US331659A - Platen-shifting attachment for type-writing machines - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

C. S. SOUTHWORTH.

PLATEN SHIFI'ING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE WRITING MAGHINES.

Patented Dec. 1, 1885.

IN'VENTOR WITNESSEf J I ATTORNEYS.

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UNITED STATES Parent @FFIICE CHARLES S. SCUTHWOBTH, OF DEEP RIVER, CONNECTICUT.

PLATEN-SHIFTING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,659, dated December 1, 1885.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. SOUTH- WORTH, of Deep River, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Platen-Shifting Attachment for Type-\Vriters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an attachment for that class of type-writing machines which use two different sizes of types and are provided with shifting platens.

The object of my invention is to provide a platen-shifter which is connected with the machine, can easily be operated, and can be folded to be out of the way when not required.

The invention consists of the combinations of parts, including their construction, substantially as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the frame of a type-writing machine provided with my improved platen-shiftinglever. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail side view of the lever. Fig. 3 is across-sectional elevation of the joint of the same on the line a m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4. shows a modification of the joint.

On abloc-k, D, two upwardly-projectingjaws or prongs, A, and two downwardly-projecting jaws or prongs, B, are formed, the planes of the upper prongs being at right angles to the planes of the lower prongse Abinding-screw, C, is held in one of the upper prongs, and by means of the said screw the block is clamped on the bottom edge of one side piece, D, of a type-writer frame.

Between the jaws or prongs B the ends of two levers, E and F, are passed, which have their adjacent surfaces rabbeted, and in the said rabbets a leather or rubber washer, G, is placed. A tubular internally-screw-threaded pivot, H, is passed through one jaw B, the ends of the levers E and F, and the washer G, and a screw, J, passing through the otherjaw B, is screwed into the tubular pivot H. The lower end of the lever F is flattened, and on thelfree end of the lever E an eye, K, is formed, in which one end of a rod or spiral spring, I,

is held, having its other end secured to the platen-shifting key or lever L. A spring, M, having an offset, N, projects down from the lever E, and the lever F is provided with a pin, 0, adapted to engage with the offset N, and thus hold the levers together.

In place of providing the washer G between the pivoted ends of the levers E and F, their faces may be brought in contact, and the lever F provided with a shoulder, S, which engages with a shouldenfiT, of the pivoted end of the lever E when the levers are at right angles.

The operation is as follows: The lever F is swung down to be at right angles with the lever E. By pressing the lever F outward, or in the direction of the arrow (1, by means of the knee, the free end of the lever E is pulled down, and the platen-shifting key or lever L is pulled down and the platen is shifted. The parts must remain in this position as long as capital letters are being used. WVhen the platen-shifting .lever is not in use, the lever F is swung up against the lever E and held in place by the spring M, as shown in Fig. 2 in dotted lines. The leather washer G is pressed so firmly that the levers do not slip unless sufficient force is applied. When theilevers are to he brought at right angles to each other,

the ends of the levers are slipped on the washer as sufficientforce is applied; but when the lower end of the lever E is pressed'in the direction of the arrow (4 the platenshifting lever or key does not offer sufficient resistance, and the levers do not slip. If very great force is applied, they slip and prevent breaking of the platen or platen key, lever, or other parts of the machine. When the washer is not used, but the lever E is provided with the shoulder S, the spring I is stretched when undue force is used, and thus prevents breaking of the parts. The levers E and F form an anglelevcr having a joint at the angle and adapted to be folded.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a platen-shifting attachment for typewriters, the combination, with the platenshifting key, of the lever with {its arrnsZfrictionally pivoted to each other :at their meet- ICO by an interposed washer, and binding screw and sleeve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with a type -Writer frame, of the elbow-lever held on'the same and provided with a joint at the angle, and a spring connecting it with the free end of the platen-shifting key or lever, substantially as herein shown and described.

CHARLES S. SOUTHWORTH.

WVitnesses:

ARTHUR L. BATES, CHARLES S. RANKIN.

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