US2491163A

US2491163A - Justifier for typewriters

Info

Publication number: US2491163A
Application number: US668958A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl R Couden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-05-10
Filing date: 1946-05-10
Publication date: 1949-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 1966-12-13

Description

Dec. 13; 1949 COUDEN 2,491,163

JUSTIFIER FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed May 10, 1946 4 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Dec. 13, 1949 E. R. COUDEN 2,491,163

JUSTIFIER FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed May 10, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 13, 1949 JUSTIFIER FOR rvrewnrrnns Earl R. Couden, Chicago, 111., assignor to Henry Hildehrandt, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 10, 1946, Serial No. 668,958

13 Claims.

This invention relates to justifiers for typewriters for adjustably regulating relative movement between the step by step escapement mechanism and the carriage of the typewriter to make possible the typing of even right hand margins as well as left hand margins.

This invention is directed to improvements over the typewriter justifier shown and described in Szego et al. Patent No. 2,307,339, issued January 5, 1943, wherein the typewriter carriage is separate from the rack bar of the step by step escapement mechanism and the justifier adjustably regulates relative movement therebetween. The justifier includes a support mounted on the car riage, a shuttle plate provided with an inclined slot and reciprocatingly guided on the support and operatively secured to the rack bar of the escapement mechanism, a carrier pivotally mounted on the support and rotated upon movement of the carriage, and an actuator adjustably positioned on the carrier and located in the slot. When the carrier is positioned midway in the slot, no relative motion between the rack bar and the carriage is produced but when the carrier is displaced in one direction or the other, the carriage is relatively positioned in one direction or another with respect to the rack bar as the typewriter is operated and the amount of relative movement depends upon the extent of displacement. In this way more or less letters may be placed in a given typewritten line to form even right hand margins on the typewritten sheet.

However, there are certain disadvantages in the justifier of the Szego et a1. patent. The indicating means for indicating the extent of adjustment is not readily discernable, the manner of guiding the shuttle plate is crude and inaccurate, suincient adjustment is not readily attainable, there is no provision for indicating center or zero adjustment, considerable lost motion and inaccuracies are present between the movable parts which prevents accurate control, it is extremely difiicult to obtain even left hand margins, commercial production in quantity is practically impossible, and adaptation to typewriters is difficult.

The principal object of this invention is to provide improvements in a typewriter justifier of this type wherein the above disadvantages are entirely eliminated. In carrying out this object of the invention the support is provided with a guide frame upon which the shuttle plate is reciprocatingly mounted by a sleeve and rod arrangement to provide for true straight line operation and the ad justment indicating means are carried by the guide frame and shuttle plate. The shuttle plate is also provided with a zero or center indicator cooperating with the actuator. A transparent cover is provided to provide for ease of adjustment. The slot in the shuttle plate is elongated to provide a wide range of adjustment. The actuator is adjustably positioned by the screw of the carrier through a set screw which may be adjusted to minimize lost motion therebetween and prevent creeping during the operation of the typewriter. The actuator is provided with a roller working in the slot for ease of operation. The carrier is rotated by a gear segment meshing with a worm gear to obtain proper gear reduction and the gear segment is adjustably mounted on the carrier to prevent binding and minimize lost m0- tion for ease and accuracy of operation. j

A. back lash spring is provided to eliminate the effects of any lost motion still remaining. The sleeve bearing for the worm gear is held in place by a strap for accurate location thereof. A novel chain and sprocket arrangement is provided for rotating the carrier through the gearing upon movement of the carriage so that the use of bars and the threading of a chain through the typewriter are eliminated. In this latter connection a spring biased drum for the chain is provided and the chain may be of the beaded type. An adjustable cleat for securing the shuttle plate to the rack bar and an adjustable stop for limiting rotation of the carrier are provided for compensating the bank of the typewriter and assuring even left hand margins as well as right hand margins on the typewritten page. A reinforced racket is also provided for attaching the support to the typewriter carriage for eliminating inaccuracies.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of con truction of the various improvements by which the principal object of this invention is attained.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims, and drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rear of a typewriter with the justifier applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the justifier in association with the step by step escapement mechanism of the typewriter;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view partly in section of the rack bar and adjustable cleat;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the reinforced mounting bracket for the justifier;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the justifier;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view thereof;

mounted on the guide frame.

Fig. 12 is an exploded view showing the parts of the spring biased drum.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a typewriter, such as a standard L. C. Smith typewriter, is shown at I6. It includesthe usual carriage H which is positioned by a step by step escapement mechanism including the escapement means I2 and a rack bar i3. Conventional release bars M are secured to the carriage H of the typewriter by screws l5 which, in accordance with this invention, extend through slots H3 in the rack bar :l3so that lost motion is provided between the rack bar [3 and the carriage I i.

The rack bar it is provided with an extension H for operation by the shuttle plate of the justifier' i 8which in turn is secured to the typewriter 'carriage ll by'a reinforced bracket it. "tleplate in thetypewriter justiiier is operated 'The shutthrough the mechanism therein by a pulley or chain sprocket wheel operated by a chain 2|. One end of the chain 2! is suitably secured to a stationary portion of the typewriter frame by a screw 22 and the other end of the chain 2| is secured to a spring biased drum 23. The shuttle plate in the typewriter justifier is provided with extensions 26 for operation in conjunction with therack bar l3.

The'justifier 58 provides the connection between the rack bar E3 of the escapernent mechanism "and the carriage l i and as the rack bar [3 moves, the justifier causes movement of the carriage ll and in accordance'with the setting of the justifier relative movement between the carriage and "the rack bar is adjustably controlled.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 5, 6,

9 and 10, the J'ustifier 18 includes a support or housing provided with a back wall 27 and side wal1s'28. The support also is provided with four bosses or posts 2% to which are secured a guide frame 36 by means of screws 3 i. The guide frame "30 is rectangular in shape and is open in the center. Secured to the guide frame 38 are brackets 32 carrying two pairs of supports 33 for supporting a'pair of spaced parallel guide rods 34. The guide rods 34 are held in place in the supports 33 'by means of screws 35.

A shuttle plate 3? carries a pair of sleeves 38WhiCh ride along the parallel guide rods so that the shuttle plate 3'! is reciprocatingly The shuttle plate 3'! is provided with an elongated, inclined slot 39 which extends beyond the mounting sleeves 38. The shuttle plate 3? is provided with an indicator 40 which is held in place thereon by a screw ii.

The indicator 4B cooperates with indicia on a scale plate 42 provided at its ends with slots 43 for thereception of screws 'l for securing the scale plate '42 to the guide frame 38. The slots 43 in the guide plate 42 permit factory adjustment of the scale plate to the proper indicating position. The .shuttle plate 31 carries the extensions 24 which cooperate with the extension I? of the rack bar A sleeve bearing 4'5 is secured to the back wall 21 of: the "support by means of screws-48, and mounted for rotation in the-sleeve bearing 47 is .screw53 withrespect to the cars 52. '53-'is provided with an extension 58 and a knob "5'! for rotating the screw. The extension 56 op a shaft 49 carrying a carrier Ell, the shaft 49 and carrier 56 being held in place in the sleeve bearing 4'! by means of a nut 5i and associated washer. The pivotally mounted carrier 59 is provided with a pair of cars 52 for receiving a screw 53. The screw 53 is provided with a shoulder 54 and a nut 55 for preventing longitudinal movement of the The screw crates within a slot 58 provided in the upper wall 21 of the support or housing.

An actuator in the form of a block 60 encompasses the screw 53 and is guided against rotation It is provided with a pin 6! for carrying a roller 62 which operates in the inclined slot 39 in the shuttle plate 3?. A set screw 63 extends through the actuator block 59 into the screw thread of the screw 53 so that upon rotation of the screw 53 longitudinal movement is imparted to the actuator 83. By adjusting the set screw 63' the threaded connection between the screw 53 and the actuator block Eli may be adjusted to elimi- 51 through which extend screws 68 for adjustably securing the gear segment 66 to the plate and hence to the carrier 55 The purpose of this adjustable connection for the gear segment 56 is to line it up with the operating worm "If! so as to provide minimum lost motion without binding between the parts.

The worm I'll is secured to one end of a shaft and the other end thereof carries a bevel gear H.

A sleeve bearin '22, located between the worm l0 and bevel gear ll mounts the shaft for rotation and the sleeve bearing 12 is provided with a pair of shouldersiZ.

The sleeve bearing 12 fits within the cavity 14 in the back wall 21 of the support or housing and is held in placed therein by a strap 15 which, in turn, is secured to the support or housing by screws 76. The strap (5 clamps the sleeve bearing 72 in place and it cooperates'with the shoulders or flanges 73 on the sleeve bearin for preventing longitudinal shifting thereof. In this way accurate centering and location of the sleeve bearing 72 is provided.

The bevel gear'lfl meshes with the bevel gear ll and is mounted on a shaft 19 carrying a clutch element 80. .The shaft "I9 is journaled for rotation in the support or housing by a sleeve bearing 8| secured to the housing by screws 82. A complementary clutch element 83 is secured to the sprocket wheel 20, both of which are rotatably "mounted on an extension of the shaft 19 so that when the clutch elements 8?) and 83 are disengaged, rotation of the sprocket wheel or pulley 26 will not cause rotation of the gear 78 but when the

clutch elements

88 and 83 are in engagement, rotation is imparted to the gear 78.

A circumferential channel is provided between 'the clutch element 83 and the sprocket wheel 20 for receiving the bifurcated end of an arm 84 which is in turn secured by a nut 85 to an actuating rod 86. The rod 36 is journaled in lugs 87 formed on the support or housing and between these lugs the rod 86 carries a spring retainer 88. One end of a coil spring 39 abuts the retainer 88 and the other end abuts one of the lugs 87 so that the spring 89 operates to maintain the clutch elements and83 in engagement. The rod 86 is provided with a knob or button 99 which, when depressed, operates against the action of the spring 89 to separate the

clutch elements

89 and 83. Upon release of the button 99 the spring 89 engages the

clutch elements

80 and 93.

The sprocket wheel 20 is preferably provided circumferentially with a plurality of holes 92 con nected by the restricted passages 93 for receiving the beaded chain 2!. By reason of this particular construction, lost motion between the chain 2I and the sprocket wheel 29 is entirely eliminated so that a positive drive of the sprocket wheel 29 by the beaded chain 2! is provided.

The spring biased drum assembly is illustrated in exploded fashion in Fig. 12 and it includes a base 95 and stud 9%), the base 95 being secured to the back wall 21 of the housing or support by means of screws 91. The end of the stud portion 96 is provided with a rectangular slot 98 and a tapped hole 99 for receiving a screw I99. The drum proper includes two parts, IIiI and I62, which are held together by the screw I99. The two parts also enclose a spiral spring I03. The outer end of the spring I93 is provided with a slot I94 for engagement on an ear I95 formed inwardly of the member IE2 and the inner end of the spring IE3 is provided with a slot I96 for engagement with a lug Iii? carried by a collar I98. The collar is provided with a rectangular extension I69 which fits into the rectangular slot 98 of the stud 96 and is held against rotation thereby.

When the parts of the spring drum are assembled, the inner end of the spring is held against rotation and the outer end is secured to the drum so that the drum may be wound against the action of the spring to provide tension for the beaded chain 2|. The outer flange of the spring drum is provided with a slotted ear H9 for securing one end of the beaded chain 2| thereto.

Adjacent the left hand end of the slot 58 in the upper wall of the housing, there is provided an adjustable stop comprising a clip III which is clamped to the housing by a screw H2. The screw I I2 extends through a slot I I3 in the housing so that the clip III may be adjustably positioned. The adjustable stop III is provided for the purpose of lining up the screw 53 with the inclined slot 3t when the typewriter carriage is moved to the right hand position in preparation for the typing of a new line.

The carrier 59, as shown in Fig. 11 is provided with an ear M5 for receiving one end of a tension spring I H, the other end of which is connected to a projection IIG formed in the back wall 21 of the support. The'tension spring II'i operates to bias all of the movable parts within the justifier in one direction so as to eliminate lost motion and back lash therebetween. In this way the accuracy of the justifier is materially enhanced.

The movable parts within the justifier are encased by a transparent cover II9 which may be made of plastic. The cover II9 has side walls I28 which engage the side walls of the support so as to close the same. However, no side wall is provided at the bottom of the cover as indicated at I2I in Fig. 9, for the purpose of permitting longitudinal movement of the extensions 2% of the shuttle plate 3'5. The cover H9 is held in place by screws I22 threaded into the guide frame 39. The transparent cover provides ready inspection of the parts encased therein and greatly facilitates the manipulation of the parts andpermits ready visual access to the indicators therein.

The shuttle plate 31 midway between the length of the slot 39 is provided with an indicating mark I25 which cooperates with the roller 62 of the actuator to indicate when the justifier parts are set for the zero or center positions. When the parts are in that position no relative movement is provided between the support and the shuttle plate 31.

One of the side walls 28 of the support is provided with mounting lugs I24 having tapped holes I25 which correspond with holes I25 in the mounting bracket I9 so that the mounting bracket I9 may be readily secured to the justifier support by means of screws. The mounting bracket I9 is provided with a flange I21 which in turn has holes I28 so that the mounting bracket may be mounted on the carriage II of the typewriter by the screws which are normally located on the typewriter in those positions. It is necessary that the justifier be rigidly secured to the typewriter carriage to prevent inaccuracies from creeping in and in this respect the mounting bracket I9 is provided with a reinforcing ridge IZt which prevents flexing of the mounting bracket I9 in any direction.

The extensions 24 of the shuttle plate 31 are operatively connected to the extension I! of the rack bar I3 by an adjustable cleat having two telescoping parts I31 and I32 provided with slots I33 for receiving a screw I34 threaded into a nut I35. By reason of this screw and slot arrangement the spacing between the telescoping elements I3! and I32 may be adjusted to accommodate the extensions 24. The telescoping'members I3I and I32 are also provided with slots I36 for receiving screws I31 threaded into the exten sion IT so that the position of the adjustable cleat may be longitudinally adjusted on the extension I1. By reason of this construction, lost motion in the connection between the rack bar I3 and the shuttle plate 31 may be eliminated and the exact position of the shuttle plate 31 with respect to the rack bar I3 may be determined. This adjustable cleat connection is extremely important in installing the justifier on the typewriter for it is necessary to compensate for the usual bank of the typewriter.

This adjustable cleat connection between the rack bar I3 and the shuttle plate 31 and the adjustable stop I I I are so adjusted upon installation of the justifier that the screw 53 is in exact alignment with the inclined slot 39 when the typewriter carriage is moved to the right hand position ready for typing the first letter of a new line and it is by reason of these adjustments initially made that it is possible to obtain a straight left hand margin as well as a straight right hand margin on the typed sheet.

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure and, therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a justifier for a typewriter for adjustably regulating relative movement between the step by step escapement mechanism and the carriage of the typewriter, the combination of, a support secured to the carriage, a guide frame carried by the support, a shuttle plate provided with an inclined slot and reciprocatingly guided by ;the;-guide frame:andoperatively secured to the escapement mechanism, a carrier pivotally mounted on the support, means for rotating the carrier upon movement of the carriage, an actuator adjustably positioned on the carrier and located in the slot, indicia on the guide frame, .and an indicator on the shuttle plate.

2. 'In a justifier for a typewriter for adjustably ;regulating relative movement between the step by step escapement mechanism and the carriage of the typewriter, the combination of, a support secured to the ;carriage, a guide frame carried :by the support, a shuttle plate provided with zanginclinedgslot and-reciprocatingly guided by :theaguide frameand operatively secured to the iescapement mechanism, a carrier pivotally amounted on the support, means for rotating the .carrier upon movement of the carriage, an actuator adjustably positioned on the carrier and located in the slot, and an indicator on the shuttle plate coacting with the actuator for indicating the center position of the actuator in the slot.

3.-In a justifier fora typewriter for adjustably regulating relative movement between the step by step escapement mechanism and the carriage of the typewriter, the combination of, a support secured to the carriage, ,a guide frame carried by the support, a shuttle plate provided with an inclined slot and;reciprocatingly guided by the guide frame and operatively secured to the es-,

capement mechanism, a carrier pivotally mount- 7 ed on the support, means, for rotating the carrier upon movement of the carriage, an actuator adjustably positioned on the carrier and located inthe slot, indiciaon the guide frame, an indicatoron the shuttle plate coacting with the indicia, and an indicator on the shuttle plate co- ..acting with the actuator for indicating the center :position of the actuator in the slot.

A. In a justifier for a typewriter for adjustab1y upon movement of the carriage, an actuator ad-" justably positioned on the carrier and located ,in the slot, indicia on the guide frame, an indicator on the shuttle plate coacting with the indicia, an indicator on the shuttle plate coacting tion of the actuator in the slot, and a transparent cover carried by the support.

5. In a justifier for a typewriter for adjustably 'regulating relative movement between the step by step escapementmechanism and the carriage of the typewriter, the combination of, a support secured to the carriage, a shuttleplate having guide means for reciprocatingly guiding the shuttle plate on the support and operatively secured to the escapement mechanism and provided with an inclined slot extending beyond the guide means, a carrier pivotally mounted on the support, means for rotating the carrier upon amovement of the carriage, and an actuator adjustably positioned on the carrier and located in the slot.

6.111 a justifier fora typewriter for adjustably regulating relative movement between the step :by step escapement mechanism and thecarriage ofthe. typewri.ter,-,the1 combination ,of, a. support with the actuator for indicating the center posi--- secured to the carriage,.a shuttleplateprovided with an inclined slot and reciprocatingly guided by the support and operatively secured to the escapement mechanism, a carrier pivotally mounted on the support, means for rotating the carrier upon movement of the carriage, a screw carried by the carrier, an actuator located in the slot and carried by the screv, and a set screw in the actuator engaging in the screw threads of the screw for adjustably positioning the actuator upon rotation of the screw.

7. In a justifier for a typewriter for adjustably regulating relative movement between the step by step escapement mechanism and the carriage of the typewriter, the combination of, a support secured to the carriage, a shuttle plate provided with an inclined slot and reciprocatingly guided by the support and operatively seemed to the escapement mechanism, a carrier pivotally mounted on the support, a gear segment adjustably secured to the carrier, means for rotating the gear segment for rotatin the carrier upon mo ement of the carriage, and an actuator ad- ;iustably positioned on the carrier and located in the slot.

8. In a justifier for a typewriter for adjustably regulating relative movement between the step by step escapement mechanism and the car riage of the typewriter, the combination of, a support secured to the carriage, a shuttle plate provided with an inclined slot and reciprocatingly guided by the support and operatively secured to the escapement mechanism, a carrier pivotally mounted on the support, a gear segment secured to the carrier, a worm gear for driving the gear segment for rotating the carrier, means for r0- tating the worm gear upon movement of the carriage, a sleeve bearing for the worm gear,,a strap for securing the sleeve bearing to the support, and an actuator adjustably positioned on the carrier and located in the slot.

9. In a justifier for a typewriter for adjustably regulating relative movement between the step by step escapement mechanism and the carriage of the typewriter, the combination of, a support secured to the carriage, a shuttle plate provided with an inclined slot and reciprocatingly guided by the support and operatively secured to the escapement mechanism, a carrier pivotally mounted on the support, an actuator adjustably positioned on the carrier and located in the slot, means for rotating the carrier upon movement of the carriage includin a sprocket pulley carried by the support, a spring biased drum carried .by the support, and a chain attached at one end to the spring biased drum and coursing the sprocket pulley and attached at the other end to a stationary part of the typewriter.

10. In a justifier for a typewriter for adjustably regulating relative movement between the step by step escapement mechanism and the carriage of the typewriter, the combination of, a support secured to the carriage, a shuttle plate provided with an inclined slot and reciprocatingly guided by the support and operatively secured to the escapement mechanism, a carrier pivotally mounted on the support, means for rotating the carrier upon movement of the carriage, an actuator adjustably positioned on the carrier and located in the slot, and an adjustable stop for limiting rotation of the carrier in one direction with the carrier in alignment with the inclined slot.

11. In a justifier for a typewriter for adjustably regulating relative movement between the step by step escapement mechanism and the carriage of the typewriter, the combination of, a support secured to the carriage, a shuttle plate provided with an inclined slot and reciprocatingly guided by the support and operatively secured to the escapement mechanism, a carrier pivotally mounted on the support, means for rotating the carrier upon movement of the carriage, a screw carried by the carrier, an actuator located. in the slot and carried by the screw, and an adjustable stop for aligning the slot and screw when the carrier is rotated to one extreme position.

12. In a justifier for a typewriter for adjustably regulating relative movement between the carriage and the rack bar of a step by step escapement mechanism of the typewriter, the combination of, a support secured to the carriage, a shuttle plate provided with an extension and an inclined slot and reciprocatingly guided on the support, an adjustable cleat carried by the rack bar for slidably receiving the extension, a carrier pivotally mounted on the support, means for rotating the carrier upon movement of the carriage, and an actuator adjustably positioned on the carrier and located in the slot.

13. In a justifier for a typewriter for adjustably regulating relative movement between the carriage and the rack bar of a step by step escapement mechanism of the typewriter, the combination of, a support secured to the carriage, a shuttle plate provided with an extension and an inclined slot and reciprocatingly guided on the support, an adjustable cleat carried by the rack bar for slidably receiving the extension, a carrier pivotally mounted on the support, means for rotating the carrier upon movement of the carriage, an actuator adjustably positioned on the carrier and located in the slot, and an adjustable stop for limiting rotation of the carrier in one direction with the carrier in alignment with the inclined slot.

EARL R. COUDEN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,327,925 Schneider Jan. 13, 1920 1,458,618 Dowd June 12, 1923 2,307,339 Szego et a1. Jan. 5, 1943 2,355,284 Edison Aug. 8, 1944