Improvements in Type Writing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type Writing Machines.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52, Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, which
has been communicated to me from abroad by The Trans-Atlantic Machine
Company, a Corporation organized and existing under the Laws of the State of
New York, United States of America, and having its principal business office in
the City of New York, County and State of New York, United States of America,
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 type-writing machine in which the printing-types are
carried on the ends of levers or type-bars, and said levers or bars are actuated to
move their respective type to a printing point which is common to the entire series
of type and at such common printing point to effect an impression upon paper
carried by a platen which is mounted on a carriage that is capable of movement
laterally on the machine.
In the machine shown in the drawings, and hereinafter described, the type-bars
are actuated respectively, by a series of levers upon which are mounted the finger-
keys, and which are called key-levers, and a corresponding series of levers which
are intermediate the type-bars and said key-levers.
The invention consists, primarily, in the combination with these series of bars
and levers, of a single supporting disk or plate, having the peculiar form hereinafter
set forth, whereby the type-bars and their respective actuating levers which are
intermediate the type-bars and key-levers, as above recited, are all mounted,
fulcrumed, and have movement and play, in the operation of the machine, upon said
single disk or plate.
A feature of the invention is the form and arrangement of the retracting-springs
connected to the aforesaid intermediate-levers, and which operate to return such
levers to a normal position, after they have actuated the type-bars to effect
printing-impressions. The invention consists also, in the combination with the
printing-types, carried by the type-bars, and the paper-carriage carrying the platen
on which the types print at a common printing-point, of ways or tracks for said
paper-carriage, spring-seated in and adapted to have vertical play upon supporting
pillars, and set-screws adapted to control the seat-springs in said pillars.
In the drawings:
-
Figure 1 is a plan of a type-writing machine containing the invention;
Figure 2 is a vertical, central section of the machine;
Figure 3 is a view in detail, partly in vertical, central section of the type-bars,
key-levers, intermediate-levers and the single supporting disk, or plate, and attached
parts;
Figure 4 is an obverse plan of the single type-bar and intermediate lever-
supporting disk;
Figure 5 is a reverse plan of the same;
Figure 6 is a perspective side elevation of the intermediate-lever-retracting-
spring;
Figure 7 is a plan of the pillars, and their attached devices, upon which the
paper-carriage is adjustably mounted in accordance with a feature of this
invention;
Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the same;
Figure 9 is a vertical, central section of one of the pillars and its attached
levices; and
Figure 10 is n side elevation of the same

page_text: In the drawings, the type-bars are illustrated at a arranged radially in a circular
series, with their outer ends pivoted to a corresponding series of rocking-arms,
which arms have formed on them, respectively, segmental pinions journaled in
the disk or annulus C, the said bars being fulcrumed intermediate their ends on an
annular rib con said disk C. The said bars a pass through vertical slots c, c",
formed respectively in upwardly projecting annular flanges and c, on the upper
or obverse face of the disk C, and have play therein over and upon their fulcrums,
and between said fulcrums and a corresponding annular rib d which depends from
an annulus D that is supported on the rim or upper edge of the flange c³ of disk C.
The rocking of the arms bacts to vibrate the bars a on their fulcrums and to slide
them thereon back and forth endwise, so as to carry the printing-type to and from
the common printing-point of the type-bar series. The said rocking motion is given
to said arms by means of levers 62 on which are formed toothed segments 63 which
mesh respectively with the pinions on the arms. The levers 2 are actuated by
means of key-levers provided with keys, and the rods 6 intermediate the
levers and. By depressing a key 6, its lever operates to throw a rod Z
upward, and said rod impinging upon a lever , vibrates said lever upward, and
thereby communicates the described movement to the type-bar. This is clearly
illustrated in Figure 2. Upon the release of the key, a spring C' operates to
retract the lever 12 and bring it downward to its original position.
D is the base-plate of the machine, which supports a disk or plate D², which
in turn supports the disk or annulus C, as hereinafter set forth. The key-
levers may be fulcrummed as shown at 7, Figure 2, on the base D', and may
play between the said base and the disk or plate D², the rods 66 preferably
having bearings in said base and plate, as shown.
D' is a post set perpendicularly in the base at the centre of the type-bar
series or system. Upon this post a sleeve D' is adapted to have play longi-
tudinally, and said sleeve is provided with the annular flange d', as shown.
The inner ends of the levers 2, of the series thereof, engage the flange d',
whereby the upward vibration of the outer ends of said levers operates to depress
the sleeve D' on said post D³.
D' is what is generally known as the "universal lever" of the machine, by
means of which the desired movement of the paper-carriage is attained. Said
lever D is fulcrumed at d³ and one arm d thereof extends to and engages the
sleeve D while its other arm extends to and engages the lever e, which lever e
serves to engage and disengage the dog e' to and from the rack e on the paper-
carriage E.
When the sleeve D is depressed by the end 68 of one of the
levers, in the act of printing by a corresponding type-bar a of the series, the
lever D is thereby vibrated so that its arm do operates to swing the lever e so as
to shift the dog from one tooth to another of the rack e³, thereby effecting the
feed or movement of the paper-carriage. The carriage traverses the ways e and
carries the usual cylindrical platen e* and its pressure-roller e³.
The disk C, upon the upper side of which the type-bars a are fulcrumed and
have play, as described, is provided with the depending annular flange c on its
underside, the said flange being furnished with the inwardly turned edge or pro-
jections e, while the inner ends of the levers 62 are formed with the upwardly
and outwardly turned hook-ends & adapted to engage said edge c, as shown in
Figures 2 and 3.
It is also preferable that the flange should be of such a depth
as to adapt it to serve as a support or standard for the disk C on the plate D², by
the rim of said flange resting upon said plate, as shown, in which case the flange c
will have the vertical slots c from its lower edge inwardly, and the inwardly
turned projections c will be formed on the flange at the bottom of each slot.
The rim of the disk C is desirably provided with radial slots c in which the
pinions of the rocking-arms & may be journaled, and in which the said arms and
segments may have play, as shown. It will be found advantageous to cast or
form the disk C with its annular rib c and slotted annular flanges c³, c, on its obverse
face, the radial slots c at its rim, and the depending slotted annular supporting-

page_text: flange c having the inwardly turned projections c on its reverse race, integralm
one piece.
By means of this described disk C, it is evident that the said annular rib and
flanges may be initially constituted in an exact concentric arrangement relatively
to each other, and that the type-bars and their rocking-arms, and the levers 6' may
be readily and accurately assembled on the disk, which, with these said parts
mounted upon it, is then ready to be seated upon the plate D' in the machine.
seating the disk C on the plate D³, an aperture c central in the disk may fit upon
and be fixed to the post D³, while the edge of the flange crests upon the face
of said plate D³.
In
A further feature of the present invention consists in the combination with the
described levers 62, and their supporting disk of the C-spring C. One extremity
of this C-spring engages the upper edge of a lever, which may be effected by
bifurcating the said spring-end, as at co, so that the lever-edge is embraced by the
bifurcation and yet the movement of the spring-end over the lever edge when the
spring is exed and again relaxed, is permitted. The other end of the C-spring
engages the under side of the disk C, which may be effected by a hook c
on the said end of the spring adapted to catch against the bottom of a radial
rim-slot in the disk, as shown. The disk is preferably annularly recessed at c¹²
on its under face, as shown, to perinit the play of the C-springs when they are flexed.
The advantages of these C-springs in connection with the described disk C, in the
rapid, accurate and economical assembling of the various parts, are apparent.
E is the paper-carriage, carrying the platen e' journaled therein, and said carriage
is adapted to traverse tracks or ways e³ which extend across the machine, so that
the platen will be carried over the face of the type at the common printing-point, in
the manner customary in machines of this class.
The carriage-ways or tracks e³ are supported on suitable pillars, in the machine,
on which pillars the said ways have play vertically over the printing-type as
hereinafter set forth, and springs are seated in or upon said pillars, which springs
bear against and serve to sustain and tend to thrust upward, on the pillars, the
said ways and the carriage thereon; and set-screws engage said ways and work
in said pillars and are adapted to control the springs at the way-seats thereon.
The following described arrangement of devices is desirably employed. for this
purpose.
At F, F, are shown pillars which rise from and are fixed upon the base or standard
of the machine, which may be accomplished as shown in Figure 9, by means of a
screw passing through the base into the pillar, while the pillar may have a
shoulder adapted to be seated upon a disk D2, said disk being the support in the
machine for the type-bar system. A pin or stud g set in the disk D², may be
employed to enter a corresponding recess in the shoulder on the pillar, to assist
in holding the pillar in position. These pillars are located in the machine on
opposite edges of the type-bar system, as shown.
To the
F, F, are bars, each of which has on its under face or side an arm f³ extending
at a right angle to the bar, and one of said bars is seated in and upon each
of said pillars by means of its said arm 3, the pillars being longitudinally
recessed as atto correspond to and permit the play therein of the arm, while
the top face of each pillar is preferably slotted, the slots being parallel to each
other in said pillars laterally as at f to permit the seating of the bars F' loosely
in said slots in parallel position relatively to each other, as shown.
rearward ends of the bars F1, the yoke-pieces or supports G for the carriage-ways
or tracks are hinged, as for example by screws passing transversely through
lugs g' on the ends of said yokes and into threaded recesses in the bars, as shown.
The ways e may be in the form of rods, as shown, and fixed in corresponding
saddles on the yokes G. The hinging of the yokes G to the bars F¹ permits
the paper-carriage to be turned upward and backward on its supports to
expose the line of printing, as is usual in these machines. The forward ends of
the bars F may be provided with buffers f of elastic or yielding material, to

page_text: receive the front track or way of the carriage when the same is dropped or turned
down on its hinge into normal position.
At are shown set-screws one of which engages each bar F as by passing
vertically through it, as shown, and into a correspondingly threaded aperture f
in the top face of each pillar. This screw is preferably located in each bar
to one side, and desirably forward of the arm with its seating-aperture in
each pillar located therein eccentrically to the aperture ƒ in which said arm f
has play.
9
At are shown springs which are preferably in the form of coil-springs, and
which are seated and have play respectively, in the recesses in the pillars and
are adapted to bear against the arms therein, which arms f³ are desirably
recessed as at to receive the springs, as shown. The springs should
possess a resiliency when flexed, which will render them capable of overcoming
the weight of the bars F and the ways and paper-carriage supported thereon,
so that when they are free to act they will tend to force the arms f³ upward
in their described seats in the pillars and so lift the bars and the carriage
and its ways.
Now it is evident that when the set-screws are turned upward in the pillars,
the springs thus released will force the bars F' upward by their action on the
arms, and that when said set-screws are turned downward the bars F will
be forced downward on the pillars, the springs being thereby flexed or
compressed in the said recesses and that, the springs possessing the requisite
resiliency as set forth, the paper-carriage and the platen and the carriage-ways
carried by the bars F¹, will be lifted or depressed on the pillars, thereby giving
to the platen a fixed adjustment vertically over the printing-line, or in the
direction perpendicular to the plane of the printing-face of a type when in the
act of printing on the platen. The purpose of this vertical adjustment of the
platen over the type is to enable the platen to be brought to a position in
relation to the series of type employed to print thereon, which shall effect a
desirable and proper uniformity of impressions by all the type on the platen at
the common printing-point of the types.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the levers 62 intermediate the
key-levers and type-bars and provided respectively at their inner ends with upwardly
and outwardly turned hooks 2, of a disk C upon which the type-bars are supported
and fulcrumed, on its under face a depending annular flange c³ provided with the
inwardly turned edge or projections c, whereby said levers are fulcrumed on said
disk, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the levers & intermediate the
key-levers and type-bars and provided respectively at their inner ends with upwardly
and outwardly turned hooks , of a disk C having on its under face a depending
annular flange adapted in depth to serve as a support or standard for said disk
and having the vertical slots c and the inwardly turned projections at the bottom
of said slots respectively, whereby said levers are fulcrumed on said disk-flange and
have play in said vertical slots, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the type-bars a and the
levers provided on their inner ends respectively with upwardly and outwardly
turned hooks 6, of the disk C, having on its obverse face the annular rib c on
which the type-bars are fulcrumed and have play, and on its reverse face the
depending annular flange provided with the inwardly turned edge or pro-
jections c, on which said levers are fulcrumed at their said hooked inner ends,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the type-bars a and their
rocking-arms b and pinions ¹, and the levers 62 having toothed segments on

page_text: their outer ends and provided at their inner ends with the upwardly and outwardly
turned hooks, of the disk C, on the obverse face of which the type-bars are
fulcrumed and have play, provided at its rim with the radial slots in which said
rocking-arm pinions are journaled, and on its reverse face with the annular
depending flange chaving the inwardly turned edge or projections c on which said
levers are fulcrumed at their said hooked inner ends, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
5. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the type-bars a and the
levers provided at their inner ends with upwardly and outwardly turned hooks 6º,
of the disk C having on its obverse face the annular type-bar fulcrum-rib c, and the
upwardly projected, vertically slotted annular flanges and e, in which the type-
bars have play on their said fulcrum-rib, and having on its reverse face the
depending annular flange 5 provided with the inwardly turned edge or projections c
on which said levers are fulcrumned by their said hooked inner ends, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a type-writing machine of the class described, the single lever-system
supporting disk C, having on its obverse face the upwardly projecting vertically-
slotted flanges and e, together with the annular rib c intermediate said flanges;
on its obverse face the depending annular Hange adapted to serve as a support
or standard for said disk and provided with the vertical slots e and the inwardly
turned edge or projections at the bottom of said slots; and on its rim the radial
slots e, said disk with its flanges and projections and slotted as described, being
formed integral in one piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the levers provided at
their inner ends with the upwardly and outwardly turned hooks 6, and the disk C
provided on its lower face with the depending annular flange c having the inwardly
turned edge or projections c on which said levers are fulcrumed by their said hooked
inner ends, of the C-springs C having respectively the bifurcated ends c, engaging
the said levers, and their other ends seated on or against said disk, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the levers 62 provided at
their inner ends with the upwardly and outwardly turned hooks 6, and the disk C
provided on its lower face with the depending annular flange having the inwardly
turned edge or projections c, on which said levers are fulcrumed by their said
hooked inner ends, and provided, on said lower face with the annular recess c
beyond said depending flange, of the C-springs Chaving respectively the bifur-
cated ends e engaging said levers and their other ends seated on or against said
disk, and playing, when flexed by the movement of said levers, in said annular
recess in said disk, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the printing-type adapted to
print at a common printing-point, and a paper-carriage carrying the platen and
adapted to move therewith over and across said printing-point of the type, of ways
or tracks for said carriage, seated in, and adapted to have vertical play upon,
supporting-pillars, springs seated in said pillars and bearing upon said ways or
tracks, and set-screws engaging said ways and working in and adapted to control
the seat-springs in said pillars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the printing-type and the
paper-carriage carrying the platen upon which the type are adapted to print at a
common printing-point, and which carriage is adapted to move on ways or tracks
over and across said printing-point of said type, of pillars F, F, recessed longi-
tudinally at, bars F1, F', supporting said carriage-ways and mounted to play
vertically on said pillars by arms working in said recesses, springs fin said
recesses and bearing against said arms, and set-screws f engaging said bars and
working in said pillars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the printing-type and paper-
carriage carrying the platen upon which the type are adapted to print at a common
printing-point, and which carriage is adapted to move on ways or tracks over and

page_text: across said printing-point of the type, of pillars F, F, laterally slotted on their top"
faces at and recessed longitudinally at 4, bars F, F', supporting said carriage-
ways and adapted to fit in said top-face slot, and provided with arms f³ playing in
said recesses, in said pillars, springs fin said recesses bearing against said arms,
and set-screws f7 engaging said bars and working in said pillars, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
12. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the printing-type adapted
to print at a common printing-point, and the paper-carriage carrying the platen
and adapted to move on ways or tracks over and across said printing-point, of
bars F, F, supporting said carriage-ways and each provided with an arm f
recessed endwise at 1, pillars F, F, recessed at f* to receive and permit play
therein of the bar-arms, springs f seated in said pillar-recesses and engaging and
bearing against said bar-arms in the recessed ends, and set-screws f' engaging said
bars and working in said pillars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
13. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the printing-type adapted
to print at a common printing-point, and the paper-carriage carrying the platen
and adapted to move on ways or tracks over and across said printing-point, of the
recessed pillars F, F, the bars F¹, F, to which are hinged the yokes G that support
the carriage-ways or tracks, and which have arms f3 playing in said recessed
pillars, springs f seated in said recessed pillars and bearing against said bar-arms,
and set-screws 7 engaging said bars and working in said pillars, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 13th day of January 1891.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.