US581500A - Type-writing machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet. l.

G. B. WEBB. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 581,500. Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

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G. B. WEBB.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

- Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

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PATENT QEEICE.

GEORGE B. WEBB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSlGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO THE WYCKOFF, SEAMANS & BENEDICT, OF NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,500, dated April 27, 1897. Application filed April 11, 1892. Serial No. 428,579. (NomoclelJ T0 ctlZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. WEBB, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- WVrit-ing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the ribbon movements of type-writing machines, and has for its main object to move the inking-ribbon both lengthwise and widthwise by simple and effective mechanism; and my invention has for a further object to provide a construction whereby the ribbon may be readily fed while in a taut condition or state of tension, so that the full width of the ribbon may be utilized.

My invent-ion consists in the various features of construction and combinations of devices hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan View of a portion of a Reining ton type-writing machine altered in some respects and embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken at the line 00 0c of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an end view looking from the left-hand side of the machine. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken at the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a diagram to show the lines in which the ribbon is used by the type in the construction shown at Fig. 6, and Fig. 6 is a partial side view corres'pon din g to Fig. 3 and showing a different form of actuating arm or lever for the pawl-carrying lever which effects the longitudinal travel of the ribbon.

In the several views the same part will be found designated by the same numeral of reference.

1 designates the framework, 2 the top plate, and 3 the type-ring, made integral therewith.

4 represents the inking-ribbon, which at its ends is connected to spools or reels 5 on 0pposite sides of the machine.

The ribbon-spool 5 at the lefthand side of the machine is mounted on a shaft 6, supported in bearings formed in hangers '7, depending from an open plate or frame 8, whose sides are made substantially V- shaped, as shown at 9. Attached to the top plate at its left-hand edge by screws 10 is a bar 11, which is formed on its inner edge with a groove 12, corresponding in shape to that of the groovev 9, and between said grooves is arranged an antifriction-ball 13. On the left-hand side of the type-ring is attached by screws 14 another bar 15, provided with a groove 16 to match the groove 9. on the right-hand side of the open frame, and between said grooves 9 and 16 is arranged another antifriction-ball 17. The two sets of grooves 9 and 12 and 9 and 16 form bearings for the said balls 13 and 17 and enable the frame to be moved back and forth transversely of themachine with the utmost ease. The balls are confined within the said bearings by pins 18, extending laterally from the frame 8 on each side. The spoolshaft 6 is preferably prolonged and provided with a crank 19 to enable the ribbon to be wound quickly onto the spool 5 when it may become necessary to change ribbons or bring a differently-colored ribbon into use. On said shaft is mounted fast a ratchet-wheel 20, which is adapted to be moved step by step by a pushing-pawl 21 and a pulling-pawl 22, the former being pivoted at 23 upon an arm or lever 24:, fulcrumed at 25, and the latter being also pivoted at 26 upon said arm or lever, the outer end of which extends laterally and is embraced at a rounded or cylindrical portion 27 by a fork 28, which is pivoted at 29 to the bar 11. The said fork is preferably made of a single piece of spring metal, which is bent at its upper end to surround the pivot-pins 29, and below said pivotpin about midway of its length itis bent again to form an eye 30, into which may be caught the rounded or cylindrical portion 2'7 of the lever 24, while from this locality to its extremity the arms or legs 31' of the fork are branched or spread outwardly a considerable distance.

To the rear side of the frame 8 is secured at 32 an arm 33, which extends rearwardly and is connected at 3* to an upright rockerarm 35, which is connected to a rock-shaft 36, that extends across the machine to the right-hand side thereof, at which it is pro- I IOO ing from a frame or support 8, constructed and mounted in a manner similar to that shown at the left-hand side of the machine, and at the right-hand side of the machine are provided a ratchet-wheel, pushing and pulling pawls, an actuating-lever, and a pivoted fork, each of a construction similar to that exhibited at the opposite side of the m aehine, and the rocker-arm 35 on the righthand side is connected at its upper end to an arm similar to 33, projecting rearwardly from the right-hand end frame 8.

XV hen the shaft 36 is rocked, both frames with their appurtenances are moved, through the arms 35, back and forth transversely of the machine and carry with them the inkingribbon, which, as will be observed, passes from one spool up through the opening 37 in one frame across the machine down through the opening in the opposite frame to the opposite spool.

The forks, levers, pawls, ratchet-wheels, and ribbon-spools are adapted to move the ribbon lengthwise automatically, as will be hereinafter explained. The transverse or crosswise movements of the ribbon are effected automatically by the means now to be described.

38 represents the spring-drum or driving power of the paper-carriage, which latter is removed in order to avoid confusion. A portion of said carriage is, however, represented at 39, from which depends a hook -l(), to which is attached one end of a chain or band t1, whose opposite end is connected to the springdrum or driving power, as usual. On the axis of the spring-drum is mounted a sleeve 42, which carries at one end a ratchet 43 and at its other end a double disk-shaped cam it. On the spring-drum is mounted a pawl a5, adapted to engage with said ratchet-wheel when the carriage moves from right to left, and when the drum is turned in the direction of the arrow at Fig. 2 and by said engagement turn said ratchet-wheel and said cam. This pawl is so hung that when the carriage moves from left to right or is returned for the beginning of a new line it travels idly over the teeth of said ratchet-wheel without turning it or the said cam.

Fixed upon the rock-shaft 36 is a rockerarm 46, which is bifurcated at its upper end, as at 47, to embrace the periphery of the cam 44. It will now be seen that when said cam rotates during the movement of the carriage from right to left, at which time the printing is done, the said cam is slowly turned as the carriagemoves step by step forward, and by reason of its engagement with the bifurcated end of the rocker-arm at it operates to rock the shaft SU and the two rocker-arms 35 and slide the frames or carriers 8, which carry the ribbon-spools, transversely in one direction. The next time the carriage travels from right to left the cam and the connecting mechanism operate to slide the frames or carriers and the ribbon transversely in the opposite direction. In the several views the carriage is represented as at the extreme right-hand end of the machine and the ribbon-carriers and ribbon at the extremes of their rearward movements. Thus when the carriage is moved from right to left the ribbon will be moved transversely forwardly. When the carriage is returned to the right, the ribbon remains in its fomvard position, but the next time that the carriage moves from right to left the ribbon is moved transversely roan wardly.

The transverse movements of the ribboncarriers are utilized to effect longitudinal movements of the ribbon by means of the levers, pawls, ratohetwheels, and spools hereinbefore described.

In the several views the means for moving the ribbon lengthwise are shown in an operative condition at the left-hand side of the machine and in an inoperative condition at the right-hand side, and hence at this time the ribbon will be wound from the right-hand spool onto or upon the left-hand spool. The winding is effected in this manner: The lever 2i being raised and held in the eye or hearing 30 of the fork 28 is caused to vibrate about its pivot 24: during the back and forth movements of the ribbon-carrier and actuate the two pawls carried thereby. Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the ribbon-carrier is at the limit of its rear ward movement and that the eye or bearing 30 of the fork, embracing the outer arm of the lever 2i, stands in a raised position. As the ribbon-carrier moves forwardly it moves the lever 2t with it, and since its outer arm is in the embrace of the eye of the fork it in turn vibrates said fork about its pivot 25'). In the vibration of said fork the eye or bearing 30, swinging in an are about the pivot 29 as a center, gradually moves down until it arrives directly beneath the pivot 29, \vhichis its lowest position. In thus descending the said eye or bearing, by reason of its hold upon the lever, causes the latter to move down with it about the pivot 25 as a center of motion, and during this movement the pushing-pawl 21 is caused to partially rotate the ratchetwheel 20 and the ribbon-spool and wind thereupon a portion of the ribbon. When the eye or hearing 30 arrives directly beneath the pivot 29, the ribbon-carrier has been moved forwardly about onehalf its full distance, and as said carrier continues to complete its stroke the eye or bearing commences to rise on the opposite side of the line of the pivot 29 and carry with it the lever 24:, which vibrates upwardly about its pivot 25 and causes the pulling-pawl 22 to partially rotate the ratchet-wheel 20, turn the spool, and wind an additional portion of the ribbon thereupon. \Vhen the pawl 21 operates to turn the ratchetwheel, the pawl 22 drops down behind a tooth next to the one it previously engaged with, and when the paw 22 operates to turn the ratchet-wheel the pawl 21 is pulled back to engage the base of a tooth adjacent to the one it previously engaged with. I prefer to arrange the pawls 21 and 22 so that each one operates to turn the ratchet-wheel only a halftooth space, so that by the combined movements of the two pawls the ratchet-wheel is turned the distance of one notch or space. For instance, when the driving-pawl 21 acts on the downward movement of the lever its operating end does not move from the base of one notch or space to that of the next, but it moves to an extent only sufficient'to turn the ratchet-wheel one-half the distance between the base of one notch and that of the next adjacent one. At this time the operating end of the pawl 22 is carried to the base of the notch it is to engage with, and when said pawl is lifted it operates to complete the movement of the ratchetwheel a whole tooth or the entire distance between two adjacent notches or spaces of the wheel. By this construction and arrangement I am enabled to obtain a slow longitudinal movement of the ribbon, which is desirable.

While the ribbon is being moved back and forth transversely and is also feeding onto the left-hand spool with the slow step-bystep movement, the mechanism for moving the ribbon longitudinally, located at the righthand side ofthe machine, is unable to act, because, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, the driving-pawls stand out of operative relation to the ratchet-wheel. This condition is effected by pulling down the lever 24 out of the embrace or clasp of the eye or hearing and permitting said lever to stand between the arms or legs 31 of the fork. In this position of the leverit may move back and forth, always in the same horizontal plane, without being affected or vibrated by the said fork. The arms or legs may be eliminated, if desired.

In pushing down the lever the pawl 21 strikes a pin 48 on the hanger and is lifted from engagement with the ratchet-wheel, and the pawl 22 is simultaneously disengaged from said wheel by reason of a swell or enlargement 49 on its shank.

\Vhen it may be desired to have the ribbon wind from the left-hand spool onto the righthand spool, the left-hand lever is pulled down to the dotted-line position shown .at Fig. 2 to disengage the pawls, and the right-hand lever is pushed up into the eye or bearing of the fork, and thereafter the ribbon will be wound upon the right-hand spool in the manner already described with reference to the left-hand spool. The ribbon may be guided in this movement across the machine by a support 50, which may be pivoted at 51 upon the ribbon carrier or frame and provided near its free end with a loop 52, under which the ribbon runs and by which it is guided.

Referring to Fig. 6, the fork is shown in the form of a hook 28, pivoted on the framework of the machine. This device performs substantially the same function that is performed by the device 28. (Shown in the other views.) In this case, however, the ratchetwheel is moved by each of the driving-pawls 21 and 22 a full tooth, The ribbon-carrier is shown in its rearward position. As it moves toward the front of the machine the arm is vibrated upwardly in an arc and causes the lever to be vibrated about its pivot and the pawl 22 to turn the ratchet-wheel one tooth. On the return movement of the ribbon-carrier the leveris vibrated downwardly aboutits pivot and the pawl 21 also caused to rotate the ratchet-wheelone tooth.

In the construction shown at Fig. 6 the device 28 is unhooked from the lever 24 and the lever pulled down, as at the right-hand side of Fig. 2, when it may be desired to feed the ribbon lengthwise from the left-hand spool onto the right-hand spool, and at the same time the hook at the opposite or righthand side of the machine is to be connected to the right-hand pawl-carrying lever 24. Then it may be desired to run the ribbon rapidly from one spool to another or to remove the. ribbon for the insertion of a new one, the levers 24 on each side of the machine may both be pulled down out of operative engagement with the device 28, thus freeing both sets of pawls and enabling both spools to be turned freely upon their shafts in either.

direction. .The cranks 19 may be used to thus rapidly rotate the spools.

The device 28 or 28 in either case, it will be seen, isan arm or lever pivoted to swing vertically at right angles to the verticallyswinging pawl-carrying lever and adapted to vibrate the latter about its pivot during the movements of said lever bodily back and forth.

Of course numerous changes in form and detail construction of the device 28 and the pawl-carrying lever may be made without departing from the spiritof my invention, and, if desired, one of the pawls on said lever may be eliminated.

It is desirable in a ribbon movement that the ribbon be run or fed as taut as possible, to the end that it may be fed from side to side or from edge to edge as near as possible to the edge, in order that the entire width of ribbon may be used and yet avoid the liability of the type striking off the ribbon. A slow longitudinal movement is desirable for the reason, first, that the ribbon may be longer in feeding from end to end, thereby avoiding the necessity of frequent reversals, and, secondly, that with a slow feed longitudinally and a taut ribbon (that is, a ribbon fed slowly against resistance lengthwise for the purpose of keeping it tight or flat) the movement may be effected with less power than where the ribbon is fed rapidly against the same resistance. With a slow longitudinal movement it is necessary or desirable to have a rapid transverse movement of considerable speed and without sensible resistance. I have therefore provided the laterallymoving spool frames or carriers with ballbearings, to the end that friction may be reduced as far as possible. Two ball-bearings have the advantage that in practice the parts may be constructed more carelessly and yet work well. To properly support the spoolholders, however, when using only two balls, one on each side, it is necessary that a third means be used. lhis is furnished by the two upright rocker-arms connected to the rockshaft, said arms being connected to the spoolholders by the intermediate rigid horizontal arms,which, however, may be considered each as a part of the spool-holder itself. By thus mounting and supporting the spool holder or carrier at three points it may be guided practically in a right line and held in such a mannor that its movements transversely are not affected by the longitudinal movements of the ribbon. Hence the ribbon may be held as taut as desired without impeding the travel orincreasing the resistance to the back and forth movements of the spool-holders.

Each spool-shaft is provided with a coiled spring 53 to prevent the shaft of the spool which is unwinding from turning too freely, and each shaftmay be provided with a catch or round-wire spring 5% to prevent accidental endwise movements of the shaft independentl y of the carrier.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-spool carrier provided on each slde with a groove, fixed grooves on each side of said carrier, means for moving said carrier, and antifriction-balls arranged in said grooves.

2. I11 a type-Writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a pair of plates or frames having grooves and mounted to slide on antifriction-balls, means connecting said plates or frames and causing them to move in unison, and a ribbon-spool supported on each said frame; substantially as set forth.

3. In a type-writing machine, the combination with two fixed grooves, of antifrictionballs, an intermediate ribbon-spool carrier having a groove at each side and depending arms or brackets, means for moving said carrier, and a ribbon-spool mounted to rotate in said arms or brackets.

4. In a type-writing machine, the combina tion with two fixed grooved bars, of antifriction-balls, an intermediate ribbon-spool carrier having on each side a groove, a central opening, and arms or brackets, means for moving said carrier, a ribbon-spool, and an inking-ribbon.

5. In a type-writing machine, the combination with two fixed grooved bars, of antifriction-balls, an intermediate ribbon-spool carrier having a groove at each side, a central opening, and means for confining the balls in the grooves, means for moving said carrier, a ribbon-spool mounted in depending arms or brackets, and an inking-ribbon.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-spool carrier mounted in ballbearings, an inking-ribbon, a ribbon-spool, a rocker-arm, and a rock-shaft connected to the carriage-driving power through a second rocker-arm and a double disk-shaped cam.

7. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-spool carrier, an inking-ribbon,-a ribbon-spool, a rocker-arm connected to said carrier, a rock-shaft, and a double disk-shaped cam connected to the driving power and also connected to said rock-shaft.

S. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a sliding and guided ribbon-spool carrier, an inking-ribbon, a ribbon-spool, a rocker-arm pivotally connected to said carrier, a rock-shaft, a cam connected to the driving power, and an independent rockerarm connected to said rock-shaft and engaging the said cam.

9. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-spool carrier, an inking-ribbon, a ribbon-spool, a rocker-arm connected to said carrier, a rock-shaft, a spring-drum for propelling the paper-carriage and provided with a pawl, a ratchet-wheel mounted loosely on the axis of said drum, and a double disk-shaped cam connected to said ratchet-wheel and also connected to said rock-shaft by an independent rocker-arm.

10. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-spool carrier having at each side a groove and depending arms or brackets, two fixed bars having each a groove, intermediate antifriction-balls, an inking-ribbon, a ribbon-spool, a rocker-arm, and a rockshaft connected to the carriage'driving power.

11. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-spool carrier having on each side a groove and depending arms or brackets, two fixed bars having each a groove, intermediate antifriction-balls, an inkingribbon, a ribbon-spool, a rocker-arm, a rockshaft, a spring-drum, a cam, and an arm intermediate said cam and said rock-shaft.

12. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a transversely-1novable ribbon-spool carrier, an inking-ribbon, a ribbon-spool, a ratchet-wheel, a pawl-carrying lever mounted on said carrier to move therewith, and a pivoted arm or lever on the framework embracing the pawl-carrying lever and vibrating it during the transverse movements of the ribbon-spool carrier.

13. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a transversely-movable ribbon-spool carrier, an inking-ribbon, a ribbon-spool, a ratchet-wheel, a pawl-carrying lever connected to move with said ribbon-spool carrier and pivoted to vibrate in a vertical plane, an arm or lever pivoted to a stationary part of the machine, connected to said pawl-carrying lever and arranged to vibrate in a vertical plane at right angles to the plane of vibration of the pawl-carrying lever.

14. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a ribbon-spool, a

ratchet-wheel, and a lever provided with a pushing-pawl and a pulling-pawl.

15. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a ribbon-spool, a ratchet-wheel, and a lever provided with a pushing-pawl and a pulling-pawl, the several parts being so arranged and proportioned as that each pawl operates to turn the ratchetwheel a part only of the distance between two succeeding teeth or notches.

16. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a ribbon-spool, a ratchet-wheel, a lever carrying a pushingpawl and'a pulling-paw], and means substantially such as described for releasing both said pawls from engagement with said ratchetwheel.

17. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a ribbon-spool, a ratchet-wheel, a lever carrying a pushingpawl and a pulling-pawl, the latter being provided with a swell or enlargement, and a fixed pin for lifting the pushing-pawl upon a downward movement of the pawl-carrying lever.

18. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a transversely-movable ribbon-spool carrier mounted in ball-bearings, an inkingribbon, a ribbon-spool, a ratchet-wheel, a lever carrying a pushing-pawl and a pullingpawl, and means on the framework of the machine for vibrating the pawl-carrying lever during the transverse movements of the ribbon-spool carrier.

19. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-spool carrier provided on each side with a bearing, a single ball in each said bearing supporting said carrier at two points, a rocker-arm connected to and supporting said carrier at a third point, a rockshaft, and means. for oscillating the same.

20. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a pair of open frames mounted on antifriction-balls, hangers depending from said frames, ribbon-spool shafts mounted in said hangers, a ribbon-spool on each shaft, an inking-ribbon attached to one spool and passing up through one of said open frames across the machine down through the other open frame and attached to the other ribbon-spool, means connecting said open frames together,

and suitable actuating means; substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York city, in the county of Q GEORGE E. WEBB.

Witnesses:

IDA MAoDoNALD, JAooB FELBEL.

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