Improvements in Type Writing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Type Writing Machines.
I, OTTO FERDINAND MAYER, of 4, Charlottenstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows;-
-
This invention has for its object a type writing machine operated by means
of keys and having a rotary type-wheel, and relates more particularly to the
arrangement by which the type wheel is adjusted in order to produce by the
depression of a key an impression from the type corresponding to said key.
The keys are mounted on double armed levers arranged on a common axle.
If one of the keys be depressed, the double armed lever connected therewith
turns on the common axle in such a way that its rear fork shaped end moves
upwards. One of the ends of this fork acts on the edge of a wedge shaped frame
or projection, which is mounted firmly on a second shaft in the rear of the
machine, and this action continues until the wedge shaped frame has become
firmly adjusted between the arms of the fork so that the latter cannot move
further upwards. The final position, owing to the peculiar form of the wedge
shaped frame and the fork is a clearly determined one, and as the arrangement
described is repeated for each key and the frames are firmly connected with the
before mentioned rear shaft, the latter, on a key being struck, is turned to an
amount exactly regulated by the form of the wedge shaped frame and the fork.
As however the position of said frame on the rear shaft differs for each key,
the angle of movement of the said shaft on the depression of a key varies for
each key, but in any case is exactly limited.
A bevel wheel mounted on the rear shaft rotates by means of a second bevel
wheel, the type wheel so that on a key being depressed the type wheel is
adjusted into a certain position for printing.
A rod located in the front part of the machine and extending along below all
the key levers and connected by links with the axle of said levers is pressed
down when a key is depressed. The said rod communicates its movement by
means of a link to another rod extending through the base of the machine to
the rear of the latter and having at its rear end a lever pivoted, which lever is
formed as a hammer at its upper end. This hammer lever has two arms of un-
equal length with the shorter of which the last named rod engages, thus causing
the lever to pivot when a key is depressed, and bringing its thickened or hammer
shaped end smartly against the adjusted type of the type wheel or rather the paper
strained thereon thus producing a clear impression of said type on the paper.
If the depressed key be then released it returns to its initial position of its
own accord, as the rear arm of each type lever is somewhat heavier by reason of
the fork than the front arm.
The upward movement of the rod located in the front part of the machine is
produced by the hammer lever which falls back by its own weight into its original
position, thus also assisting the tendency of the key to return to its initial position,

page_text: These movements may of course be effected or assisted by springs arranged at
suitable points if desired, but one of the main advantages of this machine is that
the use of springs is not necessary, as such springs render the construction more
complicated and when much used soon lose their power as is found in practice in
the use of machines such as are at present known, the springs of such machines
requiring frequent repair or renewal. By the omission of springs the operation
of the keys is facilitated as the weight to be overcome remains always the same
and there not the tension of the spring to be overcome.
The type wheel may have several rows or series of types arranged in the usual
manner so as to diminish the space over which the type is spread. In a case
where three rows of types are arranged on the type wheel there are two spacing
keys provided, the lever arms of which can raise the type wheel with, or on, its
axle to the desired height, but this arrangement is well known and need not be
further explained. The depression of the keys is also utilised in the ordinary
way for operating the lateral adjustment of the paper carriage, but as this and
the arrangements for inking the type wheel are of any ordinary kind and do not
affect the scope of the present invention, it is not necessary to further describe
them.
The type wheel adjusting keys are preferably arranged at the sides but may
also be located in the centre and a spacing key which in the present machine is
located in the centre may preferably be replaced by a ledge extending in known
manner along the front of the machine. This spacing key of course acts on the
paper carriage and is not connected with the rear axle of the machine and of course
the arrangement must be such that the spacing key exerts no influence on the
printing hammer.
As the rear axle can only make as a maximum a revolution to and fro, only
a quarter of the periphery of the bevel wheel herein before mentioned comes into
play and said wheel may therefore be replaced by a toothed sector.
As is evident from the foregoing, when the depressed key is released it return
to its initial position together with the hammer and the parts connected there-
with, whilst the type wheel remains in its adjusted position until another key
is depressed.
The type wheel has thus no normal position to which it must return thus
avoiding any useless loss of power.
This improved machine is characterised by simplicity in its essential parts
and the adjustment of the latter is sure and exact. The keys are easily operated
and whilst the cost of construction of the machine is low, it is so durable and
elegant that repairs with ordinary handling are reduced to a minimum.
Dated this 11th day of August 1808
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.
improvements in Type Writing Machines.
I, OTTO FERDINAND MAYER, of 4, Charlottenstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:---
This invention refers to type writing machines of the kind in which the types
are located upon a rotary type wheel, and my invention relates to certain arrange-

page_text: ments and combinations of parts by means of which the movements of the keys
are transmitted to the type wheel so as to suitably adjust the latter. In order
to make my invention more clear reference will be had to the accompanying
drawings, in which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the several
views, and in which
Figure 1 is a plan of the machine, some of the keys and the rear parts of the
machine being omitted;
Figure 2 is a section on the line of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a similar section as seen in the opposite direction and drawn on a
slightly larger scale.
axle x.
The keys a are secured to double armed levers 6 arranged upon a common
The rear end of each lever forms a kind of short legged fork d, the
distance between the two short legs being somewhat considerable, and the space
between these legs opening either to the left or to the right. The connecting
piece between the two short legs is preferably slightly curved, and takes over
an axle or shaft f which has secured to it as many wedge-like discs or frames e
as there are levers b in the machine. The positions of said frames e upon the
shaft fare different, as are also the positions of the forks with regard to said
frames, the arrangement being such that the shaft f is turned in one or the
other direction when one of said frames is acted on by the respective fork, the
angle of movement of said shaft being, however, in any case a different and
distinct one. The type wheel i is located above the shaft f. The axle of the
type wheel is provided with a bevel wheel h which gears with a bevel wheel or
bevelled sector g secured to the shaft f. Each rotation or part of a rotation of
the latter results, therefore, in a corresponding movement or rotation of the
type wheel i, and as the angle of rotation is a special or distinct one in any
single case, or with regard to any single key respectively, the type wheel is
adjusted to print the desired letter when the key bearing that letter is depressed.
A rod k located in the front part of the machine extends along immediately
below all the key levers, and is connected by links with the axle c of said
levers. The middle part of said rod is connected by a link m with a rod n
extending through the base of the machine to the rear of the latter, and being
connected at the point o to the shorter arm of a double armed lever p, the longer
arm of which forms a hammer r. is the fulcrum of the hammer lever pr.
The latter is actuated when any one of the keys a is depressed, and the paper is
thereby struck against the type wheel so that the respective type is imprinted
upon the same. The hammer then turns to its former or original position in
consequence of its own weight, and in doing so it tends to raise the respective
key which is also raised by the greater weight of the rear arm of its respective
lever. Of course, the ascension of the keys and the return movement of the
other parts may be effected or facilitated by springs, but it is just an advantage
in my improved machine that I may dispense with the use of such auxiliary
means and may thus not only simplify the construction but also facilitate the
practical use of the machine, as the operator need neither overcome the increas-
ing tension of springs, nor regulate or exchange such.
The types may be arranged upon the type wheel in two or more series or
circles located in known manner one over the other. To raise the type wheel
(together with its axle or along the same) so as to bring another series of types
in proper position with regard to the hammer r, I make use of two levers u (if
the types form three series) having each a key and being located upon the
axle c. This arrangement, however, is known, and I do not lay a claim thereon,
as is also the case with the means for transporting the paper roller for the pur-
pose of effecting the spacing, and with the means for inking the types. Owing
to all these mechanisms being known, I have dispensed with fully representing
and describing the same. is the key for effecting the spacing. This key may
well be replaced by a ledge extending in known manner along the front side of

page_text: the machine, and the two keys t may well be located at the sides of the machine
instead of in the middle part of the same.
A particular feature of my invention resides in the fact that the type wheel
does not return to an original or normal position after each actuation, but re-
mains after an adjustment in that respective position until another key is
depressed. This is an important point as the power to be applied in operating
the machine is also thereby remarkably reduced. In the whole, my improved
machine combines facility of operation with simplicity of constructica; the
adjustment of the types occurs easily and securely, and the price of maniifacture
is a very moderate one.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a type writing machine with a rotary wheel, the combination of shaft,
wedge-like parts (e) secured to the same, forked levers (7) adapted to ti n said
shaft by acting upon one or the other edge of said wedge-like parts, and means
for transmitting the movement of the said shaft to the type wheel for the irpose
as described.
rest
2. In a type writing machine having a rotary type wheel that remains
after each actuation, the combination of a shaft, wedge-like parts (e) secujed in
different positions to the same, forks (d) embracing each one of said wedge-like
parts, key levers (h) having said forks secured to them, and means for trans-
mitting the oscillations of said shafts to said type wheel for the purpose as
described.
Dated this 11th day of May 1800
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.