Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I, JOHN GARDNER, of Hawarth's Buildings, Cross Street, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Type-writer Specialist, 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 relates to those type-writing machines in which the type is
arranged in three or more fields upon a type sleeve cylinder or segment and in
which the type sleeve cylinder or segment is moved to bring the different fields of
type into the printing position.
In such machines as at present constructed with a single shifting lever or
equivalent device, it sometimes happens that the operator moves the shifting device
either too far or not far enough and thus brings the wrong, field into the printing
position.
These improvements are intended to obviate this inconvenience without materially
increasing the cost of the instrument, and for this purpose I arrange to move the
shifting lever or other shifting device by means of the finger in such a manner that
when the finger is applied at one part of the shifting lever or device its motion is
limited by a stop, so as to be capable of bringing for example only the second field
into the printing position, and when the finger is applied to another part, either
there is no stop or the motion of the finger is limited by a stop so as to bring for
example the third field of type into the printing position. If there are only three
fields of type, there may be only one stop because the first field is printed in the
normal position of the type sleeve cylinder or segment, and the third field being
the outer or end field will naturally come into its proper position if the lever is
drawn or pulled far enough, and the stop therefore is required only for the middle
field. In cases where there are more than three fields of type the number of finger
stops required will be equal to the number of fields minus two; or, if a stop is
desired for the end field, minus one. When there is more than one stop, the second
stop will naturally permit so much greater an amount of motion as to bring the
third field into the printing position, instead of the second field which is brought
into the printing position by moving the shifting lever or device until the finger
comes into contact with the first stop.
The drawings which I have appended hereto illustrate in what manner my said
invention may conveniently be carried into effect. In these drawings I have taken
the case which will more frequently occur in practice, that is to say a sleeve
segment or cylinder having three fields of type. The particular method of
applying my improvements will be modified according to the particular construction
of the machine but they are of such a character that no difficulty will be
experienced in applying them to any machine of the type to which they are
applicable.
Figure 1 is an elevation and Figure 2 is a plan of that part of a type writing
machine to which my improvements are applied, the machine itself being fully
described and illustrated in and by the Specifications of Letters Patent granted to
ne No. 8719 dated the 27th day of May A.D. 1889 and No. 17773 dated the
th November A.D. 1890.
A. is the shifting lever fulcrumed at B. The arm C of this lever extends to and
erminates below the type sleeve or segment so that when the lever is moved in one
irection the type sleeve or segment is raised, and when moved in the other
irection or released, it is lowered. This arm carries the teeth D which may be
ngaged by the detent E on the release key lever F, and these teeth are arranged
such a manner that when the lever is moved to bring the second field of type
[Price 6d.

page_text: into the printing position, the detent engages with the first tooth and so holds the
sleeve up to its work so long as that held is required to be used.
In like manner,
if the third field of type is required, the lever is moved still further so that the
detent may engage with the second tooth. When the first or nornial field is
required, the release lever is merely touched by the thumb or finger when the
detent will move out of engagement with the teeth and the lever and type sleeve or
segment will fall into their normal positions.
These details of the machine are practically identical with 'those described in my
former Specification and do not constituite any part of my present improvements.
Gis a handle secured to the lever A. Above this handle form in the upper
plate H of the machine an opening J through which the handle may be moved by
the finger. This opening is of such a width from front to back that it is impossible
for the finger to be moved further than will bring the second field into the printing
position and cause the detent E to engage with the first tooth D and so lock the
second field in that position until released by the key F.
The handle G extends beyond the opening so that it may be operated by the
finger outside that opening to bring the third field into position. If there are four
fields of type, there will be two openings such as J of which the second will permit
a greater motion to the lever than the first and thus enable the third field instead
of the second to be brought into the printing position. The side or sides of the
opening or openings nearer to the operator thus form a stop or stops limiting the
motion of the shifting lever to the required extent.
It will be obvious that a large number of modifications of the finger stop or finger
stops may be constructed and that consequently I do not limit myself to the
construction represented by the accompanying drawings which simply illustrate the
best and most generally useful means for carrying my invention into practical
effect it present known to me.
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 in which the type is borne upon a sleeve segment
or cylinder in three or more fields, a finger-stop or finger-stops to limit the motion
of the field shifting lever or device, substantially as hereinbefore described and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a type writing machine having its type in three or more fields upon a
sleeve cylinder or segment, the combination and arrangement with the type shifting
lever or device of a finger-stop or finger-stops, substantially as and for the purpose
'herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th day of February A.D. 1891.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.