US3552309A

US3552309A - Actuating means, resetting means and ribbon feed means in settable printing machines

Info

Publication number: US3552309A
Application number: US818996A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ivan Tenev Stantchev; Stefan Todorov Bakardjiev
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-04-24
Filing date: 1969-04-24
Publication date: 1971-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-05

Abstract

A typing machine wherein a plurality of coaxial type members are selectively turnable about their common axis to bring selected types to a give typing line. A swingable bail coacts with the type members for returning them all simultaneously to a given starting position, and a drive which is actuated at each typing cycle coacts with the bail for swinging the latter to return the type members to the starting position after the actual typing of each typing cycle has occurred. The impressions of the types are transferred through an inking ribbon which has its feed between a pair of spools automatically reversed in response to tension in the ribbon when unwinding thereof from either one of the spools terminates. The ribbon has a pair of different colors, and it is possible to select one of these colors for the typing on a paper which is itself supported on a rotary platen. A frame which carries the platen is swingable, and a transmission from the drive swings the latter frame to bring the platen to the typing line at each typing cycle.

Description

United States Patent Inventors Ivan Tenev Stantchev; Stefan Todotov Bakardjiev, Boulevard Anton Ivanov No. 1, Sofia, Bulgaria Appl. No. 818,996 Filed Apr. 24, 1969 Patented Jan, 5, I971 i Priority Feb. 7, I967 Bulgaria I-l79 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 703,39 1, Feb. 6, 1968, now abandoned.

ACTUATING MEANS, RESET'IING MEANS AND RIBBON FEED MEANS IN SETTABLE PRINTING MACHINES 12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 101/96, 101/336 Int. Cl B4lj 1/48, B41j 33/46, B4lk 1/48 Field of Search 101 /96, 9.1, 97; 161/336; 235/6031, 60.32, 144; 197/133 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,734,069 11/1929 Barrett 101/96 Primary Examiner-William B. Penn Attorney-Arthur O, Klein ABSTRACT: A typing machine wherein a plurality of coaxial type members are selectively turnable about their common axis to bring selected types to a given typing line. A swingable bail coacts with the type members for returning them all simultaneously to a given starting position, and a drive which is actuated at each typing cycle coacts with the bail for swinging the latter to return the type members to the starting position after the actual typing of each typing cycle has occurred. The impressions of the types are transferred through an inking ribbon which has its feed between a pair of spools automatically reversed in response to tension inthe ribbon when unwinding thereof from either one of the spools terminates. The ribbon has a pair of different colors, and it is possible to select one of these colors for the typing on a paper which is itself supported on a rotary platen. A frame which carries the platen is swingable, and a transmission from the drive swings the latter frame to bring the platen to the typing line at each typing cycle.

PATENTEDJAH SIS?! 3552.309

' sum 2 UF 7 INV "r R .lvom Tenev ITERIT'OCHEV ATTORNEY PATENTED JAN 5197i HZU 3 OF 7 PATENTEU JAN 5 |97| SHKET U BF 7 INVENTORS Ivan Te'nevSTHNTCHE Sfcfcvn TOdOYOVBHKHRDJIEV www- ATTORNEY PATENTED JAN 51971 SHEET 6 OF 7 INVENT'GRv Ivan Tencv STHNTCHEV Sre fan Tadorov BHK'FIRDJIEV BY: g 0

ATTORNEY ACTUATING MEANS, RESETTING MEANS AND RIBBON FEED MEANS IN SETTABLE PRINTING MACHINES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED OPERATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of copending ap-v plication Serial No. 703,391, filed Feb. 6, 1968 (now aban- 'doned) and entitled Printing Device for Two-Colored Mechanical Impression, Controlled by Electric Pulses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to typing machines.

In particular, the present invention relates to machines for typing with selected types of rotary type members such as, for example, those shown in US. Pat. No. 3,422,754.

There are known typing machines wherein all of the various operations can be brought about manually through suitable mechanical transmissions which are manually operated. Although attempts have been made to render at least part of the operations automatic in response to electric impulses, considerable difficulties have been encountered in achieving automatic operation in response to electric impulses, such as impulses from an electronic computing system. It is still essential with the conventional structures to have a considerable number of manual operations so that a high degree of automation has not yet been achieved. Furthermore, the known structures are exceedingly complex and expensive and require constant surveillance in order to be maintained in operating condition for at least part of the time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a machine of the above general type which is almost fully automatic in its operation. 7

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a machine of this type which can be selectivelyoperated to type with a selected color.

Furthermore, it is also an object of this invention to provide for a typing machine a simple, reliably-operating construction which will not only automatically feed a ribbon by a given increment at each typing cycle but which in addition will operate automatically to reverse the ribbon when required.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide, in response to initiation of a given typing cycle, automatic actuation of suitable transmission which will transmit drives in a fully automatic manner and in a predetermined sequence to all the various parts of the machine for bringing about the required operations.

According to the invention allof the type members, which carry the types, are supported for rotary movement about a common axis and a swingable bail means coacts with these members for returning them all to a given starting position. A

' drive which carries out a given typing cycle acts through a transmission means on the swingable bail to swing the latter at a predetermined part of each typing cycle for returning the type members at the end of each typing cycle to a predetermined starting position. The typing impressions are transferred through an inking ribbon to a paper which receives the typing impressions. and this'inking ribbon is wound and unwound between a pair of spools respectively driven by a pair of spool-turning means. A second transmission means which is driven from the drive means coacts with a pair of spool-turning means for actuating the latter to feed the ribbon first in one direction and then in an opposite direction and also to automatically reverse the direction of feed when the unwinding of the ribbon from either one of the spools is terminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of examples in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which: i

FIG. I is a partly schematic, partly exploded and partly fragmentary perspective illustration of one embodiment of the machine of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic perspective illustration of that part of the structure which brings about swinging of a bail; FIG. 3 shows the structure of FIG. 2 during a typing cycle;

FIG. 4 illustrates in a fragmentary perspective illustration how part of the structure operates during feeding of an inking ribbon in one direction;

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 but showing how the structure is positioned and operates during feeding of a ribbon in an opposite direction;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective illustration of that part of the structure which brings about printing with a selected color; I I

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary partly sectional top plan view of the ribbon feeding and reversing structure;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal fragmentary partly sectional elevation of the structure of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is aperspective illustration of the swingable bail of the invention and part of the transmission which actuates the same; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic wiring diagram.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and to FIGS. 1-3 in particular, it will be seen that the machine of the invention includes a plurality of typing members I each of which is provided with an arcuate printing segmentv 2 terminating at its outer periphery in the several different types which may, for example, correspond to the digits 0-9. Each typing member includes, in addition to the sector 2 which is provided with the several angularly distributed types, a ratchet sector 3 having teeth which respectively correspond to the several types. The

several type members 1 are situated beside each other along a common axis for rotary movement about this axis from a predetermined starting position, and for this purpose a stationary support shaft 4 is provided, extending through central openings of the several typing members 1 so that all of the latter are about the shaft 4 whose axis coincides with the turning axis of the several typing members 1.

Each of the type members I is formed with a counterbore the larger inner portion of which, at its region surrounding the shaft 4, with a recess which receives a coiled spring 5 an inner end of which is fixed to the shaft 4 and an outer end of which is received in a notch within each typing member 1, so that these springs S urge the several typing members I in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. I3, to a given end position. When the several members 1 are in their starting position the several springs 5 are fully tensioned, and oscillatory movement of the pawls 7 about an axis parallel to the shaft 4 it will cause the teeth 6 and 15 to provide for stepping of the type members I by the springs 5 around the shaft 4 from the starting position of the type members 1 up to a location where selected types are situated along a predetermined typing line.

The impulses for situating preselected types of a type member 1 along the typing line are derived from an impulse transmitter 10 which transmits the impulse to the electromagnet 9 which coacts with the swingable pawls 7 which are acted upon by the springs 8 for urging the teeth 6 into engagement with the ratchet 3. When the electromagnet 9 is energized a tooth 6 is attracted away from the ratchet in opposition to the spring 8 while the tooth 15 engages the ratchet to limit the turning of the member I, and then when the electromagnet 9 is unenergized the parts return to the location where the tooth 6 limits the extent of turning movement of each member 1 by the spring 5. In this way through intermittent energizing and deenergizing of the electromagnets 9 with pulses intermittently delivered by the respective transmitters 10 it is possible to control the angular positions of the several typing members I so as to situate a given series of types along the typing line. Thus, through a series of low power-pulses delivered from the generators 10 to the electromagnets, these pulses are trans formed into oscillations of the pawls 7 which act as armatures, and each of the typing members will turn through a series of angular steps proportional to the number of pulses so that a given type on each type member 1 will be situated at the typing line.

A sheet of paper 71 derived from any suitable roll, for example, extends around the platen 11 and is displaced toward the types to receive the imprint thereof through an inking ribbon as described below. Thus, the platen 11 will press the paper 71 against an inking ribbon which in turn engages the types which extend along the typing line so as to transmit the impression of these types to the paper.

A structure as described above is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,422,754.

At the end of each typing cycle, after the paper 71 together with the platen 11 have been retractedin a known way back away from the typing line, the several type members 1 are turned in a counterclockwise direction, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, about the shaft 4 back to a predetermined starting position, and during this turning back to the starting position the several springs 5 are tensioned in preparation for the next typing cycle. This return of the several type members 1 all simultaneously back to their initial positions is brought about by way of a bail means which includes a pairof one-armed levers l2 swingable about the shaft 4 and interconnected at their outer free ends by an elongated rod 13 which extends parallel to the shaft 4. This bail means of the invention is shown by itselfin FIG. 9.

Thus, as is particularly apparent from FIG. 9, each of the levers 12 has at its inner end a configuration of a tubular sleeve through which the shaft 4 passes so that the levers 12 are freely turnable about the latter, and one of the levers 12, the left one as viewed in FIGS. 13 and 9, is provided at its tubular sleeve with a gear sector 47 forming part of a transmission which actuates the bail means r12, 13.

As is apparent particularly from FIGS. 2 and 3, the transmission for actuating the bail means includes not only the toothed sector 47 but also a toothed lever 24, this lever 24 having at its upper right end a gear sector 75 meshing with the sector 47. The lever 24 is supported for rotary movement about a stationary pivot 25 whose axis is parallel to the shaft 4,

and a spring 26 is operatively connected to the lever 24 for urging the latter to turn in a counterclockwisedirection about the pivot 25, as viewed in FIGS. l3. The end of the lever 24 distant from the sector 47 carries a cam-follower roller which engages the periphery of a cam 27 which is fixed to a rotary drive shaft 28. The shaft 28 in the illustrated example turns through one revolution during each typing cycle, so that during each revolution of the shaft 28 of the drive means the cam 27 will also be turned though one revolution. The spring 26 maintains the follower roller of the lever 24 in engagement with the cam 27, so that the transmission means will transmit the rotary movement of the drive means 28 to the bail means l2, 13. The arrangement is such that at the proper time during each typing cycle the bail means will be swung first in a counterclockwise direction to the position indicated in phantom lines in FIGS. 2 and 3 and then back to the solid line position, which illustrates the rest position.

' The configuration of the cam 27 is such that during the initial part of the revolution of the drive shaft 28, for example during the first one-half revolution thereof, no movement of the lever 24 will take place, while during the second half of the single revolution, which forms the typing cycle performed by the drive shaft 28, the cam 27 will coact with the cam follower roller of the lever 24 to swing the latter first in one direction and then in the opposite direction so as to locate the several type members 1 in their starting positions with the springs 5 fully tensioned. Of course the teeth of the ratchet sectors 3 will ride past the teeth 6 of the several pawls 7, with the teeth 6 snapping in and out from one tooth to the next until the type members I reach their starting position, and then during the reverse turning of the lever 24 the bail means is returned also to its starting position. This starting position is illustrated in FIG.2 while FIG..3 shows the parts after the typing cycle has had the first half thereof approximately completed with the second half about tube carried out so that as the cam 27 continues to turn fin afc locki vise direction beyond' t he position of FIG. 3 the bailmearis will be actuated during thelast'p'art of the typingcycle to return the type members to their starting positions.

It is to be noted that this operationof'thebaiIa'neans.is'fully automatic in response to :the carrying out of'a-typingcycle through initiation of-a revolution.- of theshaft 28awi'th thelatter terminating a typing cycle at-theendof a single revolution as a result of the action of the switch I and the control .cam .29 which coacts with this microswitch lflf 'Referring'to FIG.-. 1 0,v the. electrical circuit which, brings about the actuation-of the rotarygdriving shaft 28 oi -the. drive means includes not only the microswitch K, and the switchoperating cam 29,but also the driving -motor M which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 10 and which is operatively connected with the shaft 28 so as to' rotate the latter. The circuit includes eleetromagnet relay P whichis connected to a source of relatively strong current and is capable of transmitting impulses of relatively weak current. The rnicroswitch K, and-the coil 1 of the electromagnetic relay P-generateithe eontrgl of the weak-current portion of the circuit. A continuous voltage is supplied to the terminal b whichis connected the microswitch K,. The other terminal 0- is connected tothe-coil I At a predetermined instant a. weakcu-rrent pulseywhich lasts for a period shorter than the duration of a single revolution of shaft 28, is supplied to .the terminal c across the .ter-

minal a. At this instant the circuit throughthe motor M is completed and the drive shaft 28 as'well as the platen 11 are both in their starting positions. The motor M and the switch K: of the relay P are unenergized. However thetransmission of the pulse provides for closing of the weak current circuitat the microswitchK because of the fact that this microswitchis and the energizing of the motor M will terminate so as to,ter- PL minate the operations. Thus, at the end of each cycle the electromagnetic relay P will cut off the connection to the stronger current. During each driving cycle, a further transmission means which is actuated by the drive means 28 'will bringa'bout swinging of the platen 11 together with the paper71toward I and away from a position for receiving 'thetype impressions from the ribbon 49 which is referred to below. l

As is apparent also from FIGS; 1-3, thexrotary platen-11 is supported for rotary movement atfithe sidewalls of a frame which is supported for swinging movement by a stationary rod 3l which extends parallel to the shaft 4, so that during swinging of the frame 30 about the 'axis of the rod 31 it is possible for the platen 11 together with the paper 71 to be swung away from the typing line. L i

The transmission means for transmitting the drive from the drive means 28 to the frame 30 includes an elongated'link 32 pivotally connected at 58 to the frame 30, and distant from the frame 30 the link .32 is pivotally connected with the rotary the cam 27 rotates with the drive shaft 28 from the starting position of FIGS. 1 and 2, the link 32 will initially be retracted I, A

to the left, allthe way up to the position indicated in FIG. 3,

and then during the continued rotary movement throughthe q second half of the revolution from the positionshown in FIG.

3 the link 32 returns to the startingposition. As a result, the frame 30 together with the platen 11 carried thereby and the paper 71 will be swung first to the typing line and then back I away from the typing line so that in this way the paper 7:1;will receive the impression from the types through the inking ribbon 49. It is during the reverse swinging of the framefil) back along the typing line, also in a manner described in greater detail below, and is carried by a pair of ribbon spools 48 and 50. The structure of the invention includes not only a means for feeding the ribbon by a given increment at each typing cycle but also means for bringing about an automatic reversal in the direction of feed of the ribbon 49 when unwinding thereof from one spool is terminated so. that the rewinding thereof onto the other spool can be initiated in an automatic manner.

The details of the ribbon feeding and reversing structures of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8. A stationary plate 53 carries parallel vertical shafts 51 and 52 which respectively extend through the spools 48 and 50 to guide the latter for rotary movement. These spools are received on rotary ratchets 41 and 44 through which the shafts 51 and 52 also extend, and these ratchets are respectively provided, for example, with upstanding small pins received in corresponding openings of the flanges of the spools 48 and 50 so that the rotary movement of the ratchets 41 and 44 will respectively be transmitted to the spools 48 and 50 to bring about movement of the ribbon 49 therebetween.

v The pair of ratchets 41 and 44 are respectively turned by a turning means which includes a pair of swing levers 37 and 43. These swing levers 37 and 43, the'configuration of which is most clearly apparent from FIG. 7, are also respectively coaxi-. al with the ratchets 41 and 44 and the'spools 48 and 49, and

, the shafts 51 and 52 extend also through openings of the swing levers37 and 43 to support these levers.

An elongated link 42 is pivotally connected at its ends to the levers 37 and 43 so that swinging of one lever is transmitted to the other lever, and these levers 37 and 43 swing back and forth in unison in a manner described in greater detail below.

Theswing lever 37 pivotally carries a feed pawl 38 which contacts with the ratchet 41. A spring 73 is connected at one end to the pawl 38 and at the opposite endto a lug of the lever 37 for urging the pawl 38 into engagement with the teeth at the periphery of the ratchet 41. I

The support plate 53 carries a pin 65 on which a holding pawl 39 is supported for swinging movement, and a spring 40 coacts with the holding pawl 39 to urge the latter into engagement with the ratchet 41, so that the holding pawl 39 will v coact with the ratchet 41 to prevent a return thereof during retractionof the pawl 31 in preparation'of the next feeding stroke, as referred to in greater detail below.

In much the same way the other swing lever 43 pivotally carries a feed pawl 46 which is urged by a spring 74 into engagementwith the teeth of the ratchet 44. This spring 74 is connected at one end to the pawl 46 and at its opposite end to a lug extending therefrom the lever 43.

The support plate 53 also carries a stationary pivot 66 which serves to support for swinging movernent a holding pawl 45 which coacts with the ratchet 44, and a second spring 40 coacts with the holding pawl 45 for urging the latter into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 44 so that the latter will not turn back during retraction of the feed pawl 46 in the manner described in greater detail below. c

A transmission means also extends from the drive means 28 up to the pair of turning means which turn the spools 48 and 50 so as to actuate the latter at each-typing cycle. This transmission means includes an elongated push-pull bar 33 pivotally connected at 72 to a sidewall of the frame 30, so that the push-pull bar 33 can move longitudinally back and forth first to the right, as shown by the arrow R in FIG. 4, and then to the left. as shown by the arrow L in FIG. 5.

Thus, whenever the cam 27 rotates with the shaft 28 the link 32 will swing the frame 30 back and forth as described above,

and from the frame 30 the transmission extends through the pivot 72 and the push-pull bar 33 to the spool-turning means.

The bar 33 is provided along its upper edge with a cam 34 which in the illustrated example has the configuration of an isosceles triangle. The swing lever 37 has a downwardly turned lug carrying a cam-follower roller 35 which engages on end of the cam 34 in the position shown in' FIG. 4 and an opposite end of the cam 34 into the position shown in FIG. 5.

A spring 36 is connected at one end to the downwardly extending lug at the outer end of the swing lever 37 and at its opposite end to a lower arm at the right end of the push-pull bar '33 so that no guide structure is required for the push-pull bar 33 since the spring 36 holds the cam 34 against the roller 35. The tension of the spring 36 and the configuration of the cam 34 is such that as long as there is no excessive tension in the ribbon 49, such as is encountered there when the unwinding thereof from one of the spools terminates, the transmission is delivered through the bar 33 to the swing lever 37 and then to the swing lever 43 through the connecting link 43.

As may be seen from FIG. 4, when the roller 35 engages the right end of the cam 34, the bar 34 pushes in the direction R so as to swing the lever 37 to the right through the angle B, until the roller 35 reaches the dotted line position indicated in FIG. 4, and then the spring 36 maintains the roller 35 in engagement with the right end of the cam 34 during the return movement to the left through the angle [3, so that in this way back and forth swinging through the angle B is achieved with the parts in the position of FIG. 4.

On the other hand, when the roller 35 engages the left end of the cam, as shown in FIG. 5, then the driving stroke of the drive means is delivered during pulling through the bar 33 when it moves in the direction L and the lever together with the roller 35 is swung back and forth through the angle a with the roller 35 being displaced at this time between the solid and dotted line positions indicated in FIG. 5. The precise magnitudes and positions of the angles a and B with respect to each other is indicated most clearly in FIG. 7. The base of the isosceles triangle which determines the configuration of the cam 34 has a length equal to the stroke of the bar 33 in one direction or the other, so that then the roller 35 engages one end of the cam the oscillations of the swing levers will take place back and forth through angular increments completely distinct from the angular increments through which the swing levers are swung back and forth when the roller 35 engages the other end of the cam 34. Furthermore, although the cam 34 is shown as having a triangular configuration, such as the configuration of an equilateral or isosceles triangle, it can also have, for example, a semicircular configuration.

An additional cam means is provided to coact with the pair of feed pawls and with the pair of holding pawls to bring about unwinding of the ribbon from one spool and rewinding thereof I onto the other spool depending upon which end of the cam 34 is engaged by the roller 35. In the particular position of the part shown in FIG. 7 the roller 35 is in a position corresponding to FIG. 5, and at this time the pair of swing levers 37 and 43 are swung back and forth through the angle a. The additional cam means which coacts with the pawl includes edges which define an opening 54 in the support plate 53. The feed pawls 38 and 46 extend through this opening 54 in the plate 53, as in particularly apparent from FIGS. 7 and 8, and the opening 54 includes the parallel camming edges 69 as well as the diverging camming edges 54. In the position of the parts shown in FIG. 7, as the roller 35 swings first in the direction L and then in the reverse direction to bring about swinging movement back and forth through theangle a, the feed pawl 38 first moves to the rear along the left camming edge 69 and then forwardly back to the position shown in FIG. 7. As is apparent from FIG. 7 the left camming edge 69 will now act to maintain the feed pawl 38 at all times out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 41, so that there will be no transmission ofany positive feed to the ribbon through the spool 48.

At the same time, an edge 67 of the swing lever 37 forms that part of an additional cam means which coacts with the holding pawl 39, and during the swinging of the'lever37' back and forth through the angle a this camming edge 67'will maintain the pawl 39 out of engagement with the ratchet 41, so that at this time the ratchet 41 together with the spool 48 are simply free to turn around the shaft 51 without any positive winding of the ribbon 49 taking place at the spool 48.

On the other hand, during swinging of the lever 43 back and forth through the angle a, first in a clockwise direction and then in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 7, the feed pawl 46 will be free to move inwardly toward the right inclined edge 54, so that the spring 74' will now place the pawl 46 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 44, and this ratchet together with the spool 50 will be positively turned in a clockwise feeding direction, as viewed in FIG. 7, through an angular increment such as an angle equal to the angle a. During the return of the feed pawl 46 to the position shown in FIG. 7, the holding pawl 45 engages theteeth of the ratchet to prevent the ratchet 44 from turning back with the pawl 46.

This lever 43 itself has a camming edge 68 forming part of the additional cam means which controls the holding pawl 45, and during the clockwise turning of the lever 43, as viewed in FIG. 7, the camming edge 68 will permit the right spring 40 of FIG. 7, to maintain the pawl 45 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 43, disengagement taking place only at the very last instant when the feed pawl 46 has already arrived at its starting position.

In this way with the parts in the position of FIG. 7 winding of the ribbon through a given increment will automatically take place on the spool 50 during each typing cycle. Because the pawls 38 and 39 at this time are out of engagement with the ratchet 41 the ribbon 49 simply unwinds from the spool 48 while being wound onto the spool 50 in the above-described manner.

When the unwinding of the ribbon 49 from the spool 48 terminates, the push-pull bar 33 will during the next stroke seek to turn the spool 50 further so as to continue the winding of the ribbon onto the spool 50. However, because no more of the ribbon 49 can unwind from the tape 48, the tension in the ribbon 49 increases to such an extent that during movement of the bar 33 to the left, as indicated in FIG. 5, the swinglevers 37 and 43 will be incapable of turning and instead the cam 34 will ride under the roller 35 with the bar 33 at this time swinging in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, around the pivot 72. The bar 33 will then swing in a counterclockwise direction back up to its initial elevation upon arrival of the cam 34 at the position shown in FIG. 4 with respect to the roller 35. Thus, the structure operates automatically to shift the cam 34 between the positions of FIGS. 4 and at the end of the unwinding of the ribbon 49 from'one or the other of the spools, and this automatic change in the position is brought about in response to the increased tension in the ribbon 49.

With the parts now in the position of FIG. 4, the swing levers will be swung back and forth through the angle a at each typing cycle. As may be seen from FIG. 7, at this time it is the pawl 46 which will be maintained by the right camming edge 69 of FIG. 7 out of engagement with the ratchet 44 while the edge 68 of the lever 43 will coact with the holding pawl 45 to maintain the latter out of engagement with the ratchet 44. On the other hand, the feed pawl 38 will be free to be displaced by the spring 73 toward the left inclined edge 54 of FIG. 7 so that at this time the ratchet 41 will be fed in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 7, at each stroke through the angle a, and at the same time the edge 67 will turn away from the holding pawl 39 so that the latter can coact with the ratchet 4.1 to prevent return of the latter during retraction of the feed pawl 38. Thus, with this automatic reversal the winding will now take place onto the spool 48 while the spool 50 is free to unwind, and thus the direction of feed of the ribbon is reversed.

Of course, at the end of the unwinding of the ribbon from the spool 50 the ribbon 49 will again be tensioned so that the cam 34 will return from the position OF FIG. 4 into the position of FIG. 5, and the ribbon will then be rewound onto the spool 50.

i the ribbon 49 between the spools. The ShelhSS for'ms part of a hollow cylinder and extends around?the severalstypingflmembers 1 inthe manner indicated rtt'ostzclearlyin FIGhla-CI" he shell 55 has a pair of opposed 'end walls which carry-the guides for the ribbon- 49 and which form:parts ofcire-les theseend walls carrying sleeves 56 through which the shaft 4 extends, so that with this construction theshell-v55'isfree to swing-around the axisoftheshaft4. 15 v This hollow shell 55 is formed along thetyping line with a slot 70 the width of which is somewhat .greaterthan the width of the ribbon 49, as is particularly apparent from FIG. 6. I

A spring 59 is operatively connected with the shell 55 to seek to turn the latter. in a clockwise direction about the shaft 4, as viewed in FIG. 6. The endwall of the shell 55 which is visible in FIG. 6 has a downwardly directed extension 57 formed with an opening 61 and having a profiled edge '60 serving as a catch to coact with a roller 58 which ishdirectly com nected with and carried by the frame 30 so as to' swting with the latter. As is indicated in FIGQI, the pivot, whichicpnnect's the link 32 to the frame 30, may also serve to supportthe roller 58 for rotary movement. The spring 59 maintains the profiled catch edge 60 in engagement with the roller 58; I r

As is apparent from FIG '6, in the solid-line position lot the frame 30, the parts are in their starting position while the frame 30 is swung through the drive tneansf and transmission described above from the position I into the position II shown in dot-dash lines fragmentarily in FIG. 6 and indicated in FIG. 3. Thus, the roller 58 will swing with the frame 3 0 ,an d:the spring 59 will seek to turn the shell 55 WIIIICUII'IE ed e 60'fol' lows the roller 58. j

However, a solenoid 63 has an armature in tlie ith ofa pin 62 received in the opening 61, so that as long'asjtliis lirmaturc pin 62 is in the opening 61 the shell 55 cannot be turned by the spring 59 and the roller 58 will simply turn away 'f ro'm' and back to the edge 60 during swinging of the frame 30. This is the normal position of the parts in which, for example,'a black ink portion of the ribbon 49 coacts with the types extending along the typing line to transfer an impression therefrom-to a paper which extends around the platen l l. A spring 64 acts on the pin 62, engaging a collar fixed to the latter, for example, so as to maintain this pin in the opening 61 when the solenoid 63 is not energized.

When it is desired to change the color, this solenoid is energized so as to retract the pin 62, and the retracted pin 62 now does not interfere with the swinging of the shell 55 by the color, such as a red ink color, at the typing line to receive the V impressions from the types. 7

During return of the frame 31 from the position II to the position I during the latter part of each typing cycle, it will of course be possible for the pin 62 again to enter into the opening 61, so that in order to again type with the second color another impulse is required for the solenoid 63.

Thus, with the color-selecting structure of the invention the shell 55 will usually be maintained in that position where the most frequently used color, such as the color black, will be provided through the ribbon 41. Further, at each typing cycle, when the other color is desired, an-impulse to the solenoid 63 will release the shell 55 so that it"can' turnwith the edge 60 following the roller 58 inordertolocate the other color at the typing line to transmit this second color from the types to the printed sheet. 1

It is thus apparent that with the structure of the invention an exceedingly simple compact assembly is provided for bringing about a substantially fully automatic operation of all thecom- 1. In a machine for typing information on a sheet, means for supporting the sheet for typing thereon, a plurality of coaxial typing members, means supporting the latter members for rotary movement about a common axis, each of said members having a plurality of types angularly distributed about said axis, means for angularly positioning said members with respect to said axis for locating selected types of said members along a given typing line which is parallel to said axis, all of said members having with respect to said axis a given starting position, means for advancing the sheet support and the typing members relatively toward each other to carry out a typing operation during a typing cycle, swingable bail means coacting with said plurality of typing members for returning all of said members to said starting position at the end of a typing operation, drive means including a unidirectional drive shaft for carrying out-a typing cycle when said drive means is actuated, and transmission means driven by the drive shaft of said drive means and operatively connected with said bail means for automatically swinging the latter to return said members to the starting position at the end of each typing cycle in preparation for the next typing cycle. 1

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein an inking ribbon extends across said typing members and is in alignment with said typing line to transfer impressions from said selected types at said line to a sheet, a pair of spools on which said ribbon is wound, a spool-tuming means coacting with the spools for turning them to transfer the ribbon between said spools, and second transmission means driven by said drive means an being operatively connected with said spool-turning means for actuating the latter also at each typing cycle, said second transmission means and spool-taming means coacting for automatically reversing the direction of ribbon travel between the spools in response to tension in the ribbon when the unwinding thereof fromone spool is terminated so as to automatically bring about rewinding of the ribbon onto said one spool and unwinding thereof from the other spool.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said spool-tuming means includes a pair of rotary ratchets operatively connected with the spools for transmitting rotary movement thereto, a feed pawl and a holding pawl coacting with each ratchet, a pair of swing levers respective swingable about the axes of said ratchets and carrying said feed pawls, a link extending between and interconnecting said swing levers so that they swing simultaneously, said second transmission including a push-pull bar longitudinally reciprocated by said drive means and having at an upper edge a control cam having at I the elevation of said upper edge a dimension along the latter equal to the stroke through which said bar is reciprocated first in one direction and then in the opposite direction by said drive means, one of said swing levers, having a roller engaging said bar at said upper edge thereof, and spring means urging said roller first against one end of said cam and then against the opposite end thereof, said cam automatically displacing itself beneath said roller first to one side thereof and then to the opposite side thereof in opposition to said spring means in response to tension in the ribbon when the unwinding thereof from a given one of said spools terminates, said cam coacting with said roller-carrying swing lever and through said link with the other swing lever for swingingboth of said levers simultaneously back and forth through a first pair of given angles when said roller is at one end of said cam and through a second pair of given angles when said roller is at the other end of said cam, and additional cam means coacting with said feed and holding pawls for maintaining the feed and holding pawls which coact with one ratchet out of engagement with the latter while the other feed and holding pawls are in active engagement with the other ratchet during swinging of said levers back and forth through said first pair of given angles so that the spool connected with said other ratchet will have the rib bon wound thereon, while the ribbon is simultaneously unwound from the other spool, whereby when unwinding the ribbon from said other spool terminates the roller will automatically become situated at the other end of said cam at said upper edge of said bar for bringing about swinging of said pair of swing levers back and forth through said second pair of angles, and said additional cam means then coacting with said feed and holding pawls for maintaining the feed and holding pawls which coact with said one ratchet in operative engagement therewith while simultaneously maintaining the other feed and holding pawls out of engagement with said other ratchet, so that the tap will now be reversed and wound onto the spool operatively connected with said one ratchet.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein a plurality of shafts are mounted on a plate, said levers, ratchets and spools are turnably mounted on said plurality of shafts with said shafts having axes respectively coinciding with the parallel axes of said spools, said plate being formed with a cutout edge which forms part of said additional cam means.

5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said swing levers themselves have edges respectively forming part of said additional cam means.

6. The combination of claim Sand wherein said edges of said cutout form that part of said additional cam means which coacts with said feed pawls while said edges of said swing levers form that part of said cam means which coacts with said holding pawls.

7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said bail means includes a pair of levers swingable about the common axis of said type members and an elongated rod extending between and connected to said levers and extending parallel to said axes, said transmission means including a'toothed sector connected to one of said levers and extending around said axis, and said transmission means including a lever swingable about a second axis and having a toothed sector meshing with said first-mentioned toothed sector, said drive means including a rotary shaft carrying a cam means which coacts with the said transmission lever for swinging the latter about said second axis.

8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein a rotary platen on the platen into engagement with'the line of type during each operating cycle.

9. The combination of claim 1 and wherein an inking ribbon of two colors extends along the type members at the line of type for transmitting impressions of a selected one of said two colors from the preselected types at the line of type to a paper sheet, a hollow shell forming part of a cylinder and housing said type members at least at the region of said line of type, said shell being formed with an axial slot in alignment with the ribbon and carrying guides for guiding the ribbon longitudinally along said slot, and said shell being swingable about the common axis of said type members between a pair of positions where different-colored portions of the ribbon are respectively aligned with the line of type, and selecting means coacting with said shell for selecting the position of the latter at the instant when the ribbon is engaged through the slot of said shell by the selected types during transfer of impressions therefrom through the ribbon to a sheet of paper.

10. The combination of claim and wherein the means for positioning said shell in a selected one of said positions includes an automatically operable means selectively operable for maintaining said shell stationary in one of said positions thereof throughout successive typing cycles and for freeing said shell for swinging movement to the other of said positions.

for typing with a different color at each of said cycles, so that when typing with the latter color, the shell swings at each operating cycle while when typing with the former color, the shell remains stationary.

- 11. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a two-colored inking ribbon"extends along the line of type for transferring an impression from preselected types to sheets of paper, means responding to operations of said drive means at each typing cycle for feeding the ribbon through a given increment, a pair of spools carrying the ribbon, means responding to tension in the ribbon when unwinding thereof from one spool terminates to automatically reverse the direction of feed of the'ribbon, means carrying said ribbon for placing a selected one of the colors thereof along the line of type; a platen carryingpaper which is td'receive the imprint from'the type members through the ribbon, a frame carrying said platen, and -a,.t ran smission operated by said drive means at each typing cycle and coacting with said frame for swinging the latter with said platen toward the line of type to press the paper on the platen against the ribbon at each typing cycle.

12. The combination of claim 1 whicli usesan inked ribbon, a pair of spools on which an inked ribbon is wound, a pair of

Claims

1. In a machine for typing information on a sheet, means for supporting the sheet for typing thereon, a plurality of coaxial typing members, means supporting the latter members for rotary movement about a common axis, each of said members having a plurality of types angularly distributed about said axis, means for angularly positioning said members with respect to said axis for locating selected types of said members along a given typing line which is parallel to said axis, all of said members having with respect to said axis a given starting position, means for advancing the sheet support and the typing members relatively toward each other to carry out a typing operation during a typing cycle, swingable bail means coacting with said plurality of typing members for returning all of said members to said starting position at the end of a typing operation, drive means including a unidirectional drive shaft for carrying out a typing cycle when said drive means is actuated, and transmission means driven by the drive shaft of said drive means and operatively connected with said bail means for automatically swinging the latter to return said members to the starting position at the end of each typing cycle in preparation for the next typing cycle.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein an inking ribbon extends across said typing members and is in alignment with said typing line to transfer impressions from said selected types at said line to a sheet, a pair of spools on which said ribbon is wound, a spool-turning means coacting with the spools for turning them to transfer the ribbon between said spools, and second transmission means driven by said drive means an being operatively connected with said spool-turning means for actuating the latter also at each typing cycle, said second transmission means and spool-turning means coacting for automatically reversing the direction of ribbon travel between the spools in response to tension in the ribbon when the unwinding thereof from one spool is terminated so as to automatically bring about rewinding of the ribbon onto said one spool and unwinding thereof from the other spool.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said spool-turning means includes a pair of rotary ratchets operatively connected with the spools for transmitting rotary movement thereto, a feed pawl and a holding pawl coacting with each ratchet, a pair of swing levers respective swingable about the axes of said ratchets and carrying said feed pawls, a link extending between and interconnecting said swing levers so that they swing simultaneously, said second transmission including a push-pull bar longitudinally reciprocated by said drive means and having at an upper edge a control cam having at the elevation of said upper edge a dimension along the latter equal to the stroke through which said bar is reciprocated first in one direction and then in the opposite direction by said drive means, one of said swing levers, having a roller engaging said bar at said upper edge thereof, and spring means urging said roller first against one end of said cam and then against the opposite end thereof, said cam automatically displacing itself beneath said roller first to one side thereof and then to the opposite side thereof in opposition to said spring means in response to tension in the ribbon when the unwinding thereof from a given one of said spools terminates, said cam coacting with said roller-carrying swing lever and through said link with the other swing lever for swinging both of said levers simultaneously back and forth through a first pair of given angles when said roller is at one end of said cam and through a second pair of given angles when said roller is at the other end of said cam, and additional cam means coacting with said feed and holding pawls for maintaining the feed and holding pawls which coact with one ratchet out of engagement with the latter while the other feed and holding pawls are in active engagement with the other ratchet during swinging of said levers back and forth through said first pair of given angles so that the spool connected with said other ratchet will have the ribbon wound thereon, while the ribbon is simultaneously unwound from the other spool, whereby when unwinding the ribbon from said other spool terminates the roller will automatically become situated at the other end of said cam at said upper edge of said bar for bringing about swinging of said pair of swing levers back and forth through said second pair of angles, and said additional cam means then coacting with said feed and holding pawls for maintaining the feed and holding pawls which coact with said one ratchet in operative engagement therewith while simultaneously maintaining the other feed and holding pawls out of engagement with said other ratchet, so that the tap will now be reversed and wound onto the spool operatively connected with said one ratchet.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said edges of said cutout form that part of said additional cam means which coacts with said feed pawls while said edges of said swing levers form that part of said cam means which coacts with said holding pawls.

7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said bail means includes a pair of levers swingable about the common axis of said type members and an elongated rod extending between and connected to said levers and extending parallel to said axes, said transmission means including a toothed sector connected to one of said levers and extending around said axis, and said transmission means including a lever swingable about a second axis and having a toothed sector meshing with said first-mentioned toothed sector, said drive means including a rotary shaft carrying a cam means which coacts with the said transmission lever for swinging the latter about said second axis.

8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein a rotary platen whose axis is parallel to the common axis of said type member engages a sheet on which the information is to be typed, a swingable frame carrying said platen and being swingable about an axis parallel to the common axis of said type members, and a link interconnecting said cam means with said frame for swinging the latter in proper timed relationship with respect to the swinging of said bail means for bringing paper on the platen into engagement with the line of type during each operating cycle.

10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein the means for positioning said shell in a selected one of said positions includes an automatically operable means selectively operable for maintaining said shell stationary in one of said positions thereof throughout successive typing cycles and for freeing said shell for swinging movement to the other of said positions for typing with a different color at each of said cycles, so that when typing with the latter color, the shell swings at each operating cycle while when typing with the former color, the shell remains stationary.

11. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a two-colored inking ribbon extends along the line of type for transferring an impression from preselected types to sheets of paper, means responding to operations of said drive means at each typing cycle for feeding the ribbon through a given increment, a pair of spools carrying the ribbon, means responding to tension in the ribbon when unwinding thereof from one spool terminates to automatically reverse the direction of feed of the ribbon, means carrying said ribbon for placing a selected one of the colors thereof along the line of type, a platen carrying paper which is to receive the imprint from the type members through the ribbon, a frame carrying said platen, and a transmission operated by said drive means at each typing cycle and coacting with said frame for swinging the latter with said platen toward the line of type to press the paper on the platen against the ribbon at each typing cycle.

12. The combination of claim 1 which uses an inked ribbon, a pair of spools on which an inked ribbon is wound, a pair of turning means respectively coacting with said spools for turning the latter, first in one direction and then in an opposite direction, and means responding to tension in the ribbon when unwinding thereof from either one of said spools terminates for automatically reversing the feed of the ribbon.