US2285087A - Typewriting machine - Google Patents

Description

June 2, 1942. s. F. HANDLr-:Y

TYPEWRITING MACHINE 4 ,Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1941 `lune 2, 1942. G.' F. HANDLEY 2,285,087

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w v llll-llllllllll 2 INVENTOR @emga FHa/ncZ/eg I ATTO Ens June 2, 1942. G. F. HANDLEY TYPEWRITING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 5, 1941 N 1 mv m EEQ @Sour BY /JQ June 2, 1942. G. F. HANDLEY TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIIIIIIf MMD =f.-.

IlEltlll WW u .NNJWUJPRH Patented June 2, 1942 UTE S OFFICE.

TYPEWRI'HNG MACHINE Application February 5, 1941, Serial No. 377,570

(Cl. 19T-114) 24 Claims.

This invention relates to typewriting machines, and more particularly to mechanism for feeding and positioning continuous webs comprising a plurality of connected form sheets.

In the typing of a plurality of similar invoices, checks, or similar forms, it is common practice to supply a continuous web or sheet comprising a plurality of serially connected individual forms which are fed successively to and then beyond the printing line as following forms move into printing position. The individual forms comprising the continuous web may all be the same, so that the beginning or first typed lines on all the forms will be equally spaced below the tops of the respective forms. The distance between the last line of typing on each form and the first line of typing on the next succeeding form may vary, depending upon the typing of different vnumbers of lines on different forms, but in any event it usually is the equivalent of a rather large number of the spaces between individual lines, i. e., line spaces. In the interest of ease and rapidity of operation in the typing of such forms, it is desirable to provide mechanism including a member a singlefactuation of which, following the completion of typing on one of a series of connected forms and regardless of the number of lines typed on that form, will advance l termining its feeding capacity or limits so as toV make it readily adjustable to two conditions. For example, the rst such condition may be for feeding the web just the correct amount to position the leading form to receive the rst line of typing, and the second condition may be for thereafter feeding the web a different amount following the completion of typing on each of the forms to position the next succeeding form to receive its rst line of typing.

Other objects will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, in which: Y

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view showing only some of the conventional parts of a typewriter carriage, with mechanism embodying the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sideelevation looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Figure l with a sheet-feeding cylinder or platen shaft being shown in section and the parts of the webfeeding mechanism being shown in their normal or inactive positions;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2 drawn on an enlarged scale,A and showing parts in positions different from those they occupy in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the irregular lines ll-ll of Figure land showing the parts in the positions 0ccupied at the end of the operation which positions the rst of a series of forms in a web or work sheet for being typed upon;

Figure 5 is a detailed transverse section taken on the irregular lines 5-5 of Figure 4 and drawn on an enlarged scale;

Figure 6 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 4 and drawn on an enlarged scale;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the parts in the positions occupied at the end of an operation for advancing a work sheet or web from its position following the last line of typing on one form to a position in which the next or adjacent form is positioned for receiving a first line of typing;

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 2 but showing the parts in the same positions as in Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View of a web-feeding cylinder or platen, pressure rolls, and paper pan;

Figure l() is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the cylinder, paper pan, pressure rolls, and an overhead bail;

Figure l1 is a detailed view partly in elevation and partly in section showing a known linespacing detent mechanism;

Figure l2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line I2-l2 of vligure 1 and drawn on an enlarged scale;

Figure 13 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line |3-l3 of Figure 2;

Figure 14 is a deployed perspective view Vof an oscillating bar frame and cooperating parts; and

Figure l5 is a diagrammatic development showing a work sheet or web including a series of check forms and indicating the relative lengths of spacing corresponding to sheet-feeding and line-spacing movements.

The drawings show only such parts of conven- `usual platen-rotating linger knob l I.

tional typewriter construction as are necessary for an understanding of the manner in which paper-feeding mechanism embodying the invention may be applied to typewriters.

A part of a typewriter frame is indicated at A and is provided with the usual frame rail I which supports the rail 2 of a carriage B by means oi ball bearings 3.` The carriage includes the usual end plates l-fl (for the left-hand end plate, see Figure 1l). A bushing 5 carried by the right-hand end plate l5 journals the righthand end or" a shaft 6 to which a sheet-feeding platen or cylinder l' is xed. Extension ,pestsY 8 and a bracket 9 projecting outwardly from the right-hand end plate fa serve to mount a supplemental end plate It which, as explained hereinaiter, mounts the feeding mechanism embodying the invention. The shalt `6 is extended through and beyond the supplemental end plate Ill and its projecting end is provided with the As shown in Figure ll, the cylinder vshaft 6 is equipped with a line-spacingratchet wheel I2 adapted to Vbe yieldably held yatline-spacing intervals by means of a pawl I3 Ypivotedias at Ill on the lefthand carriage end plate ll. A spring I5 connected to the pawl I3 and anchored on the carriage end plate l at a pointnot shown urges the-pawl yieldably ina clockwise direction to effect yielding contactvof` thepawl roller I5 with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel I2. This linespacing ratchet and detent /mechanism is of known form, being standard equipment in the Royal typewriter. As is vwell known, it serves to yieldably determine the successive definite positions in which theplaten or cylinder l is yieldably held fondetermining predetermined line spaces, The typewriter. may also be equipped with a known or suitable `form of combined carriage return and line-spacing lever-D adapted to drive a pawl engageable with the teeth of the ratchet wheel l2foreecting line-spacing as an alternative to turning thel platen `or cylinder -by means of the finger knob II.

As shown-inFigures 9 andli), a paper pan Il projecting downwardly from lthe-rear of the platen and then VVunder the platen toward the front of the latter is formed with openings I8 and I9 for accommodating rearand front pressure rolls 2Q and 2|, respectively, adapted to cooperate with the platen 'i' for feeding thework sheet C from the rear of the-platen, under it, and then up in front of the platen so as to be disposed at the printing line to be impacted by the type bars, one of-which isshown in printing position at 22. When the work sheet'or web C is iirst Yfed into the machine, the leading edge thereof is extended upwardlybehind rollers 23 carried by an overhead bailV 2li, the rollers'23 and bail Zethen being in the positions shown in full lines in Figure l0. Then the bail 241 and rollers 23 are moved rearwardly to the positions in'- `dicated in dotted'lines in Figure 10 for holding the sheet snugly-about'theplaten l'.

With the exception ofthe supplemental end plate I and its mounting on the carriage, the parts thus far described are of known form and relative arrangement, and do not constitute the present invention. The invention comprises other parts to be .described and combinations of such other parts with eachother and with Vthe parts referredto above..

Before describing in detail theillustrative embodiment of the invention, and in order `to facilitate an understanding of 'the detailed descrip- Ill tion which is to follow, reference rst is made to the diagrammatic showing in Figure l5, which indicates the desired steps of feeding which the mechanism is intended to accomplish. The work sheet or web C comprises a plurality of serially arranged check forms c1, c2, c3, c4, and c5 connected by lines of perforations at regular intervals. It is desired to type the rst line L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5 of each form at the same distance below the top edge oi the form and to type an additional line or lines under the lirst line on each form, the number of additional lines on the several forms being diierent in some cases. rI'Chus, the form c1 may have four typed lines altogether; the form c2 three typed lines; the form c3 five typed lines; the form c4 six typed lines; and the form c5 three typed lines. It is desired to advance the web with certainty and rapidity to exactly the right position for receiving the first line L1 of the form c1, and then with equal ease, and rapidity to ,position thesuccessive forms for receiving their initialv typed lines regardless of how many lineshavebeen typed on thepreceding form. v

The distance Svwhich, the web must travel from the time its leadin 7 edgerst engagesthe platen and rear pressure rollerz29-as shown in FigureQ until it is in position forreceiving first line L1 .on the leading form c1 will vbeaifixediamount, and, for the purposes Aof illustration, will beassumed to correspond to twenty-three letter-spacing increments. Similarly, the ,distance sbetween the iirst typed line of eachformiand the lirst typed line of each succeedingform'will be xed and will be assumed to be equivalent to twenty letter-space increments. The rotation of the platen l for line-spacingtheweb for the second and other additionallines on each sheet is effected by means of they usual line-spacing mechanism, such as the ingergknob Ii or the. combined carriage return and Vline-spacing mechanism. The feeding of the :web for moving it from the position shown in Figure 9 to the position for receivingithe typedV line L1 on the form c1 is vaccomplished by a single .actuation of an operating member 25 having a vhandleZ. Advancing ofthe web frornthe position occupied during the typing ofithelast line on-any form to the position for .receiving the iirstjline on the next form alsois accomplished by a single actuation of the member 25, and, inasmuch as this continuous feeding movement will diier yfrom the movement which iirstpositioned the form c1 for the reception of the line L1, aselector device 2l having a ngerfpiece 23 is Vprovided for selectively determining ythe-limit of movement of the manually op-erable'member '25. As hereinafter is explained inmore' detail, the nger piece 28 of the selector device .'27 is depressed, and the member 25 pushed rearwardly to the limit of its travel to position the form c1 for the reception of the liney L1, whereas, 4-for-advam'zing the web from the positionvoccupied.when typing of the last line on the forni el'has been completed toa new position-forreceptionof the-line L2 on the form c2, the ngerpiece' 2870i the selector device 2l' is released, and the lrnember T25 then pushed to a different limit of its rearward movement.

In the form shown, the manually operable member'l comprises azrack which-is reciprocable fore and aft in a barirameZill having a xed stud Sil pivoted in-an ear 3l on the supplemental end plate I5 whereby the bar maybeoscillated up and down aboutthe stud 3% in a pil-ane transverse to the axis of the shaft'6. The rear end of the frame 29 is formed with an integral plate portion 32 which supports a separate plate 33 through the medium of connectingpins having reduced ends 34 fixed to the plate 33, large spacing portions 35 intervening between the plate 33 and the plate portion 32, and threaded ends 35 extending through the plate portion 32 forreceiving securing nuts 31. The plate portion 32 and plate 33 carried thereby hold the rack 25 against lateral movement, and rollers 38 journaled on the enlarged pin portions 35 anti-frictionally maintain the rack 25 against vertical movement, but permit the rack to slide freely back and forth parallel to the frame` 29. The front end of the frame 29 is formed integrally with upper and lower guide portions 39 and 40,V

respectively, which prevent the forward end of the rack from moving vertically with respect to the frame 29. An angle piece 4I secured tothe frame by screws 42 and having a vertically eX- tending leg 43 projecting alongside the rack 25 constrains the latter to slide parallel to and close against the frame 29.y The arrangement is such that the rack 25 is free to slide fore and aft `in the frame 29, and is oscillatable in a Vertical plane with the frame 29 about the pivot stud 35. The Vertical oscillating movement, of the frame and rack is limited by engagement of a screw 44 carried by a frame ear 45 with the opposite ends of a slet 55 in the supplemental end plate v iii. The head of the screw 44 also prevents lateral movement of the forward end of the frame 29 and rack 25.

The rack 25 constantly is urged forwardly by means comprising a spring barrel 41 supported on the supplemental end plate as at 48, and a dra-w cord 49 wound upon the spring barrel 41 and extending in contact with a guide pulley 59 for connection to a post I on a clamp 52 secured to the rear end of the rack. A finger bracket 53 secured to the rack by means of screws 54 is adapted to engage the guide portion 39 on the frame 29 for limiting the forward movement of the rack under the urge of the spring barrel 41 and draw cord 49.

Normally, the frame 29 and rack arein their lower positions a's shown in Figures 2, 12, and 13, with the rack meshing with a gear 55 secured by a set screw 55a to the platen shaft 5. The frame and rack are releasably held in these normal positions by engagement of a pin 55 on the frame 29, with the upper wall of a slot part 51 of a holding member 58 pivoted as at 59 on the supplemental end plate Il), the slot 51 preferably being concentric to the pivot 59. The holding member 58 is formed with an enlarged or clearance opening 51a communicating with the slot 51, the arrangement; being such that when the holding member 58 is rocked clockwise from the position shown in Figure 2 the. pin 55 may rise in the clearance opening 51 to permit the frame 29 and rack 25 toV swing upwardly to disengage the rack from the gear 55 for a purpose to be described later. The tcp wall of the enlarged clearance opening 512L will limit upward movevment of the pin 55, the frame 29, and the rack lspring 55 interposed between the lifting finger lower extension 52 and a lower extension 56 of a latch 61 pivoted on the supplemental end plate Hll as at 68, the latch 61 normally being held in the position shown in Figure 2 by engagement with a pin 59 VXed to the oscillatory frame 29.

A U-shaped block 10 is secured to the rack 25 adjacent its outer end, and a screw 1I passing through the block 10 and rack pivotally supports the selector device 21. A spring 12 interposed between an ear 13 on the selector device and a post 13a on the rack 25 yieldably urges the selector device 21 to its normal position as shown in Figures l, 2, and r1,-wherein the rearmost end of the selector device 21 is projected rearwardly beyond the rear end of the block 19. The finger piece 28 provides for the lifting of the -selector device 21 against the urge of the spring 12 so as to position the selector device as shown in Figures 4,25, and 8.V When the selector device is in its normal position and the rack is pushed rearwardly, a pin 14 on the selector device is adapted to engage the holding member 58 for moving the` latter tothe position shown in Figure 1 to release the holding member and'permit the rack to be moved upwardly and out of mesh with the gear When the selector device is raised by depression of the finger piece 28 and the rack is moved rearwardly, a pin 15 on the U-shaped block 15 will engage the holding member 58 to move it rearwardly. The selector device 21 is formed with a groove 15, through which the pin F5 extends.

When the rack has moved tothe limit of its rearward travel, and either the pin 14 or the pin 15 has moved the holding member 58 to the position shown in Figure 7, the rack is raised out of engagement with the gear 55. To prevent retrograde movement of the platen at this time, a safety lock dog 11 is pivoted as at 18 on thesupplemental end plate i5, and has a nose 19 engageable with the teeth of thegear 55 as shown in Figure 4. Normally, the lock dog 11 is held in its inoperative position by means of a spring 89 interposed between an arm 8| on the dog and a post 82 on the supplemental end plate i9, movement of the dog under the urge of the spring being limited by engagement of the dog with a stop pin 83 mounted on the supplemental end plate I0. The dog is urged into engagement with the teeth of the gear 55 by the rearmost end of either the selector device 21 or the U-shaped block 10, depending upon whether the selector device is in its lower or its raised position.

Operation Before inserting a sheet C in the typewriter, the overhead bail 25 is moved forwardly to the position shown in Figure 10 so as to position the bail roll 23 slightly in advance of the platen 1. The leading edge of the sheet C is then positioned in Contact with the platen 1 and the rear pressure roll 25, as shown in Figure 9. The rack 25 and associated parts at this time will be in the positions shown in Figures l, 2, l2, and 13, with the rack engaging the gear 55. To move the web C so as to position the leading check form c1 in position for typing of the rst line L1 requires a total movement corresponding to twenty-three letter-spacing increment movements of the platen 1, and requires a definite rearward travel of therack 25. To permit the rack to travel rearwardly to the required extent, the finger piece 28 on the selector device 21 is depressed so as to raise the selector device to the position shown in Figures 4, 5, and 8. The rack 25 is then pushed rearwardly in the operating direction in one continuous sweep or movement so as to rotate the gear 5:":1V and platen 'I continuously. During operating movement of the rack, it is maintained in mesh with the gear 55 bythe top-wall of the slot 5'I engaging the pin 56. vWhen the pin 'i5 on the U-shaped block 'fil attached to the rack engages the holding member l58, the latter will be swung clockwise from the position shown in Figure 2 to the released position shownin Figure 8 to free the vpinl from the slotl 51 and to position the clearance opening''ia above the pin 56 on the frame 29. Rearward movement of the rack is finally arrested by engagement of a rack stop constituted by the rear end ofthe block 'I0 with a frame stop Yconstituted by the front end of the frame 23, the stopping of the' rack being eiiected when the sheet C has been fed a total distance corresponding exactly to twenty-three letterspacing increments of the platen, and the check form c1 will be positioned for receiving the rst line of typing L1. Just prior to engagement of theblocklt with the front end of theframe 29, the` rear end of the block 'I will engage the safety lock dog 'Il and move it to the position shown in Figure 4, wherein its nose 'E9 is engaged between two adjacent teeth of the wheel 55 so as to'prevent any overthrow or retrograde movement of the platen when the rack is raised out of engagement with the gear 55, as explained hereinafter.

Clockwise rocking of the holding'mernber 53 by the pressureof the pin will have additionally tensioned the spring i, so as to urge the lifting finger 53 clockwise with sumcient force effectively to promote lifting of the pin 56 as permitted by the enlarged clearance opening 5ta. The pin 55, .in being lifted or urged upwardly by the'liftingiinger E3, rocks the frame 29 and rack aupwardly to the position shown in Figure 8 so as to disengage the rack from the gear 55. When the frame 2.13 is rocked upwardly, the pin 69 thereon moves to a level above the nose of the latch 5'?, whereupon the spring 55 rotates or rocks the holding latch t? to move `the nose under the pin 5.13 and hold the frame 2?, and rack 25 in the 'elevated position asshown in Figure 8.

The operator then releases the rearward pres- Asure on the rack 25, whereupon the spring barrel il and cordv 4S willpull the rack from its Figure 8 position forwardly until a rack stop constituted by the finger bracket 53 engages a frame stop constituted by the rear end of the upper guide projection 3S on the frame 2S, which determines the limit of return movement of the rack. During its entire return travel the rack is maintained out of mesh with the gear 55 by the engagement of the nose of the latch with the pin 69. Just prior to engagement of the finger bracket 53 with the guide projectionV S9, the finger bracket will engage the upper end of the latch E'I and swing the latch counterclockwise so `as to move the latch nose from under the pin @9. The counterclockwise rotation of the latch additionally tensions the spring 55 so as to rock the lifting nger d3 and thereby additionally tension the spring i353, thus urging the holding member 58 countercleckwise. The inclined wall b of the enlarged opening 5?@ between the top wall thereof and the slot 5i will be pressed against the pin 56 to urge the frame 29 and rack 25a-to swing downwardly, assisted by gravity, to bring the rack again into mesh with the gear 55. Finally the spring E willrestore the holding member to the position shown in Figure 2 with the pin 58 received in the asados? sloty 51. The mechanism will then be in readiness for line-spacing operation or another sheet-feed- 4ing operation.

' Such Vfeeding operation having been effected, the sheet C will be in the position shown in full lines in Figure A10, with the leading edge thereof 'projecting up from the platen and behind the bail Vrollers 23. 'Before typing is begun, the bail 2liand roller -23 are moved lrearwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 10, wherein the'rollers 23 Vhold the sheet C snugly about the platen 7. It willbe assumed for the moment that only oneline is to be typed on each of the forms, and that the distance between this line on each pair of adjacent forms corresponds to twenty letter-space increments. To feed the sheet C eX- actly twenty letter-space increments after the typing-of the line L1 and so as to position the form czfor receiving the linerof typing L2, the rack 25 is pushed rearwardly, but this time with the selector device 21 remaining down on the racl 25, that is, in the position shown in Figure 2. The rearward movement of the rack this time Will be stopped by engagement of a rack stop constitutedby the rear end of the selector device 2 with the frame stop constituted by the front end the frame a5. The rear end of the selector device is positioned to the rear of the rear end of the lock 'iii a distance such that the rack will be arrested' afterV the platen has been moved a distance Vcorresponding to twenty letter-spacing increments instead of the twenty-three letterspacing increments it was moved when the selector device 27 was raised and the rack was stopped by engagement of the block 'I5 with the frame'29. Just prior to engagement of the block if! with the Vframe 29, the pin 'I5 on the block will have pushed the holding member 58 rearwardly to the position shown in Figure 8 so as to permit the lifting ringer S3 to lift the pin 5S, the frame 29, and the rack 25, after which the nose of the latch El will move under and support the pin 69, the frame 29, and the rack 25. lThe rack will then again be returned to its forward position by the spring barrel M and winding cord 39, The sheet then will have been fed to position the check form c2 for receiving the lineV of typing L2. Positioning of the succeeding forms for receiving their respective lines of typing L3, L4, L5 will be accomplished in a similar manner.

'When it is desired to type more than one line on each card, it still is desirable, following the last line of typing on vone form, to feed the sheet C to position the next form for the reception of'its first line of typingthrough a single operation of the rack 25. Ytyped on the form c1, the platen and sheet C Thus, after the rst line L1 has been may be line-spaced for 'three successive lines by operation of the finger knob I I or the conventional line-spa'cing lever D cooperable with the line-spacing ratchet wheel I2. During each linespacing movement effected by the finger knob I I -or the line-spacing lever, the gear 55 will rotate subsequent pushing of the rack7 will be exactly equal to twenty line-spacing increments, and the first line L2 of the form c2 will be positioned at the printing point. It is apparent that the sum of the line-spacing increments effected by operation of the knob Il or line-spacing lever and those ei-ected by subsequent pushing of the rack will be constant regardless of how many lines are typed on each form.

When using the mechanism shown in the man.. ner described, the selector device 2T is operated to condition the feeding mechanism selectively for positioning the first of a set of connected forms for receiving its first line of typing, or for positioning a succeeding form for receiving its rst line of typing after the first form already has been typed. Ordinarily the distance between the first line of successive connected forms always will be the same, so that the selector device is not moved after a sheet or web of continuously connected forms has` been inserted in the machine. However, it is evident that the selector device also could be used in the case of forms which, within the continuous web or sheet itself, vary as to the distance between initial lines of typing on adjacent forms. Y

The spring i5 urges the detent roller i6 against the ratchet wheel l2 with suicient force to prevent the spring barrel il from effecting return movement of the rack 25 and reverse rotation of the platen in the event the operator discontinues exerting rearward pressure on the rack during an operating stroke.

The mechanism disclosed herein embodies the invention in the form now preferred, but it will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and relative arrangement of the parts without departing from the invention as dened in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a rotatable sheet-feeding cylinder, a cylinder-operating member mounted for movement in an operating direction to eiect sheet-feeding cylinder rotation and in a return direction following such cylinder rotation; other means for rotating the cylinder to effect linespacing movements thereof; means effective irrespective of preceding line-spacing accomplished by said other means for providing driving conl nection between the cylinder-operating member and the cylinder at all times except during the return movement of said member; and a device for determining selectively two different limits of movement of said cylinder-operating member in the operating direction.

2. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a rotatable sheet-feeding cylinder, a cylinder-operating member mounted for movement in an operating direction to effect sheet-feeding cylinder rotation and in a return direction :following such cylinder rotation;` first stop means for limiting movement of said cylinder-operating member in said operating direction, said iirst stop means comprising a device for determining selectively two diierent lengths oi movement of said cylinder-operating member said operating direction; second stop means for limiting movement of said cylinder-operating member in said return direction; other means for rotating the cylinder to eiTect line-spacing movements thereof; and means efective independently of preceding linespacing accomplished by said other means for providing driving connection between said cylin- Liri the entire movement of said member from its limit position determined by said second stop means to its limit position determined by said rst stop means, said drive connection means being ineffective during movement of said member from its limit position determined by said first stop means to its limit position determined by said second stop means.

3. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination oi a rotatable sheet-feeding cylinder, a cylinder-operating member mounted for movement in an operating direction to effect sheet-feeding cylinder rotation and in a return direction following such cylinder rotation; rst stop means for limiting movement of said cylinder-operating member in said operating direction, said rst stop means comprising a device for determining selectively two diierent lengths of movement of said cylinder-operating member in said operating direction; second stop means for limiting movement of said cylinder-operating member in said return direction; other means for rotating the cylinder to effect line-spacing movements thereof; means effective independently of by said second stop means; and means urging said cylinder-operating member in the return direction and yieldably holding it in the limit position determined by said second stop means.

4. In a typevvriting or the like machine, the combination of a rotatable 'sheet-feeding cylinder; a gear connected to the cylinder; a rack adapted to mesh with the gear; a frame mounting said rack for reciprocatory movements; rst

stop means for determining the limit of movement of said rack in one direction on said frame; second stop means for determining the limit of movement of said rack in the opposite direction on said frame; means mounting the frame to move relatively to the gear to two positions for placing the rack respectively in mesh and out of mesh with said gear; releasable meansY effective when the rack is in the limit position determined by said second stop means and dur- -''ing movement of the rack to the limit position determined by said first stop means for holding said frame in position wherein it places the rack and gear in mesh; and means for releasing said holding means when the rack reaches the limit position determined by said rst stop means for permitting the frame to move to its position wherein the rack and gear are placed out of mesh.

5. In a typewriting or the like machine, the

combination of a rotatable sheet-feeding cylinder; a gear connected to the cylinder; a rack adapted to mesh with the gear; a frame mounting said rack for reciprocatory movements; first stop means for determining the limit of movement of said rack in one direction on said frame;

placing the rack respectively in mesh and out der-operating member and said cylinder during of mesh with said gear; releasablemeans effective when the rack is in the limit position determined by said second stop means and during movement of the rack to the limit position determined by said rst stop means for holding said frame in position wherein it places the rack and gear in mesh; means for releasing said holding means when the rack reaches the limit position determined by said rst stop means for permitting the frame to move to its position wherein the rack and gear are placed out of mesh, whereby said rack may return to its limit position determined by said second stop means without rotating the gear and cylinder; and means for restoring said holding means to holding position when said rack reaches said last-named position.

6. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a rotatable sheet-feeding cylinder; a gear connected to the cylinder; a rack adapted to mesh with the gear; a frame mounting said rack for reciprocatory movements; first stop means for determining the limitof movement of said rack in one direction on said frame; second stop means for determining the limit of movement of said rack in the-opposite direction on said frame; means mountingthe frame to move relatively to the gear to two positions for placing the rack respectively in mesh and out of mesh with said gear; a rst releasable means eiective when the rack is in the limit position determined vby said second stop means and during movement of the rack to the limit position determined by said first stop means for holding said frame in position wherein it places the rack and gear in mesh; means for releasing said holding lmeans when the-rack reaches the limit position determined by said irst stop means for permitting the frame to move to its position whereinv the rack and gear are placed out of mesh, whereby said rack may return to its limit position determined by said second stop means without rotating the gear and cylinder; a second releasable holding means for positively maintaining said frame in its last-named position to prevent meshing of said gear and 'rack during said rack return movement; and means responsive to lrack return movement for rendering said second holding means ineffective and for restoring said rst holding means to holding position when said rack completes its return movement.-

7. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a rotatable sheet-feeding cylinder; a gear connectedA to thecylinder; a rack adapted to mesh with the gear; a, frame mounting `said rack for reciprocatory movements; rst stop means for determining the limit of movement of saidrack in one direction on said frame; second-stop means for determining the limit of movement vof said rack in the opposite direction on said frame; means mounting the frame to move relatively to the gear to two positions for placing therack respectively in mesh and out of mesh with said gear; a rst releasable means eiective when the rack is in the limit positiondetermined by said second stop means and duringmovement of the rack to the limit position determined by said first stop means for holding said frame in position wherein it places the rackandv gear in mesh; means for releasing said holding means when the rack reaches the limit position determined by said first stop means for permitting the frame to move to its position wherein the rack and gear areV placed out of mesh, whereby said rack may return to its limit position determined by said second stop means without rotating the gear and cylinder; a second releasable holding means for positively maintaining said frame in its last-named position to prevent meshing of said gear and rack duringsaid rack return movement; means responsive to rack return movement for rendering said second holding means ineffective and for restoring said first holding means to holding position when said rack completes its return movement; and springpowered means for urging saidrack toward the position determined by said second stop means.

8. In a typewriting or the like ,machina the combination of a rotatable sheet-feeding cylinder; a gear connectedv'to the cylinder; a rack adapted to mesh with the gear; a frame mounting said rack for reciprocatory movements; irst stop means for determining the-limit of movement of said rack in one direction on said frame; second stop means for determining the limit of movement of said rack in the opposite direction on -said frame; means pivotally mounting the frame to swing in a plane transverse to the axis o1 said gear Yto two positionsselectively for placing the rack respectively in mesh and out ofl mesh with said gear; releasable means efective when the rack is in the limit position determined by said second stop means and during movement of the rack to the limit position determined by said iirst stop means for holding said frame in position wherein it places the rack and gear in mesh; and means for releasing said holding means when the rack reaches the limit position determined by said rst'stop means for permitting the frame to swing t0. its position wherein the rack and gear are placed out of mesh.

9. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a rotatable sheet-feeding cylinder; a gear connected to the cylinder; a rack adapted to mesh with the gear; a frame mounting said rack for reciprocatory movements; first stop means for determining the limit of movement of said rack in one direction on said frame; second stop means for determining the limit of movement of said rack in the-opposite direction on said frame; means mounting the frame to move relatively to the gear to two positions for placing the rack respectively in mesh vand out of mesh with said gear; releasable means eiective when the rack is in the limit position determined by said second stop means and during movement of the rack to the limit position determined by said first stop means 'for holding said frame in position wherein it places the rack and gear in mesh; means for releasing said holding means when the rack reaches the limit position determined by said rst stop means for permitting the frame to move toits position wherein the rack and gear are placed out of mesh; and a safety locking dog movable into locking engagement with said gear in response to the racks reaching the limit position determined by said first stop means.

l0.V In a typewriting 'or the like machine, the` combination of a carriage; a cylinder rotatable thereon for sheet feeding; a gear connected to the cylinder; a rack frame pivotally mounted on said carriage; a rack mounted to slide in said frame to perform cylinder operating and return strokes and to rock with said frame into and out of mesh with said gear; rst stop means for determining the limit of cylinder operating strokes of said rack; second stop means for determining the limit of return strokes of said rack; a pin on said frame; a holding member mounted to move on said carriage and having a part engageable with said pin when said rack is in the limit position determined by said second stop means and during movement of said rack from said limit position to its other limit position for maintaining said frame placed to hold the rack in mesh with the gear; and means responsive to movement of said rack to said other limit vposition for moving said holding member to disengage its said part from said pin to permit said frame to swing about its pivot to disengage said rack from said gear.

1l. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a carriage; a cylinder rotatable thereon for sheet feeding; a gear connected to the cylinder; a rack frame pivotally mounted on said carriage; a rack mounted to slide in said frame to perform cylinder operating and return strokes and to rock with said frame into' and out of mesh with said gear; first stop means for determining the limit of cylinder operating strokes of said rack; second stop means for determining the limit of return strokes of said rack;

va pin on said frame; a holding member mounted to move on said carriage and having a part engageable with said pin when said rack is in the limit position determined by said second stop means and during movement of said rack from said limit position to its other limit position for maintaining said frame placed to hold the rack in mesh with the gear; and means responsive to movement of said rack to said other limit position for moving said holding member to disen- -gage its said part from said pin to permit said frame to Yswing about its pivot to disengage said rack from said gear, said holding member also having a part engageable by said pin for limiting that swinging movement of said frame and rack which disengages the rack from the gear.

12. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a carriage; a cylinder rotatable thereon for sheet feeding; a gear connected to the cylinder; a rack frame pivotally mounted on said carriage; a rack mounted to slide in said frame to perform cylinder operating and return strokes and to rock with said frame into and out of mesh with said gear; first stop means for determining the limit of cylinder operating strokes of said rack; second stop means for determining the limit of return strokes of said rack; a pin on said frame; a holding member pivoted on said carriage and having a slot adapted to receive said pin when said rack is in the limit position determined .by said second stop means and during movement of said rack from said limit position to its other limit position for maintaining said frame placed to hold the rack in mesh with the gear, said holding member also having an enlarged clearance opening communicating with said slot; and means on said rack engageable with said holding member when the rack is moved to said other limit position for rocking said holding member to free said pin from said slot and provide for movement of said pin within said clearance opening to permit said frame to swing and disengage said rack from said gear.

13. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a carriage; a cylinder rotatable thereon for sheet feeding; a gear connected to the cylinder; a rack frame pivotally mounted on said carriage; a rack mounted to slide in said frame to perform cylinder operating and return strokes and to rock with said frame into and out of mesh with said gear; first stop means for determining the limit of cylinder operating strokes of said rack; second stop means for determining the limit of return strokes of said rack; a pin on said frame; a holding member pivoted on said carriage and having a slot adapted to receive said pin when said rack is in the limit position determined by said second stop means and during movement of said rack from said limit position to its other limit position for maintaining said frame placed to hold the rack in mesh with the gear, said holding member also having an enlarged clearance opening communicating with said slot; means on said rack engageable with said holding member when the rack is moved to said other limit position for rocking said holding member to free said pin from said slot and provide for movement of said pin within said clearance opening to permit said frame to swing and disengage said rack from said gear; a lifting finger movably mounted on said carriage; and spring means for urging said lifting finger to swing said frame and thereby disengage said rack from said gear when said pin has been freed from said slot.

14. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a carriage; a cylinder rotatable thereon for sheet feeding; a gear connected to the cylinder; a rack frame pivotally mounted on said carriage; a rack mounted to slide in said frame to perform cylinder operating and return strokes and to rock with said frame into and out of mesh with said gear; first stop means for determining the limit of cylinder operating strokes of said rack; second stop means for determining the limit of return strokes of said rack; a pin on said frame; a holding member pivoted on said Carriage and having a slot adapted to receive said pin when said rack is in the limit position determined by said second stop means and during movement of said rack from said limit position to its other limit position for maintaining said frame placed to hold the rack in mesh with the gear, said holding member also having an enlarged clearance opening communicating with said slot; means on saidrack engageable with said holding member when the rack is moved to said other limit position for rocking said holding member to free said pin from said slot and provide for movement of said pin within said clearance opening to permit said frame to swing and disengage said rack from said gear; a lifting finger movably mounted on said carriage; and spring means connected between said holding member and said lifting jnger and being adapted to be tensioned by by disengage said rack from said gear when said pin has been freed from said slot.

15. In a typewriting or the like machine, the

combination of a carriage; a cylinder rotatable thereon for sheet feeding; a gear connected to the cylinder; a rack frame pivotally mounted on said carriage; a rack mounted to slide in said frame to perform cylinder operating and return strokes and to rock with said frame into and out of mesh with said gear; first stop means for determining the limit of cylinder operating strokes of said rack; second stop means for determining the limit of return strokes of said rack; a pin on said frame; and a latch movably mounted on said carriage and normally disengaged from said pin but being engageable therewith when said rack is in the limit position determined by said first stop means for holding said rack out of en-v gagement; withY said gear during subsequent movement of said -rackto its other limit position.

16; Ina typewritingor the like-machine, the combination-of a'carriage;v a cylinder-rotatable thereonffor sheet feedin ;-agear connected to the cylinder;Y a rack 'frame pivotally; mounted on said carriage; Aa rack mounted to. slide in said framer to performl cylinder Aoperating and return strokes-and to rock-with said-'frame into and out of meshwithV said gear; rst; stop means for determining the limitof 'cylinder operating strokes of said rack; second stop, means for determining thalimit of return strokes'of said rack; a pin on said iframe; a; latch movably mounted on said carriage and-"normally'disengaged from said'pin but being engageable therewith when said rack is -in the limit position determined by said first stop means for holding saidrack outof engagement with said gear 1duringjsubsequent movement of said rack to its other limit position; and

means on saidrack for moving said latch out of` engagement with said pin when the rack reaches its said other limit position.V

17. In a typewriting or the like machine, the

combinationV of aV carriage; a cylinder rotatable thereon forrsheetfeeding; a gear connected to the cylinder; a; rackY frame pivotallymounted on said carriage; a'rack; mounted to slide in said frame to perform cylinder'operating and return strokes and to rock with said frame into and 'l out of meshwith said gear; first stop means for determining the limit of cylinder operating strokes of said rack; second stop means for determining the limit of return strokes of said rack; a pin on said frame; a latch movably mounted on said carriage and normally disengaged from said pin but being engageable therewith when said rack is in the limit position determined by said rst stop means for holding said rack out of engagement with said gear during subsequent movement of said rack to its other limit position; means onv said rack for moving said latch out of engagement with said pin when the rack reaches its said otherlimit position; and spring means effective upon disengagement of said latch from said pin for urging said frame to swing said rack into engagement with said gear.

18. VIn a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a carriage; a cylinder rotatable thereon for sheet feeding; a gear connected to the cylinder; a rack frame pivotally mounted on said carriage; a rack mounted to slide in said frame to perform cylinder operating and return strokes and to rock with said frame into and out of mesh with said gear; rst stop means for determining the limit of cylinder operating strokes of said rack; second stop means for determining the limit of return strokes of said rack; a iirst pin on said frame; a holding member pivoted on said carriage and having a slot adapted to receive said pin when said rack is in the limit position determined by said second stop means and during movement of said rack from said limit position to its other limit position for maintaining the frame placed to hold the rack in mesh with the gear, said holding member also having an enlarged clearance opening communicating With said slot; means on said rack engageable with said holding member when the rack is moved to said other limit position for rocking said holding member to free said pin fromy said slot and provide for movement of the pin in said clearance opening; a lifting iinger pivoted von said carriage and being adapted to move said pin within said clearance opening and thereby move said frame and move said rack out of mesh with said gear; a second pin on said frame; a latch pivoted on said carriage and being engageable with said second pin when said rack is in the limit position determined by said rst stop means for holding said rack out of mesh with the gear'during subsequent movement of said rack to its limit position deter-v mined by said second stop means; means on said rack for swinging said latch out of engagement with said second pin when the rackreaches its last-named limit position, said lifting finger pivot being disposed between Vthe holding member pivot and the latch pivot; and springs interposed between said lifting finger and said holding i member and latch respectively.

19. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a rotatablel sheet-feeding cylinder; means for rotating the cylinder including a manually operable handle mounted'to perform sheet-feeding strokes in one direction and idling return strokes inthe opposite direction; means for determining the limit of said strokes in' one of said directions; Vand a device for determining selectively a plurality of diiferent limits of the strokes in the other of said directions, said device being adjustably mounted on said handle and being `thereby conveniently adjustable by the operators hand when it is grasping said handle.

20. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a rotatable sheet-feeding cylinder; means for rotating the cylinder including a manually operable handle mounted to perform sheet-feeding strokes in one direction and idling return strokes in the opposite direction; means for determining the limit of said strokes in one of said directions; and a device for determining selectively two different limits of the strokes in the other of said directions for selecting one of two different lengths of sheet movements to be eflected by a sheet-feeding stroke of said handle, said device comprising a relatively fixed rst stop with respect to which said handle is movable bodily, a second stop carried by and movable with saidhandle and being engageable with said relatively xed stop, and a third stop carried by and movable bodily with said handle and being movable with respect to the handle to one position for being engageable with said rst stop and to another position such that movement of said handle will not bring said third stop into engagement with said first stop, said third stop when in its said first position being disposed between said rst stop and said second stop and when in its said other position being disposed other than between said iirst stop and said second stop, said second stop being engageable with said rst stop only when said third stop is in its said other position.

21. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a rotatable sheet-feeding cylinder; means for rotating the cylinder including a manually operable handle mounted to perform sheet-feeding strokes in one direction and idling return strokes in the opposite direction; means for determining the limit of said strokes in one of said directions; and a kdevice for determining selectively two different limits of the strokes in the other of said directions for selecting one of two different lengths of sheet movements to be eiected by a sheet-feeding stroke of said handle, said device comprising a relatively xed rst stop with respect to which said handle is movable bodily, second and third` stops carried :by and being bodily movable vwith said handle, said third stop being adapted to be positioned selectively in the line of movementJ of said second stop toward said rst stop and out of said line of movement, and means for moving said third stop selectively into or out of said line of movement.

22. In a typewriting or the like machine, the combination of a rotatable sheet-feeding cylinder; a gear connected to the cylinder; a rack adapted to mesh with the gear; means for mounting the rack for reciproc'ation; a rst stop on said rack-mounting means; a second stop xed to said rack and being adapted to engage said first stop upon movement of said rack; and a third stop mounted on said rack between said rst and second stops and being movable on said rack selectively to a position in which it is engageable with said first stop upon movement of the rack and to another position in which it is not so engageable with said rst stop.

23. In a typewriting or the like machine, a movable sheet-feeding element; line-spacing Ymeans for driving said element in step-by-step increments; and means including a gear drivingly connected to said element and a reciprocable operating rack adapted .to mesh with said gear and being movable in one continuous operating stroke following one or more step-by-step movements effected by the line-spacing means to present a predetermined point of the sheet at the typing line irrespective of the number of step-bystep movements which were eiected by said linespacing me'ans prior to said stroke of said rack, and means for holding said rack in mesh with said gear during operating strokes of the rack and for holding said rack out of mesh with the gear during return strokes of the rack.

24. In a typewriting or the like machine, a movable sheet-feeding element; line-spacing `means for driving said eIement in step-by-step increments; a gear in constant driving connection with said sheet-feeding element; an operating rack; means mounting said rack for reciprocation between limits at the ends of operating strokes and return strokes respectively; and means for eiecting meshing of the rack with the gear when the rack is "at rest at the limit at the end of its return stroke and from the time the rack. leaves the limit at the end of a preceding Y return stroke until the rack reaches the limit of Y the operating stroke and for maintaining said rack and gear out of mesh during the following return stroke. Y

GEORGE F. HANDLEY.

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