US2471238A - Ribbon feeding and inking mechanism for typing machines - Google Patents

Description

May 24, 1949 G. E. PELTON RIBBON FEEDING AND INKING- MECHANISM -FOR TYPING MACHINES Filed NOV. 12, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

G. E. PELTON RIBBON FEEDING AND INKING MECHANISM FOR TYPING MACHINES I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 24, 1949,

May 24, 1949.

= a. E. RIBBON FEEDING AND INKING MECHANISM FOR TYPING MACHINES Filed Nov. 12, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5a "g 2-1: if

gllglllllllllllllllllllllllllfiili g 74 Z '2 7 6 .16. Min I v0.15 mm. I INVENTOR.

PELTON 2,471,238..

Patented May 24, 1949 RIBBON FEEDING AND INKING:MECHANISM! FOR TYPING MACHINES".

George ErnestPelton, Middleburg, Va ,assignor.

to Ida S. Pelton, Round Hill, Va.

Application November 12, 19.46; Serial .No. 709,377

29 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to improvements in typing machines, and particularly to teletype machines, invoicing machines, machines.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved inking machanisms andspooling. mechanisms for typing machines.

Another object of the invention istoprovide an improved driving means which is operative during the typing operation to rotate independently and in a positive manner both a ribbon inking mechanism and a spool upon which the ribbon is being wound.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved driving mechanisms for the ribbon spools which may be selectively disengaged to permit the spools to rotate freely during the unwinding of the ribbon therefrom in order substantially to reduce the frictional drag upon the typing mechanism.

Another object is to provide a nonabsorbent Writing ribbon which cannot act as an ink reservoir and is more wear resistant than prior art ribbons.

One object is to provide an inking mechanism which uses a ball'for feeding a thin pigment ink to a non-ink-absorbent ribbon.

Another object is to provide two ink mixing means, one in the reservoir for ink and one in the housing near the reservoir.

Another object of prime importance is to provide a non-ink-absorbent.ribbon, which may be 288 yards long, utilizing large horizontally. mounted spools; the ribbon being thinner than and bookkeeping prior art ribbons, three-yards occupying no more space in the spool, than one yard of ordinary;

standard, cotton typing machine ribbon.

Another object is to get away. from the poor.

writing results secured from twelveyard cotton or silk ribbons which are medium or heavily inked.

and which are ink-absorbent, the writing ;appear.-.

ance changingalmostfrom day to C1ay.-a11d-s0.on-

becoming dim.

Another object is to provide new larger. spools mounted in a new, improved manner and much longer ribbon and still maintain very light: typebar action, action of the keys, and, light movement for the return of the carriage in hand- Another object is to provide large spools which may be mounted. in. pr sent p g, machines; simply as attachments, with improved inking units. of; smalrsize, thereby-making it possible; at'much less cost to have anink fountaintype writer. which may. be. used foryears without-re placing the newnon-inksabsorbent'ribbon, and which greatly reduces-the ribbon expense.

Other objectsof the-invention-will be apparent...

from. the following descriptionand claims:

In the. accompanying drawings:

Fig. lis a-top plan view-01a portion of a typing machineequipped with ,the improved mechanisms... Fig. 2. is a.,fragmentaryz top: plan .view showing therelation between, the, ribbon inking means.

rotatable spoolzsupport: and driving means there for.

Fig. 3 is-an end elevation of the inkingmach1- Fig. 6 is a-sectional viewtaken along t'heline;

Fig. 7. is a sectional,view taken along the line Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional-view. showing aportion. of the inkingmechanism upon-an, enlargedscale.

Fig. 9.is a viewshow-ing a ribbon spool and its. mounting partially;-in elevation and-partially insection.

Fig. 10 is a top plan View of a modifiedformof; spool-mounting With-.the spool removed.

Fig. llisaviewtakenalong the line Il-|l of- Fig. .10 with the spool in place.

Fig. 12 is a view. showing. a hard ball for applying ink.

Fig. 13is a view showing a ball contacting the ribbon.

Fig. 14 is a view of. another form of inking;- mechanism.

Fig. 15. is a,- viewof another form of. inking mechanism.

Fig. 1.6 is aview of a-post-oi Fig. 15.

This invention may; be, applied to a teletype machine or to a; typewriter, or type mechanism of any kind; using aninktransfer member.

In, the accompanying drawings, for the pur.-. pose. of illustrating an embodiment of my invene tion, it is shownas-appliedtoa. type-writing ma. chine I, having;a fr'ame 2, and roller or platen 3'. which carries the-paperor. other material upon which the writingpis done.

The inv ntion contemplates the use of a very long ribbon which is kept uniformly inked and which moves freely from spool to spool with light type-bar action, light key action and light carriage return at all times.

Conventional portions of the typing machine, not elements of the invention, have been omitted from the drawings as not needed.

Ribbon spools 6 at opposite sides of the front of the frame are provided at the center of hubs I, with sockets 8 to receive spindles 9 projecting upwardly from hubs I9 of gears II. Each gear II is rotatably mounted upon the head l2 (see Fig. 9) at the inner end of a pivoted arm or lever I3 which is pivotally mounted by a stud I4 and extends diagonally of the frame with its front end projecting forwardly therefrom so that it may be grasped and the lever swung about its pivot and thus move the gear into or out of mesh with a companion gear or small pinion I5, mounted upon the upper end of a drive shaft I6. The shafts I6 are the shafts customarily employed for carrying the spools of a typing machine. Since the gears II are a great deal larger than gears I5, spools 6 will turn much slower. A pin IT projects upwardly from the hub of each gear for engagement in a socket I8 in the spool applied to spindle 9, resting upon hub 1. Therefore the spool will turn with the gear and turn slowly when gear II is in mesh with companion gear I5. The gear II may be mounted by ball bearings in the head I2 of arm I3 so that when it is swung about its pivot to move the gear II out of mesh with gear [5, the spool 6 may turn very freely and thus reduce the drag and tension upon the ribbon to a minimum. Very rapid operation of the typewriting machine with very light touch and easy, quick carriage return are accomplished even with a ribbon 288 yds. long. A shield I9 formed of sheet metal protects each spool. The shield prevents the spool from being accidentally struck when moving the carriage during use of the typewriting machine. Since the shields are releasably secured by screws 20 passed through depending front and side portions of the shields and into threaded openings formed in the frame 2, the shields may be removed when necessary.

When the ribbon has travelled in one direction for its full length it is necessary to swing the arms 53 to adjusted positions and thus cause the previously power driven spool to be free from any connection with the rotating shafts upon which the gears l are mounted. The other spool 6 is caused to be driven from the companion gear. It is also necessary to effect automatic, or manual, adjustment of the mechanism for reversing the drive mechanism of the shafts i6 and thereby cause the directional movement of the ribbon and the driving gears 55 to be reversed. Some typists may object to manually shifting the positions of the spools and the gears. They may depend upon a conventional, automatic mechanism for effecting reversal of directional movement of the ribbon. The gears II may be rotatably mounted in ball bearings carried by the blocks 2| shown in Fig. 11 which correspond to the heads I2 and are mounted upon the forwardly projecting arms 22 of brackets 23 through which the shafts It are rotatably mounted. This modified construction with gears II and I5 always in mesh, is shown in Figs. and 11. If gear I5 is always in mesh with gear II, when a full spool of ribbon is unwinding and the ribbon passes in contact with inking means to receive ink therefrom, then there is much more drag on the ribbon and a much shorter ribbon must be employed or greater power must be had to rotate the shafts I6, when either shaft is driving the gears and win-ding up the ribbon. One may tighten the ca iage drum spring as tightly as possible, which causes a heavy key action and a heavy carriage return and means greater exertion for the typists hands. In order to secure the desired results for the typist from an extremely large spool of ribbon (up to 288 yds. long) it is necessary to combine the features of the freely moving spool 6 with its gear I I out of mesh with gear I5 so spool 6 is free from any drag which in the case of the right spool in the conventional typewriter, is considerable, that drag being caused by a shaft underneath the type-bars which rotates and the vertical shaft I6 which rotates in the conventional machine when the right spool is unwinding. of course the right spool in the conventional machine is mounted where I mount driving gear I5.

During movement of the ribbon 5, ink may be applied to it preferably as it moves away from the vibrator 4 and thus cause the ribbon to be supplied with a thin film of ink which is brought in conventional manner into contact with the paper about the platen producing written imressions which are all of the desired rich color. In order to transfer the ink to the ribbon as the ribbon moves in the direction away from the vibrator 4, there are inking units 24 mounted at opposite sides of vibrator 4 and these are alike.

Each of the inking units has a base 25 which may be formed of a block of plastic material, metal, or other suitable material. It is firmly mounted upon a side wall of the frame 2 by screws 26. A metal plate 2'! is mounted upon the base block 25 and projects from the inner end thereof. A block 33 is mounted at the front edge of the inwardly projecting end portion of the plate 21; and at opposite sides of this end portion of the plate are guide rollers 29 and 3D rotatably mounted about posts 3| and 32; the post 3| being carried by said block 33 mounted upon the plate and the post 32 being secured to the plate 2'! at the opposite side thereof from the block 33. A. bar 34 extends transversely of the outer end portion of the plate 21 and, at its rear end, is pivotally mounted by a screw 35 so that it may be urged inwardly by a spring 36 anchored to the plate 21 and attached to the bar. This bar carries an upstanding shaft 31 about which an ink applying wheel 38, with a knurled, peripheral face is rotatably mounted. Or the hard ball of Fig. 12 may be used to apply ink to a face of the ribbon 5. Inking wheel 38, with the knurled face has frictional contact with the ribbon so that as the ribbon moves, the wheel 38 will be rotated and ink on the knurled face of the wheel will be transferred to a face of the ribbon. An arcuate guide, or ribbon retainer, 39, having a shank 48 extends, circumferentially of the wheel, for a portion of the circumference thereof and the shank extends inwardly under the wheel with its inner end secured to the bar 34. The fingers 4| of the guide 39 overlie the upper edge of the rim or margin of the wheel 38 and the arcuate guide will thus serve very effectively to guide the ribbon against the knurled face of the wheel; or flanged inking wheels may be used as in Fig. 14.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the ribbon passes about the outer portion of the inking wheel 38 with portions engaged with the guide rollers 29 and 30 and other portions of the 5. ribboni passing through slotted posts 42 and 43 projecting up from plate 2-1.

'41 d'fF'igA-is a small lever to which the handle or arm 454s "securely fastened. Th lever 45 is pivoted to-base plate 21. In order to move the small gear 4 1 out of'mesh with the gear 8, the arm 4'5 is'turned forcing inking wheel 38 out of contact with ink screen-65, thus separating the gears 41 and 48 completely. Hub 46 of inking wheel 38' extends downwardly and carries the smau'gear or p'inionfl which may be in mesh with large gear 48 to cause gear 48 to turn very slowly when the'inkin'g' wheel 38 isrotated by'the ribbon.

The gear lB is an element of the mechanism by means-of which ink is delivered from reservoir or ink-well to the ink applying member 38, which maybe a wheel with a knurled peripheral face, or agear or a hard ball. (For the hardball see Figs..-1-2"an'd'- 13). (For the gear or wheel with teeth and'with flanges, see Figure 14). Gear' lii maybe rotatably supported upon a thrust bearing 50*whi'ch is carried by the plate 21. Gear $8 supports "a shaft 5| which projects upwardly therefrom and passes through the housing 52 of the mechanism. Within this housing the shaft 5! carries a rotary ink feeding and mixing member identified by reference numer'at'iifiin Fig. 6 as a threaded roller and by reference numeral 53'A inFigs. I-2' 'and as a wheel, gear or disk which maybe-provided with projecting teeth.

Ghar48- may be driven by gear [5 instead of by gear lTas is shown-in Figs. 4 and 6. See also Fig-. 2'whereingear l5- drives gear it through an intermediate gear I 5-A. Shaft lfiB which may be supported in any suitable manner on the typing mechanism serves as a mounting for gear IS-A, the teeth of which coact with the teeth of ears l5 and 48. Gear l5 may also drive a spool li which-hasgears for its topand bottom as shown in Fig. 15 (such spools are commonly used in oneor the standard electrical typing machines) or spool-{may have a gear fastened securely to its lower face in any suitable manner. When spool ii isunwinding. I find it necessary to shift the lever orarm l3' so that the spool is entirely free from the drag of any connection with gear l5, whether the spool-is mounted above gear I! or has one or both ofits faces with projecting teeth for gears, or has a gear securely fastened to its bottom face, and 'this is particularly necessary when gear l5 ma be connected with both gears i l by which is meant that gear I5 is in mesh with both faces of the spb'o'lb. In other words, whenever spool fiisit self constructed of two disks which are in reality gears H and ll-A (see Fig. 15) then gears I I and l l''A must be out of mesh before spool'6 begins th'e'unw-ind. This is when the typing machine is equipped also with the inking means for feeding ink't'o'the ribbon 5. If the machine is used with very large spools and is not equipped with inking units andthe ribbon-is removed from the maohine for reinkin-g, then it is quite reasonable t'o'em'ploy still larger spools and employ very lon'g ribbons in such machines, just as long as the availablespace willaccommodate, and this means also using spools which reach over and complete ly cover the gear I5 fastened to shaft 56, and it means-using spools that almost touch the platen orroller 3 and which extend two or three inches beyond the sides of the typing machin and extend to" the very front of the machine. A gear train may be used.

Ink is moved and stirred and mixed in the ink reservoir automatically during operation of the typing machine and when a threaded inking rbllerisemployed as may be-advisable in certain types-oftyping machines-(see 53 of Fig. 6) the ink is'moved to'an opening 58 and enters the housing. Calk washers 5'5 and 56', which may be cork or any suitable material; 'arelocated at the upper and at the lower ends of the housing 52 and may be located in'between as in Fig. 12 at 56-A. In order'toavoid undue leakage of ink when a very thin pigment ink is employed, instead of using the drainage pan of U. S. Patent No. 2,158,944, I'usea packing on both sides of cork washer 56. This packing 51' is fitted closely and snugly about th'e'shaft- 5|. In addition to the regular commercial gaskets orpacking, I may also use washers made of closely woven nylon. As the nylon threads are non-ink-absorptive, they serve well for this purpose, particularly if six or eight of theinareused. The ink enters the housing 52 from'the reservoir 49 through an inlet recess 58 formed at the rear of washer '55, at the rear of the upper part of the housing and at the bottom of thereservoir 49. (See Figs. 5, 6, and 8.) Since the'in'kmust be stirred and mixed, if it is a suitable ink'for use'in typing machine ribbons for permanentrecords and for Writing letters and documents of importance which require first class, permanent inks, there has been provided an ink mixer or agitator 59 (see Fig. 5) which is secured to'the upper end of the internally threaded shaft 5'! by screw 50. Since the hub, or enlarged portion of the mixer blade overlies the upper washer 5 5. its'e'rves to prevent this washer 55 from moving out of its place;

The ink reservoir lil'is supported over the plate 2'! and the gear wheel 48' by a post 5! secured upon the plate by a screw 62. About the upper end of this 'post 5 l "is groove 63 in which there is a helical spring 64'. End portions of this spring 64 extend from opposite sides of the post 6| towards the housing as shownin Fig. 7, and are attached to the ends of a screen 65 which is woven of very fine wire strands or wire threads and extends about the housing with its intermediate portion crossing the discharge opening as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The ink passes through the fine screen" and upon the knurled edge face of the inking wheel 38; and from this wheel the ink is transferred to a face of the ribbon '5 as the ribbon moves to the spool. When it is necessary to replenish th'e'supply of ink in the reservoir the cap'Bfi is unscrewed from the filling opening 61 of the reservoir and ink poured into the reservoir.

Instead of forming the ink feeder in the housing'as a threaded roller 53 as in Fig. 6, it may consist'o'f'a" wheel, gear or a disk 53A (see Figs. 8. 12 and 15 and'forrned about its periphery with teeth fiewhich'serves as an ink feeder and mixer. The disk or gear has an upstanding sleeve 10 which fits about the shaft 5i and is spaced from the annular wall of the housing 52 so that there will be ample room for ink to flow downwardly throughtheopening' at the rear of housing and into'contact' with the toothed disk.

A typing machine constructed as illustrated and described is very efficient in operation since the ink is fed through the housing from the reservoir with precision at a steady rate of flow to the ink feeder and mixer in the housing and therefrom to the'ink applying wheel 38 (see Fig. 6) or to the hardball S t-A (see Figs. 12, 13 and 15); and by contact the ink is fed to a face of the ribbon in minute amounts; and the power required to do this is much less than in prior mechanisms of my patents and a much longer ribbon may be employedand'a ribbon may be used W-hich'is made of synthetic threads which is much more wear resistant than all other ribbons heretofore patented.

or used for typing machine ribbons with which.

bon may be produced. The fibres themselves may' not be imperfect as to size but the degumming process may not be done perfectly resulting in a. ribbon that is not absolutely uniform. It has never been possible to weave natural silk threads. at the mill with absolutely perfect results because silk is greatly affected by the temperature of the weaving room, the moisture in the air of the weaving room and by other factors. With synthetic fibres such as I employ for my new, improved typing machine ribbon, there are no such. obstacles to securin ribbons of uniform size throughout a 288 yard length and the new threads wear almost like metal threads. The resultant writing from the new ribbon and the very long ribbon and from the use of the new, easier moving inking units, is what typists require. With the very long ribbon they may have writing with the right amount of ink for sharp impressions of rich color and may have such writing for the life of the typing machine without changing the ribbon. It is simply a matter of having the necessary space for the inking units and for the very large spools and in some of the standard typing machine now on the market, there is sufiicient space for very long ribbons. By friction calendering, the thickness of the new, synthetic ribbon of this application, may be reduced to as low as .0015 of an inch. When such a ribbon is employed the typist may reasonably use micro type for correspondence and for legal documents since the writing is printlike and as easily read as the printed page of a magazine or book employing usual size type. The new ribbon as thin as .0015 of an inch is extremely tough and wear resistant due to the very unique strength of the synthetic threads. The life of the new ribbon may be prolonged by a fourth by simply usin metal type faces which have a dull, knife edge and not a cutting edge. Present typing machines are usually built for use with ordinary cotton Writing ribbons as much as .005 of an inch thick and because of this thickness, the type employed, having to write under the great handicap of the heavy, thick, cotton ribbon, have edges that are sharp and that can cut. The cotton fabric is protected to some extent in machines that employ anvils or stop-rings. The new synthetic ribbon can easily withstand the cutting blows of the sharp faced metal type but the writing will be just as beautiful and there will be more of it before the fabric of the synthetic ribbon is badly worn, if the edges of the metal type are dull.

If the ribbon is .0015 of an inch thick, a surprisingly long ribbon may be: wound into a ribbon spool and 288 yards of such ribbon does not require a very large spool, that is unwieldy at all. The distance from the platen or roller to the front part of a typing machine which employs spools containing 288 yds. of such a thin synthetic ribbon, i not great and is not at all unreasonable and for the first time, it permits the use of ribbons and spools and inking units that give the typist what has been greatly needed and it puts an end to the great expense of purchasing so many standard length typing machine ribbons on small spools. These ribbons have ten times the life if ink is fed to them, short as they are, but the custom is to discard the fabric the moment the ink i nearly gone. Each separate ribbon means another metal spool and another box to pay for and the labor expense involved too. offices is that with my new 288 yard, synthetic ribbon .0015" in thickness, the typist doesnt lose time changing ribbons; this is one big item of expense because typists pay is high and the time lost changing the ribbon and cleaning the hands afterwards is considerable and delays the typists work. If the writing that is being done is one long document, it means a complete change in the appearance of the writing when the new ribbon is first used. All this is avoided by the use of the combination of the new ribbon 288 yards long, the new, large spools and new spooling gears and the new means for freeing the unwinding spool from any connection with the rotating shafts, and the new, small, freely operating inking units.

One who knows nothing about the typewriter art may say that the spool of the conventional typing machine rotates freely when unwinding but the fact remains that the drag greatly limits the length of ribbon that may be used in connection with the inking units, and it is wholly unnecessary to have the unwinding spool mounted on a rotating shaft especially since the conventional machine has the said shaft connected by gears with a long shaft which extends underneath the typebars across to the opposite side of the machine and both of these shafts rotate in the conventional machine whenever the spool of ribbon unwinds. The dra and tension on the ribbon in such a machine increases as the ribbon in the unwinding spool becomes less. Before making the present invention, applicant visited various typing machine factories of this country and foreign countries and it was impossible to locate any typing machine which did not have the drawback above-mentioned. Applicant experienced great difficulty in usin conventional machines, including the electric typing machines, because of the drag on the ribbon and because this drag became much greater if the ribbon was as much a thirty six yards in length. Applicant has observed various types of electrically operated typing machines run night and day, with no manual typing, in making tests of inked ribbons and inkin units through the years. This drag which seem of no consequence to the layman is really of great importance and has been a supreme obstacle in securing the results that typists are entitled to have when using typing machines. Business men are entitled to the better wriing of the present invention at the large saving in expense for typing machine ribbons. They are entitled to the large amount of writing to be had even in using present typing machines of a few different brands or makes, if the new inventions are attached, as there is the space available for very long inked ribbons and the larger spools and also inking units, although, of course, these machines cannot use 288 yard ribbons for letter writing and for usual oflice work as the machines are built with a limited space available between the platens and front part.

However, one big item in very busy Through the years business men'p'ay almost as much :for i inked ribbons for typing machines during the-liftof such machines as the cost ofthemachines-themselves. The present invention saves thisexpense and it will only be necessary topurchase ink; Even cotton typing machine ribbons are expensive now. The fabric used for such ribbons must be-free from defects which would not matter'if the-fabric was to' be used for making wearingapparel. The'inspection of such textile fabrics is very: severe since the rib-' bons must be suitable for usein writing-with elite or pica typeand any knots or broken threads or other defects can spoil the writing and'give a blot or blurred imprint on the-writing surface or paper. Thecost of 'weaving cotton fabrics or silk fabrics for--inked-ribbons is very much higher than heretofore andit i also necessary to pay higher prices for metal spools,wrappingfoil; and metal boxes forthe'ribbons.- It-is= customary for thetypist to throw away the-spool and the box as well as theused ri-bbon; The present invention prevents this.

A late model typing-'machinewill dovery'ugly writing if 'a very thick; heavily inked ribbon is used. Even avery 'oldtyping-machine that is in good repair will do very-neat work=fora long period if given in ribbon 288fyards' long that is only .0015- of "an'inch'thick; The typing machine maker; however, purposely limits the space that is available-forthe ribbon so as "to require the frequent replacement of a-short-ribbon. The writing results from the long-ribbon are vastly superior to-those obtainedfrom the usual '12 yd. ribbon. Since the '12-yd." ribbon must act as an ink reservoir and-carry=a-reserve ink supply, it writes too heavily at thestart, unless itis-a lightly-inked ribbon; andon the wear down,- the writingsoon is dim. Not one 'typis't in ten thou- Sandin-a busypffice isfrirnishd lightly inked ribbons because they-containsdlittle ink' and must so soon bereplaced. The-amount'of writ ing they can do is verylittle. Itiscustomary for a typing machine"salesman* todemonstrate a'typing machine."of any kind; witha' lightly inked ribbon so that the writing willlook very sharp and neat. This is misleading because the moment that machine-is equippedwith'the'usual cotton ribbon medium inked or' heavily inked- (for economy) 'thewr iting is ugly. The present invention means a great saving inink used since the extremely thin; n'on-ink abs'o'rptive, syntheticribbon givesvery sharp writing and very little' ink is used in making each impression on the paper. Sinceth'e newribbon' makes it-reasonable to use micro type" in typingmachines for'general correspondence and for legal documents, it is possible to put twice as much on a page as when pica type is used." Paper also is very expensive todayand this means a big :sav-" mg.

The twelve yard} standard, typing machine ribbon. is commonly us'ed'in typewriters, teletype machines; bookkeeping machines; tc." It is common to see court stenographers transcripts written with'several ribbons and with'writing of very different inkcolor at difierent' places in the large; thick books of court testimony. It is common to see loose leaf records of the auditing departments of hotels and business'ofiicesand also bank'records with different looking imprint's on the sheets. One linemay be lightly inked writing and the "next "line -(when"new ribbonwas used) may be heavy.

The-present invention remedies these defects once and for all.

There-is'nolonger any reason why the higher courts should require thatall court papers of acasethe judges 'are toread must be printed since with the new .0015 of aninch synthetic ribbon'the writing-from the typing machineyequipped with the inking units is printlike .and for-thousands of pages remains of-thesame rich color and at littleexpense by an inexpensive process photostat-copies maybe produced which-are just as easily read-'as actual printed pages.- v i U c Since the new-very thin, synthetic ribbon is non-ink-absorbent '-:it is cleaner than prior art ribbons-and when used with the inki ngunits (which feed minute amounts-of inkduring operation' of -machine) the synthetic ribbon simply carries a small'amount of surface ink; and there is'very. little ink for the typetostrike into and it is'seldom necessaryto clean the type of the machineof the present invention; This typeof ribbon is especially. valuable in usin the micro type and due: to its thinness it gives the full beauty of the micro typ'e faces -andmakes them very easy;to-read. Usual standard ribbons-are not satisfactory for use with th micr type because'of the reserve-ink supply-they all must carryr which mean thicknessof fabric and ugly outlines-from microtype. Much more use of the fabric may be had from a micro type machine since the micro, t pe are so small they strike {a very small portion of the width of the: ribbon; In my U=.' S.- Patent; No.- 1,324,265, isshown 1 a mechanism for makingdifferent-part of the Width of the ribbon usable; so 7 that 'thesentire width of thefabric will be utilized and none wasted. Even withawriting-ribbon only; 1 50f an inch wide,- it is -possib1e-to write alon three different :paths of" the ribbon when using-a typing machine equipped with-micro type; And micro type is a standard type oftypin machine makers and has been forlongs-years. The ink fountain typewriter makes such 'type of high importance. One form of' an-ink applying wheelwhich may be used is simply a gear 38 of approximately oneforth inch-in-diameter and with a periphery approximately 3% -of an-inch 'thinck; or a another form is shownat 38 -A-of-- Fig.1 12-;and also at 38--A in Fig.- -13. The hard-balli 38 -A carries a-small gear and this gear is driven by the rotary member 53 A For each revolution of rotary member 53 A-,-the member 38 -A may makea large-numberof revolutions; The ribbon maybe held in yielding. contact .with rotary member 38 A-b'y means of a post l4as shown in Fi'g. 1 5,' This-post may have a fiat surface 18 on the side which-contacts the ribbon and pressesit yieldingly.. against rotary inernber 38 A. As" best shown 'in Fig. 16-withinpost l4 and directly -op posite the ribbon and ;directly- .opposi-te the rotary member -3 8- -A is 'first-;ametal'- pin 11 with a smooth. flat surfacela pressin eagainstthe rib bon and pressingthe ribbon'against rotary member 38- -A'. Back=of thepinis aspring fl of suitable resiliency which-maintains the metal pin ll'pressing' against aface of said ribbon and pressing the said ribbon yieldinglyagainst the rotary. member 38"-A as. saidmember is posi-{ tively driven by rotary Iniemlmr 53-'-A." Gear I5 is mounted on shaft' ldand gear 48 is positively driven. Gear l5 may drive "a. gear train'of which 48 is onemember and'gear'H 'of a spoolli'may be another member: I do notlimit the number of 'gear's'whi'ch may.be' 'drivenfby'the gear 15:?

Ribbon 5 of-Figf13 'inaly'be"pressed'yildingly against the ball 38A of Fig. 13 as above described and as illustrated in Fig. 15 by the spring 76 and metal pin 11 within post 74. The spring may be of any suitable diameter. I prefer that the pin be at least one-eighth of an inch in diameter and have a smooth, polished face 78 against the ribbon and directly opposite the rotary member 38- of Fig. 13.

Another form of ink applying member is shown in Fig. 14. Wheel H may be used instead of the other ink applying members shown in the other figures of the application. This wheel has shaft 3'lA and shaft 3'IA carries gear ll-A. About the periphery of wheel II are the flanges 12 which serve to hold the ribbon in place and are employed in place of the guide 39 shown in Fig. 4. A circumferentially extending rib 13 of any desired shape may project from the wheel H about the periphery thereof for engagement with the ink on the surface of screen 65A. This rib may be knurled or formed with small teeth for good frictional contact with a face of ribbon 5. The projecting rib 13 of wheel H may have a perfectly smooth surface that may be oneeighth inch wide, or wider, or narrower, and wheel H may be positively driven from gear IS on shaft I6, since the smooth surface of the rib will not furnish good frictional contact with ribbon 5. Or I may use a small, hard, rotating ball instead of-wheel H, mounted on a small shaft 3lA carryin the gear 4l-A. The ball may be 5% of an inch in diameter or any desired size to meet the inking requirements of the typing machine of which it will be a part, to keep the optimum amount of ink on a face of a writing ribbon for writing of rich color that is at all times neat and printlike. The ball may have a smooth surface and get its ink from contact with the screens ink supply. The ball may be partly enclosed or it may be entirely outside a housing. It may be driven from gear l5 mounted on shaft 16 as shown in Fig. 12 wherein gear l5 drives gear 48, and rotary member 38-A is not dependent for rotary motion upon the contact it makes with a face of ribbon 5.

Still another form of ink applying member is shown in Fig. 15. Rotary member 38A is a smooth surface ball which rotates as it presses towards the disk 53A. Inside post M is a horizontal hole extending through the flat face of the post that is towards ball 38-A and said hole goes intothe post and almost through it, and. said hole is suificiently long to hold a resilient spring 16 and ontop of said spring is a substantial metal pin '11, which may be T 2 of an inch in diameter and said pin is pressed by said spring yieldingly towards the ball 38A and presses ribbon 5 against said ball yieldingly and presses said ball yieldingly towards disk 53A. Disk 53A may have teeth of any desirable size or it may be smooth. Shaft 5llA carries gear 48 and also disk 53-A. Shaft 51 also carries ink mixer and thinner 59-A. The cork washers 55A and 56-A lie above and below disk 53A within housing 19. The ball 38A is almost completely enclosed by housing 19. Spool 6 may have gears II and I|A for its two faces and spool 6 may be in mesh with gear l5-A mounted on shaft l6. Gear l5 may also be in mesh with gear 48 for rotation of disk 53-A and ink mixer and thinner 59A. Spool 6 may be supported as shown in Fig. 9 but omitting the teeth of gear ll since spool 6 of Fig. has gears for its top and for its bottom faces.

The ink applying members of Figs. 12, 13 and 15 are particularly for typing machines now conventional and where the space is extremely limited for attaching inking units and larger spools. The spools used may have gears for their top and bottom sides or they may have one gear each as one side of a spool, or a gear may be fastened to a face of a spool as may be desirable for the machine. When inking mechanisms are employed such as illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 15, there is a considerable saving in making the same as fewer parts are required than for the mechanisms of Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The mechanism of Fig. 14 is simpler and has fewer parts than the mechanisms of Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

After several years use of the typing machine of U. S. Patent 2,322,737 I find it gives good results but it is much more costly today to rebuild present conventional typing machines and equip the same with the new shafts and gears and axles and large spools of the machine of that patent than it is to equip conventional typing machines with the present invention. The inking units of the present invention are much smaller and operate more easily and more efficiently and the spools of the present typing machine may be larger and carry more ribbon and much wider ribbon than the machine of the Patent 2,322,737. The typist may write very rapidly with the machine of the present invention using much larger spools than spools of the invention of said patent and expend less energy at all times. This is due to the fact that the present invention uses the ribbon of great length more efiiciently and with less drag than heretofore. The carriage spring carried in drum of said patent (see 100, Fig. 1, sheet 1 of said patent) must be made tighter when using the machine of said patent than is necessary in using the present invention. As that spring is tightened. the force necessary to move the typebars is increased and the typist finds it necessary to put more energy into the movement of each of the keys of the typing machine. The ideal typing machine has the lightest, quickest, snappiest and most elastic and satisfying action and it gives neat, printlike writing at all times from one ribbon which during the life of the machine never wears out because the fabric is tougher than other fabrics used in typing machines and is longer and is always inked. When a ribbon becomes dry, the type injure the fabric much faster.

It will, of course, be understood that the mechanisms described may be used on any typing or printing mechanisms employing type and a transfer member, whether said member is in the form of a ribbon, sheet or any other form.

The hard ball of Figs. 12, 13 and 15 may be of plastic, metal, stone, or any suitable material.

I do not limit myself as to the kinds of material used for any of the various parts of the invention. While screens are illustrated and described, these are not a necessity for all typing machines. Also it is to be understood that the constructions shown are for purposes of illustration only and variations may be made in sizes and styles of parts and in details without departing from the scope of the present invention in any way.

I may use a synthetic ribbon made of chemical fibres, that is man-made fibres which may be a protein-like chemical product or polyamide. The superpolymers which make up the polyamide family can be made in several different ways. One of the simplest involves the reaction of a dibasic acid (of which there are many) with an organic diamine. formation of relatively small molecules, is followed by heating'to bring about the union of polyamide molecules.

- or filling. I product available to the public, very closely woven in extremely thin, very smooth fabrics. Or I may ink fountain typewriter of Fig. 1.

This reaction, which results in the many of these small moleculesto give the giant tion of various dibasic acids, amino-acids, and

diamines. Dibasicacids derived from phenol may be used in making chemical fibres'suitable for the threads of n'on-ink-absorbent typing machine ribbons; also a diamine likewise derived from phenol may be used. Oxygen from the air is 1 also needed in making the dibasic acid, and ammonia is used in making the diamine.

Drawn, synthetic fibres of this chemical nature possess a high degree of elasticity and also have great tensile strength and great wear resistance under the blows of the metal type of machines used in writing. While the expression non-ink-abso-rbent is used'in this application, I do not limit rustproof and that are very pliable and are extremely finein size may be used either in warp Such fibres are now a commercial use synthetic ribbons made in part (or entirely) under the viscose, cuprammonium, nitrocellulose or other processes. Or I may use silk fabric con taining all or part of the natural gum and such fabric may be highly calendered to an extremely;-

thin ribbon that is substantially non-ink-absorb- -ent. Or I may use natural cotton fibers which in the particular inking mechanism for supplying ink correctly to the ribbon. The ink'feeding and mixing members 53 and 53A may be of any size needed for feeding the correct amount of ink required for micro type, elite type, pica type, small gothic' type, bulletin type, roman type, etc.

For teletype machines, I may use a non-pig- -ment inkin the reservoir and may use a plain disk, having a smooth peripheral surface, as the ink feeder, since the one ink mixer in the reservoir is usually sufiicient for such a thin ink; or I may omit the ink feeding disk and use a wool or cotton wick or wool yarn for feeding an extremely thin ink to the ink applying member which is in actual contact with a face of the writ-. ing ribbon.

This application is being written with the new writing ribbon of my invention mounted in the The spools are much larger than normal and are mounted as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The spools are mounted near the conventiona1 shafts used ordinaril in all typewriters for carrying the spools. The shafts in the ink fountain typewriter which is being used are carrying no spools but carry steel gears of the type shown as '15 in Fig. 10. Directly mesh. When the: spool is full of ribbon and begins to unwind, it is entirelyfree from. any con- Thousands of different chemical fibres can be made by interpolymeriza- "14 nection whatever with ggear lli. -Thespool'c0mpletely hides gears I I and U5. The winding spool always moves much slower than the gear I5 when gears of relative sizes shown in Fig. 10 are used in the typing machine. I- may use fabric screens behind the thin, wirescreens. I may use pigment ink of the type commonly used in pigment ink ribbons. For more details on these subjects, reference is made to U. S. Patents 2,074,969; 2,158,944.

What I claim is:

1. Device for supplying ink to a ribbon in a typing machine during operation of said machine, comprising an ink'reservoir; astationary member and pressure spring on one side of said ribbon; an ink applier in'the form of a ball, on the opposite side of said ribbon; and means for applying ink from said reservoir to said ink applier for transfer to said ribbon in the desired amounts.

2. In a device for use in a typing machine which employs a writing ribbon composed of synthetic threads having a tensile strength greater than natural fibers, a frame, a base plate, a shaft driven during the-operation of the machine having a gear mounted thereon to rotate with said shaft, rotatable supporting-means for a ribbon spool including a gear, a. movable lever mounted on said base plate'which serves as a support'for said rotatable supporting means, an inking mechanism having at least one rotary member driven by a gear whichis permanently in mesh with the aforesaid gear on said shaft, means for attaching said base. plate to said frame, and means for moving said lever to effect meshing of said shaft gear and said gear of the rotatable ribbon spool supporting means for winding said ribbon upon said spool and for moving said gears out of meshing relationwhen the ribbon is unwinding from said spool during operation of the machine.

3. Device for a typing machine employing .a writing ribbon, including at least one base plate; spools supported in spaced relation between which said ribbon is transferred during operation of said machine; at least one driving shaft for driving a ribbon spool for winding said ribbon; a movable support for a spool for moving said spool out of any driving connection with said shaft when said ribbon is unwinding from a spool in a typing machine; an inking mechanism, including an ink reservoir; an ink feed member for feeding ink from said reservoir to a rotary ink applier for transfer to a face of said ribbon; mechanical driving means, independent of said ribbon, for driving said ink applier positively'from said driving'shaft; and that spool which is unwinding the said ribbon having different position in said machine from its position in the machine when said spool is winding the said ribbon; and means for simultaneously breaking the driving connection by which said ink applier may be free from the driving force of said driving shaft, and said ink applier may also be free from contact with said ink.

4. In a typing machine having a writing ribbon and a mechanism to make inked impressions on a writing surface by means of said ribbon;

' means for moving said ribbon past the typing position, including ribbon spools; spool driving shafts fitted with gears; at least one inking mechanism for inking said-ribbon, including a reservoir for ink; an inking member receiving ink 1 from said reservoir; a rotary ink applier having a gear said inking member having a gear which is adapted: to mesh with a gear on-said-driving shaft; the said inking members gear and the said driving shaft gear being constantly in mesh; and means for bringing the gear of said ink ap- Iplier in mesh with the gear of said inking member; means for feeding said ink from said inking member to said ink applier for transfer to a face of said ribbon; said spools being mounted on shiftable supports separate from said spool driving shafts, and said shafts being free from the weight of said spools and of said ribbon when wound into a spool; and that spool which is unwinding the said ribbon having a different position in said machine from its position in the ma chine when said spool is winding said ribbon; and that spool which is unwinding being entirely free from any connection with said spool driving shaft or any gear fastened to said shaft so that said spool which is unwinding may unwind with much less ribbon tension and drag than in prior art machines and conventional typing machines.

5. In a typing machine having a writing ribbon and a mechanism to make inked impressions on a writing surface by means of said ribbon; means for moving said ribbon past the typing position, including ribbon spools; spool driving shafts fitted with gears; at least one spool being mounted separate and apart from said spool driving shafts, on a shiftable base; both of said spool driving shafts being free from the weight of any spools at all times; at least one inking mechanism for inking said ribbon, including a reservoir for ink; a housing extending from said reservoir; a threaded, rotary member within said housing an opening in said housing for passage of ink from said rotary member to a flanged inking wheel; said rotary member having a gear which is in constant mesh with a gear which is in driving connection with said spool driving shaft; means for driving said wheel; means for forcing said wheel out of driving connection with any other rotary member of said inking mechanism and at the same time forcing said wheel away from any contact with ink from said rotary member; and said ribbon contacting said wheel for transfer of ink therefrom to a face of said ribbon; and that spool which is unwinding the said ribbon having a different location in said machine from its location when winding said ribbon.

6. A device for use in a typing machine employing a writing ribbon and having spools supported in spaced relation between which said ribbon is transferred during operation of the machine, said device comprising at least one inking mechanism having at least one rotary member for applying ink to said ribbon; at least one spool driving shaft adapted to support at least one gear; means for connecting a spool with said driving shaft to rotate said spool when said ribbon is being wound; means for connecting said rotary member of said inking mechanism with said driving shaft entirely independent of the movement of said ribbon; and means for breaking the driving connection between the said shaft and the said spool and also between the shaft and the said rotary member.

7. A device for use as a part of a typing machine employing vertical spool shafts, including ribbon spools mounted on movable bases positioned in spaced relation to said spool shafts, a ribbon which is transferred between said spools during operation of said machine, at least one inking mechanism having at least one ink reservoir, and at least one ink feed roller and at least one ink applier which rotates as it receives ink fed to it from said reservoir by said roller, and as it applies ink to a face of said ribbon; means for driving the rotating members of said inking mechanism from at least one of said spool shafts, and means for breaking the driving connection between said shaft and at least one of said rotating members.

8. Device for use as a part of a typing machine employing a writing ribbon and employing means for making inked impressions on a surface; said device including a ribbon spool and at least one inking mechanism having at least one rotary member; means for driving said rotary member independent of the said ribbon; a driving shaft adapted to rotate said rotary member of said inking mechanism; said driving shaft being also adapted to rotate said ribbon spool; and means for breaking the driving connection between said shaft and said spool and between said shaft and said rotary member when said spool is unwinding.

9. In a typing machine having a writing ribbon and a mechanism for making inked impressions on a surface by means of said ribbon; means for moving said ribbon past the typing position, including spools, spool shafts; gears for connecting said spools and shafts; a mechanism for inking said ribbon; said mechanism including a reservoir for ink and at least one rotary member; means for driving said rotary member from said shaft independent of said ribbon; means for rotating said spool by said shaft when said ribbon is winding into said spool; and means for freeing said spool from any connection with said driving shaft when said ribbon is ready for unwinding from said spool.

10. In a typing machine having a Writing ribbon and a mechanism for making inked impressions on a surface by means of said ribbon; means for moving said ribbon past the typing position, including spools, spool shafts; driving means for connecting said spools and shafts; and a mechanism for inking said ribbon, said mechanism having at least two rotary members; means, independent of the movement of said ribbon, for driving at least one of said rotary members from said shaft; and means for freeing a spool from any connection with said driving shaft when said ribbon is ready to unwind from a spool.

11. In a typing machine having a writing ribbon and means for making impressions on a writing surface, the combination of means for moving said ribbon past the typing position, including spools, spool driving shafts, with a mechanism for inking said ribbon; 'said mechanism having at least one rotary member; and driving means, independent of said ribbon, connecting said rotary member and said shaft; and means for breaking the driving connection between said driving shaft and said rotary member; and means for separating said driving shaft from connection with said spool when said ribbon is ready to unwind therefrom.

12. In a typing machine, the combination of a writing ribbon including synthetic, substantially non-ink-absorbent, fibres of greater strength than natural textile fibres, a ribbon spool on which said ribbon is adapted to be wound and unwound and an inking mechanism including at least one rotary member, for feeding ink to said ribbon in said machine; a spool rotating shaft connected with a rotary member of said inking mechanism for rotating said member; and means for breaking the driving connection between said shaft and said rotary member when said ribbon is ready to unwind from said spool,

.13. :In agtypingtmachine, equipped with a writing ribbonnincluding at least some synthetic fibres of greater; strength and wear resistance under the blows of the type of said machine than natural textile fibres, the combination of an ink reservoirand means for feeding ink from said reservoirto a faceofrsaidribbon in said machine during operation of same; said means including at .least' two. rotary members; a: spool rotating shaft; a spool for. winding said ribbon;-driving means for driving atleast onerotary member ofsaidmeans for, feedingink, from said shaft, independent of the said ribbon; and means for instantly breaking: the said driving connection between said shaft. and said rotary member.

14. In atypipgmechanism for printing ir pressions upon. a surface which employs an ink carrying ribbon: :that is moved between spools during the. operation thereof, the combination comprising shaft means driven during the operation .of said mechanism, an inkreservoir, rotary means in contact. with said ribbon for transferring inkzfrom said reservoir to said ribbon, means for driving .said rotary; means by said shaft means; means for rotatably supporting aribbon spool, driving .meansxfor rotating said ribbon spool by said shaft means, and means for selectively disengagingsaid.driving means between said shaft means .and .:said :ribbon spool.

15. In. atyping mechanism for printing character upon'ia surface wherein is employed an ink carrying .ribbonsthat is transferred between spools during the-.operation. thereof, .the combination comprising.argearzfixedlyt mounted on a shaft which is .-':driven during the operation of said mechanism, aninkreservoir; rotary..means in contact withsaidiribbon for transferring ink .fromzysaidz reservoirhtoz. said ribbon, means. for driving-said rotaryimeans .from said gear, a .rib-

bon spool rotatably. supported by. said mechanism, 7

va: driving:connection for. positively driving said rribbonuspool'v'by; .said; gear,.-.and' means for liendering' inoperativeisaid. driving connection: between said gearand.saidiribbonuspool.

$216,111,.- a: :typin ..-.;mechanismi for printing im- I.pressions..tupon1a. surface. which employs ;an ink narryingribbon that'isztransferred between spools during 1; the noperation thereof, 1. .the combination comprising; a; .gear:fixed1y. mounted on a. shaft which tisldritzenalduring: :the. (operation of said mechanism, .an ink. reservoir, rotary means in :contactxwith 'saideribbon. for transferring ink -fI'OIIIZSaidi'I'GSBI'VOiI'.- to. said ribbon, a ribbon spool arotatably mountedupon. a movable support, a driving TCOIIDSCfiOD for positively driving said ribspool from .saidgear, and means for moving .-said.-.movablesupport andsaid -ribbon spool to render inoperative; the driving connection be- -tweensaidribbon spool and said gear.

17. In a typing mechanism employing an ink marrying ribbonfor, printing characters upon a surface,- a .frame for said mechanism, spools sup- ..portedinspaced relation between which said rib- =bon is=transferred during operation of said mechanism, rotatable supporting means for each of said spools-supported onsa-id frame, shaft means driven during'the operation-of said-typing mech- "anism, a -.ribbon;:.inking. mechanism comprising aminkcontaining: enclosure having an opening therein,- ;.an-

ink distributing device positioned within said :enclosure and mounted for rotatable zmovement .to'control the-'movement-of ink to the .opening of: saidenclosure, .anda rotatable inking-member mounted itoxcontact with a face-f positioned ,toreceive-,-inkg atzsaid ,opening, means to effect a;driving ponnection between said shaft means. and.gthegspooL-npom-which the ribbon is being wound, and means to efieot a-gdriving connection between-saidshaft means and the aforesaid rotatable 1 e l ements-;iof-, ;said ribbon inking mechanism.

18. ;In a typing,;mechanismemploying an ink carrying.iribbonnfor printing characters upon a surface, a. frame-for;saichmechanism, spools supported. in spaced'rel ationbetween which said :ribbon is. transferred; .during-ioperation of said mechanism,1rotatable supporting'means for said spools supported by'saidfrarne; afirst shaft having a gearmounted thereorr;.-which; is driven during the operation: of-. said-;- mechanism,; a. ribbon inking mechanism comprising nn ink containing enclosure having arnopeningtherein, .anink distributing device positionediwithin said enclosure and mountedupon a seoondshaft: forrotatable movement to control the supply of ink to the opening of said enclosure; a;wgear:secured.to:said second shaft -positioned'ain -imeshing;.relation with the gear on said firstshaft; a rotatable inking member mountedtorcontactiwith; a face of said ribbon as,it.is transferredxbetweenspools and positioned to. receive .ink suppliedzzto saidopening, means toefiect a drivingeonnection between said gear on-the first shaft and thespool upon which said ribbon-:is :beingmwound, and; gear means for effecting a;driv ng;iconnectionabetween said ink distributing: device .and said; rotatable inking member.

- :19. In a typingvmechanism; employing an ink carrying =ri-bbon .fon. printing; characters upon a surface, aframeforisaidzmechanism, spools supported.inuspaced. relation; between which said .ribbonis;transferred d11ring.;operation of the said mechanism-,-rotatablesupporting means for said spools supported-.-Joyy-wsaidsframe,.a shaft driven .ingofsaid enclosu-ra means ,to I effect a driving connectionbetween'saidshaftx and: said ink 1 distributing. device, a;.-- rotatable- "inking member .mountedto: contact -with'at1face.of the ribbon during-1 its transfer metween spools: and positioned :to receive: inkat saidppening, and. means .to effecta1-.;dr iving connectiongcbetween said ink distributing device and; ,saidrotatable inking member.

ing a gear moungiied thereoniwhich is. driven during the operation ofqsaid :mechanism; a ribbon inking-mechanism com-prisingan vink containing enclosure having-Jan, openin therein, an ink distributing 'device position ed within said enclosure and mounted. upon. a second-shaft for rotatable movement .to: supplyink to, the opening ofsaid enclosure, a gea sec'u r.ed to ,s aid second shaft .upomwhich-said nk distributing device is mountedtand positionedjn in'eshing rolation with said gear on-isaiduii-rstshaft aro'tatable inking member mountedito icontactwith ar ceof--.said=rib said r-ibbon as'itiisrtransferredbetween spools and 7 L-b0nias'it is.transferned betweenspools and-posi- 19 tioned to receive ink supplied to said opening, and means to effect a driving connection between said ink distributing device and said rotatable inking member.

21. In a typing mechanism for printing characters upon a surface employing an ink carrying ribbon, spools mounted on said mechanism in spaced relation between which said ribbon s transferred, shaft means driven during operation of said typing mechanism, an ink containing enclosure having an opening therein, an ink distributing device positioned Within said enclosure and mounted for rotatable movement to control the amount of ink supplied to the opening of said enclosure, a rotatable inking member mounted to contact with a face of said ribbon as it is transferred between spools and positioned to receive ink supplied to said opening, and means to effect a positive driving connection between said shaft means and said ink distributing device.

22. In a typing mechanism employing an ink carrying ribbon for printing characters upon a surface, a frame for said mechanism, spools supported in spaced relation between which said ribbon is transferred during operation of said mechanism, rotatable supporting means for said spools supported by said frame, a ribbon inking mechanism comprising, an ink containing enclosure having an opening therein, an ink distributing device positioned within said enclosure and mounted upon a first shaft for rotatable movement to control the ink supplied to the opening of said enclosure, a gear mounted upon said first shaft, a rotatable inking member mounted to contact with a face of the ribbon as it is transferred between spools and positioned to receive ink supplied to said opening in said enclosure, supporting means for said rotatable inking member comprising a second shaft which is driven during the operation of said mechanism, and means for effecting a driving connection between said second shaft and the gear mounted upon said first shaft.

23. In a typing mechanism employing an ink carrying ribbon for printing characters upon a surface, first and second spools supported in spaced relation between which said ribbon is transferred during operation of said mechanism, spindles for supporting each of said spools, pivoted supporting members for said spindles, shaft means driven during the operation of said typing mechanism, coupling means for effecting a driving connection between said shaft means and a first spool upon which said ribbon is being wound, and means for moving said pivoted supporting member to shift the position of the spindle and first spool when the ribbon unwinds from said spool thereby disengaging said coupling means.

24. In a typing mechanism employing an ink carrying ribbon for printing characters upon a surface, a frame for said mechanism, spools supported in spaced relation between which said ribbon is transferred during operation of said mechanism, rotatable supporting means for each of said spools supported by said frame, shaft means driven during the operation of said typing mechanism, coupling means for effecting a driving connection between said shaft and one of said spools, means for selectively disengaging said coupling means, a ribbon inking mechanism comprising an ink containing enclosure having an opening therein, an ink distributing device positioned within said enclosure and mounted for rotatable movement to control the amount of ink supplied to the opening of said enclosure, a rotatable inking member mounted to contact with a face of said ribbon as it is transferred between spools and positioned to receive ink supplied to said opening, and means to effect a driving connection between said shaft means and the aforesaid rotatable elements of said ribbon inking mechanism.

25. In a typing mechanism employing an ink carrying ribbon for printing characters upon a surface, a frame for said mechanism, a first and second spool supported in spaced relation between which said ribbon is transferred during operation of said mechanism, spindles for supporting each of said spools, pivoted supporting members for said spindles, shaft means driven during the operation of said typing mechanism, coupling means for effecting a driving connection between said shaft means and a first spool upon which said ribbon is being wound, means for moving said pivoted supporting member to shift the position of the spindle and first spool when the ribbon unwinds from said spool thereby disengaging said coupling means, a ribbon inking mechanism comprising an ink containing enclosure having an opening therein, an ink distributing device positioned within said enclosure and mounted for rotatable movement to control the amount of ink supplied to the opening of said enclosure, a rotatable inking member mounted to contact with a face of said ribbon as it is transferred between spools and positioned to receive ink supplied to said opening, and means to effect a driving connection between said shaft means and the aforesaid rotatable elements of said ribbon inking mechanism.

26. In a typing mechanism employing an ink carrying ribbon for printing characters upon a surface, a frame for said mechanism, spools supported in spaced relation between which said ribbon is transferred during operation of said mechanism, rotatable supporting means for each of said spools supported by said frame, shaft means driven during the operation of said typing mechanism, coupling means for effecting a. driving connection between said shaft and one of said spools, means for selectively disengaging said coupling means, a ribbon inking mechanism comprising an ink containing enclosure having an opening therein, an ink distributing device positioned within said enclosure and mounted for rotatable movement to control the amount of ink supplied to the opening of said enclosure, a rotatable inking member mounted to be rotated by frictional contact with a face of said ribbon as it is transferred between spools and positioned to receive ink supplied to said opening, and means to effect a driving connection between said rotatable inking member and said ink distributing device. I

27. In a typing mechanism employing an ink carrying ribbon for printing characters upon a surface, a frame for said mechanism, spools supported in spaced relation between which said ribbon is transferred during operation of said mechanism, rotatable supporting means for each of said spools supported by said frame, shaft means driven during the operation of said typing mechanism, coupling means for effecting a driving connection between said shaft and one of said spools, a ribbon inking mechanism comprising an ink containing enclosure having an opening therein, an ink distributing device positioned within said enclosure and mounted for rotatable movement to control the amount of ink supplied 21 to the opening of said enclosure, a rotatable inking member mounted to be rotated by frictional Contact with a face of said ribbon as it is transferred between spools and positioned to receive ink supplied to said opening, and means to effect a driving connection between said rotatable inking member and said ink distributing device.

28. In a typing mechanism for printing characters upon a surface employing an ink carrying ribbon, the combination comprising, means for moving said ribbon through the typing position during operation of said mechanism comprising spools mounted in spaced relation between which said ribbon is transferred, an inking means for said ribbon comprising an ink containing enclosure having an opening therein, a rotatable ink distributing device positioned within said en-,

closur having a circular configuration and provided with element-s projecting from the perimeter thereof, said device mounted to control the movement of ink from said enclosure and to said opening, a rotatable inking member substantially spherical in shape mounted to contact with a face of said ribbon as it is transferred between spools and positioned to receive ink at said opening, and means to effect a driving connection between said ink distributing device and said inking member.

29. In a typing mechanism for printing characters upon a surface employing an ink carrying ribbon, the combination comprising, means for moving said ribbon through the typing position during operation of said mechanism comprising spools mounted in spaced relation between which said ribbon is transferred, and inking means for said ribbon comprising a reservoir for ink, a housing. in fluid communication with said reservoir, said housing having an opening therein, a threaded roller rotatably mounted within said housing for controlling the movement of said ink from said reservoir to said opening, a rotatable inking member having a surface thereof in contact with said ribbon mounted to receive ink at said opening and to transfer it to said ribbon, as it is moved between spools, and means effecting a driving connection between said threaded roller and said rotatable inking member.

GEORGE ERNEST PELTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,475,619 Barney Nov. 27, 1923 2,074,969 Pelton Mar. 23, 1937 2,104,469 Pelton et a1. Jan. 4, 1938 2,158,944 Pelton May 16, 1939 2,322,737 Pelton June 22, 1943

Images