Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1895-Accepted, 13th July, 1895.
A communication from CHARLES SPIRO, of 116th Street, 5th and Lenox Avenues,
New York, United States of America, Gentleman.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex.
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 improvements in type-writing machines.
The objects of this invention are to improve the type-bars, the mechanism by
which they are controlled and operated, and the inking device.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1. is a plan of a type-writing machine of the bar-lock kind, comprising
improvements according to this invention, other parts outside the scope of this
invention being ommitted for the sake of clearness.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2, 2, of Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 and 4 are portions of Fig. 2, the mechanism in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 being
shown in different positions.
Fig. 5 is a view of one of the radius links employed in the machine.
Fig. 6 is a front view in perspective, and partly in section, of a portion of the
machine shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the improvements relating to
the inking of the type.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
With reference first to Figs. 1 to 5, A is the base or frame which may be
constructed in any suitable manner to conveniently support the various working
parts of the machine. B are the key-levers pivoted thereto in the usual manner,
viz., by means of a rod B' extending completely across the frame A and against
which they are held by the springs B' which, as ordinarily, serve to raise said key i
levers to their normal positions after depression by the operator. C is the paper-
carriage and C₁ the platen thereof both of the usual construction. D and E are
segmental radially-slotted platforms the curves of which are both struck from the
same centre, which corresponds with the printing point Z Fig. 1. F are the
type-bars. Each type-bar is carried by a lever G and a radius link H which
are pivoted in the radial slots of the platforms D' and E respectively in a manner 1
presently to be described.
Each type-bar carries two types; in the present example one, F¹, is for instance
a small letter; the other, F³, is for instance a capital letter, but the types F¹ F
may be placed upon the bar in the reverse of this order if desired. F and F are
projections from the type-bar. The construction and arrangement of the plat-
forms DE, the type-bars F, and levers G and radius links H and the appurtenances
thereof, are among the leading features of the present invention. A bar-lock is
provided, consisting of pins II arranged in two concentric series or rows supported
by a plate I in proximity to the carriage, the pins l' serving to lock every alternate
type-bar F and the pins. 13 the others of the. type-bars; for which purpose the
type-bars are provided with projections F F, which are adapted to fit or to be,
received between the pins I or 12. The type-bars shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is one of
those whose projections F F are adapted to engage with the pins I*; the two on

page_text: either side of this particular type bar have their projections F* F* nearer to the
types than has the type-bar represented so that said projections may engage with
the pins l' and so on throughout the series of type-bars F and pins II.
The levers G are all pivoted upon a curved wire or rod D' secured in a groove D'
in the platform D each lever being connected at the end G' of its shorter arm to
one of the before mentioned key levers B by a link B and at the end G* of its
longer arm to the end of one of the type-bars F. At H' between the point G³ and
the type F F the radius link H is jointed to the bar F; at the opposite end the
radius link H has notches H2 H3 in its opposite edges. Each of the levers G may
be operated on by a spring G to assist in returning it to its normal position after
the release of the key lever appertaining thereto. E' E' are wires retained in
grooves E³ E' respectively at different levels in the platform Ę; the notches H* H*
receive or are adapted to engage respectively with the wires E E. J is a
segmental bar adapted to move in a groove or on guides in the platform E in a
circular path whose centre corresponds with the printing point Z being retained
in or on said groove or guides by a curved flange plate E secured to the back or
inner side of the platform E or curved standard supporting said platform. The
bar J is extended upward and curved as at J' to fit against the edge H of each
radius link H opposite to the notch H³ that part of the radius link and the notch
being curved for a purpose hereinafter specified in a circular are the centre of
which is the centre of the wire E. The upper part of the bar J is also formed
with radial slots J' into which the radius links H ure adapted to enter when the
series of capital letters ("upper case") is brought into operation as hereinafter
explained; it is also provided with a curved surface Js adapted to fit against the
edge H of each radius link H opposite to the notch H', that part of the link and
the notch being curved in a circular arc the centre of which is the centre of the
wire E'. The continuity of the curved surface J is interrupted by radial
grooves J', shown most clearly in Fig. 6, which however do not coincide with or
are not opposite to the before mentioned radial slots J' one of which is between
every two of the grooves J, the radius links H being adapted to engage with the
surfaces J and J at different times according to whether the small or the capital
letters are brought into requisition.
The normal position of the bar J is that in which the radial slots J' do not
coincide with the radius links H so that when any key lever B is depressed and the
upper end G³ of the corresponding lever G is in consequence moved towards the
back of the machine, the radius link H connected to this lever can only turn on
the pivot rod E' because the curved bearing surface J' is then presented to the
curved edge H' of the radius link H and for the time holds the latter on the pivot
rod E and the groove J is presented to the curved edge H which latter is
therefore capable of swinging towards the front of the machine all as shown in
Fig. 3. The result of this is that the radius link H then works with an effective
length equalling the distance between the pivots E' and H' the type bar F being
thereby swung forwards only sufficiently to bring the type F' to the printing point.
When however it is desired to employ the type F the bar J is moved in its
circular path so that the radial slots J are brought into coincidence with the
radius links H and the grooves J out of coincidence therewith, the bearing
surface J being thereby presented to the curved edges H₁ of the radius links
which for the time-being are thereby held in engagement with the pivot rod E.
When now the key levers are depressed the radius links are free to enter the
radial slots J' and by acting with their greater effective length (from E to H)
cause the type bars to be swung over sufficiently to bring the types F to the
printing point Z as shown in Fig. 4.
"
Various means may be devised for moving the bar J and thus "shifting the case
or changing the type, and in Figs. 2 and 6 is shown a convenient arrangement for
attaining this result. The type changing device shown in Figs. 1 and 6 comprises
a pin or projection J' on the bar J, which engages with the forked arm K of a
lever K K pivoted at K' to any convenient part of the framing, the arm K' of

page_text: the lever being connected by a link K' with the type changing key lever K Fig. 6.
A spring K' acts on the lever K K' so as to return it, and through it, the bar J to
the normal position when the key lever K is released.
When the key levers B are operated during the time that the type changing
key is not depressed, and the type bars F are cousequently in the more forward
of their printing positions, the projections F3 of some of the type bars so operated
engage with the pins I2 as shown in Fig. 3 all the other type bars, viz., the bars F
alternating with those locked by the pins 12, engaging when similarly operated
with the pins I¹. When first the case shifting key is depressed and subsequently
the key levers are operated and the type bars F are consequently moved to the
more backward of their printing positions, each bar previously locked by the
engagement of its projection F with the pins 1 is, when so operated, locked by
the engagement of its projection F with the same pins and each of the bars (the
alternate ones) previously locked by the engagement of its projection F³ with the
pins I' when similarly operated is locked by the engagement of the projection F
thereof with said pins I.
When the type bars are in their retracted position as shown in Fig. 2, the faces
of the types carried by them are in contact with the inking pad L which is
contained in a segmental trough L. This trough and inking pad may be stationary
but inasmuch as some of the types are used more frequently than others and those
parts of the pad most frequently used would become drier than other parts and the
printing effected would be consequently irregular as regards the quantity of ink
applied to the paper by the various types, it is preferred to arrange the apparatus
so that the inking pad may be moved at each operation of a key lever and fresh
parts of the pad thereby presented to the types after each such operation.
the
There are various ways in which this may be effected and in Figs. 2 and 71
have, as an example, shown one arrangement of mechanism for operating the pad,
comprising a toothed rack L' and two pins or tappets L³ secured to the underside
of the trough L' which is fitted in or upon guides so that it may move longitudinally
to a limited extent in either direction. M is a spur wheel gearing with the rack L³
and pivotted to any convenient part of the machine and with the teeth of which
two pawls M M³ are adapted to alternately engage at opposite parts of the
periphery of the wheel. These two pawls are pivoted on the lever M³ pivotally
connected to the machine frame, and are connected together by a link M' so that
the moving of one pawl into engagement with the wheel M causes
disengagement of the other pawl therefrom. A blade spring or equivalent M'
secured to the lever M' bears upon the end of one of the pawls M' M' so as to
retain the two pawls in either of their two operative positions until moved there-
from by the tappets L' as hereinafter described. The lever M³ is connected by a
link N with a spring controlled bail N (which may be the one employed as
ordinarily for operating the escapement mechanism) extending beneath all the key
levers B and pivoted at N' Fig. 2 to the frame A. At the depression of each
key lever B the bail N is also depressed and the lever M thereby drawn down and
the pawl M or M2 then in engagement with the wheel M will cause the latter to
revolve and through the rack Li move the trough L' and pad L in one direction
or the other according to which of the pawls is then in operation. For example, if
for convenience it is assumed that the pawl M' is in engagement with the wheel M
as shown in Fig. 7 each depression of the bail N will cause the ink pad L to move
towards the left of the machine as indicated by the arrow l. This continues at
intermittent stages (the pad L being moved the same distance at each depression
of a key-lever) until the right band of the tappets L'is brought against the back of
the pawl M which is thereby moved over simultaneously with the pawl M¹
towards the left of the machine, the pawls M' and M' being thereby thrown
respectively out of and into engagement with the wheel M so that at the next
depression of a key lever the pad L is moved towards the right of the machine
this continuing until the left hand of the tappets L' presses the pawl M¹ into
engagement and the pawl M' out of engagement with the wheel M.

page_text: If desired the pawls 'M' M³ may be arranged to engage with a ratchet wheel
secured on the same axle as the wheel M instead of as shown in Fig. 7 with the
wheel itself, and instead of arranging the tappets to act on both of the pawls they
may be set closer together and operate directly on one pawl only, the mction thus
imparted to the one being communicated to the other through the link M*.
In operating the before described type writing machine the key levers B are
depressed in the ordinary manner and the type bars F are moved only sufficiently
far to bring the types F¹ to the printing point Z by reason of the radius links H
pivoting on the rod E¹ as shown in Fig. 3, and working with their shorter effective
length, when however it is desired to print with the other type the key lever K is
depressed before the operation of the key lever B appertaining to the letter
desired, the result of which is that the bar Jis moved bringing the radial slots J'
into, and the grooves J* out of, coincidence with the radial links F which, when the
key lever is depressed as before explained, pivot on the rod E' so that the type
bar is moved through a greater distance and the type F* brought to the printing
point Z.
It is to be observed that by reason of the change of type being obtained by an
increase or decrease in the movement of the type bars in paths radiating from the
printing point, the types F' F' may both be in line with the type bars, at an angle.
to them, instead of as in other type writing machines wherein the change is
obtained by shifting the platen, greater compactness thereby being obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. In a type writing machine projecting the type-lever a greater or less distance
for the purpose of causing the required type or type-head to strike the paper on
the printing line.
2. In a type writing machine enabling two or more types or type heads to be
carried by a single type lever and to print upon the same printing line without
altering the position of the paper platen by projecting the type lever a greater or
less distance according to the position of the type to be used.
3. A type writing machine in which to enable the types to reach the printing
point the type bars are moved longitudinally in paths radiating from the
printing point and in which the changing of the type is effected by first operating
a shift-key which does not itself operate or more the type bars but which when
made operative constrains them to move through a longer or shorter distance than
that which they would otherwise traverse.
4. A type writing machine in which the operation of the type-changing. key.
does not effect the moving of either the paper carriage platen or type bars but
adjusts the mechanism so that when during such operation the key levers are
operated the type bars are caused to move through a longer or shorter distance
than they do when depressed without the type-changing key having been previously
operated.
5. In a type writing machine the combination with a type bar of a radius link
such as H substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a type writing machine the combination with a type bar and a radius
link such as H of two pivots E' E' and means for locking the link on either
pivot substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
7. In a type writing machine the combination with a type bar a radius link
such as H HHHH and two pivots'E' E' of a bar such as J having curved
bearing surfaces such as J¹ J' and slots J' and grooves J* for temporarily. holding
the link on either of the pivots, substantially as described., and, illustrated,in, the
accompanying drawings.
8. In a type writing machine the combination of a type bar such as F carrying
two types thereon a lever such as G pivoted to it and linked to a key lever a

page_text: radius link such as H pivoted to the type bar two pivots E' E' a bar such
as J J1 J2 J3 J and key-lever mechanism connected with the bar substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In a type writing machine the combination with the type bars each of which
carries two types and has two projections such as F F of two sets of pins
such as II the projections of alternate bars being adapted to engage with the
sets II' respectively substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
10. In a type writing machine the combination with an inking-pad upon which
the types rest when in their normal position of mechanism operated by the key
levers for imparting a reciprocating movement to the pad.
11. In a type writing machine the combination with an inking-pad upon which
the types rest when in their normal position of mechanism operated by the key
levers for intermittently moving the pad substantially as described.
12. In a type writing machine the combination with an inking-pad upon which
the types rest when in their normal position of a toothed rack L' spur wheel M
gearing therewith tappets L' a lever such as M* carrying two pawls M' M' and
connected by a link with a bail extending beneath all the key levers substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of June 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.