US585766A - Key-action for type-writing machines - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

W. P. KIDDER, KEY ACTION FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

No. 585,766. Patented July 6, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VELLINGTON P. KIDDER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

KEY-ACTION FORTYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 585,766, dated July 6, 1897. Application filed October 16, 1895. Serial No. 565,860- (No model.)

To all whom itJTI/LU/ concern.-

Be it known that I, WELLINGTON P. K11)- DER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Key-Actions for Type- Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of my new key-action, Fig. 1 showing the impressionkey and type-carrier in position of rest and Fig. 2 showing the impression-key in its lowest position with the t-ype-carrier at the platen.

The object of my invention is to produce a type-writing machine in which the resistance offered to the finger when the type -Writer strikes the platen is minimized.

My invention is applicable in many different kinds of machines, but is shown in form adapted for use in the well-known Wellington type-writer.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred form of my invention, A is the platen; B, the

type-carrier, containing in this instance aplurality of characters I). The type-bar is moved forward and back by a swinging arm D, which is connected by a link D to the free end of the impression-key D Swinging arm D has an arm cl, which cooperates with a spring-controlled oscillating support F, the spring being indicated at f. Suitable guides G G are provided for supporting the typecarrier in proper relation to the platen and for guiding the character-bearing end of the type-bar at the moment of impression.

It will be seen that when the impressionkey is depressed to throw the type-carrier to the platen the tension of the spring f is gradually increased, and that when impression movement is made there is so much resistance to the forward stroke of the type-carrier that a very delicate touch is obtained. Delicacy of touch is a recognized desideratum in type-writing machines. The link D above referred to is pivoted at d" to the rocking arm D and at d to the impression-key D while the rocking arm D is pivoted at d As the type-carrier comes to impression-point the pivots or centers (1, C1 and d are in line,

and they are brought in to this position against the increasing tension of spring f, so that prior to impression the actuating force exerted on the impression-key is gradually resisted more and more by the increasing tension of the spring and the type-carrier brought to actual impression with marked delicacy of touch because of the now very considerable tension of spring f and of the fact that substantially at the instant of impression the impression-key D link D, and working arm D are on dead-centers, (pivots cl, C1 and d being in line,) and the tendency of the type-bar to move forward is gently checked by these cooperating conditions, the resistance of the spring now at its maximum and the tendency of the jointed parts D D, D, and B to come to rest because of the pivots d, 01 and d -being on dead-centers.

The construction above illustrated and described may be modified and altered in many details without departure from my invention.

WhatI claim is- The combination of a type-carrier, an impression-key; a rocker-arm engaging the typecarrier; a link pivotally connected to the in ner end portion of the impression-key and to that end of the rocker-arm which engages the type-carrier; and a spring mounted to cooperate with the rocker-arm and to resist its forward stroke with an increasing tension; the pivots of the rocker-arm and impressionkey connections with the link being in line when the type-carrier is at impression.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 10th day of October, A. D. 1895.

WELLINGTON P. KIDDER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. COPELAND, E. S. BEACH.

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