US859026A - Shifting mechanism for type-writers. - Google Patents

Description

No; 859,026. PATENTED JULY 2, 1907.

J. B. VIDAL.

SH IPTING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.17, 1906.

ATIOHNEYS JUAN B. VIDAL, OF HABANA, CUBA.

SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed October 17, 1906. Serial No. 339,837.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JUAN B. VIDAL, a citizen of the Republic of Cuba, and a resident of Habana, Cuba, have invented a new and Improved Shifting Mechanism for Type-Writers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in typewriting machines and more particularly to means for shifting the roller to bring different letters on the type levers into operative relation therewith.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby the shift key may be operated by the ball or the palm of the hand, ,thus leaving all of the fingers available for operating the type keys.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a typewriting machine, illustrating somewhat diagrammat ically the operating parts but showing the construction of my improved shifting mechanism; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a typewriter, showing the relative location of the shift key in respect to the type keys. 1

The frame 1 of the machine may be of any desired make or construction, and supports acarriage 2 having a main roller 3 around which the paper passes and anti-friction rollers 4 traveling in a groove in the rod 5 for supporting the front side of the carriage. By moving the-rod 5 backward or forward, the position of the carriage may be varied and brought into operative relation with a different portion of the type, so as to print a difierent letter or character; The rod is preferably supported by a bell' crank lever 6, fastened to the frame of the machine by a pivot pin 7 and having the horizontal arm of the bell crank lever connected by a link 8 to the long lever 9, which latter is pivoted at the rear of the machine and extends through an opening 10 in the front side thereof. The front end of the lever 9 is bent upward at the desired angle andis provided with a plate 11 considerably larger than the type keys and supported at substantially the same level as the type keys but ata considerable distance in front of them. Thekey-bcard may be of any design or arrangement preferred, and the keys operated either by a. downward, sidewise, or forward motion. ,The plate 11 is supported in such a position and relation in respect to the type keys 12 that when the fingers of the operator are over the key-board in the position normally occupied when operating the machine, the rear portion or ball of the hand is directly above the plate 11.

In the operation of the machine, the hand is-normally out of contact with the plate 11 but is closely adjacent thereto. When it is desired to shift the roller, this may be accomplished by pressing downward with the ball of the hand upon the plate 11 without removing any of the fingers from the key-board or interfering in any way with the normal operation of the machine. In the common form of machine it is necessary to utilize one hand, or at least one finger, for holding down the shift key when it is'desired to print in capitals or for any other reason it is desired to shift the roller; while the shift key is being held down, the hand so employed or at least one finger of that hand, can no longer be used for operating the type keys, and the speed of the operator must of necessity greatly-decrease. In my improved machine the operator may manipulate the type keys with as great rapidity while.

holding down the shift key with the ball of the hand, and the freedom of motion of the fingers is not inter fered with in any way.

When it is desired to hold the roller in its shifted position for any considerable length of time, any suitable means may be provided for holding down the lever 9, so that the pressureof the hand upon the plate 11 may be withdrawn or the pivotal point of the bell crank lever 6 may be shifted as is common in the art.

The plate 11 may be connected to the carriage by anysuitable mechanism other than the specific mechanism shown, as it is evident that the advantage gained by the specific position of the shift key in relation tothe type keys does not depend upon the sp ecific character of the connecting levers and pivots.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

'1. A 'typewriter comprising a carriage, a plurality of type keys adapted to be operated by the fingers, and a shift key located a considerable distance in front of saidvtype keys and adjacent one side thereof, and means connecting said shift key and said carriage, whereby the position of the carriage may be changed by depressing the shift key with the ball of the hand while all of the fingers remain in operative engagement with the type keys.

2. In a typewriter, the combination of a carriage, a pinrality of type keys adapted to be operated by the fingers of both hands, a. shift key larger than said type keys and at a considerable distance in front thereof at substantially the same elevation, and means connecting saidshift key with saidcarriag'e, whereby the position of the carriage may be altered by depressing the shift key with the ball of the hand while all of the fingers remain in operative engagement with the type keys.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

JUAN B. VIDAL.

Witnesses:

.TNo. M. Burns,

PHILIP D. Romance.

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