Improvements in Multiple Writers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL DI MULTIVATION.
Improvements in Multiple Writers.
I WILLIAM HENRY LLOYD MCCARTHY of Lombard House Wood Street
Walthamstow in the County of Essex Pawnbroker do hereby declare the nature.
of my said invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE WRITERS to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to multiple writers of the class in which the action of the
writer or operator is transmitted simultaneously to two or more pens so that two or
more copies are simultaneously written.
In my improved apparatus the pens or their equivalents are carried on a bar or
support which in the act of writing travels parallel to the plane of the desk or paper.
This bar is attached to a pair of parallel jointed arms which are pivotted to a shaft
the axis of which is in or parallel to the plane of the paper and parallel to the
edge of the paper. This shaft is mounted in fixed bearings which allow the shaft
to turn about its axis and permit of the pens being raised from the paper or dipped
into the ink.
The jointed arms to which the pen bar is attached must be connected together so
as to move parallel with one another. A. convenient mode of doing this is to
connect the arms rigidly to the pens by which they are pivoted to the shaft and to
let the pins pass through bearings in the shaft and be rigidly connected with
similar arms below and on the other side to which a crossbar is attached in order
to give the required parallel movement. This arrangement has the advantage that
the jointed arms and pen bar with its pens may be balanced by the arms and cross-
bar on the other side of the shaft so that the pressure of the pens on the paper is
very light and the effort required to lift the pens from the paper will be very small.
In order to communicate to the pen bar with its pens the motion required for
writing a short rod may be attached to one end of the bar or to one of the levers
by means of a swivel and this rod may be held in the hand like a pencil, and used
as in ordinary writing.
I mount each pen in bearings carried by the pen bar so that each pen is free to
slide independently in a direction perpendicular to the paper. In order to keep
cach pen in contact with the paper I find it advantageous to attach to each pen a
spring for this purpose.
The pens themselves I make in some instances somewhat after the form of an
ordinary drawing pen.
In order to secure that down strokes may be written thick and up strokes thin 1
may make each pen free to rotate about its longitudinal axis and with a spiral slot
formed about it into which a pin carried by the pen bar projects. When the
operator in writing presses on the pen bar, as in the act of forming a down stroke,
the pressure causes a longitudinal motion of the pens in their bearings in the pen
bar and a partial turn is given to the pens by means of the spiral slots and pins.
One side of the pen writes thick and the other side thin and by the automatic
turning of the pen produced as above thick and thin strokes are made.
The pens are supplied with ink by means of a trough with openings for
each pen. The trough may be caused to slide under a plate having corresponding
openings. The sliding of the trough serves to close the openings and serves also to
take out the trough in order to fill or clean it.
When the apparatus is used for cards or tickets such for instance as pawnbrokers
tickets I use a revolving ticket box arranged so as to hold three or more packets of
tickets in boxes suitably arranged. When the apparatus is used for letters or
multiple writing generally I find the following arrangement of desk very convenient,

page_text: two three or more writing slabs with slots between are arranged in the plane of the
desk at suitable distances. The slots are provided with rollers and each sheet of
paper is placed over a slab and with its ends pressing down through the rollers on
each side and is secured in, position by a suitable clip also. furnished with a roller.
When the exposed portions of each sheet have been written upon simultaneously
the rollers are turned so as to bring a fresh portion of each sheet into view and the
writing proceeds. The rollers may be connected together by bands, gearing or
otherwise so that their movements may be equal and simultaneous.
In constructing my improved machines rods may be used for the various arms
and bars but I find it cheaper and more convenient to adopt a mode of construction
in which double strips with spaces between are used instead of single rods.
Dated the 1st day of August 1890.
W. H. L. McCARTHY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Multiple Writers.
I, WILLIAM HENRY LLOYD MCCARTHY, of Lombard House Wood Street,
Walthamstow, in the County of Essex, Pawnbroker, 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 my invention relates to multiple writers of the class in which the action of
the writer or operator is transmitted simultaneously to two or more pens so that
two or more copies are simultaneously written.
This my improved apparatus is more especially applicable for writing pawn-
tickets, but, as will be hereinafter pointed out, it may be also used for writing
letters, cards, and the like.
I now proceed to describe my said invention, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawings and to the figures of reference marked thereon, similar letters
indicating corresponding parts in all the views.
Figure 1 is a sectional front elevation of my improved multiple writer.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof, and
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of parts of the mechanism.
:
The apparatus comprises a wooden or other suitable casing 1, which is provided
with divisions 2, 3, 4 and 5. Suitably secured to the division piece 2 is an angle
iron, 6, which supports two vertical rods or bars, 7, which are pivoted therein by
means of pins 8 which project upwardly alongside the bar and are pivoted in
bracket pieces 9. These two bars 7 are formed at their lower ends with horizontal
arms 10, which are pivotally united at their ends by means of a bar or rod 11.
The upper ends of the vertical bars 7 are likewise formed with horizontal arms 12,
which are suitably pivoted at their free ends to studs or posts 13, in the upper end
of which is journalled a preferably circular rod 14. At each end of this rod are
suitable bracket-pieces 15, better shown in Fig. 4, and in which are pivoted the
rods 16 and 17, which are formed with pivot-pins 18 at their ends. The circular
rod 14 has a spiral spring 19 coiled around it, whose ends bear upon the rear of
the bracket-pieces 15, and tends by its tension to counter-balance the weight of the
arms 16 and 17. These rods 16 and 17 are united pivotally at their forward ends
to the pen-carrying bar 20 (Fig. 3). This bar is provided with slots 21 which are
adapted to receive and retain any suitable number of pens, three of which are shown
in the drawings. These pens (Fig. 6) consist of a bracket 22 which is formed with
a projecting piece 23 adapted to fit the slots 21. The stud 24 projects from the
part 23 and is provided with a washer 25 and a piece of flat metal 26, which is
turned up at its end, as shown at 27, and which serves to prevent the pins entering
too far into the ink-wells by coming into contact with the strip of metal 63. A
nut 28 serves to retain bracket 22 within the slots 21 of the bar 20. The bracket 22
has a circular rod 29 passing vertically through it, and whose lower end is pointed

page_text: and provided with a slot 30 for retaining the ink. A spiral spring 31 encompases
the rod 29 and allows the pen to pass freely over any uneveness in the paper being
written upon.
The lower end of the spring 31 is secured to the rod 29 at 32, and
the tension of the spring can be regulated by means of the nut 33. In Fig. 7 1
have shown an alternative kind of pen-holder which consists of the bracket 34 in
which is a hollow rod 35 surrounded by a spring 36. This pen-holder is similar in.
construction to that shown in Fig. 6, except that it is adapted to receive and retain
ordinary pens 37. When this form of pen is employed it is arranged slantingly in
the slots 21 of the bar 20, as will be understood. At the end of the bar 20 is ·
secured a rod 38 whose one end is pivoted at 39 to the pieces 40, which is secured
by means of a screw 41 to the end of the bar 20. It will be understood that when
the rod 38 is taken in the hand after the manner of an ordinary pen-holder that the
combination of levers hereinbefore described will permit of the pen-carrying bar 20
together with its pens being moved in any direction to form the various letters
required for writing.
The tickets, cards, or the like are retained beneath the pens in the divisions 42
and 43 of the casing 1. Suitable strips of metal 44, 45, and 46 are secured over
the openings of the compartments 42 and 43, and serve to retain within the
compartments a plate of metal 47, which is constantly kept elevated by means of
springs 48. The cards, tickets, or the like may be passed either singly or in
packets between the plate 47, and the metal strips 44, 45, and 46; a portion of the
said strips being cut away, as shown at 49, to allow of this operation. The tickets,
or the like, may be retained ready for use within the compartments 50 and 51,
which are provided with metal plates 52 and springs 53, which serve to retain the
tickets between the plates 52 and the top of the casing, from which position they
may be withdrawn as required. A compartment 54, suitably provided with a lid,
serves to retain papers and other sundries, and in the upper part of the casing are
journalled two rollers 55, (Fig. 5) upon which is wound a linen or other band 56
which is imprinted with numbers, representing the date. These rollers are pivoted
immediately beneath the slot 57 in the upper part of the casing, through which the
numerals representing the date may be read. In order to keep the band in close
proximity to the aperture 57 it is passed over metal rods 58. Suitable knobs 59
are provided, whereby the rollers may be rotated to adjust the band. The ink-
wells 60 are retained within a strip of wood 61 secured beneath the top of the
casing. When not in use these ink-wells may be covered by means of a strip of
metal 62 whose edges are bevelled and adapted to slide between the metal strips 46
and 63. This strip of metal 62 is provided' with apertures 64, which, when the
strip of metal is drawn outwards register with the ink-wells and permit of the pens
being simultaneously inserted therein. The casing 1 may be provided with an
upper case 65, into which the levers and pens may be folded when out of use, and it
serves to protect the pivot-joints and mechanism from dust.
In order to secure that down strokes may be written thick and upstrokes thin, I
may make each pen free to rotate about its longitudinal axis, and with a spiral slot
formed about it into which a pin carried by the pen bar projects. When the
operator, in writing, presses on the pen-bar, as in the act of forming a down stroke,
the pressure causes a longitudinal motion of the pens in their bearings in the pen-
bar, and a partial turn is given to the pens by means of the spiral slots and pins.
One side of the pen writes thick and the other side thin, and by the automatic
turning of the pen produced as above thick and thin strokes are made.
When the apparatus is used for letters or multiple writing generally I find the
following arrangement of casing very convenient. Two, three, or more writing slabs
with slots between are arranged in the plane of the casing at suitable distances.
Beneath the slots are journalled rollers, and each sheet of paper is placed over a
slab and with its ends passing down through the rollers on each side, and is secured
in position by a suitable clip also furnished with a roller. When the exposed
portions of each sheet have been written upon simultaneously the rollers are turned
so as to bring a fresh portion or fresh sheet into view, and the writing proceeds.

page_text: The rollers may be connected together by bands, gearing, or otherwise, so that
their movements may be equal and simultaneous.
In constructing my improved machines rods may be used for the various
arms and bars, but I find it cheaper and more convenient to adopt a mode of
construction in which double strips with spaces between are used instead of
single rods.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A multiple writer, comprising a wooden or other casing, said casing divided
into compartiments. A device arranged within the casing for retaining the tickets,
cards, or the like whilst being written upon, said device consisting of the metal
plates 47, springs 48, and metal or other strips 44, 45, and 46, the means for
retaining tickets, cards, or the like, consisting of the plates 52 and springs 53, the
ink-wells 60 arranged within the casing, the metal strips 62 adapted to register
with the ink-wells and to close the same when out of use, the rollers 55 journalled
in the casing, a tape imprinted with numbers wound upon said rollers and adapted
to pass over pins or rods 58 beneath an aperature 57, and the case 65 adapted to
receive and protect the principal parts of the mechanism, all substantially as and for
the purposes hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. In a multiple writer, the combination, with a case, substantially as herein-
before described and claimed, and a lever mechanism consisting of the vertical
rods 7, pivoted by means of a pin 8 or other suitable device to the brackets 6 and 9,
said vertical rods formed with arms 10, and 12, said arms 10. pivotally connected
by a bar or the like 11, and said arms 12 pivotally connected to studs or posts 13,
a bar 14 journalled in said studs or posts, the bracket-pieces 15 mounted upon the
rod 14 and spring 19 adapted to bear against the said bracket-pieces, lever-
arms 16 and 17 pivotally connecting the bracket-pieces 15 with the pen-carrying
bar 20, the slotted pen-carrying bar and the rod 38 hinged at 39 and pivoted to the
pen-carrying bar, the pen and pen-holder, as shown and described with reference to
Figs. 6 and 7, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3. In a multiple writer, the casing provided on its surface with two, three, or
more writing-slabs, with slots between them, and arranged in the plane of the
casing, rollers journalled beneath the slots over which the paper is wound, said
rollers provided with any suitable clips for retaining the paper in place, hands,
gearing, or the like for transmitting a simultaneous movement to the rollers, all
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated thin and dan of Mow 1001
W. H. MUNNS,
Agent for Applicant.