US1826068A - Typewriting machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1931. G. G. some TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24. 1927 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY WITNESS 5 $4054! v Fatented @ct. 6, 1931 GEORGE G. GOING, F MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF ILIO'N, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK 'r'szrnwm'rme MACHINE Application filed December 24, 1927. Serial No. 242,398.

My invention relates to type actuating mechanism adapted particularly to typewriting machines and other machines employing type bars for printing purposes.- The chief object of the invention is to provide'type bar actuating mechanism which is substantially noiseless in operation and is moreover readily adaptable to small typewriting machines or so-called portable typewriters.

To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the features of construction, combinations of devices, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out is in the claims.

The preferred form of the invention is ill) Fig. 1 is a front-to-rear fragmentary, veran tical, sectional view taken about centrally of a typewriting machine embodying my invention.

lFig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the section line 11 at in Fig. 1, and

Figs. ,3, at and 5'are fragmentary operating views.

As appears from Fig. 1, the machine embodying the present form of my invention comprises a set of type bars 1 pivoted in an arc of a circle and adapted for front strike writing, said type bars having fixed pivots preferably in the form of an arcuate pivot wire 2 which is mounted on a type bar support or segment 3 of any suitable construction. The type bars are or may be disposed in guide slots 4 cut radially in the lower end portion of the segment, which segment inclines upward and rearward towards the platen 5., Said platen is diagrammatically illustrated and may be mounted on a suitable carriage adapted to travel back and forth transversely of the machine. Each type bar carries a type block 6 which is preferably provided with two types, a lower case type i and an upper case type 8. Normally, the lower ease types are effective to print, but the upper case types may be rendered operative at will by relatively shifting the platen and type bars in any known manner. The free shown in the accompanying drawings whereend portions of the type bars are supported on a suitable rest 9 and are inclined in a direc tion forward and upward from their pivots 2, being so related to the printing point on the upper front quarter of the platen that when actuated to print, the type bars are swung upward and rearward and then downward to coact with the platen. As is well understood, the type bars at and near the middle of the system are substantially straight throughout their lengths, while the outer type bars are bent near their type ends to varyingextents in order to bring their types in proper relationship with the printing point on the platen.

The actuating devices for the type bars comprise a set of keys and suitable operating connections between the keys and the type bars. As shown herein, such connections comprise links 10, one for each type bar, each link being connected at its forward end at 11 to its type bar, the rear end of the link being connected at 12 to a sublever 13 which is pivotally connected at 14 to the associate key lever 15. The under portion of each sublever is provided with a curved bearing face or nose 16 which rests on and cooperates with atransversely extending support or bar 17 arranged below the sublevers and key levers and suitably mounted on the frame of the machine. The bearing bar 17 isprovided with anupward angular extension 17 which is formed with vertically disposed guide slots 18 adapted to accommodate and guide the key levers and the sublevers 13; preferably in the manner more fully disclosed in my co-pending application, Sr. No. 232,582 filed November 11, 1927 (now Patent No.1,767,875,5une 24,1930). During rinting operations the sublevers are a apted through their hearing faces 16 to ride or slide on and over the horizontal face of the bar 17, the construction affording a lost motion or yielding connection between each key and key lever and the type bar operatively connected thereto. The key levers 15 are arranged in substantial parallelism extending fore and aft of the machine and at their rear ends are provided with round holes 19 which receive a fulcrum rod 20 having flattened opposite sides as shown to enable it when half turned relatively to the key levers to pass through cutouts or slots 21 in the key levers,

whereby a detachable mounting between the key levers and the fulcrum wire is effected. Said fulcrum rod is suitably supported at its ends on ears 22 depending from a frame bar 23. The key levers 15 extend forward and may be guided near their front ends in a stationary slotted plate or comb 24, the forward end portions of the key levers terminating in upward extensions or stems 15 to the tops of which are secured key caps or keys 25. The key levers are of varying lengths and their stems of varying heights, enabling the keys 25 to be disposed in banks or rows at different elevations, as is well understood, there being four banks in the present instance constituting the keyboard of the machine. To promote compactness the stem portions 15* of the rearmost bank are curved or off-set rearward, as indicated at 15*, thereby enabling the keyboard and the type bars to be brought closer together. The long stem portions of the rear bank may be provided with a guide comb 26 secured to or bent forward horizontally from the top of the guide plate 24. Said guide plate may be provided with seats-or su ports 27 and 28, which accommodate stop evices 29 and 30 extending transversely of the set of key levers and disposed respectively above and below the same. Said stop devices may he of any suitable construction and composition, and are so disposed that the stop 29 is engaged by the forward end portions of the key levers when they are in normal position while the stop 30 is adapted to arrest the key levers at the end of their downward movement. Preferably, the movement or stroke of the key levers is restricted so that they are arrested by the stop 30 before theirty bars are brought into contact with the p aten. It is to be understood however that a stop to limit the downward movement of the key levers is not essential to the noiseless operation of the type bars according to this invention.

When a key-25 is depressed its associate key lever 15 will be actuated, thereby operating the associate sublever 13, Whichpivoting variably during its movement on the support 17 will press or push theassociate link 10 forward. Said link in turn will actuate the connected type bar to swing it about its pivot from normal position towards the platen. Restoring springs 31 are provided one for each type action, the set of springs 31 being horizontally disposed above the key levers at their rear, each spring being hooked at its forward end through a hole 32 in the associate sublever 13. The rear ends of the springs are anchored to an angular plate 33 with the proper operation of these springs their forward end portions are preferably v mechanism. Said mechanism and its connections (not shown herein) may be of any suitable construction. The universal bar proper is arcuate in shape and is disposed in a corresponding slot 36 cut or otherwise formed in the rear lower portion of the segment 3.

It will be apparent that the type bars are arranged in the arc of a circle and in an inclined position, while the key levers are horizontally disposed and in parallelism, the set of key levers as a whole being of greater width than the set of type bars. Also, the type bars swing in radial planes, whereas the key levers swing in parallel vertical planes. However, the type bars are actuated by impulses received substantially in their planes of movementby reason of the connections with the key levers afforded by the set of sublevers 13. The rear arms of said suble-vers vary in length, increasing progressively from the middle to the sides of the system, and most of them are bent or twisted back of their fulcrums so as to bring the upper end portions of said sublevers substantially into the planes of the type bars with which they are connected. To compensate for the varying lengths of the rear arms of the subleveis, their forwardly extending horizontally disposed arms also vary in length so that the extents of movement communicated to the type bars by their keys are substantially equal.

In the'present instance, the means for controlling and governing the type bars so as to minimize the noise of printing operations and substantially silence the printing contacts of the types comprise for each type bar a controlling or governing device which is in the form of a pivoted member 37. The set of members 37 is pivotally supported on a common fulcrum wire 38 suitably secured to a plate or support 39 that is disposed in substantial parallelism with the type bar segment 3 and is arranged forward of and below said segment, being provided with ears or tabs 40 whereby it may be secured to stationary side parts of the machine. The support 39 is preferably of sheet metal and may correspond substantially in construction with the support or the governing device disclosed in my prior a plication aforesaid. Said support 39 is provided with an upward- 1y extending part 41 which is formed with a series of radially cut kerfs or guide slots 42 that receive and guide the members 37, the fulcrum 38 whereof is suitably secured to the top face of the part 41.

The members 37 are normally disconnected from the type bars and are adapted to be picked up by'the type bars as they approach the printing point and then to begin to control the movements and operations of the type bars. To this end each governing device is formed with a slot 43 extending downward and rearward from near the pivot 38 and terminating in a flaring mouth or entance way. This provides the member 37 with two arms, which for descriptive purposes may be numbered 44 and 45. The members 37 are preferably made each of a single piece of sheet metal and in order to give them sufiicient weight the arms may have soldered to them suitably shaped pieces of lead so that an edge-view of one of the members 37 will show a form somewhat like Fig. 2. Care must be taken however to limit the width of the weighted arms so that adjoinin members will not interfere with each otfier or with other parts. The members 37 have fixed'pivots or axes around which they rotate in fixed circular paths. Normally the members may rest on the rear edge portion of the support 39, which may be lined with felt 39 or some other sound deadening material, the inner rounded corner of this material serving as a stop which normally supports the members 37 and limits their pivotal movements in one direction. T 0 limit pivotal movements, or swings ofthe members in the opposite direction and prevent them from being accidentally dislocated, each member is provided with a stop face 46 which is adapted to contact with the front face of the rib or flange 41 below the'slots 42, the contact faces 41' serving as stops, which in cooperation with the stops 46, limit swinging movements of the members 37 away from normal position.

It will be understood from the dotted-line showing of the member 37 in Fig. 1, that each stop 46 does not coact with its companion stop 41 to limit the printing movement of the type bar in the operation of the machine, but such stops are intended to function only to prevent an undue displacement of the members 37 when the machine is being moved or transported. For example, in the event that the machine is turned upside down in transporting it, the stops in question will prevent the members 37 from swinging to a position from whichthey cannot drop back to normal position in cooperative relation with the pins 47 on the type bars when the machine s again turned over in a position for use. Obviously, if the members 37 could he acc dentally displaced and maintained in the displaced position in the manner indicated, then said members would be inefi'ectii e on the type bars when the machine is actuated. However, by use of the stops 46 and 41 the mem bers 37, even in the event that the machine is turned upside down, can never be displaced to a position from which they cannot drop down into cooperative relation with the pins 47 when the machine is turned over in position for use. 1

In order to effect connection and coopera- "tion between the type bars 1 and the controlling or silencing devices 37 each type bar is provided with an extension or tail portion 1 which receives a laterally extendin device or pin 47.- It will be understood t at the underlying members 37 are arranged in relation to their associate type bars in such a way that when one of the type bars is actuated the pin 47 carried thereby will enter the mouth of the slot 43 in the associate member 37 and will coact with the slot in such a way as to cause an eifective cooperation between the type bar and the controlling member. During the first part of its printing move ment the type bar will be entirely free from and independent of the controlling member, which will remain undisturbed in normal position. As the type bar in the course of its movement approaches the dotted line position indicated at m, the pin 47 will begin entering the slot 43 and will engage with the under side of the arm 44, as shown'in Fig. 3. The under side of course' forms the upper wall or face of the slot 43, and is so shaped or curved that it provides a cam with which the pin 47 contacts to pick up and start pivotal movement of the member 37 without undue shock or jar. The coaction of the parts, as illustrated at Fig. 3, begins preferably just prior to the arrest of the actuated key lever by the stop 30, so that movement of the controlling member 37 begins before the arrest of said key lever and before positive movement of the type bar by its key 25 ceases. The momentum of the type bar is suflicient to carry it on towards the platen and communicate movement to the controlling member 37, which will begin to turn on its axis so as to substantially slow down and control the movement of the type bar in the vicinity of the platen, this point being designated by the dotted line position 3 of the type bar, the corresponding relation of the pin 47 and the member 37 being shown in Fig. 4. Fromthis point on until the type bar contactively engages with the platen, as illustrated by the dotted line position a, the type bar will be rapidly slowed down by the controlling member so that it will be moving at a minimum rate of speed when it contacts with'the platen, whereby the noise is minimized, and the operation is rendered substantially silent. The position of the parts at the time of contact is illustrated at Fig. 5 and also by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

From an inspection of this figure, it will be apparent that the chief reason for the slowing down of the type bar is the approach of the pin 47 close to the fixed axis of rotation 38. Since the pin is closely confined at this time near the closed end of and between the contiguous walls of the slot 43 the type bar can move no faster than the controllin member 37, and as the construction is such that at this time the pin 47 is very close to the center of rotation the movement will be comparatively slight. It has been found in practice that the closer the pin 47 can be brought to the axis of rotation the less will be the striking noise of the type bar, and experience has shown that a difference in distance of a mere one-eighth of an inch will have a marked effect on the noise. It is therefore desirable that the pin at this stage he brought as close to the axis 38 as the exi gencies of a practical construction will permit. As explained at length in my prior application aforesaid the effect alone of slowing down the type bar so that it is moving at its lowest speed at the moment of contact would be to afford such a faint imprint of the type through the usual ribbon as to be useless from a practical standpoint. However, the controlling device 37 after contact will further act on the type bar to press the operated type with considerable force towards or against the platen with the result that a sufficient pressure is generated to ob tain a clear and correct imprint. It will be apparent that just prior to the arrest of the type bar and subsequent thereto it will be governed and controlled to a less or greater extent by the device 37, so that the movement of the type bar at the moment of contact with the platen will have substantially ceased, although after such contact the printing pressure of the type will occur. The movement of the type bar subsequent to the arrest of the key lever will be uninterrupted, due to the yielding connect-ion comprising the publever 13 between the type bar and its key ever.

After operation the parts will be restored to normal position by the restoring spring mechanism and the force of gravity.

It will be seen that the member 37 is in effect a controlling or governing device for the type bar or carrier which substantially silences its operation, this result being due to the dual function of the member 37 which controls the type bar in such a way that movement is practically eliminated at the instant of contact with the platen and subsequently to such contact an effective but silent pressure is exerted to cause a clear and legible imprint of the type carried by the type It will be apparent that the present invention embodies certain of the principles involved and disclosed in my prior application aforesaid whereby a controller or silencer is employed in combination with a type bar to substantially eliminate movement at the moment of contact and thereafter to communicate printing pressure.

Various changes may be made without departing from my invention.

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

1. In type actuating mechanism, the combination of a type bar, a device fixed to said type bar, key operated means for actuating the type bar, and means normally disconnected from the type bar and rendered effective by said device for controlling said type bar near the end of the printing stroke, said last recited means comprising a member having a fixed pivot and formed with an openmouth slot for receiving said device.

2. In type actuating mechanism, the combination of a pivoted type bar provided with a tail portion, a pin projecting laterally from said tail portion, a printing key, connections between said key and said type bar, and a controlling device having a fixed pivot. said controlling device being weighted and being formed with a slot engageable by said pin as said type bar approaches the printing point.

3. In type actuating mechanism, the combination of a pivoted type bar provided with a tail portion. a pin projecting laterally from said tail portion, a. key. connections between said key and said type bar, a weighted controlling device having a fixed pivot and being formed with a slot engage-able by said pin as said type bar approaches the printing point, and stops for limiting pivotal movements of said device in both directions.

4. In a typewriting machine. the combination of a platen, a plurality of type bars arranged in an arc of a circle, a plurality of parallel key levers, sublevers pivoted one to each key lever and having an arm connected to the associated type bar, actuating pins fixed to the tail portions of the type bar, and weighted controlling devices one for each type bar, said devices having fixed pivots and being formed with open slots for cooperation with said pins.

5. The combination of a plurality of type bars, actuating means for each of said type bars, a stop coacting with each of said actuating means before the companion type bar reaches the printing point, and means comprising a plurality of disconnected single pivoted members one for each type bar and normally disconnected from and movable relatively thereto for causing. the associated type bar to print after said stop becomes effective.

6. The combination of a plurality of swinging type bars, a type secured to each type bar, key operated means associated with each type bar for actuating it. a stop coacting with each actuating means before the companion type bar reaches the printing point, means for affording movement of the actuated type bar to print after said stop becomes effective, and means for forcing the type bars to the printing position to effect Elli) can tsaaoee substantially a noiseless pressure imprint comprising a plurality of controlling members one for each type bar and free from control of the associated type bar in the early position of its movement to the printing position but operative thereby for controlling the movement of its type bar after the associated key operated means has been arrested to decrease the speed of the actuated type bar and cause it to exert an effective pressure imprint at the printing point.

7. The combination of a platen, a plurality of type bars pivoted in front of and below the platen and normally inclined away therefrom, a type fixed to each of said type bars, means for actuating said type bars towards the platen to a limited extent about the type bar pivot as a fixed center, and means "forcing the type bars to the printing position to effect substantially a noiseless pressure imprint comprising a plurality of controlling members one for each type bar, each controlling member being normally wholly disconnected from the companion type bar but operative thereon to force it to cooperate with the face of the platen to efiect a pressure imprint.

8. The combination of a platen, a plurality of type bars pivoted in front of and below the platen and normally inclined away therefrom, a type fixed to each of said type bars, means for actuating said type bars towards the platen to a limited extent about the type bar pivot as a fixed center, and means for forcing the type bars to the printing position to effect substantially a noiseless pressure imprint comprising a plurality of controlling members one for each type bar, each controlling member being normally wholly disconnected from the companion type bar but operative thereon to force it to cooperate with the face of the platen to effect a pressure printing operation, each of said controlling members being actuated initially by the companion type bar itself.

9. The combination of a platen, a plurality of type bars each having a fixed pivot, means for actuating each of said type bars comprising a key lever and a lost-motion connection between said key lever and the associated type bar, a stop for said means, and means operating after said stop becomes effective for reducing the speed of the actuated type bar and communicating printing pressure thereto, said last recited means comprising a single separate controlling member for each type bar, each controlling member being normally free from control of its type bar and having a fixed pivot about which it is rotatable in a circular 7.0, The combination of a plurality of type :s each having a fixed pivot, meafs c A *ising a key for actuating the type b r from normal position, and ct. means compris' each type bar, each controlling member having a fixed pivot on which it turns ina fixed circular path and normally disconnected from but eifective to actuate the associated type bar near the end of the printing stroke.

11. The combination of a plurality of type bars each having a fixed pivot, means comprising keys for actuating the type bars from normal position, other means effective to actuate the type bar near the end of the printing stroke, said other means comprising a separate controlling member for each type bar mounted to turn on a fixed pivot, and stops cooperating directly with said controlling members for limiting the pivotal movements thereof in both directions.

12. The combination of a plurality of type bars each having a fixed pivot, means com prising keys for actuating the type bars from normal position, and other means comprising a plurality of controlling members one for each type bar and each having a fixed pivot and normally disconnected from the asso-' ciatcd type bar for controlling it near the end of the printing stroke.

13. lhe combination of a plurality of type bars, key operated means for controlling each type bar during the initial stages of its movement, and other means comprising plurality of controlling members one for each type bar, each controlling member having a fixed pivot and free from control of its associated type bar during the first portion of the printing stroke of the latter but cooperative therewith for controlling said type bar during its last stages of movement and when cooperating with the platen.

14. The combination of a plurality of type bars, key operated means for controlling each type bar during the initial stages of its movement, and other means for controlling each of said type bars during its final stages of movement, said other means comprising a plurality of wei hted controlling members each having a fixed pivot, one of said members associated with each type bar and out of control thereof during the initial stages of movement of its type bar but-actuated by the type bar itself during the later stages of movement of the type bar and effective to move the type bar in the final stages of its printing movement.

15. The combination of a of type bars, a device fixed to each of said type bars, key operated means for actuating the type bars, and a plurality of weighted controlling members one for each type bar, each of said members being normally disconnected from the associated type bar and rendered eiiec tive by said device thereon for controliing the type bar near the end of the printing stroke and exerting its force on the type bar to complete its printing movement.

To a type action, the combination of a a a, .i t y or swinging type bars, means for controlling said type bars comprising a plurality of individually operable control ling members, one for each type bar, each controlling member being arranged in the path of the associated type bar to be picked up and actuated, thereby-after the type bar has first moved independently of its member during the printing stroke, the momentum of each controlling member thus actuated being exerted on its type bar to effect an imprint,

- whereby noise is eliminated and the initial printing stroke of each type bar is unhanr pered by said controlling means.

17 In a typewriting machine, the combination of a plurality of type bars, and a plurality of weighted type bar controlling members one for each of said type bars, each of said controlling members constituting a momentum accumulator out of control of its type bar during the first portion of the printing movement of the type bar but in cooperative relation therewith to be actuated thereby and then to actuate the type bar during the last portion of its printing movement by the momentum of the controlling member.

18. In a typewriting mac ine, the combination of a pivoted type carrie' y actuated means for eliciting an initial printing movement at said type carrier, and a pine d c trolling member normally di n; said type carrier but arranged in the p thereof to be picked up and actuated by type carrier the latt printin'" iosition, the las iug mo, c rent oi the type t arier beiu eiieet ed by the momentum of the control her, the type carrier and "the contr g ber turning in opposite directions one the other on their pivotal axes.

' 19. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a pivoted type carrier, hey actu ated means for effecting an initial printing movement of said type carrier, and a pivoted controlling member normally disconnected from said type carrier but arranged in the path thereof to be picked up and actuated by said type carrier as the latter approaches printing position, the last stages of the printing movement of the type carrier being etfected by the momentum of the controlling member, the portion of the type carrier which coacts with the controlling" member advancing towards the pivotal axis of the latter as the type carrier approaches the printing point.

20. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ivoted type carrier, key actuated means tbr eflecting an initial printing movement of said type carrier, and a pivoted controlling member normally disconnected from said t pe carrier but arranged in the path thereo to be picked up and actuated by the type carrier as the latter approaches the printing position, the last stages of the printing movement of the type carrier being eftected by the momentum of the controlling member, the type carrier and controlling member turning in opposite directions one from the other on their pivotal axes and the at the last stages of the printing stroke a V gradual slowing up of the type bar is effected and a gradual increasing speed of the controlling member is produced and the momentum thereof is transmitted to the type carrier to complete its printing movement with a pressure imprint.

21. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a pivoted type carrier, key actuated means for effecting an initial printing movement of the type carrier, and a pivoted controlling member normally disconnected from said type carrier but arranged in the path thereof to be picked up and actuated by the type carrier and to effect an interlocking connection therewith as the latter approaches the printing position, the last stages of the printing movement oi the type carrier being efi'ccted by the momentum of the cimtrolliug member, the type carrier and controlling member turning in opposite directions one from the other on their pivotal arcs and the return of the controlling member aiding in ett'ect-ing a rapid return movement of the type carrier.

22-. In a typcwriting machine, the combination of a pivoted type carrier, key actuated means for etiectiug an initial printing movement of said type carrier, and a pivoted controlling member normally disconnected from said type carrier but arranged in the path thereof to be picked up and actuated by the type carrier and to effect an interlocking connection therewith as the latter approaches the printing position, the last stages of the printing movement of the type carrier being efiected by the momentum of the controlling member, the portion of the type carrier which coacts with the controlling member advancing towards the pivotal axis of the latter as the type carrier approaches the printing point, whereby at the last stages of the printing stroke a gradual slowing up of the type bar is effected and a gradual increasing speed of the controlling member is produced and the momentum thereof is transmitted to the type carrier to complete its printing movement with a pressure imprint.

23. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation of a plurality of type bars, a plurality of movable controlling members one for each type bar for effecting substantially a noiseless pressure imprint from its associated type bar, each controlling member in the normal disposition of the parts being disconnected from but arranged in cooperative Hill relation with its associated type bar to be actuated thereby, and stops. for each controlling member to prevent it from being accidentally displaced to a position from which it cannot return to cooperative relation with the associated type bar, said stops being ineffective one on the other inthe operation of the machine.

2-1. The combination of a ,plurality of swinging type bars, and independently operable individual actuating means associated with each type bar,.each actuating means comprising a key for actuating the type bar, and separate movably mounted actuating and controlling means for causing the associated type bar to be applied with a substantially noiseless pressure imprint, each of said actuating and controllingmeans being normally disconnected from and actuated by the associated type bar and effective to control it near the end of the printing stroke.

25. The combination of a plurality of swinging type bars, actuating means for operating the type bars, and independently operable individual controlling and actuating means associated with each type bar for actuating and causingit to be applied with a substantially noiseless pressureimprint, each controlling means being normally disconnected from itsassociated type. bar but operative to control. the movement thereof as the latter nears the printing point to reduce the speed thereof and react thereon to cause it to exert an effective pressure imprint. I

26. The combination of plurality of pivotally mounted type bars, key operated me ns for act' ing the type bars, and ad- .al means for forcing the type bars to act substantially pri comprising a trolling elements one for h of said controlling ele-' from cos "rol of its type tial portion of the r'rintreo'f but operative fey its strolling the movement of rating thereon toQapply a he, the combirs, mear for it cannot return to cooperative relationship with its type bar when the machine is in position for use.

Si ed at Middletown, in the county of Mid lesex, and State of Connecticut, this 20th day oi December, A. D. 1927 GEORGE G. GOING.

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