US3225886A - Multi-uniform and variable pitch escapement mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28, 1965 L. CETRAN ETAL MULTI-UNIFOHM AND VARIABLE PITCH ESCAPEMEN'I MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 17, 1965 INVENTORS 1 1965 L. CETRAN ETAL MULTI-UNIFORM AND VARIABLE PITCH ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 17. 1965 INVENTORS LOUIS CETRAN KENNETH R. FRECHETTE United States Patent 3,225,886 MULTI-UNIFORM AND VARIABLE PITCH ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM Louis Cetran, Newington, and Kenneth R. Frechette, Bristol, Conn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Royal Typewriter Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 252,113, Jan. 17, 1963. This application Mar. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 446,462

13 Claims. (Cl. 197-84) This is a continuation of application Serial No. 252,113, filed January 17, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to escapement mechanisms for typewriters or like machines of the bar or matrix type; more particularly it relates to an escapement mechanism characterized by apparatus for selectively conditioning said escapement mechanism to effect uniform incremental motion of a carriage controlled thereby through any one of several distances or to effect variable incremental motion of a carriage controlled thereby through variable distances related to the characters to be printed; and specifically it relates to a multiuniform and variable pitch escapement mechanism operable to effect controlled motion through selected uniform distances or through variable distances in accordance respectively with the spacing required for uniform width characters or with the spacing required for variable width characters.

One of the salient features of matrix typewriting machines resides in the fact that their type matrices are removably mounted so as to permit changing one matrix for another having different style type. However an attendant shortcoming resides in the fact that the width of the type, whatever the type style, must always be the same, as the matrix carriage can only escape through a fixed uniform distance.

With the present invention type matrices of different style type as well as of different widths may be interchanged as applicants novel escapement is selectively conditionable in accordance with the width of the type on the matrix whereby after a printing operation the matrix carriage will partake of a movement corresponding to the width of type on the matrix. The salient feature of the invention therefore resides in the fact that matrix carriage movement is preconditionable to effect incremental movement in accordance with the width of characters on a selected type matrix be they of uniform width or variable Width.

Broadly, the invention may be embodied in any proportional spacing typewriter. Hence, although the present invention is particularly suited to matrix typewriting machines, it is to be understood that it is equally applicable to machines which employ a plurality of individually operable type bars.

Insofar as applicants are aware no prior art proportional spacing machine has heretofore taught or contemplated an escapement mechanism which is variable or preconditionable at the will of an operator to provide mult'i-uniform pitch escapements and variable pitch escapements of a controlled device.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is in the provision of a selectively variable escapement mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a proportional escapement mechanism conditionable at the will of an operator to effect different uniform pitch movements of a controlled device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an escapement mechanism adapted to effect either proportional or variable width incremental motion or selectively different uniform width incremental motions.

Still another object of the invention is in the provision of mechanism for preconditioning an escapement mechanism to partake of any one of several desired movements.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a fast acting, low cost and reliable escapement mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of a novel carriage drive whereby constant velocity carriage movement in tabulating direction is achieved.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the variable pitch escapement mechanism of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 22 of FIGURE 1 showing the orientation of the universal stop displacer or unsetter lever relative to the interposers and the connection of the escapement mechanism to a type matrix carriage;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the carriage return initiating brake element of FIGURE 2;

FIGURES 4-6 are active views of the pitch selector;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of the interposer mounting structure;

FIGURE 8 is an active view showing the latching action of the interposer structure.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views there is shown in FIGURE 1 an escapement member or wheel 10 which supports about its axis an annular array of serially positioned stop members 12 that are spaced at arcuate intervals corresponding to character width units. The wheel is urged in the direction of arrow 11 to effect escapement of a carriage to the extent permitted by the number of serially positioned stop members 12 displaced from in front of a normally stationary stop 13. The escapement wheel 10 may be geared to a carriage rack as described in Patent Nos. 3,018,870 and 3,045,798, or it may be coupled as shown in FIGURE 2 to a screw 14 journalled transversely of the typewriter frame 15 and urged in letter feed and tabulating direction.

A type matrix carriage and positioning mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 16 is shown operatively coupled for movement axially of and relative to the screw when the latter is permitted to rotate. A type matrix 17 is shown mounted on a shaft 18 which is axially and rotatably positionable to present a selected character opposite a printing point. As will be understood by those conversant with matrix machines, the depression of a key produces a code which is translated in the positioning mechanism 16 into axial and rotative coordinate movement of shaft 18.

As shown in FIGURE 2 the mechanism for yieldably rotatably urging the screw in letter feed and tabulating directions and for positively rotating it in carriage return direction comprises a letter feed-tabulating drive pulley 19 which is freely mounted on a stub shaft 20 secured to the machine frame. The pulley is provided with an annular hub 21 which extends toward an annular hub 22 of a gear 23 which is also freely mounted on stub shaft 20. A coil spring 24 whose inner coil diameter is less than the diameter of the pulley and gear hubs surrounds both hubs whereby gear 23 is yieldably coupled to the drive pulley 19.

A carriage return drive pulley 25 is freely mounted on and adjacent the end of the screw 14 and a carriage return drive gear 26 is fixedly secured to the drive screw 14. Both the carriage return drive pulley 25 and the carriage return gear 26 are provided with annular hubs 25 and 26' which extend toward one another. A wrap spring 27 whose inner coil diameter is greater than the diameter of the hubs surrounds both hubs. One end of the wrap spring is secured to the drive pulley 25 while the other end is normally free. Both drive pulleys are adapted to be continuously driven by a motor driven belt 28. Assuming that the pulleys are driven in the counterclockwise direction, it will be appreciated that carriage return pulley 25 and the spring 27 coupled thereto will freely rotate relative to the hub of gear 26. Hence no motion can be transmitted to screw shaft 14. The counterclockwise rotation of tab pulley 19 however will be transmitted through spring 24 to tab gear 23 which is in mesh with carriage return gear 26 thereby tending to drive the latter in a clockwise direction; and since it is secured to the screw 14 the latter will turn clockwise to the extent permitted by the escapement wheel it being understood that When the escapement is in the position of FIGURE 1 the tab pulley hub 21 will slip within the coil spring 24 until the escapement is released. To effect carriage return movement a friction shoe 29, shown more clearly in FIGURE 3, carried on an arm 30 secured to a shaft 31, is located opposite the free end of spring 27. When a carriage return or tabulating function is called by associated mechanisms not part of the present invention, a push link 32 is operable to retract the stationary stop 13 to permit unrestricted rotation of the screw in a counterclockwise or carriage return direction or in a clockwise or tabulating direction respectively. Also in response to the initiation of a carriage return shaft 31 is operatively rocked clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 3 thereby urging the shoe 29 into engagement with the free end of spring 27 causing the latter to wrap and couple pulley 25 to gear 26 thereby to drive screw 14 counterclockwise. The drive transmitted by gear 26 to gear 23 will turn the latter in a clockwise direction which tends to unwind the spring 24 whereby its hub will slip within spring 24. As will be well understood in the art initiation of a tabulating or carriage return function will latch the stationary stop 13 in retracted position until the carriage reaches a tabular or margin stop respectively. Also as will be understood in the art, the carriage function will maintain shaft 31 latched, thereby maintaining the carriage return clutch engaged until the carriage reaches a margin stop. Even margins are accommodated by mechanism such as described in Patent No. 3,045,798.

It will be noted from the above that the screw 14 is driven or rotated in both the carriage return and letter feed-tabulating direction by the same motive source thereby eliminating the necessity for a spring motor to drive the screw in letter feed-tabulating direction. This arrangement provides uniform velocity movement of the carriage in tabulating direction regardless of the distance through which the carriage moves before encountering a tab stop.

A universal stop member displacing or unsetting lever 33 pivoted on a frame mounted stud for movement into the plane of the drawing as viewed in FIGURE 1 is adapted to be rotated counterclockwise by a link 34 operable, for example, by a universal bail arm as disclosed in Patent No. 3,018,870 which is actuated in response to depression of any key on the typewriter keyboard with the exception of the tab, carriage return, shift and backspace keys. The universal stop member displacing or unsetting lever 33 has an arcuate shaped extremity which extends, in the embodiment shown, over the four stop members immediately preceding the normally stationary stop 13. As shown in FIGURE 2, the portion 33' overlying the two stop members 12 immediately preceding the stationary stop 13 is relatively wider than the terminal portion such that it will always displace or unset two stop members to unset position. As shown in FIGURE 1 a three unit and a four unit interposer 35 and 36 respectively are mounted in a frame supported assembly generally designated by reference numeral 37 for movement toward the axis of wheel 10. The interposers are adapted to move under the terminal arcuate portion of and between the universal stop member displacing or unsetting lever 33 and the wheel. They are also adapted for movement toward the plane of the wheel whereby if the three unit interposer 35 is under the lever 33, three stop members will be unset or, when both interposers are under the lever 33, four stop members will be unset. Accordingly, depending on whether no interposer, one or two interposers are selected a predetermined number of stop members 12 i.e., 2, 3 or 4 will be unset. The interposers, which are normally biased away from the escapement wheel, as will appear with reference to FIGURES 7 and 8, are adapted to be selectively driven by associated push levers 38 and 39 respectively. The four unit interposer has a lateral projection 41 (FIGURE 6) which cooperates with a lateral projection 42 on the three unit interposer 35 whereby when the four unit interposer is pushed it carries with it the three unit interposer. As shown in FIGURE 1 the push levers are pivoted on a frame supported stud 43 and generally have the form of an inverted Y, having as viewed in FIGURE 1, upwardly leftwardly canted common leg portions whose end-s are offset forming ears 45 adapted to engage and push their respective three and four unit interposers. The push levers 38 and 39 are adapted to be rotated clockwise either by means of associated push wires 46 which are selectively operable by coded bails as hereinafter noted, and which are adapted to engage and push the downwardly extending legs 47 of the push levers, or alternatively by means of a stud 43 at the end of a selector lever 51 pivoted at 52 which is operative on cam shoulders 53 and 54 respectively formed on the upper edges of the rightwardly extending legs 55 of the push levers 38 and 39. The stud 48 on lever 51 also overlies an arcuate shaped arm 56 on a by-pass lever 57 pivoted at 58 whereby when lever 51 is rotated from the position shown in FIGURE 1 (proportional spacing position) to the two, three or four position, i.e., a 16 pitch position, an 11 pitch position, or an 8 pitch position for example, the by-pass lever 57 is rotated counterclockwise whereby the push wires 46 which extend through grooves 61 in the by-pass lever 57 are deflected downwardly and are no longer effective to operate push lever extensions 47 as is evident in FIGURES 46.

Referring again to FIGURE 1 there are shown linkages for operating lever 51 to any of the four positions shown; though it is to be understood that lever 51 may be fixedly secured to shaft 52 which in turn may be rotated directly by an indicator wheel. As shown in FIG- URE 1 lever 51 is formed with a crank arm 62 which is articulately connected to a link 63 which extends upwardly and leftwardly (forwardly). The upper end of link 63 is articulately connected to one end of a lever 64 which is pivoted between its ends on a frame supported stud 65. The other end of the lever 64- is spring biased toward the hub 66 of a selector wheel 67 adapted to be turned by an operator to a position as required for the particular type matrix or type basket then mounted in the machine. The hub has several fiat surfaces 71, 72, 73, 74 perpendicular to radii of and spaced from the axis, of the hub different distances. In the embodiment shown surface 71 corresponds to proportional spacing, 72 to 16 pitch, 73 to 11 pitch and 74 to 8 pitch. Hench as wheel 67 is turned the lever 64 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the radial distance of the flat from the axis of the selector wheel.

As will be understood by those conversant with the typewriter art, a proportional spacing machine is one in which type characters in a font of type are characterized by different widths. In such machines an escapement is.

provided to effect carriage movements proportional to the width of each character typed. Some proportional escap ment machines employ a font of type having up to five different widths of type necessitating a five unit proportional escapement i.e. an escapement which will effect one, two, three, four or five increments of movement depending on the character being typed.

The escapement illustrated, as will hereinafter be apparent, can be employed with any one of four fonts of type; a proportional type font having two, three and four unit width type and uniform fonts having two unit, three unit, or four unit width type. Hence with a proportional font and with the selector wheel 67 set for proportional spacing, the escapement will selectively, in accordance with the character type, escape two, three or four increments. Depending on whether a uniform font having two, three, or four unit width type is mounted in the machine, the escapement will be set to uniformly escape two, three, or four increments. While an escapement capable of accommodating fonts of type having one of three or up to three unit widths of type is herein illustrated it is to be understood that fonts having four or five or up to four and five unit widths of type may be accommodated. For example, fonts having one of or up to four widths of type may be accommodated in an escapement capable of escaping two, three, four, and five increments such as disclosed in Patent No. 3,018,870 by modifying the universal lever 33 such that it overlies five stop members and providing an additional five unit interposer structure. Similarly, fonts having one of or up to five widths of type may be accommodated in an escapement capable of escaping one, two, three, four or five increments by modifying the universal lever 33 such that it overlies five stop members and by modifying it such that the portion 33' will only unset one stop member. Obviously if the lever is so modified two additional interposers and operating structure would be required to effect unsetting of the two and five unit stop members.

Obviously the lever 33 may be formed without a portion 33' whereby it will not normally unset a predetermined number of serially positioned stop members. Such a modification would require additional interposers and operating structure therefore.

In a machine provided with the two, three, or four increment escapement illustrated, all of the key initiated actions with the exception of carriage return, backspace, tab and shift will operate the universal lever 33 through link 34. All actions associated with keys assigned to characters having three unit width, will, in a manner similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 3,018,870, as hereinbefore noted, operate a common three unit permutation or space code bail or slide (not shown) which will operate the three unit push wire 46, and all actions associated with keys assigned to characters having four unit width will operate a common four unit space code bail which will operate the four unit push wire 46. Those keys assigned to characters having two unit widths will not be associated with a space code bail.

When the wheel 67 and lever 51 are in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, i.e. the proportional spacing position (it being understood that the type on type bars or the type on a matrix will have weighted characters), and a key is depressed an associated action is initiated, i.e., a corresponding type bar will be operated in the manner of Patent No. 3,018,870, or character code bails or slides will be selectively actuated and be operative on the positioning mechanism to effect the positioning of a matrix to present the corresponding type thereon to a printing position to effect printing. The depression of a key will also actuate no, one, or both permutation or space code bails and effect movement of an associated push wire 46 as described above.

Operation Assuming a type font having characters of two, three and four unit widths is in the machine, the selector wheel is in the proportional spacing position, and a key corresponding to a two unit character is depressed, the universal lever 33 will be operated thereby pushing the two stop member 12 immediately preceding the stationary stop 13 thereby permitting the wheel 10 to move two increments after the character has printed. When a key corresponding to a three unit character is depressed the three unit push wire 46 will be actuated thereby rotating push lever 38 clockwise. This action will interpose the three unit interposer 35 so that the universal lever 33 will depress the end of the three unit interposer 35 toward the plane of wheel 10 thereby unsetting three stop members to permit the wheel 10 to move three increments after printing the selected three unit character. Similarly, if a key corresponding to a four unit character is depressed, a four unit space bail and its associated push wire 46 will be operated, thereby rotating push lever 39 clockwise which will push the four unit interposer 36 which as hereinbefore stated carries the three unit interposer 35. With both interposers operated the operation of the universal lever 33 will unset four stop members permitting four increments of movement following the printing of the selected four unit character.

Assuming the type matrix 17 has been changed and now carries, for example, 16 pitch characters or that type on type bars are all 16 pitch, the wheel 67 will be turned counterclockwise to the position designated II, thereby through levers 64 and 51 changing the position of bypass lever 57 to that shown in FIGURE 4. The counterclockwise movement of the by-pass lever to the FIGURE 4 position disables the push wires 46 by deflecting them downwardly. In the position shown in FIGURE 4, it will be noted that push levers 38 and 39 remain in normal inactive (FIGURE 1) position and since the push wires are disabled they will have no effect on the three or four unit interposers. Hence the depression of any key will only operate the universal lever 33 which will unset only the two stop members preceding the stationary stop 13 each time a key is operated thereby effecting two increments of motion of wheel 10.

As shown in FIGURE 5, assuming the matrix 17 has been changed or the type on type bars have been changed to 11 pitch type, counterclockwise movement of wheel 67 to the position designated III, and consequent movement of lever 51 will, through cam edge 53, operate the three unit push lever 38 whereby the three unit interposer 35 is operated and maintained operated by the three unit push lever 38 as will be hereinafter apparent. Hence depression of any key will always effect the unsetting of three of the stop members 12 each time a key is operated effecting three units of motion. Similarly, movement of lever 51 to the position shown in FIGURE 6, as a result of wheel 67 being rotated to the position designated IV, will, through cam edge 54 operate the four unit push lever 39 and associated interposer 36 which carries the three unit interposer 35 whereby depression of any key will always effect a four increment escapement each time a key .is depressed.

Unset stop members after moving beyond the stationary stop are returned to set positions by a reset cam 75 supported on the machine frame and located behind the wheel in the path of unset stop members.

The assembly 37 which mounts the interposers 35 and 36 is shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 to which reference is now made. The assembly comprises a box-like structure wherein the interposers are mounted for movement toward the axis of the escapement wheel by the push levers 38 and 39 as hereinbefore noted. The interposers are adapted to be returned by springs 77 connected to studs 78 on the interposers and to the frame structure. As shown in FIGURE '7 the top plate 79 of the box-like structure is provided with cutouts 81 to permit movement of the interposers toward the plane of wheel 10 under the action of the universal lever 33. Also as shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8, a pair of interposer lat-eh leaf springs 82 are secured to the frame wall. The upper free ends 83 of the springs are bent toward and bear against the lateral projections 84 formed on the interposers so that when an interposer is raised by its associated push lever the ends 83 of the springs snap beneath the projections 84 and maintain the interposers latched in the active position shown in FIGURE 8 until the universal lever 33 is operative. When the interposers are moved toward the plane of the wheel 10 by the lever 33 they are rocked out of the influence of the spring latches 82 whereby they may be withdrawn by their return springs 77. A second leaf spring assembly 85 acts on the opposite sides of the interposers to cushion the lateral movement and to return the interposers to an active position. When the lever is set in #3 or #4 position it will be noted that the interposers cannot return to inactive position as the push levers 38 and/ or 39 prevent this so that after the lever 33 has moved the interposers toward the plane of the wheel to effect stop member displacement, the interposers can only rock back to latched active condition under the action of springs 85 and 77.

As will be apparent from the above, applicant has provided a typewriting machine which in effect is four machines in one, i.e., simply changing a type matrix 17 or a type bar basket, and selecting a position of lever 51 via wheel 67 corresponding to the pitch of the characters on the matrix, converts the machine to one having the proper pitch.

While the structural embodiment of the invention has reference to a specific type of proportional escapement mechanism, it is to be undelstood that it may be embodied in any proportional escapement mechanism whether of the type broadly exemplified by US. Patent No. 2,202,565 or of the type broadly exemplified by US. Pat ent No. 2,547,449 or hybrids thereof. This statement follows from the fact that all proportional spacing machines are of necessity provided with key controlled permutation bails or slides which are operative to select corresponding to the push wires 46 disclosed herein, a predetermined one of a series of stop members or a selected one of a series of interposers which are operative in turn in association with a pawl or pawls to measure out a distance corresponding to the width of the character assigned to the key depressed.

It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a typewriter adapted to interchangeably mount uniform and variable width type fonts, said typewriter having a normally arrested escapement member yieldably urged in letter feed direction,

mechanism movable to release said escapement member after a character has been typed,

settable means movable into the path of movement of and thereafter operative in combination with said mechanism to determine the extent of movement of said escapement member,

first means for selectively moving said settable means in accordance with the widths of characters in a variable width type font selected for typing; the improvement comprising alternatively manually operative means to preselectively move said settable means whereby the release of said escapement thereafter will effect movement over uniform distances corresponding to the width of type in a uniform width type font,

2. In a proportional spacing typewriter having a normally arrested escapement member normally yieldably urged in one direction and adapted to be released to permit letter space movement in said one direction,

control means associated with said escapement member and movable in response to each character selection to effect the release of said escapement member,

selectively settable means operative by said control means when moved into the path of movement thereof to determine the extent of letter space movement,

and means for selecting and moving said settable means in accordance with the width of a character selected; the improvement comprising alternative manually operable means for disabling said means for selecting and moving said settable means and for preselecting and moving said settable means to provide for uinform escapement thereafter.

3. In a typewriter adapted to interchangeably operatively mount uniform and variable width character type fonts, an escapement mechanism comprising a wheel yieldably rotatably urged in one direction,

a plurality of stop members mounted in an annular array about the axis of said wheel and axially movable relative thereto between set and unset positions,

a normally stationary stop positioned in the path of set stop members to prevent rotation of said wheel,

universally operable stop member unsetting means for moving a predetermined number of serially positioned stop members immediately preceding said stationary stop to unset positions,

a plurality of interposer means selectively positionable in the path of and operable by said universally operable means to selectively move a selected number of succeeding stop members beyond said predetermined number of serially positioned stop members,

selectively operable means for selectively positioning said interposer means when a variable width type font is operatively mounted and in accordance with the width of characters typed,

and alternatively operable means positionable to disable said selectively operable means when a uniform width type font is operatively mounted.

4. An escapement mechanism as recited in claim 3, further comprising means normally adapted to retract said selectively positoned interposer means after an escapement, said alternatively operable means being further positionable to preposition selected interposer means and being operable when so positioned to prevent retraction of said selected interposer means.

5. In a typewriter adapted to interchangeably mount uniform unit and variable unit width character type fonts, a frame,

a carriage,

drive means yieldably urging advance of said carriage relative to said frame,

mechanism for releasing said carriage after a character has been typed and for stopping said carriage after it has travelled a distance corresponding to the width of the character typed, said mechanism comprising: a disc operatively connected to said drive means,

a plurality of normally set stop members mounted in an annular array about the axis of said disc and axially movable relative thereto between set and unset positons, said stop members being spaced at arcuate intervals corresponding to character units,

a stationary stop mounted on said frame and disposed in the path of set stop members thereby to prevent movement of said carriage by said drive means,

stop member unsetting means responsive to each character selection,

and selectively positionable interposer means for determining the number of stop members to be unset by said stop member unsetting means;

means selectively operable in accordance with selected character widths adapted when a variable width type font is operatively mounted in said typewriter to selectively position said interposer means;

and manually settable means operative when a uniform width type font is operatively mounted in said typewriter for disabling said selectively operable means and for positoning a selected number of said interposer means in accordance with the width of the characters on said uniform width font.

6. In a typewriter adapted to accommodate uniform and variable width character type fonts, a frame,

a carriage,

drive means yieldably urging advance of said carriage relative to said frame,

mechanism for releasing said carriage after a character has been typed and for stopping said carriage after it has travelled a distance corresponding to the width of the character typed, said mechanism comprising: a disc operatively connected to said drive means,

a plurality of serially positioned normally set stop members mounted in an annular array about the axis of said disc and axially movable relative thereto between set and unset positons, said stop members being spaced at arcuate intervals corresponding to character width units,

a stationary stop mounted on said frame and disposed in the path of set stop members thereby to prevent movement of said carriage by said drive means,

stop member unsetting means operative in response to every character selection for moving a predetermined number of said serially positioned stop members immediately preceding said stationary stop,

and a plurality of interposer means adapted when positioned in the operative path of said stop member unsetting means to effect the unsetting of additional stop members;

means for selectively positoning said interposer means in accordance with the widths of characters typed from a variable width type font;

and alternatively operable means for prepositioning and for maintaining positioned selected ones of said interposers whereby a fixed number of stop members beyond said predetermined number of serially positioned stop members as determined by positoned interposers will be unset in accordance with the width of type in a uniform width type font.

7. In a typewriter having a frame,

a carriage,

drive means yieldably urging advance of said carriage relative to said frame,

mechanism for releasing said carriage after a character has been typed and for stopping said carriage after it has travelled a distance corresponding to the width of the character typed, said mechanism comprising: a disc operatively connected to said drive means,

a plurality of normally se-t stop members mounted in an annular array about the axis of said disc and axially movable relative thereto between set and unset positions, said stop members being spaced at arcuate intervals corresponding to character width units,

a stationary stop mounted on said frame and disposed in the path of set stop members thereby to prevent movement of said carriage by said drive means,

stop member unsetting means operative in response to every character selection adapted to unset stop members preceding said stationary stop,

and a plurality of interposer means mounted for movement into the path of said stop member unsetting means and for movement thereby to effect the unsetting of a selected number of serially positioned stop members;

actuator means positionable to move said interposer means into the path of said stop member unsetting means in accordance with the widths of characters typed from a variable width type font;

and alternatively operable means selectively operative on and to maintain said actuator means positioned in accordance with the width of type in a uniform width type font.

8. In a typewriter adapted to mount uniform and variable width character type fonts,

a frame,

a carriage,

drive means yieldably urging advance of said carriage relative to said frame,

mechanism for releasing said carriage after a character has been typed and for stopping said carriage after it has travelled a distance corresponding to the width of the character typed, said mechanism comprising: a disc operatively connected to said drive means,

a plurality of normally set stop members mounted in an annular array about the axis of said disc and axially movable relative thereto between set and unset positions, said stop members being spaced at arcuate intervals corresponding to character width units,

a stationary stop mounted on said frame and disposed in the path of set stop members thereby to prevent movement of said carriage by said drive means,

stop member unsetting means operatively overlying a predetermined number of serially positioned stop members immediately preceding said stationary stop and operative in response to every character selection,

and a plurality of interposers mounted for movement into the path of and for movement by said stop member unsetting means thereby to unset a selected number of said serially positioned stop members;

actuating means for positioning said interposer means in the path of said stop member unsetting means;

means for selectively operating said actuating means in accordance with selected character widths when a type font having variable width characters is mounted in said machine;

and alternatively operable means for operating selected ones of said actuating means and for simultaneously disabling said means for selectively operating said actuating means when a type font having uniform width characters is mounted in said machine.

9. A machine as recited in claim 8 wherein said alternatively operable means is operative to maintain selected actuating means operative, whereby additional stop members beyond said predetermined number of serially positioned stop members are unset when a type font having uniform characters corresponding in Width to said predetermined and said additional number of serially positioned stop members is mounted in said typewriter.

10. In a machine of the class described,

a frame,

a carriage mounted for movement relative to said frame,

means for yieldably driving said carriage in at least one direction, and means for controlling the extent of carriage movement by said drive means comprising: a disc rotatably mounted on said frame and operatively coupled to said drive means,

a plurality of normally set stop members mounted in an annular array about the axis of said disc and adapted for axial movement relative to said disc to set and unset positions,

a normally stationary stop mounted on said frame and located in the path of set stop members thereby to prevent movement of said carriage by said drive means,

universal stop member unsetting means for moving stop members preceding said stationary stop to unset positions,

and interposer means positionable in the path of said member unsetting means for determining the number of stop members to be unset by said universal stop member unsetting means;

actuator means for positioning said interposer means;

means for selectively operating said actuator means in accordance with selected character widths;

and alternatively operable means for operating preselected ones of said actuator means and for disabling said means for selectively operating said actuator means.

11. In a typewriter adapted to interchangeably mount uniform and variable width type fonts, said typewriter having a normally arrested escapement member yieldably urged in letter feed direction, arresting elements selectively movable to release said escapement member,

mechanism movable toward said elements in response to each character selection,

selectively set-table interposer means operative by said mechanism when moved into the path thereof to move selected arresting elements thus determining the extent of letter space movement,

and means for moving selected interposer means in accordance with the Widths of characters in a proportional width type font selected for typing;

the improvement comprising alternative manually operable means for disabling said last named means and for preselecting and moving said settable interposer means to provide for uniform letter space movement thereafter corresponding to the width of type in a uniform width type font.

12. In a typewriter adapted to interchangeably mount uniform and variable width type fonts, said typewriter having a normally arrested escapement member yieldably urged in letter feed direction,

mechanism movable to release said escapement member after a character has been typed,

settable means movable in the path of movement and thereafter operative in combination with said mechanism to determine the extent of movement of said escapement member,

first means for selectively moving said settable means in accordance with the widths of characters in a variable width type font selected for typing;

the improvement comprising alternatively manually operative means including a single operator manipulatable element to preselectively move said settable means whereby the release of said escapement thereafter will effect movement over uniform distances corresponding to the width of type in a uniform width type font. 13. In a proportional spacing typewriter having a normally arrested escapement member normally yieldably urged in one direction and adapted to be released to permit letter space movement in said one direction,

control means associated with said escapement memher and movable in response to each character selection to effect the release of said escapement member,

selectively settable means operative by said control means when moved into the path of movement thereof to determine the extent of letter space movement,

and means for selecting and moving said settable means in accordance with the width of a character selected;

the improvement comprising alternative manually operable means including a single operator manipulatable element for disabling said means for selecting and moving said settable means and for preselecting and moving said settable means to provide for uniform escapement thereafter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,186 11/1918 Miller 197-84.3 1,305,536 6/1919 Grotjoann 197-66 X 1,431,983 10/1922 Roberts 197-41 2,202,565 5/1940 Reid 197-84.3 2,236,608 4/1941 Pitman 197-66 X 2,390,413 12/1945 Ayres 197-84.1 X 2,411,723 11/1946 'Hausman 197-90 X 2,439,470 4/1948 Jackson 197-90 X 2,547,449 4/1951 Dodge 197-84.3 2,701,632 2/1955 Zint 197-84 2,720,960 10/1955 Anderson 197-66 2,902,133 9/1959 Walton et al. 197-66 2,909,935 10/1959 Dodge 197-66 X 3,018,870 1/1962 Lambert et al. 197-843 3,045,798 7/1962 Lambert et al. 197-84.3

OTHER REFERENCES Websters Third New International Dictionary of The English Language, Unabridged, G. & C. Merriam Cornpany, 1961, page 2077. PE 1625, 161, 1961, C. 7.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

ERNEST T. WRIGHT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A TYPEWRITER ADAPTED TO INTERCHANGEABLY MOUNT UNIFORM AND VARIABLE WIDTH TYPE FONTS, SAID TYPEWRITER HAVING A NORMALLY ARRESTED ESCAPEMENT MEMBER YIELDABLY URGED IN LETTER FEED DIRECTION, MECHANISM MOVABLE TO RELEASE SAID ESCAPEMENT MEMBER AFTER A CHARACTER HAS BEEN TYPED, SETTABLE MEANS MOVABLE INTO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF AND THEREAFTER OPERATIVE IN COMBINATION WITH SAID MECHANISM TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ESCAPEMENT MEMBER, FIRST MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID SETTABLE MEANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WIDTHS OF CHARACTERS IN A VARIABLE WIDTH TYPE FONT SELECTED FOR TYPING; THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING ALTERNATIVELY MANUALLY OPERATIVE MEANS TO PRESELECTIVELY MOVE SAID SETTABLE MEANS WHEREBY THE RELEASE OF SAID ESCAPEMENT THEREAFTER WILL EFFECT MOVEMENT OVER UNIFORM DISTANCES CORRESPONDING TO THE WIDTH OF TYPE IN A UNIFORM WIDTH TYPE FONT.

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