US309272A - Type-writing machine - Google Patents

Description

, 4 Sheets' Sheet 1. J. A. WHITGOMB. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

No. 309,272. Patented Dec. 16, 1884.

(No Model,

48heets-Sheet 2. a. A. WHITOOMB. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. .16. 1884.

(No Model.) whens-Sheet 3.

J. A. WHIT'COMB.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 309,272. Patented'Dec. 16.1884.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

J. A. WEI-1300M TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented'Dec. 16, 1 884.-

N. PETERS. EhotwLiflwgrapher. Wnshinginn. n. c

warren rarns Parana @rrre J AMES A. XVHITGOMB, OF lVASHING-TON, .DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

BPECITEICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,272, dated December 16, 1884.

Application filed February 25. 1854. (No model.)

To all whom it TIMI/Z] concern.-

Be it known that I, J urns A. X'Vnrroonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Va-shington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- \Vriters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of typewriters wherein the successive depression and release of a series of key-levers operates to vibrate and throw a series of type-characters upward and against the surface of the paper placed upon a suitable platen mounted upon a horizontally and laterally moving carriage; and the novelty consists in the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and spc cifically pointed out in the claims.

The invention more particularly contemplates certain new and useful improvements in the class of typewriters above referred to, wherebythe 1: tterally-moving carriage may be moved either forward or backward at the will of the operator, such forward or backward movement taking place in the usual step-bystep manner.

The invention further contemplates certain new and useful improvements in the means employed to operate or rotate the ribbon-holding spools, whereby the inking-ribbon shall be moved from side to side of the machine below the platen in alternate opposite directions.

The invention further contemplates the pro vision of means whereby the movement of the ribbon-carrying spools may be automatically reversed when the ribbon is unwound from one or the other of the spools.

To these ends the invention consists, essentially, in the mechanisms and combinations of mechanisms fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and are hereinafter claimed.

Figure 1 represents a rear view of the upper portion of a type-writer provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a cross-see tional view taken on the line a: a: of Fig. 1,

showing the rollers that support the rear side of the carriage in position upon the carriage guide-rail. Fig. 3 represents a similar crosssectional view taken 011 the line y y through the carriage guide-rail, showing the manner of hinging the carriage at its rear side to its carriers and supports. Fig. 4 represents a rear elevation of the hanger that supports the carriage-actuating wheel. Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line z :3 through the rear rail of the carriage, its guide-rail and actuatingwheel, and the means that operates said carriage-actuating wheel. Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal section taken through the rear portion of my typewriter, 011 the line 2 2 of Fig. 5, and looking toward the rear of the machine. Fig. 7 represents a portion of the ribbonspool-operatin g bar, showing the means employed to give mot-ion to said'bar, the View being taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 5, and enlarged to clearly show details of construction. Fig. 8 represents a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 represents a sectional view, taken from front to rear, of my type-writer, 011 the line 4. 4. of Fi 6, said view showing one of the ribbon-carrying spools and one method of making said spools self-reversing. Fig. 10 represents a portion of the pallet-wheel attached to the carriage-actuating wheel, and shows a device for setting the carriage backward in connection with said pallet-wheel. Figs. 11 and 12 represent sectional views taken through one of the spools, and show the means employed to automatically re- -verse the motion of said spools when winding or unwinding the ribbon. Fig. 13 represents a longitudinal section through the top of the machine, showing one method of making the ribbon-carrying spools self-reversin Fig. 14 is a front elevation of a portion of a palletwheel attached to the carriage actuating wheel, and shows the means for moving said carriage in forward and backward direction combined together. Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the forward-moving mechanism of the carriage, said mechanism shown detached from the machine.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures denote similar parts.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the top of a type-writer of the ordinary construc- IOO \ dofthe bar from irregular movement.

tion, having the ordinary central opening in I to a projecting portion, 9, of the hanger G,

which operate the pendent type-carrying arms.

a designates lugs projecting upwardly from each side of the top A, near the rear edge thereof.

B designates the paper-carriage, placed above and adapted to move from side to side of the top A, in the usual manner. The rear rail, b, of the carrige B is provided with projecting lugs I), having apertures b", through which apertures pass studs or pivotal pins 0, projecting laterally from the enlarged ends a of a longitudinally-moving rack-bar, O.

D designates the guide-bar upon which the carriagemoves, and it is preferably of rectangular form in cross-section, having its bearings at each end rigid in lugs a, formed upon the-top A. The upper edge of this guide-bar Disprovided with a V-shaped groove, (1, extending from end to end.

E designates small rollers mounted within recesses (2, formed in each of the enlarged ends-c of the rack-bar O. The periphery of each of the rollers E is V-shaped in cross-section to correspond with the grooves d, as shown in Fig. 2, said V-shaped periphery of therollers moving in and kept by the groove The forward edge of-the carriage is provided with the-usual steadying-roll. The body proper, c of the rack-bar O is below the guide-bar D, itsends 0 extending upward and provided with mortisesc, which embrace the bar D.

' (See Figs. 1, 2, and 3.) The side walls, 0 f

the mortises 0* press lightly against the sides of the bar D, thus preventing lateral movement of, said rack-bar when the machine is in operation. In the side walls, 0 of the ends 0 are journaled the rollers E. The lower surface of the bar 0 is provided with rack-teeth c, said rack-teeth extending from end to end ofthe bar 0, as shown in Fig. 1.

E represents a gear-wheel mounted upon a stud; f, projecting from a hanger, G, secured to the lower surface of the top of the machine, atthe-rear edge thereof. The spur-wheel F projects through an aperture, f, in the top A, its teeth f engaging with the teeth 0 of the rack-bar G. The rear side of the spur-wh l F is, provided with a boss, F, the outer surfaceof which is concentric with the periphery of thewheel F. To the boss F is secured one end of. a strap, 71, the opposite end of which strap issecured to the shell h, inclosing the spring. that furnishes motive power to the carriage inits forward movement. To the outer rear' end of the boss F is secured a ratchetwheel,,F ,,the teeth f of which are alternately engaged by teeth it, which form opposite ends ofaldouble pawl or pallet in the manner of an escapement. The tooth or engaging portion z" of this pallet is pivoted to the end of the vertical arm thereof by a pin, 2', as shown in Fig.1, thus providing for the backward movement. of the wheel F when it is necessary to set back the carriage. The pallet I is pivoted and said pallet is operated by an arm, j, ex tending rearwardly from a rock-shaft, J j ournaled in arms 9 of the hanger G. The opposite side of the rock-shaft J has a projecting arm, J to the outer ends of which is secured a bar, K, that extends across the machine from side to side thereof, and is provided at its ends with upwardly-projecting spurs k, between which, upon thebar, is hooked the ends of rods k, that pass downward and are attached to a bar. that passes from side to side of the machine below the key-levers thereof. The bar K and connecting-rods 7c are similar to those in common use in machines of this class,and operate herein in a similar manner.

The parts thus far described relate to the paper-carrying carriage and its connections. I will now proceed to describe the manner in which the ribboncarrying spools are operated.

L designates a ratchet-wheel mounted loosely upon the stud f, outside of and bearing.

with the spur-wheel.

M designates a movable bar, provided at or near its central portion with an aperture, m,

through which its stud f passes, and when said bar M is in proper position upon said, stud the bar M lies against the outer face of the ratchet-wheel L. The bar M is provided upon its inner face withaprojecting pin or tooth, m, that engages with the teethlof the ratchetwheel L when the latter is rotated, and by which the bar is moved longitudinally, the aperture min the bar M being elongated to admit of such longitudinal movement.

ICO

M represents a spring attached at one end to a pin, at, extending from the bar M,and its opposite end to a pin, m projecting from the end of the stud f. It will be seen that the bar M is forced in one direction longitudinally by the teeth Z of the ratchet-wheel L acting upon the pin m, and is forced in an opposite direction by the spring M. The bar M is pro vided near each end, upon the lower side thereof, withprojecting teeth m, that engage with and rotate ratchet-wheels N N, secured to the shaft 0 and sleeve N upon the shaft 0, respectively. The shafts O O extend from front to rear of the machine, and are j ournaled at each end in the legs thereof, as shown, The

ribbon-holding spools O O are mounted upon the shaft 0 and sleeve N respectively, and slide freely thereon, but are held against rotation independent of the shaft 0 and sleeve N by pins that project from said spools into slots 0, formed in said shaft Oand sleeve N". The bar M is adapted to be tilted in order to bring one or the other of its teeth m into engagement with one or the other of the ratchetwheels N N, such tilting being effected in the manner and by the means which I will now vided with a slot, m", into which projects an it upon the lower edge of said end into engagedescribe, to wit: One end of the bar M is pro-l arm, n, projecting from a swinging bar, a, pivoted at its upper end to thebottom surface of the top plate, as shown. lVhen the lower end of the bar a is moved back or forth by means hereinafterdescribed, the arm a of said bar moves back and forth in the slot at of the bar M, and causes the end of the bar containing the slot to be raised or lowered, and thus brings the teeth m upon the opposite ends of the bar M into engagement with one or the other Ofthe1{Lt()l1(3li-WhGlSNN'. The forward end of the shaft 0 is provided with a crank or handle, 0, whereby the spool O is rotated for thepurpose of windingtheinking-ribbonthereon. The shaft 0 at the opposite side of the machine is provided upon its rear end with the usual coiled spring for actuating the carriage. moving wheel F, said spring being secured at one end to the shaft 0 and at its opposite end to the case h, hereinbefore referred to. The shaft is controlled by the usual ratchet-wheel and pawl common to machines of this class. In the present case said ratchet-wheel and pawl is located upon the forward end of the shaft in front of the machine, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, instead of being, as heretofore, placed at the rear of the machine. By this construction I am enabled to increase or lessen the tension of the actuating or motive spring while seated before the machine.

I provide for the automatic reversal of the ribboirspools by the means which I will now describe.

I? designates a ilap composed of a series of slats, 19, arranged parallel with each other,anll secured together by a flexible backing, 19, one edge of which secured to the body of the spools, between the end flanges thereof, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, in which figures 1) represents the ribbon.

Fig. 11 represents the spool O as turning backward or unwinding the ribbon thereon. The figure shows by full lines the flap P lying snugly within a recess formed in the body of the spools in the position it occupies while the spool is full or being filled. The continued backward rotation of the spool causes the flap to successively assume the positions indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 11 and by full lines in Fig. 12. By reference to thelatter figure it will be observed the backing p of the flap is upon the upper side of the said flap, and that therefore,beeause of its described construction, said flap will remain extended and operate to press or bear against any obstruction presented to its upward passage.

a designates a rod projecting from the lower end of the swinging bar a, and passing below the spool 0" in the plane of the shaft 0 and in the track of the flap 1 which strikes against said rod when the spool O is being unwound, pressing it outward and in the position shown in Fig. 6, thus drawing the end of the bar M, containing the slotm downward, and the tooth ment with the ratchet-wheel attached to the spool O", as shown in said figure. The rod n is connected by a rod, a with a rod, a, projecting from the lower end of aswinging arm, a, the upper end of which is pivoted to the bar M, as shown. The rod a projects below the spool O in the track of the flap P thereon in a mannersimilar to the roda hereinbefore described. When the spool O is unwound, the flap I? thereon strikes against the rod n, pushing it outward, and thus, through rod n and swinging arm n, causing the end of the bar M containing the slot in to be raised and the tooth m upon the opposite end of the bar M, above the spool O", to be thrown into engagement with the ratchet-wheel N connected to said spool 0' From the foregoing description it will be seen that the movement of the spools O 0 will be automatically reversed by the mechanism above described.

I will now describe the means for giving the backset to the carriage-an action frequently rendered necessary in the operation of this class of machines.

It designates a sliding rod, supported by suitable hangers, r, and having its outer free end bent or inclined downward, as shown at r". it is provided upon its lower surface with a tooth, a, that normally rests above the ratchet-wheel F attached to the carriage-actuating wheel F. is at rest, slightly in advance of the teeth upon said wheel F (See Fig. 10.) From the end r the red It extends backward to a bellcrank lever,- R, pivoted to the lower surface of the top A, near the rear side edge thereof. The lever B is connected by a rod, r, with a similar bell-crank lever, R pivotedl to the inner side surface of one of the forward legs, and said bell-crank lever B is in turn connected by a wire, r, with one or more of the operatingkeys of the machine. (Not shown.) The back set mechanism is operated in order to set back the carriage step by step, and as soon as the said carriage has been setback to the distance desireda spring, B, returns the lever B to its normal position, to throw the rod B forward into the position shown in Fig. 10. In said figure the fullline arrows show the direction of the rod B when drawing the ratchet-wheel F backward, and the dotted-line arrows show the direction of the rod when the same is returned to its normal position by the spring It. I preferably make or form seventy (70) teeth upon the lower surface of the rack-bar C and an equal number upon the spur-wheel F and ratchet-wheel F, whereby a corresponding number of letters may be printed in a continuous line. It will be observed that the hearings or points at which the carriage is pivoted to the rack-bar G are upon the inner faces of the enlarged ends 0 of said bar, and also that said pivot is of the simplest possible description. Bymakingthepivotin theman ner shown I economize space. By using the ratchet-wheel F as a regulator or governor of The tooth 1' is, when the machine IIO the forward motion of the paper-carriage, and

attaching the strap h to a drum secured to the side of said ratchet-wheel, I am enabled to produce a more even and regular motion of the carriage, and at the same time to relieve it from direct strains, which other machines have in which the strap is connected directly to the carriage. If desired, however, the spring-actuated drum may be connected directly to the carriage by a strap, as shown by dotted lines at Q in Fig. 1.

The operation of my improvement is as follows: The keys, similar to those in ordinary use and operating in similar manner, being pressed downward, the type are forced upward against the platen. At the same time the bar K is drawn downward, and, through the rock-shaft J, an arm, j, operates to raise the lower arm, i, of the pallet I, and forcing its tooth into engagement with the ratchet- Wheel F the opposite upper tooth, 2', upon the upper arm of said pallet being simultaneously thrown outof engagementwith the said ratchet-wheel. Upon the release of the keys the bar K rises and rotates the rock-shaft J in the opposite direction, causing the arm j to fall, the pallet-arm i to be thrown out of engagement with the wheel F", and the opposite upper tooth, t, to become engaged. By this action the wheel F, under strain by the strap h from the actuating spring-shell h, is allowed to move forward a distance corresponding to length of one of the teeth of said wheel F The spur-wheel F, being connected to said ratchet-wheel and moving therewith, operates to move the rack-bar 0 forward the distance to move forward a corresponding distance With such spur-wheel, and thus moves the bar M through the ratchet-teeth Z of the ratchetwheel L and the fixed tooth m upon said bar forward a distance corresponding with the depth of one tooth. \Vhen the teeth Z of the ratchet-wheel L pass the teeth m of the bar M, said bar is drawn backward to its normal position by the action of the spring h Thus every tooth of the ratchet-wh eel L, as it passes the tooth m of the bar, operates to give a backand-forth movement to the bar M. XVhen it is desired to set the carriage backward, the key or keys attached to the rod R, hereinbefore described, are operated, the tooth 1'' upon said rod engaging with the teeth of the ratchet- Wheel 13 and drawing said wheel backward, at which time the pallet I serves as a pawl to hold the ratchet-Wheel F against forward m vement. The rod B may be, by proper keys, drawn backward a distance corresponding to two or more of the teeth upon the wheel F and thereby, as will be readily seen, set the carriage backward either a distance equal to a single forward movement or space, as determined by the pallet I, or the distance of two or more of such forward movements. If desired, the bar M may be dispensed with, the ribbon-spools being moved in lieu thereof by the following means, to wit: W W, Fig. 13, designate pawls pivoted at one end to the outer ends of the bar K. The upper free ends of the pawls W V engage with and rotate the ratchet-wheels N N upon the sleeve N and shaft 0, to which the ribbon-spools are attached. The pawls WV WV are connected to gether at their free ends by a bar, W that passes across from one to the other of the pawls. Said bar W" rests and slides against the inner face of the bar K, and is provided at or near its center with a downwardly-projecting tooth, 10, that engages alternately with detents w when the bar XV is forced back and forth.

W" W designate rods projecting downward from the bar WV", near the ends thereof, said rods NV XV passing across below the spools in the track of the flap P, as hereinbefore described, and when struck by said flaps operate to move the bar Yv longitudinally, and so bring one or the other of the pawls WV XV into engagement with the ratchet-wheels N N, the tooth w and detent 10 operating to hold the pawls in engagement with the ratchet-wheels, as hereinbefore stated. It will be understood that the ratchet-wheels N N are rotated by the up-and-down movement of the bar K.

The mechanism whereby the carriage is moved forward and backward may be combined in the following-described manner, to Wit:

er surface of the top A, at the rear edge thereof, and over the ratchet-wheel F. To the face of the lug is pivoted a pawl or pallet, Y.

Upon the lower surface of the upper por tion of the pawl Y is a tooth, y, the extreme end 1 of the opposite end y also operating as a tooth, and when the pawl Y is oscillated against the toothed surface of the wheel 1 said wheel is moved forward step by step in a manner similar to that shown and described hereinbefore.

From the rear side of the pawl Y, at the forward upper end thereof, project two lugs, y between which is pivoted the upper end of a link, Y", the lower end of which is pivoted to the rearwardly r extending arm j of the rock-shaft J, operatedby the bar K when said bar is raised or lowered by the action of the ke s.

designates a lug projecting from the forward upper end of the pawl, upon the inner side thereof, upon which rests and slides an extension, T of the back-set rod R. Said Y represents a lug depending from the low-- pawl or pallet Y and back-set rod B, when placed side by side and in position for operation, have a combined thickness equal to that of the ratchet-wheel F and rest above said wheel. Vhen the ratchet-wheel is being operated in forward direction, the toothed end of the back-set rod B is raised out of engagement with the ratchetwheel F" by the lug 3 upon the pawl Y, as will be readily understood.

I do not limit myself to the exact form of mechanism shown and described herein, as many modifications of said mechanism may be made.

I claim as my invention--- 1. In a typewriter, the combination of a paper-carriage provided at its rear edge with pivotal lugs, with a longitudinallymoving rack-bar having but one row of teeth and sup ports, substantially as described, a fixed actuating gear-wheel, and means, substantially as herein described, whereby the raclcbar and carriage are moved backward with step-bystep motion, as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a type-writer, the combination of the paper-carriage and a longitudinal]y-moving rack-bar with an actuating gear-wheel pro vided upon its rear face with a band-wheel or drum and ratchet-wheel controlled by a pallet, and means, substantially as described, whereby said ratehet-wheel, drum, and actuating gear-wheel are rotated, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a typewriter, the combination of a paper-carriage, a longitudinally-moving rackbar, a gear-wheel provided upon its rear face with a drum and ratchet-wheel, and rotated by an actuating spring and strap, with a pawl or pallet engaging with the ratchet-wheel and operated by an arm projecting from a rockshaft, and connected through a bar, K, with the type-keys, whereby when said type-keys are successively depressed and released the carriage is caused to move forward with stepby-step motion, substantially herein described.

4. In a typewriter, the combination of a paper-carriage hinged at its rear edge to a longitudinally moving rack-bar actuated by a gear-wheel mounted upon the frame, having a drum to which motive power is applied, the ribbon-spools and ratchets, with a reciprocating bar for operating the ribbonspools, and means, substantially as described, whereby the reciprocating bar is operated by the forward rotation of the spur-gear wheel, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a typewriter, the combination of the spur-gear wheel F, mounted upon a stud pro jecting from a hanger, G, said gear-wheel provided upon its rear side with a drum, F, to which a strap, 72, from the actuating-spring case it is attached, and ratchet-wheel F", and pawl or pallet I, with a ratchet-wheel, L, mounted upon the stud f in front of the spurwheel, said ratchet-wheel adapted to be moved forward and held from backward movement by a pawl, L, on spur-wheel F, bar M, fulcrumed upon the stud f against the face of the ratchet-wheel L, and provided with a spur or tooth, m, held in engagement with the teeth of the wheel L by a spring, M,whereby when the spur-wheel is rotated in forward direction, the bar M will be moved back and forth, and

when said wheel is moved backward the bar will remain at rest, and the ribbon-spools and ratchet, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose specified.

6. In a typewriter, the combination of a reciprocating bar, M, having teeth an and slot m shafts O O, ratchet-wheels N N, and spools O 0", having flaps P, with the swinging arms a at, having projecting arms or rods a a, and connected together by rod a ,whereby the teeth at of the bar M are caused to at ternately engage with the teeth of the ratchetwheels N N, and thus reverse the rnotion of the spools 0* 0 substantially as herein described.

7 In a type-writer, the combination of ribbon-spools provided with flaps I, formed of slats p, hinged together and to the body of the spools by cloth 1), whereby when the spools are turned in one direction said flap shall be folded against and lie upon the surface of the spool, and when said spools are turned in opposite directionshall remain ex tended and radially projecting therefrom, ratchet-wheels N N, bar M, and means, substantially as described, for causing said bar to alternately engage with either of the ratchet wheels N N, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a type-writer, the combination of the ratcl1et-wheel F spurgear wheel F, and gear rack-bar O with pawl It, levers It, and connecting-rods r 4-, whereby the carriage is moved backward while the gear-wheel F is moved forward, substantially as herein described.

9. In a type-writer, the combination of the carriage B, hinged to the rack-bar O, spurgear wheel F, drum F, ratchet-wheel F and their operating devices,with a longitudinally moving red, It, provided at its outer free end with tooth 1-,bell-crank levers R It", resettingspring R and connecting-rods r 9 whereby said rod is operated from a key or keys of the machine, substantially as herein described.

10. In a type-writer, the combination ofthe bar K, attached to rock-shaft J, and moved up and down by the action of the type-lever keys, arm j, and bell-crank pawl I, with the ratchet-wheel F, pawl L, ratchet-wheel L, bar M, and the ribbon-spools, substantially as described.

11. In a type-writer, the combination of the bar K, attached to a rock-shaft, J, and moved up and down by the type'levcr keys, the ratchet-wheel F, with controlling-pallet, and the back-set rod R, whereby the ratchet-wheel is prevented from moving forward when said back-set rod is being operated, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. A. HITCOMB' W'itnesses:

Josnrn: Fonnns'r, H. I. BERNHARD.

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