US938354A - Type-writer attachment. - Google Patents

Description

w. A. TOMPKINS, TYPE WRITER ATTAGHMBNT.. APPLICATION PI'LED we. 26, 19:05. v w I v Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

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W. A. TOMPKINS. TYPE WRITER ATTAUHMEN'I APPLIQATION .PILED AUG. 26. 1905.

Patented 0011261909.

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TYPEFWRITER ATEEEHMEHQ.

i-peciiileatlon of Letters Patent.

Patented Qct. 26, 1909..

1 all it lie it known that l, l' v sesrsn A... Tome- Inn at men of the United States, residing at Poiend, in. the county or ll fllnltnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certain useful improvements in Type Writ r Attachments; and i do hereby declarc the tollowing to be a'full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, re erenc'e being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this snecification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in attachments for typewriters for operating the same electrically, and comprises means whereby as a slight pres sure is applied to a key, a type bar may be actuated and thrown against the platen, and also in the provision of electrical means for rotating the platen, spacing the lines and actuating escspeinent mechanism.

My invention consists in various details of construction and in combinations and errang'enicnts of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claim.

I illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a typewriter, showing my attachment as applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective diagrammatic view, showing a key and type carrying lever and immediate connections. F 3 is an enlarged detail view of a slightly modified form of means for actuating the rock shaft carrying the type bar. Fig. i is a sectional view, showing at slightly modified form of the key attachment. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of means for actuating the platen. Fi 6 is a detail sectional view through a key showing electrical connections therewith. 7 is an elevation of the platen actuating mechanism, showing electrical circuit whee connected therewith, and Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view through the solenoid forming a part of the platen actuating mechanism.

Reference now being lied to the details of h characters, it designates an estriter frame, having a bank l1 which supported en lo the lower end of which is lv (36311: to a crank em:

is nits-iii to a rock shaft C. Each of said shafts 0, there being one for each type or character, has a crank arm C, having connection by means of the rods D and D with an an led type-carrying lever E. Said rods D an D are connected to ether by means of a turn hackle D whereliy any wear may be taken up. 'Said typewriter ma be of any of the well-known makes, provi ed with a platen F against which the type lever E is adapted to strike as the outer ends of the levers E are tilted down.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be note that the keys are made up of two sections, desi 'nated in the drawings by letters G and G, the former of which is fastened to the rods 13, and the latter hinged to the key section G at one side. A spring ll-serves to normally hold the two key sectio n separated, and each of said sections is provided with a contact noint g, which, as the key section G is depressed, may be thrown into contact with a point on the lower key section, for the purpose of closing the electric circuit.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that the positive and negative wires of the lower circuit, which Wires are designated, respectively, by letters I and l, are connected, one to the lower key section, and the other to the upper key section, and said wires are also connected to the two poles of the solenoid K, which is mounted upon a non-conducting strip L. Said solenoid'li is also connected electrically by means of wires 1 and I with the battery J. The core or plunger N of the solenoid is pivi'itally con nected to a crank arm 0, fixed to the rock shaft C, and every time the circuit is closed, said core, which is of soft iron, will be energized and actuated longitudinall for the purpose of rocking the shaft 0, an through its connections cause a type-carrying lever to be actuated. there are as many solenoids as there are keys, and each similarly connected electrically, as described.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have shown a slight modification of the elec trical means for rocking the shaft, in which i provide an ordinary relay Q which is mounted upon a. rod Q, which in turn is pivotall y connected to the crank arm fixed to rock shaft C, and said rod Q. is adnotcd to pass through an insulating bushing Ll? held in hole in the plate M, which E carried by the it will be understood that latter is oi metal and forms a common field For all'of the various magnets, onlyone of the latter, however, being shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Each magnet is connected by means o'l a wire .M' with a battery M and each time the circuit is closed by the depression of a key, the nnrgnet'n'ill be thrown toward the plate or tield M and cause the sha'l't to rock.

In Fig. is of the drawings I have shown a solenoid it, having a core R. which is connected with a rod lt'-, which in turn is connected to the tiltiugplaten actuating handle t t' aid solenoid It is somountcd upon a pivot 'l-l that it will have a thrusting movement to allow for the movements of the platen handle H in rotating the platen, spacing tor the lines and the returning of the carriage as in the Smith lremier typewriters.

Roth-ring to Fig. at of the drawings, I have shown aslight'. modification of key attaelnuent, in which a rubber cap 'l. is pro- \-'ided, which may be easily slipped over the key of an ordinary typewriter, and carries a contact point.- 'I", having an electrical wire 'l" conherted thereto, while to the ordinary key is 't'astened a contact point to which an electrical wire W 2 is connected. Under the pressure'ot an operators finger, the contact may be made by the elastic wall of the cap \;'iel ling, and after pressure is relieved,

the circuit will break by the top of the cap returning to its normal position. .By this construction an ordinary typewriter may be equipped with my electrical apparatus.

in l igs.-7 and 8 of the drawings will be seen a key ll carrying a contact point 12 which is designed to be depressed against .a contact point 13 which is electrically connected through the medium of the wire 1% with the, battery M and also electrical connections through the wires 15 and 1G'vv1t-h thefreepective poles of the solenoid R for rotatmg the platen F and spacing the lines as in the Smith Premier, the carriage return lever 6 also rotates the platen by means of a pawl which it carries and which engages the two ratchets O on the end of the platen roll. The carriage return lever being journaled to the carriage, a qulck thrust of the solenoid connecting rod R acting in the directionof the arrow (Fi 8 of the drawings), will first rotate the platen as it gradually overcomes the latent inertia of the carrier.

By the provision ofthe apparatus shown and described, it will be noted that a simple and etiicient means is provided, whereby a f s0 slight touch without any appreciable pressure, satin-lent only to closethc circuit, Wlll snt'lice to provide a constant and evenstroke to the hammers, making wax coated stencils and avoiding too heavy a stroke which would cut out the center of the letter, or a too light stroke which would not break suiticiently to allow for a free flow of ink.

\Vhile I have shown a particular 'form of electrical apparatus illustrating my invention, it will be understood that I. may yary the detailed COIlStI'IlCtlOll of the same, it desired, without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I

what I claim as new and'desire to secure by Letters Patent, .is

In a typewriter, the combination of a rock shaft, a series of type carrying levers, conneetions between the same and said shaft, a

solenoid having a core pivotally connected to and adapted to rock said shaft or actuate said key levers, a battery in circuit with said solenoid, key sections having contact points,

and electrical connections between said sections and the solenoid, a platen, a'member tor actuating said platen, asolenoid, a core of said solenoid positively connected to said" platen actuating member, a circuit closer and electrical connections between the same .i

and said solenoid, as set t'o'rth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

\VEBSTER A. TOMPKINS. \Vitnesses O. G. BUCHANAN, VIRGIL CooMnR.

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