US2930471A

US2930471A - Automatic position indicator

Info

Publication number: US2930471A
Application number: US703341A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin O Roggenstein
Original assignee: Sperry Rand Corp
Current assignee: Sperry Corp
Priority date: 1957-12-17
Filing date: 1957-12-17
Publication date: 1960-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 1977-03-29

Description

March 29, 1960 E. o. Resl-zus-rsm 2,930,471

AUTOMATIC POSITION INDICATOR Filed D80. 17, 1957 l INVENTOR I EDWIN O. ROGGENSTEIN .ilii ipliiiii no.9. sy/gflg'ggk ATTORNEY AUTOMATIC POSITION INDICATOR Edwin D. Riiggenstein, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N .Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 17, 1957, Serial No. 703,341

. 14 Qlaims. (Cl. 197-190) v This invention relates to indicatotsg-used in writing machines, to permit relocating a previously typed character at the printing point.

In typewriters in common use, the paper carriage is stepped a letter-spaced increment for each character or space, as defined by the spacing of the teeth on an escapement wheel operating under control of a rocker unit. Should the typist discover an error in a previously typed character it is a simple matter to return the carriage manually or by operating the backspace mechanism which steps the carriage backwards one letter space at a time.

aired rates Patent 2 v Figure 1 is a view in'front elevation of part of an x aligning scale showing mounted thereon a character pospect to a type bar,

In typewriters in which the carriage moves in different letter-space increments, that are proportional to the width of the character thatis typed, the teeth on an escapement gear are cut to define very small increments of carriage movement so that if a j is printed the unit of spacing will be 2 while if an m is printed the unit of spacing will be 5. These units of spacing will be pro portional to two or five teeth on the escapement gear.

If the typist has made an error and wishes to return the carriage to the point at which the error was made it would be necessary for her to stop and count up the total number of space increments of all of the characters and spaces that have been passed and to this end use has been made of a unit-table from which the backspace movements of the carriage can be added, by the operator, with a resulting loss of time.

It is an object of the invention therefore, to provide means for positioning a previously typed character under control of the keyboard without having to'count the individual increments the carriage. has advanced, after a character has been typed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stationary or movable indicating means located in relation to the printing point in such a way that any character irrespective of its width, or the unit of space occupied thereby, in either upper or lower case position, will be a uniform distance away from the indicator with respect to the type itself.

Other objects of the invention are; to provide means, coacting with the backspacing mechanism of the machine to relocate a character automatically by single key depression or repeat operation of the backspace mechanism, so that a minimum amount of time will be needed; to provide an indicator that can be mounted in position for adjustment in the direction of the line of typing so that it can be accurately positioned with respect to the characters to not only locate them for correction but to also locate them for shadow or overlap printing; to provide an indicating means that can be mounted for swing-' ing movement out of the path of the type head, on each printing stroke; and to provide means for controlling the action of the indicator from the ribbon carrier. 7

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain constructions hereinafter described and then particularly pointed out in the claims, preferred embodiments of the invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

sition indicator,

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2- 2 of Figure 1 showing the relative positions of the scale, the indicator and the platen, v

Figure 3 is a view of a type head and the upper end of an indicator showing diagrammatically, the relation between the two at the printing point,

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the ribbon vibrator, the aligning scale and a position indicator mounted on thelatter for operation by the vibrator, 1'-

Figure 5 is a section on-the line 5-5 of FigureaA showing the relative arrangement of the parts including detent means on the indicator, 7 1

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the. indicator of Figure 7 in its operating position with re- Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the ribbon vibrator in raised position and the indicator swung to the side,

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the indicator latched in inoperative position when the ribbon vibrator has been disabled as in stencil printing, and

Figure 9 is a schematic view of the increment spacing of some typed characters and the positions of the indicator with respect thereto.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates the aligning'scale of a typewriter which extends parallel with and adjacent to the platen 11 and has a central cutout 12 at the printing zone. wise in supports 13 and is provided adjacent its lower edge 14 with a slot 16. The latter supports an adjusting screw 17 which carries a character position indicator 18 shaped to provide a vertical aligning edge 19, on an upwardly projecting portion 21 of the body thereof.

A type bar head 22 indicated in outline, shows the relative location of the characters thereon with respect to the printing point and the adjusted position of the indicator 18 relatively to the type head and the characters.

In a proportional spacing typewriter, as disclosed in an application of common assignee, S.N. 566,197 filed February 17, 1956 in the name of F..W. Schremp, the carriage moves a different numberof space increments in accordance with the width of the character typed, such increments being designated as at 20 in Figure 9, where it will be seen that the letter i has a two increment space, the letters h and e three increment spaces each, and the letter m a five increment space. If the typist has discovered that the h,is incorrect when she has typed the m it will be necessary for her to backspace the carriage until the indicator is adjacent the left side of the h, as shown in full lines in Fig.9, and'on the machine in Fig. l.

In order to accurately space movement, it was necessary in the past for the typist to add up the number of increments from a suitable table and then manually backspace the carriage. With the indicator 18 it is simply necessary for the operator to repeat backspace which will automatically bring the to the leftor right to positionits aligning edge 19 not only in "the proper letter space direction but in a true vertical position as well. can also be adjusted so that shadow or block effect printing can be accomplished when a line is written over,

The scale 10 is adjustable sideindicate the amount of back- The position of the indicator after adjustment in accordance with a setting of the indicator.

In Figs. 4 to 8 a form of the invention is shown in which the indicator .23 :is pivoted as at 24 to an aligning scale '26 which is attached for sidewise adjustment as at 27 to supports 28. The indicator 23 is shaped to provide an upwardly extending pointer position 29 having .a truervertical aligning edge 31 and an offset, downwardly directed portion or extension 32 terminating in a forwardly directed finger tab 33, extending beneath the shoulder 34 of a ribbon carrier or vibrator 36, and notched in its upper edge as at 37 for a purpose to be later described. The form of the ribbon vibrator is shown and described in U.S. Iatent 2,509,862 granted May 30, 1950 to E. H. Dreher while the operation of the vibrator is shown and described in U.S. Patent 2,638,199 granted May '12, 1953 to F. W. Schremp. in this latter patent, Figure 2 shows :the operation of the ribbon carrier 36 for using the red and black zones of a ribbon as well as the control used in stencil work where operation of the ribbon carrier is not desired.

The upper edge of the finger tab 33, of the indicator 23, is yieldably held in contact with the underside of the ribbon carrier 36, and in all vibrating movements of the latter, by a spring 38 fixed on one side of the scale supports 28. As shown in Figure 4, the indicator 23 is normally in position to align with the left side of the character and inthis position the type head would strike the indicator in printing action. The advantage in having the indicator align with the character is obvious and makes it easier for the operator in backspacing to bring the carriage to the precise position required. The'ribbon carrier 36 raises and lowers with each printing action, as illustrated in the Patent 2,638,199, and the tab end 33 of the indicator, under the influence of its spring 38 follows the up and down movement of the carrier, with the result that the indicator is rocked about its pivot 24 to swing the upper portion 29 thereof counterclockwise out of the way of the type head during printing impact as shown in Figure 7, until tab 33 limits on lower edge of aligning scale 26 and clockwise to restore the aligning edge 31 of the indicator to register with the next character position. The position indicator, in combination with the repeating backspace operation of the backspace key, makes locating the point of error an automatic operation. The indicator or locator shows the operator exactly where the next character will be printed after the carriage has backspaced to align the indicator with the character to be typed.

'In using the machine for stencil work, the ribbon vibr'atoris silenced or rendered inoperative and is held in its lowered or normal home position and during this time the indicator is rendered inoperative through manipulation of the finger tab 33. The position of the tab, shown in Fig. 4, is when the ribbon carrier is at its lower position and the notch 37 is out of alignment with the lower edge of the shoulder 34. The metal or other material from which the indicator is made is flexible so that when the tab is pushed by the finger of the operator the upper edge of the tab will slide across the lower edge of the carrier 36 until the notch 37 aligns with the latter at which time the spring 38 will snap the indicator into the position shown in Fig. 8 so that the pointer extension 29 thereon will be moved counterclockwise out of the way of the type heads used in cutting a stencil. The extension 32 also underlies the lower edge of the aligning scale 26 which acts as a limit stop for the tab end when it is urged upwardly by the spring 38. When regular typing is resumed and the ribbon carrier 36 is restored to operating condition, the first movement upward of the carrier will liftthe shoulder thereof out of the notch 37 and the flexible nature of the extension. 32 W111 cause the finger tab 33 to-move forwardly and thus be automatically restored to its operating position with respect to the carrier. I

While I have described what I consider to be a highly desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that changes in form could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact form herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of my invention as hereinafter set forth, and as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a writing machine including a platen, means for repositioning at the printing point a previously printed character under control of the keyboard without counting the individual increments the carriage has advanced after characters occupying different numbers of space increments have been typed including a character posi tion indicator comprising a portion extending upwardly to a position in front of the platen and said portion being shaped to provide contiguous to the printing poin a vertical edge for alignment withone of-the space increients occupied by the printed characterto berelocated.

2. in a writing machine including a platen, means for repositioning at the printing point a previously printed character under control of the keyboard without counting the individual increments the carriage has advanced after characters occupying different numbers of space increments have been typed including a character position indicator comprising a portion extending upwardly to a position in front of the platen, said portion being shape to provide contiguous to the printing-point a vertical edge for alignment with one of the space increments occupier by the printed character to be relocated, and means for adjusting said indicator toward and away from said space increment.

3. In a writing machine including a platen, an aligning scale extending across the front of the platen, means for repositioning at the printing point a previously printed character under control of the keyboard without counting the individual increments the carriage has advanced after characters occupying dilterent numbers space increments have been typed including means for adjusting the scale laterally of the printing point, and character position indicator means mounted on said scale and shaped to provide contiguous to the printing point a vertical edge for alignment with one of the space increments occupied by the printed character to be rclocated. a 4. A position indicator adapted to be mounted adjacent the printing point of a writing machine and constituting aguide for repositioning at said printing point a previously printed characterunder control of the keyboard without counting the individual increments the carriage has advanced after characters occupying diffcrent numbers of space increments have been typed including a body portion shaped to provide contiguous to the printing point an upwardly extending projection having a vertical edge for alignment with one edge of a printed character and means for adjustably mounting said indicator on a support;

5. A position indicator adapted to be mounted adjacent the printing point of a writing machine and constituting a guide for repositioning at said printing point a previously printed character under control of the keyboard without counting the individual increments the carriage has advanced after characters occupying differ ent numbers of space increments have been typed including a body portion shaped to provide contiguous to the printing point an upwardly extending projection having a vertical edge for alignment with one edge of a printed character, and means for pivotally mounting said indicator on a support for swinging movement of said projection toward and away from the printed character during'printing action of the writing'machine.

6'. In a writing machine, the combination with means for imparting to a platen carriage varying amounts of movement in one direction corresponding to the number of increment spaces occupied by printed characters of different widths; of an indicator adapted to be positioned adjacent the left edge of a predetermined character brought to the printing point when the carriage is backspaced in single increment amounts of movement.

7. In a writing machine including ribbon vibrating means and an aligning scale, a character position indicator mounted for pivotal movement on said scale and shaped to provide a vertical edge portion providing an indicating position in front of the platen at the printing point, means on said indicator including a spring urged tab portion for yieldably engaging said ribbon vibrating means for swinging said aligning portion away from the printing point during printing action of said machine, and means for adjusting the scale to adjust the position of the edge portion of said indicator horizontally.

8. In a writing machine including ribbon vibrating means, and means for repositioning at the printing point a previously printed character under control of the keyboard without counting the individual increments the carriage has advanced after characters occupying different numbers of space increments have been typed, including a character position indicator mounted for pivotal movement and shaped to provide an aligning vertical edge portion extending upwardly along a character increment indicating position in front of the platen at the printing point, and means for yieldably mounting said indicator in operating engagement with the ribbon vibrating means for swinging said aligning portion toward and away from said indicating position during operation of said vibrating means.

9. In a writing machine including ribbon vibrating means, a character position indicator mounted for pivotal movement and shaped to provide an aligning portion extending upwardly to an indicating position in front of the platen at the printing point, means for yieldably maintaining said indicator in operating engagement with the ribbon vibrating means for swinging said aligning portion away from the printing point during one movement of said vibrating means, and means on'said indicator engaging said vibrator for maintaining said aligning portion away from the printing point when the vibrator is inoperative.

10. In a writing machine including ribbon vibrating means, a character position indicator mounted for pivotal movement and shaped to provide an aligning portion extending upwardly to an indicating position in front of the platen at the printing point, and means on said indicator engaging said ribbon vibrating means for maintaining said aligning portion away from the printing point when the vibrating means is rendered inoperative.

11. In a writing machine including a platen, an aligning scale extending across the front of the platen and a ribbon vibrating carrier, character position indicator ribbon carrier, and means for adjusting the scale laterally of the printing point.

12. A position indicator, adapted to .be pivotally mountedadjacent the printing point of a writing machine including a ribbon vibrating carrier, said indicator comprising a body portion shaped to provide an upwardly extending projection having a vertical edge for align ment with one side of a printed character and a downwardly extending flexible arm, spring means for yieldably maintaining said arm in contact with said carrier to swing the projection toward and away from the printed character upon vibration of the carrier, and said arm having a notch for latching engagement with said carrier, under the influence of said spring means, when the arm is manually flexed. I

13. In a writing machine the combination with ribbon vibrating means, of a character position indicator mounted for horizontal adjustment adjacent the printing point and for swinging movement toward and away from the latter, and spring means for yieldably maintaining the indicator in contact with said vibrating means and for swinging the indicator toward said printing point during operationof said vibrating means.

14. A position indicator, adapted to be pivotally mounted adjacent the printing point of a writing machine including a ribbon vibrating carrier, said indicator comprising a body portionshaped to provide an upwardly extending projection having a vertical edge for alignment with one side of a printed character and a downwardly extending flexible arm, spring means for yieldably maintaining said arm in contact'with said carrier to swing the projection toward and away from the printed character upon vibration of the carrier, said arm having a notch for latching engagement with said carrier, under the influence of said spring means, when the arm is manually flexed, and means for automatically disengaging said arm from its latched engagement withsaid carrier upon a movement of the carrier in one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 855,207 Shepard May 28, 1907 885,715 Bond Apr. 28, 1908 965,231 Rumrill July 26, 1910 1,571,946 Helmond Feb. 9, 1926 1,574,980 Lindburg Mar. 2, 1926 2,224,766 Dodge Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,930,471 March 29., 1960 Edwin O, Roggenstein I It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below,

In the grant, line 1, and in the heading: to the printed specification, line 3, for "Edwin O. Rdggenstein each occurrence read Edwin O.- Roggenstein in the heading 0f the single sheet of drawings containing figures 1 to 9, line 1 for "E. O. R'6ggenst.ein" read E. 0., Roggenstein Signed and sealed this 31st day of January 1961.

(SEAL) Atteet:

KARL H. AXLINE Attesting Officer ROBERT C; WATSON Commissioner of Patents