Improvements in the Manufacture of Type Writers.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Type Writers.
I, SAMUEL JOHN SEIFRIED, of 186 Monroe Street, Chicago, in the County of
Cook, in the State of Illinois, United States of America, Machinist, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in type-writers of that class wherein a
rotatable type-sleeve is employed.
In my improvement the type-sleeve reciprocates parallel to the line of printing
in either direction from its normal position for the purpose of bringing each and all
the separate type or characters on the type sleeve into position longitudinally in front
of the impression hammer. And the rotary movement of the type sleeve serves to
bring each of the separate type or characters on the type sleeve into position
radially in front of the impression hammer, the radial and longitudinal movements
of the type-sleeve taking place simultaneously.
In my in:provement there are thirty-six keys and key-levers arranged in three
separate rows, the key-levers of each row having a common pivot, the key-levers of
one row operating simply to slide the type-sleeve without rotating it and the key-
levers of the other two rows operating to both slide and rotate the type-sleeve, and
a series of vertically sliding stop pins are employed for the purpose of limiting the
movement of the type-sleeve.
My improvement consists primarily in the improved means I have devised for
communicating the required rotary and sliding movements of the type-sleeve from
the key-levers; secondly in the improved mechanism I have devised for accurately
registering and holding the type-sleeve in proper position both longitudinally and
radially; thirdly, in the improved manner of mounting and combining the inking
ribbon with the type sleeve so that it may be readily slipped to one side to disclose
the printing on the paper; and fourthly in the novel devices and novel combinations
of parts and devices herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out
in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this Specification, and in
which similar letters of reference indicate like parts,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a type writer embodying my invention;
Fig. 2 is an end view;
Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 4 is a rear view ;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the keys and key-levers;
Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of one set of reducing levers by which the motion
of the key-levers is communicated to the stop pins ;
Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of the escapement mechanism by which the spacing
movement of the paper carriage or roller is controlled;
Fig. 9 is a detail view of the segment gear by which the type sleeve shaft
is rotated to bring the faces of the type sleeve which print the capitals or figures into
operation;
Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the mechanism by which the motion of
the key levers is communicated to the type sleeve, and
Fig. 11 is a detail perspective of the parts hereinafter to be described.
In the drawing A represents the frame of the machine. The frame A is furnished
with an interior frame or portion A¹ attached to the outer frame A by screws a
and upon which frame A₁ the key levers are pivoted. The keys B are arranged in
three rows of ten keys in a row. The key-levers B1 B2 B3 of the three rows of
keys are pivoted to shafts 6 6 6, mounted on the vertical brackets A* extending from

page_text: the frame A. C is the type sleeve and DD are the stop pins by which the radial
and longitudinal movement of the type sleeve is regulated. The frame A is
provided with front and rear combs or slotted plates A A' which serve as vertical
guides for each of the key levers B1 B2 B³.
The necessary rotary movement is communicated to the shaft C¹ of the type
sleeve C by means of bars F F which extend across all the key levers B1 B2 B3.
As the key levers B' of the first row or rank of keys are required to communicate
only a sliding movement to the type sleeve and are not required to give it any
rotary movement the key levers B₁ are furnished with notches 6 registering with
the bars F F', so that when the key levers B' are actuated neither of the bars FF'
will be moved. The rotary movement of the type-sleeve is communicated from the
second row of keys from their key levers B2 by means of the bar F; and the key-
levers B are furnished with notches & which register with the bar F' so that the
type sleeve rotating bar F' will not be actuated by the key levers B. And the key
levers B of the final row of keys actuate the type-sleeve rotating bar F, these key-
levers being provided with notches which register with the bar F so that the
bar F will not be moved when the key-levers B³ are actuated. By thus simply
providing the key-levers B' B2 B3 with notches or recesses properly registering with
the bars F F I am enabled to communicate the proper rotary movement to the
shaft of the type-sleeve for each separate row or rank of keys.
The keys Bare arranged in sets of three transversely to the rows so that the
same connecting mechanism may be employed for communicating the necessary
longitudinal movement for each set of three keys. One key of each set is found in
each of the three rows or ranks of keys, the key levers of each set being contiguous
to each other. The necessary sliding or longitudinal movement is communicated
to the type sleeve C from each set of three contiguous key levers B1 B2 B³ by
means of a rock shaft G having an arm g furnished with a foot g which spans the
three keys of the set. There are ten of these rock shafts G as there are ten sets of
key levers B1 B2 B3. The rock shafts G are journaled in the vertical brackets A².
The type sleeve shaft C¹ is furnished with a sliding rotatable spiral gear C
which engages a guide C³ mounted on the frame of the machine and also a slotted
guide C secured rigidly to the shaft C¹ so that by sliding the spiral gear C³ through
the frame guide C the shaft C¹ will be rotated and the necessary rotary movement
will thus be communicated to the type sleeve C as the type sleeve C is splined to
the shaft C. The necessary sliding movement is communicated to the spiral
gear C² from the key lever actuated bar F by means of a rock shaft H having an
arm connected to a bracket fon the bar F, which rock shaft H is furnished
with an arm which engages an arm k of a lever K, the upper end of which is
furnished with a pin which engages an annular groove C in the spiral gear C³.
In like manner the other bar F' communicates the sliding movement in the opposite
direction to the type sleeve through a rock shaft H' having arms h² engaging ears f¹
on the bar F. The rock shaft is furnished with an arm which engages an
arm on the lever K projecting oppositely from the arm k so that the bar F¹ will
communicate an opposite movement to the lever K and type-sleeve C from that
communicated by the bar F.
The necessary longitudinal movement is communicated to the type-sleeve (
from the key-lever actuated rock shaft G by means of arms ² on the rock shaft
which engage levers J pivoted at ; to the frame of the machine and furnished at
their ends with rollers or projections which engage cams n n on the vertical
lever N. The lever N is pivoted at N₁ to the frame of the machine and at its
upper end it is furnished with a pin which engages an annular groove in the
type-sleeve C. There are two levers J one located on each side of the machine
and the lever N is furnished with two cams n n so that the key levers on one side
of the machine will operate to move the type sleeve in the opposite direction from
those on the other side of the machine. The lever N is likewise provided with two
projecting arms 3 which are engaged by a bar or rod m on the spring actuated
frame or lever N so that the forks or arins n³ n³ will operate to return the lever N

page_text: and the type sleeve C to their normal or central position after each impulse or
movement of the type sleeve. The arms g of the rock shaft G are so rotated in
respect to each other, to the lever J and to the shaft of the cams n n that each set
of three key-levers will give the proper longitudinal movement of the type sleeve
to bring the type actuated by such key levers into proper position for printing.
The type sleeve C is furnished with a pin or projection e' which engages the spline
or longitudinal groove 2 of the shaft C. The shaft C¹ has a pivot bearing cc at
each end for the purpose of reducing friction. The pivot is fixed in place by a
set screw so that the shaft C' may be readily removed when desired. The type
sleeve C is furnished with a series of registering notches at each end, of a semi-
circular form at their ends or bases corresponding accurately to the size of the stop
pins D with which they are to engage. The outer portion of these registering
notches is made curved or cam-shaped, as is clearly indicated at c', so that as the
end of the type sleeve engages the stop pin D the stop pin will serve to not only
limit the longitudinal but the radial movement of the type sleeve and thus lock and
register it firmly and accurately in position both radially and longitudinally. By
thus causing the stop pin to at once and positively register the type sleeve
longitudinally and radially the printing will be done in accurate line and with
proper spacing.
The stop pins D are ten in number, there being one stop pin for each set of three
key levers B B2 B. Motion is communicated to the stop pins from the key levers
through the same rock shaft G and its arms 9 2 by which the longitudinal
movement is communicated to the type sleeve. Each stop pin is pivoted or
otherwise connected to one of the arms g. D' represents the holes or guides in the
frame through which the stop pins reciprocate.
The returning treadle or lever M is furnished with arms or branches M' which
engage the stop pin operating levers and thus insures the returning of the stop pins
to place. The side levers J J are also returned to place by this same returning
treadle M. The arms M¹ have projections which fit over the levers J. The main
returning treadle M is also provided with branches or forks M' which bear against
the arms kand of the type sleeve rotating lever K so as to return or bring the
type sleeve C to its normal position radially. The returning treadle M is operated
by a spring M. By thus combining the type sleeve rotating mechanism the type
sleeve sliding mechanism and the type sleeve registering mechanism or stop pins
with one and the same returning lever M I am not only enabled to materially
simplify the machine but I also secure a more positive, accurate and rapid move-
ment.
The guide C before mentioned, which operates to turn the spiral gear C² as it
reciprocates, I make in the form of a segment gear, as is clearly shown in Figure 9,
so that by turning or rocking this segment I may change the case of the characters
which will be printed. The type sleeve has nine faces, three of these faces, ten
characters in each face, or thirty characters in all, constitute the lower case type.
Three other of these faces constitute the capital letters and the remaining three
faces are for figures and other characters. By simply turning the segment gear C³
so that the spiral gear C will make one-third or two-thirds of a revolution the
capital or figure printing type will be brought into revolution.
The segment
gear C³ is thus turned by means of a cap key Ŏ and lever O' which is connected to
the segment gear C³ by means of a link and pin 03. The figure key l' and
its key lever P is connected with the same link O. Springs O³ and link O' serve
to return the levers O and P¹ into place respectively. The segment gear C³ is
furnished with a lip or projection C and a set screw C7 for adjusting its normal
position. A spring Co holds the gear C³ normally in place.
Q and Qare the inking ribbon spools. They are journaled on a pivotal frame Q
having a ribbon guide Q which partially encircles the type sleeve C, an opening
being left at the back or rear side for the impression hammer to strike through. A. por-
tion of this guide Q³ is preferably made movable, the movable part Q being pivoted to
the main portion of the ribbon frame Q. The purpose of making the ribbon guide

page_text: movable is to lift the ribbon away from the type sleeve when it is desired to remove
the type sleeve and its shaft from the machine. An inking ribbon q passes from
one of the spools Q through or over the ribbon guide Q³ and transversely around
the type sleeve and thence around the other pulley or spool Q. The ribbon guide
serves not only to guide the inking ribbon but also to hold the inking ribbon out of
contact with the type sleeve excepting at the instant when and at the point where
the impression hammer R strikes it. By making the ribbon guide of a curved shape
so that it partially encircles the type sleeve and employing a narrow type ribbon
and arranging it so that it extends transversely around the type sleeve, the type
ribbon is prevented from hiding the printed line; and by employing a pivotal or
movable frame for carrying the type ribbon and its spools and guides, I am enabled
to move the type ribbon to one side so as to leave the last word or letter which has
been printed open to view. To facilitate the removal of the type spools Q Q' from
the frame Q I provide the frame Q³ with pivoted arms having pins q³ ³ for
the type spools to fit and revolve upon. The pivoted arms q may be readily swung
up into a position indicated by the dotted line in Figure 3 when the ribbon spool
may be readily removed.
Each of the spools QQ is furnished with a gear q³ 7. The gears q each fit
loosely on the shaft and are furnished with pins which engage a sliding clutch q
splined to the shaft so that either one of the gears q' may be made to revolve
with the shaft. A sliding rod qs having a fork or arm 7 serves to push the
clutch into engagement with one or the other of gears as desired. By this
mechanism either one of the spools may be driven in the direction necessary to wind
the ribbon thereon and then when the ribbon is all wound upon one spool by simply
shifting the clutch 9' the other spool will be driven in the direction necessary to
transfer the ribbon thereto.
It is also
The shaft is furnished with gear q which meshes with a worms on the shaft S
of the escapeinent mechanism by which the movement of the paper carriage is con-
trolled. The impression hammer R is actuated from the rock shaft of the main
returning treadle M by means of an arm M' and connecting links which extend
under the key levers and is pivoted to the lower arm of the impression hammer or
lever R. The paper carriage T reciprocates on suitable guides or ways T¹ on the
frame of the machine and is actuated by a main spring in the drum t through the
connecting strap 2. The paper carriage T is furnished with a rack T in which
meshes a gear T3 on the escapement shaft S. The escapement shaft S is furnished
with a sleeve S' carrying the worm s and a pin wheel sand a clutch s³.
furnished with a sliding clutch held in place by a spring s which engages the
clutch. The shaft S is also furnished with a sleeves and pin wheels having a
slot through which a pin on the pin wheels (before mentioned) projects. A
spring connects the pin s to the pin s on the back of the pin wheels. The
sliding clutch s is actuated by a bent lever S2 which is held in place by a spring S³.
The pin wheels' is engaged by a pawl S4 which is actuated by the key lever or by
the spacing lever S through the connecting mechanism. This escapement
mechanism is of an old and well known form and its operation will be readily under-
stood by those skilled in the art. The sleeve S₁ is loose on the shaft S and the
sleeve is splined to the shaft S. The sleeves is on the sleeve S¹.
By thus combining the mechanism which operates the ribbon spools with the
escapement mechanism I am enabled to continuously change the portion of the ribbon
which is in use.
The paper carriage T is provided with a paper storage cylinder V having an
opening or closing lip V' adapted to receive and engage the edge of the paper. The
paper carriage is also furnished with a feed roller V, the shaft of which has the
gear that engages the spacing gear »'. It is also furnished with a paper feed
fever provided with a pivoted pawl. The pawl is furnished with an arm v
that engages a stop or projection on the paper carriage frame so as to auto-
matically lift the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet or paper feed gear when
the paper feed lever is in its retracted position. The paper feed lever is held in its

page_text: retracted position by a spring v. A light spring ' operates to throw the pawl into
engagement with the ratchet at the first forward movement of the paper feed lever,
that is to say as soon as the paper feed lever is moved the spring at once throws
the pawl into engagement with the ratchet, the moment arm of the pawl is
moved out of engagement with the stop . The distance between the lines to be
printed is regulated by an adjustable or movable stop pin which fits in holes in
the paper carriage frame, the series of holes being provided for the purpose of
making lines closer together or farther apart, as may be desired. A thumb piece V³
is rigidly secured to the paper carriage frame adjacent to the paper feed lever so
that the operator in taking hold of the paper feed lever to feed the paper into
position for printing the next line may at the same time and by the same movement.
of his hand push the paper carriage to the opposite side of the machine or place of
beginning.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I do declare that what I
claim is :
1st. The combination with a rotatable sliding type sleeve of a series of stop pins
for limiting the longitudinal and radial movement of said type sleeve, said type
sleeve having a series of registering notches on its end for engaging said stop pins,
substantially as specified.
2nd. The combination of a type sleeve shaft with a rotatable sliding type sleeve
mounted to slide on said shaft and having an annular groove, a vibrating lever for
sliding the same, having a pin for engaging the groove, the key lever and connecting
mechanism for sliding and rotating said type sleeve by the movement of one and
the same key lever, substantially as specified.
3rd. The combination with a rotatable sliding type sleeve C, its rotatable shaft C'
and a rotatable sliding spiral gear C for rotating said shaft C¹, substantially as
specified.
4th. The combination of a rotatable sliding type sleeve C, its shaft C¹, slotted
guide C, sliding spiral gear C' and guide C³, substantially as specified.
5th. The combination with a rotatable sliding type sleeve, its shaft C', slotted
guide C, spiral gear C², guide C³, vibrating lever K, adapted to move said spiral
gear in either direction, substantially as specified.
6th. The combination with a rotatable sliding type sleeve adapted to slide in
either direction, of a vibrating lever N having cams nn and a pair of levers J J
connected with and operated by the key levers and having projections or rollers for
engaging said cams n n for operating said sleeve, substantially as specified.
7th. The combination with the sliding type sleeve C, lever N having cams n n
and furnished with forks or branches n³n, levers J J and returning treadle or
lever M having bar m adapted to engage said forks and thus return the type sleeve
to its normal position longitudinally, substantially as specified.
8th. The combination with a sliding and rotatable type sleeve of a series of stop
or registering pins with which said.type sleeve is adapted to engage and register its
radial and longitudinal position, substantially as specified.
9th. The combination of type sleeve C, having registering notches at its end with
stop pins D, lever N having cams nn, levers J J and a returning treadle M for
simultaneously returning said lever N, stop pins D and levers J to position, sub-
stantially as specified.
10th. The combination with a reciprocating paper carriage of a type sleeve C,
having its axis parallel to the path of said reciprocating paper carriage, of a ribbon
spool and guide transverse to said type sleeve the ribbon passing transversely around
the type sleeve whereby the ribbon is prevented from concealing the printed line,
substantially as specified.
11th. The combination with type sleeve C parallel to the line of printing of ribbon
spools QQ, pivoted frame Q2 and ribbon q, said frame Qbeing pivoted to the

page_text: frame of the machine so that the ribbon may be moved to one side to disclose the
printing, substantially as specified.
12th. The combination with the escapement or spacing mechanism having a
shaft S furnished with a worm s, a clutch and detaching lever S2, of the ribbon
spool actuating mechanism furnished with a gear engaging said worm, substantially
as specified.
13th. The improvement in type writers consisting of the parts and devices
arranged, combined and operating together, substantially as herein before shown and
described.
01 1000
SAMUEL JOHN SEIFRIED.
In the presence of:
H. M. MUNDAY.
JOHN W. MUNDAY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.