Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 12th Aug., 1887..
We, ALFRED EDWARD KIRK of 3 Annerley Road Annerley in the County of
Surrey Merchant and ALEXANDER RUSSELL of 272 North Woodside Road in the City
of Glasgow N.B. Mechanic, do hereby declare our invention 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 type writers of that class in which the types are mounted
upon a wheel or dise adapted to be rotated to bring any desired type into proper
position for printing and is particularly applicable to that type writer known in the
trade as the "Simplex."
The objects of the said invention are to provide an automatic feed for a type writer
machine whereby the type can be moved a uniform distance along the line of writing
at regular intervals between each impression of the type having the advantage of
allowing the operator to throw the feed motion out of gear to enable the type to be
placed at any desired place along the line of writing or for spacing between words
and also for bringing the type back to begin a fresh line and further to hold the type
steadily while the impression is being made as well as to prevent the type being
accidently moved out of place in the temporary absence of the operator or while the
machine is not in use and thereby preventing undue space in the middle of words.
To attain these objects the said invention comprises the improvements hereinafter
described.
The accompanying drawing shews a "Simplex" type writer. Figure 1 is a plan
of a type writer constructed according to our invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation
and figure 3 is an end elevation of the same. The same letters refer to the same parts
in all the figures. a is the base of the type writer and 6 is a plate hinged at d to the
base a forming with the latter a clip or holder for the paper. e is a metal strip
attached to the base forming a support for that part of the paper which is being
printed upon. g is a catch operated by a knob h for securing the plate 6 to the
base a.
is the type wheel which is mounted on a carriage sliding in guides or
m is the handle for turning
grooves k. is the standard carrying the type wheel.
and depressing the type wheel, a slot n being formed in the standard / to allow for the

page_text: depression of the said type wheel. 0, 0, are collars on either side of standard to
prevent lateral play. p is stud and p¹ india rubber band to withdraw type from
paper, inking pad or roller against which the types are normally held by spring
q
band p
s holes through type wheel to fit pin t to hold types in line while printing.
When the type wheel is depressed the pin enters one or other of these holes and
prevents the type wheel from turning. u are the types which are inserted through
holes in the periphery and secured therein by means of a ring or other suitable
means or the type wheel may be made solid and have the types formed upon or
secured to its periphery. The slots are left to enable the operator to see a
previously printed line so as to ensure each line being parallel to the next. Spaces
between lines are formed by drawing the paper forwards by hand. A is metal frame
sliding on standard 1 having one extremity carried down past the frame and has a
slot G to enable it to pass the pins K, K, and pallets X and X' forming an escape-
ment, B is bell crank lever (turning on a stud L) one end of which works in a slot M
in the frame A and the other carries the spring pawl D engaging with the ratchet
toothed rack F, F. C spring to prevent pawl 15 from rising too far and also to hold
the carriage from moving when the pawl D is drawn back to engage with the next
tooth to that with which it previously engaged. E is standard for carrying the
lever B. H is a sliding bolt.
The action of the spacing apparatus is as follows:- When the type wheel is
depressed the frame A having a hole bored through it to receive the collar o is
depressed also and carries down with it the end of the bell crank lever B thus causing
the free end carrying the pawl D to move the said pawl one tooth forwards (in the
direction the carriage is advancing) and the upper pallet X is moved into position
between two consecutive pins K K thus holding the carriage firmly to the frame while
printing. On the upward movement of the type wheel the spring pawl moves to
carriage a distance equal to the pitch of the teeth thus forming the space between the
letters the carriagej moving forward at the instant that the slot G passes the pins. The
lower pallet X then holds the type wheel in position till the next letter is printed.
To move the carriage back, after a line is printed, to the proper position for
commencing a new one the bolt H is shot, the bevelled end of which passes under
the pawl D and on depressing the type wheel till the slot G comes opposite the
pins KK the carriage can be moved backwards or forwards to any desired extent
the bolt H holding the pawl D clear of the rack.
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 :-
:-
In a type writer of the above named description the combination of the bell crank
lever B the spring pawl D spring C ratchet rack F, pins K, sliding frame A carrying
escapement with pallets X and X and sliding bolt H all substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this 24th lay of June 1887