Improvements in Matrix Making and Typewriting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1896--Accepted, 18th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Matrix Making and Typewriting Machines.
We, THOMAS TINSLEY HEATH, of Loveland, Clermont County, Ohio, United
States of America, Attorney-at-Law, and ALOIS NICHOLAS VERDIN, of
Glendale, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States of America, Mechanician, 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 pertains to typographic machines for matrix making and is
available also as a typewriter, to write singly or in manifold.
Cams on a main shaft produce the movements, under the control of finger-keys.
The types are side by side in sliding trays in a lifting box. Pressure on a finger-
key sets devices to determine the degree of lift to bring the proper tray of type
to the working level; then sets devices to determine the degree of sliding of the
selected tray to bring the desired type to working position; then sets devices to
determine the advance of the matrix after the impression shall have been made;
and then starts the main shaft, which makes one revolution and stops. The car's
on the shaft cause the type box to be lifted to proper point; then the proper
tray to be slidden to proper point; then the plunger to impress the selected type
into the matrix; then the return of the plunger and type back to the normal
position; then the advance of the matrix to receive the next impression. At the
end of a line of work the matrix moves back and then leaves for the beginning of
a new line.
Fig. 1 is a plan of the machine, Fig. 2 a sectional plan, and Fig. 3 a section at a.
The other figures are details.
Figs. 1, 2, 12, 13, and 14 :-
The driving belt drives loose belt-wheel 13 continuously. 9 is the main shaft
of the machine, which makes one complete turn and produces one impulse of the
machine each time the belt-wheel is clutched to the shaft, the clutching taking
place when stop-pin 12 is drawn inward, which takes place when any finger-key
of the machine is depressed. The return of stop-pin 12 unclutches the belt-
pulley from the shaft upon the completion of the revolution of the shaft. Any
type-key 10 will depress frame 11, the lever mechanism seen in Fig. 14 causing
stop-pin 12 to move inwardly, thus permitting the clutch to lock the shaft. On
the completion of the turn of the shaft 9 cam 32 acting on lever 33 will restore
the pin and unlock the clutch, bringing the main shaft to rest, and at the same
time restoring frame 11 which restores the depressed finger-key.
The two friction segments 16 and 17 of the belt-wheel 13 are toggled at 19, and
segment 17 drives arm 14 through the medium of pin 20, arm 14 being fixed to
the shaft. Arm 15 is pivotted to a portion of arm 14 and has a pin 21 engaging
When the
one extremity of segment 16. Ar 15 is held by the stop-pin 12.
stop-pin 12 is withdrawn then spring 18 expands the segments which lock to the
belt-wheel 13 and become locked still tighter by the driving friction.
the shaft completes its rotation stop-pin 12 arrests arm 15 and unlocks the
segments from the belt-pulley, the shaft then coming to rest and spring tooth 23
preventing rebound of the shaft at the time of arrest.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 :-
When
The types 1 lie side by side in trays 2 piled upon each other the pile being

page_text: carried in a skeleton type-box 3. The types are capable of sliding endwise
backward from their trays and the trays are capable of sliding endwise in the
type-box. The center of each tray is empty, or without type, and a type can be
pushed rearward from the tray only when the tray is slidden end wise to bring the
type to the center of the type-box. The center of width of the type-box is in
line with anvil 8, which receives the thrust of the impression, and is in line with
plunger 6 which produces the impression. Plunger 6 has a hook at its end to
engage notches in the upper rear ends of the types. Normally the upper tray of
types is at the level of plunger and anvil. A sliding shifter 5, at the level of the
top tray of types slides this tray end wise to bring the desired type to the
impression line at the center of the type-box, thus leaving the selected type in
engagement with the hook of the plunger. The means for operating shifter 5
will be later described. The selected type having been brought to place main
shaft 9 turns and cam 34, operating through toggle 35, advances the plunger and
impresses the type against the pad which will lie against anvil 8, after which the
plunger returns, restoring the type to its position in the tray, shifter 5 then
restoring the tray to normal position with no type in engagement with the
plunger. The roof of the type-box, and also the under surface of each tray is
ribbed to engage the notches in the type so that no type can become displaced
end wise excepting one that has been brought to the center of width of the type-
box and into engagement with the hook of the plunger. As the tray slides out
from the type-box the notches of the outer type engage fixed guide-ribs 36 which
prevent the displacement of such uncovered type. The tray will be shifted to
the right to bring into action types which are in the left end of the tray and,
correspondingly, with types in the right hand end of the tray. Shifter 5, by
means hereafter to be explained, slides the tray in proper direction and for proper
distance to bring the desired type to position, the action of the shifter being under
the control of the finger-keys of the machine.
Normally, the upper tray of types is at the impression level. If type from a
lower tray is needed then the entire type-box must be elevated a sufficient distance
to bring the desired tray to the impression level. The type-box is elevated by
lifter 4 operated by lever 27 which is actuated by cam 24 on the main shaft, the
degree of the lifting being under the control of finger-keys as will be now
explained.
There is a finger-key 10 for each type and arranged in ranks and in two groups
corresponding with the types in the type-box, the outer or front rank of keys
representing the types in the upper tray of the type-box, which types, it will be
remembered, call for no lifting of the type-box. Referring to Figs. 7 and 2,
27 is the lever which operates the lifter and 24 is the cam which actuates the
lever through the medium of a second lever 25. The cam is capable of giving to
the levers a stroke suited to effect the full lift and bring the lower tray of types
to the impression level. Lever 25 carries a clutch 26 normally out of engagement
with lever 27. This clutch will engage earlier or later in the stroke of lever 25
according to which of pins 28 is projected into the path of clutch 26. When the
clutch meets a projected pin 28 the clutch is shifted sidewise into engagement with
teeth on the side of lever 27 and thereafter lever 27 moves with lever 25, cam 24
therefore lifting the type-box a measured distance. If no pin 28 be projected
into the path of the clutch then lever 27 will not be operated and the type-box
will not be lifted. There is a pin 28 for each of the trays except the upper one.
Each of the inner ranks of finger-keys 10 have pins to rock arins 29 on cross-
shafts 36, which cross-shafts have arms 31 connected by rods with the pins 28. The
front rank of finger-keys operates no cross-shaft 30 and causes no lifting of the
type-box. Any finger-key in the inner or rear rank will operate the upper one of
pins 28 and cause an early engagement of clutch 26, resulting in a maximum lift
to the type box and the bringing of the lower tray to the impression level. The
intermediate ranks of finger-keys effect other of the pins 28 causing clutch 26 to
engage later jand effect a proper corresponding lift to the type-box to bring to

page_text: the impression level that tray of types corresponding with the given rank of
finger-keys.
The operation of the shifter 5 will now be explained :-
Sliding shifter 5 is operated by segment 42 on rock-shaft 41 which has fast
upon it the toothed segment 50 seen in Fig. 8. Loose on the shaft, against the
segment, is sector 49 gearing to sliding rack 40. Rack 40 has a sliding motion
to the right or to the left sufficient to bring to the impression line the outermost
type in a tray, and the particular type brought to the impression line by the
sliding of a tray will depend upon how early or late in the movement of sector 49
that sector is clutched to segment 50). Rack 40 slides to the right to bring to
position a type to the right of the center of the tray and to the left for type at
the left. The right hand group of finger-keys pertains to type in the right hand
end of the trays and, correspondingly, as to the left hand group of finger-keys.
And the files of finger-keys correspond in position with the vertical files of types
in the type-box, the innermost rows of finger-keys pertaining to the innermost
rows of types and calling for the least degree of sliding of the trays. A given
finger-key upon being depressed, must therefore select the direction of sliding of
rack 40 and must determine the degree of sliding which that rack transmits to the
shifter which slides the trays.
Referring to Fig. 8, sector 49 is to be clutched to segment 50 by a pawl 51,
earlier or later in the stroke of sector 49, according to the degree of tray-sliding
desired. Pawl 51 is normally out of engagement with segment 50. In the stroke
of segment 49 pawl 51 will pass a line of pins 52, one pin for each degree of
sliding motion. There is a pawl 51 and also a line of pins 52 at each end
of segment 50, one pertaining to shifting a tray to the right and the other
pertaining to shifting a tray to the left. The mechanism and operation will be
described as regards right hand pawl 51. If the lowermost one of its pins 52
be shifted end wise into the path of the pawl the pawl will be pressed into
engagement with segment 50, whereupon segment 50 will move with sector 49
and make the maximum shifting stroke to bring to the impression line the endmost
type at the right hand end of a tray. If the uppermost one of the pins 52 be the
one projected then the clutching of sector 49 to segment 50 will not take place
till near the end of the stroke of the sector and there will be but one degree of
shifting, suited to the innermost type in a tray.
Each pin 52 has its front end slotted and a pin crosses the slot. There is a
sliding blade 44 for each pin 52, each blade having a cam-shaped slot engaging the
cross-pin before referred to so that if a blade 44 be moved endwise outwardly it
will move its pin 52 rearwardly into active position to lock its pawl 51. Referring
to Fig. 8, each finger-key 10, has a pin engaging an arm 43 on a cross-shaft 48,
there being a cross-shaft for each fore and aft file of finger-keys, these cross-shafts
Lave also arms engaging lugs on the sliding blades 44, each cross-shaft engaging
one blade, the cross-shaft pertaining to the innermost file of finger-keys connecting
with the upper blade, and so ou correspondingly. Consequently, when a finger-key
in the innermost file is depressed it will rock the innermost one of cross-shafts 48
which will move the upper one of blades 44 and project the uppermost one of
pins 52 thus causing sector 49 to clutch to segment 50 late in its stroke and produce
a single degree of shifting, suitable to the innermost types of the trays. This
shifting of a blade 44 also determines the direction in which rack 40 shall move,
the right hand group of blades pertaining to the moving of rack 40 to the right,
and the left hand group of blades and finger-keys pertaining to the movement of
the rack to the left. This determining of the direction of shifting will now be
explained:-
Referring to Fig. 2. The main shaft 9 carries two cams 38 whereby at each
turn of the shaft blocks 39 are moved apart, or in opposite directions, and then
moved back to original position. These blocks lie against rack 40 and the
direction of motion of the rack is determined by clutching one or the other of
blocks 39 to the rack. Normally, the blocks are unclutched from the rack. The

page_text: rack carries two pawls 45 capable of engagement with the rack. These pawls are
operated by levers having bars abutting against the outer ends of blades 44.
If any one of the right hand group of blades 14 be moved end wise to the right it
will cause the right hand clutch 45 to engage and lock the rack 40 to the right
hand block 39. Being thus clutched the block, when it is moved by the cam, will
move the rack with it and cause the shifter of the type case to move to the left.
When the blocks move back to normal position then their inner ends, having
spring buffers, restore and hold the rack to normal position, and cams 46, formed
on cams 38, engage the levers of pawls 45 and unclutch whichever one has been
in engagement. Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, spring buffers 37 are applied to
check the shock of movement of.the parts as they come to normal position, and
such stops may be applied at various places about the machine.
The paper or pad carriage and its feed movement will now be described -
Referring to Fig. 1, pad carriage 54 slides across the machine to the rear of the
tyre-box. It has a vertical slide 55 on which the pad or paper 7 is carried.
Slide 55 is elevated, after each line of work, to bring a new line to the impression
level. The carriage slides to the left a proper distance after the impression of
each letter and when the line is completed the carriage slides back to the right to
begin a new line, upon the occurrence of which a stationary incline 58 engages an
arm 57 and operates a ratchet on the shaft of a pinion which engages slide 55,
best seen in Fig. 10. This constitutes the vertical feed of the pad, taking place
after the completion of each line, the degree of lift of the pad being controlled by
stop 60 on the carriage, as seen in Figs. 10 and 11. Clutch 59 on the ratchet
shaft of slide 50 may be disengaged thus permitting the slide to be raised or
lowered by hand to bring any desired vertical portion of the pad to the impression
level.
In one edge of slide 55 is removably inserted a long metallic strip 56, as seen in
Fig. 15, having gripping jaws to grip the paper or pad 7, the paper or pad thus
sliding in front of the anvil. When it is desired to temporarily remove the pad
or paper then metallic strip 56 is withdrawn from slide 55 thus permitting the
removal and accurate replacing of the pad or paper. The rear surface of the paper
comes in direct contact with the anvil 8.
After the impression of each type the carriage must move to the left a distance
corresponding with the requirement of that type. Assume that seven degrees of
feed will satisfy the various types, some calling for one degree of feed, some for
two, and so on. The carriage is fed by gearing 61 operated by ratchet wheel 62,
each tooth of which represents one degree of feed. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3,
cam 65 gives motion to pawl 63 of ratchet wheel 62, the pawl being normally out
of engagement and having a constant stroke corresponding with the seven degrees
of feed. The pawl passes idly through notches in a line of pins 64 (as seen in
Fig. 6) the pawl being then clear of the wheel. The downward movement of a
pin into the path of the pawl causes the pawl to engage and move the ratchet-
wheel through the remainder of the pawl stroke. If the front one of pins 64 is
projected into the path of the pawl there will be seven degrees of feed produced.
If the rearmost piu be the one projected then but one degree of feed will be
produced, and, correspondingly, with intermediate pins. Near the front of the
machine is a vertical series of rock shafts 68, each shaft being connected by
rods 67 to one of pins 64. These shafts 68 also have forwardly projecting arms
from which rods may be carried upwardly to arms 69 on the cross-shafts 48
previously referred to. Thus the depression of any finger-key may be caused to
rock an appropriate one of shafts 68 and project a pin 64 into the path of pawl 63
and cause the pawl to feed the carriage a distance appropriate to the type
represented by the given finger-key. A pin 64 having been moved to operate on
the pawl, remains in that position, holding the pawl to the ratchet-wheel. At the
end of the pawl stroke the pin must be restored to normal position. This is
accomplished by cam 70 (Fig. 3) formed on cam 65, which at proper time rocks a
blade 72 which will pull up whichever pin has been put into action. Thus each

page_text: finger-key controlling a type controls also the carriage feed. At the sides of the
keyboard there are extra finger-keys, one for each degree of feed, to be appro-
priately connected, one with each of cross-shafts 68 so that any desired degree of
carriage feed can be given without impression of any type.
When a line of impressions has been completed then the carriage must move idly
back to the right. This is accomplished as follows. (See Fig. 1.)
Slip wheel 73 is connected with the carriage 54 by gearing 74 and is driven by
belt from continuously revolving driving pulley 13. Slip wheel 73 therefore tends
at all times to move the carriage to the right but its slipping will not permit it to
overcome serious resistance. Referring to Fig. 2, when pawl 63 advances ratchet
wheel 62, which it does against the energy exerted by slip wheel 73, stop pawl 66
prevents the backward turning of the ratchet wheel when pawl 63 ceases its
forward motion and returns. If stop pawl 66 be disengaged from the ratchet
wheel then nothing will prevent the movement of the carriage under the influence
of slip wheel 73. At the end of a line of work, or whenever it is desired that the
carriage move to the right, stop pawl 66 is to be disengaged, whereupon the carriage
will at once move idly back. Stop pawl 66 may have a special finger-key
connected with it.
The pad having been put into its clamp strip 56, and strip having been put into
the slide 55 and adjusted to proper height, and the machine standing idle except
that driving pulley 13 is in continuous motion, as is also slip wheel 73, the operation
is as follows:-
The finger-key pertaining to the selected one of the types is to be depressed.
This moves one of sliding blades 44 which locks the rack 40 to one of sliding
blocks 39 and thus determines the direction in which the shifter shall move a type-
tray. The sliding of this blade will move its one of pins 52, thus determining how
far the type-tray shall be shifted. At the same time one of arins 29 has been
rocked, thus projecting one of pins 28 and determining how far the type-box shall
be lifted. At the same time one of pins 64 was moved, thus determining how far
the carriage shall be fed after the type has been impressed. The final result of
the depression of the key is the pressing down of frame 11 which throws the
starting pin 12 and causes the main shaft to start and make one turn. The effect
of the turning of the shaft is, first, that the type-box is lifted the predetermined
degree, bringing the given tray of types to the impression level; second, the side-
wise moving of the shifter and the engaged tray in such direction and to such
degree as to carry the given type in that tray to the impression line; third, the
advance of the plunger and its engaged type to produce the impression on the paper
or pad whose back is against the anvil; fourth, the retreat of the plunger with
its type; fifth, the end wise shifting of the tray to normal position; sixth, the
descent of the type-box to normal position; seventh, the advance of the carriage
a distance suited to the type which has been impressed; eighth, the restoration to
normal position of all clutch pins which have been moved; ninth, the unclutching
of rack 40 from the block 39 which moved it; tenth, the rising of frame 11 to
restore the depressed finger-key; eleventh, the projection of starting pin 12 to
disengage the clutch and bring the machine to rest with all parts in normal
position ready for the next letter. At the end of a line stop-pawl 66 is disengaged,
allowing the slip wheel to move the carriage idly back to the right, the paper or
pad rising for the new line of impressions as the carriage reaches the extremity of
its idle stroke.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The skeleton type-box with its sliding trays containing sliding type side by
side in groups at each end of the tray, in combination with mechanism for adjusting
the box vertically and sliding end wise in either direction the tray thus brought to
the level of the impression-point.

page_text: 2. The finger-keys for operating the type-selecting devices, in combination with
the shafts and cams operating the type-moving devices, and segment friction clutch
having a toggle and spring, and the stop-pin operated by the finger-keys for
restraining and permitting the action of the toggle.
3. The clamping strip adapted to engage the vertical edge of the matrix-sheet
and be removably inserted from above into the vertical slide of the carriage.
4. Pawls for giving motion to the type-moving parts and matrix-moving parts in
combination with pins in series and connected with the finger-keys and adapted to
be moved into the paths of the pawls to determine the degree of motion to be
imparted by the pawls.
Dated this 4th day of February 1896.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.