .be grasped bythe operators ngers without grasping the carbon sheets. Unless the carriage happens to be in the "central position, it will be impossible, as pointedout above, to raise the platen to its non-typing position. In order to align the platen with respect to the forms carrier, as in Fig. 1, the operator may depress the carriage return key and hold it in depressed position; This causes the carriage to be returned to the intermediate position (Fig. 1) in which the slot Sla (Fig. 7) registers with the arm 55h of lever 59. With the carriage now in the position of Fig. 1, the operator grasps the leading edges of the first forms with one hand and, while still holding the forms, raises the platen to non-typing position by lifting the lever 59 as described above. While holding the corners of the forms with both hands, the operator next presses down upon the pedal |5| (Fig. 2) in such fashion as to rock the pedal clockwise (Fig. 2) and thereby disengage the latches |41 from the studs |50. This permits the forms carrier to swing ina clockwise direction of its own weight, thereby drawing the forms straight. This operation tends to lift the rod H6 (Figs. 1 and '1) away from the paper table |01 and at the same time draws the carbon sheets and'forms downwardly and to the right in Fig. 2 to pull the forms into a straight stretch extending diagonally downwardly from left to right (Fig. 2) between the operators fingers and the rods |02 on the forms carrier. If desired, this movement of the forms carrier can be used to effect all, or

' nearly all, of the displacing movement ofthe gauge the amount of movement of the carbon sheets relative to the forms, a suitable leading edge gauge of conventional form may be used. However, since the forms are usually so thin that the carbon sheet easily can be seen through the forms, the operator can, by watching the forms and controlling the movement of theforms carrier, or, by pulling the forms upwardly, gauge the displacement by eye.

The precise method followed in any given case will be discretionary with the operator 4and will depend largely on the length of the forms. Thus with short forms, requiring `only a short displacement of the carbon sheets, the forms carrier might move too far and shift the carbon sheets too much when the'downward movement of the forms carrier takes place. In this case the operator may allow the forms carrier to pull the forms downwardly until the forms carrier stops and then eiectthe entire displacing oper- .ation by pulling on the forms with the hands.

When long forms are used, the operator,after Yraising the platen, may pull the forms into a straight stretch and then allow the forms carrier to shift the carbon sheets to the next set of forms while rmly holding the leading edges of the iirst set o f forms.

After the shifting of the carbon sheetsA takes place, the forms carrier may be raised to latching vposition (Fig. 2) by pushing the pedal |5| to the right. 'I'he platen is now lowered; the line of perforations between the rst two sets of forms is brought into registry with the knife |25 by-turning the usual platen rotating knobs. and the rst set of forms severed. The machine `is now in readiness to .type the second set of forms.

After a certain number of forms have been typed, the working portions of the carbon sheets will become exhausted of transfer material and new working portions must be brought to working position. This is done, during the carbon shifting operation, by grasping both the forms and carbon sheets and unwinding sufficient lengths of carbon sheets from rolls |64 to provide new working portions. The used portions are severed from the new portions when the last vtyped forms are severed after the carbon shifting operation. The braking effect exerted on the carbon rolls |64 is adjusted to normally hold the carbon rolls against rotation when the carbon sheets are shifted but to permit the rolls to4 turn when both the forms and carbon sheets are pulled by hand.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to `be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is asf follows:

1. In a continuous -billing machine, the combination of a carriage having a platen displaceable from a forms typing to a carbon stripping position; a forms carrier movably mounted behind the carriage independently thereof, said forms carrier having means to anchor carbon sheets interleaved with the forms; means to align the carriage with the forms carrier and means to prevent displacement of the platen except when the carriage is aligned with the forms carrier.

2. In a continuous billing machine, the combination with acarriage, a platen displaceably the platen, means to operate the forms carrier to produce a slack loop in the forms between the platen and forms carrier to permit free movement of the carriage, meansto move the carriage into alignment with the forms carrier as a preliminary to effecting a displacement between-the forms and the carbon sheets, and means mounted independently of the carriage and cooperating With the platen displacing means to prevenadisplacement of the platen except when the carriage and forms carrier are aligned.

3. In a continuous billing machine, the combination with a carriage, a platen displaceably mounted in the carriage for movement from a typing to a carbon stripping position, and means operative when the platenis displaced to carbon stripping position to lock the carriage against movement.

4. In a continuous billing machine, the com'v bination' with a carriage, a platen displaceably 'mounted in the carriage for movement from a typing to a carbon stripping position, ya forms carrier movably mounted behind the carriage for supporting and guiding a pack of forms with interleaved carbons to the platen, said forms carrier being movable away from the platen as an incident to displacement of the carbon sheets from one set of forms to another set of forms, means to hold the forms carrier in a forward position, means controlled by the operator for moving the forms carrier, and means operated by the last-named means for releasingthe holding means. I

5. In a continuous billing machine, a carriage having a platen displaceable from a writing to a carbon stripping position, a forms carrier comprising a frame pivoted for oscillatory movement toward and from the carriage and having means to support and guide a pack of continuous forms with interleaved carbon sheets wrapped around the platen, said pack extending'from the platen to and over said forms carrier with a slack loop between said platen and said carrier, means to latch the forms carrier in a forward position to maintain the slack loop, a pedal f or controlling the movement of the forms carrier awayl from its forward position and for restoring the carrier-to said position. and connections between the latching means arid pedal for controlling the latch.

6. In a continuous billing machine,`a cariage, a forms carrier mountedin the rear of the carriageand relative to which the carriage is movable in writing lines, said forms being interleaved with carbons; a platen displaceably mounted in the carriage for movement from a typing to a carbon stripping position, and means to prevent displacement of the platen to carbon stripping position except when the carriage is in a positio favorable for stripping carbons.

'7. In a continuous billing machine, a carriage, va platen movablymounted inthe carriage for displacement from a typing to a carbon stripping ,'position, means to hold the platen in typing position,'means to release the holding'ineans, and

means cooperating with the releasing means and adaptedto prevent operation of the releasing respectively.

assoir-'rev ment of the carriage when the platen is dis-.

` placed to carbon stripping-position. f'

having a platen displaceable from a forms typing to a carbon stripping position, manual means to displace the platen, and means cooperating with the manual means and including a locking bar disposed parallel withlthe path of movement of the carriage for locking the displacing means against operation in'all positions of the carriagev except a predetermined position, said locking bar being so shaped that, when the platen is displaced in the predetermined position of the carriage, the carriage is locked against movement.

l0. In a continuous billing machine, the combination with a carriage and a platendisplace ably mounted in the carriage for movement from a typing to a carbon stripping position; a forms carrying device comprising a pivoted frame having meansto support and guide continuous forms, means to support rolls of transfer webs alongside the margins of the forms, andmeans to guide the transfer webs between the forms and turn the webs longitudinally of the forms, said forms carrying device being movable toward and away from the platen for the purpose of producing a slack loop in the pack comprising the forms and transfer webs between the platen and forms carrying device, said device being mounted independently of the 4carriage so as to remain stationary when the lcarriage moves; releasable means to hold the forms carrying device in a forward position to maintain said loop, and means to operate Vboth the forms carrying deviceand the holding means, said operating means being operable in one -way to first release the holding means and in another and different way to control the movements of said device toward and away from the slack loop maintaining position.

1l'. In a continuous billing machine, a carriage and a platen movably mounted on the carriage for displacement from atyping to a carbon' stripping position, a forms carrier and carbon strip anchoring device mounted for movement toward and away from the platen to retract the carbon sheets, means to hold the forms carrier device at one of its limits of movement, and means operable in two different ways to operate the forms carrier device and the holding means,

l2. In a continuous billing machine, the combination of a carriage, a platen movably mounted in the carriage for displacement from a typ-- ing to a carbon stripping position, means including a manual lever for displacing the platen, a forms carrier mounted independently of the carriage so as tobe immovable with4 the carriage, and a slotted bar cooperating with the manual lever to prevent displacement of the platen, the

slot in said'bar permitting operation of said lever only when the platen is aligned with the forms carrier.

13.. lIn a continuous billing machine, a. carriage, a platen mounted in the carriage, aforms carrier having a xed mounting so as tobe immovable with the carriage in its letterspacing movements, key controlled power operated means to align the carriage with the forms carrier, and

`means to lock the carriage in alignment withl tine forms carrier.

14. In a continuous billing machine,ja carriage, a platen movably mounted in the carriage for displacement from a writing toa carbon stripping position, a forms \carrier pivotally mounted independently of the carriage for movement toward and away from the carriage, platen displacing means, key controlled power operated means to align the platen and formsl carrier, and means cooperating with the platen displacing means for preventing displacement of the platen unless the latter is aligned with the forms carried and operative to lock the carriage against movement when the platen is displaced.

15. In a continuous billing machine, a carriage, a platen movably mounted in the carriage, for displacement yfrom a typing to a carbon stripping position, releasable means to hold the platen in typing position, and a locking device for preventing release of the holding means except when the carriage is in a predetermined position.

f CHARLES H. BEIDERBECKE.

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