Improvements in Type-writers.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Type-writers.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the
County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from Walter Hope Campbell, of Kieff, South Russia,
Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers) to be as follows:-
The object of these improvements is to facilitate the writing of more than one
language at one and the same time, as, for instance, when it is required to write
foreign words in an English letter; in other words, to increase the capacity of a
typewriter in regard to the number of characters which it can write without
entirely removing the one set of characters and substituting others.
The improvements relate chiefly to that class of typewriting machines in which
the letters or characters are contained on one or more carriers which are so
operated as to present the required letter at the point of impression..
In order to accomplish the object of the invention several type shuttles, or
carriers, generally three, are placed in the type wheel or anvil in such a manner
that they form a complete circle. Each of these type shuttles contains a different
set of letters or characters, as may be required for the matter to be written.
Above the type wheel or anvil is placed an index plate or ring. provided with
notches, and a handle or lever pivoted in the centre of the type wheel or ring.
The outer end of this lever engages by suitable means the type shuttle when
the latter is raised in the ordinary manner but somewhat higher than required
for ordinary writing. The notches in the rim of the ring correspond with the
position of this lever when the type shuttle is in its proper position for writing.
It therefore follows that when the type shuttle is raised so as to engage the lever
and the latter revolved to the notch corresponding with the desired set of
characters, the type shuttle will be in the proper horizontal position for writing
with that set of characters; the type wheel with the type shuttle has then only
to be dropped on to the driving arm to be ready for writing. The number of
notches in the index plate or ring will, of course, correspond with the number, of
type shuttles or sets of characters which can be placed in the type wheel or
anvil.
In order to change the characters on the keys to correspond with the characters
to be printed, three methods are employed, as follows:-
1. Instead of securing the finger pieces rigidly to the key levers, they are made
capable of being turned round on a horizontal axis so that any side may be turned
upwards. The finger pieces are made with two or more faces, on which characters
are engraved, and are fitted with trunnions on which they revolve, and a stop for
each face to hold them in the desired position. The key levers, where they are
connected with the finger pieces, are made fork shaped so as to embrace the finger
pieces and are furnished with eyes in which the trunnions rest and a recess for
engaging the stop. When it is required to alter the finger pieces so as to correspond
with the characters on the typeshuttle, the finger piece is simply revolved till the
desired character comes uppermost, the stop, acting in conjunction with the elastic
forked part of the key lever, bolds it firmly in position.

page_text: 2. A false keyboard of metal or other suitable material is placed over the
permanent keyboard. This false keyboard is fitted with a set of finger pieces
carrying the required characters and attached to rods passing through the false
keyboard and resting on the corresponding permanent finger pieces; these rods are
provided with light springs to steady them. The false keyboard may be either
quite separate and be placed on the machine when required, or it may be secured
in a suitable position by hinges so as to be capable of being quickly turned over
into position when required.
3. Caps of metal, hard rubber or other suitable material, carrying suitable
characters, are placed on the finger pieces of either permanent or temporary
keyboard, or on both, and can be quickly removed when not required.
Methods Nos. 1 and 2 can be combined, thus doubling the number of sets of
characters available on the keyboards.
Dated this 14th day of February 1895.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Type-writers.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings in the
County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me from, Walter Hope Campbell, of Kieff, South Russia,
Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :--
The object of these improvements is to facilitate the writing of more than one
language at one and the same time, as for instance, when it is required to write
foreign words in an English letter, in other words, to increase the capacity of a
typewriter in regard to the number of characters which it can write without
entirely removing the one set of characters and substituting others.
The improvements relate chiefly to that class of type-writing machines in
which the letters or characters are contained in one or more shuttles or type
carriers which are so operated as to present the required letter at the point of
impression.
In order to accomplish this object several type shuttles or carriers, generally
three though it may be two or more are placed in the type wheel in such a manner
that they form a complete circle. Each of these type shuttles or carriers contains
a different set of letters or characters as may be required for the matter to be
written and it is capable of being placed in position for use in the manner herein-
after described.
The invention,, as applied to the Hammond type-writer, is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the anvil, type-wheel and shuttles or carriers,
Fig. 2 is a plan of the parts shown at Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a vertical section and Fig. 4 is a plan of the type wheel;
Fig. 5 is a vertical section and Fig. 6 is a plan of the anvil.
Fig. 7 is a plan and Fig. 8 is an elevation of a pin employed for retaining a
type shuttle in place;
Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of a double keyboard; ¨
Fig. 10 is an elevation of a modified key to be used either in lieu of the
permanent keys or finger pieces or with the additional key board, and

page_text: Fig. 11 is a plan and Fig. 12 is a vertical section of a form of cap which may be
applied to the finger pieces of the keys in some cases.
a is the ordinary vertical shaft to the upper end of which the anvil b is fixed by
a set screw band around which the type wheel c is rotated and oscillated. The
type wheel is formed of a ring or short cylinder c of thin steel or other suitable
material and is suspended by the bows or arms c¹ from the upper part of a vertical
pin a around which it can revolve. This pio a' is screwed firmly or otherwise
fixed in the top part of the anvil b and forms part of, or is fixed to the vertical
shaft a.
From the bottom edge of the ring c project three fingers c² which
are separately capable of engagement with the usual driving arm d as may be
required.
The type wheel or ring c is formed with slots c³ to receive the fins c³ of type
shuttles or carriers et each of which is provided with a different set of letters or
characters, and these type shuttles or carriers c are retained securely in position
by means of pins e whose heads are formed on one side to fit truly and jam against
the inner face of the ring c. The anvil b is made with a groove 62 to enable the
fins of the type shuttles to pass it.
On the driving arm d being actuated by depressing the keys or finger pieces e
on the outer ends of levers fas is well understood, the type wheel and with it the
type shuttles or carriers c¹ are caused partially to revolve and bring the proper
or required letter or character opposite the centre of the anvil b.
In the example shown in the drawings the type wheel or ring e is fitted with
three type shuttles or carriers et each having a different set of, say 90 different
letters or characters, or altogether 270.
The different sets of letters or characters are indicated by the Figures 1, 2, 3 on
the suspending bows or arms c¹ of the type wheel.
The ring c is made somewhat wider than the type shuttles or carriers and its
upper edge extends above the latter and has notches c' formed therein so as to
form an index ring. These notches c' correspond with the position of an adjusting
lever or latch 9 when the type wheel is in either of its three positions for
writing.
When it is desired to bring a new set of letters or characters into action the
vertical shaft a is raised in the usual manner, but somewhat higher than that
required for ordinary writing, until the finger is free of the vertical limb d¹ of
the driving arm d, when the type wheel with its type shuttles or carriers is rotated
till the required set of letters or characters, as indicated by the figures on the bows
or arms e' of the type wheel comes near the required position, the adjusting lever
or latch g is then thrown over so as to rest on the upper edge of the ring c and the
latter is further revolved until the lever or latch g drops into the notch c
corresponding with the required set of letters or characters.
The vertical shaft a is then lowered, the vertical limb d¹ of the driving arm d
engages with the eye of the type wheel finger c², after which the lever or latch.g.
is thrown back to the dotted position when the machine is ready for work. The
number of notches in the index ring will, of course, correspond with the
number of type shuttles or sets of characters which can be placed in the type
wheel.
In order to change the characters on the keys to correspond with those to be
printed, either of the three following methods may be employed.
1st. Instead of securing the keys or finger pieces e rigidly to the key levers f
they are, as shown at Fig. 10, made capable of being turned round on a horizontal
axis so that any side may be turned upwards. The finger pieces e are made with
wo or more faces on which letters or characters are made and are fitted as
follows:The stems f¹ carrying such finger pieces or keys and fixed to the levers
are made flat and are fork shaped at 7. The part e on which the letter or
character is shown is made with trunnions e¹ so as to be capable of being rotated
n the fork ƒ³ and it is fitted with two small projections on each side. The

page_text: arms of the fork f³ are made with a slight spring towards each other and they
have on their inner surfaces. small indentations corresponding with the projections e².
When the keys or finger. pieces e are rotated so as to reverse their position, the
projections & drop into said indentations and hold the keys or finger pieces o in the
proper position as will be readily understood. The keys or finger pieces are marked 5
on both sides with different letters or characters, to suit the letters or characters on
the type shuttles, and they may be made with three or more faces to increase the
range of the keyboard. Thus when it is required to alter the keys or finger pieces e
so, as to correspond with the letters or characters on the type shuttle, the key or
finger piece e is simply revolved on its trunnions till the desired character comes
uppermost when it will be held firmly in position by the means aforesaid.
10
2nd. A false keyboard of metal or other suitable material, as represented at
Fig. 9, is placed over the permanent keyboard; this false keyboard is fitted with a
set of finger pieces e* carrying representations of the required letters or characters
and attached to rods i passing freely through the false keyboard / and, when in
use, resting on the corresponding permanent keys or finger pieces e; these rods i are
provided with light springs to steady them and they are provided at their lower
ends with india rubber shoes to prevent jarring and the wearing of the keys or
finger pieces e. This false keyboard may be either quite separate and be placed on
the machine when required, or it may be secured in a suitable position to a column 2
or columns by hinges h¹ so that it can be thrown back and rest against the back
and higher. part of the machine when not in use and be quickly turned over into
position for use when required. The lower edge of the false keyboard rests on
small supports l. l, one of which is fitted with an india rubber buffer. This arrange-
ment, as represented at Fig. 9, is for printing with two sets of letters or characters,
but when more are required the upper set may be made as represented at Fig. 10.
3rd. Caps of metal, hard rubber or other suitable material, such as represented
at Figures 11 and 12, are placed on the keys or finger pieces of either permanent
or temporary keyboard, or on both, and can be quickly removed when not
required.
Methods Nos. 1 and 2 can be combined, thus increasing the number of sets of
letters or characters available on the keyboards.
By the means herein shown and described documents containing several
languages or requiring a great number of signs or characters may be printed
without the loss of time caused by having to remove the type wheel and shuttles
and replace them by others.
I would here remark that the forms of the various parts may be somewhat
modified without departing from the peculiar character of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim 18:
1. The improvements in type-writers substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.
2. In type-writers, the improved construction of type wheel substantially.as
herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
3. In type-writers, the combination of a type wheel having two or more type
shuttles or sets of letters or characters capable of being brought into use when
required, and a double keyboard or revolving keys or finger pieces, or of
both the latter, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose
stated.
4. In type-writers the combination of a type-wheel having two or more type
shuttles or sets of letters or characters capable of being brought into use when
required, and a double keyboard or removable caps to the permanent keys, or
both the latter substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose
stated.

page_text: 5. In type-writers, the novel combinations and arrangements of parts substantially
as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated November 13th 1895.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.