US536024A

US536024A - fairfield

Info

Publication number: US536024A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1895-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1912-03-19

Description

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

J. M. FAIRFIELD. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 536,024.. Patented Mar. 19, 1895.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. M.'FAIRPIELD. I

I I TYPE WRITING MACHINE No. 536,024. Patented Mar. 19, 1895.

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Witnesses [12 Wanton- 3 iwwmz (fa/ 272 J14. Fae'rfl'eid, 1 '2 2% I fly hi8 flztorney m: Nonms PETERS co. mofmumnn wnsumcmm n. c.

FTTATES PATENT OFFICE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 536,024, dated March 19, 1895.

Application filed March 3, 1894:.

which the following is a'specification.

This invention relates to type-writers, and has special reference to shiftable carriages therefor.

The object of my presentinvention is to provide in connection with a tilting longitudi- I nally-shiftable carriage carrying the revoluble platen, simple and effective mechanism whereby the platen may be partially rotated for the purpose of spacing, and the escapement-bar, or -rack may be simultaneously shifted out of engagement with the escapementor carriagefeed mechanism; also whereby the platen-feed-pawl may be thrown out of engagement with the platen-feed-wheel, and at the same time the carriage feed-mechanism may be thrown out of operation; also whereby the carriage may be tilted without affecting the carriage feed-mechanism or the position of the platen with relation to the carriage; and also, whereby the escapement bar, or feed-rack, may be thrown out of engagement with its feed-device without affecting the position of the other parts of the carriage-mechanism.

In thedrawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a tilting and longitudinally-shiftable type-writer carriage embodying my improvements, said figure also showing a portion of 'a type-writer frame or base, the-parts being illustrated in their normal, or working position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing the type-writer. carriage thrown upward and backward to bring the printing into view. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, showing the carriage mechanism in its normal, or working position, said figure showing in dottedlines the feed-pawl and detent-spring thrown out of engagement" with the feed-wheel of the platen. Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5, showing the 'parts in the position they occupy when the feed-lever has been operated to retate the platen, a portion of the feed-lever Serial No. 502,272 (No model.)

ward and backward and showing the feed-v pawl and detent-spring in full lines as thrown out of engagement with the feed-wheel of the platen, the dotted lines in said figure illustrating the normal or operative position of said feed-pawl. Fig. 8 is an opposite side elevation showing the parts of the type-writer in the position illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a rear view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the carriage feed-mechanism. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a portion of the same as seen from the 'right hand in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of said feed-mechanism.

Similar characters designate like parts in all of the figures.

The framework, A, and shiftable carriage, B, are, or may be, of any usual or suitable general construction. Said carriage B is shown supported for longitudinal movement with relation to the frame A upon the way 2 at the front side of the machine and upon the guidebar 3 adjacent to the rear end of the carriage. This guide-bar 3 is shown pivotally supported at its ends in uprights, 4 and 5, formed upon the side-rails of the frame A. In the form thereof herein shown, it will have its upper side-edges oppositely inclined, as shown at 6 and 6', to form a V-shaped bearing-face or track for the similarly grooved rollers, 7, which are revolubly mounted upon studs secured to the back-rail of the carriage in the usual manner. The back-rail of the carriage has guidelugs, 8, formed thereon which loosely embrace the guide-bar 3 and hold the carriage in place when the same is tilted as shown in Fig. 7.

The platen C, which may be ofany suitable type, is pivotally supported in the usual 'manner by trunnions, 9 and 10, in bearings formed in the'side-ra'ils of the carriage. This platen G will also be provided at one end thereof with a feed-wheel which is in the nature of a ratchet-wheel, ll, mechanism being provided in connection with said ratchet- KOO wheel, as will be hereinafter described, for rotating the same. These elements just described maybe of the same general construction as like elements in type-writers such as the caligraph.

In the drawings, I have shown the typewriter frame as provided with one form of carriage-feed of the escapement type. This feed-1nechanism, as a whole, forms no part of my present invention,but constitutes the subject-matter of a separate application, Serial No. 502,273, filed by me March 3, 1894, the said mechanism being shown in the drawings simply to illustrate one form of carriage feedmechanism applicable for use in connection with my improvements.

Briefly stated, my improvements, in the form thereof herein shown, comprise a pivotally-snpported carriage-feed-rack having forwardly-projecting arms adapted for engagement by a feed-rack-actuator; feeding-mechanism in connection with said rack, a combined feed-rack-actuator and platen-feed-lever in position and adapted for engagement with said feed-rack to move the same out of engagement with its feeding devices and having means for rotating the platen, and means for preventing accidental retractive movement of said platen, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the form thereof herein shown, the feedrack, designated in a general way by D, comprises a suitable swinging frame fulcrumed upon the guide-bar 3, and having forwardly and rearwardly projecting arms, 13 and 13 and 14; and 14, respectively,and the rack-bar 15,secured to the rearwardly projecting arms, as shown in Fig. 1, having the usual rackteeth 15, in position and adapted for engagement by the escapement-lever of the escapement-device, designated in a general way by E. The forwardly projecting arm 13 is located in position for engagement by the combined feed-rack-actuator and the platenfeed-lever, while the other forwardly projecting arm 13 is located in position for engagement by an independent feed-rack-lifting device, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

For convenience, the rack-bar, rack-bar frame, and its projecting arms will be herein termed the feed-rack.

In the drawings, the feed rack frame is shown as formed in two parts, one of which parts comprise the two

arms

14 and 14 which are pivotally supported at their forward ends upon the guide-bar 3, and the other of which part comprises the U-shaped frame secured to the forward end of said arms and having the extensions or

arms

13 and 13 located one at each side of the shiftable carriage B. It is obvious, however, that the general construc= tion of this frame may be modified without departure from my invention.

As a means for rotating the platen for the purpose of spacing, and also foractuating the feed-rack to move it out of engagement with the escapement devices, I have provided mechanism in connection therewith of a. construction and organization adapted for performing these two functions simultaneously, or independently. This mechanism, in the preferred form thereof herein shown, consists of acombined carriage-lifting, platen-feeding and feed-rack actuating-lever, (designated in a general way by F) pivoted at 16, to the frame of the shiftable carriage near the front end thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This lever, in the form thereof herein shown, consists of a handle-bar, 17, extending downward in front of the machine, and having the upwardly projecting arm 18, adapted to support a feed-pawl, 19, and having the rearwardly and downwardly projecting feed-racktilting arm, 20, in position and adapted for engagement with the forwardly projecting arm 13 of the feed-rack. The feed-pawl 19, is pivotally supported at the upper end of the arm 18 of thelever F and is held with its rearward end in normal engagement with the teeth of the feed-wheel 11 by means of a spring,21, interposed between said lever and feed-pawl. This feed-pawl 19 also has a forwardly projecting arm 19 by means of which the pawl may be thrown out of engagement with the feed-wheel by the thumb or finger of the operator without affecting the position of the carriage or feed-rack, as is sometimes desirable for turning the platen forward.

Secured to a suitable part of the carriage is aspring, 22, preferably constructed of sheetmetal, and having a detent-catch, 23, normally held in engagement with a tooth of the feed-wheel 11 and adapted for holding said feed wheel against retractive movement.

As a means for lifting the spring 22 out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel 11, when it is desired to retract the platen, the feedpawl 19 is provided at its forward end with a laterally projecting pin, or stud, 24, which lies below the forward end of, and is adapted for lifting said spring 22 when the said pawl 19 is thrown upward out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel.

In practice, the rack-actuating arm 20 will preferably be formed integral with the handle-bar 17, but will be located at one side thereof to form an offset-,or shoulder, 25, the under face of which shoulder normally lies in the plane of, but somewhat remote from, the upper edge of the carriage to which the lever F is pivoted. As a means for limiting the movement of the lever F so as to rotate the platen the distance between one or two notches as required for spacing, I have provided in connection with the upper edge of the carriage a sliding stop, 26, in position and adapted to be thrown forward into engagement with the shoulder 25 to limit the movement of the lever F as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings. This sliding stop is in the nature of an angle-plate havingelongated slots formed therein through which are extended suitable pins or screws, as 27, which secure the stop to the carriage and also guide it in its movements. As a means for actuating the feed-rack to obviate the wear constant thereto.

move the same out of engagement with its escapement feed-device, independent of the lever F, I have provided in connection with the carriage B at the side opposite that to which the said lever F is connected, an auxiliary rack-actuator, designated in ageneral way by G, which in the form thereof herein shown, consists of a rock-shaft, 28, journaled in bearings, 29, upon the carriage, and having an actuator-arm, 30, in position and adapted for engagement with the forwardly. projecting arm 13' of the feed-rack. This actuator-arm 30 will preferably be curved at its outer end, as shown at 31, to form a cam-face adapted for hearing against the upper end of the arm 13 of the rack-frame, as shown in Fig. 2', and will be normally held out of engagement with said arm 13 as shown in said figure, by means of a spiral or other spring, as 32, in engagement therewith, one form of which spring is shown in Figs. 1 and 8 of the drawings. As a means for actuating the rock-shaft 28 to throw the actuator-arm into engagement with the arm 13 of the rack, said shaft is provided at its outer forward end with a finger-piece, 33, by means of which said shaft may be rocked by the finger of the operator. a

In operation,- when it is desired to shift the carriage from its extreme left-hand position to its starting, or right-hand position, without revolving the. platen, the operator may push the finger-piece 33 of the rock-shaft toward the carriage which will throw the actuatorarm 31 into engagement with the forwardly projecting arm of the feed-rack. and lift said feed-rack out of engagement with its feeding device, and at the same time the carriage may beshifted toitsstarting-point. Usuallywhen the end of a line is reached, in printing, it is desirable to rotate the platen the distance for spacing and then move the carriage in position for starting the next line, and it is very desirable to throw the rack-bar out of engagementwith the escapement devices before retracting the carriage to thereby prevent the same from dragging over said devices and to To accomplish this end with my improvements, it is simply necessary to draw the handle-bar 17 forward and upward which will rotate the platen the requisite distance, and at the same time throw the feed-rack out of 'engagement with the escapement, when by a side-pull upon said handle-bar, the carriage may be shifted as required in one or the opposite direction. When it is required to rotate the platen in the opposite direction, it is simply necessary to depress the arm 19 of the feed-pawl which will throw said pawl and at the same timelift the detent-spring out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel and allow said wheel to be turned by hand as required.

Journaled in adjustable bearings supported at either end of the carriage, is the usual tension-roll, 34, which is normally held under tension against the face of the platen, and between which platen and tension-roll, the

paper to be printed upon is inserted. In practice, the carriage will be provided with the usual guide (not shown) for directing the paper while being inserted between the platen and the tension-roll.

As a means for clamping the paper in position against the platen and for holding the same securely in placeirrespective of its width within the given limit, I have provided in connection with the carriage and platen, a paperclamping device, designated in a general way by H, and which in the form thereof herein shown, consists of a somewhat triangularshaped frame constructed of resilient sheetmetal bowed outwardly to substantially the cross-sectional shape of the platen and secured at one side thereof to the front-rail of the carriage, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4:. This paper-clamp is open at its central portion, as shown at 36, and comprises the longitudinal index-bar, 37, which bears upon the platen with its inner edge at one side of the impact-point. thereof, and the two laterally and inwardly projecting

sidebars

38 and 39, extending from the outer ends of the bar 37 and being connected together at their ends and to the front-rail of the carriage. This clamp also has two inwardly-projecting guid- 'ing-fingers, 4:0 and 41, located centrally with relation to the platen and projecting above and below said platen, respectively, to form guides for insuring the backward inclination of the paper as it is being printed.

ICO

By the employment in connection with the platen, of a paper-clamp such as herein described, I am enabled to use relatively narrow sheets of paper as conveniently as if the strips were of a width equal to the length of the platen, said strips being securely held in place by means of the laterally and inwardly projecting

bars

38 and 39 of the paper-clamp.

Again, with my improved clamp, envelopes of various sizes may be readily held in place for printing which is a matter of great consideratum to users of type-writers forgeneral office work.

Having thus described my invention, I

,ratchetwheel and in position and adapted for engagement by the feed-pawl, a releasing-arm in connection with said feed-pawl and extending forward of the pivotal point thereof andadapted for simultaneously throwing the feed-pawl and the detent-stop out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel, and a spring connected with said releasing-arm and adapted for returning said arm and the feed-pawl to their normal positions, substantially as described.

2. In a type-writer, the combination with a carriage and with a platen carrying a ratchet-wheel, of a feed-lever pivotally connected with the carriage, a feed-pawl pivotally connected to the feed-lever with its rear end in engagement with the ratchet-wheel and with its forward end projected beyond its pivotal point to form a thumb-piece in line with the actuating arm of the feed-lever and in the plane of movement thereof and adapted to be stopped against said feed-lever when said feed-pawl is released from the ratchet-wheel by the actuation of the thumb-piece, a spring secured to said thumb-piece and adapted for holding the same away from said feed-lever and thereby maintaining the feed-pawl in engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel, a detent-spring secured to the frame and having a detent-catch normally in engagement with a tooth of the ratchet-wheel and adapted for preventing return movement of said ratchet-wheel and also in position and adapted for engagement by the feed-pawl, and means in connection with said pawl for lifting the spring out of engagement with said ratchet wheel, substantially as described.

3. In a type-writer, the combination with a carriage and with a platen carrying a ratchet-wheel, of a feed-lever pivotally connected with the carriage, a feed-pawl pivotally connected to the feed'lever with its rear end in engagement with the ratchet-wheel and with its forward end projected beyond its pivotal point to form a thumb-piece in line with the actuating arm of the feed-lever and in the plane of movement thereof and adapted to be stopped against said feed -lever when said feed-pawl is released from the ratchet-wheel by the actuation of the thumb-piece, a spring secured to said, thumb-piece and adapted for holding the same away from said feed-lever and thereby maintaining the feed-pawl in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, a (latent-spring secured to the frame and having a detent-catch normally in engagement with a tooth of the ratchet-wheel and adapted for preventing return movement of said ratchct-whecl and also in position and adapted for engagement by the feed-pawl, means in connection with said pawl for lifting the spring out of engagement with said ratchet-wheel, and an adjustable sliding stop in connection with the carriage and adapted for engage ment with the rear end of the feed lever to limit the movement thereof, substantially as described.

4. In a type-writer, the combination with a shiftable carriage and with a revoluble platen carried thereby and embodying a feedwheel, of a pivotally-supported feed-rack having an arm projected forward of its pivotal point, a reciprocatory actuator fulcrnmed to the carriage at a point remote from its rear end said actuator being in operative engagement with the forwardly-projecting arm of the feed-rack, a spring-pressed pawl connected with said actuator and in operative engagement with the feed-wheel of the platen, a detent-spring in engagement with the feed wheel and adaptedfor preventing the retractive movement of the platen and also in position and adapted for engagementbysaid pawl, means in connection with the pawl and eX- tending forward of the pivot thereof for lifting said pawl and the spring simultaneously, and a stop for limiting the movement of the actuator, substantially as described.

5. In a type-writer, the combination with the carriage and with the platen carried there by, of a spring-clamp secured to the front rail of the carriage and comprising an open frame havinga longitudinal bar, two laterally and inwardly projected side-bars, and two oppositely-disposed guiding-fingers, one of which extends above, and the other of which extends below the horizontal axis of the platen and terminate at points one side of a vertical line drawn through the axis of said platen, substantially as described.

JOHN M. FAIRFIELD.

Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, FREDERICK A. BOLAND.