US2459932A

US2459932A - Silent key mechanism for typewriters

Info

Publication number: US2459932A
Application number: US560224A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter F Gattuso
Original assignee: WOODSTOCK TYPEWRITER CO
Current assignee: WOODSTOCK TYPEWRITER Co
Priority date: 1944-10-25
Filing date: 1944-10-25
Publication date: 1949-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1966-01-25

Description

Jan 25, 1949. P. F. GATTUSO 7 2 SILENT KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Oct. 25 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. F. GATTUSO SILENT KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Jan. 25, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1944 Patented Jan. 25, 1949 SILENT KEY MECHANISM FOR vTYPEWRITERS Peter F. Gattuso, Chicago, 111., assignor to Woodstock Typewriter Company, Woodstock, 111., a I

corporation of Illinois Application October 25,1944, Serial No. 560,2 2

13 Claims.

This invention relates to typewriters in general and particularly to a key control means for typewriters. More specifically, the invention relates to means associated with a typewriter'to effect or produce diacritical marks, signs or symbols for letters produced by depressing a typewriter key. v

Typewriters in use in the United States are more or less standard'in that the letters and symbols used in writing words are substantially the same, while certainletters in writing words in a foreign language must be accented or otherwise marked or symbolized to give the proper phonetics to certain letters. The umlaut is frequently used in the German and Swedish languages, while the circumflex accent, originally used in Greek over long vowels to indicate a rising or falling tone, is now used in other languages in phonetic notation to indicate special sounds. Other diacritical marks are used in French, Italian and other foreign languages to give a special sound or accent to a letter or for indicating an accent to a word; Typewriters" for use in'foreign languages usually have a keyboard with provision for diacritical marks, signs or symbols, but it is desirable that thestandard American typewriters be provided with means so that a standard keyboard can be converted to use in writing foreign languages It is, therefore, the'priin ary object of the present invention to'provide a typewriter with new and novel;rn eans for providing diacritical marks for-foreign language typewriting as well as to provide novel and improved means for converting a standard typewriter into a foreign language typewriter.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of new and novel means for rendering the escapement mechanism of a typewriterinoperative upon the depression of a typewriter key but maintaining the ribbon control and feed operative.

A further object of theinvention resides in the provision of improved meansfor causing diacritical mark-s or other matter, or type on the type bar to strike the 'platen' forfwriting'or impression purposes without causing spacing oithe carriage or platen. v

A still further object of the invention is the provision of novel means in the form of an attachmentapplied to a functioning part of a typewriter for causing type to be printed but without advancement of the carriage or platen.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device orpart adapted to be removably applied to "a typewriter having a 'so-called 2 standard keyboard to convert the standard keyboard typewriter into a foreign language typewriter by rendering one or more keys dead by preventing operation of the carriage escapement mechanism but still permitting operation of the ribbon mechanism when a typewriter key is depressed for printing purposes.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the specification which follows. 7

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 13 a detail perspective view of some of the parts of a typewriter disclosing some of the ribbon operating mechanism, certain parts being omitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a detail view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 5 showing the attachment applied to the lower U bar with a tooth of the U bar bent down so as to cause operation of the ribbon mechanism without operatingthe escapement mechanism, the key lever being not depressed;

Fig.3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the key leverdepressed causing operation of the ribbon mechanism but preventing operation of the escapement mechanism;

' Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of'the attachment and embodying the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the'lower U bar of a typewriter and embodying the invention. I I r V 1 c The particular typewriter herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the present invention is the popular, well known Woodstock typewriter, although the invention is notconfined to this particular make of typewriting machine.

The typewriter 1 includes a support and casing 2, part of which is broken away and other parts being shown in dotted position. Mechanism for operating the escapement and ribbon mechanism so far as affecting the invention is shown in full lines. 'A lower U-shaped bar 3 for operating and controlling the operation of the ribbon mechanism and the escapement mechanism is supported on brackets 4 (Fig. 1) which are secured to a cross rod 5. The cross rod 5 is pivotally mounted in

end brackets

6, 6 which are secured to a part of the typewriter frame 2. Spring means are provided to maintain the lower U-shaped bar 3 in normal upper position; as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but permitting downward swinging movement upon the depression of. a key lever 1 (Fig. l), the key lever I having an operating lower surface 8 which is adapted to engage alternately spaced long and short teeth 9 and I B of the lower U-shaped bar 3 'there'being a U-shaped bar 3. A key lever 1, in normal position and during normal operation, will assume the position shown in Fig. 2. That is, the upper end 7 M of the U-shaped bar 3,-upon which upper end pressionorthe key lever I to operate, the ribbon mechanism and to operate the escapement mech-' anism so as to move the platen one space, con

forming to a letter being printed. The U.- haped.

bar, when being depressed by a key lever i; also; raises the ribbon I i to bring it into proper aline-"a ment with the type on the type-bar, and: also,

causes the ribbon I I to belfed 'a; distance equal.

to one space so that the next succeeding key will print through a fresh part of theribbonl I.

The invention has to do with rendering a key" M the teeth 9 and i are'formed, will have a tooth underlying the operating part 8 of a key lever. 'A .;key .lever 1, when-depresse will press downwardly on the upper parttiof the U-shaped bar 3 and depress the U-shaped bar 3. The entire .;.U,-shaped bar 3 is therefore moved on its pivot 51211 1 01711, and 'inasmuch' as the escapement ymechanism is operatively connected to the U shaped bar '3, the carriage will be shifted one space when a keylever'l is completely depressed.

Howeventhe. depression of a key lever 1 and the moving downwardly of the U-shaped bar 3 will cauSG-IherodsJ-Z tobe first shifted, whereupon dead, that is, to permit the type controlled byithe key lever 1 to be printed but preventing the carriage from being-shifted, but permitting the ribbon to be raised and tobefed in the usual manher; The purpose of the invention is to cause a diacritical mark to be printed without shifting the pl e nd henarr aeeumn h c t e l te is supported so that when a letter to' be printed is to be modified-by the diacritical mark, the diacritical mark will bein its proper position with respect to the letter which is to'be modified or accented, whereby it is not necessary for theop: erator to shift the carriage back so'as to bring'the iac t al rko th r s mbol-in opr e o ition with respect to the letter to be printed, The n entio t ere e nntsadiacr t l a k. at a pre eterm ned po t on; when t k y lev is e re ed, b t r ents Operation .of t e p te whereby the tter o. bemod fi d' acc nted by the diacritical mark is printedpat the same predetermined position upon the depression of the yl ve Controlling the letter onthe type bar: to beprinted, whereby the letter willbe positioned pro e h r spe t t he d c i al ma k. and the carriage will be caused to beshifted in the usual manner by the depression ofthe letter., A ey ev r r nsa diac it cal mar on t e-c. one at ty eba l irs de re sed o print he diacritical mark, whereupon a second-key lever I carrying the letterto accented .or modified; is next depressed, whereupon the diacritical mark and the letter will be printed in the same letter space- The demiessionoi alever carrying a diacritical mark will not cause the carriage .,to be shifted, but the lettervwhich is to be modified or accented by the diacritical mark. will be printed directly below the diacritical mark, whereupon the carriage will; be shifted in the usual manner.

The ribbon mechanism, which includes means for raising the ribbon as Well as feeding the ribbon, is controlled by theoperation of a key lever 1, whether the key lever controls a diacritical mark or whether the key lever controls the letter which is to be accented by the diacritical mark. Therefore, the depression of a key I will cause the rib bon to be raised and the ribbon to be fed, whether ornot the key carries a diacritical mark to. be printed or a letter to be printed.v However, during the printing of the diacritical 'markthe escapement mechanism is not controlled. The means for controlling the raising and feeding of the ribbon. I l comprise spaced rods 12, I2. The lower end of each rod I2 passes through, an opening !3 formed in the upper leg id of the lower.

U-shaped bar 3, as clearly shown in Figs. Zand 3.1

A nut i 5 is secured to the bottom end of each rod i and hasmovement with 'respectrto the the ribbon will first be raised and thenfed, after whichrtime the platenwill be shifted one letter space, all before the type on the type bar cont oll d by the key v r is brought. into. p inti osit on.w tn-resn ctto theplaten. he inventioncontemplates the raising and feeding of the ribbon; but-preventing the operation ,ofthe esape nent m chanism. Therefore; the escapement mechanismmeed not be described in con,- nection with the present invention.

necnan sm or pe ating. t e r b o b c sedposi on and icrieedine the b o clildes the red-s;l 2, whielrare;seculied tothe lower Ur ha ed ar htheribbon feed, and two arms I6 (Fist... hich. e; diustably' ecured to. the ibbo ed roc r haitzl 1:; Fis- 1).. 'rnedepr i n t the'key lth lietote w ldep ss the low r haned' a 1 3.: an upon. depres ion f the Jr-shaped bar :3 lLnsci lat he, ibbon rocker a t ymeanspt he onnect ons 2 a d I6: h oscillatory icvenientof. the. sci ating. or rock ha t-. at1S1-the.ribbon suppo n m nt. '8- o be ra sed n the. usual manner by all tooth n th atq rib n. sup ortin rame member l8.v

mech nismnonnectin g he ockshaft l1 d the This mechan sm c m r ses.- :a -dnw w rdly e te di arm I9 (Iifig 1) omeratiyely connected to the t sal yv li ab ev ibbon;rai in jrrame l8. and piv ta yz qnn ctedratzzm(Fig.1) to a oosene iemben i.-. h refore; when .akeyl 7 is ssed, the 4 bbon..sunnor ine :fram it "w l e caused toebe; raised to bring ;the ribbon into proper es ion q r nt nsip poses.

The roclg shailtflalso controls the feeding of the -ribbon, and this ribbon feed mechanism comprises aieedpawllhanda. holding pawl 28, th medawl :21 bein cont olled by an ,arm 29 (Fig. 1) fixed to m ree sshart H. Y The rocking oj the shaft- H thusgcauses the feed pawl-21 to feedthe ratchet -39 -(-Fig-. l), *aspace equalto, one Thezratchet 0 ismo nted a ha t upo wh ch t er issupported a ri 0 1 1. 901v 1. hat; when the ratchet wheel 39 is rotated, the ribbon H .iscaused to bewound on the .spool;.- Oi 'course, the typewriter-includes mec an sm. on ve n he Iced :of. the ribbon, as-thereare two; spools g3i and; double, ratchet n rati e.mech n s nl+ lb Means a e a so pr0-- an ine.;,-tna:dennryardunav ment; .ot'zthe u! shaped bar 3. However, the invention causes the ribbon to be fed independently of the U-shaped bar 3, and the means for causing the ribbon to be raised and fed independently of the U-shaped bar comprises an implement or attachment 32 (Figs. 2 to While the attachment 32, when applied in operating position, may cause the U-shaped bar to be somewhat depressed, the U-shaped bar 3 will not be depressed a distance sufiicient to cause operation of the escapement mechanism. However, a partial depression of the U-shaped bar may be efiected during the depression of the key. Such partial depression of the U-shaped bar will in no wise effect the operation of the escapement mechanism, as the attachment 32 is adapted to co-operate with the rods l2 for operating the mechanism and while during normal operation, without the attachment, the U-shaped bar controls the operation of the ribbon mechanism, the attachment efiects the operation of the ribbon mechanism somewhat independentlyof the U- shaped bar. Therefore, the invention has to do with the operation of the ribbon mechanism without movement of the bar 3 a distance sufllcient to operate the escapement mechanism. There fore, the invention as applied to the ribbon feed mechanism may cause the operation of the ribbon mechanism independently of any movement of the U-shaped bar or by co-operation with a slight downward movement of the bar, the size and construction of the U-shaped bar determining whether or not there will be any movement of the U-shaped bar for controlling the ribbon feed mechanism when the attachment is applied. Even though the attachment is positioned with: in the confines of the U-shaped bar 3, therefore, the U-shaped bar, for all practical purposes, has no bearing upon the operation of the ribbon feed mechanism when the invention is in place.

The U-shaped bar 3 comprises the upper arm or end l4, carrying the teeth 9 and I0, and a lower arm 33, the arms I 4 and 33 being connected integrally by the side part 34. The lower U-shaped .bar 3, therefore, is in the form of a channel, the upper arm l4 being longer than the lower arm 33, the upper arm carrying the spaced teeth 9 and 0. The lower arm 33 of the U-shaped bar 3 is provided with spaced notches 35 (Figs. 2 and 3) to permit the lower nuts l5,.on the rods l2, to pass downwardly a suificient distance to permit proper operation.

The normal position of the 'teeth 9 and I0 is shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and partly in dotted lines in Fig. 3. However, should a tooth 9 or H] be bent downwardly from the normal plane shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 to the position shown in section in that same figure, the depression of a key 1 will have no effect on the ribbon mechanism nor the escapement mechanism, and the key is what may be termed a dead" key, that is, the type carried on the type bar controlled by this key I will be caused to be imprinted, but the ribbon mechanism and the escapement mechanism will not be operated.

The application of the attachment or implement 32 (Fig. 4) will cause the ribbon mechanism to be operated when a key is depressed but the escapement mechanism will not operate. The attachment 32 comprises an elongated body 36 provided with openings 31 therethrough, spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the rods 12 so that the rods l2 may pass therethrough; The ends of the rods l2 may be suificiently threaded to permit the application or a second nut 38,

as shown in Figs. 2

and 3, so that the attachment 32 may be secured in position between the nuts I5 and 38 and between the legs l4 and 33 of the U-shaped member 3, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The attachment 32 is provided at one end with an enlargement 39 having outwardly projecting'spaced teeth 40, there being the same number of teeth 40 as there are keys carrying the diacritical marks. The attachment 32 is adapted to be positioned on the ends of the rods l2 aiter'tlie teeth 9 and ID are bent downwardly, with a tooth 43 bent upwardly, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that its upper edge may lie in contact with, or substantially in contact with, the lower operating part 8 of a key lever 1. With a tooth 9 or iii bent downwardly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and a tooth 40 of the attachment 32 bent upwardly, as shown in those same figures, the depression of a key I will cause the rods l2 to be moved downwardly independently of any movement of the U-shaped bar 3 and, therefore,

. the ribbon mechanism will be operated but the escapement mechanism will be prevented from being operated. Fig. 2 shows the attachment applied in position to the lower U-shaped bar 3, but the key I not depressed. The depression of the key I will cause the operating part 8 of the key lever 1 to engage the up-turned finger or tooth 43 on the attachment 32, and pull the rods l2 downwardly, as shown in Fig. 3. Thereupon, the rock shaft l1 will be operated to effect the raising movement of the ribbon as well as feeding the ribbon, but the U-shaped bar 3 will either be not operated at allor shifted a distance insufficient to operate the escapement mechanism.

The attachment 32 is preferably stamped from a single piece of sheet material, preferably being stamped in one piece with the number of spaced teeth corresponding to the number of keys carrying the diacritical marks. Therefore, if only one diacritical mark is required, only one tooth or finger 43 need be provided. If more than one tooth is required, the attachment 32 may have additional teeth or fingers All. However, the attachment 32 may carry several teeth, but they may be rendered inoperative by keeping them in a sufficiently lower plane, that is, if the teeth, Ml are not bent up a suflicient distance, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, they will have no effect during the normal operation of the typewriter. Therefore, the number of bent-up teeth on the attachment determines which key, when depressed, will not effect the operation of the escapement mechanism. Even though the attachment may I. have innumerable teeth, they will have no bearing on the operation of the machine unless they are bent up or positioned in a plane so as to be engaged by a key to cause the operation of the ribbon feed mechanism.

The invention is hereby claimed asfollows:

In a typewriting machine having ribbon feeding mechanism and escapement mechanism, a depressible bar for effecting operation of only the said ribbon feeding mechanism, an operative connection between the said bar and the ribbon feeding mechanism, whereby the latter will be actuated upon the depression of said bar by an actuating key, a second depressible bar for effecting operation of the escapement'mechanism, and means whereby upon its depression by an actuat ing key, the said second depressible bar will also, through the medium of the first said bar, effect operation of the ribbon feeding mechanism.

2. In a typewriting machine having ribbon feeding mechanism and escapement mechanism,

7 a;..depressible:barfor:e ectinaoperation, oinnly the ail ibbon feedin mechanism; an" op rative connection between ,thesaid bar and the ribbon feeding mechanism, whereby the latter will be actuated upon the depression oi said bar bytan actuating; key, asecond depressible bar for ,efiecte ing operation of the escap ement mechanism, and meanswherebyuponjts depression by an actuatinskey; the said; second depressible banwill, also,

operation oi the ribbon feeding mechanism, the first said bar having a predetermined degree of movement independently of the movement second said bar.

3; In a typewriting machine having ribbon ieedingnlechanisrn and escapement mechanism, awdepressible bar for efiecting operation of only the said ribbon feeding mechanism; an operative connection between the said bar and the ribbon feeding mechanism, whereby the latter will be actuatedupon the depression of said bar by an actuating key, a second depressible bar .ior effecting operation.- of the escapement mechanism, means whereby'upon its depression by an actuating key, the saidsecond depressible bar will also, through the medium of the first-said bar,'effect operationcof the ribbon feeding mechanism, and fingers on each of saidbars, to be engaged by the respective actuating'keys, said fingers adapted to bedefiected into-set positions with relation to the. respective bars and the respective actuating keys] 7 a V i 4. In a V typewriting machine having ribbon actuating mechanism and escapement mechanism, a first, depressiblebar for efiecting operation of the escapement mechanism, a second depressible bar for effecting onlythe operation of the ribbon actuating mechanism, keys for actuating said bars, a connection between the said sec- 0nd bar and said ribbon mechanism, and a oneray connection between the first said bar and the second said bar, whereby upon depression of thesecond said bar by an actuating key, said ribbon actuating mechanism will be operated independently of the escapement mechanism. and

upon depression of the first said bar the said secand bar will also be actuated to operate both the ribbon mechanismv and the escapement mechanism.

5. In a 'typewriting machine having ribbon actuating mechanism and esca-pement mechanism,

a depressi'ble bar for effecting operation of the escapement mechanism, a second depressible bar for effecting only theoperation of the ribbon actuating mechanism, keys for actuating said bars, a connection between the said secondbar and said ribbon mechanism, a, one-way connection between the first said bar and the second said bar, whereby upon depression of the second said bar by an actuating key, said ribbon actuating mechanism will be operated independently of the escapement mechanism, and upon depression of, the first said bar the said second bar will also be actuated to operate both the ribbon mecha-, nism and the escape'ment mechanism, and fingers on the first said bar adapted to be selectivelyv set into and'out of operative position with respect to the bar and theactuating keys.

6. In a typewriting machine havingv ribbon actuating mechanism and escapement mechanism, a depressible bar for effecting operationjof the escapement mechanism, a second depressible bar for effecting only the operation of the ribbon actuating mechanism, keys for, actuating said bars. a, connection between the said ,second bar 7 of the 7 k ys -,for actuating- 'mally engageable by feeding; mechanism for ascents:

and;said ;ribbon'mechanism, a one-way connectiombetweenjthe-first saidjbar and the second said .meohanismwiil be operated-independently of the escapernent mechanism, and upon depression of the first saidbarthe said second bar will also be actuated to operate-both the ribbon mechanism andv theescapement mechanism, and fingers on theseoond. said-bar adapted to be selectively set into and outof activeposition with respect to the bar and the respective actuating keys.

7: ih typewriter having ,escapementmechanism, ribbon feeding mechanism, adepressible bar for effecting operation of, the escapement mechanism, an attachment depressible with respect to saidbar for efiecting operation of only the ribbonfeeding. mechanism, keys for actuatingsaid bar andqattachment, an operative connection between said attachment 7 V mechanism for actuation of said ribbon feeding mechanism upon depression of'said attachment by aniactuating key, and imeansoperable upon depression of the bar by an actuating key and through the medium of the attachment for effecting, also operation of the ribbon feeding mechanism r Y 8. Atypewriter having ribbonfeedingniecha nisin, escapement mechanism, a first depressible bar for eifecting operation of only the ribbon feeding mechanism, la-second depressible bar for effecting operationv of the escapement mechanism, said here, an operative connectionbetween said first bar and the ribbon actuation of-said ribbon feedingmechanism upon-depression of said first bar by anzactuating key, and means operable upon depression of thezsecondbar by an actuating key and through the medium of the first bar for eiiecting, also operation of the ribbon feeding mechanis rmsaid second bar including a part norparticuiar actuating key andacapablehof being; conditioned to render said escapement mechanism inoperative when that actuatingkey is operated.-

9.. In, a typewriter. havingfribbon raising mech anism, ribbon feedingqmechanism, and escapement mechanism: a first depressible bar for effecting operation of only the-ribbonraising and the ribbon,feedingmechanisma-a second-depressi blebar forefiecting operation of the escapement 'mechanism, a key lever for actuatingsaid bars,

operative connection between said first bar and theribbonraising and the ribbon feeding mechanisms .for actuation of said ribbon raisingrand feeding mechanisms'upon depression of said first barbythe-key lever, and means operable upon depression of the second bar by the key lever and through themedium ofthe first bar for effecting alsooperation, of the ribbon raising and the ribbonieeding mechanisms, said second bar including, apart normally engageable by the-key lever and capable of being conditioned .to render said escap'ement mechanism inoperative when said key lever is-operated,

10.. In. a typewriter having ribbon raising mechanism, ribbon feeding mechanism, and escapementmechanism; a first depressible bar for ef fecting operation.ofonly the ribbon raising and thelribbon feedingmechanisms, a second depressiblebar for effecting operation of the escapement mechanism, akey lever for actuating said bars, operative connection means between said first barandthe ribbon .raisingand the ribbon feedingmechanismsnfor actuation. of said ribbon raise and the ribbon feeding I ing and feeding mechanisms upon depression of said first bar by the key lever, and means operable upon depression of the second bar by the key lever and through the medium or the first bar for effecting also operation of the ribbon raising and the ribbon feeding mechanisms, said second bar including a part normally engageable by the key lever and capable of being conditioned to render said escapement mechanism inoperative when said key lever is operated, and said first bar having a finger constructed and arranged to be defiected into a set protruding position with respect thereto for engagement by the key lever when said second bar part is conditioned to render said escapement mechanism inoperative.

11. In a typewriter having ribbon raising mechanism, ribbon feeding mechanism, and escapement mechanism: a first depressible bar for effecting operation of only the ribbon raising and the ribbon feeding mechanisms, a second depressible bar for effecting operation of the escapement mechanism, key levers for actuating said bars, said second bar being capable of being conditioned to render said escapement mechanism inoperative in response to actuation of a particu lar key lever, operative connections between said first bar and the ribbon raising and the ribbon feeding mechanisms for actuation of said ribbon raising and feeding mechanisms upon depression of said first bar bya key lever, and means operable upon depression of the second bar by a key lever and through the medium of the first bar for effecting also operation of the ribbon raising and the ribbon feeding mechanisms, said first bar including a plurality of fingers constructed and arranged for adjustment to a position with respect thereto for engagement by a key lever when said second bar is conditioned to render said escapement mechanism inoperative in response to actuation of that key lever.

12. In a typewriter having ribbon raising mechanism, ribbon feeding mechanism, and escapement mechanism: a first depressible bar for effecting operation of only the ribbon raising and the ribbon feeding mechanisms, a second depressible bar for effecting operation of the escapement mechanism, key levers for actuating said bars, said second bar being capable of being conditioned to render said escapement mechanism inoperative in response to actuation of a particular key lever, operative connections between said first bar and the ribbon raising and the ribbon feeding mechanisms for actuation of said ribbon raising and feeding mechanisms upon depression or" said first bar by a key lever, and means op erable upon depression of the second bar by a key lever and through the medium of the first bar for effecting also operation of the ribbon raising and the ribbon feeding mechanism said first bar being detachable and including a plurality of fingers thereon adapted to be bent to a predeter mined position with respect thereto for engagement by a key lever when said second bar is conditioned to render said escapement mechanism inoperative in response to actuation of that key lever.

13. A typewriter having ribbon feeding mechanism, escapement mechanism, a key lever for operating said mechanisms, first means operable by the key lever engaging the same upon depression of the key lever normally to effect operation of the escapement mechanism, said first means embodying an element provided with a portion adapted to be selectively set to an inoperative condition with relation to the key lever, and second means operable by the key lever engaging the same upon depression of the key lever to operate only the ribbon feeding mechanism when the portion of said element is set to inoperative condition, said first means being connected with said second means for operating also therethrough the ribbon feeding mechanism upon depression of the key lever when the portion of said element is in operative condition with relation to the key lever.

PETER F. GATTUSO'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the