US1115684A - Ribbon mechanism for type-writers. - Google Patents

Description

T. L. KNAPP.

RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEG.22,1913.

9 I? Patented N'v; 3,. 191%- i Y Z (Z M fiiiwam m ijgwfm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THERON L. KNAPP, OF WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE OLIYER TYPEWBITEB COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. 4

RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Application filed December 22. 1913. Serial N 0. 808,139.

and State of Illinois, have invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Ribbon Mechanisms for Type-\Vriters; and I do hereby. declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying draw ings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. I

This invention relates to ribbon mecha nisms for typewriting machines. One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an inking ribbon spool which is of simple andinexpensive construction and adapted to be attached to an inking ribbon, and to enable connected ribbons and spools ready for use to be handled or transported in commercial quantities, and removably mounted and removed or renewed with great facility, and used without peripheral flanges, in connection with other elements or parts of the ribbon mechanism of typewriters.

Otherand further objects of the invention will appear from an examination of the following description and claims and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof. I a

The invention consists in the features, combinations of elements, details of construction, and arrangement of parts herein described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a ribbon mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention and improvements, showing my improved inking-ribbon spool operatively connected with an upright spindle or shaft of a type-writing machine, and inclosed within a stationary casing or container having a slot in its peripheral wall for permitting an inking-ribbon to pass therethrongh; Fig. 2, a horizontal sectional view,

aken online 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showing the relative positions of the angular peripheral portions of the spool and hub or spool support and the spring finger for securing the ribbon to the ribbon spool; Fig. 3, a detail View in central vertical section, showing the hub or spool-supporting member and themanner of securing the same to the shaft or spmdle; Fig. 4, a top view of a blank cut or stamped from-sheet metal and adapted to form the outer member of my improved ribbon spool; Fig. 5, a similar view of a blank cut or stamped from sheet metal and adapted to form the inner member or spring finger for securing the ribbon to the spool; F 6, a detail view in centralvertical section of my improved ribbon spool,

showing the inner and outer members,

formed from the blanks shown in Figs. 4 and 5, assembled; Fig. 7, a horizontal sectio-nal view in detail of the parts shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a detail view in side elevati on of the inner member of the ribbon spool which is formed from a blank such as that shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 9, a bottom view of the inner spool member shown in Fig; 8. 1 In making a ribbon mechanism for typewriters in accordance with my invention and improvements, I provide an outer or main spool member a which, in the most desirable form of my invention, is formed of sheet metal. To make a spool such that shown in the drawings, a blank a is cut or stamped from sheet metal, (see Fig. 4.), so as to form a central disk shaped web or head portion 6 which may have a central aperture 0 therethrough. The piece of sheet metal a has radially extending or projecting arms or strips d, cl, 0 and e, the radially projecting portions or strips 6, 6, being" provided with apertures f. This blank is bent into the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, so that each of the radial strips, ribs or arms d, d, e and 6 extends at right angles to and is connected at one end with the peripheral rim of the integral central transverse body portion, web or head Z) and in parallel relation to the axial center or axis of rotation of the spool, so as to form segmental peripheral portions of the spool upon which an inking-ribbon is to be wound.

A somewhat similarly shaped blank 9 is .cut or stamped from elastic or resilient sheet metal, so as to form a central disk-like body Or web portion 7L having a central aperture 2' therethrough and having integral. laterally projecting strips, tongues or fingers 70, Z, m, m. (See Fig. 5.) This blank is stamped or bent into the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and fitted into the outer spool member shown in Figs. 4 and 6, in such a manner that the fingersm, mextend into the apertures f in the perforated arms or strips 6, e, the arm or strip Z being in such position that its outer surface fits snugly against the inner surface of the corresponding or adjacent arm, strip or finger d of the outer spool member so as to coact with the other armsto hold the inner member of the spool in position in the outer spool member. '1 he spring arm or finger k is bent into posltion to extend on the inside of the ad acent strip or member d of the outer spool member located opposite the strip or arm Z, so as to admit the end of an inking-ribbon j between the spring finger k and the part at and exert a yielding'outward pressure against the Ilbbon, which is thus removably held between said partsk and d. The strips or peripheral portions d, cl. 6, 6 thus not only form. the peripheral portion of a spool upon which a ribbon is to be wound, butas already suggestedthey also form shoulder portions which are in angular relation to each other and a plurality of which are adaptedto fit over the inner spool member, as indlcated in Fig. 6, and with the parts is, Z, m, m interposed between the outer spool member a and the spool support or hub .3. The angular ribs or peripheral portions of the spool engage corresponding peripheral angular shoulders 2 of the hub or thimble 3. This hub has a disk-shaped centrally perforated head or end web portion 4 fixed to'the end of a s indle or ribbon driving shaft or spindle 5 y means of a rivet or endwise projecting portion 6 of the spindle, which extends into the central perforation in the hub, or other suitable securing means. (See Fig. 3.) The hub 3 may be made by providing a blank somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 4, and bending the radial strips or arms 2 so as to form a thimble or hub having at one end a centrally perforated web or head portion 4, already describedthe other end of the hub being open, and adapted to encircle the spindle or spool-supporting shaft 5. (See Fig. 3.) The periph eral strips. ribs or segmental angular portions 2 of the hub form angular peripheral shoulders adapted to be engaged by a plurality of the similarly disposed peripheral portions of the spool, thus enabling the spool to be readily placed in operative position upon and held against rotation with respect to the hub. The spool is thus adapted to be removed and replaced or renewed, together with an attached ribbon, with facility and without disconnecting the ribbon from its accompanying attached spool. A ribbon may also be detached from a desired spool or spools, or a spool or spools'may be used with ribbons which are to be renewed without renewing or changing the spool 01 spools.

A nonrotatablc casing or ribbon container 7 having a preferably circular peripheral wall 9. bottom 9, and removable top or cover 10, is secured in fixed relation to a typewriting machine.

stationary or fixed frame portion 11 of a typewriting machine, which may be of any desired, ordinary, or well known form, by means of screws 12, or other suitable securing means. (See Fig. 1.) The bottom of the container or casing is provided with an axial opening 13 through which extends the spindle or ribbon driving shaft 5 which may be of any desired, ordinary, or well known form, and to which the hub or spoolsupporting member 3 is secured, as already suggested. The hub or spool-supporting member and the removable spool supported thereby are rotatably mounted on the inside of the non-rotatable casing or ribbon container and at the center of the latter, and between the stationary top wall 10 and the stationary bottom wall of the container, in such position that these stationary parallel top and bottom walls or plates 9 and 10 serve to hold or guide the ribbon wound upon or unwound from the spool in such a manner as to enable lateral or peripheral flanges, such as are commonly required upon inkingrlbbon spools, to be dispensed with. The amount of material required in making the spool and the cost of construction of the same is thus reduced to a minimum. The peripheral wall 8 of the container or stationary casing is provided with a vertical slot 14 through which the ribbon extends when in operation or in operative position upon a The peripheral rim 15 of the cover 10 and which encircles the peripheral wall 8 of the casing or container, is sufiiciently narrow so that the portion of the slot 14 not covered by the rim is of the required length or dimensions to permit the free movement .of the ribbon through the slot, the margins of which form a guide for the ribbon adapted to prevent it from becoming twisted or displaced during the operation of being wound upon-or unwound from the spool on the inside of the container.

The spind eff) is mounted in suitable bearings 16, 17-; nd 18 in the main frame of a typewriter and is provided with suitable driving mechanism which may comprise a worm wheel 19 fixed to the shaft or spindle and a worm 20 in toothed engagement with such worm wheel and operatively connected with a suitable source of power or driving mechanism. The driving mechanism for the 1. In a ribbon mechanism of the class described, the combination of an inking ribbon spool having ribbon-engaging peripheral portions and provided with inner shoulders adapted to removably engage a shouldered spool-supporting member, means forming a 2. In a ribbon mechanism of the class de-- scribed, the combination of an inking ribbon spool having ribbon-engaging peripheral portions and provided with inner shoulders adapted-to removably engage a shouldered spool-supporting member, means forming a connection between marginal peripheral portions of the spool atone end thereof, the opposite end of the spool being open, and a 5 flexible clamping member upon the spool for securing a ribbon thereto.

3. An inking ribbon spool for typewriters, comprising a head provided with a plurality of integral, parallel arms forming the ribbon-supporting portion of the spool, and

also formin sitethe head, an opening adapted to receive a spool-supporting hub, and means for removably connecting a ribbon with the spool. 4. An inking ribbon spool for typewriters, comprising a head provided with a plurality of integral, parallel arms which form the ribbon-supporting portion of the spool, and which also form, at the end of the spool opposite the head, an opening adapted to receive a spool-supporting hub, and a clamping member upon the spool for removably securing a ribbon to the spool.

5. An inking ribbon spool for typewriters,

comprisinga head provided with a plurality of integral, parallel arms which form the ribbon-supporting portion of the spool-and also form, at the end of the spool op osite the head, an opening to receive a spoo -supporting hub, and a clamping arm attached to the spool adjacent to the head and extending along the inner face of one of said arms.

6. An inking ribbon spool for typewriters, 45, comprising a head provided with a plurality of integral, parallel arms which form the ribbon-supporting portion of the spool and also form, at the end of the spool opposite the head, an opening to receive a spool-supporting hub, and a plate secured against the inner face of the head and provided with a spring tongue which extends along the inner face of one of said arms, to form a ribbonclamping member.

7. An inking ribbon spool for typewriters, comprising a head provided with a plurality of integral, parallel arms which form the ribon-supporting portion of the spool and also form, at the end of the spool opposite the head. an opening to receive a spool-sup porting hub, and a plate located in contact with the inner face of the head and provided with a plurality of integral tongues, two of said tongues having interlocking engage- 63 meat with the spool for holding the plate in at the end of the spool oppo- ,wall thereofadapted to place, and one of said tongues extending along the inner face of one of said arms and forming therewith a ribbon clamp.

8. In a ribbon mechanism of the class described, the combination of arotatably' mounted inking-ribbon spool having ribbonengaging peripheral portions and provided with inner shoulders adapted to removably engage a shouldered spool-supportin hub, means forming a connection between the peripheral portions of the spoolat one-end thereof, the opposite end of the spool being provided with an opening for receiving the spool-supporting hub, means for securing a ribbon to the spool, and non-rotatable plates arranged in parallel relation and extending laterally beyond the periphery of the rotary ribbon spool and forming stationary ribbon guides between which the ribbon spool is located.

9. In a ribbon mechanism of the class described, the combination of an inking-ribbon spool rotatably mounted and comprising in its construction an end wall provided with angular ribbon-engaging peripheral portions forming inner shoulders adapted to removably engage a shouldered spool-supporting hub, a spring finger upon the spool 'for securing a ribbon thereto, and a non-rotatable casing in which the spool is located, said casing having stationary top and bottom walls extending laterally beyond the rotary spool member and adapted to guide a ribbon during the operation of winding or unwinding the same, said stationary casing having a peripheral slot in the peripheral permit the passage of a ribbon therethrough.

10. In a ribbon mechanism of the class described, the combination of an inking-ribbon spool having ribbon-supporting segmental peripheral portions and provided with inner shoulders adapted to removably engage a shouldered spool-supporting hub, means forming a connection between the marginal segmental peripheral portions of the spool at one end thereof, the opposite end of the spool being provided with a opening for admitting a spool-supporting hub, and a spring member on the spool adapted to admit and yieldingly hold a ribbon between the spring member and an adjacent peripheral portion of the spool.

. 11. In a ribbon mechanism of the class described, the combination of an inking-ribbon spool having a series of ribbon-engaging segmental peripheral portions spaced apart and-provided with inner shoulders in angular relation to each other and extending in parallel relation to the axis of the spool, means forming a connection between the segmental peripheral portions of the spool at one end thereof, the opposite end of the spool being open, means for securing a ribbon to the spool, a hub having peripheral shoulders adapted to removably engage the shoulders of the spool, and stationary parallel ribbon-guiding plates between which the spool and hub are located, adapted to prevent the displacement of the spool.

12. In a ribbon mechanism of the class described, the combination of an outer ribbon spool member having ribbon-engaging peripheral portions and, provided with inner shoulders adapted to removably engage a shouldered spool-supporting hub, means forming a connection between opposite marginal peripheral portions of the spool at one end thereof, the opposite end of the spool being provided with an opening for admitting the hub, and a disk-shaped inner spool member having flexible securing tongues in engagement with the outer spool member and having a flexible tongue adapted to yieldingly engage a ribbon, for securing the latter to the spool.

13. In a ribbon mechanism of the class described, the combination of an outer ribbon spool member having ribbon-engaging peripheral portions and provided with inner shoulders adapted to removably engage a shouldered spool-supporting hub, means forming a connection between opposite marginal peripheral portions of the spool at one end thereof, the opposite end of the spool being provided with an opening for admitting the hub, a disk-shaped inner spool member having flexible securing tongues in engagement with the outer spool member and having a flexible tongue adapted to yieldingly engage a ribbon, for securing the latter to the spool, and non-rotatable plates arranged in parallel relation and extending laterally beyond the periphery of the rotary ribbon spool and forming stationary ribbon guides between which the/ribbon spool is 10- I eated.

14. An inking-ribbon spool for typewriters comprising in its construction an outer spool member having a head provided with integral peripheral arms rent to form an annular series of angular shoulders adapted to be removably mounted upon an angular hub, said arms having outer surface portions adapted to support a ribbon to be wound thereon. at least one of said arms having a recess therein, an inner spool member having flexible fingers in engagement with the arms of the outer spool member, at least one of said flexible fingers being mounted in position to extend into said recess in the arm of the outer spool member. and a spring finger upon said inner spool member adapted to admit a ribbon between such finger and an adjacent shoulder portion of the outer spool member.

15. A ribbon mechanism for typewriting machines, comprising an operating shaft,

and a spool-supporting hub, consisting of a plate secured centrally to the shaft and provided with a plurality of integral, spoolengaging arms extending from the margin of the plate parallel with said shaft.

16. A ribbon mechanism for typewriting machines, comprising an operating shaft, a spool-supporting hub, consisting of a plate secured centrally to the shaft and provided with a plurality of spool-engaging arms extending from the margin of the plate parallel with the shaft, said arms having flat, outwardly facing contact surfaces.

17. A ribbon mechanism for typewriting machines, comprising an operating shaft, a spool-supporting hub, consisting of a plate secured centrally to the shaft and provided with a plurality of spool-engaging arms extending from the margin of the plate parallel with the shaft, and a spool consisting of a head provided with a plurality of arms which form the ribbon-engaging portion of the spool and also form an opening in the spool to receive said hub.

18. A ribbon mechanism for typewriting machines, comprising an operating shaft, a spool-supporting hub, consisting of a plate secured centrally to the shaft and provided with a plurality of integral arms extending from the margin of the plate parallel with the shaft, said arms having flat, outwardly facing surfaces, and a spool comprising a head provided with integral. parallel arms corresponding in number with the arms of the hub, said arms of the spool having flat,

inwardly facing surfaces and forming an opening to receive said hub.

19. In a ribbon mechanism of the class described, the combination of an inking-ribbon spool adapted to encircle a hub, means for securing a ribbon to the spool. a hub comprising a head located in a plane at right angles to the axis of the hub and having spool-engaging arms extending at an angle to the head of the hub and adapted toremovably hold a spool in non-rotatable relation to the hub, and stationary plates extending laterally beyond the periphery of the hub and spool, one of said plates being adapted to engage and prevent displacement of the spool with respect to the hub.

In testimony, that I. claim the foregoing as my invention I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 19th day of December, A. D. 1913.

T HERON L. KNAPP.

llitncsses:

Etrcnrn C. \VANN, CLAYTON HARTING.

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