Improvements in or relating to Typewriting Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1899
ALL
4000
15th Sont
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Typewriting Machines.
We, JAMES SAMUEL FOLEY, Engineer, of No. 5, High Street, West Bromwich,
and JOHN HENRY BIRCH, Engineer, of Messrs. George Salter & Co., Steam Gauge
Works, West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to typewriting machines particularly to that class pro-
vided with a single key-board and one or more shift keys, although part of the
improvements herein described are equally applicable to other types of machine.
According to this invention the type-carrying bars are made of one piece and
are Tor similarly shaped in cross section.
Two margin stops are preferably provided, one at each side of the machine;
they each may take the form of a sleeve capable of sliding upon a bar upon the
roller carriage. This bar is placed parallel with the roller and has holes drilled in
it, or projections formed upon it at short intervals, these intervals being some
multiple of the pitch of the escapement rack. A short projection is provided
within the sleeve and is adapted to drop into engagement with the holes in or
projections on the bar, or to be easily lifted out of engagement, both of these
operations being performed without the use of screws. A stationary stop is pro-
vided on the frame adjacent to the middle of the perforated bar with which the
movable sleeves come into contact thus limiting the movement of the roller car-
riage. Means are provided upon the right hand sleeve for ringing a beli or other-
wise giving a signal at any desired part of the travel of the roller carriage. By
arranging the bell-ringing or like device upon the movable stop, the bell will
always be rung a certain definite time before the roller carriage reaches the end of
its travel, whatever may be the position to which the stop is adjusted.
The roller scale is pivotally connected to the carriage in any desired manner.
At each end a coiled spring is provided tending to hold the scale down onto the
roller; one end of each spring is fixed to a convenient part of the carriage, the
other end being attached to a bolt passing through a hole in the scale. The
screw-threaded portion of this bolt preferably engages with a nut situated above
the scale, means being provided for preventing rotation of the bolt. Conveniently
the bolt may have a round head adapted to be enclosed in a non-threaded portion
of the nut. The tension of the springs at both ends of the scale can be regulated
by rotating the nuts; moreover each end may be adjusted independently of the
other, nor is it possible for the nuts to be removed while the springs are attached
to the bolts, the springs being of larger diameter than the bolts, and the bolt being
headed at the end opposite to that to which the spring is attached. This arrange-
ment also limits the range of adjustment.
A similar tension-adjustment device may be provided for the escapement-rack
spring. By adjusting this spring the pressure required to operate the various keys
may be varied for each key acts upon the escapement rack and is affected by the
resistance thereof to motion.
In a machine provided with two shift keys, one for capitals and one for figures,

page_text: it is necessary to provide some mechanism for holding the roller carriage in an
intermediate position. In the normal position of the roller small letters will be
printed, in the intermediate position capitals and in the extreme position figures.
In order to hold the carriage in the intermediate position a hook is pivotted to
any convenient part of the frame and adapted to engage with a projection on the
carriage when the latter is in the intermediate position. The hook is normally
kept from engagement with the projection by means of an extension upon the
capital shift key lever; on depressing the latter the hook is allowed to fall and
engaging with the projection on the rock-shaft prevents the latter from being
moved beyond the intermediate position, on releasing the capital shift key the
carriage is re urned to the normal position by means of a spring and the hook dis-
engaged from that projection. The tension of the spring for returning the roller
to the normal position may be adjusted in a manner similar to that described above,
in connection with the roller scale. It will be seen that the hook is held free
from the projection except when the capital shift key is depressed.
In order to hold the roller firmly in any one of its three positions, an extension
on either the roller, its frame or rocking shaft is provided which is adapted to be
clasped by any convenient locking mechanism. The preferred mechanism for this
purposes comprises a segmental or similar extension fixed to the rocking shaft
passing between a spring surface and part of the frame between which it can
be clasped.
A small shaft passes through the spring and is provided at its end
adjacent thereto with a cam or wedge surface of such shape that on rotating the
shaft the spring is tightly pressed against the extension of the rocking shaft,
securely locking the latter between itself and the frame. The shaft may be
operated by means of a handle placed on the outside of the machine. By lock-
ing the roller in the manner described it can be held quite rigidly so that the
platen cannot be accidentally shifted from its position by vibration or jarring.
The inking ribbon is primarily put on a drum carried on an axle fixed in a small
frame which is carried on the main frame of the machine in proximity to the
paper roller; the ribbon passes from this drum along a shield which is arranged
transversely to the roller and back to a similar drum carried on the same frame.
The ribbon is automatically transferred from one drum to the other by means of
driving-pawls engaging with two oppositely toothed ratchet wheels upon the two
drums. These pawls are connected to levers which in turn are connected to the
space bar levers. Below the pawls above referred to detents pivotted to the frame
are also adapted to engage with the ratchet wheels; the pawls for a purpose herein-
after described, are extended so as to be able to bear against the detents. Between
the two drum axles a frame-work is pivotted in such a manner that when in one
of its two extreme positions the pawl and detent of one ratchet wheel are thrown
out of gear and those of the other into gear; the frame acts on the detent and
moves it far enough to throw out the pawl. When the frame-work is in the other
position the pawl and detent that were engaging with one ratchet are thrown out
of gear and those which were disengaged are reengaged. It will be understood
that each time a key is depressed the detent which happens to be in gear with its
ratchet wheel will cause the latter to rotate slightly and thus the ribbon will gradu-
ally be transferred from the one axle to the other. In order to reverse the action
of the ribbon the pivotted frame above referred to is swung round to its opposite
position thus throwing the other detent into operation. For this purpose a con-
necting rod is provided at each side of the pivot of this frame so that the position
of the frame may be manually reversed by depressing either of these connecting
rods. In order to automatically reverse the ribbon when one axle has been
emptied an arm may be pivotted to the pivotted frame above mentioned and
adapted to hear against the ribbon or the drum axle carrying it. A slot, or the
like, may be formed in the barrel of each drum, the arm being so arranged that as
soon as all the ribbon has been unwound from the barrel it will be pressed into
this slot. Means are provided for ensuring that as soon as the arm falls into the
slot the pivotted frame shall be swung over and so the ribbon shall be wound in

page_text: the opposite direction. Conveniently this may be effected by means of a catch
formed upon the lever connecting the key levers with the ratchet wheel pawl,
this catch being so arranged with reference to a projection on the pivotted frame
that it will be moved out to engage with the projection only when the arm drops
into the slot in the axle and at no other time.
The detents mentioned above as being pivotted beneath the ratchet wheel pawls
have preferably formed upon them a recess or the like with which part of the frame
engages in such a manner that when the frame is moved the detent on one side is
thrown out of gear and so moves the corresponding driving-pawl out of gear by
means of the extension on the latter. At the same time the frame releases the
other detent so that the other pawl is allowed to go into gear.
A spring is preferably provided in order to hold the pivotted frame in either
of its two extreme positions; the latter preferably comprises two approximately
horizontal portions between which the arms above referred to are pivotted. The
latter are preferably operated by means of counterweights, although it will be
obvious that springs may be employed for this purpose.
A gear wheel may be arranged upon one or both of the ribbon drums gearing
with the second gear wheel carried upon any convenient portion of the frame of
the machine; means are provided for rotating the wheel so that one or both of the
ribbon drums may be wound by hand, for instance, when putting on a new ribbon.
Means are provided for throwing these gear wheels into and out of engagement
with one another. Preferably the inking mechanism is arranged so as to be
capable of sliding a short distance in a direction parallel with the roller; this not
only allows either of the ribbon carrying axles to be put into gear with the hand
operating mechanism but also enables any desired portion of the width of the
ribbon to be acted upon by the type.
The ribbon shield is preferably pivotted to the upper portion of the frame
carrying the ribbon drums and is so arranged that when desired it may be lifted
up into an approximately perpendicular position, being normally held horizontally
over the roller. The preferred mechanism for this purpose comprises a connecting
rod between the pivotted end of the ribbon shield and a spring-controlled lever at
the lower end of the frame, these connections being such that the spring-controlled
lever will tend to raise the ribbon shield into a perpendicular position. A roller
upon the spring-controlled lever is adapted to gear with a cam-wheel so formed
that on rotation it will alternately lift the lever and so depress the shield and allow
the lever to be operated by its spring and so raise the shield. This cam is pre-
ferably carried on a shaft arranged parallel with the roller one end of which may
be carried in bearings on the inking mechanism frame and the other in the main
frame. A ratchet wheel is preferably secured to the shaft and is adapted to be
operated by means of a special key in such a manner that each time the key is
depressed the shaft will be rotated sufficiently to cause its cam to operate the
ribbon shield, say first to lower and next to raise it.
In order to indicate at all times the position of the character about to be per-
formed by the depression of a key, a small plate is hinged to some convenient
part of the machine and adapted to indicate this position. The end of this plate
is preferably forked, the extremities of the fork indicating the lower line of the
type which will appear above the gap of the fork.
A ratchet wheel may be fixed at the left hand of the roller and a spring-con-
trolled lever on the roller shaft carries a pawl adapted to engage with the ratchet.
By depressing the lever the roller is rotated a short distance and this distance may
be regulated by means of a small slide regulating the amount of movement of the
lever which in effect is "stopped." A circular escapement rack and a spring-
controlled roller bearing upon it may be provided at the other end of the roller to
ensure the proper completion of each angular movement thereof. The key levers
are preferably formed of inverted U section and the connecting links between them
and the type bars are secured to the key levers by means of U-shaped clips which
pass through slots formed in the upper surface of the lever, and which are clasped

page_text: in position by means of single bolts; the clips can thus be adjusted along the length
of the lever and also raised and lowered as desired under the control of but one bolt.
The type bars being rigid by reason of their possessing the T form of cross-
section described, the type block is attached to each one by a neck which is
rivetted into it and can be turned by the exercise of sufficient force, to permit
adjustment of the block. A spring is allotted to each key-lever and is sprung into
place between the lever, against which one end of it bears, and a slot in and tongue
upon a channelled bar which receives its opposite end.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1899.
JAMES SAMUEL FOLEY,
J. H. BIRCH.
Boult, Wade & Kilburn,
Agents for the Applicants
Improvements in or relating to Typewriting Machines.
We, JAMES SAMUEL FOLEY, Engineer, of 5. High Street, West Bromwich, in
the County of Stafford, and JOHN HENRY BIRCH, Engineer, of Messrs. George
Salter & Co., Steam Gauge Works, West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford,
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 typewriting machines particularly to that class pro-
vided with a single key-board and one or more shift keys, although part of the
improvements herein described are equally applicable to other types of machines.
The invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typewriting machine constructed according
to this invention, parts of the machine being omitted;
Figure 2 is an elevation,
Figure 3 a plan, and
Figure 4 an end view of ribbon mechanism constructed according to this inven-
tion:
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the ribbon shield operating mech-
anism shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4;
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively elevation and plan of the shift key levers and
their appurtenances; and
Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are views of details hereinafter referred to.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The ribbon mechanism is movably mounted on the frame A so as to slide
longitudinally in relation to the platen B. This is preferably effected by securing
the ribbon mechanism to the bar C by means of screws passing through slots C¹
in the bar C. A rod or the like C2 is connected to the ribbon mechanism at some
convenient point and is adapted to be locked against the bar C by means of a
device which consists of a non-rotatable bolt C and a nut C provided with a
handle C5.
The ribbon mechanism comprises two ribbon spools I mounted upon a frame E.
The ribbon is primarily placed upon one of the spools D whence it passes through
the ribbon shield F to the other spool D. A ratchet wheel D¹ is secured to each

page_text: ribbon spool D and is driven by a pawl G. The pawls G are operated from the
space bar by means of pivotted levers G¹ and links G². The pawls G are pro-
vided with an extension G³ for the purpose hereinafter described. Below the
pawls G detents H are pivotted on the frame E, the extensions G³ of the pawls
bearing against the detents. A frame or the like J is pivotted to the frame E
at J and is allowed a limited movement by means of flanges or the like J2 which
come into contact with the top of the frame E; these flanges also serve as handles
to allow the operator to cant the frame over into either of its extreme positions.
The frame is also provided with stops J3 which engage with recesses H¹ formed
on the detents H. When the pivotted frame J is in one of its two extreme posi-
tions one of the pawls G and detents H will be in gear with their ratchet wheel D¹,
the detent of the other ratchet wheel being held out of engagement therewith
by the stop J acting on the recess in the detent; it will be seen that the detent
will itself hold the pawl G out of engagement with the ratchet wheel by bearing
against the extension G³. A spring K is provided upon the frame E bearing
against both the pawls G, and tending to press them into engagement with their
respective ratchet wheels.
In order to reverse the movement of the ribbon the frame J is canted over so
that the pawl and detent which were engaging with one ratchet wheel are lis-
engaged and those that were disengaged are thrown into gear with the other.
A lever J is pivotted at each end of the frame J and is provided with a counter-
weight J which keeps the upper part of the lever J in contact with the ribbon
on the spool or with its drum. If desired of course the counterweight J5 may be
replaced by a spring. A projection J6 is connected to the lever J and is adapted
to engage with a catch G4 formed on the driving lever G¹. If desired the pro-
jections J6 may be formed on the lever J or be an extension thereof. A spring J7
is secured to any convenient portion of the frame E and bears against the pivotted
frame Jin order to hold it in either of its two extreme positions. The drums of
the spools D are provided with a circumferential slot D2 and the levers J' tend to
enter these slots by reason of the counterweights J³.
In operation the ribbon is wound upon one of the spools D passed over the
ribbon shield F and is secured to the drum of the other spool. On the depression
of any type bar key the driving levers G¹ are both operated and impart an oscil-
lating motion to the driving pawls G. As the stops J3 on the pivotted frame J
only allow one driving pawl and detent to be in gear with their ratchet wheel at
one time it will follow that the ribbon will gradually be transferred from one
spool to the other, the spool upon which the ribbon is being wound being rotated
by its driving pawl G while the other spool will be operated by the ribbon. When
the latter spool is empty, the lever J will be forced to enter the slot D² in the
drum of the spool, by reason of its counterweight J, and will thereby bring the
projection J6 into engagement with the catch G4 upon the driving lever corre-
sponding to that spool. As the lever G¹ rises it will carry with it the projection Jo
which, being connected to the frame J, will cause the latter to be canted over
into its other extreme position and will thus automatically effect the reversal of
the ribbon movement.
The ribbon shield F is hinged at F1 to the frame E (Figures 5 and 6) and is
connected by a link F to a rocking arm F³ pivotted to some convenient part of
the frame E. A spring Facts on the arm and tends to maintain the shield
in an upright position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. A roller or the like
15 is situated on the rocking arm F3 and bears against a cam wheel L mounted
on the frame E in proximity thereto. The cam wheel is secured to a shaft L':
a ratchet wheel L is also secured to this shaft and is operated by a pawl L³
carried upon a lever L. The cam wheel L consists of alternate projections and
recesses which on the rotation of the shaft L' successively bear against the
roller F and with the spring cause the ribbon shield to be depressed over the
platen or lifted into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. The number
of teeth of the ratchet wheel L² are preferably some multiple of the number of

page_text: projections or recesses in the cam wheel, and the length of travel of the pawl L³
is so arranged that one depression of the lever L will cause the ribbon shield to
be lowered by bringing a projection of the cam wheel into contact with the
roller F, while the next depression of the lever will allow the spring F+ to raise
the ribbon shield by bringing a recess of the cam wheel into engagement with
the roller F. The link F2 is preferably made in two pieces as shown in Figures 5
and 6, which are capable of sliding in relation to one another and are connected
by a spring Fe.
A modified form of mechanism for raising and lowering the ribbon shield is
shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, in which the cam wheel L is replaced by a rocking
shaft M, which is operated by the lever L+ acting through a link M¹ and an arm M²
on the rocking shaft M. A spring M³ is preferably provided on the frame E
bearing on the rocking arm F and tending to maintain the ribbon shield in its
horizontal position over the platen. In order to lock the ribbon shield the lever L
is provided with a projection L passing between a spring surface N and a part N
secured to the main frame A of the machine (Figure 9). A small shaft N₁ passes
through the spring surface N and is provided with a cam or wedge picce N2 which
on rotating the shaft N¹ by the handle N3 causes the spring surface N to grip
the projection L5 between it and the main frame.
In order to indicate at all times the position of the character about to be formed
by the depression of a key, a plate O is hinged to the bar C beneath the ribbon
shield F, and is arranged so as to indicate this position. The end of the plate
is preferably forked, as shown at 01 (Figure 3), the extremities of the fork indi-
cating the lower line of the type which will appear above the gap of the fork.
In order to allow any part of the width of the inking ribbon to be acted upon
by the type the ribbon mechanism is preferably movably mounted upon the bar C,
as herein before described, so as to be capable of sliding longitudinally in relation
to the platen.
A gear wheel D³ is preferably provided on one or both of the
ribbon spools D, and can be thrown into or out of gear with a gear wheel Q
(Figure 1) mounted upon the frame A, by the movement of the ribbon mechanism
on the bar C. The wheel Q can be rotated by hand so as to afford a convenient
means for winding the ribbon on to a spool.
In a machine provided with two shift keys, one for capitals and one for figures,
it is necessary to provide some mechanism for holding the paper carriage in an
intermediate position. In the normal position small letters will be printed, in
the intermediate position capitals, and in the extreme position figures.
In order to hold the paper carriage in the intermediate position, a hook Pis
pivotted to the frame A Figures 7 and 8 and is adapted to engage with a catch R¹
on the rocking shaft R, which is operated by the shift keys to alter the position
The hook P
of the paper carriage in relation to the tyne in the usual manner.
is normally held out of engagement with the catch R' by means of a support or
arm S on the capital lever S. Thus on depressing the figure lever T the rocking
shaft R will be swung over into its extreme position, the catch R¹ passing
beneath the hook P; on depressing the capital lever S, however, the arm S¹ will
also be depressed and will allow the hook P to fall into engagement with the
catch thus limiting the movement of the rocking shaft R.
In order to lock the paper carriage in any one of its three positions, a device
similar to that described with reference to the locking of the shield F may be
employed, preferably an extension on the rocking shaft being grasped between
the spring surface and the frame by means of the cam or wedge.
The roller scale U is pivotally connected to the carriage in any desired manner.
At each end a coiled spring U₁ is provided, tending to hold the scale
down on to the platen B. One end of the spring U1 (Figure 10) is secured
at U to a convenient part of the paper carriage, the other end being attached to
a bolt 3 passing through a liole in the scale U. The screw-threaded portion of
this bolt engages with a nut U situated above the scale, means being provided
for preventing the rotation of the bolt. The nut U is provided with a hollow

page_text: portion Us which is not screw-threaded, and the bolt has a round head U adapted
to be enclosed in the hollow part U of the nut.
}
The tension of the springs U₁ at each end of the scale can be regulated by
rotating the nuts U*; moreover each end may be adjusted independently of the
other, nor is it possible for the nuts to be removed while the springs U are
attached to the bolts Us, the springs being of larger diameter than the bolts and
the bolts being provided with the heads U. This arrangement also limits the
range of adjustment.
Two margin stops VI and V2 (Figure 1) are preferably provided, one at each
side of the machine; the preferred form of stop is a form capable of sliding upon
a bar V secured to the roller carriage. This bar is placed parallel with the roller
and has holes V3 drilled in it at intervals, these intervals being some multiple
of the pitch of the escapement rack. The stops and V2 are provided with
short internal projections V4 which are adapted to drop into engagement with the
holes in the bar V. The sleeves VI and V2 loosely fit the bar V, as shown in
Figure 1, so that the projections V4, which are situated at one end of the sleeves,
can be easily lifted out of engagement with the holes V³. A stationary stop V5
is provided on the frame adjacent to the middle of the perforated bar with which
the movable sleeves come into contact, thus limiting the movement of the roller
carriage. A bell W is secured to the frame A and is sounded by the hammer W
which is carried on the end of a bent lever We An arm Ve is pivotted to the
stop or sleeve V₁ in such a manner that as the roller carriage nears the end of its
travel it will operate the lever W2 so as to cause the bell to be sounded.
By
arranging the bell ringing device upon the movable stop the bell will always be
rung a certain definite time before the roller carriage reaches the end of its
travel whatever may be the position to which the stop is adjusted.
The type bars X are made of one piece and are T or similarly shaped in cross-
section (Figure 11), this shape ensuring their rigidity. The type block X' is
attached to each bar by a neck X2, which is rivetted into it, and the block can be
turned by the exercise of sufficient force so as to adjust it.
The key levers Y are preferably formed of inverted U-section (Figure 12), and
the connecting links between them and the type bars are secured to the
key levers by means of U-shaped clips 2 which pass through slots Y formed in
the upper surface of the lever and which are clasped in position by means of
single bolts Y. The clips can thus be adjusted along the length of the lever
and also be raised and lowered as desired under the control of but one bolt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In ribbon mechanism for typewriters the combination with a driving pawl
of a detent such as H substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In ribbon mechanism for typewriters the combination with a driving pawl
having an extension such as G³ of a detent such as H substantially as and for the
purpose described.
3. In ribbon mechanism for typewriters the combination with ratchet wheels
on the ribbon spools driven by pawls of detents such as H and means for operating
the detents to reverse the movement of the ribbon.
4. In ribbon mechanism for typewriters the combination with ratchet wheels
on the ribbon spools driven by pawls of detents such as H and a pivotted frame
carrying stops such as J3 substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. In ribbon mechanism for typewriters the combination with a ribbon spool
having a slot in its drum of a lever such as J* tending to enter that slot and a
projection such as J connected to the lever and operated by the ribbon driving
mechanism substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. The complete typewriter ribbon operating mechanism substantially as
described and illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 7. In a typewriter mechanism for raising the ribbon shield by one depression
of a lever and lowering it by the next depression of the same lever substantially
as described.
8. In a typewriter the combination with a hinged ribbon shield of a rocking
arm connected thereto and operated by a lever such as LA substantially as
described with or without means for locking the shield.
9. In a typewriter the combination with a hinged ribbon shield of a shaft
having a cam wheel such as L and a ratchet wheel such as L2 on it and operated
by a lever such as L substantially as described.
10. The complete ribbon shield and operating mechanism substantially as
described or illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 or in Figures 23 and 4 of the accom-
panying drawings.
11. In a typewriter the combination with the platen of a hinged index such as O
beneath the ribbon shield and having a forked end substantially as described.
12. In a typewriter an inking ribbon mounted transversely to the platen and
movable longitudinally in relation thereto substantially as and for the purposes
described with or without a locking device substantially as described.
i
13. In a typewriter the combination with two shift key levers of a hook such
as P supported by one of the levers substantially as and for the purpose described.
14. In a typewriter the combination with two shift key levers of a hook such
as P a catch such as R¹ and an arm on one of the shift key levers substantially
as and for the purpose described.
:
15. In a typewriter the combination with a spring of a headed non-rotating
bolt and a hollow nut substantially as and for the purpose described.
16. In a typewriter the combination with a perforated bar on the paper car-
riage of adjustable stops thereon having projections engaging with the per-
forations substantially as described with or without a bell trip on one of the
stops for the purpose described.
i
17. A typewriter type bar having a T section substantially as described.
18. In a typewriter the combination with a cam or wedge such as N upon a
shaft of a spring surface such as N substantially as and for the purpose described.
19. In a typewriter the combination with U-section type levers having a slot
such as Y of U-shaped clips for the type links substantially as described.
20. The complete typewriter substantially as described or illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
iated this 11th lov of July 1900.
'
JAMES SAMUEL FOLEY,
Boult, Wade & Kilburn,
Agents for the Applicants.