US924885A - Type-writing machine. - Google Patents

Description

A. T. BROWN. TYPE WRITING MAOHINE. APPLIOATION IILBD NOV. 11, 1904.

Patented June 15, 1909.

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Patented June 1'5' 1909.

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ALEXANDER T. BROWN,- OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Application filed November 11, 1904. Serial No. 232,301.

To alt whom it may concervu Be it known that I, ALEXANDER BROWN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Syracuse, in the county-of Onondaga and especially of the so-called book typewriters.

My invention consists in certain features of construction and arrangements and combinations of parts which ,will be fully set forth herein and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in front elevation of a typewriting machine-in which my invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a left-hand end elevation of the same, the carriage and frame being shown in Vertical section on the line a0-ac of Fig. 1 and also on the line y-y of said figure; Fig. 3 is a yertical front to rear section through the esca'pelnent mechanism; Fig. 4

is a vertical section of the same on the line z-z of F ig. 3; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section ofthe same; 6 is a-view similar'to Fig.

.7, but showing theparts' in different positions; and Fig. 7 is a fragn'ientary right hand end elevation partly in section.

The typewriting machine shown in the present case comprises a stationary flatplaten and printing instrunientalities which are mounted in a carriage which moves transver ely across said fiat. pl'aten on a line space frame. which in turn is movable across the platen toward and from the operator. The platen frame 1. is provided with brackets 2 which rest on the upper ends of posts 3 which support the platen frame and most of the mechanism of the machine and which are in turn supported in any suitable manner. The platen consists of'the rectangular flat surface of the platen frame on which are spread a sheet or sheets 4 of rubber or other suitable material. Tracks 5 project from the right and left-hand edges of the platen frame, said tracks 'being depressed below the level of the platen surface.

The line space frame consists of two end amounted co-axially present invention.

pieces 6 rigidly. connected together by transverse'bars 7 and 8. Each of the end pieces- 6 has two rollers 9 and lO journaled thereon, and these rollers rest on the tracks 5 and support the line space frame. A rack bar 11 projects over each of the right and lefthand edges of the platen frame and istoot-hed on its under side, and said rack bars are in mesh with pinions 12 which are with the rollers 10. Suitable means may be provided for causing the two pinions 12 to turn in unison and thus impart a parallel line space motion to the line space frame. This mechanism is not shown in the present case as the particular construction thereof is immaterial to the Each of the end pieces (3 has a substantially horizontal portion which lies beneath the level of the platen .surface and the forward end of each of said end-pieces is formed with a substantial vertical portion to which the frame bar 7 is secured by screws 13 (Fig. 1). Theend pieces also have attheir rear ends substa-n- 1 tial vertical portions which are connected by the bar 8 which,'in the present instance, consists of a round rod which is inserted at its ends in bosses 14 (Fig. 1), formed in the end pieces (5, and saidbar is secured in position by screws 15 which pass through the end pieces 6 and are threaded into the ends of said bar. The carriage is supported on three rollers,'one of which runs on the rear bar 8 and the other two of which are spread wide apart and run on the front bar 7. For this reason-said front bar is longer than the bar 8 and projects some distance beyond the and pieces 6 in both directions.

The framework of the carriage comprises by a plate 1.8 which issecured toboth'castings y screws (not shown). A wheel or roller 20 is journaled on a stud projecting from the rear side of the plate 18 andsaid roller is held in position on said stud by a headed screw 21 which is threaded into the endof the stud. The roller 20 is thus situated in the middle ofthe carriage atthe rear side thereof and runs on the rear frame bar 8 as a track. The castings l6 and 17 are joined at their forward ends by a plate 22 which constitutes the keyboard of the maingportions 24. pended from the above described portions of.

the framework by frame pieces 26 and 27 chine and which is secured to said castings by screws 23 which pass through sald cast; lugs and are threaded into said plate. The

plate 22' projects some distance forward from the castings and the forwardly projecting portionof the plate is formed at its right and left-hand end sides with depend- A type ring 25 is suswhich are connected to said type ring'near the rear and front portions thereof respec 'to those used in the Smith Premier typewriter, the type carrying arms springing from the inner ends ofthe shafts and actuating crank arms from the outer ends of said shafts. Said crank arms areconnected by upwardl extending links 32 with the rear. ends of key levers 33. Said key levers are pivoted in hangers 34 which are secured to the under side of the keyboard 22 by nuts 35, each ofwhich is threaded on to a portion of the hanger 34 which projects through a hole in'the plate 22. The'key levers are levers of the first order and their forwardly extending arms are curved upward as shown at 36 and have keys 37 mounted thereon. The curved forward ends 36 of the key levers extend upward through openings 38 in the plate 22 and are guided by notches 39 forming parts of said openings. The type bars normally stand upright and rest against. a pad 40 which is secured to the framework of the carriage.

When a key 37 is depressed the rear end of its key lever is elevated and the correspondingitype isthrown down against. the platen. *ach of the key levers33 has a third arm 41 which extends downward from the pivotal point of said lever, and each of said downwardly extending lever arms has pivoted thereto a link 42 which extends toward the front of the machinethrough an open-' secured at itsends to the depending por-.

tions 24 of the keyboard. Each of the links 42 extends some distancein front ofth'e frame piece 43 and has a nut 44 threaded on its end. A spring 45 coiled about the link is compressed between the nut 44 and the frame piece 43. This spring-serves to return the key lever to normal position, and

the tension of the spring may be regulated by adjusting the nut'44. It will be perceived that the tension of the returning springs of the different keys may be regulated separately. A universal bar 46 lies ,beneath the series of links 42 and said bar is supported at its ends by arms- 47 which are pivoted at 48 to the depending portions depending from the keyboard and which has formed with a .shoulder 49 which lies in front of the universal bar, so that when any key isdepressed the universal bar will be moved toward the back of the machine.

In the present case the links are made of wire and the shoulders are formed by bend-- ing the wire as shown. The universal bar is returned to normal position bya spring 50 which is connected at its rear end'to a hook 51 which projects from the universal bar near the middle thereof, and at its forward end said spring is connected to a nut which is threaded on an adjusting screw 53 which passes loosely through a flange 54 on its forward end a milled head 55, by turning which the tension on the spring may beregulated.

Inorder to prevent the nut 52 from turning with the screw 53, said nut is formed with a second opening through which passes a fixed rod 56 whiehis secured to the flange 54. The motion of the universal bar under theimpulse of the spring 50 is limited by a plate 57 which is secured to the frame piece M 43 by a screw 58 and the rear end of which acts as a stop for said universal bar. The space bar 59 lies across the keyboard in front of the bank of keys and is mounted atits ends on the forwardly extending arms of bell crank levers-60 which are pivoted in hangers 6l which are secured to the plate 26 in the samemanner as the hangers 34. Said bell crank levers have downwardly extending arms 62 which-lie in front of the .1 universal -bar, and which actuate said universal bar-when said space bar is depressed. Said space bar mayibe provided with suitable returningsprings.

The right-hand end piece Got the line 7 space i frame has projecting horizontally 'sition on said stud by a headed screw 65 which is threaded into the end ofthe stud. A cord 66 is wound about said drum, from which it is led over a pulley .67 which is journaled at 68 in a hanger 69 whichde- 113 pends from the frame bar 7 nearthe righthand'end thereof. The end of the cord 66 is secured to an arm or bracket'70 which 'is secured to the lower side of the carriage 64 tends to draw the carriage toward the right.

The present machine is of such width that two consecutive leaves of large book hwybe spread outon the platen, so that the entire extent of movement of the carriage is veryconsiderable. F0r 'this reason the drum 64fis formed with a spiral groove so that the 24 of the keyboard. Each of the links 42 is cord 66 may be woundabout said drum several times without having one lap of the cord lying on top of another.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the middleportionof the carriage beneath-and back of the keyboard plate 22 is occupied by the key lever and.

type bar mechanisms, these parts being arranged but little above the forward rail or frame'bar 7'. The keys are thus placed low, being only a short distance above the platen. It has been a disadvantage of many prior flat-platen typewriters that the keyboard stood at a considerable height above the I hand sides. The casting 17 extends downward from the top of the carriage almost to the level of the type ring 25, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 2. This portion of the casting 17 is peculiarly shaped to form a housing for the escapement mechanism and some associated parts of the machine. This housing includes a wall 71 which has the general form of a portion of a cylinder, the axis of which is horizontal and extends from front toback of the machine. The form of this wall will be understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 3. The housing also includes-afront end wall 72 (Fig. 3) which closes the forward end of the cylindrical shaped chamher, of which the wall 71 forms the roof and side. The rear portion of said chamber is of greater height than the forward portion and has a front wall 73 and a roof 74. and a right-hand side wall 75 (Fig. 4c). -A rear wall 76 completes the housing of the chamber which is open on the side next the key lever A horizontally disposed shaft 77 extending from front to back of the machine, is journaled at its forward end in the frontendwall 72 and near its rear end in the rear end wall 76 .of the chamber above described. As here shown, the forward end of the shaft is coned and bears on anti-fric-' tion balls 78 which run in a ball bearing cap 79 which is seated in the wall 72. The rear end of the shaft is reduced, thus form- 'ing shoulder, and a cone bearing 80 is mounted on the reduced part of the shaft and seated against said shoulder. Said cone bearing engages anti-friction balls 81 which run in a ball bearing cup 82 which is threaded through the .rear wall 76 of the chamber. The ballbeai ings may be adjusted by adjusting the threaded cup 82. Near its forward end the shaft 77 has rigidly mounted thereon a, grooved roller 83 which is fixed in position on said shaft by a pin 84 which passes through said roller and shaft; The grooved roller 83 runs on top of the frame bar 7, the upper portion of which is made with an inverted V-shaped cross section to cooperate with said roller, as shown in Fig. 7.

The casting 16 is so shaped as to form a housing 85 (Fig. 1), which is similar in form to the forward 'part of the housing formed by the casting 17. Within the housing 85 there is journalcd a shaft similar in all respects to the shaft 77 and having mounted thereon a roller 86 similar to the roller 83.

It will be perceived that the rollers 83 and 86 are on the extreme right and left ends respectivcly of the carriage so that they are wide apart. and being grooved and running on the V-sha-ped track, they serve to guide the motion of the carriage across the machinein parallelism. Moreover, by placing these rollers and the escapement mechanism clear away at the sides of the key-lever sys- I tem, I obtain room to mount said key-lever system low, where the keys are in convenient position for operation. p

In order to prevent the rollers 83 and 86 from accidental displacement from the/rail 7 a plate 87 of metal is secured to the underside-ofthe housing 71 by screws 88, and said plate extends beneath the rail, as shown in Fig. 2. A bracket 89 is secured to the frame piece 26 by a screw 90 and extends beneath the frame rod or rail 8 and prevents accidental displacement of the roller 20 from said rail.

. A pinion 91 is rigidly mounted onthe hub of the roller 83 and said pinion meshes with a rackbar 92 which lies along the front face of the rail 7, as shown in Fig. 7, and which is secured to said'rail by screws 93 (Fig. 1).

A pinion 94 (Fig. 1) is secured to the hub of the roller 86 inthe same manner as the pinion 91 to the hub of the roller 83. Said pinion 94 is used in connection with the ribbon mechanism which is notshown in the present case. As best shown in' Figs. 3 and 4, the escape- ,ment mechanism which controls the feed of the carriage under theimpulse of the spring drum 64:, 1s inclosed 1n the housing formed byv the casting 17 and is geared to the shaft 77 which through the pinion 91 is geared to the rack bar 92. A gear wheel 95 is'rigidly mounted on the shaft 77 and meshes with a pinion 96 which is rigidly connected with a gear Wheel 97 which meshes with a pinion 98, which is loosely mounted on a shaft 99 on which is also mounted th'e-escapement wheel 100. The pinion 96 and the gear 97 are journaled on a short shaft 101 which has threaded portion which is threaded through 12 5 the rear wall 76 of thehousing. The forward end of the shaft 101 extends into a suitable opening in a bracket 101 (Fig. 3) which, as best shown in Fig. 4, projects .to-

.ward the center'of the nmchinc from the 'win 75- 0f the housing. The

ear 95 is larger than the pinion 96 and te gear 97 is larger than the'pinion 96 and also larger.

than the pinion 98, so that the shaft 99 turns much more rapidly than the shaft 77.

In the present instance the escapement wheel is formedwith four teeth and is so geared to the pinion 91 that this number of teeth feeds the carriage a letter space distance at each actuation of the escapement mechanism. The shaft 99 is formed with reduced ends each having ataperedportion, and said reduced ends are journaled in bushings 102 and 1023 which-are mounted insui-table openings in the rear wall 76 and the" front wall- 7 3 respectively of the upper rear portion of the chamber. The bushing 102 is formedwith an annular shoulder to prevent endwise motion thereof and the bushing 103 is threaded through the wall 73 so that the bearing may-be adjusted by tightening or loosening said bushing. The shaft 99 has its greatestdiameter just back of the escapement wheel, thus forming an annular shoulder against which the -escapement .wheel is clamped by a nut 104 which is threaded on to the shaft. A washer 105 is interposed'between the nut and the escapement wheel. This washer has a function which will be set forth hereinafter.

duced in diameter, forming an annular shoulder and said shaft is again reduced inv vdiameterwithin the hub of'the pinion 98,

thus forming 'a third annular shoulder which prevents motion of'said pinion longitudinally of the shaft in one direction. Motion of said pinion longitudinally of the shaft in the other direction'is prevented by borev at its forward end being appropriate to the greatest diameter of the'shaft. The

sleeve is thus formed with aninternal annular shoulder, and'a'springi107 (Fig. 3) coiled about the shaft 99 is compressed between this internal annular shoulder'and .tlIG'COPIGSPOHdIDg annular shoulder on the shaft. The sleeve 106. isformed atits rear end. with clutch teeth which are adapted to v engagem ent.

cooperate with the clutch teeth on the hub of the rpinion 98 and the spring 107 tends to keep these coiiperating clutch members in The construction is such that if the sleeve 106 be held against rotation the engagement of the abrupt faces of the clutch teeth will hold the carriage against motion 1 short distance back of the escapement wheel the shaft 99 is re-- 106 isfOrmed at its forward end with an annular flange 108 and pins 109 and 110 rojec't toward the front of the machine rom said flange and pass loosely through suitable openings in the escapement wheel. By

means 'of these pins the sleeve 106 and the escapement wheel are constrained to turn in unison. acting through the sleeve 106 from pressing the pinion 98 against the bushing102 an thus causing unnecessary friction, means are provided for limiting the motion of said forming a notch 111 (Fig. 6) and a tooth projectingfrom the washer 105 lies in this In order to prevent the spring 107 notch and engaging the forward end of the notch limits the backward motion of the sleeve.

Dogs 112 and 113 project upward from a dog carrier or arm 11 1, which is rigidly mounted on a rock shaft 115 which is piv oted at its ends on coned pivot screws 116, one

of which is threadedthrough the side wall 75 of the .housing and the other of which is threaded through a frame piece 117 ,Wl1l0h is secured by screws 118 (Fig. 3) to a bracket 119 (Fig. 4), which rises from the floor of the housing. The dog carrying armfll l has a stud 120 projecting therefrom toward the middle of the machine. On the reduced end of said stud is pivoted a link 121 which extends toward the front of the machine and at its forward end ,is pivotally connected with the universal bar at or near the extreme right-hand endthereof. The construction is such that whenever the universal bar is operated by a key or the space bar,

the dogs are rocked and the escapement wheel isxpermitted to move a-distance equal to the space between two teeth thereof. The dog 113 a fixed dog and the dog 112 a loose dog-which, as shown in Fig.4, is piv: oted at 122 to an ear '123 which projects from the right-hand face of the dog carrier 114;. The lug or bracket 101 stands back of the dogcarrier and serves toprevent excessive motionof said carrier toward the back of the machine.

It'is obvious that the carriage may be released froin the escapement mechanism b pressing the sleeve 106 toward the front of the machine-thus disengaging the clutch connection between said sleeve and the pinion 98; I have provided a finger piece m'ent housing, being supported by hea ed screws 124 which pass loosely through elonarm toward the back of the machine into the v 7 path of the tooth 132, but by pressing thegated slots 125(F1g. 7.) in said slide and are thread'edinto the housing. A pin 126 projects from said slide through a slot 12-7 (Fig.

) in the side wall 75 and the end of said pin stands behind the flange 108 ofthe sleeve 106. The forward end of the slide 123 isf bentto the right to form a finger piece 128 by means of-which the slide may be drawn toward the front of the machine, when the pin 126 will move the sleeve 106 out of .en-

gagement with the hub of the pinion-98, as

shown in Fig. 6,

the bar 7 and extends across the machine ust in frontof the lower edge ofsaid bar.

Thelower part of the bar 7 is formed with a. forwardly extending flange 130, vwhich, as

, shown in Fig. 1, has teeth formed in its forward edge, said teeth being a; letter spacedistance apart. A carriage" stop or carriage stops 131 are'mounted on the bar 129 in such manner that they may be adjusted by sliding. them along said bar, and said stop, or anyofthem ifthere are more than one, may be secured in adjusted position byturning it about the rod '129unti'l' a tooth projecting from the stop'enters the notch be- .tween twoof the teeth of the flange 130.

The stop has an upwardly extendingtooth 132 which stands in the path of a stop arm 133 which is pivoted to the casting 17 at 134 in such manner that the lower end of said stop arm may be moved toward the front of the machine. Thestop arm 133 has anupwardly extending arm 135 which forms a finger piece, to the back of which a spring 136 is secured by a screw 137. Said spring engaging the casting tends to press the upper end of the stop arm toward the front of the machine and the lower end of the stop finger piece 135 toward the back of the ma;

chine against the tension of the spring 136,

the lower part of the arm may be moved toward the front of the machine outofthe path of the stop piece 132. I prefer to mount the arm-133 1n the position shown in Fig. 7 onthe front end of the housing.

. The finger piece 128 which controls the carriage release's1ide123 standsjust back of f such .that eitherfinger piece may the finger piece 135. The eonstruction'is be operated separately, or both finger pieces may be'grasped at the same time, being pinched together between the thumb of the operator pressing against thefinger piece 135 and the index finger pressing against the finger iece 128. When the parts are manipulated ning tion and arrangement may be made without departing from the gist of my several 1m -v proveinents.

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

1,111 a typewriting machine, the combination of-a carriage; a rail or track; asupporting andguiding -roller mounted. on a shaft whichi's journaled in said carriage; an escapement dev ce geared to said shaft; a pmion onsaid shaft; 'anda stationary rack meshing with said pinion.-

tion' of a carriage'having key and type mechanisms mounted therein; a rear roller on said carriage; a stationary rear track for said roller; afront stationary-track; two

guiding rollers spaced wide apart and runon said front track; a stationary rack bar mountedjadjacent said vfront track; a

pinion engaging said stationary rackbar;

and a key controlled escapement mechanism geared to saidpinion.

2. In a typewrltmg machine, the combina- 3. In a typewritmg machine, the combination ofa carria e having key and type mechamsms mounte therem; a rear roller mounted on said carnage; a stationary rallor track for said rear roller; two guide rollers M spaced apart nearer the front of the can rlage than said rear roller; a stationary;

guide rail or track for said guiderollers'; a stationary guide rai a inion on said carriage engaging said rack ar; an escapement mechanism controlling said pinion; a driving cord con:

nected to said carriage; a spring. drum for said cord; and a pulley for said cord mount ed on said guiderail.

1 Ina typewritingmachine, the combination of a carriage having key levers and type mechanisms mounted therein; longitudinally movable shouldered links connected directly Withr said key levers; ke lever returning springs connected with sai shouldered links;

and a universal bar operated by said shouldered-links.

I 5. In a typewriting tion of'a carriage having key levers and type mechanism mounted therein; arms depend- I ing from said key levers; longitudinallymovable links connected with said arms; key lever returning springs connected .with said links; individual returning spring adjustment devices for said links and returning springs; and a universal bar operated by said lmks.

rack bar mounted adjacent said machine, thecombina- 6. In .a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage; an escapementmechanism for said carriage; aparriage release device including a fingerpiece for freeing said carriage-from said eseapement mechanism;

a carriage s top device including a finger piece and connections whereby said carriage stop device may beflrendered inoperative, the finger piece of said carriage stop device and the finger piece of said carriage release, device being situated close to ether and adapted to move toward'each ot er so thatsaid clutch.

the two'finge'r pieces may be pinched toether by the hand of the operator and both nger pieces thus operated at the same time. 7 7. T e combination with a carriage of an escapement mechanism ,for controll ng said carriage, said escapement mechanism. in-

cluding a clutch, one member 'ofwhich is engaging said rack bar; an escapement mechanism for, controlling said pinion; a

housing for said escapement mechanism; and means whereby said escapement mechanism is controlled by said key mechanism; said key mechanism being disposed low over said rack bar and .said escapement mechanism and its housing being arranged at one side of said key mechanism. h I

9. The combination with a carriage and a V series of keys and key operated printing deanism and said pinion beinfg carried by said vices carried by said carriage, of a rack bar 3; extending beneath a portion of said carriage; a pinion rotatably mounted in said carriage and engaging said rack; and an escapement mechanism controlledby said keys and controlling said pinion, said .key levers bein disposed low over and forward of said racl bar and said escapementmech carriage at one side thereo 10. Thel'combinationof a platen; a fraine flfij movable across said "platen for line spacings; a carriage movable Iacross said-l ne space: frame for letter spac ng; .arack bar carr1edby, said line'space frame; a pinion T'carried by said carriage and engaging said rack bar;

a series of ke s and'p'rmtmg instrumentali ties controlle thereby; an escapement mechanism controlled by said keys and controlling said pinion, said keys being disposed I low over andforward of said rack bar, and .saidv escapement' mechan sm being situated at one side ofsaid key-mechanism; and

.spring means adaptedto draw said carriage" across said line-space frame.

11. The combination of a serles of keys and printin devices operated by said keys;

aunlv'ersal ar common to-and operable by all of said keys; an escapement mechanism situated at. one side of said series of keys and including a dog; and alink connected to saiduniversal bar near one end of said universal bar and operatively connected to said dog. f

.12. Ina typewriti'ng machine the combination ofa fiat platen, a carriage arranged to travel over said platen, printing mechanism mounted insa'id carriage and comprising keys and type bars, said keys being disposed low over said platen," a universal bar arranged for operation-by anyrof said keys; acarriage escapement arranged at one side of'said printing mechanism, and connec tion between said universal, bar and said escapementi Signedat the borough of'Manhattan, city and State of New York, this 9th day of November A. D. 1904. ALEXANDER '1. BROWN.

Witnesses:

E. M. \VELLs,

v M. F. HA N WEBER.

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