Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1890-Accepted, 7th Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
We, JACOB FELBEL, of No. 206 Broadway, in the City, County and State of
New York, Patent Solicitor and Inventor, and ANDREW WILTON STEIGER, of
Bridgeport, Fairfield County, in the State of Connecticut, Mechanical Engineer
and Inventor, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE-WRITING MACHINES and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
Our invention relates to what is known as the type-movement of type-writing
machines, and has for its main objects to provide a simple and efficient construction.
To these ends our invention consists, primarily in pivoting the type-bar or
carrier to two links or levers, each of which is pivoted to a guided rod, and
further in other features of construction and arrangement, all of which will be
hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended
claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a type-writing machine embodying
our invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on a plane represented by the line x, x, of
Figure 1, and omitting the key-board.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatical view on an enlarged scale, to show the construction
and operation of the type-movement.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the parts of the type-movement, detached.
Figure 5 is a vertical section showing our invention carried out in a modified
form.
Figure 6 is an elevation of a further modification, and
Figure 7 is still another modification.
In the several views, the same part will be found designated by the same numeral
of reference.
1, designates the bed or base-plate of the machine beneath which the key-
levers 2 are arranged. These key-levers may be operated through stem-keys 3.
At or near the rear end of each key-lever is pivoted a lifter 4, whose upper end
passes up vertically through a perforation in the bed-plate and is connected to the
outer end of a radiating lever 5, which is fulcrumed in a stand or support 6,
mounted upon the bed-plate centrally of the machine and in line with the
impression point.
To the lever 5 is attached at 7, the lower end of an upright rod 8, which is
pivoted at its upper end at 9, to a downwardly inclined drive-link or lever 10, which
is fulcrumed at 11, preferably upon a wire ring 12. To the inner free end of
said link or lever, is pivoted, as at 13, one portion of the type-bar or carrier 14,
which is made somewhat after the fashion of the letter Z, and is composed of
three parts, a, b, and C the part a carrying the printing-type 15.
To the rod 8 at 16, is pivoted the outer end of a substantially horizontal link 17,
whose inner end is pivoted at 18 to another portion of the type-carrier namely,
that marked c.
Referring now to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, it will be observed that the rod 8 is
prolonged to extend down to the radiating lever 5, which serves to guide said rod.
Said rod in turn moves and guides the link or lever 17 and also moves or actuates
the link or lever 10.
By the combined movements of the guided rod 8, the link 10, and the guided
link 17, the type-carrier is caused to travel from its normal to its printing position.

page_text: Normally the type-carrier is arranged to stand substantially in the position
illustrated by the full lines at Figure 1, and with the type-face resting against an
inked pad 19, mounted in or upon a suitable ring, support or holder 20. The
printing position of the type-carrier is represented by the dotted lines at Figure 1,
in which figure we have illustrated the employment of a centre-guide or directrix 21,
beneath the platen 22, of the paper-carriage 23. The guide or directrix 21, may
however, be dispensed with (although we prefer it) as may also the inking pad, for
which the usual traveling inking-ribbon may be substituted.
The operation of the construction shown at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, will be
understood to be as follows:-
As the guide-lever 5 is raised by the depression of its key-lever, the rod 8 is
caused to move upwardly in a determined or fixed path, governed by the lever 5
and the link 10. In moving upward the rod 8 raises the link 10 and the fulcrum or
pivot 16 of the link 17 which it guides. By the described action of the guided
rod 8 upon the two links 10 and 17, the type-carrier to which they are connected
is caused to turn, move inwardly towards the centre of the machine, and then
finally to move in a substantially vertical direction as shown at Figure 3 by the
diagram of the movement at different stages or steps. In the full or complete
movement of the carrier inward, the type is caused to travel first in substantially a
horizontal direction, and then in substantially a vertical direction from the pad or
from its position of rest to the platen or the paper to be printed upon, as shown by
the dotted line d, at Figure 3. In returning to its first position, the type-face of
course travels in the same path.
The levers 5 not only serve to guide the rods 8, but may be made of varying
lengths, as shown at Figure 2, and extended beyond the circle of rods 8, to connect
with their respective key-levers, and enable the machine to be built on the "straight
stringing" principle.
Referring to Figure 5, it will be observed that the elongated portion of the rod 8,
is guided in a perforation 24, in a horizontal plate 25, which may be the bed or
base-plate shown at Figure 1. The lowermost end of the rod 8 is connected
directly to a key-lever 2, thus dispensing with the lifter 4, and guide lever 5. The
operation of this construction is substantially the same as that above described, the
desideratum being also attained, of moving and guiding the pivot 16 in a well-defined
path, and in accordance with the movement of the drive-link 10, the rod 8, connecting
the two links 10, and 17, making this possible.
Referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that the extended end of the rod 8 is
guided at 25 and that the drive-link 10, is provided with an arm 26 on the outer
side of its fulcrum, to which a connecting-rod or wire 27 is attached at its upper
end, the lower end of said rod or wire being connected to a key-lever 2. This is a
lever of the second order, while the key-levers shown in the other views are of the
first order or class. The operation of this type-movement is substantially the same
as those above described, the main difference being that the power is applied to the
drive-link instead of to the rod 8. The effect is nevertheless the same, and for that
matter it will be understood that the power may be applied at any desired locality
of the type-movement.
Referring to Figure 7, we have shown our improved type-movement arranged for
what is known as an inverted machine, that is to say, one in which the type print
with a downward instead of upward motion. In this instance the key-levers may
be dispensed with and the power applied directly to the extended portion of the
rod 8, which may bear a finger-piece or head 28.
By our improved construction the type is made to take the shortest possible path
to reach the printing-point and thus the machine may be rapidly operated. In
moving to the printing-point, the face of the type is turned from a substantially
vertical position to a horizontal position or turned substantially through an angle of
ninety degrees, and is presented perpendicularly to the platen, thus avoiding all
liability of blurring.
Moreover, by the present construction, when the type has reached the common

page_text: centre of the machine, it is moved in a right line a greater distance than heretofore,
thus enabling us to secure considerable more room between the type-ring or inking-
pad and the platen for the convenient admission of the type-guide, the pressure-
roller, the paper-guides, and other devices commonly used on or about the carriage
of the machine. Besides, a lower machine and one composed of a less number of
parts may be made.
The levers 5 may be fulcrumed exteriorly of the rods 8, and radiate inwardly if
desired, in which case they will perform their guiding functions just as well as in
the preferred construction illustrated. The extensions of the rod 8 may be longer
or shorter than shown, and in fact, it is not absolutely necessary to have the rod 8
extend past the pivot 16, as the lever 5 may be connected directly at this locality;
but we prefer the arrangement shown.
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. In a type-writing machine, the combination of links 10 and 17, pivotally-
connected each to a type-carrier and to a rod 8 arranged between the links 10
and 17 and adapted to move therewith; substantially as described.
2. In a type-writing machine, the combination of links 10 and 17 pivotally-
connected at their inner ends to a type-carrier, a rod 8, pivotally-connected at 12 to
the link 10 and at 16 to the outer end of the link 17, and a guide for the pivotal
connection between the rod 8 and link 17; substantially as described.
3. In a type-writing machine, the combination of links 10 and 17, pivotally-
connected to a type-carrier, a rod 8, pivotally-connected to said links, and a guide;
substantially as described.
4. In a type-writing machine, the combination of links 10 and 17, pivotally-
connected to a type-carrier, a rod 8, pivotally-connected to said links, and a guide-
lever; substantially as described.
5. In a type-writing machine, the combination of links 10 and 17, pivotally-
connected to a type-carrier, a rod 8, pivotally-connected to said links and having
an extension, and a guide; substantially as described.
6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of links 10 and 17, pivotally-
connected to a type-carrier, a rod 8, pivotally-connected to said links and having
an extension, and a guide-lever connected to said extension; substantially as
described.
7. In a type-writing machine, the combination of links 10 and 17, pivotally-
connected to a type-carrier, a rod 8, pivotally-connected to said links, a guide-lever,
a lifter, and a key-lever; substantially as described.
8. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a downwardly and inwardly-
extending link 10, a substantially horizontal link 17, a type-carrier connected to the
inner ends of said links at the points 13 and 18, and a guided rod 8, connected
at 9 to the link 10 and at 16 to the outer end of the link 17; substantially as
described.
Deted this 2nd day of December 1890.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, Agents for the Applicant.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, Agents for the Applicant.