Improvements in or relating to Key Mechanism for Type-writers, Telegraphs, and like Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1896
Improvements in or relating to Key Mechanism for Type-writers,
Telegraphs, and like Machines.
I, HERMAN ADOLF SEIDENMANN, of Lawiern, Grand Duchy of Poland,
Russia, Manager, 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 has for its object to provide a mechanism whereby with a small
number of keys a large number of single movements are produced.
This mechanism is specially applicable for the transmission of movements by the
fingers for producing with 5 or 10 fingers 15 or 55 separate motions by the
combined action of one or two keys each time.
Annexed drawing represents a mechanism constructed in accordance with my
invention whereby with 5 keys 15 numbers are set in motion separately.
Fig. 1 is a front view and Fig. 2 a side view of the said mechanism,
Fig. 3 is a plan showing the arrangement of the arms and switches which rest on
the various keys,
Fig. 4 shows a part of the mechanism in front view and two of the keys as
simultaneously depressed,
Fig. 5 is an elevation of a lift brake, Fig. 6 of the brake used in connection with
the mechanism illustrated and Figs. 7 & 8 of two other forms of brakes.
Sheet II represents a mechanism with 10 keys, Fig. 9, being an elevation and
Fig. 10 a plan.
a', a, a, a, a, are the 5 keys which are supported by springs. The said keys
are furnished with arms 61, 62, 63, 64, 6, as shown in Fig. 3, c¹, c², c³, c, c, are rods
supported by springs and connected by means of cords e to small weights f.
9, 9, are also rods supported by springs and connected by rods e to weights f.
The whole of the weights are marked in the drawing with numbers 1-15 in order
to illustrate how with the 5 keys each of the said figures can be moved separately.
The 10 rods g carry at their upper extremities small triangular pieces à capable
of swivelling, which serve to leave the rods y inoperative when depressing the
arms of the keys a noless they are engaged by two of the arms 6 depressed
simultaneously. These arms are of such a form that when the 5 keys are depressed
separately, the keys will meet the rods c individually and move respectively 5 of
the weights f. To effect this the arms 6 must be able to pass the rods g which is
effected by the triangular pieces h swivelling. If two of the keys a are depressed
simultaneously, which with 5 keys obviously may be performed in 10 different
ways, the arms of the keys a depressed engage only one of the rods
simultaneously thus pressing from both sides on the triangular piece h, the switch
thereby depressing one rod g and moving the corresponding weight whilst the
arms b pass all the other switches.

page_text: As illustrated on annexed drawing the following numbers can be set in motion
by the keys adjacent assuming the keys are depressed by the right hand and
finger 1, the thumb as in music
In Fig. 3 the numbers are added to spring supported rol which set the same in
motion. For instance it will be seen that when depressing a² the arms b² will pass
the switches 2, 9, 6 and 11 on one side thus setting only the number 3 in motion.
If the keys a, a, are depressed it will be seen that the two switches are passing
one side of the numbers 2, 9, 11, 4, 12 and 10, but will jointly press upon the
switch 6 and thus set this number in motion.
Fig. 4 shows how two keys may jointly depress one of the rods b.
In order to prevent with certainty the action of any other number except the
one desired when depressing the keys, the latter are divided into two sections and
a brake is inserted which comes automatically into action.
This brake consists of a slide m, as shown in Fig. 5, suitably guided and drawn
back by springs. The keys a have pins s which serve to limit the lift of the
keys in abutting against a division whilst on the descent of the keys they slide
down the inclines e of the slide m, whereby the latter is displaced. If only one
key is depressed, the pin s moves into the lowest recess of the slide and
simultaneously also into the corresponding recesses of the slides of the other keys.
The key may thus perform a double lift and thereby meet and depress one of the
rods c.
However if two keys are depressed simultaneously each key a will push forward
its slide m so that the pins of the one key will position itself upon the upper edge
of the slide of the other key and will remain there fast. The keys can thus no
more touch their respective rods c and therefore not set in motion the numbers of
the keys moved separately.
In lieu of the switches shown applied in the drawing or of those shown
separately in Fig. 6, viz. having a small spring which serves to bring back to
it's normal position the triangular piece, other forms of switches may be employed.
Fig. 7 for instance shows how the rod g may be furnished with a fixed triangular
piece but under the influence of a spring so that on receiving pressure on one
side it will move in the direction of the other. Fig. 8 shows a switch in which
between.cach two keys a the arm by means of slots made therein is movable on
studs r; c, c & 9 are the movable rods. If pressure is exerted upon one of the
keys a only, the arm b will pass g & c can be depressed alone.
On depressing the two keys a, a, simultaneously the rod 9 can be depressed with
the arm b.
It will be obvious that in a similar way other combinations may be formed with
3 keys.
The mechanism described may be applied for a great many purposes. In

page_text: particular for type writing instruments in which with 10 keys 55 separate types
may be operated. If with ten fingers ten keys are depressed 55 separate types
may be operated with the aid of all the combinations which are possible between
10 fingers, when depressing with one finger and two fingers simultaneously. The
types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 1+ 3, 14, 1+ 5, 1 + 6, 1+7, 1+8,
19, 110, 2 + 3, 2 + 4, 2 + 5, 2 + 6, 2 + 7, 2 + 8, 2 + 9, 2 + 10, 3 + 4,
3 +5, 36, 3 + 7, 3 + 8, 3 +.9, 3 + 10, 4 + 5, 4 + 6, 4 +7, 4 + 8, 4 + 9,
4+ 10, 56, 57, 5 + 8, 5 + 9, 5 + 10, 6 + 7, 6 + 8, 6 + 9, 6 + 10, 7 + 8,
79,710, 8+ 9,8 + 10, 9 + 10 can be depressed to get each time a different
impression.
Thus for instance, see Figs. 9 & 10, Sheet II, the keys 1-10 will operate the
numbers 1-10 and each combination of the 10 keys and of which there are
45 more, the numbers 11-55.
In order that any key may be combined with another, each key has an arm b
which contacts at one point with one arm 6 of each other key and at the point of
contact will meet again, as in the case of the apparatus with keys, the spring
rod g and jointly depress and thereby bring a weight with a number or the like in
operation.
In order to bring any arm of the keys in contact with any arm of the other
9 keys, the arms must be drawn very wide apart from each other or arranged at
different heights step like, as shown in the drawing, in which case either the spring
rods g are made in length so that they will reach the different heights of the arms b
or the arms are provided with projections which reach to the level of the lowest
arms b, so that the spring rods remain the same length.
To obviate the frequent hand movements the mechanism described may be
readily applied to dial and finger telegraphs and the Morse instruments.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is-
1st. A mechanism for the transmission of single movements consisting of
separate keys which are furnished with arms in such a manner that each individual
key will produce a motion and each combination of keys also only one single
motion by causing the arms to touch always simultaneously the same switch in
one combination only, all substantially as set forth.
2ud. In the mechanism, specified in the preceding claim, the employment of a
lift brake for each of the switches consisting of a slide formed with an incline and
recesses, which is displaced by a pin on the key and the separately depressed key
of the whole serie; of two keys depressed simultaneously but only half their
distance by drawing the slide below the pins of the keys, all substantially as set
forth.
Dated this 10th day of March 1895
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4 Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.