US2958407A

US2958407A - Control device for line spacing in office machines

Info

Publication number: US2958407A
Application number: US726672A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hess Hans
Original assignee: Olympia Werke AG
Current assignee: Olympia Werke AG
Priority date: 1958-04-07
Filing date: 1958-04-07
Publication date: 1960-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 1977-11-01

Description

Nov. 1, 1960 CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTORI HANS HESS BY @az PATENT AGE/VT Nov. 1, 1960 H. HESS 2,958,407

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LINE SPACING IN OFFICE MACHINES Filed April 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2,958,407 Patented Nov. 1, 1963 its CONTROL DEVICE FOR LINE SPACING IN OFFICE MACHINES Hans Hess, Wilhelmshaven, Germany, assignor to Olympia Werke A.G., Wilhelmshaven, Germany Filed Apr. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 726,672

7 Claims. (Cl. 197-66) The present invention relates to a mechanism for line spacing in typewriters or similar machines which are electrically driven, said line spacing being designed in such a manner, that it can be effected independently of the carriage return in any position of the carriage as well as simultaneously with the carriage return.

It has been proposed in the past to effect the line spacing in electrically driven typewriters and similar machines in a purely mechanical manner. Therefore, the purely mechanical operation of the line spacing need not be described in detail, since it is well known in connection with machines without special driving means. Likewise, in electrically driven machines, the line spacing may be effected by means of levers and corresponding links so that the carriage return as well as the line spacing may be effected by the depression of a single key. In such case, the carriage returns either first and the line spacing thereafter, or else, the succession of these operations may be reversed. However, such line spacing arrangements require a considerable number of structural members, the position of which continuously changes during operation, so that the actuation not only produces a substantial noise, but is often the cause of faults. Moreover, the individual members are mainly accommodated within the carriage, so that the weight of the latter increases, causing a reduction of the writing speed.

With fully electrically driven machines, a special key is provided for an independent line spacing, said key operating through a make switch, a control device only including a single relay operating in a self-holding circuit. This relay controls the individual actions required for the line spacing.

In order to effect the line spacing independently of the carriage return, a locking device for the escapement wheel of the carriage is used for semielectrically driven machines, as well as for fully electrically driven machines, said locking device being constituted by a lever or the like. One end of this lever limits the relative movement of the carriage with respect ot the frame of the machine within a single 'escapement step. The key switch serves to efiect this operation. According to a further feature of the invention, this lever is designed as a two-armed lever and the lever arm which actuates the contact is substantially longer than the lever arm which coacts with the escapement wheel of the paper carriage.

With the fully electrically driven machine, the make switch for effecting the line spacing and the carriage return is connected with an actuating key by means of a key lever mechanism, a segment provided with a stop, a spring and a lever pivotal about an axis, so that the make switch can he closed for a short time and can serve simultaneously for initiating the line spacing together with the carriage return.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows schematically in a first embodiment of the invention a control device for the line spacing on a typewriter with an electric carriage return;

Figure 2 is a side view of a part of the device of Figure 1, illustrating the swinging of the detent lever into the star wheel which is operatively connected to the carriage;

Figure 3 shows in a second embodiment of the invention a control device for the line spacing on an all electric typewriter.

As shown in the first embodiment of Figure l, a rectifier 2 is connected through a transformer 1 to the alternating current mains and supplies current through a condoctor 3, and a make switch 4, constructed in the form of a key switch and serving for the line spacing and carriage return, to two

relays

7 and 8. A contact 6 is connected in parallel to the make switch 4, said contact being likewise constructed in the form of a key switch and being actuated by means of a line space key 5. The relay 7 (cut-in relay) has an operating winding 7a and is provided with a break contact 70 in addition to a self-holding contact 7b and a motor contact 7d for con necting an electric motor 19 to the mains through two

conductors

29 and 30. By closing the make switch 4, the relay 8 (motor relay) is energized by its winding 8a over the break contact 70, a conductor 11, a contact 12 and a terminal switch 13, provided with a break contact, and is brought thereby into the operative position. The relay 8 comprises, in addition to a self-holding contact 812, a coupling contact 8c for closing the circuit of an electromagnetic coupling 16 via the

conductors

3 and 15, two

brushes

23 and 24 and two

sliding contacts

25 and 26, which are mounted on a shaft 14 of the motor 19. Through this coupling, the motor is operatively connected to a drum 18. In addition, an auxiliary contact 8d is provided to maintain the self-holding condition for the relay 7, i.e., to maintain closed the energizing circuit of this relay over the

conductors

3, 15, 19, even after the opening of the make switch 4. A motor contact 8e enables the main circuit of the motor to be connected to the main voltage by means of four

conductors

27, 28 and 25, 30. The

contacts

812, 8c and 8d are connected together on one side. A switch 21 is connected in shunt with the coupling contact Sc by means of a conductor 9 and a resistor 22, said switch 21 acting as an over-run contact. A paper carriage 20 with a stop Zita and a rack 20b is operatively connected by means of a pinion 32 and a star Wheel 33 with an escapement lock, not shown. As a result of depressing the line space key 5 (see Figure 2), .the contact 6 is closed and, in addition thereto, the two-armed key lever 43, pivotable about a pin and being provided with a slot, is brought into operative connection with a double-armed lever 35 by means of a pin, said lever being pivotable about a pin 39. On this double-armed lever 35, a two-armed detent lever 37 is mounted for swinging about a pivot 38 in such a manner, that its upper lever arm, provided with a detent, can engage in the star wheel. With its lower lever arm, the detent lever rests against a pin 31 in such a manner that the contact 12 is normally closed. The pin 31, guided by two

holders

35a and 35b secured to the doublearmed lever 35, is urged by a compression spring 40 by means of a collar 31:! against one of the holders in such a manner, that the pin can only be pushed back by a force greater than that of the spring 40.

In the second embodiment shown in Figure 3, a rectifier 2 is connected to the main voltage by means of a transformer 1 and energizes through a make switch 4, a terminal switch 13' and a conductor 11 the winding of the relay 8. This relay comprises a self-holding contact 8b and a clutch contact 8c for the control of the circuit of an electromagnetic clutch 16. A contact 12, located in the circuit of this electromagnetic clutch 16 can be opened by means of a detent ilever 3'7 and, thereby, disconnects the coupling connnection between the motor 19 and the driving drum 44. The detent lever 37 is pivotally mounted in such a manner that its detent arm is capable of engaging an escapement wheel 33 for the carriage movement, while the other arm of the detent lever 37 engages a pin 31 so that the contact 12 remains closed.

The lever arm 37 is pivotally mounted at 38 and is operatively connected with a lever arm 35 pivotally mounted about a shaft 39. A pin 31 is mounted on said shaft 39 by means of brackets and is pressed against one bracket by means of a spring 40, so that the pin 31 can be depressed only by a force which is greater than that exerted by the spring 41 The make switch 4 is actuated by means of a key lever mechanism comprising a key '45, a segment '46 with a projection 46a and a spring 4-7, and a two-armed lever 48 pivotally mounted about a shaft 49. This lever 48 is capable of closing the make switch 4 for a very short time and serves for initiating the line spacing in connection with the carriage return.

For an independent line spacing, a line spacing key 5 is provided which is equipped with a contact 6 formed as a key switch and by means of which the circuit of the clutch 16 can be closed.

The "first embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, operates as follows: In order to initiate the line-spacing with simultaneous carriage return, the make switch 4- is closed. The relay winding 8a receives current through the break contact 7c, the relay 8 responds and is held in the self-holding state by means of the contact 8]). Thereafter, the relay 7 is energized through the contact 8d; it operates and is then, likewise, in a self-holding circuit. The two relays at the same time switch on the main circuit of the motor 19 and the circuit of the electromagnetic coupling 16. The motor starts and the coupling becomes engaged. As a result of the inertia of the mass of the carriage, the drum 18 first carries out in a manner known per se the line spacing by means of a belt, not shown, prior to the return of the carriage to the initial position. In order to terminate the carriage return, the terminal switch 13 is opened for a short time by the returning carriage and, at the same time, the switch 21 is temporarily closed by the carriage overrun. The opening of the terminal switch 13 leads to an immediate release of both

relays

7, 8, so that voltage is no longer applied to the motor and the force returning the carriage ceases. The switch 21, which is closed by the carriage overrun, however, prevents disengagement of the electromagnetic coupling 16, because a bridging of the open coupling contact 8c is effected at the right moment by this key switch. Thus, as the carriage returns from its overrun to its initial position, it is additionally braked by the inertia of the rotor, in this way damping the harmful impact of the carriage.

If the make switch 4 should be accidentally depressed after the relay 8 is released, the relay 7 remains in operative position by means of the self-holding contact 7b, the winding 7a and the conductor until the make switch 4 is opened. Consequently, a new operation of the relay 8 is prevented by the open break contact 7c.

To cause line spacing, the line space key 5 is depressed and the contact 5 is closed (see Figures 1 and 2). Since the line space key 5 merely replaces the make switch 4, the same operation as described above takes place first, electrically speaking. In addition, however, the lever 35 is brought into operative position, whereby the detent lever 37 is swung into the range of the star wheel 33. The line spacing is carried out immediately as usual. Since the carriage 211, at its start, acts on the star wheel 33 through the rack 20:) and the pinion 32, it tries to turn the star wheel in clockwise direction. On the other hand, the detent lever prevents this movement from occurring and transmits it directly to the adjacent contact 12. A slight advance of the carriage by an adjustable fraction of an escapement step causes a deflection of the lower arm of the detent lever 37 in the direction of the arrow, said deflection being amplified in proportion to the leverage, thus immediately eifecting the opening of the contact 12 and, hence, the self-holding circuit of the relay 8. As a result of this, the two relays release. The carriage is accordingly stopped before it has executed even one escapement step and, therefore, returns into its original position. As a result of the force of the spring 46, the lower arm of the lever 37 returns to its normal position by being swung back by the pin 31. The contact 12 is now reclosed and a fresh line spacing can only be effected if the line space key 5 is again actuated. Thus, if the line space key continues to be depressed, accidental line spacing cannot be caused, since the break contact 70 is held open.

The mode of operation of the second embodiment i.e., the .control device shown in Figure 3, for the all electric typewriter is as follows: The independent line spacing in any position of the carriage is caused by depressing the key 5, whereby the locking levers 35 and 37 are moved into the range of the escapement wheel 33 and the contact 6 is closed. As a result of the closure of the contact 6, the circuit of the electromagnetic clutch 16 is completed and the clutch becomes energized. A drawband drum is directly connected to the armature of the electromagnetic clutch, said drum being connected to the carriage 20 and the line spacing mechanism by means of a draw band 17. The draw band 17 first operates the line spacing mechanism, not shown, and moves it into the end position. As a result of the now occurring relative movement of the carriage with respect to the frame of the machine and of the'resistance increased due to the pull of the draw band, the lever 37 is turned by the escapement wheel 33 about the pivot pin 38 against the pressure of the spring 40, said pressure being larger than the force required for the line spacing within the range of a single escapement step, whereby the contact 12 is opened so that the circuit of the electromagnetic clutch is interrupted and the latter is de-energized. The pull of the draw band 17 ceases, whereby all members return into the initial position and the contact 12 recloses.

To initiate the line spacing together with the carriage return, the key 45 is depressed, .whereby the make switch 4 is closed by means of the key lever mechanism. The relay 8 becomes energized and moves into its operating position so that the self-holding circuit is closed over the contact 80. The driving drum 44- is now connected to the motor 19 by means of the electromagnetic clutch 16 and first causes the line spacing over the draw band 17. Thereafter, the carriage 20 is returned in a manner known per so until the returning carriage interrupts the break switch 13 shortly before the end of the return movement. As a result of this, the self-holding circuit of the relay 8 is opened and the relay 8 releases, whereby the clutch 16 is also disengaged.

I claim:

1. A control device for typewriters and similar oifice machines provided with a displaceable carriage comprising driving means adapted to operate a carriage return mechanism and a line spacing mechanism, a control circuit in registry with said driving means including relay means operating in a self-holding circuit, a make-switch located in said control circuit, a carriage locking device cooperable with said displaceable carriage for locking the latter, a line spacing key disposed in saidcontrol circuit and in registry with said carriage locking device, said make-switch and said line spacing key each energizing said relay means to actuate said drive means for said carriage return mechanism, said make-switch upon actuation thereof permitting line-spacing in conjunction with carriage return movement, whereas actuation of said line spacing key operates said carriage locking device to thereby permit only line spacing.

2. A control device for typewriters and similar office machines provided with a displaceable carriage comprising, driving means adapted to drive a carriage return mechanism and a line spacing mechanism, a control circuit in communication with said driving means including relay means operating in a self-holding circuit, a make-switch located in said control circuit for energizing said relay means to actuate said driving means, whereby said line spacing mechanism and said carriage return mechanism are activated to cause a line spacing operation in conjunction with a carriage return movement, said driving means including an electromagnetic clutch, and said control circuit including a switch operating in response to said carriage return movement to maintain said electromagnetic clutch energized until completion of said carriage return movement to thereby brake said return movement and dampen the impact.

3. A control device for typewriters and similar office machines provided with a displaceable carriage comprising, driving means adapted to drive a carriage return mechanism and a line spacing mechanism, a control circuit in communication with said driving means including relay means operating in a self-holding circuit, a makeswitch located in said control circuit for energizing said relay means to actuate said driving means, whereby said line spacing mechanism and said carriage return mechanism are activated to cause a line spacing operation in conjunction with a carriage return movement, a key lever mechanism, a segment member provided with a projection and carried by said key lever mechanism, a spring interconnecting said segment member and said key lever mechanism, and a two-armed lever disposed between said projection and said make-switch, whereby actuation of said key lever mechanism closes said make-switch.

4. A control device for typewriters and similar ofiEice machines provided with a displaceable carriage, comprising driving means adapted to drive a carriage return mechanism and a line spacing mechanism, a control circuit in communication With said driving means including relay means operating in a self-holding circuit, a make-switch located in said control circuit for energizing said relay means to actuate said driving means, and a line spacing key provided with a contact member in parallel with said make-switch, whereby said line spacing mechanism and said carriage return mechanism are activated to cause a line spacing operation in conjunction witn a carriage return movement.

5. A control device for typewriters and similar ofiice machines provided with a displaceable carriage, compris ing driving means adapted to drive a carriage return mechanism and a line spacing mechanism, a control circuit in registry with said driving means and including relay means operating in a self-holding circuit, said relay means of said control circuit comprising a single relay which actuates said driving means to efiect a line spacing operation, a carriage locking device, a line spacing key disposed in said control circuit and communicating with said carriage locking device, said line spacing key operating said carriage locking device and energizing said driving means, said line spacing key being provided with a contact member for energizing said control circuit whereby said line spacing mechanism is actuated to initiate a line spacing operation without carriage return movement.

6. A control device for typewriters and similar ofiice machines provided with a displaceable carriage, comprising driving means adapted to drive a carriage return mechanism and a line spacing mechanism, a control circuit in registry with said driving means and including relay means operating in a self-holding circuit, a carriage locking device including an escapement wheel and a detent lever engageable with said escapement wheel, a line spacing key disposed in said control circuit and communicating with said carriage locking device, said line spacing key operating said carriage locking device and energizing said driving means, said line spacing key being in registry with said detent lever for causing engagement thereof with said escapement wheel thereby limiting movement of said escapement wheel to cause line spacing without carriage return movement, whereby said line spacing mechanism is actuated to initiate a line spacing operation without carriage return movement.

7. A control device according to claim '6, wherein said detent lever is provided with a pair of arms different in length from one another, the longer arm being in registry with a contact which is opened during limited movement of said escapement Wheel, the other arm. being engageable with said escapement wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,143,404 Kennedy June 15, 1915 1,509,228 Carino Sept. 23, 1924 2,104,007 Bower Jan. 4, 1938 2,262,676 Helmond Nov. 11, 1941