US1930433A - Line space lock release mechanism - Google Patents

Description

H. A. FOOTHORA P LINE SPACE LOCK RELEASE MECHANISM Filed April 25. 193; 4Shee'ts-Sheet i m 0 m. F. A m fl Oct. 10, 1933.

I IIIII Oct. 10, 1933.

' H. A. FOOTHORAP 1,930,433

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LINE SPACE LOCK RELEASE MECHANISM Filed April 25, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 10, 1933' FOQTHQRAP 1,930,433

LINE SPACE LOCK RELEASE MECHANISM Filed April 25, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Get. 10, 1933:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Elliott-Fisher Company,

Harrisburg, Pa., a

corporation of Delaware Application April 25, 1931.

12 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in line space lock release mechanism, so called, for writing adding machines of the well-known Elliott- Fisher type.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 135,210 I have disclosed a machine of this type equipped for automatic line spacing, of the line space frame, through return movement of the carriage, a frame drive mechanism and drive control for moving the frame independently of line spacing, and line space lock release mechanism operative either by movement of the carriage from left hand marginal position, or by operation of the drive control, as a condition precedent to independent movement of the frame by said drive. However, in said co-pending application the line space lock release mechanism is effective under operation of the drive control mechanism in one marginal position of the carriage only and includes in effect two separate releasing devices one for the carriage and one for the drive control.

My present invention is an improvement over the mechanism of my aforesaid application the principal object being to provide a single or unitary line space lock release mechanism which is efiective, under operation of said control, in different marginal positions of the carriage, as determined by different marginal requirements, and also operative by movement of the carriage from any one of said marginal positions.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and which will now be described in detail, and defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of an Elliott-Fisher machine equipped according to my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in front elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view parts showing in section;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in front elevation illustrating the parts in the position they assume at the end of a line spacing operation;

Figure 6 is a similar view illustrating operation of the line space lock release mechanism;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of co-operating levers-for transmitting motion from the frame Serial No. 532,810

drive control mechanism to the line lock release mechanism;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a line space lock release draw rod, and rocker arm, and a connecting link between the rocker arm and said 0 motion transmitting levers.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 4;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a line space, lock release cam and cam carriage adjustable along the line space lock release rod;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the same looking at the opposite side thereof;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view in front elevation, with parts broken away, of the carriage rack and a margin stop adjustable thereon;

Figure 14 is a transverse section taken on the line 1414 ofFig. 13, and

Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of a stop member mounted on the carriage for cooperation with said margin stop.

Figure 16 is a view in rear elevation illustrating details of the line space mechanism,

Figure 17 is a detail front elevation of the line lock releasing cam and a coupling hook member illustrating the operation of these parts, and

Figure 18 is a similar view of said cam and member further illustrating their operation.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 generally designates a portion of a line space frame of an Elliott-Fisher machine including the rear and end members 1 and 1 which frame is mounted by rollers 2 to travel, longitudinally of 90 a sub-jacent fiat platen 3, upon tracks 4 provided by side members 5 forming part of the platen supporting frame.

As will be understood the line space frame 1 is surmounted by printing mechanism, not shown, of the down strike typewriter class, mounted on a carriage 6 for operation by keys 6 the carriage being supported by rollers as at 7 on the front and rear rails of said frame 1 for letter spacing movement over the platen under control of the usual escapement, not shown, co-operating with the usual carriage feed rack 8 located alongside the rear member 1 The carriage 6 is adapted for return to different positions, in accordance with different marginal requirements and as predetermined by a margin stop 9 (Fig. 13) adapted to be set-along the carriage feed rack 8 into different positions and provided with a suitable detent member, as at 10, actuated by a pivoted detent lock 11 and thumb piece 12 to interlook with the teeth of the rack 8 and thus hold said stop in set position. An adjustable plunger stop 13 (Fig. 15) mounted on the carriage 6, and cushioned by a spring 14, engages the stop 9 to bring the carriage to rest.

The line space frame 1 is equipped with line space mechanism (see Figs. 1 and 16) shown in greater detail in my Patent No. 1,275,413, dated August 13, 1918.

Suffice it to explain that a line space shaft 7 having fast thereon a toothed line space wheel 8 suitably journaled on the line space frame 1 to drive the same over the platen 3 by means of gears 9 on said shaft meshing with racks 10 on the platen supporting frame 5. Freely mounted on the shaft 7 is a dog carrier 11 upon which a line space dog 11 is pivoted as at 11 to be rocked thereon in opposite directions to engage and release the teeth of the wheel 8 Also freely mounted on the shaft 7 is a dog rocker 12 operatively connected to the dog 11 as at 12 and movable forwardly and reversely. As will be understood initial forward movement of the rocker 12 engages the dog 11 with the wheel 8 whereupon the parts become locked together for movement in unison to effect a line spacing operation of the shaft 7 upon continued forward movement of said rocker. Conversely initial reverse movement of the rocker 12 releases said dog 11 and continued reverse movementthereof returns said rocker, carrier, and dog, idly to starting position. Suitably arranged springs 13 act to return the dog rocker with a snap action, to starting position as determined by a variable stop member 14 adjustable by means of screws 14. As will be seen the foregoing line space mechanism is adapted at the end of a line spacing operation to lock the frame 1 against movement and is tensioned to snap back to normal unlocking position.

Intermediate the rack 8 and member 1 is a line space draw rod 15, operatively connected at one end to the line space mechanism and suitably guided at the other end as indicated at 16 for actuation by the carriage 6. As shown in Figure 16 the operating connections take the form of a rock shaft 15*, mounted on the frame 1 by a bracket 15*, to one end of which the draw rod 15 is connected by a link 15 and safety connections in the form of levers 15 15 respectively, connected together by a spring 15 for a purpose which will be understood. A crank arm 16 fast on the other end of the shaft 15 is connected by a link 16 to one end of a lever 16 fast on a line space operating shaft 16 mounted as by bracket 16 on the frame 1 for manual operation of the line space mechanism as will be clear from my aforesaid patent. A link 16 connects the other end of the lever 16 with a hub member 12 of the dog rocker 12 The line space draw rod is coupled to the carriage 6, as the latter nears the end of its return movement for movement therewith sufficiently to operate the line space mechanism and hold the same in locked condition and against retraction.

This coupled relation of the carriage 6 and line space draw rod 15 is established by means of a coupling hook member 17 (Figs. 6 and 17) pivoted on the carriage as at 18 for movement into engaging and disengaging positions, respectively, relative to a couplingblock member 19 (Figs. 5 and 6) on the line space draw rod 15. A spring 20 normally acts to rotate hook 17 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 17, and a pin 21 obstructs such movement in a position in which the hook is adapted to cooperate with block 19. The block member 19 is adapted to be set along the line space draw rod 15 by means of a pivoted detent member 22 on said block seating in notches 23 spaced along said rod at intervals to selectively time the coupling, and hence the line spacing operation, with relation to return of the carriage 6 to different marginal positions, it being understood that since operative movement of the line space mechanism is limited said block 19 acts also as a margin stop limiting return of the carriage.

The beforementioned frame drive moves the line space frame 1 independently in either direction as disclosed in my co-pending application. To this end drive control mechanism is associated therewith having the form of a drive control shaft 24 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) endwise movable on the frame 1 by means of a control bail 25 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) mounted as at 26 on one side member 5 to rock in opposite directions, respectively, from a central normal position, and connected to the shaft 24 by a grooved wheel 27 spanning the bail and fast on said shaft.

Coming now to the line space lock release mechanism. Mounted on vertical rocker arms, as at 28, (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5) on the rear member 1 is a line space lock release rod 29 longitudinally movable on said rockers alongside the draw rod 15. Adjustable along said release rod 29, in a manner presently explained, is a cam carriage 30 (Figs. 11 and 12) including laterally spaced side members 31 adapted to receive therebetween the upper edge of the rear member 1 and having rollers 32 designed to run upon the upper edge of the member 1 Pivoted as at 33 intermediate the side members 31 is an upstanding line space lock release cam 34 (Figs. 17 and 18). The line space lock release cam 34 is designed for co-operation with the coupling hook member 17 to release the line spacemechanism after return of the carriage to its different marginal positions either by operation of the control bail 25, in either direction, or by initial forward movement of the carriage 6 from marginal position.

To this end a pivoted detent 35 (Figs. 11 and 12) is provided on the cam carriage 30 seating in notches 36 spaced along the release rod 29 so that the cam 34 may be located in advance of an overlying pin 3'7 on the coupling hook 17 in any selected marginal position of the carriage. The cam 34 is provided with oppositely inclined edges 38 and 39, respectively, over one of which, 38, the pin 37 wipes as shown in Fig. 17 just prior to return of the carriage 6 to a selected marginal position and whereby said cam is depressed against the urge of a suitable return spring 40 it being understood that the spring 20 is of suflicient strength to just overcome the spring 40.

As the pin 37 moves past the cam 34 the latter is raised, as will be understood, to assume a position immediately in advance of said pin with its edge 39 presented to the latter. The cam 34 and spring 40 are so constructed and arranged relative to the member 17 that upon movement of the inclined edge 39 against said pin 37, or vice versa, the coupling hook member 17 will be elevated to disengaged position relative to the coupling block 19. Preferably the relative arrangement of the parts is such that the force of the pin 37 acting against the face 39, or vice versa, is so directed relative to the axes of the hook member 17 and cam 34, respectively, as to insure that its normal effective component must act in a direction to pass above both these axes whereby a torque is produced acting to raise said member 17 against the action of its spring 20. In Figure 18 the normal position of the hook member 17 and cam 34, at the instant of contact, has been shown in full lines and the position these parts assume when the hook member 17 is raised in dotted lines. The dot and dash line aa represents the angle of inclination of the face 39 and bb the line of direction in which the normal effective component acts. Suitable means for limiting upward movement of the cam 34 may be provided, if desired, in the form of a pin or lug (not shown) on the carriage 30 above the dog 34, or a suitable connection (not shown) between the front end of the spring 40 and the cams 34 may be utilized for the same purpose. It follows that upon initial advance of the carriage 6 from marginal position the line space lock mechanism will be released and conversely movement of the line space lock release rod 29 in the opposite direction will accomplish the same result.

In order to so move the line space lock release rod 29, by movement of the control bail 25 in either direction, operating connections between said rod and bail are provided as follows. Pivoted adjacent one rocker arm 28 is a pair of superposed bell crank levers 41 and 42 (Figs. 2, 5 and '7), respectively, operatively connected so that movement of the lever 41 in opposite directions, respectively, will move the other in one direction only. For this purpose said levers may be connected on one side of their pivots by a slotted link 43 on the lever 41 receiving a pin 44 on the lever 42, whereby movement of the lever 41 in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. '7 will move the other 42 in the same direction, but permit their movement in opposite directions, and a pin 45 on the lever 41 engaging an arm 46 on the lever 42 whereby movement of the lever 41 in the opposite direction will move the lever 42 in the same direction as before. A link 47 operatively connects the lever 42 to the said rocker arm 28 and a suitably interposed spring 48 connects said lever 42 and rocker arm 28 to yieldingly retain the parts in normal position. Movement of the control bail 25 is correspondingly transmitted to the lever 41 by means of a forked lever 49 (Figs. 1 and 4) pivoted as at 50 to a bracket 51 on the frame 1 and spanning a collar 52 on the control-shaft 24 said lever being connected by a draw.rod 53 to the lever 41 as at 54.

It is thought thatthe operation of my invention will be clear from the foregoing but it is to be understood that right is herein reserved to such modifications thereof as fall fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machineof the class described, the combination with a carriage, and line space mechanism operated by movement of the carriage to different marginal positions and held locked against retraction by said carriage, of line space lock release mechanism operative in said different marginal positions of the carriage, and both manual and carriage operated means for operating the lock release mechanism.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage movable to different marginal positions, a movable frame, a frame drive including a control member, and line space mechanism adapted to assume a locked condition,

of line space lock release mechanism operative in said different positions of the carriage, and means for operating said lock release mechanism as an incident to operation of the control member.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, a line space frame, a frame drive including a drive control member, and line space mechanism operative by movement of the carriage to different marginal positions and held locked against retraction, of line lock release mechanism operative in said different marginal positions of the carriage, and means for operating said release mechanism as an incident to operation of said control member.

4. In a machine of the class described the combination with a line space frame, a frame drive including a control member, a carriage movable on the frame to different marginal positions, line space mechanism, and a member coupling the carriage and line space mechanism, of means operative to uncouple the carriage and line space mechanism in any of said marginal positions of the carriage, and operating connections between the uncoupling means and said control member.

5. In a machine of the class described the combination with a frame, a frame drive including a control member movable in opposite directions, respectively, a carriage movable on the frame to different marginal positions, line space mechanism, and means coupling the carriage and line space mechanism, of means operative to uncouple the carriage and line space mechanism in any of said marginal positions of the carriage and as an incident to operation of said control member in either direction.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, a frame drive including a control member movable in opposite directions, respectively, a carriage movable on the frame to difierent marginal positions, line space mechanism, and means coupling the carriage and line space mechanism, of means adapted to be moved in one direction to uncouple the carriage and line space mechanism in said marginal positions of the carriage, and means for moving the uncoupling means in said one direction by movement of the control member in either direction.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, a frame drive including a control member movable in opposite directions, respectively, a carriage movable on the frame to different marginal positions, line space mechanism, and means coupling the carriage and line. space mechanism, of means adapted to be moved in one direction to uncouple said carriage and mechanism in any of said marginal positions of. the carriage and to also uncouple said carriage and mechanism upon movement of the carriage from said marginal positions, and means for moving the uncoupling means in said one direction by movement of the control member in either direction.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carriage, and line space mechanism, and a member on the carriage coupling to said mechanism during return movement of the carriage, of means for uncoupling the coupling member and including a cam member movable against the coupling member and in the direction of return movement of the carriage, and means for moving the cam in said direction including a bail movable in opposite directions, respectively.

9. In a machine of the class described the combination with a carriage, and line space mechanism, and a member on the carriage coupling to said mechanism during return movement of the carriage, of means for uncoupling the coupling member and including, a cam member movable against the coupling member and in the direction of return movement of the carriage and acting to uncouple said member upon advance of the carriage, and means for moving said cam member.

10. In a machine of the class described the combination with a line space frame, a carriage,

line space mechanism, and meansfor coupling said mechanism and carriage during return movement of the latter, of means for uncoupling said mechanism and carriage including, a cam carriage adapted to travel on said frame, a cam on the cam carriage, and means for moving the cam carriage in the direction of return movement of the first named carriage and including a bail movable in opposite directions, respectively.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a line space frame, a carriage, line space mechanism, and means for coupling said mechanism and carriage during return movement of the latter, of means for uncoupling said carriage and mechanism and including, a cam carriage movable on the frame and provided with a detent member, a rod having notches therein receiving said detent, a cam on the cam carriage, a bail movable in opposite directions, respectively, and connections between the bail and rod for moving the latter endwise in one direction by movement of the bail in either direction.

HARRY A. FOOTHORAP.

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