Justifying text writing composing machine

• US 4,273,455 A
• Filed: 09/25/1978
• Issued: 06/16/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daydreams LLC
• Original Assignee: Realty And Industrial Corporation
• Inventors: Grier, William R., Gubelmann, executor, by Walter S., Gubelmann, deceased, W. S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Jr., Ernest T.
• Application Number:
  US05/945,802
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 400/4, 400/260, 400/303, 400/306.1, 400/306.2, 400/309, 400/310, 400/311
• US Class Current: 400/309
• CPC Class Codes: B41B 25/10 incorporating devices for line justification, e.g. counting and indicating devices for length of line

Abstract

A mechanism which provides bi-directional movement of the carrier of an electric typewriter incorporating proportional spacing. A ratchet arrangement is operable in both directions to provide the desired proportional spacing increments, with rotation of a ratchet wheel in the clockwise direction being controlled by engagement of an associated pawl with one of a plurality of stop engaging surfaces of a control member which sets the number of proportional spacing increments desired. For rotation of the ratchet wheel in the counterclockwise direction, a solenoid is coupled to the control member to momentarily rotate it clockwise until a stop engaging surface thereof abuts a selected stop surface corresponding to the number of proportional spacing increments desired, and causing the pawl associated with the ratchet wheel to move clockwise by a corresponding number of ratchet teeth--after which the solenoid is released, permitting a cocked spring to return the control member to its initial position and cause the pawl to rotate the ratchet wheel counterclockwise by a corresponding number of proportional spacing increments.

Claims

1. A bidirectional proportional spacing carrier moving mechanism for a carrier of an electric typewriter, comprising:

a ratchet wheel with teeth having a predetermined pitch for determining incremental proportional spacing units;

means coupling said ratchet wheel to said carrier for bidirectional rotation in synchronism with bidirectional linear movement of said carrier;

first force exerting means for urging said carrier in a first direction to cause said ratchet wheel to be urged in a given rotational direction;

detent means normally engaged with said ratchet wheel for preventing rotation thereof in said given direction, to thereby prevent movement of said carier in said first direction;

first control means for momentarily disengaging said detent means from said ratchet wheel to permit rotation of said ratchet wheel in said given direction by said first force exerting means;

an incremental spacing control member having a first end pivotally mounted adjacent said ratchet wheel, and a stop engaging surface remote from said wheel;

a pawl normally engaged with one of said teeth and pivotally mounted on said control member, for preventing rotation of said ratchet wheel in said given direction when said detent means is disengaged therefrom;

a plurality of stop members disposed in mutual alignment adjacent said stop engaging surface, at least two of said stop members being selectively movable in and out of the path of movement of said stop engaging surface,

said stop members permitting incremental rotational movement of said stop engaging surface, pawl and ratchet wheel in said given direction and linear movement of said carrier in said first direction, by a distance corresponding to a desired number of proportional spacing increments;

second force exerting means for urging said control member to rotate in a direction to move said stop engaging surface away from said stop members and to cause said pawl to rotate said ratchet wheel in a direction opposite to said given direction, to drive said carrier for linear movement in a second direction opposite to said first direction; and

releasable means for momentarily rotating said control member against the force exerted by said second force exerting means to move said pawl a distance corresponding to a desired number of second direction spacing increments, until said stop engaging surface engages one of said stop members,

said second force exerting means acting upon release of said control member by said releasable means to move said carrier in said second direction by said desired number of second direction spacing increments.

2. The carrier moving mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said stop members include at least one stationary stop more remote from said stop engaging surface than the other ones of said stop members.

3. The carrier moving mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising upper case and lower case switch means for defining the case of a character to be traversed by said carriage, and second control means coupled to said switch means for selectively moving said stop members in accordance with said character case.

4. A bidirectional proportional spacing carrier moving mechanism for a carrier of an electric typewriter, comprising:

rotatable ratchet means;

means coupling said ratchet means to said carrier for bidirectional rotation in synchronism with bidirectional linear movement of said carrier;

first force exerting means for urging said carrier in a first direction to cause said ratchet means to be urged in a given rotational direction;

detent means normally engaged with said ratchet means for preventing rotation thereof in said given direction, to thereby prevent movement of said carrier in said first direction;

first control means for momentarily disengaging said detent means from said ratchet means to permit rotation of said ratchet means in said given direction by said first force exerting means;

a movable incremental spacing control member having a stop engaging surface;

means coupled between said control member and said ratchet means, for preventing rotation of said ratchet means in said given direction when said detent means is disengaged therefrom;

adjustable stop member means disposed adjacent said stop engaging surface;

said stop member means permitting incremental movement of said stop engaging surface and incremental rotational movement of said ratchet means in said given direction and linear movement of said carrier in said first direction, by a distance corresponding to a desired number of proportional spacing increments;

second force exerting means for urging said control member away from said stop member means to cause said ratchet means to rotate in a direction opposite to said given direction, to drive said carrier for linear movement in a second direction opposite to said first direction; and

releasable means for momentarily rotating said control member against the force exerted by said second force exerting means to move said stop engaging surface into engagement with said stop member means,

said second force exerting means acting upon release of said control member by said releasable means to move said carrier in said second direction by said desired number of second direction spacing increments.