US2155777A - Braille writer - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1939. J. STEFFEN BRA ILLE WRITER Filed July 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 25, 1939. J. STEFFEN BRA/ILLE WRITER Filed July 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Way. 4

April 25, 1939. J STEFFEN 2,155,777

BRAILLE WRITER Filed July 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mam April 25, 1939. J. STEFFEN BRAILLE WRITER Filed July 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to writing machines and has special reference to a typewriter for the blind.

One important object of the invention is to improve and simplify the general construction of devices of this character.

A second important object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of such a typewriter whereby the user may form Braille characters on both sides of the paper and thereby greatly decrease the cost of paper.

A third important object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of the back spacing device of such a typewriter whereby the 75 key controlling the back spacer is so located as to be within easy and convenient reach of the operator.

A fourth important object of the invention is to improve the carriage release mechanism of such a typewriter.

A fifth important object of the invention is to the provision of a novel adjustable margin stop and guide whereby to enable the operator to use any width of paper Within the maximum 5 width for which the machine is designed and, at the same time, govern the starting point of each succeeding line so that all lines will be uniform.

A sixth important object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of the casing for the carriage return spring so that it is impossible for the user to accidentally throw the carriage out of adjustment.

A seventh important object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of enclosed die-punch case for prevention of dust and dirt collecting in the working parts of the dies whereby to avoid frequent repairs, cleaning and adjustment of these parts.

An eighth important object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of paper tension rollers adjustable for any thickness of paper.

A ninth important object of the invention is to provide a novel escapement mechanism and means for operating the same.

A tenth important object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of the matrix arm whereby the major portions of the back spacer and escapement mechanisms are housed beneath and protected by a portion of the matrix arm, the arm being mounted for swinging movewent so as to expose the parts covered thereby when desirable or necessary.

With the above and other objects in view,

as will presently be apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompany drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved type- Writer.

Figure 2 is a partial rear elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the left side of the typewriter.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken from front to rear of the machine and illustrating one of the keys and the die actuated thereby.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of the casing for the die bars with the cover plate removed and the die bars exposed, one bar being removed.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View with certain of the parts omitted, the view disclosing the back spacer and escapement mech- 2 amsms.

Figure 8 is a detail plan view showing the back spacer mechanism in position to prevent movement of the carriage during formation of a Braille character. 30

Figure 9 is a similar detail showing the back spacer in the position assumed at the completion of the back spacing operation.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary section on the line l9l0 of Figure '7.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary section on the line ll-Il of Figure 7.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary section on the line I2l2 of Figure 7.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary section on the line 40 I3-I3 of Figure 7.

Figure 14 is an enlarged section on the line l4-l4 of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the escapement pawl device used herein. 45

Figure 16 is an enlarged detail section on the line Iii-l6 of Figure 3.

Figure 17 is an end view of the roll for holding the paper to be written upon.

Figure 18 is a transverse section through the 5% paper holding roll.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary section showing the gearing operatively connecting the paper holding roll and the paper feed rolls.

Figure 20 is a fragmentary detail showing the at 41 is slidably mounted on the bars 44 and 46.

line stop.

The invention as herein illustrated includes a main frame indicated in general at H]. Adjacent the rear of the frame It) is a cross-bar having a depressed central portion |2. At each side of this depressed portion, the bar carries an upstanding lug or ear |3. A shaft |4 extends through the ears I3 and the ends of this shaft project. On these ends are mounted collars l5 which are secured in position on the shaft by set screws l6 thus holding the shaft in proper position in the ears. Mounted centrally on the shaft I4 is the rear end of a spacer key lever l1 which projects forwardly to lie over the front of the frame H1 and is there provided with the spacer key l8. At each side of the key I8 is a group of three character keys l9 each carried by a lever having a forward portion 28, a portion inclined inwardly from front to rear as at 2| and a rear portion 22. The front portions 28 are parallel to each other as are the portions 22. The portions 22 are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on the shaft I4. Between the lever I1 and the adjacent lever portions 22 are washers 23 and between the several portions 22 and between the outer lever portions 22 and the ears l8 are washers 24. Thus the several levers are held in properly spaced relation on the shaft M. The character key levers extend rearwardly and project through an opening 25 in the lower portion of the front wall 26 of a character bar casing 21. In this casing is fitted three pairs of complementary character die bars, the bars of each pair being identical in form and size but oppositely disposed. These character die bars comprise a rear pair 28, an intermediate pair 29 and a front pair 38. Each of these bars carries on its upper end a die pin 3| which, when the bar is moved upwardly, projects through a corresponding opening 32 in the top of the casing 21. The lower ends of the several die bars are arranged in staggered relation, as best seen in Figure 6, and each lower end rests on the rear end of a respective character key lever 24 so that depression of a respective key l9 protrudes a respective pin 3|. Each die bar is provided with a lateral arm 32 which extends out of a cut out portion 33 in a side wall of the casing 21. Tension springs 34 have their upper ends attached to the arms 33 and have their lower ends anchored to anchor bars 35. The rear of the casing 21 is closed by a removable cover plate 36. These springs 34 serve to hold the die bars normally depressed and thus to hold the keys l9 normally raised.

Formed integrally with and extending forwardly from the collars |5 is a pair of arms 31 having their forward ends connected by a cross-bar 38 forming a spacer bar. The bar 38 is provided with a felt cushion strip 39 and extends beneath the key levers I1 and 26 so that depressing any one of the keys l8 and I9 will effect depression of the spacer bar 38. The frame includes a cross bar 48. A bracket 4| having spaced and forwardly and upwardly extending arms 42 is secured to the front face of the bar 48 by screws 43. One of the screws 43 is also used to hold the upper end of a coiled tension spring 44 which has its lower end secured to the spacer bar 38 to hold the latter normally raised.

Secured to the frame sides at the upper parts thereof is a front guide bar 44 and secured to arms 45 projecting from the casing 21 is a rear guide bar 46. A carriage, indicated in general Mounted on the left side of the frame I8 is a spring housing 48 containing the usual spiral spring (not shown) for rotating the housing on a shaft 49. The usual pawl and ratchet tensioning mechanism is indicated at 58 and is trolled by a knurled head 5| fixed on the shaft 49. Fixed to the carriage 41 is a ratchet bar 52 wherewith cooperates the escapement device indicated in general at 53. The escapement herein used includes a body member 54 having its for ward end mounted between opposed pivot screws 55 screwed through the arms 42 and held against accidental unscrewing by the lock nuts 56. This body 54 has a bevelled nose 51 positioned for cooperation as a pawl with the ratchet bar 52. The body 54 has an angle bracket 58 formed integrally therewith and depending from the body intermediate the ends of the latter. A screw 59 extends through the body and bracket and constitutes a pivot for a laterally swinging pawl 68 having a bevelled nose 6|. A coiled tension spring 62 is connected to the forward end of the pawl 60 and is anchored to a pin 63 carried by the body 54. The spring 62 normally biases the pawl 66 in the manner shown in Figures '1 and 15 and the bracket 58 limits the swinging movement of the pawl 68 in such manner that at the limit of its movement the nose 6| will aline with the nose 51. Projecting forwardly from the bar 38 is a lug 64 which carries a screw 65 passing through a slot 66 in a vertical link 61. The upper end of the link 61 is secured by a screw 68 to the body 54 intermediate its ends. The screw 65 normally lies at the upper end of the slot 66. Also pivoted on the screw 65 is a second link 69 which lies alongside the link 61 and is provided with a slot 18 through which extends a screw 1| which normally engages in the bottom of the slot 18. Spaced screws 12 engage respectively in the links 61 and 69 and are connected by a spring 13 normally pulling the link 61 downwardly.

Normally the body 54 lies in an upwardly tilted position so that the pawl nose 6| engages a tooth of the ratchet bar 52. On the spring housing or casing 48 is wound a flexible strap 14 which has its end connected to the carriage 41 so that the latter is constantly spring urged to the left. Such movement is normally prevented by the engagement of the pawl nose 6|. When, however, any one of the keys l8 or IE! is depressed the bar 38 will also be depressed. Consequently, the lug 64 will be depressed and carry with it the link 69. By its spring connection with the link 61 the latter will also be depressed and the body 54 will be tilted downwardly until the pawl nose 6| is freed from the ratchet bar 52. As this occurs the nose 51 will engage the same ratchet tooth as was previously engaged by the nose 6|. Thus, during the downward movement of a key the carriage is held from movement to the left. When the nose 6| moves below the ratchet bar 52, the spring 62 biases the laterally swinging pawl into position for its nose 6| to engage the next succeeding ratchet tooth. When the depressed key is released the pawl body 54 tilts upwardly until its nose 51 rises to clear the ratchet bar 52 whereupon the carriage moves to the left until the nose 6|, which is now engaged, assumes its normal position of alinement with the nose 51.

In order to effect release of the carriage so that it may move freely to the left, there is provided at the right of the key-bank a carriage release key 15 mounted on the forward end of a lever I6 which is pivoted on a screw 11 fixed in the other mechanisms shown in Figure 'I and is seframe ID. This lever is normally held raised by a coiled tension spring 18. A plate 19 is fixed t the frame I!) and journalled in this plate and in the adjacent arm 42 (Fig. '7) is a rock-shaft 89 which carries an upwardly and forwardly extending rock arm 8| connected to the lever 16 by a link 82. The rock shaft 88 extends beneath the escapement pawls and is there provided with a rearwardly extending rock arm 83. When the key 15 is depressed the link 82 pulls the rock arm 8| downwardly and this tilts the rock arm 83 upwardly to engage and lift the escapement pawls until the nose BI is lifted to clear the ratchet bar to allow the carriage free movement to the left.

This upward tilting of the pawls is permitted since the spring I3 yields and the link 61, by its pin and slot connection with the link 69, slides upwardly with respect to the latter.

The back spacing mechanism is best seen in Figures 7 to 10. A bracket 84 is fixed on the frame I8 and extends parallel to the ratchet bar 52. Pivoted to the right hand end of this bracket is one end of a short link 85. the other end of which is pivoted to the corresponding end of a pawl bar 86 having a down turned nose 8'! at its left hand end for engagement, when operated, with the teeth of the ratchet bar 52. The bracket 84 carries a pivot screw 88 spaced from the pivot of the link 85. This screw passes through a slot 89 extending longitudinally of the middle part of a lever 99. The lever 90 has its rear end pivotally connected to the pawl bar 86 adjacent the nose 81. A spring 9| has one end connected to the lever 90 and its other end connected to the frame II! to hold the lever 99 normally biased to the position shown in Figure '7, and thus with the nose 8'! normally out of engagement with the ratchet bar 52. At the left of the key-bank is a back spacer key 92 carried by a lever 93 which is pivoted as at 94 to the left side of the frame II]. A spring 94 normally holds the lever 93 raised. The lever 93 has connected thereto one end of a chain 95 which passes over an idler pulley 96 and has its other end connected to the forward end of the lever 90. When the key 92 is depressed this pulls upon the chain 95. Due to the inclined position of the lever 90, the latter is held with the screw 88 in the forward end of the slot upon pull being exerted on the chain. Upon depression of the key to a certain extent, the nose 8'! will engage a tooth of the ratchet bar 52 and prevent movement to the left by the carriage 41. This condition is desirable during the formation of certain of the characters formed by the machine since it is necessary to strike certain of the keys in succession and normally this would permit action of the escapement mechanism which is undesirable. This position is shown in Figure 8. Further depression of the key 92 will move the parts to the position shown in Figure 9 and thus carry the ratchet bar 52 and carriage 41 to the right, the pawl 50 yielding to permit this movement and acting as a check pawl upon release of the key 92. When the key 92 is released the spring 9| acts to restore the parts to the position shown in Figure '7, the slot 89 allowing the lever to slide forwardly a sufficient extent to permit the nose 8'! to ride over the teeth of the ratchet bar 52.

The frame I0 is provided at each side of the keybank with an ear 96. A housing 91 is provided with coacting ears 98 which are pivoted to the ears 96 by screws 99 (one only shown). This housing 91 normally covers the back-spacing and cured in its covering or closed position by means of hook levers or latches I00 which are pivoted to the frame and engage pins IIJI projecting laterally from the sides of the housing. Arching rearwardly from the housing 91 over the carriage is a matrix arm I82 carrying on its rear end a matrix head I03 having matrix recesses I04 corresponding with the die pins 3|.

In the sides of the cariage 41 are supported the journal ends I of a paper carrying or storage roller I86. This roll is longitudinally recessed as at I01 and in this recess is mounted a paper clamp I08 which is pivoted between head plates IE9 and urged to clamping position by a spring II 0. Knobs III are secured to the journals of this roll to afford means for manually turning the same in rolling paper thereon at the beginning of writing and unrolling the paper for effecting line by line feeding across the die set. A revoluble feed roll H2 is journalled in the carriage sides and is geared to the roller I06 by suitable gearing II3. An upper feed roll 4 lies above the roll H2 and is journalled in a pair of brackets I I5 fixed on a bar H6.

The bar H6 is swingingly supported by a pair of forwardly extending arms II'I pivoted to the carriage sides. Rocker levers II8 are pivoted to the carriage sides and engage the bar H6 and springs I I9 urge the forward ends of these levers |I8 downwardly so that the upper roller I I4 is pressed firmly toward the lower roller II2. In order. to raise the upper roller camming levers I29 are pivoted to the carriage sides and have cam. ends I2I which engage the rear ends of levers I I8 so that actuating the levers I20 in the proper direction causes the bar H6 and roller II4 to be raised. A spring pawl and ratchet device I22 is connected with the lower feed roll to insure proper spacing of lines on the paper being written upon.

A signal bell I23 is adjustably mounted at the rear of the machine for warning the user when the end of a line is approached in writing and an adjustable carriage stop I24 is mounted on the bar 46. Also an adjustable margin stop I25 is mounted on the back bar I26 of the carriage.

What is claimed, is

1. In a typewriter for the blind provided at its rear with a set of character forming elements, said typewriter further having a carriage provided with a ratchet bar, and pawl members cooperating therewith; a frame supporting the character forming elements, carriage and pawl members, a hood hinged to said frame and normally extending rearwardly from its hinge axis over said pawl members, and a character forming arm fixed to said hood and extending rearwardly over the carriage to terminate above said character forming elements.

2. In a typewriter for the blind provided at its rear with a set of character forming elements, said typewriter further having a carriage provided with a ratchet bar, and pawl members cooperating therewith; a frame supporting the character forming elements, carriage and pawl members, a hood hinged to said frame and normally extending rearwardly from its hinge axis over said pawl members, a character forming arm fixed to said hood and extending rearwardly over the carriage to terminate above said character forming elements, and latch members pivoted on said frame and engaging said hood for holding the latter closed.

3. In a typewriter for the blind having a frame 1 and a carriage mounted thereon for transverse sliding movement, said carriage being provided with a ratchet bar, bracket means carried by said frame in front of said ratchet bar, a back spacing pawl and escapement pawls mounted on said bracket means, a pair of hinge ears formed on said frame in front of said bracket means, a hood pivoted between said ears and normally extending rearwardly over said pawls to cover the same, character forming means at the rear of said frame and a character forming arm extending centrally fromv the upper part of said hood and arching over said carriage in the normal position of the hood to cooperate with the character forming means.

4. In a typewriter for the blind having a frame and a carriage mounted thereon for transverse sliding movement, said carriage being provided with a ratchet bar, bracket means carried by said frame in front of said ratchet bar, a back spacing pawl and escapement pawls mounted on said bracket means, a pair of hinge ears formed on said frame in front of said bracket means, a hood pivoted between said ears and normally extending rearwardly over said pawls to cover the same, character forming means at the rear of said frame, a character forming arm extending centrally from the upper part of said hood and arching over said carriage in the normal position of the hood to cooperate with the character forming means, pins projecting from the sides of said hood rearwardly of its pivotal axis, and latch hooks pivoted on said frame to swing into and out of engagement with said pins.

JACOB STEFFEN.

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