US2891651A - Typewriter carriage return - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1959 H. WUSTYENEY ETI'AL 5 I TYPEWRITER CARRIAGE RETURN Filed on. so, 1956 United States Patent 'I -YPEWRITER Herbert Wiisteney, Munich, and Hans-Jiirgen Richter, Berlin Frohn'au, Germany, assignors to Siemens & Halske Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin and Munich, Germany, a corporation of Germany Application October 30', 1956, Serial No. 619,334

Claims priority applicafionGermany November 4,. 1955 14 Claims; (Cl. 197-68) This invention is concerned with a device comprising spring actuated means for returning to the line-start position the carriage of a typewriter, especially ateleprinter machine. The term typewriter is intended to means ofiice typewriters as well as teleprinter machines ofall kinds,- operating. with sheet records.-

It is customary in teleprinter machines and in some motor-controlled office machines operating with sheet records, to effect the carriage return from the end of lines or, for example, atthe end of paragraphs, from a desired line position, by spring means inwhich power is stored during the typing operation, The carriage return is effected by releasing the stored spring. power in response to a carriage-return signal, for example, responsive to depression of a return key.. In. teleprinter machines there isavailable the same time interval for the printing. as well as for other. functions, such as lower to upper case and numeral shifting, namely, the time interval required. for the transmission of a symbol. It is customary in eifecting the carriage return, to add to this time interval the transmission time for another symbol so as to effect the line advance. Thisv time, amounting to two symbol intervals, is-however, quite short, especiallywhenhigh typing speeds are demanded or in the presence of other conditions, for example, an unfavorable inclined position of the machine that makes the carriage return difficult. In such cases, there. arises the danger that the next following, symbol is. lost or that other errors are made.-

It isknown to use. a strong spring for effecting the carriage return and to uncouple such spring from the carriage during the typing operation; however, an additional expenditure. for the coupling and complicated control means as Well as a device for winding the return spring are necessary to meet the corresponding requirements.

These drawbacks are. according to the invention avoided by the provision of an. auxiliary motor. for supporting. or. augmenting. in the presence of. certain unfavorable operating conditions. the. actuation of the customarily employed spring. means in which power is stored during the. typing or printing operation.

In accordance. with another feature of the invention, the auxiliary motor is automatically connectable. for operation. for the whole. or for a selectable portion of the carriage return. path depending upon the incline at which the machine may be disposed to the horizontal. The auxiliary motor is preferably an asynchronous fractional horse-power motor and may be permanently connected for operation with the carriage.

The operative connection of the auxiliary motor is in accordance with a furtherfeature of the invention effected depending upon the actuation ofa carriage-return pull rod The disconnection of the auxiliary motor is effected shortly before the carriage reaches the line-start position in order to avoid hard impact upon a corresponding stop. In machines having, for example, a pneumatic shock 2,891,651 Patented June 23, 1 959 2. absorber for the carriage, the disconnection of the auxiliary motor takes place shortly before or shortly after contact is made with the yieldable shock absorber buffer, by an element which is shiftaib-le with the carriage and which controls, for example, a switch.

In case the auxiliary motor is used for operation depending upon the inclined position of the machine, there is provided in accordance with still another feature, a mercury switch with its-tube disposed inclined to a plane extending, in parallel to the direction of the carriage motion, so that such switch is in circuit closing position only in predetermined positions of the carriage with respect to the horizontal.

The foregoing and other objects and features will appear from the description which will be rendered below with reference to the accompanying drawing showing in schematic representation an example of the invention.

Referring, now to the drawing, the carriage 2' of a sheet record teleprinter machine, carrying a platen or drum 1, is in known manner connected by a belt 3 with a rotatable reel 4 enclosing a spiral spring. Fixedly connected with the reel 4 is a gear wheel 5' which meshes with an intermediate gear wheel 6 driven by a pinion 8 operated by a small fractional horse-power asynchronous motor 7. The three gear wheels 5, 6, 8 are always in mesh.

The advance of the carriage 2 to the left is effected by'customary' means (not shown) during the writing or typing operation. The return of the carriage by the force of the spring contained in the reel 4 is prevented by a locking pawl 9 which is spring-connected to a ratchet 10 moving with the carriage 2. Coupled with this pawl 9 is a pull rod 11 which is operatively controlled in response to receipt of a carriage-return signal.

The circuit for the asynchronous auxiliary motor 7 extends from a terminal of an alternating current source over a switch 12' which will be closed upon actuation of the carriage-return pull rod 11-, thence over another switch 14 which is normally closed but may be opened by a bracket member 13 moving with the carriage 2', and finally over. a mercury switch 15 to a terminal of the motor 7 and from there back to thecurrent source.

A pneumatic shock absorber 16 is provided, the carriage 2 having a member 2a for engaging. a shock absorber buffer 17 incident to-the carriage return.

The tube of the mercury switch 15 is disposed at an incline to a plane extending in parallel to the direction of the carriage-return, so that such switch will be closed only when the carriage-returnis along a horizontal plane or in a position relative to the horizontal, in which its return is impeded.

The operation is as follows:

The spiral spring enclosed in the reel 4 is tensioned during the typing or writing operation during which the carriage is moved to the left, pulling. the belt 3 and accordingly rotating the reel 4. The gear wheels 5, 6 and 8 thereby rotate the motor shaft in an idling operation. It shall be assumed that the direction of motion of the carriage is along a horizontal plane. The mercury switch is accordingly closed.

The pull rod 11 will be actuated responsive to receipt of a carriage-return teleprinter signal and the locking pawl 9 will be pulled downward, freeing the ratchet 10 and at. the same time closing contact 121 The switches 14 and 15 are at that instant in closed position, and the motor 7 will accordingly operate and augment the force of the spring in the casing 4 to effect return of the carriage 2 in the direction WR with high speed.

Even if. the machine should be in an inclined position in which the carriagereturn is impeded by gravity, the return of the carriage can be effected by means. of the device just described, in such a short time as to exclude disturbance of the teleprinter operation. The pull rod 11 and the locking pawl 9 may be locked in operated position by suitable means (not shown) and the contact 12 may thus be held in actuated position.

Shortly before the carriage reaches the position corresponding to the line start, the bracket member 13 will open the contact 14; immediately afterwards, the stop 2a of the carriage 2 will engage the butter 17 of the shock absorber 16. The carriage return is thereby in its terminal phase delayed to such an extent that a harsh impact of the carriage on the stop associated with the line-start is prevented.

It has been assumed in the described example, that the return spring has a force required by teleprinter machines provided for operation only in horizontal position. The spiral spring contained in the reel 4 must also rotate the motor shaft and the load thereon is accordingly greater than in a machine without an auxiliary motor. The mercury switch is accordingly so disposed that it will be in disconnect position only when the direction of motion of the carriage is in a plane in which the force of gravity supports the carriage return.

The use of an asynchronous motor has the advantage that its characteristic may be such as to avoid excessive carriage return speed. Another advantage resides in low radio interference voltages.

In using an electric motor as an auxiliary motor and when high requirements are posed with regard to freedom from radio interference, the switches used may be combined in a single switch and such switch may be mechanically controlled from several points. The corresponding switch may in such case be in a casing which is common to the motor.

In employing the described arrangement with the mercury switch, depending upon the inclined position of the direction of the carriage motion, the use of the corresponding typewriter in an airplane or other vehicle may result with regard to the angular acceleration of the correct incline in an identical effect, simulating a horizontal position. In other cases, however, there will result an effect in inclined position in stationary operation. The arrangement is accordingly advantageous in either case.

In place of the spring-tensioning belt and the spiral spring described, other spring means may be used within the scope of the invention. The auxiliary motor may likewise be different; for example, it may be a pneumatic motor, and the shock absorber may cooperate with a control valve.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriagereturn spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to linestart position, an auxiliary motor, and means controlled by said motor, acting independently of, but augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage.

2v A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriagereturn spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to linestart position, an auxiliary motor, means controlled by said motor for augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage, and means depending upon predetermined inclination of the carriage path to the horizontal for automatically connecting said auxiliary motor for operation for at least a selectably determinable portion of said return path.

3. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriagereturn spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to line-start position, an auxiliary motor, means controlled by said motor for augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage, and means for automatically connecting said auxiliary motor for operation when said carriage return path extends horizontally and in predetermined inclination to the horizontal, respectively.

4. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriagereturn spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to linestart position, an auxiliary motor, means controlled by said motor for augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage, a rotatable casing containing said spring, and means for permanently connecting the shaft of said auxiliary motor for driving coaction with said casing.

5. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriage-return spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to line-start position, an auxiliary motor, means controlled by said motor for augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage, a rotatable casing containing said spring, and gear means for permanently connecting the shaft of said auxiliary motor for driving coaction with said casing.

6. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriage-return spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the ad- Vance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to line-start position, an auxiliary motor, means controlled by said motor for augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage, and a circuit for actuating said auxiliary motor, said circuit including a mercury switch having a switching tube disposed at a predetermined incline to the horizontal for automatically closing said cir cuit to actuate said auxiliary motor only in predetermined positions of said carriage with respect to the horizontal.

7. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriage-return spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to line-start position, an auxiliary motor, means controlled by said motor for augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage, circuit means for automatically connecting said auxiliary motor for operation depending upon predetermined inclination of said carriage to the horizontal, and means actuated by said carriage for opening said circuit means to disconnect said auxiliary motor at an instant when said carriage has reached a predetermined point in the return motion thereof.

8. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriage-return spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to line-start position, an auxiliary motor, means controlled by said motor for augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage, means for automatically connecting said auxiliary motor for operation depending upon predetermined inclination of said carriage to the horizontal so as to augment the force stored in said spring in returning said carriage to line-start position, a shock absorber having a yieldable bufier extending therefrom for engagement by a part of said carriage at the conclusion of the return thereof into line-start position, and means actuated by said carriage for opening said circuit means to disconnect said auxiliary motor at an instant when said part of said carriage is in predetermined position with respect to said butter.

9. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriage-return spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to line-start position, an auxiliary motor, means controlled by said motor for augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage, circuit means for automatically connecting said auxiliary motor for operation depending upon predetermined inclination of said carriage to the horizontal so as to augment the force stored in said spring in returning said carriage to line-start position, a shock absorber having a yieldable buffer extending therefrom for engagement by a part of said carriage at the conclusion of the return thereof into line-start position, and means actuated by said carriage for opening said circuit means to disconnect said auxiliary motor at an instant prior to engagement of said part of said carriage with said buffer.

10. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriage-return spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to line-start position, an auxiliary motor, means controlled by said motor for augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage, circuit means for automatically connecting said auxiliary motor for operation depending upon predetermined inclination of said carriage to the horizontal so as to augment the force stored in said spring in returning said carriage to line-start position, a shock absorber having a yieldable buffer extending therefrom for engagement by a part of said carriage at the conclusion of the return thereof into line-start position, and means actuated by said carriage for opening said circuit means to disconnect said auxiliary motor at an instant coinciding with the engagement of said part of said carriage with said buffer.

11. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriage-return spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to line-start position, an auxiliary motor, means controlled by said motor for augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage, circuit means for automatically connecting said auxiliary motor for operating depending upon predetermined inclination of said carriage to the horizontal so as to augment the force stored in said spring in returning said carriage to line-start position, a shock absorber having a yieldable buffer extending therefrom for engagement by a part of said carriage at the conclusion of the return thereof into line-start position, and means actuated by said carriage for opening said circuit means to disconnect said auxiliary motor at an instant after said part of said carriage has engaged said bufier.

12. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriagereturn spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to linestart position, an auxiliary fractional horse-power asynchronous motor, and means controlled by said motor, acting independently of, but augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage.

13. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriagereturn spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by-step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to linestart position, an auxiliary fractional horse-power asynchronous motor, means controlled by said motor, acting independently of, but augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage, a control element which is actuated to effect carriage return to line-start position, and circuit means controlled by said element for connecting said auxiliary motor to its power source.

14. A power-driven typewriter comprising a carriage which is advanced during the typing operation, a carriagereturn spring, means controlled by said carriage for tensioning said spring step-by step during the advance thereof so as to store in said spring power, to be utilized for returning said carriage from an advanced position to linestart position, an auxiliary fractional horse-power asynchronous motor, means controlled by said motor, acting independently of, but augmenting the power stored in said spring for the purpose of securing return of said carriage, a control element which is actuated to effect carriage return to line-start position, circuit means controlled by said element for connecting said auxiliary motor for operation, and means controlled by said carriage for disconnecting said auxiliary motor from its power source.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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