US2817428A - Electric typewriting machine - Google Patents

Description

1957 Y. APPELBERG 2 ,817, 28

ELECTRIC TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Yzvwz L. APPEL BERG ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1957 Y. L. A PPELBERGELECTRIC TYPEWRITING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1955 INVENTOR. I

Yvavz L; APPELBERG ATTGR Y United States Patent OfiFice 2,817,428 Patented Dec. 24, 1957 ELECTRIC TYPEWRITING MACHINE Yngve L. Appelberg, New York, N. Y. Application September 15, 1955, Serial No. 534,485

3 Claims. (Cl. 197-12) This invention relates to electric typewriting machines of the rotating wheel type.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric typewriting machine of the rotating wheel type wherein multiple ratchet wheels on the driving shaft are used to position the rotating type wheel for striking action that may be angled with respect to one another at fifteen degrees apart, yet having their ratchet teeth or abutments spaced forty-five degrees about their periphery and utilizing a bracket support for the rotating and ratchet wheels adapted to be swung to the printing position upon the shaft being stopped by magnetically-operated pawls respectively associated with the respective ratchet wheels and the type wheel made to strike owing to its kinetic energy and against the action of a return spring until the pawl is released.

It is another object of the invention to provide in an electric typewriting machine of the rotating wheel type lock out relay means for releasing the magnet prior to the release of the finger from the key on the keyboard yet prohibiting further energization of the actuating magnet until the relay has been tile-energized.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an electric typewriting machine of the rotating wheel type, having the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, of reduced weight, small in size, has a uniform striking force, avoids complicated electric circuits, adapted for high speed operation, compact, requires little mechanical effort, effective and eflicient in use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view showing the type wheel unit positioned relative to the typewriter roller as viewed generally on line 1-1 of Fig. 2 and looking upon one of the multiple rotating ratchet wheels;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the type and ratchet wheel assembly and of the driving pulley mechanism therefor;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view looking upon a second ratchet wheel and as viewed online 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view looking upon a third ratchet wheel as viewed on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view looking upon a commutator serving as a part of the mechanism and as viewed on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View of the rotating type wheel assembly similar to Fig. 1 but with the pawl engaging the ratchet wheel and the printing rotation stopped and about to be moved to a position to effect the printing action; i

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the frame of the assembly and with the ratchet wheel stopped and the rotating wheel effecting a printing action upon the paper;

Fig; 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 but showing "the frame of the assembly and with the ratchet wheel stopped and the rotating wheel effecting a printing action upon the paper; and

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram of the entire typewriting machine.

Referring now to the figures, 11 represents a rubber roller on which apaper sheet 12 is disposed in the usual manner. Positioned in front of this roller on ribbon supports 13 and 14 in the usual manner is a travelling inkedribbon 15 operated in the usual manner by the typewriter mechanism, not shown. Positioned in front of the ribbon and this roller is the rotating type wheel assembly indicated generally at 16 and forming the gist of the present invention.

Thisassembly 16 is generally comprised of a frame having vertically-spacedplate arms 18 and 19 held in vertically spaced relationship by vertically-extendingspaced bars 20, 21 and 22. Thisassembly 16 is fixed to a vertically-extendingpivot shaft 23 by which theassembly 16 is mounted upon and between vertically spaced lower and upper vertically adjustable supportingmembers 24 and 25 on the machine frame and against vertical displacement relative thereto by means of a vertical thrust collar 23' bearing against the upper face of theframe member 24, Fig. 2. The assembly can accordingly pivot horizontally about a vertical axis toward and away from thesheet 12 and roller 17.

Journalled in the frame and extending vertically is a rotatingshaft 27 that carries upper and lower case rotatingtype wheels 28 and 29. Acommutator 30 is fixed to thelower plate arm 19 by fasteningscrews 31 and is concentric with the shaft that has a thrust collar 2'7 bearing thereupon. Below theplate arm 19 and fixed to the lower end of theshaft 27 is apulley 33 that is connected by apulley belt 34 to adouble pulley 35 that rotates freely uponpivot mounting shaft 23 and in turn is connected to adriving pulley belt 36 serving to supply the rotating power to the mechanism. Thepulley belt 36 may be driven by any separate electric motor or by the main motor for the electric typewriter that drives theink ribbon 15 and the roller carriage in a well known manner.

On the rotatingshaft 27 are vertically spacedratchet wheels 37, 38 and 39 and these ratchet wheels each have eight abutments or teeth angularly spaced forty-five degrees apart as respectively indicated at 4-0, 41, and 42 for therespective Wheels 37, 38 and 39. The abutments or teeth 40 of theratchet wheel 37 are adapted to be engaged by an engaging end 44' of apawl arm 44 pivoted uponshaft 23 and normally held againstvertical spacing bar 21 by atension spring 45 anchored to the vertically-extendingspacing bar 20, Figs. 1 and 6.

Extending between theframe members 18 and 19 is amagnet supporting plate 46 that supports threeelectromagnets 47, 48 and 49 and also serves as a vertical spacing bar. Themagnet 48, when energized, will magnetize a plate 50 secured to thearm 44 so as to draw thearm 44 against the action oftension spring 45 so that its end 44' will engage any one of the abutments or teeth 41), depending upon the key which is depressed in the upper row of a keyboard assembly generally indicated at 51, Fig. 9.

Extending through theratchet wheels 37, 38 and 39 parallel to and radially-spaced from thedrive shaft 27 and extending from thetype wheels 23 and 29 is a brushre taining sleeve 52 that contains abrush 53 which rides over embedded segments A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, in thecommutator 30 that is fixed to theplate arm 19.

While the key in the upper row of thekeyboard 51 is still depressed, thebrush 53 and printing wheels will continue to rotate until a circuit is closed, whereuponmagnet 48 will be energized, thearm 44 will be drawn toward the ratchet wheel and against the teeth corresponding to the key and the commutator segment that is included in the circuit with themagnet 47 and anelectric source 54. Thepawl arm 44 thus stops the rotation of theratchet wheel 37, theshaft 27 and the printing wheeis 28 and 29 so that a letter or numeral thereon impresses the ribbon and thepaper sheet 12 upon the roller 11. The letters or numerals are indicated by raised projections '28 and 29' on therespective wheels 28 and 29. These projections conforming to letter or numeral configurations are spaced on each of the rotating type wheels fifteen degrees apart. If it is desired to use theWheel 29 to type with its projections, theassembly 16 is elevated by its vertically adjustable supportingmembers 24, in a manner, not shown.

Upon thearm 44 being engaged with theratchet wheel 37, the kinetic energy derived from the rotation of the printing and ratchet Wheels will cause theframe 16 with the printing Wheel .to be turned to a position to effect the printing operation and against the action of an adjust able tensionspring anchored to an adjusting nut oneportion 56 of the machine frame. This spring is connected to thevertical spacing bar 22 on the outer end of theassembly 16. When themagnet 47 is de-energized, thearm 44 is released from theratchet wheel 37 and the as sembly 16 is returned to its retracted position by thetension spring 55.

Theintermediate ratchet wheel 38 will have its abutments orteeth 41 engaged byend 59 of pawl arm when a key in the middle row of thekeyboard 51 is depressed to energize themagnet 48 to act upon aniron plate 58 fixed to thearm 59. Thepawl arm 59 will be pivoted upon themounting shaft 23 and against the action of atension spring 57 connected to thearm 59 and anchored tovertical bar 20.

In order that theratchet Wheel 38 can drive beyond theratchet wheel 37 and to provide for a positioning of the letter upon the rotating type Wheel fifteen degrees beyond a letter for a corresponding abutment on theratchet wheel 37, a short arcuate slot 60 is provided in theratchet wheel 38 so that thebrush sleeve 52 canride through fifteen degrees in theratchet wheel 38 against atension spring 61 anchored at 62 on the faceof thewheel 38, Figs. 3 and 7. When this lost motion is taken up, theratchet wheel 38 will belocked through thebrush sleeve 59 with theshaft 27 and the rotating type wheels so that due to the kinetic energy of rotation thereof upon themagnet 48 remaining energized, theassembly 16 will be brought into engagement with the ribbon -15 to effect the printing operation upon the paper sheet on the typewriter roller 11. This movement will be resisted by thesame tension spring 55 and the assembly is returned to its retracted position as the magnet=48 is dc-energized and thepawl arm 59 disengaged from theratchet wheel 38. Theratchet wheel 38 will be returned to its original position by thespring 61 and thebrushsleeve 52 will engage again the beginning end of the slot 60, as shown in Fig. 3.

When a key in the lowerrow of thekeyboard 51 is depressed, theratchet wheel 39 will be engaged byend 63 ofpawl arm 63, also pivoted uponvertical bar 23 and normally "held in its retracted position againstbar 21 under the action oftension spring 64 anchored to thevertical bar 20. Thispawl arm 63 carries an iron plate 65 adapted to be magnetized and drawn toward the electromagnet49 so that theend 63 of thearm 63 will engage with an abutment ortooth 42 on theratchet plate 39 as the brush-53 engages with the commutator segment corresponding to the key that was depressed. The brush sleeve 52-extends through anarcuate slot 66 so that angular movement of thebrush sleeve 52 can move through an arc of thirty degrees before the rotating wheel is arrested and theassembly 16 caused to be pivoted to effect a'printing action of the assembly upon thepaper 12 on the roller 11. Thisslot 66 willallow theratchet wheel 39 to overrun theratchet wheel 38 by fifteen degrees and theratchet wheel 37 by thirty degrees. Theratchet wheel 39 is normally urged'toward the'brushsleeve 52 bytension spring 66 anchored at 66" to the wheel '39 and connected to the sleeve "52. This makes for an arrangement wherein a large number of letters or numbers are provided on the rotating type wheel at a spacing of fifteen degrees apart and while allowing for an angular movement of forty-five degrees of the ratchet wheels relative to the engaging pawl arms. The speed of rotation of the rotating type Wheels can be high and any difference in time and travel of the wheels before actuation of the assembly to effect a printing operation is instantaneous and of no consequence. If the ratchet wheels tend to overrun the drive mechanism, a slippage of thepulley belt 34 will be effected to prevent breakage.

In order to prevent further printing action before release of one of the keys, a multiple lock outrelay 67, Fig. 9, having threecoils 68, 69 and '78 and aswitch arm 71 pivoted at 72 are part of the machine frame and has aniron plate 73 adapted to be drawn toward amagnet core 74 When therelay 67 is energized. Thisrelay arm 71 is adapted to be engaged by thevertical spacing bar 20 on the .end of the frame 17 so as to be moved from afixed relay contact 75 as the assembly is moved into the printing operation so that a circuit leading through saidcontact 75 by way of acontact plate 76 on therelay arm 71 is interrupted and a circuit made by acontact 77 on therelay arm 71 with afixed relay contact 78 that will energize any one of thecoils 68, 69 and of therelay 67, so as to energize the relay and cause therelay arm 71 to remain so that circuit is closed throughcontacts 77 and 78. Upon release of any key on thekeyboard 51, therelay 67 will be de-energized and thecontact arm 71 returned to its original position with itscontact 76 against fixed contact so as to condition the circuit in order that any one of themagnets 47, 48 and 49 maybe energized to effect another printing operation. Thearm 71 is normally urged toward fixedcontact 75 bytension 71 anchored to afragment 67 of a relay housing.

In operation, assuming a key switch marked by numeral "2 in the upper row of thekeyboard 51 is depressed, current will flow fromelectric source 54 throughbrush 53 to segment B on thecommutator 30,wire 80,key switch 2,wire 81,electric magnet 47,Wire 82,relay contacts 75 and 76,relay arm 71 and back toelectric source 54. On themagnet 47 being energized, thearm 44 will be drawn toward theratchet Wheel 38 so that itsend 44 will engage theabutment 41 on theratchet wheel 38 and the rotation of theratchet wheel 38 will be arrested and one .of the printing wheels brought to bear upon .the typewriter roller to effect the printing operation. As theassembly 16 moves toward the roller 11, thevertical bar 22 engages thearm 71 so as to move .the arm and its "contact 76 :away from the fixedcontact 75 to break the circut and permit the dc-energization of themagnet 47 and the release ofpawl arm 44 from the ratchet wheel :38. As this is done, a circuit is established throughwire 83,relay coil 68,relay contact 78,relay arm contact 77,relay arm 71 and back to thesource 54. This circuit prevents further energization of 'anyof the electromagnets47, 48, 49 until the-originally depressed key hasreturned to its normal position.

If a key switch marked 10 in the middle row of the keyboard "51 is depressed, a similar circuit will be established including theelectric source 54,brush 53, segment But the commutator '30,wire 80, key switch 10,wire 84,magnet 48,Wire 82,contacts 75, 76 andarm 71 and back toelectric source 54. Thepawl arm 59 associated with themagnet 48 will have its end 59' engage with anabutment 42 onratchet wheel 39 so as to arrest its rotation and cause the printing wheel to be engaged with theribbon 15 to effect the printing operation. As theassembly 16 is turned to effect the printing operation, thecontact 76 of thearm 71 will separate from thecontact 75 andcontact 77 of thearm 71 will engage withcontact 78 andcoil 69 of the realy 67 will be energized sothat the circuit will flow throughcoil 69,contact 78,

contact 77 ofrelay arm 71, back tosource 54. This circuit will remain closed until key is released. As the key 10 is released, thearm 71 will have been released by therelay 67 and returned to a position where itscontact 76 will again engagecontact 75.

If key switch marked 18 in the lower row of thekeyboard 51 is depressed, the current will pass fromelectric source 54,brush 53, segment B,wire 80,key switch 18,wire 85,magnet 49,wire 82,contacts 75 and 76,arm 71 back to theelectric source 54. Thearm 63 will be brought so that itsend 63 engages withabutment 42 onratchet wheel 39 so as to cause the ratchet wheel to be arrested and to eifect the printing operation upon thepaper sheet 12 on roller 11. Theassembly 16 will accordingly be pivoted and thearm 71 will be moved out so that itscontact 76 will be disengaged fromcontact 75 and itscontact 78 of therelay 67 so that coil 70 of the relay is energized. The electric circuit Will then pass through relay coil 70,contact 78,contact 77,arm 71, back toelectric source 54.

The commutator has other wires leading therefrom to other keys on thekeyboard 51. These wires are indicated at 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91 and 92. The key switches on any of the given rows of the keyboard are connected together. The several wires leading from the commutator respectively lead into vertical rows of key switches and identified by letters lying below the keyboard and corresponding to the letters on the segments of the commutator. The keys on the keyboard correspond to the letter and number projection on theprinting wheels 28 and 29.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided an electric typewriting machine of the rotary printing wheel type wherein multiple ratchet wheels are utilized, wherein the letter and number on the printing wheels can be positioned fifteen degrees apart while the corresponding abutments or teeth on the ratchet wheels can be fortyfive degrees apart.

It will be seen that this is effected through the provision of arcuate slots lying in the ratchet wheels and the commutator brush sleeve extending through the arcuate slots in two of the ratchet wheels so as to allow the overrunning of the ratchet wheel to allow each of the multiple ratchet wheels to position the printing wheels fifteen degrees apart.

It should be further apparent that by means of the lock out relay, only one key can be effective at a time and as long as that key on the keyboard is retained, further operation of the typewriter cannot be effected.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric typewriting machine, a rotating type Wheel assembly having a frame having horizontally-extending plates and vertically-extending spacing bars therefor, a mounting shaft for securing the frame upon the machine frame for angular movement about a vertical axis, a rotating shaft journalled in said frame adjacent the outer end thereof, drive means for rotating said shaft,

a rotating type wheel secured to said shaft, a commutator secured to one of said horizontal plates and having a plurality of commutator segments, a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, a brush sleeve extending parallel to said shaft through said type and ratchet wheels, a brush projecting from said brush sleeve and adapted to engage with the commutator segments, a pawl arm pivoted on said assembly, a magnet mounted on said assembly, said arm having a magnetizable plate adjacent said magnet to be attracted thereby, spring means normally urging said pawl away from said ratchet wheel, said magnet serving when energized to pull the pawl against the action of said spring to engage said ratchet wheel to stop the rotation of said shaft and type wheel and cause the pivotal movement of said assembly about its pivot connection with the machine frame and to efifect the printing operation upon a paper sheet retained by a typewriter roller.

2. An electric typewriting machine as defined inclaim 1, and other ratchet wheels journalled on said shaft in vertical spaced relationship with respect to the one ratchet wheel and to each other, said other ratchet wheels respectively having arcuate slots therein, said brush. sleeve extending through said arcuate slots, pawl anns similarly pivoted upon said frame and tension springs normally urging said pawl arms to a retracted position, magnetizable members carried by said pawl arms and electromagnets aligned with the respective magnetizable members and the pawl arms to effect the actuation of the pawl arms and the engagement of the ends tnereor with the respective ratchet wheels, the type on said type wheel being spaced fifteen degrees apart, the ratchet teeth on the ratchet wheels being spaced forty-five degrees apart, the arcuate slot in the ratchet wheel adjacent the first mentioned ratchet wheel being of snfiicient length to permit the turning of the ratchet wheel with respect to the brush sleeve through fifteen degrees, the arcuate slot in the third ratchet wheel extending throughout thirty degrees, whereby the ratchet teeth on the respective ratchet wheels may be adjusted to positions fifteen degrees apart from the ratchet teeth of the other ratchet wheels.

3. In an electric typewriter system, a keyboard having horizontally extending rows of keys, a rotating type printing wheel, a brush associated with said rotating printing wheel, a commutator over which said brush may traverse, an electric source, a frame adapted for pivotal movement and supporting said rotating printing wheel, a ratchet wheel connected to 'said printing wheel to be rotated therewith, a pawl arm adapted to engage the ratchet wheel, magnet means adapted to be energized upon depressing a key to actuate said pawl arm to engage the ratchet wheel and stop the rotation of the printing wheel and a lock out relay having an arm engageable by the printing wheel frame and normally adapted to establish an electric circuit through said magnet, said relay having a coil and a contact engageable by said arm to establish a circuit through said depressed key to engage said relay and to prevent further actuation of said magnet until said depressed key has been released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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