US409655A - Type-writing machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-$heet 1.

P. E. GLADWIN. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 409,655. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. E. GLADWIN. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 409,655. Patented Aug.20 1889.

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UNITED STATE ATENT FrrcE.

FREDERIO E. GLADXVIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,655, dated August 20, 1889.

Application filed December 8, 1887. Serial No. 257,362. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Fnnnnnro E. GLADWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-XVriting Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to the drawings that accompany and form part of this specification.

The invention will be understood from the following detailed description and pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure l is a perspective view of a writingmachine constructed according to my said invention and containing all the improvements therein. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the lower portion of the machine-frame at the front broken away and the rear end of the roller-frame in section. Fig. 3 is a detail view in cross-section 0f the paper-carrying roller, type-basket, and machine-frame. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of the rollerframe and word-spacing mechanism. Fig. 5 is a frontview of the roller-frame and parts of the line-spacing mechanism. Fig. 6 is a similar front View, showing the letter-spacin g mechanism and paper-scale.

In this improved machine a sheet of paper is wrapped around the roller and the line of writing is carried circumferentially, the spacings between letters and words being produced by limited rotative movement of the roller on its axis. After one line is written the next line is spaced by a longitudinal movement of the roller in the direction of its axis. These seve al spacing movements are effected by mechanisms that act directly upon the roller.

The roller, or platen, as it is termed, turns always in the same direction, and at the end of one line of writing is set to space the next line by a longitudinal movement on its shaft without loss of time. The sheet of paper is Wrapped around the platen, the circumference of which is about equal to the width of the sheet, and its length limits the length of the sheet.

Plat-ens of different diameters and length may be used in the same machine to adjust it for special work.

A represents the platen, having an impression-surface of the usual character employed in type-writing machines, and B is a square shaft mounted at the ends in bearings 17 in a platen-frame C, which has one end extending forward under the square shaft B and attached at its forward end to the main frame by hinge (1, upon which the frame 0 is hinged to turn, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This construction brings the pivot or hinge (Z at a distance from the end of. the square shaft, so that the platen may travel back of the main frame and back of binge cl, and that no matter in what position of feed the platen A may be it will always stand at a convenient angle for inspection by the operator when the frame is turned up, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. hen turned down into position for work, the frame holds the platen over the typedoasket \V and the letters and characters are aligned to stand parallel with the axis of the platen so that the lines of writing run circumferentially. The longest line that can be written is therefore equal to the circumference of the platen.

E is a toothed disk fixed on the front end of the roller-shaft outside the frame 0, and F is a handle for turning it. The front face of the disk carries a scale E, that divides the circumference of the platen into a number of equal parts, each division representing a given portion of the whole line. The pointer q of the scale is fixed to the front of the frame.

As in similar scales provided in other machines, this is a paper-scale, as it serves to set the platen for the desired width of margin at the left edge of the sheet, and is used for other purposes, such'as regulating the position of the platen and adjusting it. Vhen the disk is turned to stand at O of the scale, the platen will hold the paper in position to begin the line at the extreme edge of the sheet and from this point the platen is set to give margins of various widths by turning the disk until the pointer stands at the proper division of the scale. Rotative movement of the platen to space the words is produced by spacing-bar H, that is struck by the operator after one word is finished and before the next ICO ' spacin g.

key is struck. This bar turns the platen a given distance and operates in it through the notched disk E. Such movement is uniform for each stroke of the bar, as in other machines. I place the spacing-bar directly above the key-board over the fingers of the operator, so that it is actuated by an upward blow instead of being struck with a downward blow. In this position it is readily reached and operated while the fingers are over the keys, and it does not call for special movement of the hands to the side or the front of the key-board.

I is an arm to which the spacing-bar II is rigidly connected by the rod h, and 7c is a spring-pawl or dog on the arm that is set to engage with the toothed rim of the disk E. The spring m,'fixed at one end to the frame 0, bears at the free end on the arm I with pressure sufficient to bringit down after each upward stroke of the spacing-bar, and this downward movement turns the disk E. The upward stroke of the spacing-bar moves the pawl over the teeth of the disk and the reaction of the spring that is raised up by such movement then draws down the arm I and turns the disk. By producing this spacing movement through the action of the spring, instead of directly by the stroke of the spacing-bar, I secure a regular motion under all conditions, whatever may be the force or character of the blow given to the spacingbar by the operator.

The arm I works in guides 12 on the frame, and is an upright member of the pivoted lever .I, that is pivoted at p to the side of the frame 0. Beyond this fulcrum-point the horizontal member J extends backward and is connected at 19 to the upright rod N, that rises from the center of and is a member of the universal spacing-bar P under the key-levers. The office of this lever J and connections is to space the letters. It is acted on by the downstroke of each key-lever, and at such time by drawing down the arm J it throws up the outer pawl-carrying end of the arm I. The rotation of the disk to turn the platen is then produced by the spring M, which draws down the arm Iin the same manner as in the word- The difference in the length of rotary movement required in the wordspao ing is produced by the greater length of upward stroke given to the arm I, by which the pawl is set up on the edge of the disk a greater number of teeth. The ends of the universal spacing-bar work in guides tt on the side bars T T of the machine-frame, and the spring M at the end of every movement brings up the bar into position. In like manner it returns the finger-bar II after every stroke. Springs in the key-board are dispensed with by using spring-rods instead of pivoted rigid bars. For the key-levers R, I use spring-Wire of suitable stiffness, yet having-sufficient elasticity. The rear end of the lever is secured to a fixed rod T at the back of the machine-frame and is carried over a bridge-bar P to the key-board at the front. At this end the levers are turned upward and are tipped with the usual keys, bearing the letters and characters, and each lever is connected to its proper type-bar in the type-basket \V by the connecting-rod. The type-bars and connections are the same as other similar-constructed writing-1nachines, except that the springs for bringing up the levers are dispensed with. The guide-bar T has fixed guide-pins depending from its under side that work through holes made in the key levers, each lever playing freely on the guidepin in the vertical motion, but held from lat eral movement. The bar also checks the keylever in the upward spring after each stroke and limits the reaction of the rod. Longitudinal movement of the platen on the shaft B gives the spaces between the lines of writing and is produced by the screw shaft S, a toothed wheel V, and a vibrating finger-lever WV, carrying a pawl The toothed wheel V is set to turn loosely on a cylindrical portion of the square shaft, and the screw-shaft is geared onto it by a pinion R The fingerlever projects to one side of the frame from a collar setting loosely on the hub of the toothed wheel. The arm 10 extends from the opposite side of the collar over the spring, and is attached to a short rod 10, that is bent at the lower end to take under the spring M. The pawl of the finger-lever is set to engage the teeth of the wheel V on the downstroke of the lever, but to slip on the upstroke. Pressure on the outer end of the finger-lever therefore turns the wheel, and this movement operates the screw-shaft. NVhen the lever is released, the spring M brings it back into position for the next stroke. The platen has a disk A 011 the rear end that engages the threads of the screw-shaft, and the rotation of this shaft moves the platen longitudinally on its shaft toward the front of the frame a greater or less distance. This movement, which sets the platen for the next line of writing, is determined by the proportions of the gears and the pitch of the screw. At the beginning of the work, to set the top edge of the paper for the first line and in other adj ustments the platen is released from the screw by raising the worm-shaft suificiently to clear the disk V, so that the platen can be moved along the shaft B and set to any desired point in the frame 0. For this purpose the ends of the screw-shaft are set in sliding boxes L L in the frame C, which are held down by springs L If. The pointer g, which is fixed on the frame, furnishes means for setting the platen with respect to the type-bars, and is employed to align the work or bring any particular point on the paper in line with the center of the type-bars. To inspect the writing during progress of the work, the platen-frame is tilted back and the platen is rotated. In such position the whole length of the sheet can be seen and all the lines of writing are brought to View.

The sheet of paper to be written is Wrapped around the platen, and is confined at the top edges by the springclips a a which are provided for this purpose at the ends of the roller.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a type-writing machine, a platen or impression-roller, a rotatable shaft on which it is supported and capable of longitudinal movement, in combination with a frame 0, bearing said shaft and having its rear end extended forward under said shaft, hinged to the main frame at right angles to said shaft, and extending a distance beyond said main frame, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, With a rotatable shaft 13, a platen-roller A, longitudinally movable thereon and rotating therewith, said roller having a projecting disk A on one end, of a rotatable screw or worm S, engaging with the disk A and a frame 0, in which the shaft and screw are mounted, as set forth.

In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a rotatable impression-roller having disk A said roller being capable of longitudinal movement, as described, with a screwshaft S, mounted in spring-bearings, a ratchet-Wheel connected to the screw-shaft, dog W operating upon the ratchet, finger-bar IV, for operating the dog, and a spring for retracting the dog, as set forth.

4. In a type-Writingmachine, the combination, with an impression-roller having longit-udinal adjustment and movement upon its axis, of a shaft on which it is mounted, ratchet E, mounted on the end of the shaft, arm I, having downwardly-acting pawl, lever J, conneeted to arm I, vertical rod or arm N, connected to lever J, and transverse universal spacing-bar'P, connected to arm N, and the key-levers for operating the spacing-bar, as set forth.

5. I11 a type-writing machine, the combination, with type fingers or arms carrying the letters or characters, of key levers or bars formed of spring metal fixed at the rear end. in the frame and the bridge-bar 'l in front of the said point of attachment, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

FREDERIC E. GLADXVIN.

W'itnesses:

CHAS. R. KELLY, C. IV. M. SMITH.

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