US385565A - Electro-mechanical type-writer - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3-Sheets-Sheet 1..

J. F. MGLAUGHLIN. ELECTED MECHANICAL TYPE WRITER. No. 885,565. Patented July 3, 1888.

ii hmli\ 1 5 1,.

Q wue/wko z WMJW,

/ as... Aw: w.;....,.

N. PEIERS. Phalolithognyher. Washington. D. C.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2..

(No Model.)

J. P. MGLAUGHLIN.

ELECTED MECHANICAL TYPE WRITER.

No. 385,565. Patented July 3, 1888.

l vi fwcooao 1 I 33 has cwm'fic s 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

J. F. MbLAUGHLIN.

ELECTED MEGHANIGAL TYPE WRITER.

Patented July '3, 1888.

8 v 544/1) W, mw/ J 351 M8 mow,

N. PETERS Pmwm ognv e Walhi [UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELEOTRO-MECHANlC-AL TYPE-WRITER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Application an March ra se-1.

"To all whom it may concern):

Beit known that I, JAMES F. MoLAUGHLiN,

acitizen of the United States, residing at Phila delphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in EIectroMechanical Movements for 'lypeLevers and Adjustable Type Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appeu taius to make and use the same.

My invention relates .to a combined mechanical and electromechanical movement for. the type-levers of my electrical type-writer, which forms the subject-matter of several applications now pending in the United States- Patent Oilieethat is to say, this invention has for its object to adapt the-aforesaid instru: ment, when placed, respectively, at two extremities of a line-wire, to record orv imprint a letter or character locally at one extremity ,of said line by a single mechanical action of the key-board and corresponding type-lever,

toutilize such mechanical action to simulta neonsly impart and transmit an electricalimpulse, to-t-hedistant extremity of the line, and to effect the rcgistration'of a corresponding letter or character at such distant extremity by the electro-meelnmical movement of a similar type-lever.

My invention consists in an organization of apparatus whereby these objects may be attained, and in' certain details of construction, arrangements,aml eombinationsoi'parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter, and the specific points of novcltyin which will be designated in the appended claims.

My invention consists, further, in the new" and improved construction oftypelevrskeyboard, and letter-type,-whereby the style of letters, characters, or symbols used, both on the t pe-levers and key-board, may be'readily and conveniently removed and'iuterchanged, as will be hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illiistra'te certain appliances for carrying out my invention, Figu re 1 is aperspective view with parts broken away and partly in section, showing the arrangement and conner.

'Fig. 5 is a comprehensive understanding struction of the type-levers and auxiliary Serial No. 232.548. (No model) parts when used locally in a mechanical man- Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view illustrating two of my movements, respectively, at each extremity of two line-circuits, showing how they may be operated in a combined niechanicaland electromechanical manner. Fig.- 3 is a detail perspective view, partly in section,

of the pivotal support for the key-levers. Fig.

4 is a longitudinal section -on line a; m Fig. 3.

a transverse section on line y y of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective, with parts broken away, showing the manner of mounting and securing the interchangeable fingerkey npon-the'key-levers. Fig. 7 is: a detail view, partly in section, of the end of the typelever, showing ble type. 1 Fig. 8 is a of a type-lever shown in top plan view of the end Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view-in elevation of the securing-hilt for the removable letter-type.

Like numbers of reference indicate corresponding parts inal-l thefigures of the drawings.

-Referr1ng to the drawings by nu1nbers, l inthe construction of the insertidicates a metallic conducting-ring, which is suitably fastened to the base 2 and provided with a series of binding-posts, 3 3, (only one being shown,) located at proper intervals thereupon, opposite and corresponding .to 'a series of electro-magnets, 4. 4.

Before proceeding further with an explanation of the different features of this invention it may be necessary to here state that only the component and essential details have been shown which are deemed sufficiently clear for of the follow: ing description. Therefore it will be understood that only two of a series of circularly-an ranged magnets,4 4., and two type-levers are shown; that the traveling carriage, paper-roll, paper'feeding and'inl'ring mechanism, theletter and line spacing devices, and other details of arrangement and construction of parts, which are nnnecessaryfor a clear understanding of the nature and operation of this invention, have not been illustrated.

The series of eleetro-magnets 4 4 correspond--- in number and relative situation to the keys I 5 5 ofthe key-1evers 6 6, and are secured in circular order inside of to the ring 1 upon a suitable base of hard rubrdC and in proximity to 'ber or other insulating material (not shown) fastened toithe bottom 2"of the casing of the instrument. Each of these magnets isof the ordinary construction, except their lower poles 5 are each converted and brought up parallel to the side of its magnet-helix, forming substantially an elbow-shaped frame, as shown, the object of such constructionbeiug to. utilize the magnetic force of attraction of both poles :0 upon the respective extremities of the met -angular-sluiped armatures 7 7, as shown in g designates a non-conducting slotted ring of greater diameter than the ring 1, and supported in the elevated position by the standards 9 9 (only one being shown) the requisite height above the base 2 to allow the pivoted armatures 7 7 to be above, yet in proximity to,

their respective electro-magnets. This ring is provided with a central annular slot, 10, running circumferentially therein, and in which are secured the adjustable supporting plates or brackets 11 11, having the armatures 7 7 Y pivotally connected between their inwardly- 2 projecting extensions by pivot-pins. (See Fig.1.)

The adjustable supporting-plates 11 11 consist' each of a baseplate, 12, made preferably,

of some insulating substance and formedcurved or convex to conform with the curvature of the ring 8, the adjusting-screw 13, and the parallel supporting arms or lugs'ld 14, be-

tween which latter is pivoted one of the rectangular elbow-shaped armatures 7-7, as shown in Fig. 1, one support being broken away to show the section of the pivot-pin, having its horizontal arm 15 provided witha perforation, through which is passed the double eye bolt or pintle 16, the perpendicular arm 17 of said armature projecting downwardly in, the vicinity of the pole 18 of the magnet 4.

- 19 is one of a suitable number of standards which support'and secure the-type-lever ring 20 the desired height above the base 2 of the ,5 casing. This ring is of less diameter than ring 8, and is similarly providedwith an aunular transverse slot, 21, running centrally and circumferentially therein, the object, of this construction b'ei ng to allow the type-leversosupporting brackets 22 to be adjusted at regular intervals or degrees around the ring and at any desired angle in the said slot. Each one of these type lever-supporting brackets 22 is-of the same construction as the plates 11 5 11, and serve," respectively, *as pivotal supports for the fnlcrumed weighted type levers 23 23, which carry each a type-letter, character, or punctuation-mark corresponding to its respective key 5. The series of type-levers, 30 only one of which is shown, are, as before stated, fulcrumed near the .upper endswby a suitable pivot-pin between the projectinglugsof the supporting-brackets 22 22, and are each formed of a single straight metallic rod, 24, of 6 5 a lengthequal to a radius of the'riug 20. Upon the forward freeeud of each rod 24 is depended or secured aperforated ball or weight, 25, into which are respectively-placed one of the insertible and interchangeable types 26, (see Fig. 7,) and the upper end of said rod' is formed bifurcated, as shown, the upper end of the flexible liuk-connection27 being secured upon a pin, 28, between the prongs, and the lower end of said'link-connection being suitably fastened to the doubleeyebolt'lfi, hereinbefore described. t

The letter-type 26 is formed of hardened steel,assh own,with theletteror character upon its face. {These type are each made substantially in -he form of a headed bolt, with its stem ol'piercingtheball25,aud'screw-threaded on its lower'end to allow the'adjusta'ble clamp ing-nut 29 to be fasteued upon the extreu ity or portion'whichprojects beyond the under side of the ball 25, such construction allowing 35 the type to be securely fastened in its seat and to be verticallyadjristed at difl'ereut heights above the plane-of the upper portion ofthe weight-ball, The header shoulder 30' fits squarely upon the top surface of the, ball 25,

which is flattened or leveled both on its hot-- tomand" top surfaces, as shown clearly in- Fig.7. '7

The nut 29 may beluadeju various forms, as'desirablesuch, for instance, as the style shown in Fig.- 9, which is formed with two apertures, 31 31, designed to admit therein trance of a bifurcated key, (notsho\vn,)whereby the same maybe removed and readjusted or interchanged. v j I :All of the type-levers 23 23 are of exactly the same length, and have their supports so arranged in the circular slot 21' that they will strike at acentral point when forced up against tallic'key-levers 6-6 are pivotally secured at their forward ends to a transverse non-couducting rod, 32, which is loosely mounted i n a'wooden boxing, 33. (See Figs. 3, 4, aud5f) This boxing is provided with a removable lid 1' [O or top ofi hardrubber, 34, and wit-h a longitudinal circular aperture,35.in which is loosely inserted the pivot-rod 32, before mentioned.

36 36 represent a series of transverse per-.

pendicularslotsin the said boxing-to admit n of the entrance andv pivotal play of the le-. vers66'.

5 5 are thefi'nger-keys carrying the letters, &c., which are attached to the outward ends of the parallel key-levers 6 6.

The letters of the-keyboard are each suitablydelineated upon an ivory or celluloid or other insulating-plate, 37, as shown in Fig. 6, which plate is .providedwith sloping or iu-- clined sides, and is adapted to slide under the [2'5 lateral flanges of the-kc support 38, the object of this construction eing to allow the letter-plates to be easily removed for cleaning or other purposes.

The key-support 38 consists of an upper. i o plate, 39, having the flanges before mentioned,

and the bifurcated stem 40, the whole being preferably formed in one single piece. This key holder or support is rigidly fastened to all of the key-levers by a pin passing through the forked ends of the stem and the levers 6 6, as shown in Fig. 6.

41 designates a tlexiblelink-conuection sub stantially-similar to the connection 27 ,which is attached at its upper end inthc lower eye of the eyebolt-lG, and at its'lower end is $6- cured suitably to its respective key-lever 6. In accordance with such arrangement it would then be preferableto have the base provided with ascries of apertures in a perpendicular line with the ends'of the horizontal arms of the armatures 7, thereby allowing the parallel key-levers to be below said base and the flexible connections-to pass through said apertures. The armatures 7 7 correspond in number and relative situation with their respective keys and key-levers. Thus it will be readily understood that by means of the interchangeable and removable letter-type and letter-plates the style of printing performed by the machine may bereadily and conveniently varied by simply substituting the desired style of characters, letters, or symbols, which can be accomplished in a comparatively short space of time by means of the adjustable devices before mentioned Furthermore, by this con st'ruction I am enabled to utilize stenographic characters, if desired. Furthermore, inasmuch as both the letter-typeand finger-keys are removable, the style of finger-keys can be correspondingly changed to accord with any variation or substitution of letter-type. ample, if the ordinary English letter-type was supplemented by 'stenographic characters and the old finger-plates remained upon the keys, it would be impossible for the operator to determine what key to depress in order to effect,

the imprint of the desired stenographjc character. 4

Referring to the diagrammatical view shown in Fig. 2, each lever 6 and 6*,is provided with a suitable retractingspring, 42,. forthe obvious purpose of restoring the lever to its normal position after depression. underneath each key 5 and on the under side of each key-lever 6 6" is located a smallcontact-point, 43, which is designed to makecontact with a similar point-, 44, when a key is depressed, the contact-point 44 being in circuit with the battery 45 or 54 by wire 46, and the levers 6 6*, carrying the points 43 43, being in circuit with their corresponding electro magnets, 4' and 4, by wires 47 and 48, respectively.

In Fig.2 at each extremity of two line-circnits is placed one of the before described movements. The depression of the lever 6 at the station A will in Fig. l t'o be forced by mechanical action up against the paper-roll, (notshowm) and at the same time such depression will close the circuit from-the battery45 and simultaneously cause the magnet 4 at station B to be ener- For ex- Directly g cause the type-lever shown giz'ed and toattract its respectivepivoteu armature, and thereby effect the registration of its corresponding type-lever against a paper-roll and making asimilar imprint, but in an electromechanical manner. W'hen the circuit is broken by the removal of the operators finger and by the restoration of the lever 6* by-the retracting agency of its spring, the magnet 4 at station B will be de-energized. Likewise the depression of the lever 6 .at station B will effect the imprint at its respective" type'lever against a paper-roll in a mechanical manner and a similarimprint of acorrespontt ing type-lever at station A in an electromechanical manner. v

I have deemed it necrssary in order to clearlyillustrate my invention to showtwo independcut line-circuitsin Fig.2, the said circuits extending. respectively, between each key-lever 6 and 6 at the station A'or B to its corre-' sponding magnets atthe other or distant station. However, 'it'will be understood that any equivalent arrangement of :circuits'may be adopted, since it is obvious that the mango ner of connecting the circuits forms no partot' this invention.

The armaturesjand their respective type,

levers being arrangedcircularly above the base 2, the key-levers 6 and 6" being substan 9 tially the diameters of thecircle around which the said armatures and 'type;levers are dis posed, and the said key-levers being preferably of different lengths for economizing space for the letters on the key-board, it will be apparent that the shorter levers, 6" 6", will have to be depressed a greater distance than it they terminated in the outer row. Therefore. it will again be obvious that the distance fro n| the contact-points 43 430i said shorter levers to the points 44 44'is greater than from such points on the longer levers, as shown in Fig. .2. When any one of the type levers 23 23 reaches the limit of its descent,the ball 25 will strike one of the spring-fingers 49 49, which are shown in Fig. 1, thereby effecting the con- "tact of the in wardl y-prty'ectingstud ,of said fin" er with the ring 50, thus closing a secondary circuitwhich operates the spacing mechanism, the electro' magnet of which is shown in Fig. 1,.the retractibility of the spring-fingers being sulficient to overcome the force of the fall of the particular type-lever and the weight of the ball 25.v v v I The auxiliary parts and devices necessary for the eificient operation of the features herein shownand described have been illustrated, de-' the scribed, and claimed in my several pending applications respectively bearing serial numbers 219,616, 217,338, 218,698, and 221,239,:and filed, respectively, on November 23, 1886, Oetober 27, 1886', November 12, 1886, and December 10, 1886. Such, therefore, are not described or claimed herein; but

What I do claim isi.

1. The combination, with the circuit-closing key-levers, of intermediate mechanism con- IsC A ceases 5 necti ng each key-lever with its respective ty lever, whereby the imprint oft-he said type- .lever is mechanically'cliected by the depres-- sion of its-respective key-lever, the electro-m'echanical devices at.a distant extremitynof aline opcratcdiby each depression of the said hey-levers for effecting an imprint of a corre-v spending type lever at said distant extremity simultaneously with the registration before mentioned, the circuit, and-a suitable source of electricity, the who'lebeing arranged to opa manner and for the purpose set type-levers, the line-circuit, and a suitable source of electricity, the whole being'arranged to close an electrical circuit simultaneously with the depression ofa key-lever and the consequentimprint of a. type-lever, as speci- 3. 'In combination, a series of electro-magk nets, each provided with, a pivoted armature connected with one of a seriesof type-levers,

faseriesof pivoted t-ype-levers'carrying upon their free ends the insertible letter-type, the circuit-closing levcrs'each attached by a suitable connection with one of the series ofcpivotedarmatures,theline'cireuitconnectingeach of said key-levers with a. corresponding electro-maguet at a distant extremity of the said line, the second series of electro-magnets at said distant extremity respectively in circuit with theircorrespondingkcy levcrsat the first. mentioned extremity, and a suitable source of electricity, all arranged to operate substantial'lyas specified.

t 4. The combination of the eurrent-conducti ng springs,

ing circuit-closing key-levers pivotallysecured at their inner-ends to a pivot-rod, the retractthe insulated boxing supporting said-pivot-rod and having the transverse -re- 'cesses 36 36 for the ends of the key-levers, the

circuit, and a suitable source of electricity.-

5: The circuit-closing key-levers, the intermediate mechanism connecting the said keylevers with their respective pivoted type-lea vers and adapted .to mechanically efi'ect an imprint of atype-lever by the depression of any one key-lever, the seriesot' pivoted typelevers provided each with a ball or weight at its .forw'ard free end for the purpose of closing a local circuit upon the descent of its respect-' ive type-lever, the sprin'gcontact-fingers and ring, and the local circuit, in combination with the primary cii-cuit, as specified.

' speei lied.

"c. The combination, with the pivot-ed type plates, as shown, and the link-connection between the said key and true levers, as set forth.

' 7. The pivoted type-levers. provided each with removable insertible type and suitable perforated balls or weights at their free ends {or thedual purpose of closing, by virtue of their weight, the local circuit and supporting the'adjustableinsertibletype,and crating said pivoted type-levers circuit, asset forth.

8. The combination of the series of pivoted type-levers provided withballs or weights on their free ends, the balls or weights having a perpendicular aperture therethrough, and the adjustable interchangeable lcttertypc. as set' forth.

means-forop 40 and the local 9. The"combinatiou of the weight-balls atfixed to the free ends of the't-ypelevers, the insertible adjustable lcttertype having shouldots on theirupper ends and screw-threaded at their lower extremities, and means forsccu-ring said letter-type in theiveightballs, as described.

1 0. The combination of the type-levers, con'- sisting-cach-of astraight metallic rod formed bifurcated at' itsupper' end and provided at', its lower extremity with a weight'ball having a a' perpendicular aperture therethrough,the whole being formed in one single piece, with the lelter-type-having the letter or character upon its face, the stem, and shoulder, 'also'all cast in one single piecc, an d the securing-nut, as specified; '5

11. The combination, with the key-levcrs,

oft-he pivoted type-levers carrying the weightballs provided with insertible adjust'able'letter-type, and a snitahleconnection between said key and type levers, as shown. rco

. 12. As a new article 'of manufacture, a typelever provided with weight balls provided tially as specified.

v 13. The combination, with the type levers, of the weightballsprovided with insertible adjustable letter-type, the key-levcrs having removable letter-plates, and a sditable connection between said key'and type levers, as j v with insertible adiustable letter-type, substan- [IO In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, J. F. MCLAUGHLIN. \Vitnesses:

.E. L. WHITE, GEo. H. TIoHENoR.

m thrill

Images