US669712A - Type-writing machine. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 669, 7l2. Patented Mar. 12, 19m. G. F. STILLMAN.

TYPE WRITING MACHlNE.

(Application filed Apr. 11. 1900.)

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No. 669,7l2. Patented Mar. I2, I90]. 6. F. STILLMAN.

TYPE WRI'HNG MACHINE.

(Applicatiun filed Apr. 1 1, 1900. Modem 2 Shoots-Sheet 2.

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GEORGE FREDERICK STILLMAN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SMITH PREMIER TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 669,712, dated March 12, 1901.

Application filed April 11,1900- Serial No. 12.457. No model.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE FREDERICK STILLMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the ribbon mechan- IO ismof type-writing machines; and its objects are to improve and simplify the automatic ribbon reversing devices and to provide means for readily attaching the ribbon to the spool and detaching it therefrom. I5 So far as my invention relates to ribbonreversing devices it is an improvement upon the construction patented to A.' T. Brown December 6, 1898,No. 615,343. In said patent the spools and ribbon are connected, so that they may move backward and forward in unison, the ribbon-spools being mounted to slide longitudinally upon endwise-motionless axes or supports, the said movement being imparted to both spools simultaneously by means of upright rocker-arms whose movements are derived from the paper-carriage mechanism. The ribbon is moved transversely step by step as each character is imprinted, and thus the ribbon is utilized in the 0 direction of its width during the forward movements of the paper-carriage. There is provided for each spool a gravity-pawl ex tending upwardly from a fixed pivot, which converts the axial movement of the spool into a rotary movement by reason of the engagement of the pawl with a crown-ratchet formed upon the spool-fiange, so that the ribbon is gradually Wound upon the spool. Means are provided for maintaining the pawls 4o alternately out of engagement, so that one spool pays off the ribbon while the other spool winds. In order to automatically reverse the longitudinal feed of the ribbon, the ribboncarrying frame is provided with a pawl or 5 book, whichas soon asiheribbonisunwound from the spool automatically engages the inactive spool-winding pawl and pulls the latter into operative position during the next rearward travel of the spool and frame. The

other spool-winding pawl is by the same movement forced out of operative position, so that the ribbon begins to wind upon the empty spool.

One portion of my present invention con sists of a simplified and improved device for eifecting such automatic engagement of the inactive pawl with the empty spool; and another portion of my invention consists in novel means for conveniently attaching the ribbon ends and more securely holding the same on the spool.

My several improvements will hereinafter be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which only enough of a Smith Premier type-writing machine is shown to illustrate my several improvements, Figure l is a side elevation of the left-hand spool and connections, the spool being shown at its extreme rearward position. 0 Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same spool and its pawl. Fig. 3 isa view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the spool (the ribbon being omitted) at its extreme forward position and showing also the connections between the two ribbcn-drivingpawls. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the left-hand spool and ribbon-carrier looking toward the rear, but with the pawl and hook shown in dotted lines. Fig.

5 is a front elevation of the ribbon-spools, 8o ribbon-carriers, driving-pawls, and connecting devices for the latter. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a spool. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a ribbon-engaging device used in connection with said spool.

Throughout the several views similar parts are indicated by similar numerals of reference.

As the spools and carriers, drivers, 850., are duplicates, only one set of them will be described.

The spool comprises a hollow drum or core 1, a plain rear flange or head 2, and a front flange formed with a crown-ratchet 3. The spool is slidably mounted upon a horizontal 5 shaft 4 and confined between arms 5 and 6 of a ribbon carrier or frame, said arms being formed integrally with a vertical connecting plate 7 and engaging at their free ends with the outer flanged ends of a central core or IOQ sleeve of the ribbon-spool. The plate 7 is provided with ribbonguiding ears 7. Said,

.rotate the spool.

arm 5 has a rearwardly-directed extension 9, which is vertically slotted at 10, said slot being engaged by a pin 11, projecting laterally from the upper end of a vibratory drivingarm 12, which is carried by a rock-shaft 13. The rock-shaft is common to both of the driving-arms 12 and is reciprocated by suitable connections (not shown) from the'papercarriage-driving mechanism during the endwise movement of the paper-carriage. The ratchets 3 are rotated by gravity-pawls 14 15, one for each spool. These pawls are suitably pivoted at 16 upon fixed portions of the machine and are respectively provided with inwardly-extending offset or lateral teeth 14 and for engaging the ratchet-wheels. The pawl 15 is shown at Figs. 1, 3, and 5 in engagement with the ratchet 3 of the righthand spool and the pawl 14 as out of engagement with the ratchet 3 of the left-hand spool, in which position the latter pawl is held by an upright arm 17. This arm is secured to a transverse rock-shaft 18 and is maintained in the illustrated position by a double-acting spring 19, which is attached to the arm 17, and the point of which engages a stationary roller 21. At its upper'end said arm or lever 17 is provided with a handle 22, whereby it may be rocked rearwardly to release the inactive pawl 14 and permit the latter to cooperate with its ratchet wheel 3 to During the movement of the arm 17 the spring 19 is forced downwardly and engages the under side of the roller 21, thereby maintaining the arm in its new position. In order to simultaneously move the active pawl 15 to an inoperative position, the shaft 18 is provided at its right-hand end with a shorter upright armor lever 23, which at the rocking movement of the shaft engages a downwardly-directed extension 24 of the pawl 15, and thereby swings said pawl rearwardly about its pivot to such an extent that it cannot engage its ratchet during the reciprocation of the latter. It will thus be seen that when either pawl is thrown into engagement the other pawl is thrown out of engagement, and hence the direction of longitudinal travel of the ribbon may be changed at any time by a simple movement of the switch-lever 17. It will also be noted that the pawl 14 at Fig. 3 if pulled rearwardly during the rearward traverse of the spool will operate upon the lever 17 to cause it and the spring 19 and arm 23 to assume their alternative positions and that the pawl 15 will be forced by arm 23 out of operative position, and hence the direction of the ribbon travel will be reversed. The mechanism heretofore described is the same as that set forth in the said Letters Patent.

I will now describe my improved means for acting upon the pawls l4 and 15 toeffect an automatic reverseof the ribbon. A plate 25 is secured at its upper end by rivets 26 toa rod or shaft 27, which is journaled at 28 in the. upper ends of the side arms 5 6 of the ribbon-carrier over the spool and parallel with the ribbon-spool shaft. The rod is reduced at its rear end to pass through a perforation in the side arm 5, and upon the reduced portion thereof is placed a washer 28*, that is secured by riveting the extremity of the rod 27, which is thus prevented from moving endwise in either direction. At its lower end said plate 25, which extends downwardly from the rod or shaft 27 in a substantially radial direction, rides upon the ribbon as it is wound about the spool-core, said lower end of the plate or rider being notched to form fingers 29 and the latter being folded back upon themselves, so as to produce round edges, and thus avoid catching into the ribbon. The shaft or rod 27 at its forward end is prolonged and bent downwardly to form an arm 30. The lower end of said arm is bent inwardly and pointed or beveled at its tip at 31 to form a tooth. The tooth 31 may be termed a hook. As the plate 25 rides upon the ribbon upon the winding-spool the right-hand arm is gradually swung toward the right to the position shown at Fig. 5 and out of the plane of the pawl 15, and as the ribbon unwinds the said arm 30 gradually swings to the left. Of course the left-hand arm operates similarly to the one on the right; but when the left-hand spool is winding the left-hand arm swings toward the left and when it is unwinding toward the right. It will be noted that the two arms 30 swing simultaneously in the same direction during the endwise movements of the ribbonthat is to say, while the ribbon is moving from one. spool to the other the arms swing together toward the right and toward the left, depending upon which is the winding-spool.

Assoon as the spool-oore 1 becomes uncovered the fingers 29 ride thereon, Fig. 3, and finally drop intoopenings 32 provided in said core in line with the fingers 29, Fig. 4, and the arm 30 swings inwardly to the position shown atthe left of Fig. 5, sothat the tooth 31 stands in line with an extension 34, formed upon the upper end of the winding or driving pawl 14. During the next forward endwise traverse of the spool-carrier said tooth 31 contacts with said extension 34, and owing to the bevel upon the former the arm 30 is forced aside or slightly vibrated outwardly, theplate 25 rising slightly until the tooth 31 passes by the extension 34, when it swings into position in front of the extension, owing to the gravity or overbalancing weight of the plate 25, thus automatically taking a position such that it will pull the pawl 14 rearwardly on the return movement of the ribbon-carrier. It will of course be understood that at each traverse of the spool-carrier the arm 30 reaches the forward point shown at Fig. 3, but that engagement of said arm with the extension 34 is impossible when the fingers 29 are riding upon the, coils of the ribbon, for at such time the-hook lies out of the plane of the extension 34. When, however, the tooth 31 is caught over the extension 34 and is carried rearwardly at the traverse of the ribboncarrier, it drags the ribbon-d rivin g pawl rearwardly to an operative position, the movement of the latter also causing the levers 17 and 23 to assume their alternative positions, whereby the opposite ribbon-driving pawl is thrown out of engagement.

A friction-spring 35 is secured to arm 6 of the ribbon-carrier by a screw 36 and bears at its freeend upon the face of the spool-flange 3 to prevent retrograde movement of thelatter under the tension of the ribbon. The tension of the spring may be regulated by a screw 38, passing through a hole in the spring and engaging a threaded hole in the arm 6.

The operation may be briefiy described as follows: The shaft 13 is rocked and the arms 12 are vibrated during the endwise movements of the paper-carriage, thereby causing the ribbon-carriers 7 and spools to reciprocate forwardly and rearwardly of the machine, so that the ribbon is used crosswise of its length. The right-hand pawl 15 engages the teeth upon its ratchet 3 and causes the ribbon to wind upon the right-hand spoolduring the forward traverse thereof, the extreme front and rear Working positions of said pawl being indicated at Figs. 1 and 3. During the rearward traverse of the ribbon -spool the pawl drops to take a further hold, its tooth 15 slipping down over the beveled sides of the ratchet-teeth. As the ribbon winds upon the spool, the right-hand plate 25, riding upon the coils of ribbon, gradually rises, and its arm 30 is gradually swung outward, while as the ribbon pays off from the left-hand spool the plate gradually drops and the arm swings inwardly toward its working position, Fig. 2, until the last coil of ribbon is unwound, when the plate 25 rides upon the outer core 1 of the spool during a partial rotation of the latter and until the openings 32 in the core come beneath the fingers 29, whereupon said fingers drop into the openings, thus causing the arm 30 to swing inwardly to its working position, as indicated in dotted lines at Fig. 4 and in full lines at Fig. 5, and bringing the tooth 31 into position to catch over the forward edge of the extension 34 upon the pawl 14, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, said catching movement taking place when next the spool-carrier is at its extreme forward position. Upon the return movement of the spoolcarrier the tooth 31 carries or vibrates the pawl 14 rearwardly, thus swinging the levers 17 and 23 to the dotted-line positions shown at Fig. 3. During this movement the arm 23 contacts with the extension 24, formed upon the right hand pawl 15, and rocks the latter rearwardly to an inoperative position similar to that formerly occupied by pawl 14. The double-acting spring 19 during the described movement of the levers 17 and 23 snaps under the roller- 21 and holds the parts in their new position. During subsequent reciprocations of the spool-carriers and spools the left-hand pawl 14 remains in engagement with the ratchet 3 of the left-hand spool and causes the spool to rotate so as to wind the ribbon thereon. The fingers 29 work out of the holes 32 at the beginning of the rotation of the spool and thereafter ride upon the coils of ribbon as they wind upon the core, thus gradually swinging the plate 25 upwardly and the arm 30 outwardly, while as the ribbon passes off from the right-hand spool the right-hand plate 25 gradually moves downwardly and the right-hand arm 30 inwardly toward the shifting position, so that when the ribbon is entirely paid off from the latter spool the tooth 31 upon the right-hand arm 30 automatically engages the extension 34 upon the pawl 15 and forces the latter into engagement with its ratchet 3 and at the same time causes the pawl 14 to be swung out of operative position. It will be seen that the hooks pivoted upon the ribbon-carriers are controlled by the ribbon upon the spools and operative only when one of said spools is empty and during an endwise movement thereof.

Itis apparent that in attaching new ribbons to the spools it is impossible to turn either spool backward, and hence wind the ribbon in the wrong direction, on account of the engagement of the fingers 29 with the apertures 32, which permit the empty spools to rotate only in one direction.

My improved means for attaching the ribbon to the spool and illustrated at Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 7 will now be described. Said means comprises a sheet-metal plate 38, which is preferably shaped so as to fit closely over the periphery of the spool-core 1 and which extends across the spool from flange to flange. Said plate is provided at its edges with teeth 39, the teeth upon one edge being preferably arranged opposite or in register With the teeth upon the other edge and all of the teeth projecting inwardly or toward the axis of the spool, so that their tips normally lie in parallel grooves or depressions 40, which are cut or formed in the periphery of the core and which extend partly around the latter. At its ends said plate 38 is bent outwardly at right angles to form ears or arms 41, whose outer ends are pivoted at 42 to the spool flanges or heads. As the thin ears or arms 41 lie closely against the inner faces of the flanges and as the thin plate 38 lies closely against the core, practically the same amount of space is left for the ribbon as though said plate and arms were absent.

In attaching the ribbon the clasp (comprising the plate 38 and arms 41) is swung outwardly, as indicated by dotted lines at Fig. 4, and the end of the ribbon is placed upon the core so as to cover the grooves or depressions 40. Then the clasp is swung back in the direction indicated by the arrow at Fig. 4 and forced into normal position in engagement with the core, the ribbon being engaged by or impaled upon the points of the teeth or pins 39, which enter the grooves or recesses spool-axis.

in the core. The plate 38 is of such width or covers so much of the periphery of the core and is so placed with reference to the pivots 42 that the clasp cannot be forced beyond a straightline joining the pivots and the axis of the spool or beyond the full-line position shown at Fig. 4. In other words, the distance is greater from the pivot 42 to the remote edge of the plate 38 than from said pivot to the crown of the spool-core, so that the core limits the inward-swinging movement of the clasp.- The tension upon the ribbon in winding or unwinding always tends to force the plate 38 inwardly or toward the core, thus more securely holding the ribbon 'and avoiding any liability of the ribbon becoming disengaged from the clasp. To remove the ribbon, it is only necessary to swing the clasp or clamp away from normal position in a direction opposite to the normal tension of the ribbon, when the latter may be easily disengaged from the teeth 39. The clasp swings freely upon the pivots 42 away toward the spool-core; but when in the latter case the forward set of teeth 39 enter the recesses 40 the movement of the clasp is arrested, and hence the latter must be pressed to its seat, or, in other words, said teeth or the forward edge of the clamp must be crowded past an imaginary straight line joining the axis 42 with the spool-axis, at or near which line the arc or path in which the teeth travel intersects the curvature of said recesses, which, it will be noted, is concentric with the After being pressed beyond the said straight line the resiliency of the parts enables the clasp to snap to its seat, said clasp being finally arrested by the engagement of the other set of teeth (the lower set at Fig. 4) with the bottoms of the recesses 40. Thus it will be seen that the core of the spool assists to lock or hold the clamp in working position,or, in other words, the clamp is prevented from springing or working out of position, and thus releasing the ribbon, by

reason of the engagement of the clamp with the core. The clamp has bearing edges at separated points or lines upon the sides of the core, said bearing edges being preferably serrated, although they may be plain, if de- A sired. A portion of the core protrudes besaid bearing edge has passed over the crown the resiliency of the parts tends to force said bearing edge beyond the full-line position at said figure; but this is prevented by the engagernent of the lower bearing edge with the side of the core opposite to that with which the first bearing edge is in engagement. It

will be seen that by means of this portion of the invention the ribbon may by simple and easily-understood operations and without soiling the fingers be quickly attached to or detached from the spool without the use of pins or attaching devices, which are liable to become lost and which are difficult to insert and do not always hold the ribbon securely. It will also be understood that the ribbon-clasp is especially useful in connection with automatic ribbon-reverse mechanisms which embody devices that ride upon the ribbon, as said devices would be liable to catch upon the pins or other fastenings by which the ribbon is usually secured. The clasp is also preferable to holding devices which'are detachable from the spool, inasmuch as the latter are liable to be placed wrongly upon the spool, thus preventing or interfering with the operation of the ribbon-reversing devices, which cannot occur by the use of my clasp, as it has only one working position and cannot interfere with the ribbon-reversing devices. It will also be seen that as the plate 38 lies closely upon the core 1 the rounded fingers 29 and the plate ride easily thereover. Said ribbon-clasp is also useful in machines where the reversing mechanisms do notdepend upon any peculiar construction of the spool-core or where no reversing mechanism is employed. Myimproved reversing mechanism can, if desired, be used with or without the ribbonclasp, and many minor changes in construction and arrangement may be made in several features of invention set forth herein without departing from the spirit thereof.

While I have shown and prefer a clamp-..

ing-plate provided with two rows of teeth, it will be understood that a greater or a smaller number of rows may be employed. If only one row is used, the recesses may be reduced in length. As said recesses are placed along the spool-core they may be considered as equivalent to a single groove extendinglongitudinally of the core, although I prefer separate depressions in register with the teeth or serrations 39, since the ribbon is more effectively impaled or caught upon the swinging teeth. It will be noted that the core and the plate 38 cooperate to clasp the end of the ribbon and that said core and plate are separable one from the other. The arms 41 and pivots 42 sustain the plate in position for permitting the insertion of the ribbon and also in position for clamping the ribbon against the core.

The rider and hook shown herein are designed to enable a much longer ribbon to be used on the Smith Premier machine than can be used with the construction shown in said Letters Patent.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a pair of ribbonspools having ratchet-wheels and adapted to rotate and also to move endwise, a pair of ribbon-carriers adapted to move with said spools, a pair of arms pivoted directly upon said carriers and provided each with a finger adapted to ride upon the ribbon as it winds upon the spool and thereby vibrate said arms, the axes of vibration of said arms being parallel with the spool-axes, and a pair of con necied driv- 'ing-pawls adapted to alternately rotate said spools and to be thrown into and out of operative relation thereto by the said arms.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a pair of ribbonspools having ratchet-wheels and adapted both to rotate and move endwise, a pair of ribbon-carriers connected to move with the ribbon-spools, a pair of hooks pivoted directly upon said carriers, the axis'of motion of said hooks being parallel with the ribbonspool axis, a finger rigidly attached to the axis of each hook and adapted to ride upon the ribbon upon its associated spool, and a pair of connected spool-rotating pawls adapted to be alternately thrown into engagement with their ratchet Wheels by engagement therewith of the said hooks and during the endwise movements of said carriers.

3. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a pair of ribbonspools having ratchet -wheels and adapted both to rotate and move endwise, a pair of ribbon-carriers each having arms embracing its associated spool and adapted to move therewith, a shaft or rod journaled in the arms of each ribboncarrier and parallel with the spool-axis, a finger rigidly secured to the said shaft or rod and adapted to ride upon the ribbon upon the spool to effect vibration of said hook, an arm also secured to said shaft or rod, and a pair of connected driving-pawls adapted to be alternately actuated by said arms.

4. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a pair of ribbonspools having ratchet-wheels and adapted to rotate and move endwise, a ribbon-carrier connected to move with said ribbon-spools, a rod or shaft extending across said carrier and pivoted in said arms, each of said rods or shafts being prolonged beyond its bearings and bent to form an arm and having a hook shape at itsfree end, a finger attached to each of said rods or shafts and adapted to ride upon the ribbon on the spool, and a pair of connected driving-pawls adapted to be actuated by said arms.

5. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a pair of ribbonspools adapted to rotate and move endwise and having ratchet-Wheels, a pair of ribboncarriers connected to said spools, means for moving said ribbon-spools and ribbon-carriers back and forth in the direction of the width of the ribbon, a pair of alternately-aeting' driving -pawls for said ribbon-spools, means connecting said driving-pawls together and holding one of them out of engagement While the other is operating to turn its spool to move the ribbon lengthwise While the latter is moving widthwise, and a pair of hooks pivoted directly upon said ribbon-carriers and parallel with the axes of the spools, and having riders fixed rigidly thereto to travel upon the coils of the ribbon on said spools and to move said hooks simultaneously in the same direction, and to cause them to alternately actuate their respective driving-pawls upon the discharge of the ribbon from their respective spools, and thereby effect automaticallyareversal of thelongitudinal movement of the ribbon.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combina tion With an inking-ribbon, a pair of ribbonspools each having an opening in its core, and driving-pawls and ratchet-wheels for rotating said spools, of means for moving said spools and the ribbon crosswise, ribbon-carriers adapted to move crosswise with said spools, rock-shafts supported at their ends in said carriers, a rider on each rock-shaft, and a lateral hook at one end of each rock-shaft.

7. In a type-writing machine and in a ribbon-reversing mechanism, the combination of a ribbon-spool having a hole or depression and a ratchet-Wheel, a driving-pawl therefor, a ribbon-carrier frame embracing said spool, and a rock-shaft mounted to turn in said ribbon-carrier frame and arranged parallel with the axis of the spool and having a crank-arm or extension terminating in a beveled hook to engage said driving-pawl at the proper time, and said rock-shaft having also between the heads of the spool a radial finger or rider adapted to be influenced by the coils of ribbon and turned to vibrate said beveled hook, said finger or rider being also adapted when the spool is empty to enter the hole-or depression therein, as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-spool, having a hole 32, a ribbon-carrier 7, rod 27 journaled in the carrier, arm 30 thereon, beveled tooth or hook 31, rider 25 secured to said rod, and pawl 14.

9. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-spool, a recess formed in the core thereof, and a clasp pivoted upon the spool and having teeth arranged to enter said recess and to cooperate therewith to hold the ribbon upon the spool.

10. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a ribbon-spool comprising a core and flanges, of a yielding clamp carried by arms that are freely pivoted to said flanges, said clamp having separated bearing portions for engagement with the core, and a portion of the core protruding between said clampbearings, so as to form an obstruction to the movement of the clamp upon its pivots.

11. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a pair of spool-flanges, of two cooperating and separable members permanentlysecured thereto for olasping the end of the ribbon, one of said members being provided with a tooth and the other being pro- IIO vided with a recess for coaction with said tooth.

12. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a ribbon -spool, of a clampingplate constructed to lie in proximity to the core of the spool, arms at the ends of said plate constructed to lie against theinner faces of the spool-flanges and pivoted at their outer ends to said flanges, teeth upon said plate, and depressions upon said core in register with said teeth.

13. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a ribbon-spool, of a series of parallel peripherally extending depressions formed in the core thereof, a plate curved to correspond with the curvature of the core and having teeth to enter said depressions,'and means for supporting said plate.

14. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a ribbon-spool, of a series of parallel peripherally extending depressions formed in the core thereof, a plate curved to correspond with the curvature of the core and having teeth to enter said depressions, and means for pivotally supporting said plate upon said spool.

15. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a ribbon-spool, of aseries of parallel depressions formed in the periphery of the core thereof, a plate curved to correspond teeth to enter said depressions, and arms secured to the ends of said plate and pivoted tot-he flanges of the spool.

16. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a ribbon-spool, of a series of parallel peripherally-extending depressions formed in the core thereof, a plate arranged over said depressions and having teeth upon each side thereof adapted to engage said depressions, and means for supporting said plate.

17. In a type-Writing machine, the combination with a ribbon-spool, of plate 38, teeth 39, pivoted arms 4l, and grooves 40 formed in the core of the spool.

18. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a ribbon-spool, of a depression formed in the core thereof, a device constructed to ride upon the coils of ribbon and also to enter said depression, a ribbonreversing mechanism controlled by said riding device, a plate constructed to clamp the ribbon against the spool-core and so arranged that said riding device may pass over it, and means for supporting said plate.

19. In a type-Writing machine, the combination with a ribbon-spool; of a depression formed in the core thereof, a device constructed to ride upon the coils of] ribbon and also to enter said depression, a ribbon-reversing mechanism controlled by said riding device, a

plate permanently secured upon the spool and constructedto clamp the ribbon against the spool-core and so arranged that said riding device may pass over it, and means for supporting said plate.

20. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a ribbon-spool, of a ribbon-clasp comprising a toothed plate and swinging arms pivoted to the spool-flanges, said plate being constructed to snap over the core of the spool, and said arms being of such length that the plate cannot be forced beyond a straight line joining the arm-pivots and the axis of the spool, and suitable recesses provided in the core for cooperation with the teeth upon said plate.

21. In a type-writing machine, a spool having a series of depressions in its core and a swinging clamping-plate provided with a set of teeth directed toward the axis of the spool and adapted to pass through the ribbon and enter said depressions and hold the ribbon upon the core.

22. In a type-Writing machine, the combination with a ribbon-spool having an opening in its core, a longitudinally-traveling ribbon, a ribbon-carrier, and a switch or shifting mechanism, of a finger or rider pivoted directly to said ribbon-carrier and arranged to travel upon the coils of the ribbon and to drop into said opening in the spool when the latter is empty, whereby the reversing action may take place immediately the spool is exhausted of ribbon.

23. In a type-writing machine, and in a ribbon-reversing mechanism, the combination of a ribbon-spool, a driving-pawl therefor, a ribbon-carrier, a ribbon, and a gravitating pawlactuator pivoted directly upon said ribboncarrier and having a finger adapted to ride upon the coils of the ribbon as it is unwound from said spool, thus enabling the said pawlactuator to gradually swing to the plane of the said driving-pawl, the axis of the pawlactuator being parallel with the spool-axis, and the said spool being so constructed that when the ribbon is unwound, the said finger may have a sudden drop or movement toward the axis of the spool, whereby said pawl-actuator is swung into position for engagement with its pawl.

Signed at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, this 2d day of April, A. D. 1900.

GEORGE FREDERICK STIIAIIMAN- Witnesses:

J. W. TORREY, J. L. HoPKINs.

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