US2385036A - Typewriting machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 18, 1945. F.. SMATHERS TYP-EWRI'TING MACHINE Filed 001:. 10 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 AITORNEY 3 1 39451 J, F. SMATHERS TYPEWRI'IING MACHINE Filed Oct. l0, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 2 S van 3 an 3 a on ATTORNEY.

Sept. 18, 1945. SMATIHERS 2,385,036

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Oct. 10 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 'FIG.3.

W E'ENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 18,1945

UNITED STATES TYPEWRITING MACHINE James F. Sm athera Rochester, N. Y assignor to International Business Machines Corporation,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York 20 Claims.

This invention relates to typewriting machines. An object of the present invention is to provide ,1 an improved variable carriage feed mechanism.

An object is to provide a variable carriage feed mechanism which has relatively fewer parts 7 than is usually the case.

Typewriting machines have been equipped with variable carriage feed mechanisms which vary the spacing of the work sheet receiving the impressions in proportion to the widths of the.

characters printed. Such mechanisms have been constructed in man different forms, but they all have one characteristic feature of the provision i of some form of selector mechanism which usually'is controlled in some fashion by the character keys to determine the extent of spacing of the carriage and hence of the work sheet upon which the characters are impressed. As a rule these selector mechanisms are so arranged thateach keydirectly moves or controls -a part which in some manner or other selectively controls the 'escapement mechanism itself. In the past it has usually been considered necessary to provide each key with a separate character feed element too great a compromise in the design of the type 7 with the shift mechanism.

face used on the type bars. It has been found that this results in unnecessary duplication of parts which the rect. In the present case the type font is arranged with the letters divided into groups with all of the characters. in one group having the same spacing. It has been found by careful study that nearly all of the characters can have the same spacing with the exception of certain letters which will be enumerated hereinafter in the detailed description of the invention. By this means it is possible to greatly reduce the number of parts in the machine. Thus, in the present case the machine illustratively includes42 type bars of which only 10 in the lower case and only 13 in the upper case need have a selective action on the escapement mechanism.

This reduces by more than half the number of present invention aims to cor'- Application October 10, 1942, Serial No. 461,551

'Another object is to provide a more compact escapement which has fewer parts. taking into consideration the number of selections which may be efiected, than former escapements. Another object is to provide an escapement mechanism which is a self-contained unit and may be directly mounted on one of the carriage supporting rails.

An object is to provide an improved escape-1 ment of the ratchet wheel type which is simpler in construction and has fewer working parts than variable escapements proposed heretofore.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, 1 of applying that principle.

In thedrawings: 1 Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the machine. m

Fig. 1A is a view showing the selector mechanism in upper case position. Fig. 2 is a view looking in the direction of the 26 arrows 2-2 in Fig- 1 with thecarriage removed.

Figs. 2A is a view of the selector slide. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the universal bar. Fig. 4 is aside view'of the shift mechanism- Fig. 5 is a front view of certain parts associated Fig. 6 is a; large scale side view of the escape ment mechanism. 4 Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a section on the line H in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 in Fig. 6. The present invention is disclosed in the drawings as applied to the well known Electromatic typewriter, also known as the International, purely as a convenience in description. It will be understood that the invention may be applied to other power operated typewriters or to manually operated typewriters without altering the principles or basic features of the invention. Since the Electromatic typewriteris now well known, only a very brief description will be given herein.

The machine is controlled by character keys i0 (Fig. 1) with each of which is associated a cam unit ii pivoted on one of two parallel fulcrum rods i 2 suitably supported in the framework of the machine. When any key ii) is depressed the associated cam unit ii is rendered operable by the power roller iii-which rotates continually in the direction of the arrow while the machine is in use.

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which,

' rail 26.

secured a toothed clutch member 35 mes i:-

Eachcam unit II is connectedby a link H to a sub-leverv l5 pivoted on a fulcrum rod 18. The

sub-levers l5are connected by links l8 and toggles i! to the type bars it which are mounted in a well known way in the segment it by means of a'pivot wire 20. The segment I9 is supported in a type basket frame which is generally desters by means of a cam unit, not shown, similar to the cam units It and controlled by a shift keyalso not shown.

The machine is provided with the usual platen- 23 (Fig. I) mounted in the carriage 24 which moves on the rear rail 25 and front rail 26. Just before the type bars l8 strike the work sheet on the platen 23 they engage a universal bar Z'l which is mounted in the well known way by means of leaf springs '28 (Fig. 3) which compels the universal bar 21 to move in substantially a straight line at right angles to the rear face of the seg- The *escapement u: i is most clearly shown in Figs. 6 to 9 and is wholly carried by a frame 30 secured to the underside of the front It is by this means that reverse rotation of the right wheel 3 is prevented.

position of Fig. 8 to release ratchet I.

45, most clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 9, normally urges the pawl 44 in a clockwise direction on stud --3i and also holds it in its position of Fig. 8 in which it engages the teeth of ratchet 43. In this position the rotational eflort applied to the ratchis provided with a tooth 48a adjacent the pin t7 ment N. This universal bar actuates the escapement mechanism selectively in a mr made clear hereinafter.

.This frame pports along stud ea mmmlmg the pement pinion a: which et 34 by the carriage spring motor forces the pawl 44 up against a screw stud 46 (Fig. 8

The pawl 44 has an arcuate portion b which is concentric withthe stud ti with the parts in the normal position (Fig. 8). Engaging thi areuate portion b is a pin ll (Fig. 6) on a slide 48 movable horizontally'in Fig. 8 on a stud 49 carried by the frame and on stud II, the slide 1 48' being slotted for this purpose. The slide it whichtooth is normally clear of the teeth of the ratchet 8d.

A spring 59, anchored-to a reduced portion of a, stud ii on the slide 48 and to a pin carried by the frame dd, normally holds the slide 88 in its leithand position of Fig. 8. If the slide 18 is moved to the right with reference to Fig. 8, the tooth fits will enter a tooth space in the ratchet 34 and the pin 41 will push the pawl 44 to the right clear of the ratchet 34. When this takes place; the r will be free to rock the pawl v 64 clock until it is stopped. Considering only the parts as shown in Fig. 8 and assuming the slide o 48 is mov to the'right, the pawl 44 will be rocked and8) is an escapement ratchet 34 to which is y a similar clutch member 38 siidably mounted along a tubular extension 32a (see Fig. 7) of the pinion 32. Clutch membertfiis keyed to sleeve 8.2a by means of a key 31a formed as an inwardly projecting lug of a retaining ring ll which key tension 32a of pinion 32. The collar 8'! is also formed with two prongs 8111 which are pressed toward stud 3! into two openings formed in the tubular member 38. interposed between the clutch member 36 and a washer as loose on the tubular portion 32a is a spring to which normally holds the clutch member 38 in engagement to provide a tapering space in which the member projects-into a slot 82b milled in the tubular exthe result that the disengagement of the lug its countercloc va, 1 130?! distance ina clockwise directibn imtil stop by a projection 48b forming part of the slide 4!. If now the slide 48' is released, the t s M will draw it to the left bank to the from the ratchet will permit it to rotate. in a direction an extent equivalent to the ount the pawl n was rotated about stud st. This will amount to four tooth spaces eans is provided for selectively controlling I the movement of the pawl N to permit the car- 4| is confined. This member is provided with a I pilot for a spring 43 which is seated on a similar projection on a block Ma attached to the frame it. The spring presses the member Hi to the right in Fi 8 to jam the member ll between 1 the curved face of the block 42 and the bottom of the groove 34a thereby preventing clockwise rotation of the ratchet 36. The member 66, however, does not prevent counterclockwise rotation of the'ratchet 34 since this would have the effect risge to move 2, 3, or 4 letter spaces as desired.-

This means includes a two unit slide 52 and a three unit slide 53 which are slotted on their right hand ends (Fig. 9) to embrace the stud iii carried by slide as andat their left hand ends are formed with closed slots embracing ,a stud Ed also carried by slide se. r

The two unit slide 52 has an upstanding post 52a (Fig. 9) which, by engagement with the portion a of pawl 64 when the slide 52 is moved .iection lib. Normally the slides 52 and I: are

held in the position of Fig. 9 by leaf springs 52!) secured by screws 520 to the frame 30, the leaf springs extending into slots in the slides and urging the slides to the left.

The three slides ll, 52. and 83 are operated selectively in the following manner: When the slide ll is operated alonefour spaces result, when the'slides I. and 52 are both-operated together two spaces result, but when slide it operates three spaces take place. For this pur-' pose the slides i2, 53 are formed with offset portionsflb, 53b and the slide 48 is provided with a U-shaped bend "c. a

' For the purpose of operating ll there is provided a member 55 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8, 8 and 9) in the form of a U-shaped frame slidably mounted on a plate 56 which is secured bar 21. As best shown in Fig. 2 this plate 58 is provided with horizontally aligned projectionstla with reference to Fig.2, it'will be seen that if the universal bar 27 is moved upwardly toward the rear of'the machine, the projections 56a,

trill carry the frame I55 upwardly also. The

the slides is, is,

II. The type'basket is shown in elevated or lower case position in the drawings except Fig.

1A. When -the type basket is shifted downwardly to lower case position by the meansusually provided for this purpose controlled by the shift I key, the pin 81 moves downwardly and rocks both arms 80 in a counterclockwise direction,

thereby drawing the slide ll to the right with reference to Figs. 2 and 5. The movement of the slide a to the right and left is limited by an adjustable stop 88 (Fig. 2) clamped on and partly surrounding the slide" and having a vertical slot through which the left hand bracket I! projects, the verticalsides of the slot in the stop' Ol limiting the relative movement between the slide-and left handbracket I. This moveby screws 51 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) to the universal slidably fitting in rectangular slots in the vertical parallel side arms 55a, 55b of the frame 55.-

side arm 55b is always located in fore and aft it alignment (Fig. 2) with one of the lugs 52b, 53b

or with the vertical part of the U-shaped bend No in the slide 48, but the frame 55 may he slid horizontally or to the right and left in Fig. 2 to 1 position the side am 5517 in front of a different one of the lugs 52b, 53b or part c. 7 The selective positioning of'the side arm 55!) is effectedby mechanism operated by the sublevers it in a manner that will be made clear hereinafter. Conveniently, the frame 55 and the arm 55b which cooperates with lugs 52!); ,"b

may be termed an inter-poser since it is selectively the interposer 55.

selective shifting movement of the slide II which.

of course, selectively controls the movement of For this purpose thereis secured to the left hand end (Fig. 2) of'the slide 58 an arm "d to which is fastened a bracket 8! (see Fig. 3 also) connected by an. adjustable link 10a to an arm ll pivoted at 12a to a bracket interposed between universal bar 21 and the selectively operable parts of the escapement m'echanism which determine the extent of spacing controlling the throw of the pawl 44.

The interposer 5! is selectively operated prior to the impact of a type bar by means of a selector slide 58 best shown in Figs. 2 and 2A formed of astrip which is channel shaped in transverse section (Figs. 1 and 4).. Slide 58 is movably mounted on stationary brackets 59 (Figs. 1, 2, 4

and 5) which have rectangular closed slots guid- 12.. The bracket 12 is attached to the framework of the machine by the samestuds' Ila. as the leaf springs 2! for the universal bar ll as best shown in Fig. 3. The arm II is connected by a link ill: to the interposer 55. 'Arm "d is partly. supported by a bracket 13 secured'to the same part of the frame as springs 12 and having a horizontal slot guldingarm 58d.

Cooperating with the-slide I! are 19 selector interposers 1| (Figs. 1 and 2) which are slidable at right anglesto'the slide II in a comb bar 15 which is rigidlymounted in the type basket II and extends parallel with the slide 58.

Asmost clearly shown in Fig. 1A, the front flange 15a of bar 15 is formed with rectangular slots or openings to accommodate the forward ends ing the ends of the slide, the parallel sides fla, 58b of the slide" being cut away for this ,pura pos near the ends as best shown in Fig. 5.

Atthe right hand end of the bar 58 (Figs. 4 and 5) there is provided a pin 680 which is engaged by the ends of stop levers 80, the other ends of which areyshaped to partly embrace the side of the shouldered shank of a stud 6| carried bye bent over lug 82a of a bracket 62. This bracket 62 and a similar one 63 on the left (Fig. 2) are I mounted on the framework of the machine and have holes receiving adjustable stop screws 64 (Figs. 4 and 5) threaded-into bases I a forming part of the type basket frame 2|. The heads of the" stop screws M together with adjustable lock nuts SI limit the case shifting movements of a usual feature of the "Electromatic typewriter.- The stop arms OI are held in contact with the the type basket II and, with brackets i2, 63 are 1! without effecting ashifting movement of the sides of the pin 59a and the stud 6| by means of a spring 86 (Figs. 4 and 5). The type basket frame :lhas a bracket 2": provided with a'pin Bland the arms '0 are so shaped as .to form a Z-shaped slot or opening (Fig. 4) receiving pin of the bars 14 which are substantially straight and'rectangular in section. The rear edge of thebar ,1! is slottedto form guide prongs lib and also shaped to provide a support for a-restr'aining rod 18 upon which the bar 14 rests near their tain of the bars if necessary without removing.

the others by sliding the rod 18 lon itudinally by means of a similar rod in a well known way.

Blidably mounted .on cross rods TI and Id are selector slides IS which are connected by links II to certain of the sub-levers ii. The selector slides 19 'each have an upstanding portion having a straight edge abutting the rear end of a bar 14 and is connected to such bar 14 by means of a spring 8! .which is anchored to ears formed in the bar H and inthe slide 1!. The straight 'midpoints. This makes it possible to remove ceredge just mentioned is parallel'with the line of shift of the type basket 2-1 to permit the comb bar 15 and the selector bar ll carried thereby to move with the type basket relative to the slide.

selector. bar 14 longitudinally. This movement -of the bar I! and the type basket-1s at right angles to'the sllding movement' of the slide" which remains relatively fixed in'thc machine.

'Iheteeth "b of. comb bar 15 extend far enough to the rear of the machine to: act as guides for the selector. slides 19 as well as for the interposer bars 14 and also hold said slides in alignment with their associated bars ll. The slides I8 also may be kept in proper spaced rethe machine but there'are two'rods 11 supported '10 at their inner ends by a bracket 'I'Ia (Fig. 2) secured to the underside of apart of the main pin 81 and at the same time permit the slide 58 to be shifted right or left selectively in a manner to be described hereinafter. For example, in

erated to reduce the spacing to two orthree units asrequired. Table 1, given below, shows the apportionment of the spacings among the lower case letters and other lower case selected characters typed. In the first column is given the number of the type bar, counting from left to right in the type basket, to correspond with the small numbers designating the sub-levers l5 associated therewith appearing below said sub-levers in Fig. 2.

Table 1.L0we1' case framework. v Type Bar No. Character Standard typewriters usually are provided with I 3 42 type bars each having two characters whereby 2 v 3;" such machines are capable of printing 84 sepa- I i g rate characters including the upper case letters. 5 w 4 .,It has been found by practical experience that g the larger share of the characters in each letter a s case are so nearly alike in width that they may 3 allbe given the same amount of spacing with- 11' 3 {out much of a sacrifice in the legibillty and lg g g 1 artisticappearance of the characters. Accord- 4 :11" 2. ingly, the selector slide 58 has been designed 4 with this in mind so that normally the bulk of z the lower case characters receive a uniform feed g of three basic units and the upper case four 3 "For this purpose the slide 58 is made 3; g capable of movement to three different positions z; 3 and normally, with the, type basket in lower 2 case position. that-is, elevated as in Fig. 1, the m r 2 "lug 85b, as'shown in Figs. 2, 8 and 9 is located so g g as to actuate the slides 48 and 58. When the 29 2 type basket is shifted to the upper case position, 2? g as explained above, the slide 58 is shifted to\ 3 2 the right in Fig. 2 to its third position in which g case the 'lug'55b will be positioned to actuate only 35' I 3 the slide 88. 23- g The arm 60,; springs 68 and stud 61 constitute as z a means to hold the slide as in either the first 40 0 g or third, position according to the position of the 41 g It will be noted with reference to the above ta le Fig. 5 the slide 58 is shown occupying its first 4511181; y the 5th, 14th. 17th. 29th.

' or extreme left hand position fromwhich it may be selectively moved to either, of two positions-on the right. In so moving, the right hand arm 88 will be actuated by the pin 58c and rocked in a counterclockwise direction against the tension of 9 the spring which will operate to restore the; slide 58 to the position of Fig. 5 when released. The extent of restoring movement will be limited by the pin 51 which restricts clockwise movement of the right hand arm 60 and bythe left hand arm 55 which is held against the pin 6! by the spring 88. On the other hand, when the type basket is shifted downwardly and the pins 61, through the arms 68, enact the case shifting movement of slide 58 to the right to its third position, said slide 60 may be moved selectively to the right to the first position or to the intermediate position from which the slide will be restored by spring 81 and the left hand arm 68.

The slide 58 may be shifted to the right selectively in Fig. 2 to its third position to select slide 18 alone or to an intermediate position to select both slides 52 and 48. Thus the escapement will normally be operated each time by the type bar through the universal bar to cause the carriage to travel three units of spacing. This is automatically changed t four units of spacing Y -upon the case shifting movement of the type basket from which either the three or two-unit shown in proper position to operate the'slide v58 and the bars II are numbered to correspond with the type bars as listed in the above table. It will thus be seen that if the 5th type bar, which prints the letter w, is operated, the bar 14 corresponding to this type bar will beldrawn toward thev front of the machine by the sub-lever l 5 for such bar to cam the slide 58 to its extreme right hand or third position, thereby shifting the lug 551) (Fig. 2) into registry with the vertical part of the U- shaped bend 48c whereby only slide 48 will be operated to produce the maximum spacing of four uni s. The interposer bar 14 for the 14th type bar printing the small letter f, on the other hand, cooperates with a cam 58c designed to move the slide 58 to the right to its intermediate position to select both the slide 48 and the slide 52 which, of course, will cause thecarriage to be spaced only two units.

The lower flange 58b of the slide 58 is simispacing members 52 and 53 may be selectively oplarly provided with cams 58c as shown in Figs.

Spacing aceaosc "2 and 2A which, for the most part, are located to be operated by the bars N associated with type bars other than the. ones which operate the slide 59 in the lower case position. Table 2 below shows the spacings allotted to the upper case characters from which it will be noted that all, with the exception of the ones printed by c the 3rd, 7th, 11th, 19th, 26th, 27th, 29th, 31st,

32nd, 35th, 36th, 38th, 39th, and 40th type bars receive a uniform spacing of four units.

Table 2.'--.Upper case Type bar No. p E

In Table 2 it will be noted that all of the changes in spacings amount to reductions in consequence of the fact that most of the changes are required for the combination type bars which bear two-different symbols which have no relation to each other, such as combinations of mumerals with punctuation marks, and special symbols with punctuation marks, which in the upper case selection require less spacing. It will also be noted that the keys which in the lower case position selected two units of spacing for the type bar now select three or four units. The cams 58f are shaped to selectively'move the slide it to the left away from the third position to which it is moved immediately upon a case shift ing operation. The flange tits is cut away as shown at Etc to provide clearance spaces which prevent blocking those of the is which must be provided for a selective control of spacing for one case, but which are not required for that purpose when printing in the other case. For example, both the upper and lower case letter w have the se spacing which in the lower case, is selected by movement of the bar it to the third position under the iuence of the int crposer bar it corresponding to that character. In the upper c this selection is obtained automatically by the initial shifting of the slide at to the third ition by the case shift movement oi! the type basket, thereby renderinn unnecessary a 58;! for the bar M associated with the type bar No. 5. For this recn a cleace space the l, 5 is provided on flange 58a to prevent that bar 14 from being blocked by the flange 58b when printing the upper case W. Similarly, clearance spaces are provided for all the bars H which are operative in one but not the other of the case shifting positions of the bar H.

Since in only four cases is the same interposer bar 14 operative for both the upper and lower case characters, it is necessary to provide only 19 of the bars H thereby efiecting a very considerable saving in parts, it being unnecessary to provide bars It for 23 of the 42 keys. In consequence of the fact that the slide 58 is automaticsl-- cases making it necessary to provide a cam! on the slide 58 to shift the slide 58 back to the normal lower case position in order to obtain a three unit spacing for the printing of the asterisk. This is also true of the 29th type her because the upper and lower case its require the same spacing.

It isnecessary to provide for operation of the escapement mechanism when the usual space bar is operated. As the machine is ordinarily constructed, it is provided with an arm 82 (Fig. 1) secured to a short shaft 83 which is rocked counterclockwise through the medium of a cam unit (not shown) controlled by space bar SB. 0 the universal bar 21 is usually connected by a link at to a rock lever 35 pivoted on a stud 88 carried by a bracket Bl secured to the rear rail 25. When the space bar SB is depressed and the unit associated therewithis rendered operative to rock the arm 82 counterclockwise (Fig. 1) this-arm engages the arm of lever 85 to which the link 81 is connected and rocks said lever clockwise. Ann. 85 thus actuates theuniversal bar 21 in the same direction as it is moved by a type bar, thereby operatingtheescapement mechanism. If the type basket is in lower case ition, this, of course, will result in the carriaae being advanced three units of spacing, while in the upper case, the carriase will be advanced four units.

It is also necemary to provide for releasing the escapement mechanism when it is desired to move the carriage by hand or tabulate the carriage by means of the usual tabulating mechanism. For this purpose the clutch. comprising the members at and so is provided with a releasing plate-88 (Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7) which is pivoted at 89 (Figs.

l. and 7) to the escapement frame 30. This plate, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, has diametrically opposite luss projecting into the annular space between the larser part of the, clutch member 36 and the ring t'l whereby rocking of the plate 88 counterclockwise in Fig. 7 eifects disengagement oi the clutch member 36 from the cooperating member 35. In order to efiect this movement the plate to is connected by a link (Figs. 1, 2, and 6) to one arm oi a lever 9| pivoted at 92 on a bracket 92a carried by the rear rail 25.' The up per arm of this lever 9i cooperates with the usual escapement release bail 93 (Fig, l) which ispivotally mounted in the carriage and which is actuated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) by the usual carriage release-levers. 94 located at each end of the carriage. This movement, of course, rocks the lever 9i counterclockwise (Fig. 1) to l to disengage the clutch members 35 and-36,

The upper arm of lever 9| is bifurcated to partly surround the usual tabularlever (not shown) by means of which the lever 9| may be rocked counterclockwise by a rearward or left hand movement of one end of the tabular lever (Fig.1) in a well known way if it is desired to equip a machine embodying the present invention with conventional tabulating mechanism.

While there have 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 operaassaoso I anism for the carriage including a plurality of selectively actuable elements determining diifer- I operated, and selecting mechanis'r'i'i'"operated by 1 said power devices for, moving said member a plution 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: 1. In a typewriting machine, in combination with the carriage, a selectively operable variable feed mechanism for said carriage, including a plurality of selectively operable members, each defining a different spacing when operated, and a common member for operating the spacing mechanism as a whole; an actuating member positioned to operate said common operating member, and variably selectively movable to a position to actuate said operating member alone .or to positions to select in addition one of said selectively operable members, said actuating member n being movable transversely of its selecting movement to operate the common operating member and the selected one of the first named members; a series of character keys, selector elements controlled by said'character keys, a selector bar having a connection to the selectively movable actuating member and operable variable extents by said selector elements, character printing means controlled by said keys, andmeans operative during each printing operation to operate the selectively movable actuating member to actuate the common operating member and the selected of the first named members.

2. In a typewriting machine, in combination with the carriage, selectively operable variable escapement mechanism, a member movable to a plurality of positions in one direction to selectively control the escapement mechanism and movable transversely of its selecting movement to operate the escapement mechanism, a longitudinally movable selector bar having connections to move said member to any one of said plurality of positions, said selector bar having two series of cam surfaces, 2. series of selector elements normally cooperating with one series of cams on said selector bar, character keys, case shiftable printing mechanism controlled by, said keys,

means to effect'a relative shifting between the selector elements and the selector bar upon a case shifting operation to bring the selector elements into cooperation with the other series of cam surfaces on the selector bar, and means controlled by the keys 'for operating the selector elements, said selector elements when operated engaging said cam surfaces to effect a longitudinal shifting movement of the selector bar thereby moving said member to determine the extent of feed of the carriage according to the character printed.

3. A typewriter including a carriage, printing mechanism, a series of character keys, 2. series of power actuating devices for the printing mechanism controlled by said keys, variable feed mechone rality of extents, said selecting mechanism including selector elements each associated with a key and a member movable variable extents by said selector elements and connected to the first named member, said selector elements having connections to certain of the power devices so as v .to be operated whenever certain keys are operated.

4. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, selectively operable variable feed mechanism for the. carriage including separately operable elements each determining a different extent of feed, a member movable to select said elements and also movable to operate the selected element,

case shiftable character printing mechanism, a series of character'keys, means to actuate said member to operate the selected element with each operation of the printing mechanism, and means controlled by the keys for selectively moving said member upon the operation of certain keys, and

means operable upon a case shifting operation of the printing mechanism to change the selecting movement of the first member.

5. In a machine of the class described, a carriage, selectively operable variable feed mechanism for the carriage, a member movable to a plurality of difierent positions to determine the extent of feed imparted to the carriage by said feed mechanism, a series 01' type bars, a type basket supporting said type bars and having a case shifting movement, a series of character keys for controlling the operation of the type bars, a selector member movable away from a normal lower case riage, a member for operating and variably controlling the feed mechanism movable a plurality of diiferent extents to selectively control the feed mechanism and also movable to operate the feed mechanism after a selection has been made, case shiftable printing mechanism including a part movable from a lower case position to an upper case position, a selector member connected to the first member and movable by said part away from a lower case selecting position a plurality of different extents to selectively position the first member and also movable to anupper case position away from which said selector member also is movable a plurality of different extents, a series of keys for controlling the printing mechanism, means controlled by the keys for shifting said selector member away from the lower case selecting position includin elements individual to the character keys for variably moving the selector member, and means controlled by said movable part for shifting the selector member to the upper case position and also changing the relation of said elements to said selector member upon each case shifting operation of the printing mechanism.

7. Selector mechanism for a variable spacing typewriter comprising a selector bar having two series of cam surfaces and movable longitudinally, a support bar disposed parallel with the selector slide, a series of selector elements slidably' mounted on said support bar and cooperating with one of the two series of cams on the selector bar and movable into cooperation with said cams to variably shift said selector bar extents determined bythe position and-angularity of the cams on said bar, a series of keys, mechanism controlled by said keys for operating the selector elements, and means to shift the selector bar and support bar relative to each other to bring the selector elements into cooperation with the other series of cams.

8. A selector mechanism fona variable spacing typewriter comprising a selector bar movable variable extents away from a lower case selecting position toward an upper case selecting position from which upper case position the bar is reversely movable variable extents toward the lower case selecting position, key controlled operating means cooperating with said bar in one position to move the bar variable extents from its lower case position towards its upper case position and shiftable relative to said bar for moving said bar variable extents away from the upper case selecting position toward the lower case selecting position, and means operable upon a case shifting operation to shift said bar to the upper case selecting position and change the operating relation of the key controlled means to said bar.

9. A selecting mechanism for a variable spacing typewritercomprising a selector bar longi' tudinally settable to a lower case selecting position and to an upper case selecting position from either of which longitudinally set positions said bar is longitudinally movable, variable extents, means to set the bar in either its lower case selecting position or its upper caseselecting position upon a case shifting operation, and key controlled means for variably movingsaid bar longitudinally from either of said positions.

10. Selector mechanism for a variable spac ing typewriter includinga member movable variable extents away from a lower case shifting position and settable toan upper case shifting position from which said member also is movable variable extents toward the lower case shifting position, a series of character keys, means indi-.

vidual to said character keys and cooperating with said member in its different case shifting positions to shift said member variable extents from either of said positions toward the other position, and means operable upon a case shifting operation for setting said member to one or the other of its case shifting positions.

11. A selector mechanism for variable spacing typewriters comprising a slide movable longitudinally to any of a plurality of space selecting positions, a series of charactenkeys, and operating members individual to and controlled by said keys for moving said slide longitudinally variable extents and operative, when a character key is operated, to shift the slide an extent dependent on the character represented by the operated key.

12. A variable escapement mechanism comprisinga ratchet wheel, an escapement dog, a

-member operable to release the escapement dog and lock th'e escapement wheel, means operative upon the release of the escapement dog to move it to an advanced position, a plurality of stop members each movable into the path of said escapement dog to limit its movement when released by the first named member to thereby determine the extent of rotation of the ratchet, and a member common to the first member and said stop members for operating both the releasing member and a selected stop member, said common member being selectively movable to select said stop members for operation.

13. A variable escapement mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel, an escapement dog, means operable to release the escapement dog from the escapement wheel and to lock the escapement wheel, means operative upon the release. of the escapement dog to move it to an advanced position, a plurality of stop members each movable into the path of the said escapement dog to limit its movement when released to thereby determine the extent of rotation of the ratchet, character keys, and operating means including a common member controlled by said keys movable to first select said stop members and then movable to operate both the selected stop member and the releasing means.

14. A variable escapement mechanism com-' prising a ratchet wheel tending to rotate in a letter feedin direction, an escapement dog nor mally engaging said ratchet to prevent rotation in a letter feed direction, spring means to move said dog counter to letter feeding movement of the ratchet when released therefrom; a releasing slide having a tooth movable into engagement with the ratchet to lock it against rotation when the dog is released and also releasing said dog for movement by saidspring, said slide having a stop for arresting said released dog in a position to determine a maximum extent of rotation of the ratchet; a plurality of stop slides having stop portions positionable by movement of said slides to arrest the released dog in intermediate positions determining lesser extents of rotation of the ratchet, and a member selectively movable to a plurality of positions, in one of which positions said member operates the first slide alone and in another of which positions the member of selectable stop elements movable to determine the extent of feed of the feed mechanism and including a common operating member for said stop elements and selectively movable to a plurality of positions to select one of said stop elements for operation and thereby determine the extent of feed effected by said feed mechanism; selector mechanism including a series of selector elements for moving said member different extent; a, series of character keys, and means controlled by said keys for operating said selector elements.

16. In a typewriting machine, in combination with the carriage; a selectively operable variable feed mechanism for the carriage including a plurality of members for operating the feed mechanism, certain of said members being selectively operable, one at a time, in conjunction with a predetermined one of .said members, to operate the feeding mechanism to determine different extents of feed, and operable alone by said ated by said universal bar for selecting and on crating said first-named members, a series of character keys, selector elements controlled by the character keys, a selector slide having a con nection to the universal bar actuated member and provided with cam means actuated by said selector elements for moving the said selector slide and said member variable extents accord ing to the widths of the characters correspond ing to the keys, and character printing means controlled by said keys.-

17. In a typewriting machine, in combination with the carriage, a selectively operable variable feed mechanism for the carriage, character printing means, a universal bar automatically oper= ated to actuate said feed mechanism each time a character is printed, character keys, selector elements controlled by the character keys, and a selector bar movable variable extents by said se= lector elements and selectively controlling opera tlon oi the feed mechanism by said universal bar.

18. In a. typewrlting machine, incombination with the carriage, a selectively operable variable speed mechanism for the carriage including a plurality of actuable members for operating the feed mechanism, certain of said members being selectively operable, one at a time, in conjunction with a predetermined one of said members to ole termine difierent extents of feed, said predeter= mined member also being operable alone to de= termine an extent of feed difierent from those determined by said predetermined members, a universal bar having an invariable stroke of move ment, a member actuated by said universal bar and movable to both select and operate said first named members, a series of character keys, selec to;- elements controlled by the character keys; a selector slide havinc a connectlonto the univer sal bar actuated member to select the first named members for operation and provided with com means actuable by said selector elements for moving the said selector slide and said universal essence bar actuated member variable extents according to the widths of characters corresponding to the keys, said selector her having two series of cam means, one of which normally cooperates with said selector elements, the other cam means including cams facing in the opposite direction to the cams of the first cam means and coacting with saidselector elements when said slide is shifted to an upper case position by both a longitudinal and a lateral shifting of the slide, a

case-shifted part, and means whereby the case shifted part efiects the shifting of said slide to said upper case position.

moving said member, and means to actuate said member to operate the selected elements.

20, A variable eecapement mechanism including an escapement ratchet, an escapement dog normally engaged with said ratchet, means movable to a position to release said dog and operetive in said position to lock the escapement wheel against rotation, means operative upon release of the escanement dog to move said dog counter to the rotation oi the ratchet in its feed movement, a series oi stop members separately movable to positions to arrest the escapement dog variable distances from its normal ratchet enga his position; said releasing means, when restored, permitting the dog to reengage the ratchet in positions determined by said stop members and when restored, also releasing the ratchet to peri selected oneof the stop members.

, JAMES F. SMATE-ERS.

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