US840123A - Type-writer attachment. - Google Patents

Description

No. 840,123. I PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907.

. J. EDWARDS.

TYPE WRITER ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Q8 imposes No. 840,123. PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907. I I J. EDWARDS.

- TYPE WRITER ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY17, 1905. 1

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

r v PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907. J. EDWARDS. I TYPE WRITER ATTACHMENT. m APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1905. f0 a SHEETS-SHEET 3.

%W .I, I I I I RN w m 1 U ITED. STATES PATENT f oFFIoE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 17, 1905. Serial No. 270,084.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that 1, JOHN EDWARDS, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Edgard, in the parish of St. John the Baptist 'and State of Louisiana, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Type- VVriter Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

I My invention relates to an attachment for type-writers, and more specifically to means whereby an'even margin may be secured for type-written matterin other words, where: by the line may be justified. I At the present time the length of typewritten lines on a page is unequal, and the right side of a page of type written matter has a ragged appearance, some of the lines extending out to the margin and others falling short 'thereof by one, two, or more spaces. It is the object of my invention to permit the justifying of such lines for a perfect copy from a proof-sheet, much as a printer justifies a line of type after a proof has been taken-that is, by inserting proper spaces between letters or words so that the printed lineis lengthened until it is even with the margin.

To'that end my invention consists in the use of one or more auxiliary racks or toothed rules, which are shifted into the place of the regular rack and which has fewer teeth to the inch than the'regular rack, thus increasing to a slight degree the spacing between letters or between words, such increased width of spacing being comparatively slight individually, but taken in the aggregate suflicient to lengthen out the printed line to the margin.

1 have illustrated my invention as embodied in two forms of devices.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view ofthe rear part of atype-writer carriage to show the relation of my shift'able'raclg tothe machine. Fig. 2 is an end elevation to show particularly the rack-lifting mechanism. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the upper part of the carriage andthe rack. 'Fig. 4 is a detail of the rack-shifting wheel. Fig. 5 is a detail of the catch which engages the rack to the carriage. Fig. 6 is a plan view of another form of my invention w erein a-plurallty-of racks are used. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of Fig; 6

Fi @eforie describing the mechanica details of 8 is a detailoi the rack-turnin wheel.

my device I explain how it is to be used.

The prime object of my invention is to permit theextensionof a line of type-written matter so that an even margin may be secured. This, while of no great importancein -preparation of circulars and other papers where the general neatness and beauty of the page is to be taken into account. Preliminary to the useof my auxiliary justifying spacing-rack a copy or proof-sheet, as it may be called, is written as in ordinary cases, it being noted, however, at the end of every line how many spaces are needed to fill out the line'to the margin. This may be conveniently indicated on the ordinary machine by the'use of the colon (z) for each space. At the end of a line so written there will be as many colons' or other indices as there are spaces needed to fill up the line to the margin. Having made thisproof-sheet, a fair copy is to be made from this, using my auxiliary rack to space the letters either in the whole of, the line or a part thereof to an extent sufiicient to fill up the line to the margin.

I will now describe-my auxiliary spacingrack in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein. like numerals designate like parts. v

The construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 comprises a toothed rule or rack-bar 2 of about the ordinary length of a type-writer carriage-that is, nearly twice as long as the regular rack bar in use. This elongated rack-bar takes the place of the ordinary rackis shiftable longitudinally relative to the carriage and it is not composed of teeth all spaced an equal distance apart. with a rack-bar 2 of, say, sixteen inches length, seven inches of the rack would have, we will assume, ten teeth to the inch, or seventy teeth in all. This portion is indicated by 2. .The next six inches 2 of the rack portion, forming an auxiliary'rack, would have, say, nine teeth to the inch, or fifty-four in all. By moving this rack-bar one inch toward the left you would replace ten teeth by nine teeth, or you would have in a line seven inches long sixty-nine spaces instead of seventy spaces. By movin the rule two inches to the left you decrease t e number of spaces in the line to sixty-eight in a seven-inch line, or, in other words, the typed line which would ordinarily be compressed within Sixbar, but difiers therefrom in two respects. It'

ordinary letters, is greatly to be desired in the eight spaces, or two spaces less than a seventy-space line of seven inches, is now lengthened to fill out the Whole line, all as will more fully appear hereinafter.. In order that the rack-bar 2 may be readily shiftable with relation to the carria e, I preferably provide it with a *longitudina slot 3. (Shown clearly in Fig- 3.) 4 4. are roller-bearings which roject into the slot and carry the rackar. The bearing-rollers 4 are mounted on suit- .able pins 4, projecting from a longitudinal bar 5, which is fast to the carriage and travels .With it. Thelocation ofthe guide bar 5 is best seen in Fig. 1. At its ends the bar 5-has ears 5 5 forwardly projecting, through which pass the pivotins 6 6, bywhich the guide-bar 5 is pivote for a vertical turning .movement to the downwardly-bent .arms 7,- which are rigidly attached to the longitudinal traveling bar 8 of the ordinary carriage- .frame about on a line with. the bearings of the paper-cylinder. 7' 7 indicate flat down- ;wardlywcting springs attached-to theupper .face of.arms 7, the .free ends of which bear .upon theupper edge. oftheguide-bar 5-for' a ,purpose to belaterdescribed. I have shown only so much of a frame and cylinder-car- .ria e of a type-writer as will suffice-for an understanding of my invention, and before proceeding further with the .description of the details of the rack-lifting mechanism I .willzbriefly refer .to such parts of an ordinary .machine. as. are-shownin the drawings. 10-is thecarriage-platform, on Whichis supported the-.carriage guide rod 1 1 ,alon lwhich travelsthe .usual sleeve 12', held in .t e forked arm .12, which projects backwardlyfromthe traveling frame-bar 8. The bar 8 has mounted on it the usual rollers 8', .whichrestupon and travel on the ide-rod 12, which is mounted Lonthepillowlocks 12 of the carria e plat- .form 10. 13 designates the .forwar y-.profjectin ends of the bar 8, and 14 14' desig- .nate tie twoparallel rods.between the end 45,lpieces 13, the lower-one'o'f which rojects through end pieces 13 .and carries .t e .nuts" 14'. The upper rod 14 forms .the pivotshaft for ,the cylinder-sup ortin frame 15. This-framebears the usual eylinder '16, hav- 56 ring milled turning head 16.. 17'is.the.rackl barwelevatin key, ordinarily termed the carriage-re ease. This lifts the rack-bar I ..out of engagement with the spacing .dogs or. I,pawls-.20 .21 \and allows .the carria e to -be 5'5izpulled to the eiid of its travel by .t e usual exible metal strap .18. The key 17, how- .ever, I performs another function in combina- ,tion with my extended rack 22, which willbe ilater described. The esca ement or spacing .dogs 20 .21.are of the kind usuallyfoundfin .type-.wr1ting machines,- -and as their .con-

' structlon and mounting possessvnoinovelty I have not illustrated the well-known workin mechanism whereby they .aremoved bac f V vand forth" through the notches of the rack. 21 designates th loose dog, and 20 the rigid. dog. In operation whenever a typekeyis depressed and the rocking arm 22 brought forward to a oint where the rigid dog 20 engages with t erack the loose dog springs forward, forced by spring 21 opposite to the next notch of the rack. When the =typekey is released and the'rooking arm 22 =moved, the loose dog is again engaged in the notch to which it-is oppositeand is carried back even withthe other by the-forward action of the carriage. -This 1s one of the ordi- Xnary escapement mechanisms, but I wish it ;understood that any other form of'escapement may be used with or adapted to -m rule, and I do not .wish to be limited to this particular form in my claims, except :where expressly .stated. It is necessary in order that the :rack-bar 2. may :be shifted .upon .the longitudinally-fixed bar 5 that the rackbar be adapted -to :be raised free from the dogs .and free-of-catches23, .which holdthe rack-bar 2' set relatively-to the guide-bar .5. These catches 23.-are;practically. apart ofthe .downwardlysinclined arms 7 7. As shown, each consists of a sleeve 23",. (shown in dotted illl'16S.II1 Fig. 2,) adownwardlyandrearwardly projecting finger 23, whose extremity=en' gageswiththe-t'eeth of the rack*bar.2. The sleeve'23 iSJigidly fast to the pivot-pint which connects the guide-bar 5 to the arm 7. 4 .Itwill thus beseen that when the rack-bar is loweredinto its normal positionthe-catch engages with the teeth .to hold the rack.b ar relativelyzrigid Withthe carriage,-so thatthe carriage moveswith it. A pin 5 is prolonged fromthe-guide-bar 5.at one end, under-which the rear end of the key-lever 17 projects. Hence by depressing said. key at its 'finger; end the guide-bar 5 and'its attached-rack-bar 2 :05 is raised free from catch.23,.and the rack-bar 2- may then be moved along to.any.desired osition relative tothe-bar 5 and the-carriage.

ile-the;rack-bar'2 might befmoved withvoutany ,particular mechanism forzthat urpose, -I.prefer to useaniadjusting-whee 24, (shown best-fin Figs. 3 and 4,) .which has teeth 24 engaging-With teeth 2 on the upper edge of therack-bar 2. This wheel I .have shown-as supported ivotally-on aalat- 'erall projectingarm 25,. olted-toztherearwar ly-extending forked arm 12. :26 .is a .link pivoted to the extremity of the arm 25 for. a vertical movement, .in whose other end the-wheel 24 .is mounted. Projecting up- -wardly from the link isra pointer-standard -26',-.-carrying, a :pointer 26", which acts in .eonjunctionlwithmhe.numbers on theface of 'the wheel to show' the .amount it has been turned,;and-hence the position of the rack bar. 2. The-wheel.-is-.mounted tohave-verti: calzmovem-enaso .that it ma yieldwhen the rack-bar is-raised. T0 1101 it down -.to...the

prevents its too great depression. A stud '24 allows the wheel to be easily manipulated.

' In operating this form of my invention to LII ,fer. In thisI use a slide the rack-bar 2 to the left to bring one or more inches of the second part of the rack into engagement with the dogs, as before described, I simply depress the key 17, which raises the rack out of contact with the catch 23 and dogs 21. The wheel 24-is then rotated the proper degree tobring from one to six inches of the auxiliary rack into play. The key 17 is then released and the spring 7 forces down the rack-bar into engagement with the dogs and catch 23.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 I show a simpler construction and one which in many ways I preracks mounted to be rdught into engagement with the dogs by 'a rotative movement.

I have shown a set of six rack-bars 27, supported at their ends in heads 27, which. are rigid on a central shaft 28. This shaft is mounted .to turn in bearings on links 29, which are pivoted to dovmwardly-projecting arms 30, corresponding in position and operation to the arms 7 of the mechanism. heretofore described. One end of shaft .28 is prolonged, as at 28, and under itprojects the finger 31 of the ordinary carriage-shifting key, such as the key 17 before described. Springs. 30 bear downwardlyon shaft 28 and hold one of the racks into engagement with the dogs 20 21. The link 29 at the end of the shaft opposite to the finger 31 has an index-' pointer 29" mounted on it, which indicates on a wheel 32 and incon'unction with the numerals on said wheelw at rack is in engagement with the dogs. A milled fingerwheel 33 is used for turning the shaft 28. The teeth on the separate racks may be arranged in either of two ways. The first rack may have ten teeth to each inch, or in a rack of seven inches seventy teeth. The second rack ma have ten teeth tothe inch throughout six lnches of its length and nine teeth in the remaining inch. The next rack may have ten teeth to the inchfor five inches and nine teeth in each remaining inch, and so on for each rack, or one rack can have seventy evenly-spaced teeth, another sixtynine evenly-spaced teeth, another sixty- I eight, and so on. I do not wish to be limited in the setting of theseteeth, as I may use either of the two arrangements described. In some respects I prefer the first-named arrangement, which allows of even margin at the commencement of all lines; but the second arrangement permits of a more even spacing of the entire line and it is-also of use when an increased spacing between letters and words is desiredfor an entire page; It is obvious also that I increase the difference between the number of teeth on the racks to tion to be engaged by the dogs.

lurality of separate a much greater degree, if I so desire, so that,

for instance, one of the racks could have only half the number of spaces of the normal rack ordinarily used. v

The construction shown in' Figs. 6\ to 8 is used in the same manner as that before described, except that the shaft 28 is turned to bring one or the other of the racks into posithe fair copy from the proof-sheet the,nurnber of spaces needed to fill out the line is noted, as before described, and the-rack having the proper number of spacing-teeth is turned to engage with the dogs.

While I' have shown the invention as embodied in certain mechanisms and adapted to a certain-class of type-writer machines, I do not wish to be limited to the exact forms or arrangements shown, as it may be varied in many ways and adapted to allmakes of,

machines using a rack in conjunction with escapements of any construction and whether the rack or escapement teeth be in a longltu- In writing (finally-extended series or set about the circumference of a circle or wheel.

Having described my invention, what I claim is I 1. In. a type-writer, a carriage, escape.- ment mechanism for allowing the lateral shifting of said carriage, two or more connected sets of escapement-teeth, one set having teeth with a normal space between them, 1 the other set having teeth the spaces be tween each two teeth of which are of like width to each other, but smaller than the spaces between the normal teeth of the other set, and means for operatively engaging said sets and moving one of the other sets of teeth into or out of engagement with the said es capement mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In a type-writer, an escapement-rack having normally s ace teeth, said rack being continued beyon' auxiliary rack and being there provided with teeth variably spaced to the normal teeth of the rack, and means for sliding said rack lat-. erally to move the main rack out of position relatively to the carriage travel and to bring the auxiliary rack in position either along the whole or a portion of the carriage travel.

3. In a type-writer having a carriageand a main spacing-rack attached thereto, and escapement mechanism acting on the teeth of the rack to allow it-and the carriage tov shift laterally, an auxiliary spacing-rack having a less number of teeth than the-main rack so mounted that it 'may be substituted for said main rack and engaged with the car'- ria e escapement mechanism, mechanism for shi. ting said racks so that one may be substitutedfor the other, and a mechanism attached to the carriage for lifting the main or auxiliary racks out of engagement with the the machine to form an 7 sald arms and carrying the mam and auxshifting mechanism to allow one rack to be replaced by the other, substantially as de scribed.

4. In a type-writer having a carriage, a

main spacing-rack, and escapement-dogs en-v gaging with said rack for allowing the stepby-step lateral movement of said main rack rack and engage with the escapement-dogs,

means for shifting said racks and mechanism attached to the carriage for lifting the main or auxiliary racks out of engagement with the escapement mechanism to allow one rack to be replaced by the other, substantially as described.

5. In a type-writer, a carriage, controlling 'mechanism, main spacing-rack mounted on said carriage and adapted to be moved out of operative relation with the said controlling mechanism, an auxiliary rack attached to the main rack, mechanismwhereby the aux' iliary rack may be moved into the place of the main rackto engage with the carriagecontrolling mechanism, mechanism engaging with the said racks to control the carriage, arms projecting.fr0m the longitudinal main bar of the carriage-frame, links pivoted to iliary racks, springs on said arms for holding the links depressed to bring the rack-bars into contact with the controlling mechanism, and a key pivoted on the carriage whose end engages said rack-bars to raise the same out of contact with the said shifting mechanism.

6. In a type-writer, having a carriage with mechanism for controlling-the lateral shift of said carriage, an elongated rack-bar having a certain number of teeth along a portion of its length and a certain other number of teeth along the remainder of its len th, the said rack-bar being'shiftable lateral y with rela.

.tion to the carriage, guides in'which said rack- '-bar is supported, a catch connected to the carriage and normally engaging with the rack-bar to hold it to movewith the carriage,

' and .means for lifting said rack-bar out of engagement with said catch to permit it to be shifted'with relation to the carriage to bring a variable number of teeth into operative relation with the carriage-shifting mechanism, substantially as described;

7. In a type -writer, a carriage and-mech .anism for controlling the lateral shift of said ,fcarriage, a laterally-shiftable elongated rackbar, having a certain number of teethjalong a portion of its length equal to the length of the line to be written, and a certainother 'number of'teeth along the remainder of its length, guides for connecting said rack to the carriage, a catch for holding said rack from the lateral shifting of said rack-bar to bring a variable number of teeth into operative relation with the carriage-shifting, mechanism, substantia ly as described.

8. In a type-writer, a carriagelatform and carriage mounted to move aterally thereon, arms projectin'g'from the rear of said carriage, a longitudinal guide-bar having an upwardly-yielding connection with said arms, springs for holding said guide-bar down, mechanism for raising said guide-bar up against the force of. said springs, a rackbar mounted to slide longitudinally on said guide-bar but to move vertically with it, catches on said arms adapted to engage with the rack-bar when the same is in its lowest position, and carriage operating. mechanism adapted to engage with and move said rackbar when the same is in its lowest position, said rack-bar having a certain number of teeth along one portion of its length equal to the length of the line to be written and a certain other number of teeth along the remainder of its length, substantially as described.

9. In a type-Writer, a carriagelatform and carriage mounted to move aterally thereon, arms projecting from the rear of said carriage, a longitudinal guide-'barhavholding said guide-bar in its lowest position relative, to said arms, a key pivoted on saidcarriage and 'engaging'to' lift said guide-bar when depressed, springs for holding said bar depressed, guide-pins on said bar projecting rearwardly, a slotted rack-bar mounted on said guide-pins to slide longitudinally thereon, and carriage-operating mechanism adapted to engage with said rack-bar to move the carriage laterally along the platform, 'said rack-bar having a' certain number ofteeth along one portion ofits length equal to the length .of the line to be written and a certain other number of teeth along the remainder of its length, substantially as described.

10. In a type-writer, a carriage-platform and carriage mounted 'to move laterally thereon arms projecting from "the rear of said carriage, a longitudinal guide-bar having ears pivoted to said arms, springs for holding said guide-bar in its lowest position relative to said arms,--a key pivoted onsaid A carriage and-engaging to lift said guide-bar when depressed, springs for holding said bar depressed, guide -pins on said bar projecting-rearwardly, a slotted rack-bar mounted on said guide-pins to slide longitudinally thereon, and carriage operating mechanism adapted to engage with said rack-bar to I move the carriage laterally along the platsition of the said rack-bar, substantially as form, said rack-bar having a certain number described. V v v, of teeth along one portion of'its length equal In testimony whereof I have signed my to the length. of the line to be written, and a I name to this specification, in the presence of 5 certain other number of teeth along, the retwo subscribing Witnesses, this 10th day of 15 mainder of its length, in combination with a July, A, D. 1905.

rack-bai-shifting wheel mounted to engage W JOHNEDWARDS. with the upper edge of said bar to shift it lat- Witnesses: I 'erally, and a pointer arranged to cooperate EUGENE DUMEz, IO with said wheel to show the longitudinal po- EMILE LAUREUB.

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