US2728436A - Power operated repeat carriage letter spacing mechanism for typewriters or like machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27. 1955 w. H. KUPPER 2,728,436

POWER OPERATED REPEAT CARRIAGE LETTER SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS OR LIKE MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1953 Dec. 27. 1955 w. H. KUPPER 2,

POWER OPERATED REPEAT CARRIAGE LETTER SPACING WRITERS OR LIKE MACHINES MECHANISM FOR TYPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed y 7. 1953 Dec. 27, 1955 w. H. KUPPER 2,728,436

POWER OPERATED REPEAT CARRIAGE LETTER SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS OR LIKE MACHINES Filed May 7, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet s 0 1 03.5, /JZZ6 1;; 25 70 Q 5,17: I 7 13 i? v A 2'9 ,2 15 71 6) i 49 O 6 x 25 (l l; 7

l 'IIII'I INVENTOR. l/fl/fa n HffuFer BY afm r ATTORNEYS United States Patent POWER OPERATED REPEAT CARRIAGE LETTER SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS OR LIKE MACHINES William H. Kupper, West Hartford, Conn, assignpr to Royal McBee Corporation, a corporation of New ltork Application May 7, 1953, Serial No. 353,602

14 Claims. (Cl. 197-82) This invention relates to power operated carriage letter spacing mechanism for typewriters or like machines, and more particularly to power operated mechanism for effecting repeated letter spacing incremental movements of the machine carriage under the control of a manually operable spacing control key.

An object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism of the class referred to, including a continuously operating rotary cam and a cam follower adapted to be operated by the cam under the control of a manually manipulatable key for eifecting repeated operations of a carriage escapement mechanism by repeated operations of the cam follower.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the character referred to in which the cam and cam follower normally are so relatively off-set axially with respect to the cam axis of rotation that the follower will not be operated by the cam, means being provided for effecting shifting of the cam or the follower relatively to its associated cam component so as to cause the follower to be operated by the cam.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the kind referred to including a cushioned drive transmitting connection between the cam mechanism and the escapement mechanism adapted to minimize abruptness of operation of the escapement mechanism, avoid jamming of the parts, and minimize noise and vibration.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, fore and aft of a typewriter embodying the invention, showing only some of the conventional or standard typewriter parts in order to illustrate the appli cation of mechanism embodying the invention to a typewriter construction;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, some parts being shown in elevation and other parts being omitted, all of the illustrated parts being shown in their normal positions;

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, drawn on an enlarged scale and showing escapement mechanism and actuating mechanism therefor, some parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a key; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a cam follower and actuator lever member shown in its operative relationship to a supporting bracket.

The invention may be embodied in typewriters or like machines of various kinds. For the purpose of illustration, the invention is shown as being embodied'in an oflice type typewriter having, except for the power mechanism to be described, many features in common with the well known Royal Standard typewriter. The drawings show only enough of the standard or known typewriter construction to assist in illustrating the manner in which mechanism embodying the invention may be coordinated with other parts of a typewriter construction.

The known construction illustrated includes a main frame A on which a carriage is mounted for letter spacing and return movement by means of a top rail 1 secured to and forming part of the carriage, and rolling upon balls 2, which in turn are adapted to roll on a frame-mounted bottom rail or track 3.

The carriage may be driven toward the left, that is, in the letter-spacing direction, by any suitable mechanism, for example, by a conventional spring barrel and draw band (not shown).

For controlling the feeding of the carriage in letterspacing direction to take place by letter space increments, the carriage is equipped with a rack 4 (Figure 1), cooperable with an escapement mechanism generally designated B. With exceptions to be pointed out hereinafter, the escapement mechanism is similar to mechanisms custetnarily embodied in Royal Standard or manually operated typewriters, and includes an escapement pinion 5 coupled by a ratchet pawl (not shown) with an escapement wheel 6 journaled on a pin 7 carried by a framemounted bracket 8. The bracket 8 is equipped with coneshaped bearing screws 9-9 extending into conformingly shaped bearing recesses in mounting ears 10-40 integral with an oscillatable escapement rocker plate element 11. Rocking of the plate part 11 in one direction on the screws 99 is limited by a stop finger 12 secured to the bracket 8 by screws 13. The finger 12 extends from behind the plate 11 forwardly past the plate, is then turned so as to extend parallel to and in front of the plate, and has its extreme end part 12 projected rearwardly so as to be engageable by a part of the plate above the pivots 99 when the upper part of the plate is rocked forwardly, that is toward the left as viewed in Figure 2. Rocking of the plate in the opposite direction is limited by a stop finger 14 secured to the bracket 8 by screws 15, and having a part 14 projecting forwardly through an opening 16 in the bracket 8 so as to be engageable with the rear face of the upper part of the rocker plate 11 when the latter is rocked rearwardly, that is, toward the right as viewed in Figure 2. Either or both of the fingers 12 and 14 can be bent, mauled, or otherwise deformed so as to adjust the limits of rocking of the plate 11.

The plate 11 is equipped with the usual fixed dog 17 and limber dog 18 pivoted on the plate as at 19, and urged counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 3 by a spring 20 interposed between a heel 21 on the limber dog and an ear 22 on the rocker plate 11. An abutment screw 23 has threaded connection with a;boss or lug 24 on the back of the plate 11, and can be adjusted for determining the limit of rocking of the limber dog 18 when the latter is engaged by a tooth of the escapement wheel 6. A normalizing or return spring 25 is interposed between a part of the rocker plate 11 above the pivots 9 and a sub-bracket 26 mounted underneath the framemounted bracket 8 by a screw 27, the spring 25 normally holding the rocker plate 11 in its Figure 2 position with the limber dog 18 holding the escapement wheel 6 against rotation and hence, holding the carriage stationary. When the rocker plate 11 is oscillatedv back and forth, the dogs 17 and 18 will cooperate with the escapement wheel in a well known manner for effecting the desired letter-spacing incremental movements of the carriage.

In general, the parts described so far do not, in themselves, constitute the present invention. The invention resides in other parts to be described, and combinations of such other parts with each other and with parts already described.

arranges Broadlyconsidered, repeatedoscillation. of theplatell and repeated incremental letter-space feeding of the carriage are effected by power driven means generally desig natedtGWhi'ch-are made-.eifectivel-by operator-controlled means D. including a manuallly manipulatable key- 28 Powers is: transmitted? from thepower driven-means C through a trainnof drivingconnectionsE extending from the-;means.C to. the escapement mechanism B. The construction andiarrangementof the-parts is such that, upon depression of the key 28, quickly generated power impulses are transmittedrepeatedly through a. cushion device generally designated .Futo the-plate 11 to rock the latter clockwise as viewed in Figure 1-; each power impulse being-f shortiduration-and being followed by returning of?v the. plate. element 11 toitsnormal position by the normalizing spring The power driven mechanism C includes a carn-memb61329. mountedt'on a shaftSiiwhich is adapted to be drivenzby power. from any suitable source, for example,

anzelectric motor, not shown. The cam has a single lobe The :drivingconnections E include a shaft 32 which extends parallel'to the axis of rotation-of the cam 29 and is supported by a bracket 33 secured to the frame A by a screw 34-, and a bracket 35 secured to the frame by screws 36, 36; The shaft 32' is held against endwise movement, as-byrbeing secured in any suitable manner to the bracketsv :33 and 935i. A compound follower lever and actuator lever member, generally designated 37, is mounted to both rock substantially in a plane-transverse to the axis of the shaft 32 and to shift or slide on the shaft 32 in a direction at an angle to the plane referred to. The followerlever memberdesignated 38 is equipped with a cam follower roller 39 whichis adapted to be engaged by the carnlob'e 31 when the follower lever member 33 is in its operative position. The actuator lever part 40 of the compound member37'is. formed with an operating nose 4-1; The follower lever member 38 and the actuator lever part40.are.joined by-a connecting strap 42.

A coiled spring 43 surrounding the shaft 32 is interposedbetween the actuator arm 40 and a collar 44 fixed to the shaft-32, the spring 43 being loaded under compression'so asto urge the compound member 37 toward the right of the machine, that is, downwardly as viewed in Figure 2, and to maintain the follower lever 38 in its nor.- mal position-in which it is offset from the cam 29 in a direction paraltel to the axis of the cam shaft 30 so as not to be engageable by the cam.

Mechanism for shifting thecompound member 37 so as to place the follower lever 38 and roller 39 in their operative positions in which the roller is engageable by the. cam 29 includes a shifting lever 45 pivoted at 46 on ashelfpart 47 of the bracket 35. The shifting lever 45 is formed'with a rounded nose 48 which bears againstthe actuator leverpart 4a) of the compound member37. The shiftinglever'45 also has a rounded end part 49; received in'theforked'end 50 ofa lever 51 which is pivoted at.52 on the bracket shelf 47. The arrangement is such that rocking of the lever 51 clockwise as viewed in Figure 2 willrock the shifting lever 45' counterclockwise, causing its nose-48 to push against the actuator lever 40 and move thecompound member 37 to place the cam follower roller 39 in its operative position.

Mechanism operable by the key 28 is provided for rocking the lever 51. In the form shown, the lever 51 is pivoted at 53 to the rear end of a link 54, the front end of which is pivoted at 55 to a lever 56 which, in turn, is pivoted at 57 on a stationary bracket 58 secured to the frame A by screws 5?. The lever 56 isprovided with a stud 60 which projects under an overlyingprojection 61 on the key 218. The key 2 8 is formedwith slotsfilwhich receive headed pins 63 carried by the fixed bracketSS.

In operation, when the key: 28 isdepressed, theiprojection 61 overlying the stud 6t) presses the latterdownwardly. soas to .rock the. lever/56,, thereby. pulling the link 54 forwardly and rocking, the lever 51 clockwise as viewed in Figure 2. This will cause the cam follower roller 39 to be shifted into its operative position in which it is engageable by the cam 29.

The cushioned motion transmitting connection F is interposed between the. drivingconnections Band thees;

arm 66-of-a lever 67 provided-with pins or trunnions -3-68 by which it is pivoted-on a bracket 69-mou 'nt ed on the main escapement mechanism bracket 8;" The up; per end of the lever 67 has ama'rm 70"forrned 'with'a rounded end 71 disposed immediately infront'o fthe' escapement rocker plate -1 1 above the pivots 99.

The arm 66-of the lever 67 has a 'rearwar dly offset ear 72 to which is anchored the rear end -of -a force-daily mitting cushion spring73; the front end or which is connected in a hole-74in. the lever 64. The spring;73'urge s the .lever e-i-relatively counterclockwise with" respectto the lever 67 as viewed in Figure-2, such movement of the leverfid being limited by engagement of an ear 75 formed integrally onthe lever 64 with the lower arm obfof the lever 67. Inthe normal position of-the parts, shown in Figure. 2, the stop ear-'75 is in contact with the lever arm b6, and the spring-73 is preloaded under initial tension.

A stop ear orfinger 76-on the compound-member'37ds engageable-with thebottomof the shelf 47 of the bracket,

35 for limiting return movement of the-member 37;

Operation When. it'isdesired to. effect repeated-incremental line spacingmovements of the carriage, the key 28-is depressed and he1d;downzfor aztime depending upon how many incrementalline.spacing movements itis desired to effect. Depression ofthe key-28wi1l' rock the lever 56'and pull the linkSAforWard-Iy so as to rock the levers 51 and 45 in the manner previously explained. Rocking of the shifting leversnwill cause its nose. 4% to push the compound mernber37 toward theleft of the machine against the urge of thetspring 43 so as to position the cam fol- lower member 38, 39. inits operative-- position and enable it to be. operated-by. thescam 29.v Thecontinuously rotating cam 29 will then effect a series of operationsof the'carn follower. lever "33 byengagement-ofthe lobe 31 repeatedly Filth the. follower roller 39--so as to rock the actuator lever. iflrepeatedlyto bringits n ose 41 into engagement with the arm 64 and rock the latter clockwise as viewed in Figure 2.. The shock'which otherwise would-result from the, sudden operation of the actuator lever 37 by the cam 29, isv absorbedibyt the cushioning spring'73 which transmits motion to the lever '67, rocking the latter about its trunnions: 63. The'cushioned rocking of the lever 65 causes its rounded end part 71 to operate the escapeineut rocker element 11 inthe-manner-previousJ explained so as to move the escapement dog 18 out of engagement with the escapement wheel 5 and to move thecompanion dog 17 into engagement with thewheel When .thccam lobe 31 passes beyond the follower roller 39 th'e escapement normalizing spring 25 returns. the rocker plate element 11 to-its' starting position, thereby fli king the level 7 and the arm 64 counterclockwise asjvievwed in Figure 2, causing the arm 64th press against the. actuator lever nose i1 ahdtdreturn the compoundlut mber. 371p, i iS- startihg position" with the cam 'f lowen roller, 32. in contact with or substantially in contact 'with the' low part of the cam 29. The width of the follower roller 39 is such that it will engage the cam 29 operatively without requiring that the roller 39 be shifted to any critical or exact position axially with respect to the cam. Consequently, if the key 28 is depressed a little less than to the full limit of its downward movement, the cam roller 39 nevertheless will be positioned for operative engagement with the cam 29. Similarly, the arm 64 which is operated by the actuator lever 40, has a contact face 64- which is sufliciently long to be engaged by the nose 41 of the actuator lever 49 irrespective of the shifting of the lever 44 to any exact or critical position. Moreover the contact face 64 is sufficiently long to be disposed in the path of the nose 41 of the actuator lever 40 even when the compound member 37 is so positioned that the follower lever 38 is in its inoperative position. This prevents the compound member 37 from rocking counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 1 to a position in which the actuator arm nose 41 would be disposed under the arm or lever 64 and unable to return to its proper operating position.

The mechanism described above may be embodied in typewriters or like machines which also include mechanism for effecting single operations of the escapement mechanism and single incremental letter spacing movements of the carriage. For example, the arm or lever 64 may be pivoted to the rear end of a link 77, as at 78, and the front end of the link may be operated by power driven mechanism of the kind disclosed in the patent to Hart No. 2,563,722, issued August 7, 1951. The power driven mechanism disclosed in the Hart patent referred to is such that forward and backward movement of the link 77, when driven by the repeat operation mechanism disclosed in the present application, would not be interfered with by the power driven mechanism disclosed in the Hart patent. The link 77 may also include a one way drive connection 79, so that connection of the front end of the link 77 to any suitable mechanism for effecting single operations of the escapement mechanism will not interfere with working of the repeat operation mechanism.

The mechanism disclosed embodies the invention in a preferred form, but it is intended that the disclosure be illustrative rather than definitive. The invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for effecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary cam member; a cooperable cam follower member adapted to be operated substantially in a plane by said cam member; means mounting said members so normally relatively positioned that said follower member is not operable by said cam member; means for shifting one of said members relatively to the other of said members in a direction at an angle to said plane and into an operative position to render said follower member operable substantially in said plane by said cam member; actuator means operable by said follower member for actuating said escapement mechanism element; and control means for effecting operation of said shifting means to shift said one of said members into its said operative positron and to maintain it there, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said follower member, said actuator means, and said element, and a plurality of incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

2. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for effecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary cam member; a cooperable cam follower member; means mounting said members so normally relatively positioned that said follower member is offset from said cam member in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam member; means for shifting one of said members parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam member and relatively to the other of said members into an operative position to render said follower member operable by said cam member; actuator means operable by said follower member for actuating said escapement mechanism element; and control means for effecting operation of said shifting means to shift said one of said members into its said operative position and to maintain it there, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said follower member, said actuator means, and said element, and a plurality of incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

3. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame, for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for effecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary cam member; a cooperable cam follower member adapted to be operated substantially in a plane by said cam member; means mounting said follower member in a normal position in which it is not operable by said cam member; means for shifting said follower member relatively to said cam member in a direction at an angle to said plane and into an operative position to render said follower member operable substantially in said plane by said cam member; actuator means operable by said follower member for actuating said escapementmechanism element; and control means for effecting operation of said shifting means to shift said follower member into its said operative position and to maintain it there, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said follower member, said actuator means, and said element, and a plurality of incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

4. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for effecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary cam member; a cooperable cam follower member; means mounting said members so normally relatively positioned that said follower member is offset from said cam member in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam member and mounting one of said members for shifting parallel to said axis of rotation into an operative position to render said follower member operable by said cam member; a spring normally yieldably holding said one of said members out of its operative position; actuator means operable by said follower member for actuating said escapement mechanism element; and control means for effecting operation of said shifting means to shift said one of said members against the urge of said spring into its said operative position and to maintain it there, whereby there will ensure repeated operation of said follower member, said actuator means, and said element, and a plurality of incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

5. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for effecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary cam member; a cooperable cam fol- -lower member adapted to be operated substantially in a plane by said cam member; means mounting said follower member in a normal position in which it is not operable by said cam member and for shifting in a direction at an angle to said plane and into an operative position in which it is operable substantially in said plane by said cam member; a spring yieldably holding said followermember in its said normal position; means for shifting said follower member against the urge of '7 said spring into its said operative position; actuator means operable by said follower member for actuating said escapement mechanism element; and controlmeans for elfecting operationof said shifting means to shift said follower member into its said operative position and to maintain it there, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said follower member, said actuator means, and said element, and a plurality of incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

6. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for elfecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary earn; a shaft having its axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said earn; a camvfollower mounted to rock about the axis of said shaft and to shift parmlel to the axis of said shaft alternatively into a normal position in which it is offset from said cam in a direction parallel to said shaft axis and into an operative position in which it is in the plane of operation of said cam so as to be operable by said cam; means for shifting said. follower to its said normal position; means for shifting said follower to its said operative position; and actuator means operable by said cam follower foractuating said escapement mechanism element.

7.. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for effecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary cam; a shaft having its axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam; a cam follower mounted to rock about the axis of said shaft and to shift parallel to the axis of said shaft alternatively into a normal position in which it is offset from said cam in a direction parallel to said shaft axis and into an operative position in which it is in the plane of operation of saidcarn so as to be operable by said cam; a spring for yieldably maintaining said cam follower in its said normal position; actuator means operable by said cam follower for actuating said escapement mechanism element; and manually manipulatable means for shifting said cam follower against the urge of said spring into its said operativeposition and holding it there, whereby there will ensue repeated operations of said cam follower and said actuating; means, repeated actuations of said escapement mechanism element, and repeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

8. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapementmechanism including an element adapted to be operated for effecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary cam; a shaft having its axis parallel to: the axis of rotation of said cam; a' cam follower mounted to rock about the axis of said shaft and to shift parallel to the axis of said shaft alternatively into a normaliposition in which it is offset from said cam in a direction parallel to said shaft axis and into an operative position: in which it is in the plane of operation of said cam so as tobe operable by said cam; an actuator lever fast with said cam follower and being rockable and sliiftable therewith; an arm having a contact face of sufiicient length to "be in the path of and to be operable by said actuator lever when the latter is. rocked, irrespective of the-position to which said actuator lever has been shifted; means oper atively connecting said arm to said escapement mechanism element; and manipulatable means for shifting said cam follower from its said normal position touits said operative position and maintaining it there, whenebyzthere will ensue repeated operations of. said cam follower, said actuatorlever, and said arm, repeated operationstof said escapement mechanism element, and repeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

9. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for effecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary earn; a shaft having its axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam; a earn follower mounted to rock about the axis of said shaft and to shift parallel to the axis of said shaft alternatively into a normal position in which it is ofiset from said cam in a direction parallel to said shaft axis and into an operative position in which it is in the plane of operation of said cam so as to be operable by said cam; an actuator lever fast with said cam follower and being rockable and shiftable therewith; an arm having a contact face of suflicient length to be in the path of and to be operable by'said actuator lever when the latter is rocked, irrespective of the position to which said actuator lever has been shifted; means operatively connecting said arm to said escapement mechanism element; a spring normally yieldably maintaining said cam follower in its said normal positioma shifting lever having a part in contact with said actuating lever; and manipulatable means for operating said shifting lever to cause said part thereof to push against said actuating lever and shift the latter and said cam follower against the urge of said spring so as to place said cam follower in its said operative position, whereby there will ensue repeated operations of said cam follower, said actuator lever, and said arm, repeated operations of said escapement mechanism element, and repeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

10. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for elfecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary cam; a shaft; means mounting said shaft with its axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam; a cam follower mounted on said shaft for'both rocking and axial shifting movements; an actuator lever fixed to said cam follower; a spring urging said cam' follower and said actuator lever axially of said shaft to place said cam follower in a normal position in which it is out of the plane of rotation of said cam; meansfor connecting said actuator lever to said escapement mechanism element irrespective of the axially shifted positions of said cam-follower and said actuator lever; and means for shifting said cam follower and said actuator lever against the urge of said spring to place said cam follower in the plane of said cam, whereby there will ensue repeated operations of said cam follower and said actuator lever, repeated actuations of said escapement mechanism element, and repeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

11. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage. mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage'escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for effecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary cam membema cooperable'cam follower member adapted to be operated substantially in a plane by said cam member; means mounting said members so normally relatively positioned that said follower member is not operable by said cam member; means for shifting one of said members relatively to the other of said members in a direction at an angle to said plane and into an operative position to render said follower member operable substantially in said plane by said cam member; actuator means operable by said follower member; means including a cushioned motion transmitting connection interposed between said actuator means and said escapement'meehanism element for operating thelatter; and means for causing operation of said'shifting means to shift said' one of said members into its said operative position and to maintain it there, whereby there will ensue repeated operations of said follower member and said actuator means, repeated cushioned operations of said escapement mechanism element, and repeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

12. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for elfecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary cam member, a cooperable cam follower member; means mounting said members so normally relatively positioned that said follower member is offset from said cam member in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam member; means for shifting one of said members parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam member and relatively to the other of said members into an operative position to render said follower member operable by said cam member; actuator means operable by said follower member; means including a cushioned motion transmitting connection interposed between said actuator means and said escapement mechanism element for operating the latter; and means for causing operation of said shifting means to shift said one of said members into its said operative position and to maintain it there, whereby there will ensue repeated operations of said follower member and said actuator means, repeated cushioned operations of said escapement mechanism element, and repeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

13. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for effecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary cam member; a cooperable cam follower member adapted to be operated substantially in a plane by said cam member; means mounting said follower member in a normal position in which it is not operable by said cam member and for shifting in a direction at an angle to said plane and into an operative position in which it is operable substantially in said plane by said cam member; a spring yieldably holding said follower member in its said normal position; means for shifting said follower member against the urge of said spring into its said operative position; actuator means operable by said follower member; means including a cushioned motion transmitting connection interposed between said actuator means and said escapement mechanism element for operating the latter; and means for causing operation of said shifting means to shift said follower member into its said operative position and to maintain it there, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said follower member and said actuator means, repeated cushioned operation of said escapement mechanism element, and repeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

14. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriage escapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated for effecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; a rotary cam; a shaft having its axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam; a cam follower mounted to rock about the axis of said shaft and to shift parallel to the axis of said shaft alternatively into a normal position in which it is offset from said cam in a direction parallel to said shaft axis and into an operative position in which it is in the plane of operation of said cam so as to be operable by said cam; an actuator lever fast with said cam follower and being rockable and shiftable therewith; an arm having a contact face of sufiicient length to be in the path of and to be operable by said actuator lever when the latter is rocked, irrespective of the position to which said actuator lever has been shifted; means including a cushioned motion transmitting connection interposed between said arm and said escapement mechanism element; and a key operated mechanism for shifting said cam follower from its normal position into its operative position and maintaining it in its operative position, whereby there will ensue repeated operations of said cam follower, said actuator lever, and said arm, repeated cushioned actuations of said escapement mechanism element, and repeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 864,601 Blickensderfer Aug. 27, 1907 897,269 Brooks Sept. 1, 1908 974,438 Schaalf Nov. 1, 1910 1,356,157 Kurowski Oct. 19, 1920 1,603,215 Scherer Oct. 12, 1926 2,294,691 Pitman Sept. 1, 1942 2,563,722 Hart Aug. 7, 1951

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