US1078081A - Type-writer. - Google Patents

Description

G. B. BAKER.

TYPE WRITER; APPLICATION FILED 00T. a, 1912.

'Patented Nov. 11,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' G. B. BAKER.

TYPE WRITER.

APPLIGATION FILED 0012.3, 1912.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. B. BAKER.

TYPE WRITER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. a, 1912.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ICE.

` 'GEORGE name. for return. MINNEsom.

i marrante.

To all whom t may concern.' l

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duiuth, 'in the county of' Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- Writers, of which the following is'a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to typewritin ma-A chines of the key-.wheel type and has or its object to simplify, reduce the cost of, and

otherwise improve machines of this kind.

I have embodiedy my invention in a machine which isadapted to be operated, in the main, by electricity, and many ofthe improvements relate to specificdevices and combinations of an electric typewriter. Figure l is va iview partly-inside elevation and partly in section illustrating a typewriting machine embodying my 4 improvements. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a top dpian view. Fig. 4 is a face view, detache of the stationary contacts forming the automatic switch.,

Fig. 5 is4 a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical connections by which the selectioii-of the desired character to be printed is secured.4 Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken t-l'iroughy the keyboard. Fig. 7 is a 4vertical sectional view taken through thev type-wheel and' adjacent parts. Fig. 8 is a detail view in perspective illustrating the inechan'in for effecting a turning yof the type-wheel.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the frame ofy the machine which may be of any usual or approvedl construction.

In this are mounted the platen B and thepaper supports and guides C, which also.

may be of any preferred construction.

I) represents a shaft supported in the frame so as to be free to turn about its longitudinal axis. Upon it is mounted a vslide or carriage E which is free to be purposes for. which it is used, and carries upon its periphery the types g, 'which are p preferably arranged in three rows. It will of course be un erstood that this arrangement is not essential to the invention and $4peciicaticui of Letters Patent Patented N OVW 11,1913 Application' med otohr 3, 1912., erial No. 'I i may be modified to suit the number of charaeters with which the machine.

The inking mechanism is not illustrated since it forms no part of my invention this may of any usual or approved vlrind. Accordin to my invention the type or key-wlieel is maintained in constant revolution when the machine is in use, except when one of the keys is pressed yfor the purpose of causing a character to be printed. The means for rotating the ty e-wheel may be of any suitable nature, mec anical, elec tric, or pneumatic, though I prefer to emloy electric means, and have therefore illustrated a mechanism of this kind for the purpose stated.

2 indicates a studor short shaft that pro- 'jects outward from the slide or carriage E.

'Supported thereon is a frame H carrying the type-wlieel- This frame preferably comprises a socket-piece or sleeve 3 that engages with the stud '2, a cross-piece 4, and side pieces 5, 5, united by the cross-piece. In these side pieces is mounted a shaft 6 upon which the type-wheel is mounted so as to be free to turn thereon. Upon this shaft is also mounted, preferably within the hollowtype-wheel G, and so as to turn' on the shaft and independently of the typewheel G, a rotor ,'Zvof a;;si nall electric motor. Between this and Vthe ty e-wheel there is a connection, preferably i'ctional in nature, such as the shoe 8, arranged to cause the. type-wheel to be turned with the rotor, except when the former is forcibly arrested ,in its movements, when the rotor will continue itsy revolutions independently of the type-wheel. The stationary element 9 of the motor is supported in the frame H, yby one of the side pieces 5, andl current for running the motor is supplied through a conductor 10 leading from a battery 11 or other suitable Source of electric ower.

1n order to arrest thek type-w eel when- I ever itis desired to print a character I cmploy a detent 12, which is preferably in the form of a spring-actuated lever to which is secured a piece of iron 13 that serves as the amature of an electro-magnet 11il supported in the frame H. The free end and` it is 4desired to supply l of this detent normally. lies close to the y `tohave a -r v17 bearl upon the links 16 -to maintain the path of' movementof the typesglocatuedy in one of 'therows of the type-wheel and iS adapted when the electro-magnet 14 is enerl ized and its armature attracted'to be moved'- etween two of -thetypes or printing projections g and thus arrest the movement ofthe type-wheelx-,and insure that the latter shall 'be accurately stopped in *printing po- `SitiOn. The end of the detent is preferably beveled, and the-opposite side faces of the p types or projections with which it engages are'also `beveled or.- inclined, as indicated in Fig. 3, .to insure accurate working co` operation of these arts.

The `striking of t ety e against the paper' toeifect the printing fo .a character may be l caused` automatically "by lelectrical means whenever a` key isoperated, or mechanically las'illustrated'm" the drawings where I have shown a' frame 15 constituting the keyboard, su lported by links'16-so as to rbe free iimited verticalmovement. Springs key-board inl its elevated position. There is a connectionl 18 between one ofthe links v 16l and the shaft D sofarranged that whens ever the keybimrd is depressed, rocking its supporting lever, thelatter turns the shaft,

andas the carriage 3 that sup ortsthe type- -wheel is splined to. suchsha the kwheel `is carried intoengagementl with-,the paper sup# v ported upon they platen, causing acharacter this may become necessary.

to be printed. .While key-boards of many 85 kinds might `be employedvvith` the other mechanisms constitutingmy invention, I'l prefer to use that which I have devised and will now describe, as itis simple in constructionzad permits A the ready separation of parts for"cleaningvo'r substitution wheneverA In the face of the key-board is l cseriesbf shallow `parallel grooves 19 in-the bottoms of which. are secured `conducting -strips 20 formed preferably of thin'brass or copper.,

'21, 21 indicate conductorsarranged -transversely'across the key-board, at fright; angles jtogthe conductingstrips 20. 250VIA v ,v by short spaces' from'lthe stripsi 20 at.' the pointsv where theycross them. The places .offintersection'between the conductin stri s 20. and-21 constitute .closing polnts or t e y p These latter strips' are elastic and normally are separated normally lopen circuits yemployed to' determine the .position inwhich the type-wheel 4shall be arrested for the printing operation and the number of these points of intersec-'f tion corresponds with the number of printing characters upon the type-wheel, there be1ng28 of these in the arrangement shown 1n t e drawings, though a greater or less number may be. used as desired. The con? ducting strips are preferably formed of thin elastic metal such as spring brass or copper,

the ends of' which are bent A,inward to en rage'with kerfs formed in the edges of the {cy-board; 15', as represented at .22. The

bosses or proJections 23that liepartially in -thegrooves-19, and when the strip is depressingof one keywillcause contact to be :made at one'intersection only, but in order? "to insure against such movement -ofithe elastic. stripk as will cause a plurality liof contacts to be simultaneousl made, vI 'prefer ltor'bend or indent the strip etween the prof4 jections 23 to forinstops 56 which.l may .rest upon the surface of the key-board, and serve to` revent contactexcept at the' point direct y below-the#key'rwhich may be touched. The strips 21 areeasily'separable from'the board-'l5 by springing'the bent ends 22 out of th'egrooves'in which they rzst, thus mak` ing it eas to replace a strip should one become bro en Lor `inoperative'agand.also ,per A mitting easy access to thecontactstorevmove Van "obstruction whi h might 'lodge there'an tend .to Iprevent gobd effective contact. Each of the strips 21' is connected,by

a conductor 25, lwithabattery 26 which may be located invany suitable place, as belowkfthe key-board 15. The other wire or vconductor l yleading yfrom the battery is that "designated formed-5i'` 28. With each strip 20 there is :connectedr a conductor or wire. 27. The wires 27-,ai1d 28l 'are collected and formed into two -cables29, 29, which lead to an automatic switch 38 `controlled -byfthe movements of the jt 'pevwheel vand supportedrb'y the :frame H,'w ere l,

.they 'are distributed.

By shown I am' enabled `to Asuccessfullyoperate with aY number of conducting wires between the ke -board .and the automatic switch considera ly less 1n number than the number of i characters whichthe machine is capable of printing, and which corresponds with'the sum of the two sets of strips 2O and 21. I prefer to-arrange the wires into two cables as stated and illustrated, because the smaller cables thus produced are more flexible than a larger one would be and I iind I can utidescribed. v 30 designates a segment-shaped plvoted y frame preferably arranged between the means of 5 the arrangement herein y 4126 lize two cables to advantage in controlling -the movements of the carriage' as will be lmaosi board 15 and'the lmlseboafrd 31. The conducting wires" after'-ibein'g collected and Iformed into the cables 29.r are securedto 'the' frame 30 on either side of lits ulcrum 32;and v grooves formed therefor thence pass into l l the flanged edge 33 of the rame,whiched e is preferably shaped concentric to the fu crum 32. The'twocabl es.cross one another atr a oint `dir-eetl Iopposite the fulcrum, on the s ortest line where they leave the anged edge of the segmentalframe and .passte pulleys 34 about which they riagc 3.*with which'theyare connected, after which the 'wires --constltuting Athe cables 1are Iseparated* f A coiled s ring 35. in'elosedin afbox 36 dpabout the -ulcruml of thef seg-. mental frame unites the latter `with the base and arrange board or :some 'other `suitable `'part of the frame of the machine and serves as the mo.- tor spring for moving the carriage.` The cables 29 when arranged as described constitute powertransmitting .connections between the segmental frame 30 and the carriage 3. The frame 30 is provided. 'with-a1 handle 37 by which it may be shifted in order to move lthe carriage to any desired position with reference to the platen so as to permit corrections to be easily made. It

will'be understood that the machine may'be of mecha-" 'nisnr for disengag'ing the carriage 'from the provided withA any suitable form escapement rack, b ut as this constitutes vno part of the invention it is not illustratedfin the drawings. f l

The automatic switch is supported bythe'I frame H preferably along side of and close tothe type-wheel G. It consists of vtwo sets of contacts arranged in pairs'. and corresponding in number with the charactersupon the type-wheel. .The contacts of each set are preferably arranged in concentric circles and those in the outer circle are des-- ignated 40 and those in the inner circle 41. They are supported in an insulating block or piece 39 and are connected with the wires 27 and 28 in the 'manner to be described. A brush 44: carried by the type-wheel' sweeps over the face of the switch as the type- Wheel revolves andsuccessively makes engagement with the pairs of contacten), 41, and thus successively bridges or closes the breaks in the circuits `at vthese points'. Itl

tween it.- and therod D,

turn, andthence pass to the carsented in 5.

wise ofV the latter.'

0f groups-of other Iset of contacts corlresponds with the number of strips 21. This arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 5 where it 'is' lri-:prcsented that the Vcontacts 40 of the outersetor circle are .united by conductors 42, there beingas many `groups of these con.-

oup being connectinner series are united into v'g'rd1'1-psjbyconductors 43 tol which are respectively connected the wires 28. Each of "these-wiresZB-in its course is coiled about 'the core ofthe lectro-magnet 14, as repre- Whileany one of many well known forms of Smcchanism for shifting thetype-wheel to 'bring the .tp'lrinting characters of one or another-of e .rows intooperating position mayfbe employed ,1I prefer that shown in .the drawings .whic dI willnow describe.

" 48,:repnesents a clip secured to Vthe socket unites the said frame to the .post or stud 2 projecting vfrom the carriage and permits the frame tol turn about the said' stud without moving length- "The clip is provided with a pair of arms 50, 51, extending inwardly, that' is, in a direction toward the paper platen. n

.taets as-thereare-1strips 20,andntl-1e'uniting conductors 42 .oit each led toA onelof the wires 2 tacts' 41 vvoffthe Likewise the conpiece-3 of the frame'in which the type-wheel l ismounted. This may be secured in plac'e'f by the -screw49 that *'52 designates a bar or yplate ez/:tending across Athe machine .and so disposed that Whenthetype-wheel is in position to cause the characters 'of the central row to print,

thea-rms A5.0, 510i the clip extend on either side of, one'. above and one below,-the ysaid bar or plate as the frame carrying the typewhcel is rocked toward the laten to v'cause a printing character to stri e against the paper. AThe -adjacent'edges of the arms 50, 51which engage with the cross-bar 52, are beveled or inclined, as 'represented in the drawings, so' that as the type-,wheel frame comes'\into printing position the bar'is yin engagement with both the arms at their bases, thus irmly 'locking the wheel against rotary movements and insuring a clean and ,clearly cut impression upon the paper.

-53 designatesa shift device for the crossbar 52, it being arranged to give to the bar three positions, oneabove andanother below the middle osition which has just been referred to. hen the shift device raises the cross-bar the arm 50 of the'clip engages with the cross-bar as the type-wheel frame ismoved toycause a printing impression upon the paper, with the result that the frame lH and the type-wheel which ity carries are turned about the stud-or post 2 so as to bring the row of rinting characters adjacent to one edge of t e wheel into printing position. The. type-wheel and 'itssupporting -frame are positively arrested and 4 held in this position by theengagement of the cross-bar with the arm150 and also with a shoulder or stop 54 formed in the clip. When the shift device movesthe cross-bar toits lowermostpposition andthe type-wheel carriage is moved toward the platen, the'r arm 51 comes into engagement with the f cross-bar, rocking the type-wheel and its supporting frame in the opposite direction from that just described and bringing the other row of characters into printing position,

vwhere they are held by engagement of the arm 51 and the stop or shoulder 55 with the cross-bar 52. l

The operation of the machine may now be The operator irst closes the circuit 10, including the battery 11-'and the motor that operates lthe ,type-wheel, thus setting the latter intorotation. The next operation is to close one of the circuits of the selecting pressing upon a switch, that is, the key-board switch, by key 24,-.-As soon as the type-wheel 1s set to rotating the brush 44 makes successive engagement with the pairs of contactsin the'automatic switch, and as soon' as it comes into contact with that pair f which is a part| of the circuit selected and wheel is completed. The closing of this circlosed at the ke ,-board, the circuit peculiar to the key whichI is pressed and to the corresponding printingcharacter upon the typecuit instantly energizes the electro-magnet since partof lthe circuit is ,one of the coils '45 of such magnet, whereupon the armature 13 is attracted and the detent drawn into I operative, engagement with the type wheel and,

which ist/hereby arrested. The partsv are so timed inl their operations that the arresting of the type wheel takes place at the same. instant that the' character corresponding with the key that was pressed is in printing position. It now remains only toforce this xcharacter against the paper supported on v45 ,fore the type-wheel is moved toA engage the'.

paper.

What I claim is In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-wheel carrying printing characters, a shaft supporting the said wheel 4and upon which the Wheel is freely rotatable,'means for rotating the wheel upon its shaft, and selecting mechanism for arresting the type-wheel iiidepen'lclentlylofd the operadescribed between lit and the typetion of-` `the means for rotating the typewheel, with the desired character in printing position:

2. In a typewriting machine, the coinbination of a type-wheel carr inr printing characters, a support upon w 'ich the sai the type-Wheel comprising arotor su 'por adjacent to the type-wheel and free y rotatable independently thereof, and selectin mechanism for arresting `the type-whee `wheel isV freely rotatable, means for turnitii I with the desired character in printing position without stopping thefrotor.

3. In al typewriting machine, the combination of a type-wheel carrying printin characters, a support upon which the sai wheel is freely rotatable, means for drivin the type-wheel comprising a rotor supporte upon the same shaft as the type-wheel and i free to rotate independently thereof, connections between the rotor and type-wheel by which the latter is driven when free to turn but permitting the type-wheel to be arrested Without stopping the rotor, and selecting mechanism for yarresting the keywheel with the desired character in printing position.' 4

4. In a typewrting machine, vthe combination of a type-Wheel carrying rinting f characters, comprising a hollow shel a support upon which the type-wheel is supported so as to be free to rotate, means arranged within the said type-wheel for'rotating it, -and selecting mechanism for arresting the type-wheel without arresting lthe means printing position.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a hollow type-wheel provided with printing characters and freely rotatable upon its support, a driving motor for the t pe-wheel arranged within the latter and reely rotatable independently thereof, and selecting mechanism forl arresting ,the type-wheel independently of the. operation of its motor, with the desired character in printing position.

6. In a typewriting machine, the 'combination of a type-wheel freely rotatable upon its support, an electric motor for turning the type-wheel, havin a rotor that is arranged to be coupled irectly with the type-wheel and is also free to turn independently thereof when the wheel is stopped, and selecting mechanism for arresting the type-wheel with the desired characlter in printing position.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-wheel carrying printing characters, ax vshaft on which the wheel is supported and about which it freely turns, an electric motor mounted on the same shaft ;as.the type-wheel and having a rotor freely jturningon' lthe shaft independently of the Ltype-wheel, a'driving connection between which rotate it, with the desired character in 'permit the type-wheel to be stopped without arresting the rotor, and selecting mechanisin for arresting the type-wheel with the desired character 1n printing position.

8. In a typewriting machine, the com-y binationv of a hollow type-wheel carrying printing characters, a shaftl on which the wheel is freely rotatable, an electric motor for driving the type-wheel and having a rotor arranged within the type-wheel and free to turn independently thereof, a driving connection between the rotor and the typewheel arranged toperlnit the latter to be arrested in its rotation withoutarresting the rotor, and selecting mechanism for stopping the type-wheel with the desired character in printing position.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-wheel .carrying printing characters, means for rotating the typewheel,`selecting mechanism for arresting the type-wheel with the desired character in printing position, and means controlled by the rotation of the type-wheel for setting into operation the said selecting mechanism, after it has been set to cause printing-of the desired character.

0. In a type-,writing machine, the combinationof a type-wheel carrying printing characters, means for rotating the typewheel, selecting mechanism for arresting the type-wheel with the desired character in. printing posi-tion, including an electromagnet, and a switch controlled by the rotation of th 1 type-wheel for closing the circuit. of the said :electro-magnet.

11. In a typcwriting machine, the combinationV of a type-wheel carrying printing characters` means for rotating the typewheel, and electricallypperated means fon arresting the type-wheel with the' desired character in printing position, comprising an electro-magnet that operates to arrest the rotation of the type-wheel, a series of current-carrying circuits corresponding with the printing .characters on the type-wheel, a selecting mechanism for closing the desired circuit through the coils of the electromagnet, and an automatic switch for closing the selected circuit, operated by the rotation of the type-wheel.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-wheel carrying printing characters, means for rotating the typewheel, a key-board containing electric contacts corresponding with the printing characters on the type-wheel, electric circuits including "the said key-board vcontacts and sources of current supply, means controlled by the passage of current over any selected circuit for causing the arrest of the typewheel, and an automatic switch controlled by the rotation of the type-wheel and arranged to close .the selected circuit to cause the o eration of the said arresting means 4and tie stopping of the type-Wheel with the desired character in printing position.'

t3. In an electric ty ewriter, the combination with a Apaper p aten, of a carriage lmovable `longitudinally relatively thereto,

printin mechanism carried by the said carriage, e ectrically-operated means for causing the selection and operation of the printing devices, a 'keyboard constituting a selecting switch for determining the character to be printed, conducting wires extending from the key-board to the carriage, the said wires being gathered into two cables, a se mental pivoted frame in the periphery of W ich the cables are supported, and means for guiding .the said cables to cause them to approachthe carriage from opposite directions, whereby as the carriage is moved the segmental vframe is turned about its pivot, and vice versa. l

14. In an electric typewriter, the combination with a paper platen, of a carriage movable longitudinally relatively thereto, printing mechanism carried by the said carriage, electrically-operat'cd means for 4causing the. selection and operation of the printing devices. a 'key-board constituting va selecting switch lfor determining the character to be printed, conducting wires e'xtending froni the key-board to the carriage, the said wires being gathered into two cables, a segmental pivoted frame in the periphery of which the cables are supported, means for guiding the said cables to cause them to approach the carriage from opposite diret-thans, whereby as the carriage is moved the segmental frame is turned about its pivot, and vice versa, and a spring for moving the carriage in one direction connected with the said segmental frame.

15. In a typewriter, thc combination of a paper platen, a carriage movable longitudinally relatively thereto, printing mechanism carried by the said carriage, means for causing the operation of the printing devices, a segmental pivoted frame, a pairI ot cords attached to thc said frame respectively on the opposite sides of its pivot and extending thence to grooves in the periphery of thc frame in which the cords lie, means for Vguiding the cords after leaving the segmental frame in opposite directions to cause them to approach the carriage to which they are connected, from opposite directions, and a spring for moving the carriage in one direction connected with the said segmental frame.

16. In a typewriter, the combination withprinting position, means for rocking the type-whee ward and from the platen, and means for causing the oscillation of the type-wheel to bring the desired row of characters into printing position, comprising a cross-bar substantially parallel with the platen, means for shifting the said cross-bar, and a pair of arms carried by the type-Wheel frame, the arms being so disposed that they lie upon opposite sides of the-crosS-bar when adjuste to its middle position, ths holdino' the type-wheel frame in position to print from the characters in one row, and when the bar is adjusted to one extreme poand its supporting frame to-l sition one of the arms engages the bar and causes the type-wheel frame to be rocked in one direction, bringing another row of characters into printing position, and when adjusted to the other extreme position the other arm engages the bar and rocks the frame, bringing a third row of characters into printing position.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

A Y GEORGE B. BAKER. Witnesses:

N. CURTIS LAMMoND,

GEORGE E. EDELIN.

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