Apparatus.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 10th Aug., 1887. -
Complete Accepted, 16th Sept., 1887.
writing Apparatus.
I JOHN ELLIOTT, Civil Engineer of 37 Mansion House Chambers No. 11 Queen
Victoria Street London do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The general objects of my invention are to furnish type writers with an apparatus
embodying the use of dual action in various forms to enable the work to be done
quicker, to simplify the construction and to cheapen the cost of type writing
machines.
The general objects of my invention are to simplify the construction, cheapen the
cost and to quicken the action of machines of the type writing class for printing by
inked types or puncturing by points set so as to form letters signs and figures, the
points to be set deep enough to allow of puncturing more than one sheet of paper, so
as to serve as stencil forms from which a large number of copies could he subsequently
obtained.
In order to obtain increased quickness of action, whether in machines, the types of
which are moved by keys, or in those of the disk form with types set on their
peryphery and depressed vertically in order to print, I propose to use two sets of keys
carrying types, set round two half-circles, or by types on two disks, working side by
side, each set of typo keys, or type disks having similar type letters, signs, or figures,
so that each hand of the operator may impress a letter, sign, or figure in combination
almost simultaneously, thus forming two letters of a word at the same moment and
consequently diminishing by a half the number of traversing movements for spacing
the letters.
It being an obvious advantage that the paper to be printed on, should lie flat and
that the matter printed should be continuously readable by the operator, I propose to
accomplish those objects as follows viz. in the case of the double type disks being
intended to effect the letter spacing by moving forward, then, on a bottom bed of
wood, or metal about 10 in. by 10 in., with ledgers on the right and left sides, a thin
board to carry the paper about 9 in. by 12 in. is to be placed between the ledgers and is

page_text: to be pushed up between them as required for spacing the several lines. In the event
of the type machine being a fixture, the bottom bed should be made about 20 in. by 10 in.
and the paper carrying board be placed between ledgers resting on a thin board, the
latter having 4 small rollers to run in grooves in the bottom board and drawn forward
by a line passing under and over wheels fixed to an upright standard outside the 5
ledgers of bottom board and attached to a descending weight thus causing an advance
as fast as the action of a spring latch, or of a thin bar depressed by the descent of the
type disk allows the regulating pin to be passed. A similar arrangement of a
descending weight and drop bar inay be employed to cause an advance of the type
disks when they are not intended to be fixtures. The paper may be secured to the
board on which it rests by a spring clip at its forward end and kept in position by a
moveable weight working on pins in the side ledgers, behind and in advance of the
line being printed, or by a roller or by pressers actuated by springs. As in some
cases it would be advantageous to be able to pack the apparatus in a smaller compass,
the paper may be attached at its forward end by a spring clip to a sheet of cloth, or
leather and be rolled up for packing.
Such an apparatus for carrying the paper may be made to serve for more than one
kind of the double action type writers, so that the operator could use a key machine,
or one of the disk kind alternately and thus by varying the action of the fingers
work with less fatigue than if restricted to one method.
In the event of a key acting machine and a disk form being made to work in unison
as one apparatus, the letters, figures and signs must be similar in each.
To enable each hand of the operator, when the disk form is used, to bring a
particular letter into action each vertical disk must rest on springs of steel or india
rubber, whether the disks are to be fixed, or moveable, and in the latter case the
springs must be connected with the arms extended from the socket in which the
spindle of the disk rests and turns and this forward movement of the disk, or disks
may be effected, either by fitting the socket arms with rollers running on cross bearers
above or at the side or, partly under and partly over the paper carrier, or by the
socket carriers running on hollow brass rods, or on a round bar of hard wood. Such
cross bearers, or rods to be supported at each end by uprights fixed to the ledgers of
bottom board.
In some cases the one plan may be more convenient than the other and the various
drawings of Design No. 1 indicate some of the changes in detail that may be adopted
in this respect.
In Design No. 1 the reading of the type on the disks is effected by letters, signs,
or figures formed on a rim of less diameter than the type ring and the letter that will
appear on the top of the letter index-rim must be the one that will be printed at the
bottom by the type ring. In the variation of the double type disk illustrated in Design
No. 2, the letter index is formed on the face of the disks and the hinder disk being
of larger diameter, allows sufficient of the letter index to appear above the front disk.
The disk-types may be inked by adjusting to them an inked roller working in an
eccentric socket or by an inked ribbon under the type disks with a roller on each side
of them. The paper operated on may have other sheets under it with carbon paper
between so as to obtain more than one copy.
In Design No. 4, a method is indicated of obtaining two, or three originals exactly
alike, printed simultaneously direct from similar types on separate disks placed on
the same spindle, one behind the other, but all depressed at the same instant, one
hand acting on the spindle in front the other at the back.
A variation of the use of a double set of similar alphabets signs and figures is
illustrated in Design No. 5 where the disks are horizontal and the types placed at the
end of flat steel springs, set round the disks, the types being depressed by a key
lever pressed down when the spindle has brought the required letter into position
The forward movement may be effected in the manner described for the vertical typ
disks.
In design No. 3, a method is illustrated of applying the plan of providing duplicat
alphabets signs and figures to enable each hand of the operator to impress a letter, o

page_text: sign simultaneously, by means of keys, one set being placed round one half-circle
and the other round a corresponding half. 1 propose to construct this machine by a
plate of tin, or other thin metal resting on the side ledgers of the bottom board, the
centre of the plate to be cut out so as to leave a circular opening of about 6in. in
diameter.
A series of vertical quadrants are to be set round the two half circles, soldered,
or rivetted to the bottom plate to afford a guide and support to the handles and type
keys pivotted to it, by which the type is to be impressed on the paper. The vertical
quadrants should be so cut as to allow of forming a foot to rest on the supporting
plate. These several parts may be stamped out of tin plate, or other thin metal. The
inking may be effected, either by an inked ribbon, or by the type keys striking in
their descent on an inking pad of indiarubber, or leather, suspend so as to ensure the
type receiving ink on its descent. The handle may be restored to its position by a
spring under it. As the key-acting machine would be a fixture, the paper-carrier
would have to be moved for spacing the letters as well as the lines.
In order to prevent the types in the vertical disk form of machine when impressed
on flat paper, from inking it by any but the one intended to print, I suspend from the
central sockets by lines, a guard-piece of cardboard, or paper cut out in the centre so as
to leave room for the vertical type to reach the paper, or I may place across the
paper from ledger to ledger a strip of paper, or cardboard about in. width with a
space cut out in the centre, through which opening the printing would be done or two
strips of elastic may be used, or I may place under the paper a strip of wood, or
leather to raise it sufficiently so as to prevent any but the type required, touching
it, or I may make the paper carrier higher in the centre.
I may use a roller to carry the paper, as in Design No. 1. fig.
I propose to regulate the transverse movement for spacing the letters by a set of
projecting pins, at such a distance from each other as to allow of spacing for two
letters at a time, and to have a bar so arranged as to rest against a pin till the bar is
depressed by the same action which impresses the typo and thus allows the disks, or
the papor-carrier to be drawn forward by the descending weight. I may use any of
the ordinary modes for effecting the transverse spacing.
I may construct the machines of the type-disc form, of metal with slots cut, or cast
in which the several type letters, figures and signs would be fixed, or I may form the
disk of metal or wood and fix on it a circle of tin of about 3 in. width on which types
of about deep, either cut off from ordinary printers type, or cast expressly, may be
soldered to the tin strip, the space left on that being used as a letter-index rim round
which a strip of paper with the letters, signs and figures printed on it may be glued,
or I may construct the disk of a circle of tin, or other metal and solder to one side of
it, ordinary printers type, such circle with its projecting types being then rivetted or
screwed to a disk of wood wide enough to serve as the index-rim. This method of
construction would be so cheap that the double acting disk machines could be
employed for educational purposes as one of the best methods of teaching pupils
to spell and compose.
The type disks may be made of sufficient size to allow of each having an alphabet
of capital and small fetters, with the usual signs and figures, or in addition to these of
words or parts of words in each of the disks so chosen as to act in concert and to
print jointly words of eight, or ten letters, by one depression of the disks.
In this case the index rim must be wide enough to mark on it the extra letters, and
the transverse spacing must be regulated by a numbered scale marked on a cross bar.
Type-disks of this kind may be set with varieties of words of the kind most
frequently required by lawyers, merchants and others.
As the action of the type disks of Design 1 form is always vertical, they are
especially adapted for the use of puncturing types, punches and cutters may also be
set in them and notes for music be thus formed.
I may form the vertical type-disks with teeth working in corresponding teeth in a
circular horizontal letter indicator, but I do not claim this method and prefer the
index-rim.

page_text: 1
may form the puncturing types by setting the steel points in a strip of thin steel
and then fastening it round a disk of wood, or metal. A number of such steel strips
may be placed together and drilled simultaneously for the reception of the points.
To facilitate the reading of the letters on the index rim of the type disks, I propose
to have a magnifying glass adjusted over them.
Instead of inetal types I may use types of wood, of composition, or of india rubber
and in the latter case I propose to cast the alphabet, signs and figures required for
each disk on a strip of india rubber and then to cement that round the vertical disk.

page_text: improvements in the Arrangement and Construction of Type
Writing Apparatus.
I JOHN ELLIOTT, Civil Engineer of No. 37 Mansion House Chambers No. 11 Queen
Victoria Street London 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 :—
The general objects of my invention are to furnish type-writers with an apparatus
embodying the use of dual action in various forms to enable the work to be done
quicker, to simplify the construction and to cheapen the cost of type writing
machines.
The general objects of my invention are, to simplify the construction, cheapen the
cost and quicken the action of machines of the type writing class for printing by types,
inked, or acting through inked ribbon, or carbon paper, or puncturing by points set
so as to form letters, signs, or figures, the points being long enough to allow of
puncturing more than one sheet of paper, so as to make them into stencil forms, from
which a large number of copies could be subsequently obtained.
In order to obtain increased quickness of action, whether in machines the types of
which are moved by keys, or in those of the disk form with types set on their
peripheries and depressed in order to print, or puncture, I propose, in a key acting
machine, to use two sets of type keys set round two semi-circles, or in the disk form,
of machine, to use two disks working side by side, each having similar, or nearly
similar type letters, signs, or figures, so that each band of the operator may impress a
letter, sign, or figure simultaneously, thus forming two letters of a word at the same
moment and consequently diminishing by half the number of traversing movements
for spacing the letters.
To enable the operator to see his work as it progresses and to render it practicable
to produce duplicate impressions, are objects which I have kept in view in arranging
the paper carriers for each class of machine.
In the case of the type disks moving forward to effect the letter spacing, I propose
to arrange the line spacing by pushing up the board carrying the paper between the
end ledgers on the under board and when the type machines are stationary, then to
have a third board on which the upper two will move transversely, as shown on the
drawings; I may place the paper over a half round bar, or on a raised bar with the
angles cut off, the paper being retained in position by a clip, or light frame raised to
allow the paper to be drawn forward to space the lines, or I may place the paper on a
rollor and turn that to produce the line spacing. When the disk types are to be
advanced for spacing the letters, that may be effected either by the hand and the use 3
of a marked scale, or by attaching them to a line running through pullies on an
upright bar and fastened to a descending weight; the spacing being regulated by
pins set in a cross bar against which in succession the guide pins connected with the
disks rest, till depressed with them.

page_text: When the double vertical disks form of type writer is employed, the disks must be
supported on, or suspended from, springs of metal, or india rubber to allow of
depression, such springs may be attached to cross bars resting on sockets running on
rods of metal, or wood at the sides, or sliding on a flat smooth surface of metal, wood,
or glass, or they may be connected with vertical bars working between bearers above
the disks.
I may place the two disks on a single central rod running through the turning
spindles, such rod being supported at each end by a spring of metal, or india rubber
and depressed, or raised between guides carried up from each end of the bottom
board, or plate; the letter spacing to be regulated by an upright index bar carried
up from each disk spindle and having a slot in the top to allow of its moving along
the central bar on which the spacing distances are marked, or in which, spacing pins
are placed as before named. The inking roller would be fixed between the upright
index bars, the paper carrier may be as before described.
The method of printing from a pair of disks may be carried out in various ways and
the series of drawings of Design 1, indicate some of the variations in detail that may
be adopted-In figures 1-2-3-4 the reading of the types set round the disks is
effected by letters, or figures marked on a rim of less diameter than the type rim, so
placed that the letters, or figures on the top of the index rim represent similar letters
or figures at the bottom of the type ring.
In design No. 1-6igure 5 the letters on the type ring round the disks will be
brought into position by means of two toothed wheels, geared into a toothed ring of
the same diameter attached to each disk, the wheel on the loft playing into the front
disk and that on the right into the hinder disk. On the front of each side toothed
wheel, a circle of metal, wood, or card board is to bo fixed to the carrying frame,
marked with the same letters signs or figures as in the type disks, which are to be
brought into position for printing, by bringing the pointer connected with the turning
spindle of the side wheel to the corresponding letter, or figure on the index circle.
The disks and side wheels are to be placed in a frame of metal, or wood, the upper
portion of the frame carrying the spindles of the central disks and of the two side
wheels, is to rest on springs of metal, or wood and the lower portion on rods.
In connection with this form of disk machine I propose to use a roller of 31 diameter
on which the paper can be secured by slipping an india rubber ring over it at each end
and the line spacing can be effected by turning a ratchet wheel, with a spring stop, at
one ond of the roller.
The letter spacing may be effected in either of the methods before described.
The disk types may be inked by adjusting to them a roller supplied with ink, or the
printing may be done through an inked ribbon, or carbon paper. The paper operated
on may have other sheets under, with carbon paper between, so as to produce more
than one copy.
•
In Design No. 2-fig. 2, the letter index is on the face of the disks, the hinder disk
being of larger diameter than the front one, so as to allow of sufficient letters to
appear above it; the spindles will have to bo of different levels to allow of the
periphery of each being at the same level at the bottom of each disk..
In Design No. 4 a method is indicated of obtaining two, or more impressions exactly
alike, produced from two disks attached to a central spindle, one hand of the operator
acting on the end in front, the other on the rear.
In Design No. 5-the two disks are placed horizontally and the types set round
them on steel springs, are depressed for printing when brought in line. The spacing
can be effected by either of the methods described.
In Design No. 3 a method is shown of providing duplicate alphabets, signs and
figures to enable each hand of the operator to impress a letter, sign, or figure simul-
taneous by means of keys, one set being placed round one half of a circle, the other
round a corresponding half. I propose to construct this machine by a bottom plate of
tin or other metal, resting on side ledgers of the paper carrying frame below; the
centre of the key carrying plate is to be cut out so as to leave a circular opening of
about 6 inches in diameter. A series of vertical quadrants, formed with a narrow

page_text: foot, are to be fixed round the two semi-circles, soldered, or rivetted to the bottom
plate, to afford a guide and support to the handles and type keys pivotted to them and
to each other. The lever handles which move the type keys down to print, may be
restored to position by a spring, or weight, a button with a letter or figure on it, is to
be fixed at the end of each handle. The types may be inked while descending, by
striking against a suspended circular pad, or inked ribbon, or carbon paper may be
employed to receive the impression. As this form of machine would require the type
carrier to be fixed, the spacing for the letters and lines would have to be effected by
the paper carrier and under-frame as before described.
I may use any of the ordinary methods of effecting the letter spacing, in any of the
varieties of the dual acting machines.
I may construct the machines of the disk-form with slots cut into the metal, into
which the types, whether of metal, or india rubber may be fixed, or I may solder the
types to a circular plate of tin and secure that to a disk of wood which would serve
for the letter index.
The type disks may be made of sufficient size to afford space for an alphabet of
capital and small letters, with the usual signs and figures, or in addition to these, of
short words, or parts of words, so selected as to act in combination of the two disks so
ns to impress eight or ten letters at a time.
As the action of the dual type disks is vertical, they are especially adapted for the
use of puncturing types; punches, or cutters might be also used and notes for music
printing be thus formed.
I may form the puncturing types by setting the needle points in a strip of steel and
then fastening that round a disk of wood, or metal. A number of such steel strips
may be placed together and drilled simultaneously for the reception of the points.
In the case of using india rubber type, I may form alphabet and signs on a narrow
strip of india rubber and fasten that round a disk of wood, or metal.
I may form the vertical type disks with teeth on them adjusted to a horizontal index
wheel to each disk, but I do not claim this method, preferring the vertical toothed
wheels described in fig. 5 of Design 1.
I
To facilitate the reading of the type letters on the index rim of the vertical disks
propose to fix a magnifying glass over them.
I may construct the type disks by soldering short metal types on a rim of tin bent
round a disk of wood.
I may form on the edges of the index rims a series of V shaped slots, into which a
guide can be pressed while the disk descends.

page_text: But pose to carry ging wo
1 desire to use the drawings furnished with the Provisional Specification with the
addition of the extra drawing sent herewith viz. Design No. 1—Fig. 5.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
for an improved method of type printing by dual action and in what manner the same
is to be carried out and perforined I declare that what I claim is—
1st. In a type writer, whether acting by inked, or puncturing types, or whether the
paper is printed, or impressed by the direct action of type carrying keys, or by disks
twirled round and depressed, the use of double sets of similar alphabets, signs, or
figures, or words, so arranged as to enable each hand of the operator to bring two, or
more letters, or figures into simultaneous action and combination.
2nd. In a type writer, the method of producing the letter spacing by the use of
pins set at intervals, and the use of a drop bar, or vertical pin, which may be moved
forward by hand, or be drawn forward by a descending weight.
I also claim the use of a roller of sufficient diameter to allow a sheet of foolscap
paper to be fixed on its circumference and the method of securing the paper on it by
means of india rubber rings slipped over it.
3rd. In a type writer of the vertical disk form, the forming the letter index on a
rim adjoining the type ring and in such index ring a series of V slots corresponding
to the letters, into which guides are pressed at the moment of depression to ensure
accuracy, also the use of a magnifying glass over the index rims.
4th. In a type writer of the disk forin, the methods described and illustrated by the
drawings of suspending them on springs to allow of vertical depression and of allowing
them to traverse on rods, or bearers with slight friction.
5th. In a type writer of the vertical disk form, the method of bringing the types
into position by the use of side toothed wheels geared into a toothed ring on the disk.
6th. In a type writer, the method of cheaply constructing the type disks by soldering
short metal types on a rim of tin, placed round a disk of wood, or of soldering ordinary
printers' type on a flat circle of tin and securing that to a disk of wood, wide enough
to serve as an under rim.
7th. In a type writer, the plan of piercing by one drilling a number of strips of
steel to receive the points, set as letters and then securing a strip so formed round the
circumference of the type disk and using disks so formed to puncture the paper.
8th. In a type writer, the plan of casting the alphabet, signs and figures on a strip
of india rubber and fastening that round the disk.
9th. In a type writer acting by keys, the method described and illustrated by
drawings of improssing paper lying flat, with two letters simultaneously, and of
constructing such a machine of tin or other metal, the several working parts being
stamped out and rivetted, or soldered to the bottom plate.

page_text: 10th. In a type writer of the horizontal double disk form, the method of construction
described and illustrated by the drawings.
11th. In a type writer of the form shown in Design No. 4, the method described
and illustrated of producing two sets of printing exactly alike both disks being set
on one spindle.
12th. In a type writer of the vertical disk form as shown in Design 1 Fig. 2, the
use of two disks with the back one of larger diameter than the front, so as to allow
the hinder to appear partly above the front disk, thus allowing the letter index to he
placed on the flat sides of both disks.
13th. In a type writing apparatus, whether acting by inking, or puncturing or,
punching, the construction of the several parts and designs to carry out the plan of
dual action in a type writers outfit, constructed and operating substantially as specified
and illustrated by the drawings.