US887976A - Type-writing machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

, 12,0. 'STIOKNEY. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

HH OD N m (i 3 w? S 3 on mm APPLICATION PILED APE. 23, 1902.

BURN'HAM C. f TIGKNEY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1908.

Application filed April 23,1902. Serial 1 10. 104,245.

To allwhom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, BURNHAM C.-ST10K- NEY, a citizen of the United States, and resi-- dent of the city of Elizabeth, county of Union and State of New'Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the type actions of writing machines, and especially those in which type bars strike upon the frontside of a'platen. i

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction whereby the touch of the keys may be rendered less fatiguing, and also whereby the touch may be regulated within wide limits.

-My invention consists in certain combinations of devices, features of construction and organizations of parts, all as will be fully hereinafter set forth and particularly pointed out in the concluding claims.-

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of a front strike writing machine embodying my present improvements. -At this figure are shown in full lines two key actions or type actions, 'one in normal and the other in printing position, the parts being adjusted for a yielding or elastic key touch; while in dotted lines is shown the-printing position of a key lever. when given an easy stroke by the finger. There is also shown in dotted lines an adjustment whereby the touch of all of the keys is rendered hard, at which adjust- 'ment none of the keys can be pressed down to the position of the full-line depressed key. Fig. 2 is a plan showing the rear portion of the base, together with the major portion of the touch-adjusting mechanism, some of the key-levers being also indicated. The adjustment of the touch-regulating mechanism corresponds to that shown in full lines at Fig. 1.

In the several views similar parts are designated by similar numerals of reference.

The machine frame may consist of a rectangular base .1, corner posts 2, and top plate 3. (Iver the last may run a carriage (not orizontal shown), having a platen 4.- and types 5 may -be carried by a curved system of 7 type bars 6, pivoted at their inner or rear ends upon a curved fulcrum wire 7, so as to strikerearwardly against the front side ofthe platen. The hubs of the type bars may work in slots 8 out radially in a segment 9, secured at its'ends to brackets 9 depending from the to plate 3. Keys 10 may be connected to t e type bars by means of horizontal key leversl'l of the second order, extending rearwardly beneath the type bars, links 12 being connected at 13 to the key leyers and extending directly u to the type bars, to which they are attache at 14. The

types may be otherwise connected tolthe keys within the scope of my present improvements.

In operation, a keyis de ressed, forcing down t e key lever 11, and t irough the link 12 swingin the type bar up to print. The parts may e returned to normal position by a draw spring 15, hooked at its lower end to an ear 16 formed on the link 12, and caught at its upper end over a horizontal bar 17 suitably supported upon the framework and arranged across the machine in rear of the links. The movements of the aper carriage may be controlled by a curve universal bar 18, actuable in a horizontal direction by the hub or lower portion of any typebar, and

having suitable connections, as indicated at 19, whereby it may operate the usual letter spacing dogs (not shown). Said universal bar may, as usual, be rovided with a returning spring (not shown to cooperate with the spring 15 -in returning the type bar and key to normal position; and both the universal bar spring and the spring 15 may beadjusted as required, to secure prompt return action of the type bar and carriage feeding mechan-- ISInS.

In the present instance each key lever at its rear 'end bears u against a yielding fulcrum, which is pre erablyin the formof a spring finger or tongue 20, secured at its rear end by a screw 21 to the under side of a transverse bar 22, and at its forward end bifurcated at 23 to receive the rear end of the key lever, to which it is pivotally connected at 24. The spring fingers are secured side by side along the bar 22, one finger for each key lever, whereby stress put upon the lever by the finger of the o erator, the other levers are unafiected. ach of said spring fingers is preferably so stiff that at the depression of a key with moderate speed the type bar is carried to the platen and makes an impression thereon without a prcciablc flexure of said finger; but when t e and gives an extra yielding action to the key,

key is struck sharply, said finger yields,

when one fulcrum yields under the made very prompt by. putting sufficient tension upon the springs 15 and the usual universal-bar spring, without however rendering the touch harsh, inasmuch as such adjustment does not affect the yielding action of the key-lever fulcrum.

One of the main features of my present improvements consists in providing spring fingers for this .)urposc which are adjustable so as to regulate the yielding action of the key levers. This adjustment is preferably effected by moving the spring fingers bodily, without however disturbing the key levers, so that the latter may have more or less purchase upon the fingers. To this end I mount the bar 22, which carries the spring fingers, upon a pair of arms 25, one at each end of the barfand these arms are pivoted to the opposite side walls of the base at 26, whereby the bar 22 and the springs thereon may swing up and down about an axis'26 which is coincident with the pivots 24 of the key levers, the latter hence ren'iaining stationary during the adjustments of the bar and the spring fingers thereon. It will be observed that when the bar is swung to its lowermost position, as at 22, Fig. 1, the spring fingers or fulcrums stand vertically, that is, at rightangles or crosswise to the key levers, so that the latter exert stress lengthwise of the spring fingers, with no tendency to flex the latter, and hence there is praoticallyno yielding action of the levers, and theycan be depressed only to the dotted line position. The position of the bar 22.niay bevaried between the extremes illustrated, thereby enabling the machine to be adjusted to suit the requirements of different operators. This adjustment is preferably effected by means of a gear 27 'formed upon the left-hand arm 25, which meshes with. a worm 28 mounted upon the rear end of a forwardly extending horizontal shaft 29, mounted in lugs 30 and car rying at its forward end a knurl or fingeriece 31 at the keyboard of the machine. %y this means very fine adjustment of the key touch may be effected.

By making the spring fingers of proper stiffness, and so proportioning the connec tions from the key to the type bar that the normal dip of the key is slight, the keytouch may usually prac It will be seen that the extra yielding rendered much stiffer than is' cable, and may also, at the be adjusted to some intermediate point, and

without the necessity of altering the tension of the usual key-lever returning spring .(as 15) or the usual universal-bar spring, which. after being once set to secure the proper action of the mechanism, need not be disturbed when adjusting the touch of the keys; so that the'machme may be originally set to act as promptly as desired for both hard and soft key strokes, without the least liability of the-operator thereafter deranging the action of the delicate carriage-feeding .n'lechanism-in his attempts to adjust the key touch.

Certain features herein shown are described and claimed in my pending application No. 93,698, filed Feb. 12, 1902, and also in my application No. 97,837, filed March 12, 1902. 4

Il aving described my invention, 1 claim:

1 Ina typewriting machine, the combina-.

tion with a series of type bars of a series of keys, a series of levers between the keys and the type bars, a series of yielding fulcrums for said levers, and means for elfeciing a change in the relative positions of said levers and said fulcrums to vary the purchase of the levers upon the fulcrums to alter the resistance of the keys to the touch.

2. in a typewriting machine, the combina tion with a series of type bars of a series of keys, a series of lovers between the keys and the type bars, a series of yielding fulcrums for said levers, and means for adjusting said fulcrums siimlltaneously to different positions so as to vary the purchase of the levers thereon.

3. In a typcwriting machine, the combination .with a series of types of a series of keys, at SQlGS of lovers between the types and the keys, a series of yielding fulcrums to which said levers are attached, and a support whereon said yie ding fulcrui'ns are carried, said support being adjustable to different positions with reference to said levers so as to vary the direction in which the thrust of the levers is received by the fulcrums.

In a typewriting machine, the combina tionwith a series of type bars of a series of keys, a series of lovers between the keys and type bars, a series of adjustable spring lingers which form fulcrums for the levers, and a support for said spring fingers.

5. In atypewriting machine, the combination with a series of types ofa series of keys, a series of levers between the keys and types, a series of spring lingers which form ful crums for the levers, and means for varying the relative arrangement of said levers and said spring fingers in such a manner as to al ter' said levers "keys, type bars,

tion with a series of type bars of a series of keys, a series of levers between the keys and types, a series of spring fingers or tongues which form fulcrums for the levers, and means for adjusting said spring fingers to different positions so as to vary the purchase of the levers thereon.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a series of type bars of a series of a series of levers between the keys and a series of spring fingers which form fulcrums for the levers, and means for adjusting all of said spring fingers simultaneously about a point or axis substantially coincident with the points of contact betweensaid levers and said fingers. 8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a series of type bars of a series of keys, a' series of levers between the keys and type bars, a series of spring fingers to which are pivoted at their fulcrum points, a hinged support for said spring fingers, and means for adjusting said support.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a series of type bars of a series of of levers between the keys andkeys, a series type bars, a seriesof spring fingers to which Y said levers are pivoted at their fulcrum points, and a support for said spring fingers, said support being hinged upon the framework, and the axis of the hinge substantially coinciding with said lever pivots.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of levers connected thereto, a series of spring fingers upon which said leversbear at their fulcrum points,

the framework.

'11. Ina typewriting machine; the com bination of a series of typebars, aseries. of key levers of the second order connected thereto, a series of springs to Which-the rear ends of said key levers are pivoted, said springs being forked to receive the ends of the levers, and extending rearwardly therefrom, and an ad ustable'transverse bar to which said springs are secured. at their rear ends.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of key levers of the secondorder connected thereto, a series of springs to which the rear ends of said levers are pivoted, a transverse bar to which said s(prings are connected at their rear ends, an arms extending from; the ends of said bar, said arms being ivoted upon the framework substantially in me. with the pivots of said levers. I 13. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a 'series of type bars,'a,series of 'levers connected thereto, a seriesof spring finers to which said levers are connected at their fulcrum oints, said fingers constituting fulcra for the evers, and means for swinging tially para thereof such that during nation with a series g-for'swingmg said bar :wardly about an axis substantially coincident with the pivots of the levers.

and a bar carrying ,saidspring fingers and adjustably mounted upon crums for said levers, and

. thereto, for effecting such said spring fingers from-a position longitudinal of said levers to a position crosswise thereof.v

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a series of type bars, of a series of levers connected thereto, a series of spring fingersto which said levers are connected at their fulcrum oints, said fingers constituting fulcra for the evers, and means for adjusting said sprin fingers-from a position substanlel with said levers to a position substantially at right angles thereto, and for holding said fingers at intermediate positions.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of le vers connected thereto, a series of spring fingers to which said levers are connected attheir fulcrum oints, said fingers constituting fulcra for the evers, and means for adjusting said s ring fingers from a position longitudinal 0 said levers to a position crosswise the printing strokes said levers exert only a pull upon said spring fingers without flexing the latter.

16. In a typewriting machine, theicombi- 0 type bars of a series ofrearwardlyextending key operated levers of the second order connected thereto, a series of spring fingers pivoted to the rear ends 'of said levers and extending rearwardly therefrom, a bar to which said spring fingers are connected at their rearends, and means downwardlyand for- 17. In a front strike writing machine, the combination of a series of rearwardly striking type bars; a series of levers of the second order bearing keys at their forward ends and extending rearwardly beneath the type bars; a series of links extending upwardly from the key levers to the type bars; a series of draw springs attached to said links a series of fiat springs forked at their forward ends to receive the rear ends of the levers and ivoted thereto; a transverse bar to which tie rear ends of said springs are secured; and for-' wardly extending arms at bar, said arms being ivoted to the framework substantially in line with said key lever ivotsi 18. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a series of type bars of a series of keys, a series of levers between the keys and the type bars, a series of yielding fulmeans, including a the ends of said worm or screw and a finger-piece connected nation with a series of types of a series ent positions with reference to said levers, so

as to vary the direction in which thethrust of the levers is received by the fulcrums.

20. In a typewritin machine, the combination with a series OI type bars of a series of keys, a series of levers between the keys and type bars, ascries of spring fingers which form fulcrums for the levers, a support for said spring lingers, and means, including a worm or screw, for adjusting said support.

21. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a series of type bars of a series of keys, 'a series of levers between the keys and type bars, a series of springs to which said evers are pivoted at their fulcrum points, a hinged support for said springs, and means, including a finger piece, for adjusting said hinged support.

22. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of key levers of the second order connected. thereto, a series of springs fingers to which the rear ends of said levers are pivoted, a transverse bar to' which said spring fingers are connected, arms extending from the ends of said. bar and pivoted upon the framework, a worm wheel upon one of said arms, a worm in mesh with said worm wheel, and a finger piece connected to said. worm.

23. In a type'writing machine, the combination of a series of t *')e-bars a series of key-levers connected thereto, a series of fulcrums in the form of spring fingers connected to the type actions, a supporting device to which said fulcrums are connected, and means for enabling said supporting device to be turned so as to vary the action of said fulcrums.

24. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type-bars, a series of key-operated levers connected thereto, a series of fulcrums in the form of spring fingers having bearings upon said. key levers, and

a pivoted device whereon said i'ulcrums are mounted.

25. In a 'typewriting machine, the combination of a shaft mounted for a turning movement, a finger-piece thereon, a series of fulcrums in the form of springs adjustable by the turning movement of said shaft, a series justed position.

of levers bearing upon said fulcrums, and a series or types associated with said levers.

26. In a type'writing machine, the combination of a rocker member, a series of fulerums in the form of springs adjustable thereby, a series of levers'bearing upon said fulcrums, and a series of types associated with said levers.

27. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of types, a series of levers for operating the types, a series of springlingers attached. to said levers and serving as fulcrums therefor, a bar upon. whichs'aid spring-fingers are mounted, said bar being mounted. to rock upon the framework, and means, including a revoluble 'Iing'erpiece, for rocking said bar and holding it in its ad- 28. In. a typcwriting machine, the combination with types and levers which operate the types, of springs which serve as fulcrums for the levers, said springs adjustable to offer difi 'erent resistance to the levers, and independent springs for returning the levers.

29. In a typewriting machine, the corn bination with a bar and a series of fulcrums in the form of springs mounted thereon, 0i? a series of levers connected. to the fulcrums, and, type-bars operated by the levers.

30. The combination with type-bar levers of a rocker mounted on the framework, of springs projecting from the rocker and form- 1 mg the sole fulcrums for the type-bar levers.

31. The combination with a series of typebars and key operated levers connected thereto, of a shaft extending rearwardly from the keyboard and having a' button on its forward end, awvorm. on the rear end of the shaft, a gear engaged by said worm and fixed on a transverse bar, and springs secured at intervals upon said bar and extend ing to the key levers, and adjustable by turning said button.

In combination, a bail having thereon a series of yielding fulrcums for key-levers, and means for adjusting the bail.

33. Thecombination with a set of keyoperated type-operating levers, of a revoluble piece at the keyboard provided with means to vary the resistance of the keys to the touch.

BURNHAM e. ,sTIcKNEYJ Witnesses: I

WM. H. DE LACY,

.GEO. M COPEN'HAVER.

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