Type action having lost motion

Claim 1

In an electric typewriter having a continuously rotating toothed snatch roll, a type bar, a sublever linked to said type bar and rockable from and to a normal position respectively to operate and restore said type bar, a pawl having a tooth thereon whose normal position is clear of the teeth of said snatch roll, a combination pivotal and limited translatory lost motion connection between said pawl and said sublever, comprising a pin on one extending into a slot in the other, to allow said pawl, with the lost motion condition prevalent in said connection, to be moved pivotally on said sublever from its normal position to place the pawl tooth into the operating path of said toothed snatch roll, then to be translated and rotated over the interval over which said lost motion condition is taken up, and thereafter to rock said sublever from its normal position, said pawl having an extension reaching beyond its said tooth in a direction opposite said lost motion connection, a frame supported element positioned in the path of said pawl extension to control, during the lost motion interval of translation and rotation of said pawl relative to said sublever, the depth of engagement of said pawl tooth with said toothed snatch roll whereby the length of the power stroke which is impartable to said pawl by said snatch roll following said lost motion interval is determined, a frame anchored spring Connected to bias said pawl to its said normal position, to establish said lost motion condition in said connection, and to bias also said sublever to its normal position, and a spring restorable key lever operable on depression directly on said pawl to move it into the operating path of said toothed snatch roll.