US2202565A - Typewriter - Google Patents

Description

R. s. REID 2,202,555

TYPEWRITER 'Filed Aug. 7, 1957 4 sheets-snaai 1 May 28, 1940.A

R. s. REID 2,202,565

TYPEWRITER Filed Aug. '7, 1937 ,4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y May 2s, 1940., R. s. Ram 2,202,565 wwwa-ITER Filed Aug. 7. 1937 4 Ysheets-smet s May 28, 1940. JR. s. REID 2,202,565

TYPEWRITER Filer; Aug. 7, 1937 4 sheets-sheet 4Y Patented 'May 28, 1940 PATENT OFFICE TYrEwm'rEa aosweu s. nem, Morgantown, w. va., assigner to West Virginia Newspaper Publishing Company,

. Morgantown, W. Va., a

' Virginia corporation of West Application August 7, 1937, Serial No. 157,964

1o claims.

The present invention relates to typewriters, and particularly to typewriters provided with mechanisms of the type heretofore generally designated variable spacing mechanisms.

The ordinary typewriter now in widespread use is so designed and constructed that each printed Yletter occupies the same space, measured longitudinally of the printed line, no distinction being made between wide and narrow letters, the wide letters being necessarily crowded or condensed and each of the relatively narrow letters occupying what appears to be an excessive amount of space. This follows from the fact that,

despite variations in width of the various letters from the widest of the capital letters to the narrowest of the small letters, the travel of the typewriter carriage is in equal increments and the printing mechanism is so designed that each letter is4 impressed on the paper with its center equi" distantly spaced from the centers of the preceding and subsequent letters. As a result a completed typewritten line varies substantially in appearance from a printed line, a line printed from a previously set up grupl of printers type having the letters therein equidistantly spaced apart, i.,e., the distances between the letters areequal.

It has heretofore been proposed that, by modifying the construction of the conventional typewriter in such manner that the carriage thereof is caused to move forwardly after each actuation of a type bar, a distance proportional to the width of the letter just printed instead of uniform or identical distances, that theilnal ap-l pearance of .a typewritten line might be caused to be indistinguishable from that of a printed line, at least insofar as the spacing of the letters therein is concerned. While various mechanisms of this general type have been suggested none has;

for various reasons, been actually made commercially available. It is the purpose of the present invention vto provide a typewriter of entirely practical nature whereby, by means of a variable spacing mechanism of simple type, rugged construction and low cost, the desired result can be obtained. vThe improved typewriting machine will be found particularly useful wherey it is desired to form typewritten sheets for subsequent use in a process of printing which involves the transfer by a photographic step of the material as typewritten from the paper sheet to an element to be substantially used in the printing operation.

The machine embodies, in combination with the usual type bars and longitudinally movable paper holding carriage, mechanism which is responsive tothe actuation of the type bars for effecting advancement of the carriage variable distances, the distanceadvanced by the carriage afterthe actuation of any type bar being proportionable to the width of the letter imprinted on the paper sheet. It will be understood, of course, that the type elements are not affixed to the type carrying bars in the conventional manner now employed in typewriter manufacture, i. e., so that the various type elements are centered upon the type carrying bars, but on the other hand are so arranged that the left-hand edge of each letter'would strike the paper at the same identical point if the carriage were not moved between impressions.

While the type Awhich comprise a font of printers type have many different widths they may be classied, according to width, into five principal groups, ranging from a relatively small group including a-few of the wider capital letter"I to a group of the narrowest small letters. All yof the letters of the font may be allocated to one or the other of these five groups. The present .invention contemplates a variable spacing mechanism whereby the travel of the carriage is so automatically regulated that it will advance, after actuation of the type bar, a distance corresponding to the group in which the letter just printed is classified, the advance of the carriage after the printing of a larger capital letter being five times as great as the advance after the printing of one of the smallest letters, the desired spacing of the letters in the printed line being thereby obtained. The invention further contemplates Athe subdivision of the usual spacing bar into ve units and the variable spacing mechanism is likewise actuated by any one of these five units to bring about variable spacing between words or letters. By the vproper selection of spacing keys the typed line may be adequately justified, thus further increasing the ability of the operator to provide typewritten matter which is indistinguishable from printed matter.

In adapting the invention to a conventional typewriter but few alterations .or modifications of the conventional typewriter structure are found to be necessary. The escapement mechanism is slightly .modified and a novel escapement controlling device in the nature of a templet or gauge is positioned adjacent the typewriter key bars, this templet device being in the line of travel of all of the key bars and being so connected to the escapement mechanism that the actuation of a key bar results in actuation of the escapement. The templet device, however, is so designed and constructed that it will be actuated different distances upon the depression of diierent key bars, having a stepped or uneven surface so that the various key bars will strike the templet device after travelling different distances, to eiect diierent movements of the templet device and thus eiect, by modification of the action of the escapement, varying travel of the carriage. The templet device is so designed and constructed that it may be adjusted to function when either capital or small letters are being printed and the shift mechanism is connected thereto so that, when the shift key is operated, an adjustment is simultaneously made in the position of the templet device. By adjusting the position of the templet device the variable stop mechanism may be controlled so that the advancing movement of the carriage is automatically regulated to, properly space both large and small letters, also the customary figures and symbols involved in the usual typewriter keyboard.

In the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated but it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that, without departure from the invention, the design and arrangement of its various elements may be very considerably modified, particularly in adapting the invention to typewriters of various makes and designs. It will be understood also that, in the accompanying drawings, many conventional portions of. a. typewriter have been omitted in order that the novel features of the invention may be more clearly perceived.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a typewriter showing the frame and keyboard, certain elements of the variable spacing mechanism being shown in plan;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same typewriter, showing the major elements of the carriage controlling mechanism;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3y of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a similar section but showing certain parts of the mechanism in different positions;

Figure is an enlarged elevation of the escapement mechanism;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the escapementmechanism;

Figure 7 is a similar View showing portions oi' the mechanism in diierent positions;

Figures 8 and 9 are additional views, in elevation, of the escapement mechanism showing the operating parts in different positions;

Figures 10 and 11 are elevations of the main elements of the templet device respectively;

Figure 12 is a side elevation of a portion of the l escapement mechanism;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one of the elements of the variable stop mechanism;

Figure 14 shows in disassembled relationship the several elements of the escapement mechanism shown in Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a top. plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 12; and

ure 15. l

The frame oi the typewriter is indicated at I0 and it will be understood that thisframe may be of any suitable or conventionaltype. The carriage is rather diagrammatically illustrated at II in Figure 2, the platen being indicated at I3 in Figures 1, 3 and 4. It will be understood that the carriage is mounted for movement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platen I3 and that, after the actuation of a type bar, the carriage will be advanced in the direction oi Figure 16 is a section on line I6-I6 of Figthe arrow A in Figure 2 by any ordinary or usual tensioning device, such as diagrammatically indicated at I4, this device being connected to the carriage by means of a 'strap or tape I5.

Keys are indicated at I6 and keyy bars at Il, these key bars and the type bars which they actuate being of ,conventional form. It is essential, however, that each key bar have a downwardly extending portion I'I' which is adapted to contact, when the key bar is depressed, with the templet device generally indicated at T. Spacer bars are indicated at I8, each spacer bar having a spacer key I9 mounted on its outer end and having its inner end rotatably mounted on transverse shaft 20, the central spacer key I9 being longer than the other four and being mounted upon the two central spacer bars I8 which will move simultaneously when the central key I9 is depressed. Each spacer bar I8 has a downwardly extending portion I8 comparable in every way withthe corresponding portions I'I of the key bars, andv adapted to contact with the templet device to cause it to operate the spacing mechanism for variable distances as will be described in considerable detail in connection with the key bars I1. One of the two shift keys-is indicated at 2l and a shift key bar at 22, this key bar being mounted upon the transverse shaft 23 and having an extension 22' which is horizontally slotted to A receive a pin 24 xed upon a rocker 25 rotatably supported on shaft 25'.

To rocker 25 is pivotally connected as ,at 26 A'the lower end of a vertically movable slide 26 upon the upper end of which is mounted'the carriage supporting rail 21, the slide being guided in its vertical movements by means of a stationary pin 28. -It will be understood that, upon depression of the shift key, the rail 21 will be elevated through the intermediate mechanism just described, to raise the carriage and the platen supported thereon from the position in which it is shown in full lines in Figure 3 to i'ts dotted line position. It is by the shift mechanism that the platen is adjusted for the printing of capitals,

. small letters and figures, in the customary manner. The shift mechanism thus described is of conventional type.

At the rear of the machine is an escapement mechanism of the pawl and ratchet type. This vescapement mechanism comprises the escape- 4ment ratchet 30, xed on shaft 3|, which shaft is operatively connected by the usual gearing to the typewriter carriage II so that the ratchet 30 is constantly urged to rotate in the direction of the arrow B', Figure 5, by the carriage advancing means. Associated with the escapement ratchet 30 is mechanism for releasing this ratchet to permit the same to rotate and hence permit advancement of the carriage in the direction of the arrow A, Figure 2, and for vstopping such rotation after a predetermined. angular travel, and

-thus halting the movement of the carriage. This mechanism will now be described.

Mounted for free rotation on the end of shaftl 3| is a member 32 having'two angularly disposed arms 32' and 322 the rst of which carries at its outer end a pawl 33 arranged in the plane of the ratchet,and the second arm 322 having attached to its outer end one end of a spring 34 the opposite end of which is attached to the frame by any suitable means, the spring being normally in tension and tending to rotate member 32 in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of shaft 3l (Figure 5) or opposite to the direction in which -the ratchet wheel 30 rotates when released.

The pawl device 33 comprises a hooked ratchet engaging element 33a and a resiliently attached dog or striking element 36, and is secured to the arm 32" as described below. Rotatably mounted in a cylindrical aperture fofmed in the end of arm a2' is a stud 35 having an' enlarged head 35 and a reduced axial portion 352 upon which the ratchet engagingelement 33a is non-rotatably fixed. Intermediate arm 32 and element 33a and rotatably mounted upon stud 35 is the stop engaging portion or dog 36 having a lateral extension 36' projecting across the plane of the ratchet engaging element and the lower edge of which is adapted to rest upon a shoulder 33' of the element 33a. A spring 31 y connects `the dog 36 to an arm 38 projecting from the pawl carrying arm 32', maintains it normally in contact with the shoulder 33' of the element 33a, for all positions of the latter, but permits it to rock upwardly to disengage the shoulder 33' for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The pawl itself is normally maintained by means of a -spring 39 in the position (with respect to the pawl carrying arm 32') in which it is shown in Figure 12, with aprojection 332 seated against a pin 40 secured to the pawl carrying arm 32', this spring having one end attached to arm 32' byv means of pin 4| and the other end connected to the head 35' of stud 35 at a point spaced iromthe axis thereof, which stud, as has previously been explained, is rotatably mounted in arm 32.

An escapement lever is indicated at 45, 'this lever being mounted for rocking movement upon a pin 46.v rigid with the frame. Oneend of lever.

45 carries a tooth 45' adapted to engage one or the other of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 30 and to lock the ratchet wheel against rotation.

Vco

The escapement lever likewise earrles an arm 452 the outer end of which is notched to receive a pin 41 carried by the pawl 33, member 452 comprising means for disengaging pawl 33. from ratchet 30 when lever 45 is rocked in a clockwise direction.- Clockwise movement of pawl carrying arm 32 is limited by stop pin 323. The escapement `lever 45 is actuated in a clockwise direction of rotation about pivot 46 by mechanism which includes the lever 48 and the means which opera'- tively connects lever 48 to the several key bars. including link 48' and arm 482 the lower end of which is fixed upon rotatable shaft 20, to which the spacer key bars are secured, and by other mechanism of more or less conventional type which operatively connects the key bars to lever 43. Upon v thel actuation of a character key I6 the type bar portion |66 which is connected ,by means of a link |61 with an arm |69 of the bell crank 46. It will be seen that when anyone of the key bars `|1- is depressed, lever 48 will be also actuated to depress the lower end 'of the escapement lever, thus causing the detent 45 of this lever to engage one pr another of the notches of the teeth of the escapement ratchet, to lock the ratchet against rotation, the arm 452 being at the same time swung away from the escapement 3|!v duing such movement.

ratchet and carrying the pawl pin 41 with it to effect disengagement of the pawl from the ratchet.

A graduated stop mechanism is indicated generally at S this mechanismI comprising a stop block 50 carrying a plurality of "stop pins or elements disposed in parallelism and equidistantly spaced apart on the arc of a circle the center of which is coincident with the axis of shaft 3|, The block 50 is mounted upon suitable supporting means for limited movementin' a direction parallel to the axis of shaft 3|, toward and away from a plate 52 secured to the frame and positioned parallel to and just in rear of the ratchet wheel 30. It will be observed from Figures 6 and 'I that the stop elements 5| which are rigidly secured to the stop block 50 and are adapted to move through apertures formed in plate 52 are of graduated length, the lowermost being relatively short and the uppermost longest. The last or uppermost stop element, which need not move, i's not rigid with block 50 but extends through an aperture formed in this block and a corresponding aperture in plate 52 and is so attached to the frame structure that itA remains in fixed position. Means is provided for adjusting the position of the stop carrying block 50 to withdraw either the ilrst of the stop elements 5| to the rear of the face of plate 52, or to withdraw the rst and second stop elements, or the rst, second and third of these elements, as shown in Figure 7, or the iirst four elements, if desired, leaving only the fifth or uppermost or stationary stop pin in its original position.

With the several stop4 pins in the positions in which they are shown in Figure 6, the lowermost pin projects sufciently far in advance of plate 52 to lie in the path of the stop engaging dog 36 which is a part of the pawl 33 and moves with the pawl carrying arm 32'. Hence, after the pawl is released from the ratchet wheel and is carried' upwardly by arm 32' under the influence of spring 34, its movement will be uninterrupted until the stop engaging portion or dog 36 engages one or another of the stop pinsor elements 5|,

spring 39 maintaining thegtoothed lower end of the pawl out of contact with the teeth of ratchet As soon, however, as the stop engaging 'dog 36 strikes thev lowermost projecting stop element 5| which lies in its path, it, by reason of the fact that it bears upon shoulder 3 3' of pawl element 33a, causes pawl 33 to rock in a clockwise direction around the axis ofthe stud'y l A'and against the tension of spring 39until/its 'jzhed end enters the space between two 'of thfratchet teeth. If the stop carrying block 5|) is lmoved to the right (Figure 7) until the iirst three stop elements 5| are withdrawn in rear of plate 52, the pawl 33 will continue its upward movement until the fourth or uppermost of the movable pins 5| is engaged by the stop engaging portion whereupon the pawl 33 is rocked into interlocking engagement with the ratchet wheel but, as is obvious, after a substantially longertravel of the pawl than in the case-first described.v

It is clear that by manipulation of the stop j carrying block 50 the angular travel of the pawl, upon its1 release from the-ratchet wheel, may be regulated. Inasmuch as the ratchet wheel and pawl move together, upon the return stroke of the pawl,-until the arm 32 carrying the pawl strikes the stop pin 323, it is clear that the length of the arc of upwardv travel of the pawl deter-- mines the extent of angular rotation off' the ratchet wheel when the pawl returns to the initial position, thus determining the extent of advancing movement of the carriage. Hence by proper manipulation of stop carrying block 50 the carriage may be allowed to advance after a. printing operation, either one, two, three, four or five spaces. Y

p As already described, the spring 31, cooperating with the spring 39 which acts on the ratchet engaging element 33a itself, is adapted to continuously urge the dog member 36 and the element 33a toward each other so that the element 36 abuts the shoulder 33' on the element 33d, but this resilient connection permits vthe separation of the elements 33a and 36 of the pawl device 33, and permits the former to rock upwardly away from the shoulder 33', and thus to yield in the event that it should strike any obstructions during the downward movement of the pawl device. If this resilient yielding were not provided for, and any of the lower stop elements I had retur-ned to their projected positions, the pawl element might accidentally become disengaged from 'the tooth on the ratchet wheel.

Stop carrying block 50 is automatically positioned to a position which corresponds to the actual width of any letter printed by mechanism which connects this stop block to the templet device T, previously referred to, and which is positioned adjacent the key bar l1 and thel spacer bars I 8. Thus to the stop block is operatively connected one arm of a bell crank lever 55 which is pivoted at 56 to the frame upon which the escapement mechanism is mounted. 'I'he lower arm of bell crank lever 55 is connected by means of an adjustable link 51 to the end of lever 58 which extends rearwardly from and is xedly secured to a cross rod 59 the ends of which are rotatably supported in the side frame members of the machine. Also fixed upon the rotatable cross rod 59, and extending forwardly of the machine or toward the keys I6, are two parallel arms 60. Mounted upon the extreme forward end of each arm 60 is a plate 6I, each plate being connected to the adjacent arm by means of a pivot 62, about which the plate may rock.

Templet members 63 and 64 extending transversely of the typewriter and disposed in intrsecting planes have their ends carried by the rocking plates 6|. 'I'hese templet members are more particularly disclosed in Figures and r11 and it will be seen that each comprises an elongated bar with a stepped or serrated upper edge. Plate 6l may be rocked to bring either one or the other` of the templet plates 63 or 64 into a substantially vertical plane and directlyunder 'the downwardly extending projections I1' of the key bars I1 and the corresponding projections I8' of the spacer bars |8. The templet 63 is positioned in the position in which it is shown in Figure 3,

to be engaged by key bar projections I1', when' one set of characters, for instance,- small letters, are to be printed,- and the templet bar 64 is swung into this position and bar 63 out of position, when another set of characters are to be printed, for instance, capital letters. 'I'he means for rockingl plates 6| and hence bringing one or the other of the templet bars into operative position com-- prises a link 65 connecting the lower end of plate 6I to the lower end of a rocker 66 pivotally mounted upon the cross rod 59, the upper end of rocker 66 being connected by a link 61 to one arm of a bell crank lever 66 pivotally supported at 69 upon the frame of the machine, the other arm of bell crank lever 68 being connected by means of a link 10 with the rocker 25 comprising portion of the shift mechanism previously described. Hence when a shift key is depressed the platen I3 will not only be changed in position but the templety 64 for capital letters will be swung into operative position beneath the key bar projections I1. Such position of the various members just described is illustrated in Figure 4.

One or the other of the templet bars 63 or 64, depending upon whether capital or small letters are being printed, Ywill always underlie the key bar projections 11 as 'aforesaid Depression of a key bar will cause the projection Y'I1' thereofto move downwardly until the lower end of this extension I1' hascontacted the templet bar underlying the same and has moved the bar downwardly also. The extent of downward movement of the templet is determined by the distance which the key bar projection I1' must travel before striking the bar since the extent of downward movement of each key bar upon depression thereof for the purpose of printing a letter is the same as the downward movement of all other key bars when depressed. The upper edges of the templet bar 63 and 64 are so shaped that, when a key bar' I1 is depressed for the purpose ofprinting a very narrow letter, its'projection I1' will enter one ofthe deepest notches formed in the bar, the depth of this notch being such that no downward movement of the templet results. Hence there will be no movement of levers 60, 58, link 51 or carrier block 56. Therefore, upon the immediate subsequent operation of the pawl and ratchet mechanism, the pawl carrying arm 32 will only move from its initial position upwardly a minimum distance, or until the stop engaging dog 36 engages the lowermost stop element 5I. As the result the carriage will be advanced the minimum distance, which. distance, however,` is ample for the narrow letter printed. l

Should a key bar correspondingto a Wider letter be depressed,l however, the projection. I1 will not enter any one of the deepest notchesr in the templet bar but will come in contact with this bar at a point suiiiciently early in its travel t0 cause a depression of the bar and hence to cause withdrawal of the stop carrying block 50 until one or more of the stop elements 5| are withdrawn in rear of plate 52, depending' upon the Width of the letter being printed. Hence the pawl 33 will have an increased arc of travel, the ratchet wheel will rotate through a greater angle, and the carriage will be'allowed to ad vance through a greater distance than before, or through a distance necessary to eifect the proper spacing of the letter' printed from that which is to be subsequently printed. As has previously been explained, the letters of a font of type may be arranged in five groups n accordance with their widths. In forming each of the templet bars, therefore, a deep notch is cut for a letter of narrowest width, a shallower notch for a letter of slightly greater width, and so on, the deepest notches being adapted to receive the projections I1' of the key levers controlling the printing of the smallest letters. The same is true in the case of the templet 64, employed' for the printing of capital letters.

'Each of the five spacer bar extensions I8 is disposed above notches of different depths in the templet bars and will actuate the escapement through correspondingly diierent distances exactly as described in connection with the key bars I1'and end extensions I1.

The mechanism is entirely automatic in character and the typewriter may be operated rapgroups and the number of escapement stopsy step-by-step motion,

` 9,209,565 idly to produce type-written matter indistinguishmethod involves a photographic step. It also presents a superior appearance when used for any other purpose.

vIt will be appreciated byone skilled in the art that the invention may be readily made use of in double shift typewriters by providing three, instead of two, templet bars. Also, that the type used may be divided into four, or more than ve changed accordingly. Without departure from the invention, likewise, the design and arrangement of its component elements lmaybe considerably changed or modied, particularly in adapting the invention to typewriters of various types.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A typewriter comprising the combination with a "carriage, means tending to advance the carriage, key bars, and type of various widths, of mechanism for releasing the carriage after printing of a letter and thereafter stopping the same after it has travelled a distance4 corresponding to the width of the letter printed, said mechanismincluding a. carriage operated escapement'ratchet wheel, a pawl normally engaging the ratchet wheel, means for releasing said pawl, means for moving the pawl, when released, about the periphery of the ratchet, a variable stop means separate from said pawl releasing means for both limiting the movement of the pawl when released and causing the pawl to re-engage the ratchet, andkey lever actuated means for automatically adjusting the position of said variable stop means.

2. A variable stop mechanism for .a typewriter of thev class described, comprising the combination with a carriage operated escapement ratchet, pawl and detent elements adapted to cooperate in permitting the ratchet to advance with a meansffor determining the extent of ratchet and carriage advance after the printing of a Battery-said means including a plurality of spaced pins, and means for shifting said or the other of said pins to be positioned directly in the path of said pawl to limit the travel thereof relatively to the ratchet, said last named means including a horizontal bar disposed betneath the keys in the descending path thereof and operatively connected to said pins, said bar being provided upon its upper edge withnotches of various depths into which the respective key bars enter to actuate the bar for distances corresponding with the spaces required for the characters on the keys.

3. -A variable stop mechanism for a typewriter of the class described, comprising the combination with a. carriage operated escapement ratchet; pawl and detent elements adapted to cooperatein permitting the ratchet to advance with'a stepby-step motion, means for determining the extent of ratchet and carriage advance after the printing ofaletter, said means including a plurality of pins, disposed equidistantly from each other and normal to the path of movement of the pawl, the ends of said pins being spaced unequal distances from said path, and means for simultaneously actuating the pins to cause the outer ends thereof to be selectively positioned directly in said path, for the purpose set iorth,4 said last `limiting the return movement named means including a horizontal bar disposed u.

beneath the keys in the descending path thereof. and operatively connected to said pins, said,

bar being upon its upper edge vwith notches of'- various depths into which the respective key bars enter to actuate thebar for distances corresponding with the spaces required for-the characters on the keys.

4. In a typewriter of the class described, a carriage, means tending'to advance the carriage,

key bars, and type bars each carrying uppercase and lower-case type of various widths, carriage shift means for changing from lower case .to upper case and viceversa, variable escapement mechanism for controlling the forward movement of the 'carriage under the influence of said rst named.- means, and means for'automatically and selectively controlling said variable escapement mechanism including a' plurality of substantially horizontal bars disposed beneath the key bars and in the descending paths thereof, and provided with notches of various depths in their upper surfaces, vinto which the respective key bars are adapted to-enter to actuate the controlbars the amount corresponding to the width of the characters on the keys, means supporting said control bars for rocking movement to bring one or the other into operative positionto eiect the proper upper case or lower case spacing, and levers and linkage positively connecting said bars to the'carriage lshift mechanism for movement when the carriage is shifted.

5. A typewriter comprising the combinationv with a carriage, means tending to advance the carriage, key bars, and type of various widths, of mechanism for releasing the carriage afterprinting of a letter and thereafter stopping the same after it has travelled a distance corresponding to the width of the letter printed, said mechanism including a, carriage operated escapement ratchet wheel, a pawl. device moimted for rotation concentrically with said wheel and adapted to normally engage the same, means continuously urging said'pawl device about the periphery of said wheel, a. key actuated escapement lever for releasing said pawl device from said ratchet wheel and-simultaneously engaging said wheel to prevent immediate rotation thereof, a variable stop means adapted to halt said movement of the pawl device at a further point determined by the setting of the stop means and to' reengage said pawl device with said wheel substantially immediately, means for then releasing the escapement lever from engagement with said wheel to permit it to advance and the carriage to move, keyv lever actuated means for adjusting the position of said variable stop means, and further stop means for of said pawl device while in engagement with said ratchet wheel. 6. A typewriter comprising the Acombination with a carriage, means tending to advance' the carriage, key bars, and. type of various widths, of mechanism for releasing the carriage 'after printing of a letter and thereafter stopping the same after it has travelled a distance equal to the width of the letter printed, said mechanism including a carriage operated escapement ratchet wheel, a pawl carrying member mounted for rotation about the center of said ratchet wheel, means for continuously urging said carrier in a direction opposite to that of ,the movement of said wheel, a pawl pivotally mounted on said carrier and normally engaging a tooth of said wheel,

rection out of engagement with said wheel, means for positively releasing said pawl from engagement with said wheel whereby'said carrier may rotate, and for holding said wheel against rotation, variable stop means disposable in the path of movement of said pawl to limit the distance which it moves about the ratchet wheel, an abutment carried by said pawl adapted to strike said st'op means and thrust said pawl into engagement with one of the teeth of said wheel at a point determined by the setting of the stop means, means for then releasing the wheel for escapement movement with the pawl in engagement therewith, a fixed stop adapted to be struck by said pawl to limit this return movement, and key lever actuated means for automatically adjusting the position of the stop means.

7. A typewriter comprising the combination with a carriage, means tending to advance the carriage, key bars, and type of various widths, of mechanism for releasing the carriage after printing of a letter and thereafter stopping the same after it has travelled a distance corresponding to the width of the letter printed, said mechanism including a carriage operated escapement ratchet wheel, a pawl member comprising two elements mounted for limited relative movement and for rotation concentrically with said wheel and adapted to normally engage the same, means continuously urging said pawl member about the periphery of said wheel, resilient means continuously urging said elements together toward their limit of relative movement in one direction, a key actuated escapement lever for releasing said pawl member from said ratchet wheel and simultaneously engaging said wheel to prevent immediate rotation thereof, a variable stop' means adapted to be contacted by one of said elements to halt said movement pf the pawl member at a further point determined by the setting of the stop means and to immediately reengage said member with said wheel, and means for then releasing the escapement lever from engagementwith said wheel, to permit it to advance and the carriage to move.

8. 'A 'typewriter comprising the combination with a carriage, means tending to advance the carriage, key bars, and type of various widths, of mechanism for releasing the carriage after printing of a letter and thereafter stopping the same after it has travelled a distance corresponding to the width of the letter printed, said mechanism including a carriage operated escapement ratchet wheel, a pawlmember comprising two elements mounted for limited movement relative to each other, one element adapted-to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel and the other providing a yieldingly retractable stop abutment, the pawl member being mounted for rotation concentrically with said wheel and adapted to normally engage 'the same, means continuously urging said pawl member about the periphery of said wheel, means continuously urging said elements together toward one limit of I their relative movement, a key actuated escapement lever for releasing said pawl from said ratchet wheel and simultaneously engaging-said wheel to' prevent immediate rotation thereof, a variable stop means comprising a plurality of elements normally projected into the path of movement of said stop abutment element, but each capable of being selectively withdrawn from said path to determine the extent of movement of said pawl member, the stop element contacted by said pawl member serving to halt the movement of the latter at a further point determined by the setting of the stop means and to immediately reengage said member with said wheel, and then releasing the escapement lever from engagement with said wheel to permit it to advance and the carriage to move, key lever actuated means for adjusting the position of said variable stop means.- the yielding mounting oi the stop abutment element of the pawl member permitting the movement of the latter past any stop elements which may have resumed their normal projected positions during the return movement of the 4pawl member, and further' stop means for ultimately limiting the return movement of said pawl 'member in engagement with said ratchet wheel.

9. A typewriter comprising the combination with a carriage, means tending to advance the carriage, key bars, and type of various widths, of mechanism for releasing the carriage after printing of a letter and thereafter stopping the same.

after it has travelled a distance corresponding to the width of the letter printed, saidmechanism including a carriage operated escapement ratchet wheel, a pawl normally engaging the ratchet wheel, means for moving the pawl, when released, about the periphery of the ratchet wheel, variable stop means adapted to be struck by said pawl for hunting the movement of the pawl to distances equivalent to the appropriate movement of the carriage for the type being printed, said variable stop means being itself effective to compel the reengagement of the pawl with the ratchet wheel by reason of the rotation of said pawl about its pivot immediately upon being struck by said pawl, and key lever actuating means for adjusting the position of the variable stop means.

10. A typewriter comprising the combination with a carriage, means tending to advance the carriage, key bars, and type of various widths, of mechanism for releasing the carriage after printing of a letter and thereafterstopping the same after it has travelled a distance correspending to thev width of the letter printed, said mechanism including a carriage operated escapement ratchet wheel, a pawl carrying member movable generally about the periphery of said ratchet wheel, a pawl pivoted on said member and normally engaging said ratchet wheel, means for releasing said pawl from said ratchet wheel when a key is depressed, means for moving said member with respect to the ratchetnwheel when said pawl is released, a stop disposable in the path of said pawl to limit the movement of said member and pawl and cause the pawl to swing back into engagement with said ratchet' wheel at another point.

ROSWELL S. REm.

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