Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1898-Accepted, 23rd July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
I, FRITZ MAYER, of 170, Seefeld-strasse, Zurich, in the Republic of Switzerland,
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 has for its object a key typewriter in which the type are arranged
in groups in suitable selection and succession, each group only possessing one key
so that thus the number of keys corresponds to the existing number of the groups
of type. Each group of type is arranged on the crossbar of a lever bar pivotally
mounted in a frame. This frame is movably arranged in order to enable it to be
adjusted to cause a given type of each group of type to be struck according to
the adjustment of the frame by the operation of the key belonging to said type,
the type to be struck being first indicated by means of an indicating device
on an index plate, which indicating device simultaneously serves as a setting device
for the type carriage and therefore renders unnecessary the provision of several
shift keys.
The typewriting machine forming the object of the present invention is shown
in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a section on the line y of Figure 3;
Figure 2, a section on the line w of Figures 1 and 3;
Figure 3, a plan view of the machine, the index plate and paper roller being
here partially removed in order to show the parts lying beneath them;
Figure 4 shows the method of conveying the movement from the keys to the
separate type lever bars;
Figures 5 and 6 show the arrangement for operating the centremost group of
types which is arranged separately from the other groups;
Figure 5 being a side view; and
Figure 6, a plan view on an enlarged scale;
Figures 7 and 8 show, in side and plan views respectively, the adjustable
frames in which the type lever bars are pivotally suspended:
Figures 9 and 10 show the arrangement of paper roller for adjusting the
spacing of the lines.
The arrangement and mode of working of the machine consists essentially as
follows:
In the case shown in the drawings it is assumed that only a single row of keys
consisting of nine keys a is provided, and corresponding thereto there are nine
groups of type. Each group of type is arranged on the crossbar d of a lever arm b
which is pivotally mounted on a spindle c. Of the nine existing type bars b
four 66 in the present example are arranged on the right hand half of the
machine and four 66-69 on the left hand half, said bars being so proportioned in
their lengths that they strike with their adjusted type at a determined point on
the paper stretched over the paper roller e each time when by the depression of

page_text: the respective key a a lever bar is thrown upwards on its respective spindle c (see
Figures 2 and 7).
This point of pressure is naturally the same for each type bar and for each
type because the frame or carriage f in which the various type bars are suspended
is suitably adjusted.
A group of types 65 is, as shown in Figure 2, separately arranged in the centre
between the two previously mentioned groups of type bars, and the type of this
group are pivotally suspended laterally in such a way that they are jerked up-
wards on the depression of the key belonging thereto and strike with the
adjusted type of their type group against the stretched paper at the printing point.
Of course however this centre group may be omitted.
The various type bars 61-69 are mounted with their spindles c in the above
mentioned frame or carriage f which may be adjusted to and fro longitudinally
in the machine by means of bars g on rollers h. This adjustment, as before stated,
serves to adjust the type bars to bring a given type of their type groups under the
paper roller e.
The adjustment of this type bar carrier f is effected by means of a
handle which simultaneously by means of a cord or wire which is stretched
across an index plate indicates on the latter the group of types of which one type
in the actual position of the type bar carrier ƒ may be caused to give an imprès-
sion on the stretched paper on the depression of the respective key a.
In order that this adjustment may be as exact as possible the handle i and the
lever arm belonging thereto is provided with a tooth, Figures 7 and 8, which is
adapted on the adjustment for one of the nine groups of type to engage in a
suitable manner in a notch in a fixed rack bar.
The inking ribbon m which is arranged between the paper roller e and the
upper side of the type bar carrier f, is carried by two lateral rollers n n and may
be arranged in such a way that it rolls from off the roller n on to the roller n¹ or
vice versa.
On the striking of each key a, with the exception of the 5th key a³, the lever o
connected therewith mounted on the under side of the machine frame is turned on
its point of rotation p, Figures 1 and 4, in such a way that its rear end is moved
upwards thereby operating a double armed lever q q which draws a rod r down-
wards by means of a spindle qa extending in the direction of movement of the
type carriage, the said rod r being pivotally connected to the end of an arm s
firmly connected with a spindle c belonging thereto, Figure 4.
By the movement of the keys the respective type bars. b with the whole group
of type is jerked upwards against the stretched paper whilst however only one
type, namely the actually adjusted one, produces an impression on the paper.
The type group allotted to the fifth, key as is carried by the type bar 65 which,
as shown clearly in Figure 2, is arranged on the side of the carriage f in the
centre between the two groups of type bars - and 6-9 and its construction
differs somewhat from the others. The separate type are in this case mounted on a
free swinging arm whilst the other type groups, as already indicated, are each
attached to a crossbar d which is connected at each end with a lever bb¹, etcetera,
which levers are mounted on cross spindles c and by these latter are suspended
in the carriage f. The key a5 by its downward movement produces the descent
of the rear end of a pivotally mounted bar which also presses downwards a double
frame u.
A drawbar or link for the type carrier b belonging thereto carries
at its lower end a crossbar which on the adjustment of the carriage f can move
to and fro between and beneath the bars u¹ of the frame which are in proximity
to one another but have a narrow space between them. When by the downward
movement of the key a³, and the downward movement of the rear end of the
pivotally mounted bar t dependent thereon, the bars u¹ of the frame u are moved
downwards, the latter encounter the crossbar, and thereby draw the link of
the type frame 65 downwards. The latter is thereby thrown upwards and strikes
with the adjusted type of its group against the strained paper.
The bars u of the frame u are bent out laterally at one point, that is to say

page_text: at u in such a way that their downward movement exerts no influence on the
drawbar of the type frame b when the crossbar stands precisely at this widened
part of the space between the bars (see Figure 3). When therefore in this position
of the frame the key a is struck, the type frame will remain hanging in a
position of repose so that thus no impression of the type takes place. The special
position of the carriage thus allows of the spacing being produced by striking the
key a. If the key a with the centre group of type he omitted, the end one of
the spindles extending in the direction of movement of the type carriage may
receive a looping or bending upwards so that the link belonging thereto is not
operated at the point of this bending and spacing may be effected by the key
belonging thereto.
By pressing down each key, a lever mechanism is also set in action which
produces in the ordinary manner the lateral shifting of the paper carriage with
the paper roller e and therefore need not here be more particularly described.
As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the paper roller e is revolved by means of a
knob mounted on its spindle e¹. A cylinder w is mounted on the spindle e¹
which cylinder may be fixed by means of a screw and carries a disc .. On this
disc a spring hook y is arranged which engages in teeth or notches on the
paper roller and thereby renders possible the adjustment of the paper roller exactly
to the width of a line. As however the position of the hook y depends on the
position of the disc, by adjusting the disc the spacing of the lines of the paper
roller may be altered and its whole surface utilised.
The impression of a given letter, for instance a, is effected as follows:-
The handle is first adjusted with the left hand in such a way that the stretched
wire or thread & lies on the index plate precisely under that row of type to which
the type a belongs. It may be here specially pointed out that each type of a
group of type corresponds to a horizontal row of characters on the index plate /.
By this arrangement, the carriage or frame f is adjusted to bring the separate type
group bars under the carriage roller into a position in which one type of each
of the separate bars corresponds to the characters indicated by the thread or wire k
on the horizontal type row of the index plate. If the key a be then depressed
the type bar 66 is jerked upwards on its spindle by means of the lever
mechanism o q q'r and s in such a way that the letter a of its type group produces
an impression on the stretched paper. If the depressed type a be then again
released the whole lever system returns to its normal position by the inherent
weight of the bar which drops back.
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. A simplified key typewriting machine in which the type are carried in groups
in a suitable selection and succession on pivoted typebars mounted in a frame or
carriage adjustable longitudinally, said carriage for the purpose of avoiding the
use of shift keys being provided with a handle serving for adjusting it and an
indicating device having an index plate divided to correspond to the groups of
type whereby any desired type of each type group may be adjusted or brought into
action by means of the said handle, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a typewriting machine such as hereinbefore described, the arrangement
for transferring the movement of the keys to the type carriage, comprising
spindles (9 and u) prolonged in the direction of movement of the carriage, along
which spindles a link (r) of the type bars may slide in the normal position of the
keys without being impeded in their freedom of movement, substantially as here-
inbefore described.
3. In a typewriting machine such as hereinbefore described, forming one of the
spindles (g and u) which serve for conveying the movement to the type bars,
with a loop or bend at one place in such a way that the type bar link (r) belong-
ing thereto when at the said looped or bent place cannot be operated upon the

page_text: key being depressed, whereby the use of a special spacing key is avoided, substan-
tially as hereinbefore described.
4. In a key typewriting machine such as herein before described; the arrangement
of spring hooks (y) on an adjustable disc (2) to limit the line adjustment of the
paper roller, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 13th day of May 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON, & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.