Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1888
Specification Accepted, 21st Sept.. 1888
A communication from JAMES FRANCIS MLAUGHLIN, Ieunsyivama, Onnea
of America, Electrician.
P
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
M.I.M.E. 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 a combined mechanical and electro-mechanical movement
for the type-levers of electrical type-writers that is to say.
This invention has for its object to adapt the aforesaid instruments when placed
respectively at two extremities of a line wire to record or imprint a letter or character
locally at one extremity of said line by a single mechanical action of the key
board and corresponding type-lever to utilize such mechanical action to simultaneously
impart and transmit an electrical impulse to the distant extremity of the line and to
effect the registration of a corresponding letter or character at such distant extremity
by the electro-mechanical movement of a similar type-lever.
This invention consists in an organization of apparatus whereby these objects may
be attained and in certain details of construction arrangements and combinations of
parts which will be more fully described hereinafter.
This invention consists further in the new and improved construction of type levers
key hoard and letter type whereby the style of letters characters or symbols used
both on the type levers and key board may be readily and conveniently removed and
interchanged as will be hereinafter described.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate certain appliances for
carrying out this invention:
Figure 1 is a perspective view with parts broken and partly in section showing the
arrangement and construction of the type levers and auxiliary parts when used locally
in a mechanical manner.

page_text: 2 is a diagrammatical view illustrating two of the movements respectively
at each extremity of two line circuits showing how they may be operated in a combine
mechanical and electro mechanical manner.
Figure 3 is a detail perspective view partly in section of the pivoted support for the
key lovers,
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on line. Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line yy of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a detail perspective with parts broken away showing the manner of
mounting and securing the interchangeable finger key upon the key levers,
Figure 7 is a detail view partly in section of the end of the type-lever showing the
construction of the insertible type.
Figure 8 is a top plan view of the end of a type lever shown in Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a view in elevation of the suring nut for the removable letter type.
Like numbers of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
Referring to the drawings by numbers :—
1 indicates a metallic conducting ring which is suitably fastened to the basa 2 and
provided with a series of himling posts 3, 3 (only one being shown) located at proper
intervals thereupon opposite and corresponding to a series of electro magnets 4, 1.
Before proceeding further with an explanation of the different features of this
invention it may be necessary to here state that only the component and essential
details have been shown which are deemed sufficiently clear for a comprehensive
understanding of the following description.
Therefore it will be understood that only two of a series of circularly arranged
magnets 1, 4, and two type levers are shown that the travelling carriage, paper roll,
paper feeding and inking mechanism, the letter and line spacing devices and other
details of arrangement and construction of parts which are unceessary for a clear
understanding of the nature and operation of this invention have not been illustrated.
The series of electro magnets 4,4 correspond in number and relative situation to
the keys, 5 of the key levers 6, 6, and are secured in circular order inside of and
in proximity to the ring 1 upon a suitable base of hard rubber or other insulating
material (not shown) fastened to the bottom 2 of the casing of the instrument.
Each of these magnets is of the ordinary construction except that their lower poles
are each converted and brought up parallel to the side of its magnet helix forming
substantially an elbow shaped frame as shown: the object of such construction being
to utilize the magnetic force of attraction of both poles upon the respective extremities
of the rectangular shaped armatures 7, 7 as shown in Figure 1.
8 designates a metallic non-conducting slotted ring preferably of brass of greater
diameter than the ring 1 and supported in the elevated position by the standards 9, 9
(only one being shown) the requisite height above the base 2 to allow the pivotted
armatures 7, 7, to be above yet in proximity to their respective electro-magnets.
This ring is provided with a central annular slot 10 or a series of short slots running
circumferentially therein and in which are secured the adjustable supporting plates
or brackets 11, Lt having the armatures 7, 7. pivotally connected between their
inwardly projecting extensions by pivot pins (see Figure 1).
The adjustable supporting plates 11, 11 consist each of a hase plate 12 mnde
preferably of some insulating substanco and formed curved or convex to conform with
the curvature of the ring & the adjusting serew 18 and the parallel supporting arms
or lugs 14, 14, between which latter is pivoted one of the rectangular elbow shaped
armatures 7, 7, (as shown in Figure 1 one support being removed to show the section of
the pivot pin) having its horizontal arm 15 provided with a perforation through which
is passed the double-eye-holt or pintle 16 the perpendicular arm 17 of said armature
projecting downwardly in the vicinity of the polo 18 of the magnet 4.
19 is one of a suitable number of standards which support and secure the type-
lever ring 20 the desired height above the buso 2 of the casing. This ring is of less
diameter than ring 8 and is similarly provided with an annular transverso slot or
slots 21. running centrally and circumferentially therein; the object of this construction

page_text: being to allow the type lever supporting brackets 22 to be adjusted at regular
intervals or degrees around the ring and at any desired angle in the said slot.
Each one of these type-levers supporting brackets is of the same construction as the
plates 11, 11, and serve respectively as pivotal supports for the fulcrummed weighted
type-lovers 23, 23 which carry each a type letter character or punctuation mark
corresponding to its respective key 5. The series of type levers only one of which is
shown are as before stated fulcrummed near the upper ends on a suitable pivot pin
between the projecting lugs of the supporting brackets 22, 22, and are each formed
of a single straight metallic rod 24 of a length nearly equal to a radius of the
ring 20.
Upon the lower free end of each rod 24 is depended or secured a perforated ball
or weight 25 into which are respectively placed one of the insertible and inter-
changeable types 26 (see Figure 7) and the upper end of said rod is formed bifurcated
as shown the upper end of the flexible link connection 27 being secured upon a pin 28
between the prongs; and the lower end of said link connection being suitably fastened
to the double eye bolt 16 herein before described.
The letter type 26 is formed of hardened steel and as shown has the letter or
character upon its face.
These types are each made substantially in the form of a headed bolt with its
stem 51 piercing the ball 25 and screw threaded on its lower end to allow the adjustable
clamping nut 29 to be fastened upon the extremity or portion which projects beyond the
underside of the ball 25.
The head or shoulder 30 fits squarely upon the top surface of the ball 25 which is
flattened or levelled both on its bottom and top surfaces as shown clearly in Figure 7.
The nut 29 may be made in various forms as desirable such for instance as the
style shown in Figure 9 which is formed with two apertures 31, 31 designed to admit
the entrance of a bifurcated key (not shown) whereby the same may be removed and
readjusted or interchanged. The letter typo however, may, if desired be formed in
one with the type lever.
All of the type levers 23, 23 are of exactly the same length and have their supports
so arranged in the circular slot 21 that they will strike at a central point when forced
up against the inking ribbon (not shown).
The metallic key-levers 6, 6, are pivotally secured at their forward ends to a trans-
verse non-conducting rod 32 which is loosely mounted in a wooden boxing 33 (see
Figures 3, 4 and 5).
This boxing is provided with a removable lid or top of hard rubber 34 and with a
longitudinal circular aperture 35 in which is loosely inserted the pivot rod 32 before
mentioned.
36, 36 represent a series of transverse perpendicular slots in the said boxing to
admit of the entrance and pivotal play of the levers 6, 6.
5, 5 are the finger keys carrying the letters &c. which are attached to the outward
ends of the parallel key levers 6, 6.
The letters of the key-board are each suitably delineated upon an ivory or celluloid
plate 37 as shown in Figure 6 which plate is provided with sloping or inclined sides
and is adapted to slide under the lateral flanges of the key support 38; the object
of this construction being to allow the letter plates to be casily removed for cleaning
or other purposes.
The key support 38 consists of an upper plate 39 having the flanges before mentioned
and the bifurcated stem 40, the whole being preferably formed in one single piece.
This key holder or support is rigidly fastened to all of the key levers by a pin passing
through the forked ends of the stem 40 and the levers 6, 6, as shown in Figure 6.
41 designates a flexible link connection substantially similar to the connection 27
which is attached at its upper end in the lower eye of the eye bolt 16 and at its lower
end is secured suitably to its respective key lever 6.
In accordance with such arrangement as shown at Figure 2 it would then be
preferable to have the base provided with a series of apertures in a perpendicular line
with the ends of the horizontal arms of the armatures 7 thereby allowing the parallel

page_text: key levers to be below said base and the flexible connections to pass through said
apertures.
The armatures 7, 7, correspond in number and relative situation with their respective
keys and key lovers.
Thus it will be readily understood that by means of the interchangeable and
removable letter type and letter plates the style of printing performed by the machine
may be readily and conveniently varied by the simple substitution of the desired style
of characters, letters, or symbols which can be accomplished in a comparatively small
space of time by means of the adjustable devices before mentioned; furthermore by
this construction stenographic characters can be employed if so desired.
Referring to the diagrammatical view shown in Figure 2 each lover 6 is provided
with a suitable retracting spring 42 for the obvious purpose of restoring the lever to
its normal position after depression.
Directly underneath each key 5 and on the under side of each key lover 6a 6b in
located a small contact point 43 which is designed to make contact with a similar
point when a key is depressed; the contact point 44 being in circuit with the
battery 45 or 51 by wire 46 and the levers Ca 6 carrying the points 43 being in
circuit with their corresponding electro magnets 4a and 46 by wires 17 and 48
respectively.
In Figure 2 at each extremity of two line-circuits is placed one of the before
described movements. The depression of the circuit closing koy lover at the
station A will cause the type lever shown in Figure 1 to be forced by mechanical action
up against the paper roll (not shown) and at the same time such depression will close the
circuit from the battery 15 and simultaneously cause the magnet ant station B to
be energized and to attract its respected pivoted armature and thereby effect the
registration of its corresponding type lever against a paper roll and making a similar
imprint but in an electro mechanical manner.
When the circuit is broken by the removal of the operators finger and by the
restoration of the lever ta by the retracting agency of its spring the magnet ia at
station B will be de-energized and the current will pass to the ground.
Likewise the depression of the circuit closing key lever 66 at station B will effect
the imprint of its respective type lever against a paper roll in a mechanical manner
and a similar imprint of a corresponding typu lever at station A in an electro-
mechanical manner.
It is deemed necessary in order to clearly illustrate this invention to show two
independent line circuits in Figure 2; the said circuits extonding respectively batween
corresponding magnets: however it will be understood that in practice it would be
preferable to use the one line between two separated machines. This can be accum-
plished as will be understood by the employment of an ordinary button switch; or
by means of a suitable arrangement of circuits.
The armatures and their respective type levers being arranged circularly above the
base 2; the circuit closing key levers 6a and 66 being substantially the diameters of
the circle around which the said armatures and typo levers are disposed; and the said
key levers being preferably of different lengths for economizing space for the letters
on the key board it will be apparent that the shorter levers 6666 will have to be
depressed a greater distance than if they terminated in the outer row, therefore it will
again he obvious that the distance from the contact points 43, 43, of said shorter
lovers to the points 44, 44 is greater than from such points on the longer levers as
shown in Figure 2.
When any one of the type levers 23, 28, reaches the limit of its descent, the ball 25
will strike one of the springs fingers 49, 49 which are shown in Figure 1 thereby
effecting the contnet of the inwarilly projecting stud of said finger with the ring 50
thus closing a secondary circuit which operates the spacing mechanism, the electro
magnet of which is shown in Figure 1; the retractibility of the spring fingers being
insufficient to overcome the force of the fall of the particular type lever and the
weight of the ball 25, but sufficient to support the weight of the type lover and ball
when they are at rest.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with the circuit closing koy-levers, of the intermediate
mechanism connecting each key-lever with its respective type-lever, whereby the
printing movement of the said type-lever is mechanically effected by the depression
of its respective key-lever; the electro-mechanical devices at a distant extremity of a
line, operated by each depression of the said key-levers, for effecting the printing
movement of a corresponding type-lever at said distant extremity simultaneously with
the registration before mentioned the circuit, and a suitable source of electricity;
the whole being arranged to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose
set forth.
2. The combination with the circuit-closing-key-levers, of a suitable connection
between said levers and the series of type-levers; the type-levers; a line circuit; and
a suitable source of electricity; the whole being arranged to close an electric circuit
simultaneously with the depression of a key-lever and the consequent printing move-
ment of a type-lever, substantially as specified.
3. In combination, a series of electro-magnets, each provided with a pivoted
armature connected with one of a series of type-levers; a series of pivoted type-lovers
carrying on their free ends the insertible letter-type; the circuit closing key levers
each attached by suitable connection to one of the series of pivotted armatures; the
line circuit connecting each of said key-levers with a corresponding electro-magnet at
the distant extremity of the said line; the second series of electro-magnets at said
distant extremity, respectively, in circuit with their corresponding key-levers at the
first mentioned extremity; and a suitable source of electricity; all arranged to operate
substantially as specified.
4. The combination of the current conducting circuit closing key-levers, pivotally
secured at their inner ends to a pivot rod; the retracting springs; the insulated
boxing having the transverse recesses 36, 36, for the ends of the key-levers, and
supporting said pivot rod the circuit; and a suitable source of electricity sub-
stantially as specified.
5. The circuit closing key-levers, the intermediate mechanism connecting the said
key-levers with their respective pivotted type levers and adapted to mechanically
effect a printing movement of a type-lever by the depression of any one key-lever,
the series of pivotted type-levers provided each with a ball or weight at its forward
free end, for the purpose of closing a local circuit upon the descent of its respective
type-lever, the spring-contact fingers and ring, and the local circuit in combination
with the primary circuit; substantially as specified.
6. The combination with the pivoted type-levers, carrying the weight balls provided
with insertible adjustable letter-type, of the pivotted circuit closing key-levers having
removable letter-plates as shown, and the link connections between the said key and
type-levers substantially as set forth.
7. The pivotted type-levers provided each with removable insertible type, and
suitably perforated balls or weights at their free ends for the dual purpose of closing,
by virtue of their weight, the local circuit, and supporting the adjustable insertible
means for operating said pivotal type-levers, and the local circuit, substantially as set
forth.
8. The combination of the series of pivotted type-levers provided with balls or
weights on their free ends, the balls or weights having a perpendicular aperture
there-through, and the adjustable interchangeable letter-type, substantially as set
forth.
9. The combination of the weight balls affixed to the free ends of the type-levers,
the insertible adjustable letter-type having shoulders on their upper ends and screw
threaded at their lower extremities, and means for securing said letter-type in the
weight balls, substantially as described.

page_text: 10. The combination of the type-levers consisting each of a straight. metallic rod
formed bifurcated at its upper end and provided at its lower extremity with a weight
hall having a perpendicular aperture there-through; the whole being formed in one
single piece with the lotter-type having the letter or character upon its face; the stem
and shoulder, also all cast in one single piece; and the securing nut substantially as
specific.
11. The combination with the key-lovers, of the pivotted type-levers carrying the
weight balls provided with insertible adjustable letter-type, and a suitable connection
between said key and type-lovers substantially as shown.
12. As a new article of manufacture, a type-lever provided with weight balls
provided with insertible adjustable letter-type substantially as specified.
13. The combination with the type-levers, of the weight balls provided with
insertible adjustable letter-type, the key-levers having removable letter-plates; and
a suitable connection between snid key and type-levers substantially as specified.
14. In a type writer a key lover such as 6 which besides being connected to a type
lever 23 for effecting a local imprint of its particular letter, constitutes a closer of an
electrical circuit which, effects a simultaneous imprint of a corresponding letter at a
distant station substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
15. In a type writer an electro magnet such as 4 adapted to attract a pivotted
armature such as 7 connected to and for operating from a distance a type lever 23
which is also directly connected by links or their equivalent to a key lever 6 for
enabling it to be operated locally substantially as herein described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
16. In a type writer, letter plates such as 37 fitted to key lovers 6 in such manner
that they may readily be removed therefrom and replaced when necessary substantially
as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
11 1000