US3759360A

US3759360A - Apparatus for the control of type printing sequences

Info

Publication number: US3759360A
Application number: US00040514A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Rix; G Werner; H Euchs
Original assignee: Olympia Werke AG
Current assignee: Olympia Werke AG
Priority date: 1969-05-31
Filing date: 1970-05-26
Publication date: 1973-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-18
Also published as: DE1927963B2; DE1927963A1; JPS4924844B1; DE1927963C3

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling type printing sequences of manually actuatable, power-driven typwriters and similar machines having type printing mechanisms and key levers, including a plurality of releasably mounted intermediate members, each of which is movable between a rest mode and a release mode and arranged to actuate an associated type printing mechanism when its respective key lever is depressed. Each intermediate member has a spring member biasing it toward a ball block, into which one released member at a time may drop. When an intermediate member is released while another intermediate member is in the ball block, the biasing force of the released intermediate member supplied by its spring member holds it in storage until the ball block is cleared.

Description

niteel States Fatent [1 1 R131 et a1.

[11] 3,759,360 i ]*Sept. 18, 1973 1 AHARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF TYPE PRINTING SEQUENCES [75] Inventors: Albert Rix, Wilhelmshaven; Georg Werner, Heidmuhle; Hans Euchs, Wilhelmshaven, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Glympia Werlre A.G.,

Wilhelmshaven, Germany [21] Appl. No.: 40,514

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3,086,635 4/1963 Palmer 197/16 2,236,413 3/1941 Pirnat et al. 197/107 1,932,914 10/1933 Shelton et al 197/16 X 1,963,285 6/1934 Woodward 197/17 3,152,759 10/1964 May 197/98 UX 3,181,680 5/1965 Cappotto et al. 197/17 3,191,740 6/1965 Smusz et al 197/16 3,353,646 ll/1967 Young 197/16 Primary Examiner-Ernest T. Wright, Jr. Attorney-Spencer & Kaye [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for controlling type printing sequences of manually actuatable, power-driven typwriters and similar machines having type printing mechanisms and key levers, including a plurality of releasably mounted intermediate members, each of which is movable between a rest mode and a release mode and arranged to actuate an associated type printing mechanism when its respective key lever is depressed. Each intermediate member has a spring member biasing it toward a ball block, into which one released member at a time may drop. When an intermediate member is released while another intermediate member is in the ball block, the biasing force of the released intermediate member supplied by its spring member holds it in storage until the ball block is cleared.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 18, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG] INVENTORS. Albert Rix Georg Werner Hons Fuchs BYy wuzi 2? ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 18, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. I AlberT Rix Georg Werner Hons Fuchs BY: 24

ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF TYPE PRINTING SEQUENCES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for the automatic control of the type printing sequence in manually operated power-driven typewriters and similar office machines in which intermediate members bring the type printing mechanism into the effective range of the power drive by actuation of a key and cooperate with a blocking member in such a manner that the type printing sequence is entirely blocked when two keyboard pulses are given at exactly the same time.

To produce a high average typing speed, it is necessary to mechanically store irregularly produced stroke sequences for the writing mechanism, to automatically call them out, and to adapt them to the machine speed so that no time delays can occur.

A device for a power driven typewriter, for example, is known in which the intermediate lever, which is associated with each typebar, has a protrusion which engages a ball block. The ball block is disposed in the direct effective range of thepower drive and can under certain circumstances block the operating positions of the typebars, for example, when two typebars have been actuated simultaneously. The ball block is released to insure that an obstruction will not occur, but only after initiation of the longitudinal movement of the intermediate levers, so that a second stroke may follow after a substantial time interval. If this second stroke comes too soon, the intermediate lever related thereto can not fall into the blocking member, and the typing flow is substantially interfered with by this resistance. Only when the blocking member is once again released, can the intermediate lever by engaged and the blocking spring once again rendered effective. The intermediate lever is then stored for the remainder of the machine play of a previously depressed key. This is not true storage, but, rather, a temporary storage which can become effective only when the blocking member has already been released.

In addition, if during the longitudinal movement of an intermediate lever, two keys are struck in intermediate succession, it may happen that the first actuated intermediate lever is still blocked, whereas the intermediate lever which has been actuated immediately thereafter is able to be engaged. The type printing sequences are then no longer initiated in the proper sequence. These examples demonstrate some of the reasons why the above-mentioned device has not been found satisfactory.

A further device is known for typewriters in which the type printing sequences are also positively actuated in the proper sequences. If, in this case, two keys are actuated in sequence, the drive lever first takes along 8 released hammer lever and causes the appropriate type to be printed. A second hammer lever can, after the drive lever has already started to move for the accomplishment of the first stroke, fall behind the drive lever into a prepared or storage position.

After the return of the drive lever, the prepared hammer leverengages, and the second type is caused to be printed.

The disadvantage here is that the second hammer lever may be actuated only after a substantial time interval during which the working bar has passed through a certain angular range. This time interval depends on the participating release members, the speed of the drive shaft for a single-stroke coupling which releases the drive rails, and on the machine rhythm as a whole.

If this time interval is too short, two hammer levers fall into the drive rail. The drive rail does start up, but is then stopped in its movement by two or more return springs acting against the drive spring. Moreover, an automatic blocking member is engaged which blocks the typewriter.

A further disadvantage is that a third key can be actuated only when the drive rail has actuated a first hammer lever and has brought a second lever out of the above-mentioned angular range. For the high typing speed required, and for unimpeded typing flow, the interval between a first and the earliest possible third stroke is much too long to be satisfactory. No incorrect types are printed, but the typing speed is reduced when a plurality of irregular stroke sequences block the machine too often.

A further drawback of the known device is that the intermediate levers must be moved into the block by manual force. This involves a substantial amount of effort that required for manually actuated mechanical typebar typewriters and far exceeding the required actuation force for electrically driven typewriters. However, a uniform actuation force which corresponds to that of electrically driven typewriters is highly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for the automatic control of the type printing sequences in manually actuated, power-driven typewriters and similar office machines, which eliminates the above-described drawbacks and which makes possible a positively accurate sequence of the type printing; a genuine mechanical storage of two release pulses given in immediate succession being possible.

This is accomplished according to the present invention in that at least one releasably disposed intermediate member is under the influence of a releasable force; the release occurring by a pulse-type actuation of an appropriately associated key lever. The intermediate member then automatically falls into the blocking member to automatically control the type printing sequences and actuate them to'occur in the proper sequence in a known manner, whereupon, it can be brought back into the rest mode by a power drive.

Two intermediate members may therefore be charged directly in immediate succession; the first intermediate member being able to fall directly into the blocking member, whereas the second intermediate member is genuinely stored and then automatically called out.

The intermediate member is placed into the blocking member, according to the present invention, under the effect of a releasable force; the energy required for the automatic control of the type printing sequences being returned again when the intermediate member is reset by the power drive.

The above-mentioned drawbacks are eliminated by a further advantageous feature of the present invention in that the intermediate members are provided with blocking arms which engage in the blocking member configured as a ball block, and by their configuration, influence the functioning of the individual typeprinting mechanisms in such a manner that during the course of one mechanism operation a second mechanism can be inserted into the block to perform an overlapping operation and a third mechanism can be genuinely stored in waiting position.

A still further advantageous feature of the present invention is that the intermediate members each define control curves which have a basic engaging position and a storage position, so that a second actuation immediately following a first actuation can be stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective, partly schematic, partly crosssectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, on a much larger scale, of a portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view, partly in cross section, showing the ball block of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, schematic view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As can be seen from FIGS. I and 2, the first embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of typebar actuating mechanisms, including a plurality of sub levers 2 (only one of which is shown in FIG. I), which are mounted for pivotal movement on a shaft 3 and are each biased by an appropriate spring 1. Shaft 3 is mounted in the housing of a machine such as a typewriter (not shown). Spring 1 may be, for example, a helical tension spring. The levers 2 are in operative connection with the type-bars 5 by means of the links 4. Only one typebar 5 and one link 4 are shown in FIG. 1. Also mounted in the machine housing is a shaft 6, on which key levers 7 with keys 8 are pivotally mounted. Only one key lever 7 and one key 8 are shown in FIG. 1, the others being omitted for clarity. Each key lever 7 carries a release tongue .9, and each is biased by a suitable spring 10. The spring 10 may, for example, be a helical tension spring. A comb-shaped member 70 is also provided with slots 70 for each key lever 7 which serves as a stop for the pivotal movement of key levers 7.

The intermediate member is in the form of a lever 11 provided with a slot 11. The slot 11' is defined by a curved control surface 13 which in turn includes a basic detent portion 14, a storage detent portion and an inserted portion 15'. The storage detent portion 15 lies between the portions 14 and 15'. The lever 11 is mounted, as illustrated in FIG. 2,' on a shaft 12 passing through slot 11' and has as a result of the mounting a basic detent position, a storage detent position and an inserted position. The basic detent position is achieved when the shaft 12 is in engagement with the basic detent portion I4 of the surface 13, while the storage detent position is achieved when the shaft 12 is in engagement with the storage detent portion 15 and the inserted position is achieved when the shaft 12 is in engagement with the inserted portion 15'. The lever 11 also has an abutment surface 16, a control tongue 17, a blocking arm 18 and an abutment tongue 19. The function of each of these portions of lever 11 will be set out below.

A leaf spring comb 29 is provided which includes a number of laminated springs 2%. Each of the springs 28 is associated with a respective one of the levers II in the machine. Only two springs 28 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 2 for clarity. The leaf spring comb 29 is permanently connected to the machine housing by suitable, well known means (not shown) and is arranged so that the end portion 28 of each spring 28 is in contact with the abutment surface I6 ofa respective lever 11. Thus, the springs 28 continuously bias the levers II.

The machine is provided with a transverse bar 37. When the abutment tongue 119 of the lever 11 encounters the transverse bar 37, the clockwise rotation (FIG. 2) of the lever 11 is terminated. From this position, the lever Ill will be restored to its rest position, and as a result the spring 28 in engagement therewith will be pretensioned.

A cam member 20 is rotatably mounted on each lever 2, two cam members 20 being shown in FIG. 2. The cam member 20 is provided with a drive cam surface 21 and a curved control surface 22 bearing contact points 23, 24 (FIG. 2).

A known ball block 31 with a plurality of balls 25 (FIG. 3) is, moreover, disposed in the machine housing in a guide member 32. The plurality of balls 25 assembled in a row is held in a center operating position by a pair of

coil springs

26 and 27 one at each end of the row.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but can be modified by appropriate changes in the individual features. For example, FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment in which the present invention is used with longitudinally displaceable coding interposers 34. Only one interposer 34 is shown in FIG. 4. Bails 35 are charged by these coding interposers 34 to initiate the appropriate setting of a known, single element printing head (not shown) Each interposer 34 includes a slot 34' through which a mounting pin 40 in inserted for mounting each interposer 34 for pivotal and translational movement with respect thereto. A spring 42 is fastened at 42' to the machine and at 42" to the interposer 34. The spring 42 biases the interposer 34 against the stop pin 41 and the mounting pin 40. Each interposer 34 is further provided with cam surfaces 39 which engage with the surface 24' of a lever 46 with an effect to be described hereinafter.

The lever 46 is, with the exception of a notch portion 46, which engages a pin 44in the rest position shown in FIG. 4, similar to lever 11, that is, reference numerals Ill", l6, 17', 18', 19, 24' and 30' refer to portions on lever 46 which are similar to the portions referred to by reference numerals 11', 16, 17, l8, 19, 24 and 30 on lever 11.

The present invention can be employed and applied whereever irregular, manually applied pulses are to be positively transmitted in the correct sequence.

MODE OF OPERATION When a first key 8 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. I and 2 is depressed, the respective key lever 7 is pivoted in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2 until the release tongue 9 presses directly against abutment edge 30 of its respective lever 11, hereinafter referred to as the first lever l I. since it is associated with the first key 8 to be depressed. The tongue 9 releases the lever II, that is it urges the first lever 11 from its basic detent position, or rest mode, where the shaft 12 is in engagement with the portion 14, into its storage detent position, with the aid of the force exerted by the respective spring 28 on abutment surface 16 of the lever 11. Since the ball block 31 is free to permit the entry of the blocking arm 18 of the first lever 11, the first lever 11 falls into its actuated or inserted position, where the shaft 12 is in engagement with the portion 15', as shown in FIG. 2.

Once the tongue 9 has moved the lever 11 out of its basic, or rest, detent position, it moves out of contact with the lever 11, so that the two

levers

7 and 11 will have already separated from one another when the lever 11 moves into the ball block 31. Only when the blocking arm 18 of the lever 11 does enter the ball block 31 will the associated cam member 20 be moved into the effective range of the power roll 36. This is caused by the movement of control tongue 17 to the left (FIG. 2), while that tongue bears against contact point 24 of control surface 22, so as to rotate cam 20 into engagement with power roll 36.

The power roll drive 36 acts on the drive cam surface 21 of cam 20 so as to rotate cam 20 counterclockwise and pivot lever 2 about shaft 3. The lever 2 pivots in a clockwise direction, which pulls link 4 and causes the respective typebar 5 to print its particular character. As cam 20 continues to rotate under the influence of powerroll 36, the cam surface 22 moves the abutment tongue 19 of the intermediate lever' 11 against the transverse bar 37 and thereafter back to its rest mode and thus automatically retensions spring 28. Thus, by means of a pulse-type actuation of a key lever 7, lever 11 is automatically placed into the ball block 31. The spring suspension, 26, 27, on both sides of the ball block 31 has the advantage that the insertion of the levers 11 is always done with the same force; the same number of balls 25 alwaysbeing displaced.

Now, if directly after an initial key acutation, a second key lever 7 is actuated, a second lever 11 is put into its released mode. Thus second lever 11 is urged against the ball block 31 and is in fact stored. That is, the blocking arm 18 of the second lever 11 does not move into the ball block 31 between two balls 25, but, rather, moves out of its basic detent position to a position where the shaft 12 engages the storage detent portion 15, with the lever 11 under the influence of its respective spring 28. When the ball block 31 is released or disengaged by the movement of the blocking arm 18 of the first lever 11 out from between the balls 25, the blocking arm 18 of the second,'or stored, lever 11, due to the force of its respective spring 28, automatically moves in between a pair of the balls 25. The type printing cycle set out above is then repeated.

With the particular configuration of the blocking arm 18 shown in the drawing, it is possible to act on the functional development of the individual mechanisms in such a manner that during the movement of one mechanism a second mechanism can already be actuated to perform its overlapping movement. Further, a third mechanism may be actuated as soon as the lever 11 of the first mechanism has cleared the ball block 31.

If two levers 11 are actuated at exactly the same time, however, the ball block 31 becomes effective in such a manner that neither blocking arm 18 of the respective levers 11 can move between the balls 25, and no type printing occurs. An unscrambling rail 33 (FIG. 2) is then actuated by means of a special key (not shown), which is well known in the art, to bring those levers 11 in the storage position back into their basic detent position.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 operates in the manner described above, except that the type printing is carried out in a different manner. When a lever 7 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is pivoted in the clockwise direction, the blocking arm 18' of the lever 46 moves into the ball block 31 of which only one ball 25 is shown for clarity. Only when'the blocking arm 18' does enter the ball block 31 will the corresponding interposer 34 be moved in a counter-clockwise direction through the engaged surfaces 24 and 39. Each interposer 34 is provided with a unique combination of projections such as the projections 38 which are engageable with a corresponding combination of bails such as shown at 35. The rocking of different combinations of bails 35 is effective through a further mechanism, (not shown herein), to appropriately orient a single head printing element for selection of a character to be printed. 7

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for controlling the type printing se- I quences of manually actuatable, power-driven typewriters and similar machines having type printing mechanisms and key levers, comprising, in combination: I

a. a plurality of releasably mounted intermediate members, each having a curved control surface and each movable between a rest position, a storage position and a released position, said storage position being intermediate said rest position and said released position, each said member being movable from its rest position to its storage position upon depression of its respective key lever, each of said intermediate members being operatively associated with a respective type printing mechanism when in its released position; mounting means engageable with each control surface for mounting said plurality of intermediate members; a blocking member mounted with respect to said plurality of intermediate members so that only one of said intermediate members at a time can move to its released position within said blocking member to actuate its respective type printing mechanism while permitting an intermediate member whose key lever is subsequently depressed to remain in its said storage position; and I d. releasable force means mounted in association with each intermediate member for biasing each intermediate member towards said blocking member and cooperating with said mounting means to automatically 'cause any intermediate member which is in its storage position to move relative to said mounting means along its respective control surface from its storage position toward its released position when said blocking member is free of any other intermediate member and maintaining any intermediate member whose key lever is depressed, while a previously actuated intermediate member is in its released position, in said storage position until such previously actuated intermediate member is moved from its released position.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said releasable force means are placed in a state for biasing by the return of each intermediate member to its rest position.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said releasable force means is constituted by a plurality of pretensioned spring members which are each mounted to be in operative contact with a portion of a respective one of said intermediate members, the pretensioning of said spring members occurring positively when said intermediate members return to their rest position.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said intermediate members is provided with a slot within which said curved control surface is formed.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said blocking member comprises a ball block having a plurality of balls retained in a row having two ends, and further including means for resiliently supporting the row of balls at both ends to fix the balls in a center operating position.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said intermediate members define a blocking arm shaped to extend between adjacent balls of said ball block to actuate an associated type printing mechanism when the respective key lever is depressed, so that while a first intermediate member is moving toward its rest position, a second intermediate member can already be inserted into the ball block for overlapping actuation and a third intermediate member can be stored in its released position. I

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said intermediate members are actuated directly by their respective key lever and are separated from their resepctive key lever when their blocking arm falls between two of the balls in said ball block.

. UMTED STATES PATENT v CERTIFICATE 0F CQRREUHQN J Patent No. 3,759 ,360 Dated Sep tember 13th, l2 2} Albert Rix, Georg Werner and Hans ,Fuchs It is certified that error appears in the'above -ident ified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: In the heading of the patent, line 4, change the third inventors last name to --Fuchs- Column 2 line23,- before "that" insert -equaling. Column 5, line 19, delete "drive";

line 37, change "Thus" to --This-, Column 7, line 1, change ".9" to -"l-. V

: Signed and sealed this 12th day of March 1974. v

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60876-P69 guls GOVERNMENT rnnn'ms OFFICE-:19! o-au-au,

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the type printing sequences of manually actuatable, power-driven typewriters and similar machines having type printing mechanisms and key levers, comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of releasably mounted intermediate members, each having a curved control surface And each movable between a rest position, a storage position and a released position, said storage position being intermediate said rest position and said released position, each said member being movable from its rest position to its storage position upon depression of its respective key lever, each of said intermediate members being operatively associated with a respective type printing mechanism when in its released position; b. mounting means engageable with each control surface for mounting said plurality of intermediate members; c. a blocking member mounted with respect to said plurality of intermediate members so that only one of said intermediate members at a time can move to its released position within said blocking member to actuate its respective type printing mechanism while permitting an intermediate member whose key lever is subsequently depressed to remain in its said storage position; and d. releasable force means mounted in association with each intermediate member for biasing each intermediate member towards said blocking member and cooperating with said mounting means to automatically cause any intermediate member which is in its storage position to move relative to said mounting means along its respective control surface from its storage position toward its released position when said blocking member is free of any other intermediate member and maintaining any intermediate member whose key lever is depressed, while a previously actuated intermediate member is in its released position, in said storage position until such previously actuated intermediate member is moved from its released position.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said intermediate members define a blocking arm shaped to extend between adjacent balls of said ball block to actuate an associated type printing mechanism when the respective key lever is depressed, so that while a first intermediate member is moving toward its rest position, a second intermediate member can already be inserted into the ball block for overlapping actuation and a third intermediate member can be stored in its released position.