US771781A

US771781A - Type-writing machine.

Info

Publication number: US771781A
Application number: US16819003A
Authority: US
Inventors: Emmit G Latta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1903-08-04
Filing date: 1903-08-04
Publication date: 1904-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 1921-10-04

Description

No. 771,781. PAIENTED OCT. 4:,15904. E. G. LATTA. TYPE WRITING MAGHLNB;

APPLICATION FILED AU4G'.,4, 19031,

1T0" MODEL.

3 SH-EETSSHBET 1.

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- waarzian ad W 5 9% m q' mw filo 7726]]6.

PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904.

B.G'.LATTA.. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1 903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

Ill/I141. @f 0 flfiornaga fli 63% No. 771,781. PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904 E.G.LATTA.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1903.

NO MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

EMMIT G. LATTA, OF FRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,781, dated October 4, 1904.

Application filed August 4, 1903.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMMIT Gr. LATTA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Friendship, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the operating mechanisms for the carriages of type-writing machines, and is more particularly directed to improvements in a front-strike or visible-writing machine of that kind in which the typebars are pivoted on a segment arranged below the platen and are swung upwardly and rearwardly to make the impression at the front side of the platen, where the writing can be seen by the operator without moving the carriage or platen; but the improvements are also applicable to other forms of type-writing machines.

One object of the invention is to provide a type-writing machine with an improved carriage feed or escapement which produces the usual step-by-step movements of the carriage for ordinary Writing and enables the carriage to be moved irregular distances by the operation of a key to produce special work, such as tabulated or column work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a set-back device by the operation of which the carriage can be moved back a single space at a time to facilitate the reprinting, correcting, or insertion of a character.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation of a type-writing machine embodying the invention, portions of the machine which are not necessary to an understanding of the invention being omitted. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation thereof in line 2 2, Fig. 1, seen from the front. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof, partly broken away, showing parts of the earriage-escapement in a different position from that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the lower portion of the machine, partly broken away, showing one of the key-levers,

, but omitting the type-bars and other parts for the sake of clearness. Fig. 5 is a detail fierial No, 168,190. (No model.)

sectional elevation of the driving-drum for the carriage and associated parts. Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the tabulator-disks.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The main frame of the machine upon which the several operative parts are mounted may be of any suitable construction and preferably consists of upright sides a, which are connected at the front by a stepped plate or portion a, constituting the base of the keyboard,

and at the back by an upright rear portion.

of bracket (0 which is joined at its opposite ends to inwardly-extending overhanging portions 6& of the sides of the frame.

B represents the platen; C, one of the typebars, which are arranged below and in front of the platen and are pivoted at their rear ends on a curved segment 0, located below the plane of the platen; D, one of the key-levers, which are arranged below the type-bars and connected to the latter by rods (Z; E, the keys connected to the key-levers and supported in suitable bearings on the keyboard-base, and F the ribbon, the front end of which is connected to a spool (not shown) and which passes down in front of the platen through a suitable guide device f and is connected at its rear end to a spool f, arranged below the platen.

The type-bars, the type-bar segment, the key-levers, and ribbon mechanism are arranged and constructed, preferably, as described in other applications about to be filed. These parts may, however, be of any suitable construction and arrangement and are shown herein simply to give a better understanding of the general arrangement of the parts.

The platen B, as usual, is supported by a carriage which is movable laterally or crosswise of the machine. The carriage is supported and movable on a stationary horizontal g represents a horizontal sliding bearing This bear1ngbar or rail for the carriage.

bar is preferably made in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 5, of sheet metal, having its rear side ground to form a wide rearwardly-opening groove of the shape shown. The upper portion of the bearing-bar overhangs the stationary track and incloses and bears on an upper set of balls in a ball-race in the track, while the lower portion of the rear face thereof is plain and bears against the exposed portions of a lower set of balls in a second ball-race in the track.

The carriage proper consists of four parts, or two end pieces or bars and front and rear transverse horizontal connecting rods or bars 71. if, which are preferably round steel rods. The rear rod 762 passes loosely through bearing-brackets [1/ secured by screws h or otherwise to ears it, which project rearwardly from the end portions of the sliding bearing-bar.

it, Fig. 3, represents springs which are coiled around the rear rod of the carriage, each having one end hooked over the adjacent bearing-bracket and the other end inserted in one of a series of holes in a collar it, which surrounds the rear rod of the carriage and is adjustably held thereon by a set-screw it These springs act to normally hold the carriage up in the position shown in full lines.

The platen is turned to produce ordinary line-spaces or feed the paper by the following mechanism: 1, Fig. 2, represents aratchet wheel or plate which is secured to one end of the platen, preferably the right end, and is provided near its outer edge with ratchetteeth c'. K, Figs. 2 and 3, represents the regular line-space or paper-feed lever for turning the platen. The lever is located at the right end of the carriage and pivoted to the adjacent side piece of the carriage by a screw or pin 71;." The line-space lever is provided at its front end with an arm which projects toward the ratchet-plate and carries a pivoted pawl k, Fig. 2, the upper free end of which is adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel I to turn the platen. K, Figs. 2 and 3, represents a lever similar to the linespace lever K, arranged at the opposite end of the carriage and pivoted thereto byasuitable screw or pin 76. The construction, arrangement, and operation of the line-space levers K K is more fully shown and described in my application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 179,119, filed October 30, 1903. L, Figs. 1 and 3, is a bar of angular shape in cross-section, which is arranged longitudinally beneath the platen and is provided with upturned ends m, which are pivoted to arms a n on the line-space levers K K, respectively. This bar connects the two levers, so that when the lever K at the left end of the carriage is operated power is transmitted therefrom to the other lever, K, at the right end of the carriage and the platen is turned by the pawl and ratchet-plate, as above described. The two levers and their connecting-rod thus afford means for turning the platenv from either end thereof. necting-rod L also constitutes the means for releasing the carriage feed or escapement, as hereinafter explained.

The carriage feed or escapement mechanism is constructed as follows, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3:) 0 represents the carriage-driving drum or barrel, which is journaled beneath the carriage-supporting track on a hollow stud or axle P, projecting from the upright rear portion of the main frame, on which the drum is held by a suitable bolt 19, passing through the axle. The drum incloses an ordinary spiral'spring connected at its inner end to the supporting-axle and at its outer end to the drum or barrel in any suitable manner. The peripheral face of the drum is provided with gear-teeth p, which mesh with a toothed rack 19 formed on or secured to the lower edge of the sliding bearing-bar of the carriage. The spring tends to turn the drum to the left, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and moves the carriage to the left, as usual. The tension of the driving-spring may be readily increased or decreased by disconnecting the rack-bar from the teeth of the drum and turning the drum on its axle. p indicates ratchet-teeth, which in the construction shown are formed on a wheel or plate constituting the back of the driving-drum. The lattter, however, may be independent of the ratchet-wheel and controlled thereby in any suitable manner.

Q, Figs. 1, 3, and 4;, represents the universal bar, which, as usual, is arranged transversely beneath the several key-levers, so as to be depressed when any key is depressed to print a character. The universal bar preferably has rearwardly-extending side portions pivoted near the rear of the machine on pivots q, projecting inwardly from the sides of the main frame. the universal bar approach each other at the rear of the machine beneath the driving-d rum and support an upright dog-post q, pivoted thereto by a screw or bolt 1 The universal bar is normally held up by one or more coilsprings Q3, connected thereto and to the baseplate of the keyboard. The dog-post q is offset, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the upper portion thereof is bifurcated or branched.

q" is a holding-clog, which is pivoted on a pin or stud Q5, projecting from a bracket q, secured to the rear portion of the main frame. The free end of the holding-dog extends between and is pivoted to the branches of the dog-post, and is provided with a tooth or nose adapted to engage with the teeth of the escapement ratchet-wheel.

R represents an escapement-pawl, which is supported by a pivot r, passing through an elongated slot in the pawl and secured to lugs projecting from the bracket q. The pawl R is provided with a tooth or portion adapted The con- 65 The rear ends of the side portions of to engage the ratchet-teeth of the drivingdrum, and on one side of its pivot with atailpiece 1", which passes between the branches of the dog-post above a set-screw r which passes through the offset portion of the dogpost. The pawl R is provided at the opposite side of its pivot with an arm 1*, and has a depending projection, which is connected to the rear portion of the main frame by a coiled spring 7- The set-screw 1- carried by the dog-post, is adjusted to release the pawl R after the nose of the dog q has been raised to engage one of the teeth of the escapement ratchet-wheel. When a type-key is depressed to make an impression, the universal bar is also depressed and the dog-post raised to carry the holdingdog q into engagement with one of the teeth of the ratchetwheel. The set-screw r then strikes the tail of the escapement-pawl, disengaging its nose from the tooth of the escapement ratchetwheel, and the nose of the pawl R is moved by its spring 7" rearwardly and upwardly into engagement with the next tooth of the ratchetwheel. When the type has made the impression and the key is released, the dog 9* is lowered by the downward movement of the dog post, and the ratchet wheel turns forwardly one tooth,carrying the pawl R with it until the latter is stopped by the engagement of the end of its slot with its pivot-pin r, and the ratchet-wheel is arrested.

S, Figs. 1 and 4, represents the space key or bar, which is supported at the front ends of forwardly-converging levers s, pivoted at their rear ends to lugs s on the rear portion of the main frame and connected at their front ends by a rod .9 and bar or strip 8 The space-key is held up by one or more suitable spring 8, connecting it with the base-plate of the keyboard, and the strip 8 is provided with a hook or projection siwhich overhangs a cooperating hook or projection 8 secured to the universal bar. When the space-key is depressed, the hook s thereon engages the hook on the universal bar, so that the latter is depressed by the depression of the spacekey. The universal bar is depressed by the depression of the type-keys independently of the space-lever in the ordinary manner and is also moved by the depression of the spacekey. The carriage is thus moved laterally step by step to produce the ordinary letterspacing in the usual operation of the machine by depressing either the type-bars or the space-key.

T, Figs. 1 and 2, represents a carriage-release lever, which, together with a ribbonfeed lever t, is pivoted ona bracket 25, secured to the carriage-track and extending forwardly beneath the platen. The release-lever is arranged with its free end beneath the free end of the ribbon-feed lever, which in turn is beneath the horizontal bar L connecting the paper-feed levers K K, so that when said bar is depressed by the operation of either of the paper-feed levers the ribbon-feed levert is depressed and striking the release-lever T depresses the latter. The carriage-release lever is connected to the upper end of a rod t the lower end of which has a rearward extension which projects over the arm r of the escapem'ent-pawl R.

The actuation of either paper-feed lever operates through the ribbon-feed lever, releaselever, and rod t to disengage the escapementpawl from the ratchet-wheel, thereby avoiding the noise and wear of the parts of the carriage-escapement when the platen is turned and the carriage set back for anew line. The parts are so adjusted that a slight movement of either paper-feed lever will release the escapement pawl and free the carriage, and a further movement of the lever will turn the platen and feed the ribbon, as explained in my aplication for the ribbon mechanism.

The irregular movement of the carriage for the production of special work, such as tabulated and column matter, is effected by the following mechanism: Urepresents a ratchetdisk which is secured to the rear side of the escapement ratchet-wheel P and is of smaller diameter than the latter. The teeth or stops at on the tabulator ratchet-disk are spaced at intervals greater than the teeth on the regular escapement ratchet-wheel-for instance, they may be separated distances such that when the tabulator ratchet-disk is turned from one tooth to thenext the carriage will be moved by the driving-drum a distance equal to ten letter spaces. The tabulator ratchet-disk is provided with a radial slot 10', whereby it is slipped over the hub of the escapement ratchetwheel, on which it is held from turning by a stud n on the escapement ratchet-wheel engaging in one of a circular series of holes a in the tabulator-disk. The disk is held in place on the ratchet-wheel by a nut a, screwed on the threaded hub of the ratchet-wheel. V represents a tabulator-lever which, in the form shown in the drawings, is made in one piece, with atransverse rock-shafto, pivoted in bearings n on one side of the main frame and on a fixed transverse bar or plate 22 secured to the main frame. The lever has a forwardlyprojecting arm provided with a key 21 and a rearwardly-projecting arm, the rear end of which extends upwardly and is provided at its top with a curved face adapted to engage a smooth circular face on the escapement ratchet-wheel and with. a tooth or projection 41*, adapted to engage the teeth or stops on the tabulator ratchet-disk. The upright rear portion of the tabulator-key is provided with a horizontal pin or projection of, Fig. 3, which extends beneath the tail of the escapementpawl R. The tabulator-key is held up by a coil-spring v, Figs. 2 and 3, connected to the rear end of the tabulator-lever and to the rear portion of the main frame. When the tabulator-key is depressed, the rear end of the lever is raised, with its curved face in engagement with the cylindrical face of the escapement ratchet-wheel and its tooth in the path of the teeth of the tabulator-disk. The pin a engages the tail of the escapement-pawl R and moves the later to release the escapement ratchet-wheel, which is turned by the driving-drum until a tooth on the tabulator-disk strikes the tooth on the tabulator-lever and is arrested. Thus the tabulatorlever releases the escapement ratchet-wheel when it is depressed and permits a movement of the driving-drum and carriage equal to the dis tance between the teeth or stops of the tabulator-disk. In this movement of the carriage the curved face of the tabulator-lever, bearing against the cylindrical face of the escapementwheel, acts as a friction-brake to retard the movement of the escapement-wheel and prevent shock and injury to the parts. This movement can be varied to suit any character of work by providing different ratchetdisks on which the teeth are differently spaced. Fig. 6 shows a tabulator-disk provided with teeth or stops spaced farther apart and adapted to stop the carriage after a fifteen-letter-spacc movement of the same. The tabulator disks are interchangeable. To detach a disk, the carriage is moved to one side of its run, which turns the tabulator-disk with its slot extending downwardly from the hub of the driving-drum. The upper portion of the disk is then disengaged from the stud on the escapement ratchet-wheel and the disk slipped off of the hub of the escapement ratchet-wheel. Tabulator-disks can be supplied for various purposes-that is, to permit different movements of the carriage-and when in place do not interfere with the regular step-by-step movements of the carriage except when the tabulator-key is depressed. The stud on the escapement ratchet-wheel can be engaged inany one of the holes in the tabulator-disk, which are preferably spaced apart a distance equal to live letter-spaces, in order to enable the carriage to be stopped at any desired point. The tabulator ratchet-disks are flat steel stampings, made at small expense by stringing a number of them on a mandrel and milling their outer edges to produce the desired number and position of teeth.

Instead of providing separate tabulatordisks the driving-drum or escapement ratchetwheel could be provided with steps, or sepa rate stops could be adjustably attached. to the drum. Neither of these constructions, however, is considered as desirable as that explained above.

W, Figs. 3 and 4, represents a setback-lever, which is of any suitable form and is pivoted intermediate of its ends on a lug depending from the inwardly-projecting portion of one side of the main frame. The lever is provided at its front end with a key w and at its rear end is provided with a pivoted dog w, which cooperates with the escapement ratchetwheel and which is connected to the main frame by a coil-spring e0 The dog is made with a lateral extension at its lower end,which in the normal position of the lever is held by the spring 10 on a stud w, secured to the rear portion of the main frame, and prevents the upper free end of the dog from engaging the teeth of the escapement ratchet-wheel. The spring is connected to the dog at one side of its pivot, and when the dog is lifted off of its rest by depressing the setback-key the spring swings its upper end into engagement with the teeth .of the escapement ratchet-wheel, which is turned backwardly by a further movement of the setback-lever until the escapementpawl engages the next tooth of the ratchet. The parts are so proportioned that the depression of the setback-key to its limit forces the carriage back one letter space, which movement can be repeated, if desired, with great ease and rapidity, causing the carriage to move back a space at a time as far as desired. The spring 10 acts to return the setback-lever to its normal position.

I do not broadly claim in this application an irregular feed for the carriage, enabling the production of tabulated matter or column work, or a device for setting the carriage back; but

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a type-writing machine the combination with a carriage having a toothed rack, of a power driven wheel meshing with said toothed rack, a universal bar, a regular stepby-step feed for the driving-wheel actuated by the universal bar, andan auxiliary irregular feed for said wheel actuated independently. of the universal bar, substantially as set forth.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a carriage, of a power-driven drum or barrel having two sets of concentric stops rigidly connected thereto, and two escapements acting with said stops whereby either a regular step-by-step or an irregular feed of the carriage may be had at will, substantially as set forth.

3. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a carriage, of a power-driven drum for actuating the carriage, having two sets of fixed stops thereon, an escapement device cooperating with one of said sets of stops to produce a regular step-by-step feed of the carriage, and an escapement device cooperating with the other set of stops. to produce an irregular feed of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

4. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a carriage having a toothed rack, of a power driven wheel meshing with the toothed rack on the carriage, two sets of con centric ratchet-teeth on said wheel of different pitch, and two independent escapements cooperating with said sets of teeth whereby either a regular step-by-step or an irregular feed may be had at will, substantially as set forth.

5. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a carriage driving wheel or drum, and a regular step-by-step carriage-feed, of an auxiliary irregular carriage-feed, and a onepiece centrally-pivoted lever having a fingerkey at one end and a brake-shoe at the other end acting directly on the driving-wheel whenever the key is depressed, substantially as set forth.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a carriage driving wheel or drum, regular and irregular feed devices, and a one-piece centrally-pivoted lever having a finger-key at one end and an integral stop and brake-shoe at the other end, substantially as set forth.

7 In a type-writing machine, the combination with a carriage driving-wheel, and aregular step-by-step escapament, of an auxiliary escapement of greater pitch than the regular escapement, and a one-piece finger-lever centrally pivoted to the frame of the machine and acting to disengage the regular escapement, form a direct braking contact with the wheel, and a direct stop for the auxiliary escapement, substantially as set forth.

8. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a carriage, a driving-wheel operatively connected thereto and provided with stops, means cooperating with said stops to produce a regular step-by-step feed of the carriage, an auxiliary feed-disk detachably secured to said driving-wheel and having stops, and means cooperating with said stops to produce an irregular feed of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

9. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a power-driven carriage, of a wheel having two sets of stops arranged at different intervals, and two space-keys and connections whereby either key acts independently of the f)the}r to feed the carriage, substantially as set ort 10. In a type-writing machine, the combination with-a regular step-by-step carriageescapement, of an irregular auxiliary escapement including an operatively connected wheel having stops and a smooth surface, and a lever-actuated part acting to release the regular escapement and acting as a frictionbrake on the smooth part of the wheel, substantially as set forth.

11. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the carriage, and a toothed wheel operatively connected therewith, of a fingerlever centrally pivoted to the frame of the machine, and a dog or pawl pivoted to the lever and adapted to automatically engage the toothed wheel with each vibration of the lever, substantially as set forth.

1%. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the carriage and a toothed wheel operatively connected with the carriage, of a centrally-pivoted one-part finger-lever having a pivoted dog at one end, and a spring acting with the initial movement of the lever to engage the dog with the toothed wheel, and with the release of the lever to retract the same and disengage the dog, substantially as set forth.

13. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a power-driven carriage, and a toothed wheel operatively connected to the carriage, of a centrally-pivoted finger-lever, a dog pivoted directly thereto, an abutment against which the dog normally rests, and a spring acting to throw the dog in contact with the wheel with the initial movement of the lever, and to withdraw the dog from the wheel and hold it against the abutment after the release of the lever, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 29th day of July, 1903.

EMMIT G. LATTA.

Witnesses: I

H. L. BLossoM, OHAs. J. Rrcn.