US2897944A - Copying attachment for typewriters - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 4, 1959 B. L. HENRY' COPYING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY ATTORNEXS.

Aug. 4, 1939 B. L. HENRY 2,397,944

COPYING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 25, 1958 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY Aug. 4, 1959 Y B. HENRY 2,897,944

COPYING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

IN V EN TOR.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY BY vvgaaly A TTOR/VEYS.

Aug. 4, 1959 B. L. HENRY COPYING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ifrms'n I INVENTOR.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY o wd fi ma AZ'TOR/VEXS.

Aug. 9 B. HENRY 2,897,944

COPYING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 25, 1958 r 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY United States Patent 2,897,944 COPYING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Beulah Louise Henry, New'York, N.Y.

Application April 25, 1958, Serial No.- 731,039

16 Claims. Cl. 197-153 The present invention relates to typewriters and particularly to an attachment for standard typewriters which enables the making of copies withoutthe use of the commonly used carbon paper. The attachment comprises a simple means for feeding additional ribbon or ribbons between the sheets of paper which are to form the copies so that any imprint on the first sheet is likewise caused to be printed upon additional sheets, the number of which depends upon the number of additional ribbons used.

Devices of this general character have heretofore been devised, but these devices were in the main complicated and did not satisfy all of the-requirements.

In the present invention the device is extremely simple and may be readily attached to the standard typewriter of either the electrically or manually operated type.

Additionally, this device, despite its simple nature, provides means for removing the extra ribbons from the field of the type bars so that when a single copy is desired, as for example an envelope, no printing will occur on the reverse thereof as would otherwise be the case.

It is an object of the invention to providean attachment for typewriters whereby ribbons, in'addition to the usual single ribbon, are guided between the sheets of paper which are to become copies in such .amanner that printing occurs on the front and rear surfaces of alternate copy sheets. For example, if two additional ribbons are utilized the first copy will bear the printed material on the rear surface thereofQthis sheet being of course of onion skin or other material so that the printing is readable from the front surface. The next copy sheet may be of any thickness and will bear the printing on the forward surface thereof, it being obvious that the first auxiliary ribbon is fed between the onion skin and the second copy. This will repeat for any additional ribbons so that the second additional ribbon will also produce two copies, one on thin transparent paper and the other on paper of any desired thickness. In brief, then, with two auxiliary ribbons the original and four copies-can be produced; with three auxiliary ribbons, the original and six copies, etc.

It is another object of the invention to provide such an attachment which has incorporated therein simple means for removing all of the additional ribbons from the field of action so that a single copy may be made without the necessity of utilizing and wasting a second sheet of paper to prevent printing on the rear surface of the original. This is especially desirable when envelopes are to be addressed.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the annexed drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of my invention in position on a typewriter;

- Figure 2 is a similar view of thedevice of Figure 1 showing the parts in the position which they assume when the auxiliary ribbons are not in use;

ice

Figure 3 is a similar perspective view showing a second embodiment of my invention applied to a typewriter. In this embodiment of my invention the mechanism for moving. the auxiliary ribbon into and out of operating position is mounted on the platen carriage rather than on the typewriter proper as in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view schematically shown which illustrates the path of the main and auxiliary ribbons and the position thereof with respect to the typewriter platen when the attachment is that shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the carriage shifted to its extreme operated or left hand position;

Figure 6 is a view of the attachment of Figure 3 in top plan schematic form showing the position of the V the relative positions of the main and auxiliary ribbons,

the sheets of paper and the type bar, when the auxiliary ribbons have been placed in operating position;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figures 8 and 9 illustrating the position of the auxiliary ribbon-s with respect return and line feed mechanism on the platen.

to the platen and main ribbon when the auxiliary ribbons are not in use and a single original is being produced as is the situation, for example, when an envelope is addressed and no copy is desired;

Figure 11 is an enlarged front elevational view of the guiding means and the operating means for the auxiliary ribbons; and

Figure 12 is a top plan view of a portion of the guide mechanism together with the operating mechanism shown in Figure 11. The portion of the mechanism included in this view is indicated by the line 1212 of Figure 11.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8 through 12, there is shown therein a typewriter 20 illustrated as being of the type which is electrically driven, thus necessitating no carriage The typewriter 20 is provided, of course, with the usual keyboard 21, type bars generally designated 22, and ribbon feed and takeup spools 23.

In accordance with my invention there is mounted on i the upper cover member of the typewriter a pair of brackets 24, the brackets being mirror images of each other, one extending to the left and one to the right slightly beyond the point of platen maximum travel. Mounted at the ends of these brackets 24 are uprights 25 which, as being seen in Figures 1, 2, 11 and 12, are square in cross section and tubular. These tubular members 25 are provided with slots in their side walls as indicated at 26.

Mounted in the tubular members 25 are slides 27 which consist of a rod-like portion 28 to which is aflixed an outwardly extending handle support 30 and handle 31 and an inwardly extending arm 32 at the upper portion of'slide 27 and a second inwardly extending arm 33 at the lower part of the slide 27. Arm 32 has pivotally horizontally. Each of the arms 33a and 33b is formed with a portion 35 which extends upwardly, each of these upwardly extending portions being provided with a bifurcated termination as indicated at 36.

Mounted 'on each of the brackets 24 inwardly of the tubular upright 25 is a ribbon separating device 37, these devices being fixed in position and comprising a generally rectangular upper portion and a generally narrower rectangular lower portion joined by an inclined edge on the forward surface. The resilient arms 33a and 33b are provided with offset ends as indicated at 38 (Figure 12) which provides a tension in the auxiliary ribbons in a manner which will shortly be described.

Also mounted on the brackets 24 adjacent the innermost end thereof are additional guide means for the auxiliary ribbons, these guide means comprising generally C-shaped members 40 which are pivotally connected to upstanding posts 41 fixed to the corresponding bracket.

The auxiliary ribbons which have been mentioned heretofore are designated 42 and 43. These ribbons are interleaved with the main ribbon designated 44 and wound on the spools 23 with that ribbon. In other words, the ends of the three ribbons are joined together and are then wound on the usual ribbon spools of the typewriter. Ribbon 44 passes through the usual ribbon guides mounted on the typewriter body adjacent the platen in a central position as indicated at 45. The auxiliary ribbons are threaded into the guiding and operating mechanism, heretofore described, in the following manner.

From the pay-off spool the ribbons pass to the guide 40, thence through the left hand guide member 34 at which point the ribbons divide, ribbon 42 passing behind the separating device 37 and ribbon 43 in front of that device. Moreover, ribbon 42 is led through the bifurcated termination 36 of the arm 33b turning an abrupt corner as it passes through this bifurcation thus placing a frictional resistance on the tape. In a similar manner ribbon 43 passes through the bifurcated termination 36 of the arm 33a. From this point the ribbons extend across the machine directly in front of the platen and in vertical alignment with the main ribbon 44. At the right hand end the threading follows the reverse order through the bifurcated terminations 36 of the right hand device and thence through the right hand guides 34 and 40 to the take-up spool 23.

It will of course be understood that the pay-off and take-up spools 23 perform these two functions interchangeably as in any typewriter, the ribbons being fed from one spool to the other and then returned as the typewriter is operated.

As has been indicated, the ribbon guides 34 and the guiding members formed by the bifurcated guiding termi nations 36 can be moved into an upper position in which the ribbons 42 and 43 are out of action. This is done merely by operating the handles 31 simultaneously to an upper position, the slide members 27 being held in this upper position by means of the spring detent members 46 which, as best seen in Figure I, bear against the side of the sliders 27 to frictionally hold them in their upper position.

Referring now to Figures 8 through 10, it will be seen that when the sliders 27 are in their upper position as just described, ribbons 42 and 43 are separated, this separation being effected due to the fact that the rearmost ribbon 42 lies on the rear side of the separating devices 37 while the forward ribbon 43 lies on the forward side of these devices, the separating devices being relatively wide at their upper edge as has previously been described. When in this position it is therefore easy to take the required ntunber of sheets and insert them about the platen in the usual manner guiding them manually so that they lie on either side of the ribbons 42 and 43 I 47 is the usual first sheet on which the original impression occurs, this being effected by means of the type bar 22 and the main ribbon 44. Next to the sheet 47 there is placed a sheet of thin transparent paper such as onion skin designated 48, this lying to the forward side of the ribbon 43. Next in order is a sheet which may be of heavy paper 50 which lies immediately behind the ribbon 43. Following this there is a second sheet of thin transparent paper 51 which lies immediately in front of the ribbon 42 and finally there is a sheet 52 which may be of any weight desired which lies immediately behind the ribbon 42.

After the sheets have been manually guided in the position indicated in Figure 8, the handles 31 and sliders 27 are moved into their lower position, that is, to the position shown in Figure 1. By so doing the ribbons are caused to assume the position shown in Figure 9 in which ribbons 42 and 43 are in vertical alignment with the main ribbon 44. As a result of this arrangement any impression made by a type bar 22 on the main ribbon 44 resulting in printing on the first sheet 47 also causes transfer of ink from the ribbon 43 to the reverse side of the transparent sheet 48 and the forward side of the sheet 50. Likewise the pressure and impact of the type bar on the sheets backed up by the platen causes transfer of ink from ribbon 42 onto the rear surface of the transparent sheet 51 and onto the forward surfaceof the sheet 52. Thus for this arrangement the original and four carbon copies are simultaneously produced.

It will be understood, of course, that additional copies may be produced by duplicating the guiding and separating means comprising the bifurcated termination guides 36 and the separators 37. If this is to be done it may be desirable, instead of interleaving the additional tapes 42 and 43, to clip additional spools onto the existing spools in vertical alignment therewith and to provide additional guiding members similar to members 40 for guiding these ribbons.

The foregoing description has considered that form of the attachment in which the tapes are guided and supported from the frame of the machine and in which the guiding'and supporting means are fixed in position. As stated hereinabove in Figures 3, 6 and 7, a second embodiment of the invention is shown wherein the guiding and separating members are mounted on the platen carriage and the portion of the ribbon extending between the guides 40 moves with the platen carriage. In general, the mechanism is similar and in many respects identical to that described in connection with Figures 1 and 2. However, the tubular uprights 25, instead of being supported on brackets 24 which are in turn supported from the upper framework or cover of the mechanism, are supported on brackets 53 which are fixed to the typewriter platen carriage by removing a screw 54 present in standard typewriter construction and slipping the brackets 53 into position beneath the screw when it is replaced.

In the arrangement of Figure 3 a bracket 55 is fastened to the typewriter cover at either side of the type basket, these brackets supporting C-shaped guides substantially identical to the guides'40 and so designated. Additionally, brackets 55' support additional-C-shapedguides on rods 56 which extend outwardly of the brackets 55 and are bentupwardlyinto substantial vertical alignment with the main ribbon 44. The guides 57 are similar to guides 40 and are pivotally mounted at the ends of the bent up portion of rods 56.

As will be seenby reference to Figures 6 and 7, the ribbons 42 and 43"pass through the guides 40 and 57 and thence to guides 34 which guides 34 are identical to those previously described inconnection with Figures 1 and 2. When the guides 34 and'the separating members 37 are mounted in the manner just described in connection with Figure 3, the ribbonsmove with the platen and not with respect thereto as in Figures 1 and 2. This is clearly shown particularly in Figure 7 which shows the platen 'moved from the central position in Figure 6 to its far left hand position.

In both embodiments of my invention the bifurcated terminations of the resilient. arms 33 and the mode in which the ribbons are threaded through the offset portions of these bifurcated terminations of these arms pro vide frictional engagement with the ribbons so that the ribbons become stretched throughout the length in which they lie between the paper sheets, thus assuring that they maintain their position parallel to the sheets in the substantially vertical plane so that there will be no tendency for the ribbons to be caught by and move with the paper either in its line feeding or letter spacing movement.

Moreover, the separators 37 act as guides for the bifurcated terminations of arms 33 as they are moved upwardly, and the distance between corresponding bifurcated arms at opposite sides of the typewriter remains the same despite the fact that the ribbons are separated. As a result, slack which, in the absence of the drag provided by the bifurcated terminations of arms 33, would appear in the reach of the ribbons extending from the left hand arm 33 to the right hand arm 33 appears only in the ribbon extending from these arms back to the ribbon spools. Therefore when the ribbons have been elevated and are again placed in their normal operating position no slack is introduced into the portion thereof which extends between the sheets of paper. This, of course, is a very desirable result since, were there to be slack in the ribbons in the area between the sheets, it would be difficult to properly lower the ribbons into their operating position and when so lowered, likelihood of smudging would be relatively great.

The mounting of the guiding and separating means as heretofore described also serves to provide for typing upon a single sheet using the main ribbon only without imprinting the rear of that sheet as is essential in many operations, such for example as the addressing of envelopes. This mode of operation is clearly indicated in Figure 10 wherein the ribbons 42 and 43 are shown in their upper position, the single original sheet 47 having been inserted about the platen in the usual manner but fed-to the rear of the ribbon 42 instead of to the front thereof as in Figure 8. The result, of course, is that the ribbons 42 and 43 are out of action and printing occurs only by contact of the ribbon 44 with the forward side of the sheet 47.

I am aware of the fact that prior inventors have attempted to produce copies by the use of auxiliary ribbons and that mechanisms generally similar to that described herein have been disclosed. In no instance of which I am aware, however, has a means been provided for keeping the ribbons taut in the areas between the paper sheets nor has any means been provided for separating the ribbons so that the sheets may be readily threaded therethrough or for elevating the auxiliary ribbons to place them out of action to provide for typing on a single sheet only. These features of my invention render it a practical and useful device whereas the prior arrangements have been impractical and have not, to my knowledge been of commercial value.

While I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I wish to be limited not by the foregoing description, but solely by the claims granted to me.

What is claimed it:

1. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to the frame, and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising, means for guiding at least one auxiliary ribbon to a position between the regular inked ribbon and the platen in vertical alignment with the regular ribbon, a portion of said auxiliary ribbon extending along the entire axial length of the platen in all positions thereof, and means for maintaining said ribbon portion under tension, said tensioning means comprising vertically extending bifurcated members located adjacent the platen at opposite sides of said ribbon portion, each said bifurcated member having one arm offset from the other providing a sharp bend in said ribbon about said bifurcations to place a frictional drag on the said portion of said auxiliary ribbon.

2. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to the frame, and an inked ribbon adapted tocooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising, means for guiding a plurality of auxiliary ribbons to a position between the regular inked ribbon and the platen in vertical alignment with the regular ribbon, portions of said auxiliary ribbons extending along the entire axial length of the platen in all positions thereof, and means for maintaining said ribbons under tension throughout the said portions, said tensioning means comprising vertically extending bifurcated members located adjacent the platen at opposite sides of the typewriter, each said bifurcated member having one arm offset from the other providing a sharp bend in said ribbons about said bifurcations to place a frictional drag on the said auxiliary ribbons.

3. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to the frame, and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising, means for guiding a plurality of auxiliary ribbons to a position between the regular inked ribbon and the platen in vertical alignment with the regular ribbon, portions of said auxiliary ribbons extending along the entire axial length of the platen in all positions thereof, means for maintaining said ribbon portions under tension, means for moving the said portions of said auxiliary ribbons out of vertical alignment with the regular ribbon, and means for increasing the separation between said ribbons of said plurality as said ribbons are moved out of alignment with the regular ribbon.

4. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to the frame, and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising, means for guiding a plurality of auxiliary ribbons to a position between the regular inked ribbon and the platen in vertical alignment with the regular ribbon, portions of said auxiliary ribbons extending along the entire axial length of the platen in all positions thereof, means for maintaining said ribbons under tension throughout said portions and means for moving the said portions of said auxiliary ribbons out of vertical alignment with the regular ribbon, said moving means comprising vertically extending supports, means mounting said guiding means for vertical reciprocatory movement in said supports, and means for moving said mounting means in said supports, and means for increasing the separation between said ribbons of said plurality as said guiding means are moved vertically upwards in said supports, said separation increasing means comprising plate-like members supported between said ribbons inwardly of said vertically extending supports, said members having a narrow generally rectangularsection and a wider generally rectangular section joined by a sloping surface, the plane of said members being perpendicular to the planes of said ribbons.

5. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to the frame, and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising, means for guiding a plurality of auxiliary ribbons to a position between the regular inked ribbon and the platen in vertical alignment with the regular ribbon, portions of said auxiliary ribbons extending along the entire axial length of the platen in all positions thereof, means for maintaining said ribbon portions under tension, means for moving the said portion of said auxiliary ribbons coextensive with the axial length of the platen out of vertical alignment with the regular ribbon, said moving means comprising vertically extending supports, means mounting said guiding means for vertical reciprocatory movement in said supports, and means for moving said mounting means in said supports, means for increasing the separation between said ribbons of said plurality as said guiding means are moved vertically upwards in said supports, said separation increasing means comprising plate-like members supported between said ribbons inwardly of said vertically extending supports, said members having a narrow generally rectangular section and a wider generally rectangular section joined by a sloping surface, the plane of said members being perpendicular to the planes of said ribbons, and additional guiding means supported on the typewriter inwardly of said supports, said additional guiding means serving to guide ribbons interleaved with the regular ribbon from the payoff to the takeup spool through first guiding means and said tensioning means.

6. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frame and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause 'unprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payolf spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising, support means mounted at each side of the typewriter on a fixed part thereof adjacent the platen and extending laterally beyond the path of movement of the platen, a ribbon guide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through said guides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen, and means mounted adjacent each said support means and laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair.

7. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frame and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising, support means mounted at each side of the typewriter on a fixed part thereof adjacent the platen and extending laterally beyond the path of movement of the platen, a ribbon guide mounted on each side support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through said guides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen, means mounted adjacent each said support means and laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair, and means mounted on each said support means for guiding said two ribbons individually, each said guiding means including means for placing a frictional resistance on said ribbons to thereby assure that said ribbons will be taut and parallel to the plane of the regular inked ribbon and will extend in front of the platen in all positions thereof.

8. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frame and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising, support means mounted at each side of the typewriter on a fixed part thereof adjacent the platen and extending laterally beyond the path of movement of the platen, a ribbon guide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through said guides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen, means mounted adjacent each said support means and laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair, and means for movably mounting said ribbon guides on said support means for vertical movement with respect thereto to thereby move said auxiliary ribbons out of their position in vertical alignment with said regular inking ribbon.

9. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frame and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising, support means mounted at each side of the typewriter on a fixed part thereof adjacent the platen and extending laterally beyond the path of movement of the platen, a ribbon guide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through said guides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen, means mounted adjacent each said support means and laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair, means mounted on each said support means for guiding said two ribbons individually, each said guiding means including means for placing a frictional resistance on said ribbons to thereby assure that said ribbons will be taut and parallel to the plane of the regular inked ribbon and will extend in front of the platen in all positions thereof, and means for movably mounting said first mentioned ribbon guides and said individual ribbon guides on' said support means for vertical movement with respect thereto to thereby move said auxiliary ribbons out of their position in vertical alignment with said regular inking ribbon.

10. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frame and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising, support means mounted at each side of the typewriter on a fixed part thereof adjacent the platen and extending laterally beyond the path of movement of the platen, a ribbon guide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through said guides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen, means mounted adjacent each said support means and laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair, means mounted on each said support means for guiding said two ribbons individually, each said guiding means including means for placing a frictional resistance on said ribbons to thereby assure that said ribbons will be taut and parallel to the plane of the regular inked ribbon and will extend in front of the platen in all positions thereof, means for mounting said ribbon guides on said support means for vertical movement with respect thereto to thereby move said auxiliary ribbons out of their position in vertical alignment with said regular inking ribbon, and means forming part of said separating means for increasing the separation between said pair of auxiliary ribbons as said ribbon guides are moved upwardly on said support means.

11. An attachment in accordance with claim 10 wherein said support means comprises rectangular tubular members extending vertically with respect to the typewriter and wherein said means for movably mounting said ribbon guides comprises slide elements mounted Within said tubular members, said guide mounting means including handles fixed to said slide elements for manually moving said guides and the ribbons.

12. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frame and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoif spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising support means fixed to the platen carriage at each side thereof, a ribbon guide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through said guides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen, and means mounted on said platen carriage adjacent each said support means and laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair.

13. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frame and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising support means fixed to the platen carriage at each side thereof, a ribbon guide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through said guides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen, means mounted on said platen carriage adjacent each said support means and laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair, and means mounted on each said support means for guiding said two ribbons individually, each said guiding means including means for placing a frictional resistance on said ribbons to thereby assure that said ribbons will be taut and parallel to the plane of the regular inked ribbon.

14. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frame and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising support means fixed to the platen carriage at each side thereof, a ribbon guide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through said guides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen, means mounted on said platen carriage adjacent each said support means and laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair, and means for mounting said ribbon guides on said support means for vertical movement with respect thereto to thereby move said auxiliary ribbons out of their position in vertical alignment with said regular inking ribbon.

15. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frame and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type 'bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment comprising support means fixed to the platen carriage at each side thereof, a ribbon guide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through said guides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen, means mounted on said platen carriage adjacent each said support means and laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair, means mounted on each said support means for guiding said two ribbons individually, each said guiding means including means for placing a frictional resistance on said ribbons to thereby assure that said ribbons will be taut and parallel to the plane of the regular inked ribbon, and means for mounting said first mentioned ribbon guides and said individual ribbon guides on said support means for vertical movement with respect thereto to thereby move said auxiliary ribbons out of their position in vertical alignment with said regular inking ribbon.

16. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriage mounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frame and an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool, said attachment: comprising support means fixed to the platen carriage at each side thereof, a ribbon guide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through said guides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen, means mounted on said platen carriage adjacent each said support means and laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair, means mounted on each said support means for guiding said two ribbons individually, each said guiding means including means for placing a frictional resistance on said ribbons to thereby assure that said ribbons will be taut and parallel to the plane of the regular inked ribbon, means for mounting said first mentioned ribbon guides and said individual ribbon guides on said support means for vertical movement with respect thereto to thereby move said auxiliary ribbons out of their position in vertical alignment with said regular inking ribbon, and means forming part of said separating means for increasing the separation between said pair of auxiliary ribbons as said ribbon guides are moved upwardly on said support means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,741,664 Smith Dec. 31, 1929 2,069,492 Henry Feb. 2, 1937 2,103,734 Schmidt Dec. 28, 1937 2,195,464 Loewenstein Apr. 2, 1940

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