Type Writing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, 1892
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Type Writing Machines.
A communication from abroad by THE AMERICAN WRITING MACHINE COMPANY,
a Corporation organised under the laws of the State of New York, of the
City of Hartford, State of Connecticut, United States of America.
I, JOHN CORRY FELL, of the firm of Fell and Wilding, of 1, Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, 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:-
The invention has for its main objects to provide simple and effective means for
separating the escapement devices which control the movements of carriages of
type-writing machines, in order to release the carriage for rapid movements in
either direction, and to these ends consists primarily in the combination with a
feed-dog, of a vertically-sliding feed-rack. The invention further consists in various
other features of construction and combinations of devices as hereinafter more
fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a top view of so much of a type-writing machine as is necessary to
illustrate the invention.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same with the feeding devices in their normal
positions.
Figure 3 is a partial rear elevation showing the releasing mechanism in action.
Figure 4 is a partial rear elevation showing a variation in the construction of
the releasing means.
Figure 5 is a rear elevation showing still another variation in the construction
of the releasing means.
Figure 6 is a vertical cross section taken at the line x, x of Figure 5, and
Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken at the line y, y of Figure 5.
In the several views the same part will be found designated by the same numeral
of reference.
The type-writing machine represented in part will be recognized by those
skilled in the art as that known as the "Caligraph," to which description of
machines the improvements have been applied in practice. As is well-known, the
escapement mechanism of the Caligraph consists of two feed-racks upon the paper-
carriage, one rigid and the other movable, and one feed-dog capable of vibration
in the machine framework and of co-operating with both said racks to effect a
step-by-step feed of the paper carriage.
In the paper-carriage 1, is mounted the usual cylindrical platen 2, its shaft or
axle 3 being arranged to turn in bearings in the side bars of the carriage. Con-
nected to the back rod 4 of the paper-carriage is a yoke 5 which travels upon and
is guided by a rail 6 mounted in standards 7 at each end of the top-plate (not
shown) of the machine. The said yoke is bifurcated at each end to embrace a
parallel rod 8, mounted at its ends in said standards, said rod being provided to
prevent the said yoke from swinging about or turning upon the guide-rail 6.
To the ends of said yoke is attached rigidly, by screws, 9, a feed-rack 10, from
which project rearwardly three studs 11, each of which is reduced in diameter to
form a short projection 12 which serves as a stop for a movable rack 13 which is
formed or provided at points opposite said projections 12 with elongated openings
or slots 14, which embrace said projections. The rack 13 is connected to the rack 10
by screws 15 which pass into threaded perforations in the projections 12.
16, 16 represent two coiled springs, one end of each of which is connected to
the rack 13, and the other to the rack 10, and the said springs have a tendency to

page_text: keep the rack 13 down and to move the same towards the left. 17 represents a
feed-dog, which is mounted on a spacing-rocker 18, connected, as usual in the
Caligraph, back to the finger-keys.
On the fixed feed-rack 10 is a rearwardly projecting lug 19, and on the movable
rack 13 is an adjustable stop 20, both said devices being employed to regulate or
limit the movements of the rack 13 towards the left under the influence of the
springs 16.
The dog 17, in the normal condition of the machine, stands in engagement with
the feed-rack, 13, and the carriage is prevented from moving under the pull or
action of the driving power by reason of the fact that the projections 12 stand at
this time at the left hand ends of the openings or slots 14 in the restrained feed-
rack 13.
Upon a depression of any of the finger-keys of the machine, the feed-dog 17 is
vibrated forwardly out of the movable feed-rack 13 and into engagement with the
relatively rigid feed-rack 10. As soon as this movement is effected the feed-
rack 13 is propelled by the springs 16 one notch or tooth to the left (considered
from the front of the machine) or until the stop 20 strikes the lug 19. At the
completion of this movement of the feed-rack the projections 12 stand at or near
the right hand ends of the slots 14. Upon releasement of the finger-key the feed-
dog 17 is moved back into engagement with the sliding feed-rack 13 and the
carriage is permitted to move a letter space distance under the influence of the
driving power, the carriage being connected to such power through the usual
arm 21 and link 22, shown only in part. During the travel of the carriage, the
projections 12 move from the right hand to the left hand ends of the slots or
openings 14, the rack 13 at this time being held stationary by the dog 17.
As in the normal condition of the machine the feed-dog 17 stands in engage-
ment with the rack 13, said rack has been so constructed that it is capable of being
slid up vertically in order to disengage it from the feed-dog 17, and thus release
the paper carriage for rapid movements. This lifting capacity of the feed-rack is
effected by increasing the width of the openings or slots 14 which surround the
pins or projections 12. By this construction it will be seen that the rack 13 may
not only be moved end wise but may be moved vertically or widthwise a distance
sufficient to cause its teeth to stand above the plane of the feed-dog 17 as
represented at Figure 3, in which condition of the parts the paper-carriage may be
allowed to run quickly towards the left of the machine under the influence of the
carriage driving power or may be returned or run towards the right rapidly under
the pull or pressure of the hand of the operator.
Various means may be employed for conveniently lifting the rack 13 from its
engagement with the feed-dog and in the several views there are shown three ways
in which this may be accomplished.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, 23 designates a cord or chain, one end of which
is connected at or near the center of the feed-rack 13, and the other end of which
is connected to a lever 24 pivoted at 25 on the rigid feed-rack 10. The said cord
or chain passes over a grooved pulley or wheel 26 supported by the rigid rack 1,
to change the direction of the cord or chain and permit it to pull in a substantially
vertical direction upon an outward and downward movement of the lever 24 which
is provided preferably with a bent finger-piece 27. When said lever is actuated as
represented at Figure 3, it operates, through the means described, to lift the
rack 13 from engagement with the feed-dog. Upon releasement of said lever, the
springs 16 act to cause said feed-rack to descend, re-engage with said dog, and
restore the lever to its normal position, there being provided preferably a stop 28
on the rack 10 to limit the return movement of said lever.
Referring to Figure 4, it will be observed that in place of the grooved wheel a
bell-crank 29 is employed, and in lieu of a flexible connection a rigid rod 30 is
substituted. The bell-crank is pivoted at 31 on the rack 10 and is provided with
a pin 32 which projects rearwardly to enter a slot 33 in the feed-rack 13. The
rod 30 is connected at one end to the upper arm of the bell-crank at 34, and said

page_text: rod is connected at its opposite end at 35, to the actuating lever 24. The operation
of this construction will be readily understood and it is only necessary to state that
upon a movement of the actuating lever in the direction of the arrow, the pin 33
on the bell-crank will act to lift the feed-rack 13 out of engagement with the feed-
dog, and upon releasement of said lever that the springs 16 will operate to return
all of the parts to their first positions.
In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the finger-piece of the release-key is arranged to
terminate in rear of the hinge-line of the paper-carriage, which is an advantage,
but if desired the release key may be extended in front of said line to or past the
platen.
Referring to Figures 5 and 6 a construction is shown in which the release-key or
lever 24 is horizontally arranged and extended out past the platen to the front edge
of the paper-carriage. The said lever is provided with a bearing 36 which
surrounds the left hand end of the platen axle 3, and said lever at its rearmost end
is bent to pass over the rear rod 4 of the paper-carriage and to stand beneath a
forwardly projecting pin 37 on a vertical slide 38, which is guided in a groove
formed by the end of the rack-bar 10 and a plate 39 secured thereto. Near the
lower end of said slide is provided a rearwardly-projecting pin 40 which is
embraced by a slot 41 on the horizontal arm of a bell-crank 42 pivoted at 43 on
the rack-bar 10. To the upper end of the vertical arm of the bell-crank is
connected one end of a cord or chain 23, the other end of which, after passing
around a pulley 26, is connected to the feed-rack 13. By this construction and
arrangement when the outer end of the lever 24 is depressed, the slide is raised,
the bell-crank vibrated and the feed-rack 13 lifted from engagement with the feed-
dog, and upon releasement of said lever, the springs 16 return all of the parts to
their first positions, as before. In this construction when the carriage is turned up
to a vertical position for inspection or correction of the work, the rear bent end of
the lever 24 recedes from the pin 37, the edge of the rack-bar 10 being beveled
at 44 to permit the end of the lever to pass down.
Although the improvements are shown carried out in a machine employing a
duplex rack and a single dog, they may however be used in machines of well-known
construction in which there is a single rack and a duplex dog.
Various changes may be made in the means for lifting the spring-actuated
independently movable feed rack without departing from the spirit of the main
features of the improvements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a paper-carriage, of a feed-
dog, and a vertically-arranged upwardly-sliding feed-rack.
2nd. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a paper-carriage, of a feed-
dog, a vertically-arranged upwardly-sliding feed-rack, and means connected thereto
for lifting the same.
3rd. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a paper-carriage, of a feed-
dog, and a pair of feed-racks, one of which has an independent endwise movement
and also an independent lifting movement.
4th. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a paper-carriage, a feed-dog,
and a longitudinally movable feed-rack, constructed to have a vertical widthwise
movement.
5th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a paper-carriage, of a feed-
dog, a pair of feed-racks, one of which is capable of an independent longitudinal
movement, and also capable of an upward lifting movement, and one or more
springs for moving said rack longitudinally and for moving said rack downwardly.
6th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a paper-carriage, of a feed-
dog, a pair of feed-racks, one of which is provided or formed with one or more

page_text: slots or openings to enable it to have an independent longitudinal movement and
also a transverse movement.
7th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a paper-carriage, of a feed-
dog, a pair of feed-racks, one of which is capable of an independent longitudinal
movement, and means for lifting said rack in a direction transverse to that of its
longitudinal movement.
8th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a paper-carriage, of a feed-
dog, a fixed feed-rack, a spring-actuated feed-rack movable in the direction of its
length, and also movable in the direction of its width.
9th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a paper-carriage, of a feed-
dog, a rigid rack, a spring-actuated feed-rack independently movable in the direction
of its length, and also in the direction of its width, and means for moving said rack
in the last mentioned direction.
10th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a paper-carriage, of a
feed-dog, a fixed feed-rack, provided with projections, and a spring-actuated
independently movable feed-rack provided with slots or openings of a width or size
sufficient to enable the said rack to be lifted from engagement with the feed-dog.
11th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a paper-carriage, of a feed-
dog, a feed-rack, an independent, longitudinally and transversely-movable feed-
rack, a release-key, and connections between said key and said rack whereby the
latter may be raised from engagement with the feed-dog.
12th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a paper-carriage, of a feed-
dog, a fixed feed-rack, an independent longitudinally and transversely movable
feed-rack, a release key, a slide, a bent lever, a flexible connection, and a pulley.
13th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a paper-carriage, of a feed-
dog, a fixed feed-rack, provided with one or more projections, a spring-actuated
independently movable feed-rack formed or provided with one or more enlarged
slots or openings embracing said projections, a key-lever, a slide, a bent lever, a
flexible connection, and a pulley.
Dated this 26th day of May 1892.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.